EDUCATE ME
EDUCATE ME
More schools on the way for the North West
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The Minns Labor Government is getting on with the job of delivering new high schools in Sydney ’ s North-West , announcing the site for a new public high school for two of the city ’ s fastest growing suburbs .
The new public high school for Schofields / Tallawong will be built at 201 Guntawong Road , Tallawong , on land owned by the NSW Government . This part of North-West Sydney recorded the fastest student population growth in the recent Enrolment Growth Audit , with the overall population more than tripling between 2016 and 2021 , according to recent Census data .
The new high school will initially cater for 1,000 students , delivering more than 50 permanent classrooms , and is due for completion on Day 1 , Term 1 2027 .
The school site is also being master planned for future expansion and will cater for significant growth around the Tallawong Metro Station , supporting the nearby mixed-use precinct and reducing pressure on nearby schools .
With housing the largest cost of living issue facing the people of NSW , delivering more well-located houses nearby jobs , services and local schools is part of the Minns Labor Government ’ s commitment to create better communities for growing families , young people and downsizers .
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Deputy Premier Prue Carr with Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby and Mayor of Blacktown Brad Bunting at the new site of the high school .
The site was identified following collaboration between the Department of Education , Landcom , the Office of Strategic Lands and the Department of Planning , Housing and Infrastructure ( DPHI ).
The Liberals and Nationals approved new housing in Sydney ’ s North-West , but failed to plan for or build the schools this growing community needed .
Delivering this new high school is part of the Minns Labor Government ’ s work to address the school infrastructure backlog in Sydney ’ s North-West growth corridor , with new public schools being fast tracked in Melonba , Box Hill , Tallawong , Gables and Nirimba Fields , and major upgrades underway at Rouse Hill High School and Schofields Public School . The new public high school at
Schofields / Tallawong is part of our
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Site for the new high school .
record $ 3.6 billion investment to continue delivering a pipeline of school infrastructure across Western Sydney .
Warren Kirby Member for Riverstone said : “ As our community here in Western Sydney continues to expand , it is essential that the best possible infrastructure is delivered at the same rate .
“ This high school is the hottest topic in my electorate . I am constantly asked where and when the school will open . “ I am thrilled to be a part of this exciting announcement today and that the NSW Labor Government is delivering
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on its promise to provide a permanent high school for our growing Schofields and Tallawong families .
“ The future looks bright for Sydney ’ s North-West and I look forward to providing further updates on this project and the raft of other school projects on the way for the area as soon as possible .” Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said : “ It is fantastic to share where we will build the first new public high school for the growing communities of Schofields and Tallawong .”
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THE POWER OF ... STRETCHING
by Lorna Gordon
Our lives are more sedentary than ever before , working from home is still happening so we don ’ t even have to walk to transport or from our car to where we work to get us moving about . But studies have shown the sitting is one of the worst things we can do for our bodies , so how do we counter this ?
Walking is always a great exercise , it ’ s gentle on your body and can be done with no special equipment by most people , however , if you want to keep your mobility tip top , you should add one more thing into your daily routine , stretching .
If you do regular exercise , you know that stretching before and after doing it is important to stop your muscles and joints from being sore post workout , but you don ’ t need to be heading to the gym to benefit from daily stretches , even if they are fairly basic .
Stretching will work your muscles , keep your joints fluid and can help stop back pain before it even starts . It helps you increase your range of motion , which can prevent injury . If you have ever felt your back twinge when you have bent down , you know exactly what I mean here . It also improves the flow of blood round your body , which can reduce inflammation .
Gentle stretches allow your muscles to relax , making you feel more comfortable and , if you sit at a desk to work , regular stretches through your day can help your posture . You don ’ t need to go all in
and sign up to a yoga workshop to stretch and ease those hip flexors or lower back , but it will benefit you to learn basic stretches that you can do at your desk or on the floor at home . YouTube have plenty of videos you can access for free to get an idea of what stretches you can do by yourself . If you are unsure of trying the exercises on your own there are lots of classes run by professionals who can check what you are doing to make sure you don ’ t over stretch or move your body in the wrong way .
As with all new exercise or health plan , check in with your GP if you are concerned about how stretching will affect you , but there are levels of stretching exercises suitable for all ages and stages of mobility .
PODCASTS WITH LORNA GORDON
Spooky season is here , and you know I love to hit you with a good creepy podcast for your listening delight ! This one is an interesting mix of short real life events sent in by listeners and longer episodes where the host , Emma , looks at well-known paranormal occurrences .
The first thing I have to say is that Emma has a beautiful Irish accent which makes it an absolute pleasure to listen to . The shorter , ‘ mini ’ episodes are the real life stories sent in by listeners to the podcast and can talk about anything from visitation dreams to scare the pants off you encounters with ghosts , shadow people or newer spooky phenomenon like the ‘ Rake ’.
In the longer episodes Emma will usually start them with a review of a horror movie she has watched , giving you a rundown of the story , what she liked about it and what didn ’ t go down so well . With the movie reviewed she moves on to the more in-depth stories that she has researched about topics like time slips , cursed video games and a recent one which retold a story called The Cave , which had shivers going up my spine .
Because of the spooky nature of these stories ( and Emma ’ s spicier language at times ) I would not listen in front of children in case they get scared , or remember the shadow man who comes out of their closet in the dark …
14 ISSUE 43 // OCTOBER 2024 theindependentmagazine . com . au BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT