June 2012 | Issue 5
Manor Lakes
P–12 College
A winning approach to
inclusive education
A night of recognition
2012 Victorian Education
Excellence Awards
Closing the gap
Intercultural,
intergenerational encounters
Tax time’s the perfect time
to add to your super strength
Top up your super before the end of the tax year.
The end of the financial year is the perfect time to look at your super savings and make the most of any tax advantages available to you.
If you are an ESSSuper member1, you have the opportunity to contribute extra2 to your super. And if you contribute before June 30,
you may be eligible for rebates and deductions in your upcoming tax return.
Come and talk to us about how you can top up your super.
Salary sacrifice into super and you may only have to pay 15% tax on those contributions.
Contribute up to $3,000 on behalf of your low-income or non-working spouse and you may be eligible for a tax rebate
of up to $5403.
Make an after-tax super contribution and the Government may match what you put away by up to $1,0004.
Take stock of your super today.
You can check your current super balance at any time via the secure Members Online
area at www.esssuper.com.au. Take action now, so you don’t have to worry in later years.
ESS3189_(04/12)_INSPIRE
For more information visit www.esssuper.com.au or call 1300 655 476
to book an appointment with an ESSSuper Consultant.
1 Members include State Government employees who commenced employment prior to 1994. If you are not already an ESSSuper member you are not eligible to join.
2 Contribution cap limits apply and tax deductions will be assessed by the ATO (www.ato.gov.au). Limits subject to change in the 2012/13 tax year. 3 Paid into an existing
or new Accumulation Plan account. 4 Provided you earn less than $61,920 in the 2011/12 tax year.
This document is issued by Emergency Services Superannuation Board ABN 28 161 296 741 the Trustee of the Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme ABN 85 894 637 037
(ESSSuper). The information contained in this document is of a general nature only. It should not be considered as a substitute for reading ESSSupers Product Disclosure
Statement (PDS) that contains detailed information about ESSSuper products, services and features. Before making a decision about an ESSSuper product, you should consider
the appropriateness of the product to your personal objectives, financial situation and needs. It may also be beneficial to seek professional advice from a licensed financial
planner or adviser. An ESSSuper PDS is available at www.esssuper.com.au or by calling 1300 655 476.
Proudly serving our members
first up
Inspire
Inspire is published monthly by the
Communications Division for the
Department of education and early
Childhood Development,
GpO Box 4367, Melbourne 3001
ABn 52 705 101 522
www.education.vic.gov.au
use of this publication is welcome
within the constraints of the
Copyright Act 1968.
CoVEr photo | Les O’rourke
EdItor | tina Luton
ph: 9637 2914
e: editor@edumail.vic.gov.au
Art/dEsIgn | Alan Wright
nExt IssuE |
published week beginning 16 july.
to AdVErtIsE |
Contact Wayne Maxwell
(ph: 9637 2868) or
Diane Mifsud (ph: 9637 2862)
ed.advertising@edumail.vic.gov.au
to suBsCrIBE |
Contact Wayne Maxwell
ph: 9637 2868
e: inspire@edumail.vic.gov.au
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Cover
story
18
A winning approach to inclusion
Winner of the Outstanding school Leadership team Award
at the 2012 Victorian education excellence Awards, Manor
Lakes p–12 College has developed a new vision for inclusive
education that it hopes can be adopted by other schools.
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inspire june 2012
3
contents
16
26
Education Excellence Awards
Bonding over books
Each year, DEECD recognises and celebrates the outstanding
work of schools, principals, teachers, support staff and early
childhood professionals from across the state.
The B5 Program – Boys, Books, Blokes, Bytes and Balls –
commenced in 2009 as a short-term project but is now a
permanent fixture at Delacombe Primary School.
38
44
Securing science pathways
Big Day Away
The Uni Bridges pilot program is building curriculum links
between school and university level science, technology,
engineering and maths.
The Melbourne–Maribyrnong network’s Ultranet sessions have
been a huge success with schools continuing to find new and
interesting ways to make the most of this collaborative resource.
Features
Page 28
School communities
Page 37
Young mums VCAL program
Meet the outstanding parents and community members who
contribute to their schools and help connect them with the
local community.
A new community education program is helping young mums
with parenting tips while giving them the opportunity to earn a
secondary school certificate.
Page 32
The Greek experience
Page 54
Connecting with China
Greek language teachers from around Australia, including
seven from Victoria, were selected to take part in an intensive
Bimbadeen Heights Primary School principal Leigh
Johansen paints a picture of a recent study tour to Suzhou
in rural China.
in-country study program to Greece.
4
inspire june 2012
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BriefCAse
What’s new this month?
Premier’s Spirit of ANZAC Prize
n Applications are now open for the
2012-13 Premier’s Spirit of ANZAC
Prize. This annual competition is open to
all Year 9 and 10 students, with the top
10 entries winning an all-expenses paid
study tour of sites where Australians
have served in war, focusing on the
Western Front or Gallipoli.
A further 17 regional finalists will
win a trip to a significant Australian
location, such as the Australian War
Memorial in Canberra, and will be
invited to attend lunch with the Premier
of Victoria. Secondary school teachers
6
inspire june 2012
who encourage their students to enter
are also invited to lodge expressions of
interest to accompany the students on
the study tour.
Developed in conjunction with the
History Teachers Association of Victoria,
this year’s topic invites students to
submit an entry that addresses: to what
extent is the Anzac spirit relevant to life
in Australia today? What can it teach
us about the Australia we want for the
future?
Entries can be in one of several formats,
including a poem, short story or essay,
audio or video presentation, musical
compensation, web page or artwork.
For more information, visit www.dpcd.vic.
gov.au/veterans/premiers-spirit-of-anzacprize
A practical professional development day with
Read Like a Demon
DAVID HORNSBY and DEB SUKARNA
Full d
e
in FAX tails
s
to Sch ent
ool
TERM 3 PROGRAM
FOR ALL PRIMARY TEACHERS
Sat 28 July
COMPREHENSION – DEVELOPING
DEEP LEVEL THINKERS
P-2 with David Hornsby, 3-6 with Deb Sukarna
Sat 4 Aug
New Presentation
Sat 11 Aug
TEACHING THE CRAFT OF WRITING
- A Focus on Writing Groups
P-2 with David Hornsby, 3-6 with Deb Sukarna
REVISITING SPELLING
Years 2-6 with Deb Sukarna
Sat 1 Sep
INTRODUCTION TO WRITER’S WORKSHOP
P-6 with Deb Sukarna
Sat 8 Sep
PLANNING AN INTEGRATED UNIT
P-6 with Deb Sukarna
n The Melbourne Football Club aims to develop meaningful
partnerships with primary schools through a variety of education
programs.
Venue:
Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre
(Cnr Bell St and St Georges Rd, Preston)
Time:
9.30 am Registration, 10.00 am Start, 3.15 pm Finish
Cost:
$190 inc gst (or $170 per person for two or more teachers
from the one school). Includes registration, morning tea, lunch,
hand-outs. $75 inc gst for afterschool session
Contact: Paula Welham 9499 2065 or 0402 421 864
Email: pwelham@bigpond.net.au
Read Like a Demon is a four-week literacy program that offers
primary students an opportunity to participate in reading and
writing workshops with Melbourne Football Club players,
children’s authors and local library staff.
Players attend sessions via Skype and assist in reading to students,
as well as sharing memories of their favourite books in the Read
Like a Demon blog.
Students are encouraged to post comments and book reviews.
They can also practice their writing skills by sending their
favourite players an email.
For more information visit www.readlikeademon.com.au
Have an American
diplomat visit your school
n The US Consulate offers a program to secondary
and tertiary students to discuss everything related
to the USA. Topics range from the US-Australia
alliance to culture and current events, foreign
policy and trade issues, the marines in Darwin,
US political system and the upcoming presidential
elections to life in America. Format and class size
is flexible.
For more information and to organise a visit, email
MelbOPA@state.gov or call 9526 5967.
Gowrie Victoria Professional Learning
for Educators and Teachers
JULY DATES
16
18
20
25
23
25
30
ReflectivePractice
EngagingBoys
WireWorkshop
Developing/ReviewingYourServicePhilosophy
SupportingChildrenwithChallengingBehaviours(Part1)
SupportingChildrenwithAutism
SupportingChildrenwithChallengingBehaviours(Part2)
31 ReportingandAssessment
To view the online calendar and/or
to book and pay online go to:
www.gowrievictoria.org.au/bookings
inspire june 2012
7
BriefCAse
Early Years Exhibition and Conference
n The Early Years Exhibition and
Conference (EYEC) will be staged at
Melbourne Showgrounds on 15 and 16
June and is co-located with the School
Resources Expo.
The event showcases all products,
services and resources used in the dayto-day operation of government and
privately operated child care centres.
The conference, run by the Child Care
Centres’ Association of Victoria, will
focus on two areas: business issues
faced by owners and directors, and
operational issues faced by managers
and staff. It will include case studies on
effective operation and management of
centres and the impact of government
reform and legislation.
For more information, visit www.eyec.
com.au
School Resources Expo
Bond University Film
and Television Awards and Conference
n The School Resources Expo and Conference 2012 will be held at
the Melbourne Showgrounds on 15 and 16 June.
n Year 11 and 12 students are encouraged to enter a short
film for their chance to win a full tuition scholarship to study
Film and Television at Bond University, valued at more than
$91,000.
Students are asked to create a short film of no more than 10
minutes and enter before 12 October 2012. Submissions can be
made as a part of a school assessment or as an independent
project. Categories include animation, comedy, drama,
documentary, experimental and music video.
Multiple awards, including best school, will be announced at
the gala awards evening held at Bond University in November.
For more information, visit www.bufta.com.au
8
inspire june 2012
The expo is for any professional involved in making or influencing
a purchasing decision for their institution from early learning,
primary, secondary and tertiary and specialist education. It
features 120 exhibitors of the latest products in technology,
teaching equipment and aids, grounds and outdoor, camps and
excursions, facilities maintenance, capital equipment, contractors
and external services, food and health, sports and physical
education.
The Behaviour in Education Conference offers a comprehensive
program delivered by Australia’s leading authorities on managing
behavioural issues in education. The keynote address by
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg will focus on technology and behaviour.
Other high-profile speakers include Dr Lyn Gardon, Jenny
Mackay, Cat Lancaster and Adam Lyons.
For more information, visit www.schoolresourcesexpo.com.au
BriefCAse
Don’t miss Top Designs
n Managed by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment
Authority, Top Designs is a dynamic exhibition of furniture,
fashion, graphic design, photography, screen-based media
works and engineering systems showcasing Victoria’s most
talented emerging designers.
Six expert panels selected the 123 stand-out works
from over 1900 applications.
Apart from being an exhibition of the
best young designers, Top Designs is
also a valuable resource for students
and teachers.
All works are produced as part of
VCE studies in Media, Design and
Technology, Food and Technology,
Visual
Communication
and
Design, Systems Engineering and
VET Interactive Digital Media.
Student folios and design plans
are featured alongside each piece
allowing visitors to delve into the
creative design process behind
the work.
Top Designs is on display at
Melbourne Museum until 15
July. Entry is $10 for adults
and free for children and
concession card holders.
