Welcome to the first Board Bulletin for 2011, designed especially to help principals and executive staff prepare for Term 1.

Principals are reminded that there will be no change to the NSW curriculum in 2011 as a result of the Australian curriculum.

In his end of year message in December 2010, the President of the Board of Studies, Tom Alegounarias, wrote briefly of the syllabus development work we will be undertaking in preparation for implementing the Australian curriculum in NSW. The next issue of the Board Bulletin will include an Australian curriculum update from the President.

As you know, the Board is reviewing the School Certificate program, however no major change is anticipated for the 2011 School Certificate. An initial report to the Minister will now be delivered early this year.

To help with your initial yearly planning a list of reminders for the start of 2011, key dates and useful contact numbers have been included in this Board Bulletin.

Along with our weekly Board Bulletins, I encourage schools and principals to stay in touch via the Board’s website and Schools Online. Schools Online is now open to teachers with their principal’s approval.

Students Online is another important website designed to keep senior secondary high school students up to date with their HSC preparations throughout the year. Teachers should encourage their students to go to Students Online for news, resources and study tools.

I look forward to working with you this year and trust that you will make use of the resources and advice available from the NSW Board of Studies.

Carol Taylor

Chief Executive