For more information,
visit www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/
seasonofexcellence.html
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We will provide a complete set up for your school.
Prices from $4.95 (GST inc.) per student
Professional horticultural
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curriculum requirements.
See my website for pictures of
student’s work, comments from
many happy customers and full
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Kit form Greenhouses,
benches, shelving, potting
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For details contact John Evans
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GREENHOUSE
Free brochure available.
For school grants go to www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au
Phone us on 03 5940 0281 or call in to see us at
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inspire june 2012
9
BriefCAse
Pathway to VIT Online action for
storm warnings
registration
n The Diploma of Education
Support enables teachers to
broaden their knowledge of
education support work and
gain eligibility to apply for
full fourth-year registration
with the Victorian Institute of
Teaching (VIT).
GippsTAFE offers Recognition
of Prior Learning assessment,
allowing teachers to gain
this nationally recognised
qualification without returning
to the classroom.
VIT registration requirements call for teachers to have completed
no less than four years of training with a recognised higher
education institution. Teachers who have completed a threeyear initial teacher education program, such as a Diploma of
Teaching (Primary) or a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary), who
hold significant teaching experience but have not yet completed
an approved fourth year of study, are encouraged to make the
most of this opportunity.
For more information, visit www.gippstafe.edu.au or call Lynda
Jobling on 5662 6803.
n Before the Storm is a
free educational clickand-drag game designed
to assist students and
families become better
prepared for what to do
before, during and after a
major storm.
Developed for iPod and
iPhone as part of the
Australian
Emergency
Management Institute’s
(AEMI) school education
program, the game is based on the Australian Government’s Storm
Action Guide and features a gothic house full of characters, ghouls
and beasties. Players are asked to prepare the house for storms
and find items for an emergency kit. They are also introduced to
post-storm recovery concepts including cleaning up safely and
repairing damaged items.
AEMI has recently developed several disaster resilience school
education resources such as its Living with Disaster digital stories
series and Disaster Mapper, a web-based resource that utilises
media, text and images to examine more than 50 events covering
10 disaster types that have occurred in Australia from the late
1800s to present day.
For more information, visit www.em.gov.au/schools
follow the Chaffey trail
n A new history resource celebrates pioneers in northwest
Victoria.
The Chaffey Trail teachers’ resource has been developed in
Mildura – Australia’s first irrigation colony – over the past
two years and is aimed at students from Prep to Year 6.
The comprehensive, VELs-appropriate, four-unit resource
includes lesson plans, excursion tips, teacher notes, student
handouts and DVDs.
Irymple Secondary College history teacher and former State
History Advisory Board member Lynda Robertson helped
develop the resource, which has been trialled by fourth-year
education students at La Trobe University. It is initially being
provided free to 45 schools in the Mildura region but has
relevance for all schools.
The package focuses on nine key sites developed by the Chaffey
Brothers from 1886. Students living outside the Mildura area
are able to take virtual tours of these sites.
For more information, contact Julie Jewell on 5018 8100.
10 inspire june 2012
BriefCAse
David Brown’s
World-wise students
Channel seven meteorologist David Brown is
busy visiting government schools across greater
Melbourne to discover the exciting programs and
activities on offer. tune into David Brown’s school
Days on saturdays at 6pm during seven news to
see all the great school initiatives.
PHOTOGRAPH BY MIcHeLLe Dunn
school days
invite seven news to your school!
if your school has an interesting
program with lots of colour and
action, email a brief description
to schooldays@edumail.vic.
gov.au for your chance to be
featured on the program.
Ashburton Primary School’s world-wise classroom aims to create global
citizens by learning about cultural diversity, sustainability, human rights,
global interdependence and peace building.
See the video of David’s visit to Ashburton Primary School at www.
education.vic.gov.au/about/news/dbschooldays/ashburtonps.htm
It's all about the fun at Medibank Icehouse!
One-off ice skating sessions with lesson included
are only $11 for schools. Call 03 8631 3998
for more info or go to icehouse.com.au to book.
Skate 7 days a week • 364 days a year
inspire june 2012 11
eArLy CHiLDHOOD
Scholarships for early
childhood educators
THE qUALIFICATIONS and skills of early
childhood educators are an important
determinant of quality early childhood
education and care. Evidence is strong and
consistent that improved ratios and higher
qualifications lead to better outcomes for
children.
A UK study, Effective Preschool and
Primary Education Project (EPPE), found
that settings that have educators with higher
qualifications provide higher quality early
childhood education and care, and that
their children make more progress. EPPE
found significant correlations between
quality in early childhood education and
the qualifications of centre managers.
Under the National quality Framework,
from 2014 all early childhood education
and care staff will be required to have a
Certificate III in Children’s Services as a
minimum, and an early childhood teacher
will be required in all centre-based services
with more than 25 places.
The Early Childhood qualifications Fund
provides scholarships to existing early
childhood educators working in a licensed
children’s service or approved education
and care service to upgrade or attain an
early childhood education qualification.
The amount of support available depends
on the qualification undertaken, and ranges
from up to $1000 for a Certificate III in
Children’s Services to up to $12,000 for an
early childhood teaching degree.
Left to right: Jess Hamilton, Marlee Townsend
and Anne-Marie Liddle from Daylesford
community child care have all been awarded
scholarships this year through the early
childhood Qualifications Fund.
been a huge help in supporting her studies.
Jess Hamilton and Anne-Marie Liddle are
both undertaking a Diploma of Children’s
Services. “Thanks to the scholarship fund I
have been able to further my qualifications
and gain the experience needed to be
become a professional early childhood
educator,” Ms Hamilton says.
Daylesford
Community
Child
Care
coordinator Julie McLean says the
scholarships have been fundamental in
allowing 14 staff to undertake study over
the last two years.
Since November 2007, DEECD has awarded
more than 1500 scholarships to educators “We are very proud to be able to say
working in services.
that we are meeting the new national
standard for staff qualifications well
One of the services that has benefited
ahead of the deadline. The combination
greatly from the scholarship scheme is
of the scholarships offered to educators
Daylesford Community Child Care where
and government subsidies in the form of
this year three staff have been awarded
traineeship incentives and reduced course
scholarships.
fees have enabled us to meet these new
Marlee Townsend, who is completing a standards and support our educators. At
Certificate III in Children’s Services, says the end of the day, this equates to better
the scholarship has allowed her to purchase care and education for the children at our
a laptop and internet connection, which has service,” she says.
For more information, visit www.education.vic.gov.au/careers/earlychildhood,
email early.years.workforce@edumail.vic.gov.au or call 1300 651 662.
12 inspire june 2012
Early Childhood
Scholarships for
Aboriginal People
eArLy CHiLDHOOD
Meet Victoria’s only male
Maternal and Child Health nurse
CRAIG SELLICK is among more than 1000 Maternal and
Child Health (MCH) nurses supporting young families
and conducting the 10 free Key Ages and Stages checks for
Victorians from birth to age three-and-a-half.
For the past 14-months, Mr Sellick has been visiting families
with newborns, conducting Key Ages and Stages checks and
organising new parents groups in the City of Whittlesea.
“I love my job, I enjoy every moment of it and I would
encourage more men to work in the field. It’s great and my
female colleagues are fantastic,” he says.
Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development
Wendy Lovell visited the Mill Park Lakes Community Activity
Centre – one of the centres where Mr Sellick (pictured right)
conducts the MCH checks.
“Craig Sellick is a great example of the many MCH nurses
in our community providing health care for children. He is
having a huge impact in the City of Whittlesea, with new
fathers now attending parenting support groups and activities
which they otherwise might not have,” Ms Lovell says.
In the past eight years, the Victorian Government has
provided more than $400,000 in scholarships to registered
nurses with midwifery qualifications to become qualified
MCH nurses.
For more information, visit www.education.vic.gov.au/ecsmanagement/matchildhealth
A Premier East Gippsland campsite
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inspire june 2012 13
eArLy CHiLDHOOD
Australian Early Development
Index data collection
THE AUSTRALIAN Early Development
Index (AEDI) is a population measure of
how five-year-old children are developing
in different communities across Australia
as they enter school, and is completed by
Prep teachers about their students.
The 2012 AEDI data collection opened
on 1 May, and data has been captured on
approximately 20 per cent of Victorian Prep
children. It is anticipated that all Victorian
schools will fill in the questionnaire by the
31 July deadline.
During the 2009 data collection,
information was collected on 94.2 per
cent of Victorian Prep children. This was
an important result, and provided local
communities and schools with a robust and
reliable picture of how Victorian children
were faring in the years before school.
The 2009 results revealed that the majority
of Victorian five-year-old children are
on track. However, it was also found that
one in 10 children is developmentally
vulnerable, and that these children were
spread across the community, including
those in both high and low socio-economic
areas.
DEECD and local Victorian communities
are working together to plan for the needs
of vulnerable children. The Early Childhood
Knowledge Exchange was formed at
DEECD central office to work in ongoing
discussion with local communities, so that
local governments and non-government
organisations have access to their own
AEDI data and can use it to plan tailored
interventions for their children, young
people and families.
Victorian
communities
themselves
have been using the AEDI and other
complementary data across a range of
initiatives since 2009 to both sustain
effective interventions and develop new
solutions.
In Bendigo, local AEDI and other relevant
data have been used to develop a set of 20
indicators around the health and wellbeing
of children and young people, which
were released last year through The State
of Bendigo’s Children Report. Regular
14 inspire june 2012
reporting on the indicators means that
children’s needs remain high on the agenda
of local organisations and that the local
government is accountable to the public
for working to improve the outcomes for
children and youth in the area.
childhood service providers, schools, nongovernment organisations, health and
welfare services, city and urban planners
and workforce planners to share knowledge
to develop solutions that are based on
evidence and local knowledge.
The community of Frankston used the 2009
AEDI findings to identify North Frankston
as an area of high need. The suburb-level
data confirmed the local knowledge that
a network exclusively addressing the
needs of Frankston North was required,
and worked as evidence to support the
development of the North Frankston Early
Years Planning Group. As a result, North
Frankston has recently partnered with the
Extended School Hubs Pilot Project.
A local community’s AEDI results may be
affected if even one or two schools do not
participate in the 2012 AEDI, and may even
mean that some community results cannot
be released at all.
Both Frankston and Bendigo reported that
a measure like the AEDI, which allows
communities to track how an entire subpopulation is faring, is an invaluable tool
in bringing together governments, early
It is vital that all Victorian schools
participate in the 2012 AEDI data collection
so that local communities and government
can build on the good work that has
already been done and continue to improve
developmental outcomes for children.
For more information, contact Victorian
AeDI project manager cathie nolan at
nolan.catherine.m@edumail.vic.gov.au or
call 9651 3420.
eArLy CHiLDHOOD
Webbing children’s worlds
A collaborative approach to lesson planning at Dawson street preschool is helping create
curriculum webs and engage children and their families, reports Caroline reidy.
A DIVERSE community with a high
proportion of disadvantaged families,
Tullamarine in northwest Melbourne is an
area where engagement with early years
services is low. In her work to encourage
attendance and family engagement, Dawson
Street Preschool’s Lori Farchione-zappia
involves children, their parents and the
wider community in the direction of learning
development.
For this work she won the Victoria Teachers
Credit Union Outstanding Early Childhood
Teacher Award at the 2012 Victorian
Education Excellence Awards.
Much of Ms Farchione-zappia’s teaching
philosophy is drawn from the Reggio
Emilia educational approach. Originating
in northern Italy, this teaching method
encourages students to have control over the
direction of their own learning.
“Reggio Emilia focuses on family-centred
projects in which parents participate and
children are seen as capable learners, able
to direct their own learning,” she says.
“Teachers work alongside their students,
allowing them to express themselves and be
creative. Teachers look through the lense of
the child to see how they perceive their own
environment.”
Curriculum webs are key to helping Ms
Farchione-zappia achieve these educational
goals. Webbing places a strong emphasis
on honouring and documenting children’s
voices and including children in the planning
process for their own education.
“What I focus on is a collaborative approach
to webbing where I program plan with the
children,” she explains. “If I see interests
emerge in the children I’ll let them evolve with
the children’s responses. For example, at the
moment an interest has emerged in pirates so
what I do is I ask the children what they know
about pirates, what sort of projects they would
like to do and what they would like to learn.
The first step is finding out what knowledge
the children already have, then the things
they would like to find out and the things that
parents can help with. I create lesson plans
from there.
“At any one time in the classroom there
are many individual webs and smaller
group webs based on areas of interest,”
Ms Farchione-zappia adds. “Each web
will continue to evolve as long as student
interest remains.”
Key to Ms Farchione-zappia’s approach is
documenting her webs and capturing the
voices of each child in a learning journal,
which is then made available to families
to view daily. The journal provides an
account of learning, activities, reflections
and children’s comments and helps
parents connect with what their children
are doing at school and follow up these
interests at home.
Another example of webbing at
Dawson Street Preschool was creating
a connection with the local indigenous
community through projects where
murals, totem poles and indigenous
gardens were installed. Local Aboriginal
artists participated and involved children
through story times, art and games.
In consultation with children, families
and the community, Ms Farchione-zappia
also implemented a road safety education
program.
Ms Farchione-zappia’s work connects with
the practice principles of the Victorian
Early Years Learning and Development
Framework and as a result of her 2012
Victorian Education Excellence Awards’
win she now hopes to publish a book that
will inform other practitioners on webbing
as a method of curriculum development.
She also hopes to take part in a study
tour of Reggio Emilia in Italy to see how
schools there inspire and engage children.
For more information on Reggio emilia, visit reggioaustralia.org.au
inspire june 2012 15
Rewarding Excellence
On 18 May, DEECD celebrated the outstanding work
of teachers, principals, school support staff, early
childhood professionals, retiring school councillors
and community volunteers at the 2012 Victorian
Education Excellence Awards.
Eric Mitchell, Noble Park English Language School, and retiring
school councillor of 30 years, Russell Jackson, of Jackson
School, were two of 34 people recognised by Education Minister
Martin Dixon for their service to the education community.
Winners Chris Barry (Secondary) Lori Farchionezappia (Early Childhood) Kathleen Morris (Primary)
Michael Duckett (Disability) Ann Robinson
(Business Manager). Performing Arts Unit
soloist Janna Seeley.
Western Metropolitan
regional director
Katherine Henderson
congratulates finalist
Maria Burgess from the
Victorian College for
the Deaf.
Silverton Primary School principal Tony
Bryant tells DEECD Secretary Richard
Bolt how he used his $50 000 award for
Outstanding School Leadership in 2011. Entertainment was
provided by the DEECD
Performing Arts Unit
whose work will be
showcased in the State
School’s Spectacular in
September.
National Institute of College
Arts uses the awards
performance as part of its
student assessment.
Minister responsible
for Teaching Peter
Hall congratulates
Wilma Culton,
winner of the
Outstanding School
Leadership Award.
16 inspire June 2012
Finalist for the Outstanding Early
Childhood Development Award,
Doug Fargher (front).
Minister for Children and Early
Childhood Development Wendy
Lovell with Lori Farchione-zappia,
winner of the Victoria Teachers
Mutual Bank Outstanding Early
Childhood Development Award.
inspire June 2012 17
A winning
18 inspire june 2012
ViCtOriAn eDuCAtiOn eXCeLLenCe
CeLLenC
Ce AWAr
AWArDs
AWA
approach to inclusion
Manor Lakes p–12 College has developed a new vision for inclusive education that it hopes can
be adopted by other schools around the state, writes Caroline reidy.
Fast Facts
Who: Manor Lakes p–12 College
What: inclusive education Alliance
Model – winner of the 2012
Outstanding school Leadership
team Award
Why: to create whole-school
inclusion for all students, provide
up-skilling opportunities for
teachers and a ‘one stop shop’
for families
WINNER OF the Outstanding School
Leadership Team Award at the 2012
Victorian Education Excellence Awards,
Manor Lakes P–12 College is creating an
education environment that caters for all
learners.
As a new community of more than 1400
students, the Wyndham Vale school in
Melbourne’s west continues to focus on
what it means to be a developing school.
Prior to its opening in 2010, Manor Lakes
P–12 College was designed as a two-campus
school – one campus for mainstream
classes and one for special needs – before
deciding to take integration a step further.
“In fitting with our aim to become inclusive,
we’ve become one campus and lost that
‘special school’ notion,” explains assistant
principal Leeanne Savona (pictured above
with members of the leadership team).
“Instead, we have support centres for
students with special needs. Some students
are in those support centres for the
majority of their week, some spend half of
their time in a support centre and the other
half in regular classrooms. Each student is
different.
“We wanted something that was stronger
than integration,” she continues. “We’ve
created that culture of inclusion and it is
complete inclusion. Inclusive opportunities
aren’t just about the classroom; it’s the
whole-school culture. Manor Lakes P–12
College is a school for all students.”
Known as an Alliance Model, support
centre classes at the college are aligned
with regular classes as much as possible.
This enables positive, safe and flexible
learning environments, ensuring all
students feel accepted. The Alliance Model
encompasses the e5 Instructional Model
capabilities by promoting enquiry-based
learning, establishing shared learning
goals and strengthening connections.
“Our big aim is to have a support centre
classroom and a regular classroom working
permanently in alliance,” Ms Savona
explains. “So, you would have, for instance,
20 students in the regular classroom and
eight in the support classroom and two
teachers working in collaboration between
the groups.
“This not only helps the students feel
included, but is also up-skilling both
teachers. The mainstream teacher is
exposed to the world of special education
and how to differentiate and create the best
learning environment for special needs,
especially autism and Asperger’s, while the
special education teacher stays connected
with the mainstream world of teaching.”
To ensure all teachers at the school are
on the same page, incorporation of the
Alliance Model has been very much a
... continued on next page
inspire june 2012 19
ViCtOriAn eDuCAtiOn eXCeLLenCe AWArDs
team approach. The entire staff worked
with Western Metropolitan Region critical
friend and special education consultant
Professor Loretta Giorcelli in a consultative
process culminating in clear and agreed
behaviours that are expected of all staff.
All teachers also participated in extensive
professional development.
At present, the Alliance Model at Manor
Lakes P–12 operates up to Year 9 in support
centre classes and up to Year 10 in regular
classes. In preparation for its transition
to Years 11 and 12, the school is currently
developing a senior years model to include
VCE, VET, foundation and intermediate
VCAL and a life-skills-based curriculum.
This is in keeping with the school’s other
core aim of providing a ‘one-stop shop’ for
families,” says Ms Savona.
“A family might have three children, one
with complex needs, and they can all come
to the same school and all students will
have their needs met.”
Ms Savona says the success of the program
is already evident in a number of individual
student cases.
“One Prep student with special needs
started with us two years ago after no
local primary school would enrol him.
He began support centre classes, which
involved intensive intervention to make
him school ready. He is now full-time in a
Year 2 classroom. By Years 5 or 6 he may
again need some placement back in the
support centre, but that’s the great thing
20 inspire june 2012
about having this model – when a child
is enrolled it doesn’t matter if they’re a
support centre kid or a regular kid, they’re
all Manor Lakes students.”
Thanks to its 2012 Victorian Excellence
Award win, Manor Lakes P–12 College
plans to continue its work with Professor
Giorcelli. The school will combine its
winning grant with a research grant
received by principal Jason Small and
representatives will liaise with and visit
a number of schools in Australia and
overseas that have demonstrated success
with similar inclusive education models.
Ultimately, the school hopes to help other
Victorian schools adopt a similar program.
“What we find is that we’ve got a reputation
within the Wyndham area and Melbourne’s
west as being a school that can take any
child,” says Ms Savona. “We’d like to share
that with other schools, to give them the
confidence to educate any child.” I
For more information, visit www.manorlakesp12.vic.edu.au
ViCtOriAn eDuCAtiOn eXCeLLenCe AWArDs
Winners of the 2012
Education Excellence Awards
Lindsay Thompson Fellowship
narissa Leung
campbells creek Primary School
Loddon Mallee Region
Focus: Using ICT as a leveler for teachers and students in
rural and remote settings.
What she’ll do: Provide Victorian schools with increased
access to high-quality online professional learning
opportunities based on the innovative use of technology in
educational settings around the world. While undertaking this
research, Ms Leung will share her learnings with Victorian
teachers via online forums.
Outstanding School
Leadership Award
Leonie Anstey (left),
winner of the 2010
Fellowship, congratulates
narissa Leung, with
Minister Hall.
School Leadership Team Award
DeecD Secretary Richard
Bolt asks Wilma culton what
professional development she
intends to undertake.
Manor Lakes P–12 college
Western Metropolitan Region
Focus: Dream, believe, inspire – successful learning for all.
What they’ll do: Undertake local and international research to discover
best practice of inclusive curriculum from state, national and international
settings. The school will further its own approach to inclusive learning and
create a model that can be implemented by other schools to help engage
and challenge all students to learn and succeed.
Wilma culton
Serpell Primary School
eastern Metropolitan Region
Focus: How the best world education systems deliver reliable and highlevel student learning by preparing and supporting their leaders.
What she’ll do: Research how the most improved school systems in Asia
and North America design and structure leadership education. She will visit
and study formally with Michael Fullan and Andy Hargreaves in Ontario,
Canada, and Boston, USA, as part of her research into North American
school systems. She will continue to guide teachers to gain principal
positions, and support future leaders in schools.
... continued on next page
inspire june 2012 21
ViCtOriAn eDuCAtiOn eXCeLLenCe AWArDs
Victoria Teachers Mutual
Bank Outstanding Early
Childhood Teacher Award
... continued from previous page
Curriculum Innovation Award
Lori Farchione-zappia
Dawson Street Preschool
northern Metropolitan Region
Focus: Curriculum webs involving collaborative research and answering
questions asked by children.
What she’ll do: Visit the Italian school of Reggio Emilia, an early
learning environment pivotal to the whole community and publish a
book on webbing in Australia in the context of the Early Years Learning
Framework and National Quality Standards. Ms Farchione-zappia
hopes this will create a resource of innovative learning tools to support
children’s learning.
Bellaire Primary School
Barwon South Western Region
Focus: Empowering every student to actively participate in directing their
learning.
What they’ll do: Explore curriculum initiatives that link individual
students’ life experiences to integrated studies, enhancing authentic
learning. This includes doing some action research around experiential
learning for students in Prep to Year 2, such as the Reggio Emilia approach.
The school would like to create a global scan for other schools engaging
in this type of work and plans to increase its links with the Self Directed
Learning Coalition in Canada and the USA.
Minister Lovell and Victoria Teachers Mutual Bank director
John Scarlett congratulate Lori Farchione-zappia (left).
Victoria Teachers Mutual Bank Outstanding Primary Teacher Award
Kathleen Morris
Leopold Primary School
Barwon South Western Region
Focus: Connecting Victorian teachers and students to the
globe.
What she’ll do: Present with Los Angeles teacher Linda
Yollis at the International Society for Technology in Education
annual conference in San Diego, USA, and tour many of the
American schools with which her students have formed
online relationships through blogging, Skype and global
projects. Ms Morris hopes to set up a network focus group to
help other schools reap the benefits of global collaboration.
22 inspire june 2012
Mc Justin Shortal asks winner Kathleen
Morris about her forthcoming trip to San Diego.
ViCtOriAn eDuCAtiOn eXCeLLenCe AWArDs
Michael Duckett
Frankston Special
Developmental School
Southern Metropolitan Region
Focus: Social safety program for students with
disabilities.
What he’ll do: Collaborate further with educational
Michael Duckett (left)
accepts his award from
Victoria Teachers Mutual
Bank director John Scarlett
and Minister Dixon.
and professional universities to continue to develop
a series of audio-visual social safety modules for
students with intellectual disabilities. Mr Duckett plans
to ultimately create resources that can be shared with
other specialist schools.
bankmecu Outstanding Secondary
Teacher Award
bankmecu Outstanding
Business Manager Award
Ann Robinson
Tarneit Senior college
Western Metropolitan Region
Focus: Whole-brained business management.
What she’ll do: Undertake the Herrmann Brain Certified
Practitioner Course to help further implement and expand on the
culture of whole-brain thinking already in practice at Tarneit Senior
College. The approach supports educators in improving student
outcomes.
Filomena
Garrubbia from
bankmecu and
Minister Hall
congratulate
chris Barry.
chris Barry
Brentwood Secondary college
eastern Metropolitan Region
Focus: Aviation studies (Top Gun), Years 11 and 12.
What he’ll do: Extend a popular aviation program at Brentwood
Secondary College, which provides students with flying lessons and
aviation theory, to Years 11 and 12, and, ultimately, into other schools.
... continued on next page
2012 Education Excellence Awards winners
Victoria Teachers Mutual Bank Outstanding Teacher Award –
Disability and Additional Needs
inspire june 2012 23
ViCtOriAn eDuCAtiOn eXCeLLenCe AWArDs
... continued from previous page
Outstanding Education
Support Team Award
Partnerships with Families
and Communities Award
Dallas Brooks community School
northern Metropolitan Region
Focus: Connecting community – local to global.
What they’ll do: Continue their work in establishing programs to assist
in increasing attendance rates at kindergarten, improve literacy standards
in students entering Prep and link families with health services. They
will do this through strengthened communication processes, an Ultranet
design space, consultation, surveys and an evaluation project conducted
with Victoria University.
camelot Rise Primary School
eastern Metropolitan Region
Focus: Building the knowledge and capacity of education support staff to
better support student learning.
What they’ll do: Adopt a whole-school approach to effective wellbeing
and social skills practices and streamline processes to build an effective
teaching and learning network. The school will also undertake professional
learning through visits to exemplary schools that embrace technology
to support learning as well as explore techniques to calm students and
support social interactions.
Youth Pathways and Transitions Award
Benalla college
Hume Region
Focus: Improving parent involvement in pathways
planning.
What they’ll do: Explore successful pathways
models in school communities similar to Benalla,
nationally and internationally. This includes schools
in California and New York, USA, and Stockholm,
Sweden, which adopt successful family engagement
strategies. Findings from this research will then
be translated to strategic professional learning
for teachers and be incorporated into the school’s
Connect Parents program.
24 inspire june 2012
Hume regional
director Arthur
Townsend (left),
with Benalla’s
winning team.
spotlight on
literacy &
numeracy
English and Mathematics
eBookboxes
english and mathematics eBookboxes
bring together an array of quality
digital resources and teacher advice,
and model high-quality teaching
and learning practices. standard
eBookboxes can be used as a
starting point for teachers to build
their own quality learning sequences
to provide greater differentiation and
personalisation of learning for their
students.
sample elaborated eBookboxes have
been created by teachers to illustrate
in detail an approach they have taken
in developing a fully sequenced set
of student-focused online and offline
learning activities.
the flexibility of delivery offered through
Learning tasks in the ultranet enables
teachers to tailor and differentiate each
activity and assign it to individuals,
small groups or whole classes.
English eBookboxes
english eBookboxes are organised
using genres. using the VeLs as
the framework, each genre can be
explored through a variety of texts:
spoken, heard, read, viewed and
written. each text type can also be
explored at the whole text, sentence
and word levels. in the english domain,
texts and language constitute the
central and essential concepts. the
concept of texts focuses equally
on creating and analysing texts,
understanding and interpreting texts,
and moving beyond interpretation to
reflection and critical analysis.
Mathematics eBookboxes
Mathematics eBookboxes bring
together relevant research and a
range of interactive quality digital
learning objects organised around
key mathematical concepts, common
misunderstandings, related learning
goals and focus questions. each
mathematics eBookbox is organised
around a key mathematical concept
such as patterns and relationships,
transforming shapes and solids and
equivalence.
there are five eBookboxes for Level 5
english and 42 eBookboxes for maths
Levels 4 to 6 of the VeLs. there are
also eBookboxes for science and
languages. join the subject specific
ultranet eBookbox design spaces to
explore what is currently available.
• english eBookboxes no: 119973789
• Mathematics eBookboxes no:
66512121
• science eBookboxes no: 116166122
• indonesian eBookboxes no:
122726435
• japanese eBookboxes no:
124703110
State
Schools’
Relief
Supporting children and families
in government schools since 1930.
In 2012 support “your charity” as we
continue to help the thousands of
Victorian families struggling with the
cost of school attire and footwear.
1.
Hold
a
er
rm
Winter Wa
Fundraiser
Don’t leave kids out in the
cold this winter.
We’re asking all students to donate $2 to
help us continue to provide quality, warm
clothing and footwear to Victorian kids in
need. Visit www.ssr.net.au for ideas.
ONE OF THESE TRIPS
2. BOOK
WITH PEREGRINE AND HELP
STATE SCHOOLS’ RELIEF
With a percentage of the proceeds of these
trips being donated to SSR.
Borneo - Orangutans and Rainforest
1st July - 9th July 2012
$4,060.00 per person (including airfares)
China Explorer
22nd September - 3rd October 2012
$3,060.00 per person (including airfares)
Vietnam
23rd September - 3rd October 2012
$2,610.00 per person (including airfares)
Your friends!
Your time!
Your dream adventure!
Your trip!
To obtain an itinerary or register your interest
Your consultant: Julie Moloney
Phone No: 1300 854 439
Email: juliem@peregrineadventures.com
inspire june 2012 25
pArtnersHips
Bonding over books
the B5 program – Boys, Books, Blokes, Bytes and Balls –
commenced in 2009 as a short-term project as part of Literacy
and numeracy Week but is now a permanent fixture on the
Delacombe primary school calendar.
THE B5 Program brings together boys and
their fathers, a significant male relative
or for those without a close relative, an
enthusiastic volunteer, in a series of
activities that aim to increase student
health and wellbeing and boost the boys’
literacy skills.
Delacombe Primary School has embraced
and expanded the program since its
introduction three years ago as a response
to literacy data indicating that boys in Years
3 and 5 were not meeting benchmarks in
reading.
“This was compounded by students in
Years 5 and 6 not feeling connected to
school, their teachers or their peers,” says
principal Nadia Bettio. “Many students
found it difficult accessing mainstream
curriculum and it was felt these students
would benefit from the proposed project
and the positive mentoring that we
anticipated would form from the adult/
student relationships.”
Shortlisted for a 2010 Victorian Education
Excellence Award, the program has
developed a reading culture through
a series of activities at the school and
26 inspire june 2012
public library that reflects the style of
learning that appeals to boys and involves
significant males as positive role models
and reading partners.
“Central to the concept was the bringing
together of boys, their families and their
school within their public and school
libraries to share stories, talk about books
and engage in reading,” Ms Bettio explains.
“It can be used with groups of mixed ability,
with higher-achieving students providing
role modelling for others. The program
also focuses on culturally diverse groups.”
The program promotes books and reading
as enjoyable and empowering and seeks to
embed books and reading in the home. Free
books are provided to get the boys started
and the program is tied to the ongoing and
monitored B5 Program blog that aims to
keep boys informed and engaged with their
reading.
The B5 group meets one evening a week,
usually at the school or local library, and
engages in fun exercises designed to show
the students how to borrow books, read
together, and use computers, audio books,
dictionaries and other reference materials.
Fast Facts
Who: Delacombe primary school,
school focused youth service,
Central Highlands regional Library,
phoenix p–6 Community College
and Highlands Local Learning and
employment network (LLen)
What: male mentoring B5 program
– Boys, Books, Blokes, Bytes and
Balls
Why: to increase student health
and wellbeing and boost boys’
literacy skills
Outside of this, the group also participates
in ball-related activities such as attending
football and basketball games with special
addresses from senior players and coaches.
Every year the school also holds a breakfast
to launch the program with a special guest
speaker. Previous speakers have included
football coach and legend David Parkin,
this year it was comedian Charlie Pickering
(pictured right).
“We had more than 100 boys, blokes,
teachers and guests attend this year’s
pArtnersHips
breakfast launch. It was held in our new
multipurpose building and VET hospitality
students from Phoenix College catered,”
Ms Bettio says.
Ms Bettio says partnerships with a range
of local community organisations in
Ballarat, including the Uniting Church,
Central Highlands Regional Library, North
Ballarat Football Club, Ballarat Basketball
Association, local LLENs and Phoenix P–6
Community College, have made it possible
to embed the B5 Program in a practical and
meaningful way to boost male student’s
literacy skills. The program has also
increased family involvement in the school.
“The partnerships the school has formed
with local organisations are one of the
great benefits of the program. We are now
more connected to the local community as
well as our families. It’s great to see people
who have never been to the school visiting
and taking part in the program.”
Students, too, are enjoying the bonding
experiences created by taking part in the
program.
Fellow student, Monty, agrees: “I thought
it was the best program I’ve ever been
involved in. I really think my Pop and I have
bonded a lot better since the B5 Program.”
“The thing I like most is spending time with
my Dad. I think the program is awesome
because I have a wide variety of activities
to participate in,” says William.
Delcombe Primary School has plans
for female stud ents and their mums to
participate in a program called Mum’s
the Word. I
For more information, visit www.delacombeps.vic.edu.au or boysblokesbooks.edublogs.org
For more information on education partnerships, www.education.vic.gov.au/partnerships
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inspire june 2012 27
sCHOOL COMMunities
Recognising outstanding parents
each year, Victorian government principals and
school council presidents are invited to nominate
people who have made an outstanding
contribution in one or more areas of education
for the Community service Awards.
schools are also encouraged to nominate for the
Outstanding parent Awards, which recognise
the invaluable contributions made by parents
to their school communities and acknowledge
parent participation, their ideas and enthusiasm.
potential candidates are individuals involved in
connecting the school to the local community,
and may include a volunteer classroom helper
or the organiser of school events such as a
fundraiser.
potential candidates for this award may include
parent advocates, reading helpers, parent
class representatives, parent association or
school council members, library, canteen or
classroom helpers.
Outstanding Parent Awards
Amanda Daemen – Murrumbeena Primary School
Marion Breaks has maintained a long and
extensive commitment to St Albans East
Primary School. Ms Breaks started assisting
at the school when her children began there
in 1984, and continued to volunteer after
they left. She has assisted at the school for
29 years.
Amanda Daemen is an active
and involved member of
Murrumbeena Primary School.
She is a dedicated participant
in school activities, a class
representative, classroom helper,
supporter of fundraising, and a
previous member of the school
council and convenor of the
fundraising/social committee.
Angela Bayley – Yarragon Primary School
Jan Hagg – Templestowe College
Marion Breaks – St Albans East Primary School
Angela Bayley’s connection with
education in Yarragon stretches back
to her involvement in building a new
kindergarten on the school site. She
was kindergarten committee president,
and moved into school council as her
children entered primary school.
Ms Bayley has held the role of school
council president for six years.
Cameron Colley – Goroke P–12 College
Cameron Colley’s ‘How can I help?’
philosophy has seen him hold the role of
school council president for the past 10
years, with two years as a council member
before that. He has been responsible for
organising work experience, working bees
and the establishment of a trade centre,
providing much of his time to ensure
students have a broad range of experiences.
28 inspire june 2012
Jan Hagg has been involved with
the Templstowe College school
council for more than 10 years.
Through the college’s significant
growth over the past three years,
her contribution, advice and input
have been most valuable. She also
supports the music program as a
regular classroom volunteer.
Tammie Hudson – Coleraine Primary School
Tammie Hudson has been
heavily involved at Coleraine
Primary School since her son’s
enrolment. Always on hand
to make things happen, she
has assisted with sporting and
cooking programs, graduation
dinners and school fetes.
sCHOOL COMMunities
and community members
Community Service Awards
Tony Peardon – Wanganui Park Secondary College
Tony Peardon has provided 20 years of
outstanding service to the Wanganui
Park Secondary College school council,
with 17 years as president. Throughout
his time, he has been an innovative and
inspirational leader, constantly looking
for opportunities to involve other
members of the school community.
Colin Mallett – Alphington Primary School
Colin Mallett has given tirelessly
to the Alphington Primary School
community over many years, first
as a parent and now as part of
the broader school community.
His commitment has helped to
increase the opportunities for
students to learn in a productive
and sustainable school
environment.
Andrea Rose – Ranfurly Primary School
Andrea Rose has been involved
in the Ranfurly Primary School
parents club, school council and as
a classroom volunteer for the past 11
years. Her direct contribution and
leadership of others has resulted
in a dramatic improvement in the
teaching and learning resources
available at the school.
Bill McKellar – Anglesea Primary School
Retiree Bill McKellar has worked
with the Anglesea Primary School
for the past six years. His energy
and enthusiasm and his passion
for propagating and planting, have
made a significant contribution to
the education of the students and
to the betterment of the school and
local community.
Peter Stableford – Viewbank College
Peter Stableford has been an active
member of the school council for over six
years, including three years as president.
He has participated on two principal
selection panels, and speaks at parent
information evenings, college assemblies
and Year 12 valedictory dinners.
... continued on next page
Don’t miss out on these great
seminars and workshops
Tony Stead
Thursday 14 June
Bridges to Independence: Guided Reading
with Nonfiction
Andrew Fuller
Thursday 2 August
Guerrilla Tactics for Teachers
For All Teachers
For Kindergarten to Year 6 Teachers
Lane Clark
Friday 15 June
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For All Teachers *Cost $249. Registrations 8.30am.
Session time 9.00am to 4.00pm
Kathy Walker
Tuesday 24 July
Linking the Early Childhood Years with Early
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For Prep to Year 6 Teachers
Dayle Van Zanten
Tuesday 21 August
Establishing a Public Speaking Culture in
Your Classroom and School
For Year 3 to Year 8 Teachers
Rob Vingerhoets
Friday 10 August
Beverly Derewianka
Maths – Catering for the Range of Abilities in Thursday 23 August
your Classroom
Connecting with Grammar – The Australian
For Prep to Year 8 Teachers
Curriculum
For Prep to Year 10 Teachers
Bill Rogers
Thursday 16 August
Developing Effective Teaching Skills
For All Teachers
Also in Term 3 – Deb Sukarna, Sue Fine,
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inspire june 2012 29
sCHOOL COMMunities
Retiring School Councillors
... from previous page
Keith Milburn – Benalla 31 Primary School
Keith Milburn has been working at Benalla 31 Primary School
as a volunteer for more than six years. He is an integral part
of the schools inclusion and wellbeing strategy, providing
support and encouragement for students.
Eric Mitchell – Noble Park English Language School
Eric Mitchell has made an outstanding
contribution to Victorian education
since 1946. He has been involved in
a wide range of community projects,
working tirelessly to provide positive
learning experiences for students, and
has acted as school council president for
21 years.
Phillip Morley – Werribee Primary School
Phillip Morley has been involved in the
Werribee school community for 17 years,
and worked with the Wyndham school
council network since 2001 helping
to organise presentations for school
councillors and the annual network
dinner.
Stuart Sorrell – Croydon Community School
Victoria Police senior constable Stuart
Sorrell has a strong sense of social justice
and an even stronger belief that everybody
can affect positive change within the
community. He has worked closely with
many programs for disengaged students
across the region in order to rebuild
respectful relationships between young
people and police.
Verena Speers – Warragul Primary School
Verena Speers has been an outstanding
volunteer at Warragul Primary School
for more than 17 years. She began
volunteering in 1995 and continues to
support the school and students on an
almost-daily basis.
Sandy Watkins – Beaufort Primary School
Over the last 12 years, Sandy Watkins has
taken a leadership role in Beaufort Primary
School’s swimming and water safety
program. As a scientist, she also volunteers
her time to support the school’s science
program.
Visit www.education.vic.gov.au/veea
30 inspire june 2012
Russell Jackson
Jackson School – 30 Years Service
russell jackson turns 97 in August.
He lives across the street from jackson
school – formerly st Albans special school
– and although he has never officially
been appointed, he has been acting in a
caretaker role at the school for the last 30
years.
no matter what job is asked of him,
Mr jackson is always on hand to oversee or
assist where required. With a background
in engineering, he handles all of the school’s maintenance, construction
and various other projects, helping to ensure that students have the
best possible environment in which to learn and grow.
Mr jackson’s son, russ jnr, has also been on the school council and
held the role of president for some time.
As the name suggests, due to the outstanding commitment and
dedication of the jackson family, the st Albans special school changed
its name to jackson school in the late 1980s.
Mark Browne
Huntly Primary School – 16 Years Service
Stephen chessells
Dhurringile Primary School – 19 Years Service
Andrew Gibson
Western Port Secondary College – 23 Years Service
Ian Hamono
Kyabram P-12 College – 21 Years Service
cathy Kettle
Elliminyt Primary School – 16 Years Service
Anne Linton
Woodlands Primary School – 15 Years Service
Donald MacKinnon
Yarra Hills Secondary College – 21 Years Service
David Melrose
Wanganui Park Secondary College – 15 Years Service
Desmond Melton
Dunolly Primary School – 16 Years Service
Ian nalder
Wanganui Park Secondary College – 16 Years Service
Phil Pallot
Hallam Senior College – 16 Years Service
Ron Patterson
Melton Specialist School – 16 Years Service
Frank Peiffer
Wedderburn College – 19 Years Service
Karen Ridley
Moe (Albert St) Primary School – 21 Years Service
Sylvia Williams
Tootgarook Primary School – 15 Years Service
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LAnGuAGes
The Greek
experience
earlier this year Greek language teachers from around Australia, including seven from Victoria,
were selected to take part in an intensive in-country study program to Greece.
UNIqUE INTERNATIONAL experiences are available for
practising and pre-service language teachers to improve their
language and cultural knowledge through the Endeavour Language
Teacher Fellowships (ELTF).
Funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Education,
Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), ELTF offers a
three-week intensive professional learning opportunity.
The program includes field trips and cultural activities with a
focus on increasing the language proficiency of practising and preservice language teachers, and promotes the value of languages
education in Australian schools. It also strengthens networking
opportunities among languages and trainee languages teachers on
a state and national level and throughout Europe, Asia and the
Middle East.
In January this year 12 practising Greek language teachers from
around Australia, including seven from Victoria, were selected to
take part in an intensive in-country study program to Greece. This
is the first time since 2005 that Greece has been included in the
ELTF program, which was conducted at the renowned Aristotle
University of Thessaloniki, a sister city to Melbourne.
The language study component of the program focused primarily
on improving language proficiency, rather than teaching
methodologies. Awardees had the opportunity to visit a variety
of historical and cultural sites, make local contacts and immerse
themselves in the language through day-to-day interactions.
Along with the other awardees, Elizabeth Kokkinakis (pictured),
a Greek language teacher at Strathmore Secondary College, says
she returned with enhanced Greek language skills and cultural
knowledge, many new professional connections and a renewed
passion for the teaching of Greek.
“Being able to immerse myself in the Greek language and culture
for three weeks exceeded expectation,” she says.
32 inspire june 2012
“The study program was delivered by dedicated and inspiring
teachers, giving me the opportunity to network with academic
facilitators of the university and other institutions and providing
me with the confidence I needed to include new resources and
ideas in my lesson planning.
“In addition, I was able to take part in a number of workshops,
field trips and school visits offered by the university, and I was
able to improve my language acquisition skills by conversing with
native speakers of all age groups.
“The ELTF program has not only broadened my teaching horizons,
it has also provided me with a plethora of memories, networks
and friends that will never be forgotten. It was a very positive
experience for everyone involved,” she adds.
“I was moved to be in such surroundings defined by timeless
architecture and the restoration process of historical sites and
ruins. I witnessed the beauty that remains in both urban and rural
areas of northern Greece and as a result, I continue to be inspired
by my cultural heritage, something that I am indeed grateful for.”
LAnGuAGes
A highlight of the program for study tour group leader Vicky
Marinelis, a senior policy officer in Languages EAL Multicultural
Education Strategy Division, Strategy Review Group, was the
meeting with Australia’s Ambassador to Greece Jenny Bloomfield.
“As a Victorian herself, Ms Bloomfield was very interested in the
Victorian Government’s Vision for Languages Education and was
keen to support joint initiatives with the Victorian Government,
particularly in light of Thessaloniki being declared the European
Youth capital for 2014.”
The Australian Government has identified Greek as a language to
be developed as part of the Australian Curriculum. Greek is spoken
at home by some 250,000 Australians, and is among the top 10
languages studied at Australian schools, in addition to community
language schools.
In 2013, ELTF study programs will be offered to practising teachers
in the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, German,
Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish.
Applications for 2013 Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowships
close 25 June 2012. I
For more information, visit www.eltf.austraining.com.au
or contact Danielle McAuliffe, International education
Division, at mcauliffe.danielle.d@edumail.vic.gov.au or
call 9637 2067.
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inspire june 2012 33
LAnGuAGes
Intercultural,
intergenerational
encounters
encounters
Fast Facts
Who: Monash university, DeeCD,
Office of Multicultural Affairs and
Citizenship, independent schools
Victoria, Council on the Ageing,
Glen Waverley secondary College
and Wantirna College
What: Australian research
Council linkage project:
Connecting younger second
language learners and older
bilinguals: intergenerational,
intercultural encounters and
second language development
Why: to give younger Australians
learning a second language
and older bilingual people
the opportunity to meet and
converse, and to assess the
effects on the students’ second
language proficiency, conversation
management skills, language
attitudes, intercultural knowledge
and attitudes to ageing
34 inspire june 2012
this Monash university research project brings together
secondary school learners of Chinese, German and spanish
with older speakers of the language, with impressive results.
GLEN WAVERLEY Secondary College
and Wantirna College have both seen
an improvement in language interest
and language skills following student
participation in regular meetings with older
bilingual members of their communities.
The VCE students of Chinese, German
and Spanish are participating in the
Australian Research Council’s linkage
project ‘Connecting younger second
language learners and older bilinguals:
Intergenerational, intercultural encounters
and second language development’.
Through participation in the project
with Monash University, the schools are
assisting with the development of an
innovative, diverse and effective languages
education program that it is hoped other
schools will be able adopt.
The language students and seniors from
culturally and linguistically diverse
backgrounds meet fortnightly for hour-long
discussions about a range of topics, from
history and migration to family and food.
Regular meetings offer students reallife experience and purposeful language
practice with older native speakers. The
interactions complement formal learning
by increasing student exposure time to
authentic language use, assisting their
acquisition of conversational skills.
The languages project started in 2010
and will run until the end of this year.
At Wantirna College, Spanish speaking
seniors and students of Spanish met
throughout 2010 and 2011. At Glen
Waverley Secondary College the number
of participants in the Chinese language
program increased from 20 in the first
year to four classes participating in 2011
and 2012. This means every VCE language
student at the school is now taking part.
Gerard Bate, Languages coordinator at
Glen Waverley Secondary College, says the
program has not only proved very popular,
but has also been highly successful.
“The students have responded extremely
well. They appreciate the efforts the older
LAnGuAGes
(Left) Glen Waverley Secondary college
chinese language students and their
language mentors visit the Museum of
Australian chinese History together.
language speakers go to coming to
school every two weeks in order to help
them with their speaking skills and
contribute to their experience.
“The research conducted at Monash
University through analysis of the
recorded conversations shows that our
students have increased their fluency
through the one-on-one contact and
have also increased their confidence.”
Monash University has found that
interactions
enhance
students’
language proficiency and increase
conversational management skills
while also having a positive impact
on students’ enthusiasm for language
learning. Engaging with people from a
different age group fosters intercultural
skills and improves student perception
of ageing in a multicultural society.
The project also fosters community
partnerships,
embraces
cultural
diversity and strengthens solidarity
At Wantirna college the program links Vce students of
Spanish with older speakers of the language.
between generations across shared language “The students can relate the stories to their
and culture.
own experiences of immigration and the
Mr Bate says Glen Waverley Secondary College issues elderly people face, such as loneliness
students have learnt to respect the stories and
experiences of the older members of society.
... continued on next page
Helping you help
your students
JULY & AUgUst CoUrses & events
9.30am – 3.30pm Melbourne: 2, 3, 4
Each day & 5 July
Melbourne: 11, 18, &
25 August & 1 Sept
Phonemic Awareness & Phonics With Maureen Pollard ($30 Members/$45 Non-members) 7.00pm – 9.00pm Melbourne: 24 July
9.30am – 3.30pm
Warragul: 7 August
Just the Strategies … to Help Struggling Students!
Melbourne: 28 August
With Michelle Hutchison ($250 Flat Rate)
4 Day SPELD Teacher Training Course in Specific Learning Difficulties
You will become skilled in testing, understanding, and implementing practical teaching
strategies to help primary and secondary aged students who are experiencing learning
difficulties. With Michelle Hutchison and Dr Daryl Greaves ($990 Flat Rate)
The Three Tiers of Teaching Literacy in the Early Years
7.00pm – 9.00pm Melbourne: 9 August
Visual Verbalising With Nan Sheils (Rossbourne House Speech Pathologist )
7.30pm – 9.30pm Melbourne: 19 August
With Maureen Pollard and Helen Kirkland ($30 Members/$45 Non-members)
($30 Members/$45 Non-members)
Bookings are essential and space is limited.
Enquires/queries can be made to the SPELD Victoria office
on (03) 9489 4344 but registrations must be done on line.
Membership discounts apply.
Certificates given for PD attendance.
inspire june 2012 35
LAnGuAGes
... from previous page
chinese language students at Glen
Waverley Secondary college met
with older bilingual speakers from
their community.
and isolation, which is compounded by
language difficulties,” he says.
The project also promotes active and
positive ageing for the older volunteers.
It engages them in volunteering and
provides active opportunities for social
participation. The research team found
evidence of significant improvements in
senior citizens’ quality of life, health and
wellbeing.
As a result of the growing number of
Chinese participants, Chinese seniors
independently set up their own association,
the Monash Senior Chinese Volunteer
Service centre, to administer about 100
Chinese senior-student pairs across two
schools this year.
The Monash University research team,
which includes Dr Marisa Cordella and
Dr Hui Huang from the Faculty of Arts,
and Professor Collette Browning of the
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health
Sciences, have created a kit and detailed
study template to help other schools adopt
the program. These resources are available
online.
36 inspire june 2012
Glen Waverley Secondary College also
hopes to continue the program, with Mr
Bates noting that logistics remain the main
barrier. “It does take some organisation to
have 80 elderly people at school every two
weeks. So far this has been made possible
by a generous grant obtained by the
university.” I
For more information, visit www.arts.monash.edu.au/intergenerational/schools
VCAL
Young mums
VCAL program
A new community education program is helping young mums with parenting skills while giving
them the opportunity to earn a secondary school certificate, writes Jane Metlikovec.
YOUNG MUM Mel Whiting is back
studying for the first time in years,
thanks to a pioneering new VCAL
program.
The 20-year-old from Reservoir is
among 15 students attending the
inaugural Young Mums VCAL class, run
by Preston Reservoir Adult Community
Education at the Merrilands Community
Centre.
“I haven’t been to school since Year 9,
but coming back to study has just been
fantastic,” Ms Whiting says.
The VCAL course has been specifically
tailored to suit young mums by focusing
on practical activities designed around
parenting.
Students learn to cook nutritious meals
for kids, organise their own playgroups,
write their own children’s books
and also learn parenting skills from
visiting experts from groups including
Breastfeeding Australia, Playgroups
Australia and local Maternal and Child
Health nurses.
going to do further certificates in childcare
and become a childcare worker.”
Mel, who has a two-year-old son, says the
best thing about going back to school is
working towards earning a secondary school
certificate, while making new friends with
other like-minded young mums.
Preston Reservoir Adult Community
Education (PRACE) youth programs
manager Jane Davey created the course, and
says the reception had been great.
“It’s been great making new friends with
people who have had similar experiences
to myself while also learning so many new
things,” she says.
As part of the multi-faceted program,
students can also undertake Certificate II
qualifications in childcare or hospitality
alongside their VCAL.
Students do the majority of study online
at home three days per week, and attend
Merrilands Community Centre on Thursdays
and Fridays.
“Being able to bring our kids a day a week is
just great,” Ms Whiting says.
“I’m loving the course, the homework,
everything. After I complete my VCAL, I’m
“We have had so much positive feedback
from the community. It’s just been amazing,”
she says.
Higher Education and Skills Minister Peter
Hall officially launched the program on
Thursday 26 April.
“Education is the key to opportunity and this
new program is a great example of a Learn
Local education provider supporting young
mums in the community to go back to study,
learn skills, build careers and be the best
parents and role models they can be,” Mr
Hall said.
For more information, visit
prace.acfe.vic.edu.au
inspire june 2012 37
sCienCe AnD HeALtH
Securing science pathways
Building curriculum links between school and university level science, technology, engineering
and maths is the motivation behind the uni Bridges pilot program, writes Caroline reidy.
Fast Facts
Who: Mill park secondary
College, Bendigo senior
secondary College, reservoir
High school, La trobe university,
DeeCD pathways, participation
and youth Division
What: the uni Bridges pilot
linking school-based studies with
university visits, programs and
tertiary pathways
Why: to lay the foundations for
future scientific careers among
senior secondary students
PREVENTING AND curing diseases is the
central focus of Uni Bridges science classes
at Mill Park Secondary College, Bendigo
Senior Secondary College and Reservoir
High School.
“There is an explicit focus in the project
on building curriculum links between
VELS, VCE studies and studies in sciences,
technology, engineering and maths (STEM)
at La Trobe University.”
Uni Bridges is a joint project between
the three schools, DEECD and La Trobe
University. Through linking school-based
studies with university visits and programs
it is hoped the pilot will lay the foundations
for future scientific careers among students,
particularly those from groups underrepresented in university enrolments.
All schools are participating in a threeyear pilot. At Mill Park the 2012 program
involves just Year 10s, in 2013 it will involve
Year 10s and 11s. By 2014, Uni Bridges will
involve students in Years 10, 11 and 12.
It targets students who might not otherwise
consider science as a career and aims to
use the theme of preventing and curing
disease to engage and build aspirations and
capacity.
“Mill Park Secondary College saw Uni
Bridges as an opportunity to engage
students in a science-themed curriculum
relevant to them, in partnership with La
Trobe University,” says Melissa Stephens,
the school’s Uni Bridges project manager.
38 inspire june 2012
“The initial cohort of students either applied
to be a part of the program or were chosen
based on subject choices that fit the theme
‘preventing and curing disease’,” says Ms
Stephens.
Students are grouped together for English,
maths, science and the core electives
‘doctor, doctor’ and Health and Human
Development.
“Each subject has learning modules that
specifically focus on the ‘preventing
and curing diseases’ theme and we
have then linked these modules with
sCienCe AnD HeALtH
Direct tertiary links
La trobe university is offering
students who successfully
complete the uni Bridges
program entry into the following
science and health sciences
degrees and diplomas, via an
alternate entry system that does
not require an AtAr. students
must meet the university’s
standard entry requirements.
• Bachelor of science (MeL;
Be)
activities, speakers and practical sessions
at La Trobe University or the college,”
says Ms Stephens.
“To date, there has been an orientation
day held at La Trobe and students have
also attended a lecture on medical ethics
that ties in with the English text My
Sister’s Keeper. At school students have
also had a mica paramedic come and
share his experiences. This was great as it
was a real-life example that directly linked
with the curriculum in the ‘maths of the
human body’ unit.
“Other events planned for the remainder
of the year include a workshop and
practical session at the university on
immunology and disease working
alongside academics, senior biology staff
and PhD students to gain an overview of
the immune response, as well an insight
into global problems related to disease
and community protection.”
• Bachelor of Agricultural
science (MeL)
• Bachelor of Biological
science (Be; MeL)
• Bachelor of Health sciences
(Be; MeL), with the proviso
that students complete units
3 & 4 Biology
• Diploma of Health science
(Be)
... continued on next page
inspire june 2012 39
sCienCe AnD HeALtH
... continued from previous page
The school will also offer a practical session on
nanoscience, where students will gain a hands-on
understanding of the basic concepts and current
research in nanotechnology. A biomedical patientmonitoring workshop will see students solder together
a printed circuit board (PCB) with a microcontroller
system that provides measurements of pulse and
temperature.
“The students will also tour La Trobe’s state of the
art x-ray science and surface science laboratories
and access the Virtual Beam Line, the university’s
multimedia portal to the Australian Synchrotron,” adds
Ms Stephens.
“In addition, a guest speaker from the Peter MacCallum
Cancer Institute will be visiting the college and speaking
to students about her role as the head of nutrition in
relation to the nutrition of cancer patients.”
The program is coordinated by a reference group
chaired by Professor Richard Teese from The University
of Melbourne, and includes the principals of the
three schools, Dr Julie Jackson, Pro Vice Chancellor,
Education Partnerships at La Trobe University and
representatives from DEECD and the VCAA.
VCe bridges to uni
At Bendigo senior secondary College – a year 11
and 12 school – the uni Bridges program has been
integrated into the VCe.
“We link VCe outcomes to the uni Bridges theme
‘curing disease’,” explains Cherie fist, teacher and
uni Bridges manager. “We visit La trobe university,
Bendigo on a regular basis to do practical work in
science laboratories and listen to lectures.
“We recognised the uni Bridges program
as an exciting opportunity to engage a broad range
of students in a science pathway by using the theme
to create connections and cross curricular links with
a number of subjects.
“teachers from each subject collaborate and plan the
work. it’s about understanding the theory behind the
cause of disease and linking a disease to each VCe
area of study including english, Maths and Biology. We
worked on curing cancer and diabetes in semester 1,
and have focused on cholera and arsenic poisoning
40 inspire june 2012
in semester 2. We decided on each disease on the
basis of how it fitted the Biology VCe outcomes.”
interested students were interviewed before being
accepted into the uni Bridges course. they needed
to demonstrate an interest in science and health
sciences and have elected Biology, english and a
Maths subject among their VCe choices. participating
uni Bridges students have since gone on to show
strong interest in health science pathways and degree
options.
“Working closely with La trobe university, in particular,
our local Bendigo campus, the potential to consider
alternative university entry to the traditional AtAr was
something we were keen for our students to be a part
of,” explains Ms fist.
“We are a college that embraces innovation and
seeks opportunities that provide choices for students
to assist them in meeting their individual learning
needs and pathways choices.”
sCienCe AnD HeALtH
Rural and regional VCE students
are invited to apply for an MSRF
university scholarship worth
more than $45,000.
Applications close 30th July.
To learn more, visit:
http://www.msrf.org.au
http:
“La Trobe University welcomes the opportunity to work with
DEECD and partner schools in this innovative program and that is
changing the way teaching and learning is conceived in secondary
schools and in the university. We are confident of success and
look forward to assisting in the extension of this program to other
schools in the future,” Dr Jackson says.
“Through these meetings we are working together on developing
the program,” explains Ms Stephens. “Our aim is that the learning
modules developed will be shared across the schools and across
year levels. We have also set up a ning, which all students and
teachers involved in the program, along with many members from
La Trobe University, have joined and this has allowed for sharing
and collaboration and provides students and staff with a unique
opportunity to access La Trobe academics.”
Student response has also been promising, fuelling the likelihood
of an ongoing program at Mill Park Secondary College, Ms
Stephens adds.
“The students seem quite positive and feel special that they are
involved in this program. They have really enjoyed the external
links with La Trobe University and are looking forward to the more
hands-on activities and practical session we have planned for later
in the year. Students have really appreciated the guest speakers
at school as they are connecting with people in the community
and hearing how science and maths is used in everyday careers.
Students have bonded really well as a group and we are confident
that they will continue with the Uni Bridges program in Years 11
and 12.” I
The Body Investigators
Drama Incursion For Prep to 6
Students Become Full Body Investigators (F.B.I Agents)
In this fun drama workshop children are shrunk down to
investigate an unhealthy body system using costumes, drama
and movement. Students then
explore what is required
for a healthy body system
and look at the simple
connection between the
different systems.
Students wear costumes
representing the brain,
lungs, heart and intestines.
Workshops run for 1 hour at
your school for a max of 30
students per session.
www.thedramatoolbox.com.au
Red blood
cells
Ph: (03) 9870 1060
inspire june 2012 41
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
DiGitAL
resOurCes
great digital learning resources on
Awesome stories: disasters
rEsourCE Id: 2CYu8d
www.awesomestories.com/disasters
includes videos, images, audio, documents,
teacher tools and lesson plans that explore
significant events, including the san Francisco
earthquake, the Black Death and the ill-fated
Columbia space shuttle.
Emergency Management Australia
disasters in a curriculum context
rEsourCE Id: JQ4LC3
www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/curriculum/
pathfinders/disasters
Dedicated resources on curriculumrelevant man-made and natural disasters
with tools for use across english, science
and geography.
Channel one news: natural disasters
rEsourCE Id: V3M8p3
www.em.gov.au/sites/schools
rEsourCE Id: u9L29Q
http://news.channelone.com/news/specials/disaster
A collection of education-focused resources
covering bushfires, droughts, heatwaves, floods
and more. start with Get the Facts (8nGDF9)
then check out satellite maps in Disaster
Mapper (ZBJ524) and Bushfires (XKrZn3).
Find out more about natural disasters, including
tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes
and disaster relief. Make your own volcano. Take
part in online quizzes to test your knowledge.
Search Ultranet endorsed content to find quality digital resources to support your learning program.
Resources include interactives, videos, images and websites. Visit https://ultranet.vic.edu.au
To share your story, contact Russell Blackie at blackie.russell.r@edumail.vic.gov.au
42 inspire june 2012
DiGitAL resOurCes
Disasters
natural disasters
rEsourCE Id: A22YEh
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7533964.stm
national geographic: Forces of nature
rEsourCE Id: 2FrVxZ
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/
natural-disasters
Why does the earth move? BBC science
presents animated guides to the origin of
earthquakes and other natural disasters
including hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes
and tsunamis.
Learn more about earthquakes, volcanoes,
tornadoes, tsunamis and hurricanes through
maps, fantastic photos and 3D animations,
then take control of them with the interactive
features.
have you discovered World Book yet?
World Book encyclopedia is now available online as
part of the edusTAr V4 secondary software image.
Fire safe Kids
rEsourCE Id: spL4d4
http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/kids/projects/index.htm#eLearning
Learn how to be bushfire safe by completing
tasks and identifying fire hazards. Take a quiz,
check the fact sheets and learn about fire
safety indoors.
This well-regarded reference includes World Book
advanced with citation builder and a saved research
facility.
When the edusTAr image is loaded on a DeeCD
pC, notebook or netbook, access to World Book
encyclopedia is enabled from an icon on the desktop.
Teachers can also subscribe to the regular newsletter:
www.worldbook.com.au/newsletters.htm#subscriber
using Qr codes
Quick response (Qr) codes are a convenient way of accessing web links but can also include text and phone
numbers.
The web links on this page can be accessed in the usual way or by using a smartphone or the webcam in a
netbook, notebook or desktop computer. A Qr code reading app is required for a phone. Free Qr computer
software can be downloaded at www.dansl.net/blog/?p=256
To generate your own Qr codes, visit www.qrstuff.com/index.html
inspire june 2012 43
DiGitAL resOurCes
Big Day Away
the Melbourne–
Maribyrnong network’s
targeted ultranet
sessions have been
a huge success with
students and teachers
continuing to find new
and interesting ways to
make the most of this
collaborative resource.
Fast Facts
Who: ultranet coach estelle pizer,
and 13 primary, secondary and
specialist schools
What: Big Day Away
Why: to assist teachers to
discover and reflect on what areas
of practice they need to change
to purposefully incorporate digital
learning within and across the
curriculum
WHILE THE Big Day Out is a well-known
fixture on Melbourne’s calendar, Ultranet
coach Estelle Pizer has great success
creating an exciting learning experience
for Western Metropolitan region schools
with the Ultranet-focused Big Day Away
events.
Based on encouraging feedback from
colleagues in the Melbourne–Maribyrnong
network, Ms Pizer, has created online
classroom templates (Prep to Year 2,
Years 3 to 6, secondary, specialist) that
systematically explore digital pedagogy
and the use of quality digital content in
the classroom. The templates have led
to many schools having a collaborative
space ensuring consistency for students,
teachers and parents.
While some students had limited access
to these spaces due to the number of
computers in the classroom, teachers also
needed time to discover and reflect on what
areas of practice they needed to change to
purposefully incorporate digital practices
within and across the curriculum. Ms Pizer
says the Big Day Away (BDA) was created
in response to these issues and has proven
to be a great success.
44 inspire june 2012
“It was obvious when visiting schools that
students were loving using the Ultranet
outside of the classroom as a means of
learning about whatever they wanted to
learn about whenever they wanted to learn
it. The focus of the BDA was to foster this
independence and enable them to become
lifelong learners no matter what was
occurring in their school, class or life and
to discover ways of embedding this digital
learning practice in the classroom,” she
explains.
The BDA was held weekly throughout 2011.
Every Thursday, 15 students and up to
three teachers from a different school in the
Melbourne–Maribyrnong area were taken
by bus, at no cost, to the Footscray North
Primary School professional development
centre to participate in Ultranet sessions
based on the interests and knowledge of
the students.
The students explored collaborating,
communicating and creating through the
Ultranet, eduSTAR and Web 2.0 in a oneto-one flexible and personalised learning,
multi-device environment that included the
use of 15 donated netbooks, iPod touches,
easispeak microphones and flip cameras.
DiGitAL resOurCes
Big Day Away schools
Carlton primary school
“We had two sessions. During session one,
the students explored the basics, such as
logging in, before joining the Big Day
Away space (#115629507) and sharing
what they wanted to learn via an answer
garden and page comments. They then
went outside with iPod touches and took
photos and, using Microsoft AutoCollage
on eduSTAR, they created an AutoCollage
and uploaded it to their Ultranet portfolio.
“In session two, the students worked
through questions from the morning
session – personalised learning time –
then it was time to get creative in their
digital learning space. All students wanted
to create, create, create,” Ms Pizer says.
“They made slideshows and games using
3D or animation, and they learned to
change the background on their space to
make it flashy. The teachers, too, had a
A
C
S
USTRALIAN
AREERS
ERVICE
great time. They attended as learners
and then returned to their schools to
lead instruction. Many principals and
school leaders also dropped by our BDA
sessions after receiving enthusiastic
text messages from staff,” she adds.
Carlton Gardens primary school
“All up, we had 2285 visits to our BDA
sessions with 300 kids, so they are
using the Ultranet and they like it. Best
of all, they are continuing to come up
with different ways to use it,” Ms Pizer
says.
footscray West primary school
“Having an online classroom is
great,” she continues, “the students
really love it. The kids from Dinjerra
Primary School say they love the
Ultranet because they can learn about
the world like never before. All the
FUSE resources are there, all the new
Dinjerra primary school
footscray primary school
footscray north primary school
Gilmore College for Girls
Kensington primary school
Kingsville primary school
north Melbourne primary
school
rosamond special school
Wembley primary school
yarraville West primary school
... continued next page
ACS Career Adviser Seminars
A FREE event for all Australian Career Advisers
The ACS Seminars are a must-attend professional development event for any
career practitioner. The seminars showcase a fantastic variety of presenters
from a range of industries.
Attend this FREE one day seminar to:
• Develop your industry knowledge
• Network with colleagues in your area
• Discover new career pathways
• Meet local and national industry representatives
• Discuss opportunities for your students and clients
REGISTER NOW
When: July and August 2012
Where: Hobart, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth
*Travel Reimbursement is available (Check the website for more details)
To register visit: www.GoodUniGuide.com.au/ACS
For further information email acs@hobsons.com.au or Freecall 1800 682 133
inspire june 2012 45
DiGitAL resOurCes
... continued from previous page
partnerships are all on the templates and
are easy to find and use. It’s a systematic
way to lift everybody’s capacity across a
school.”
Ms Pizer says students often re-visit the
BDA collaborative space to ask questions,
access new content and ideas and
collaborate across schools.
“Rather than being tech gurus, these
students are sharing and creating new
ways of learning in their classroom. Some
students have started a digital writer’s
notebook to store all the multimedia that
they create or that inspires them to write.
Others use wallwisher as a daily reminder
or vokis to set and reflect on learning goals.
“These are shared on the BDA space so
other students can start using them in
their classrooms. Students and teachers
regularly ask for more BDA sessions as
they have been a very successful strategy in
generating excitement about the Ultranet
across a network of schools and ensuring
it is embedded in classroom practice.” I
Big Day Away feedback
“We are taught some cool upgrades on
the Big Day Away space when they come
out. It made maths my favourite subject
because all the activities were really fun
and all I needed to do was log on to the
Ultranet, which is easy. Did I mention that
learning was presented in a very, very fun
way?”
Finn, carlton Gardens Primary School
“I like Big Day Away because it helps me
with my learning and teaches me new
things from around the world. It also helps
the teachers to teach us new things, like
how to help the kids with learning.”
Jacklyne, Dinjerra Primary School
“Last year when we were asked to use
Ultranet I wasn’t sure how to use it, but
after the Big Day Away I had a better
understanding. All the Year 9s then
completed an integrated project where
For more information, contact estelle Pizer at pizer.estelle.s@edumail.vic.gov.au
46 inspire june 2012
we asked the question, “Why is Footscray
a winner?” We had to use Ultranet to
upload our video advertisements of
Footscray to provide feedback to each
other and to chat with our classmates
and teachers.”
Khadija, Gilmore college for Girls
“As a teacher I thought the BDA was an
excellent way to put the Ultranet on the
map! It made students feel special and
valued that they were chosen and was
handy having some knowledgeable kids
back in the classroom. It was great seeing
the enjoyment kids got out of going to
professional development off campus
and interact with some of the Footscray
North PS students at play time – not the
intended purpose of the day, but a lovely
added bonus.”
Lisa Baker, Wembley Primary School
DiGitAL resOurCes
research on
interactive games
the latest research commissioned by the interactive Games & entertainment
Association (iGeA) reveals that Australian parents are increasingly embracing
computer and video games as an educational tool.
ThE DigiTal australia 2012 report conducted by Bond
University found that four in five parents with children under
18 years old play games and of these parents, 88 per cent play
with their children. Furthermore, nine in 10 of these parents say
games are educational and three in four actively use games as an
educational tool with their children.
The report found that parents are seeing their children receive
numerous educational benefits from playing computer and video
games including learning about technology, maths, science,
planning, language, work, life and society in general.
iGEA CEO Ron Curry says video games are increasingly embraced
as educational tools not only by parents but also by teachers and
university lecturers.
“Educational games bring the fun, engaging and challenging
elements of video games together with a learning or informative
component. Whether it’s at home or in the classroom, we’re
seeing a lot more people use the appeal of video games to make
learning fun.”
In 2011, Education Minister Martin Dixon released findings
from DEECD’s innovating with Technology 2011 report, which
highlights the positive role computer games play in student
learning.
“Once thought of as a distraction to students, this report shows that
computer games are now cementing their place in the classroom
as important learning tools for all the right reasons,” Mr Dixon
said.
“The early feedback from the 40 schools involved in this year-long
trial has been overwhelmingly positive, with the initial reports
from schools showing that while digital games were fun, they also
held vast educational value and generated student interest in ways
that more traditional methods hadn’t.”
Students at Fitzroy north Primary School played games such as
Sim city 4 and civilization as part of their Humanities and Science
subjects.
simply engaging students; it encourages them to experiment, to
share, to develop, to publish and to work together,” says teacher
Kynan Robinson.
Last year, Lynette Barr, a Year 5 and 6 teacher at Pentland Primary
School, received an Outstanding Primary Teacher Award for
her work in investigating the power of games-based learning in
literacy and numeracy. Lynette Barr said, “Using online maths
games such as Lure of the Labyrinth has been such a hit with my
students. They are more willing to take risks and explore other
areas of the curriculum as well as help other students learn.”
Other key findings of the Digital Australia report include:
• 79 per cent of parents are always or most of the time present
when buying video games for their children
Examples of video games being used in the classroom are included
below:
• Australian gamers are playing video games moderately with 57
per cent playing either daily or every day
Fitzroy North Primary School has seen the benefits of using
computer and video games when its Years 5 and 6 students
played games such as Sim City 4 and Civilization as part of their
Humanities and Science subjects.
• 59 per cent of Australian gamers play up to an hour at one time
and only three per cent play for five hours or more in one sitting
“I am a big believer in using games in education as games
absolutely add to the learning experience. It goes further than
• The average Australian gamer is 32 years old.
For more information, visit www.igea.net
inspire june 2012 47
DiGitAL resOurCes
All aboard the ultranet
With teachers already online and students increasingly embracing the ultranet, the focus
has moved to bringing parents on-board, reports Caroline reidy.
Fast Facts
Who: nichols point primary
school, Bellaire primary
school, truganina primary
school, Leongatha primary
school and pleasant street
primary school
What: ultranet trial to provide
online report cards for parents
Why: to encourage Victorian
government schools to report
to parents via the ultranet and
bring more parents on-board
with the system’s general use
48 inspire june 2012
THIS YEAR, five Victorian primary schools
commenced a trial using the Ultranet to
provide online report cards to parents.
At least one class from each school is
participating in the trial, with teachers also
continuing to provide parents with a hard
copy report.
All teachers in Victorian government
schools currently have access to the Ultranet
online learning and sharing space. Schools
are gradually bringing students and parents
online. The Ultranet will ultimately connect
50,000 teachers, 500,000 students and
one million parents.
This trial aims to provide all schools with
advice and feedback on the functionality
and process for producing Ultranet report
cards. Feedback will be sought from a
reference group, as well as parents, students
and staff at the trial schools.
Assistant principal Fiona Arnold says
Nichols Point Primary has adopted the
Ultranet student reporting trial across
the entire school in the hope of bringing
parents on-board permanently.
“Our school has made a commitment to
report to parents using the Ultranet across
our whole school, including Preps, and to
The Ultranet will provide parents with more ultimately cease providing parents with a
detailed and timely access to information hard copy report.
allowing them to monitor and support “This is a huge undertaking and we have
their child’s learning, including attendance begun the process already with all students
records, learning progress information, being logged onto the Ultranet and
teacher feedback, in-class or at-home teachers assigning learning tasks, providing
tasks
and
timetable
information. feedback, assigning VELS progression
Introduction of this content is also a points and creating collaborative and
design spaces.”
gradual process across schools.
DiGitAL resOurCes
The process is helped by the school’s use of
one-to-one devices in Years 1 to 6, as well
as a trolley of netbooks for Preps and a
trolley of iPads for whole-school use. Each
staff member has a laptop and iPad and
access to either an interactive white board
or a short-throw projector.
In order to better reach families the school
has formed a working party of parents, all
of which are registered on the Ultranet.
“They have become parent lead users
holding help sessions to assist other
parents through the registration process,”
explains Ms Arnold. “The focus of the
parent help sessions will change once we
have a large uptake of parents logged on to
the Ultranet.”
The school also hosted an ICT family
barbeque night that allowed students to
show their parents the Ultranet, including
their express space and learning goals,
which for Years 1 to 6 have been placed
on the Ultranet. Nichols Point Primary
School’s ICT innovator and leading teacher
Troy Moncur says the evening proved very
successful.
“Some of the things I saw were iPads hooked
up to projectors, iPads remoting into
laptops, great collaborative spaces, learner
tasks, photo and video taking, uploading on
the go to Twitter and Facebook and more.
“We had a large number of parents attend
and the positive feedback was amazing
considering the change we are asking
parents to undertake.”
Mr Moncur adds that students also
responded positively to the opportunity to
showcase the potential of the Ultranet to
their parents.
“I watched students navigate their way
through the Ultranet like it was second
... continued on next page
Expressions of Interest
to participate in a Focus Group
The Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.) program
(as seen in “Inspire” May 2012 p56-57) seeks to give senior secondary students an
in-hospital snapshot of the possible outcomes of risk-taking behaviour.
Expressions of interest to join a focus group which will guide the development of
program materials to extend P.A.R.T.Y.’s impact are invited.
If you would be interested in participating please contact Kate Scott, P.A.R.T.Y. Education Manager
at kate.scott@alfred.org.au or call 9076 8814
Further information about the P.A.R.T.Y. program can be found at
www.partymelbourne.net.au
Please note that the program is fully booked for 2012.
inspire june 2012 49
DiGitAL resOurCes
... continued from previous page
nature. The language used and the
confidence shown by one Year 1 boy
when sharing his express space, tasks
and collaborative spaces, blew me away.
He was most excited to show me his
learning goal voki that he and his Year 5/6
buddy created; another great example of
excellent practice.”
Mr
Moncur
says
the
program’s
implementation at Nichols Point Primary
School can essentially be broken up into
three phases: promotion and explaining
the school’s new direction with reporting;
students showing their parents what this
looks like through their eyes; and getting
parents onto the Ultranet.
“The first of these was met with excitement
and enthusiasm, the second was equal
excitement but with added competence,
and the third is a medium-to-long-term
project.
“As the momentum grows so will the
parent take up. The beauty is that parents
will not get anything less than they have
had before. We as a school are creating our
own path that others will be able follow.”
The school now has 199 parents registered
on the Ultranet. Going forward, there is
potential for teachers to meet with parents
using collaborative online spaces, as well
changes to traditional report writing.
The Ultranet student reporting trial will
be extended to more primary schools,
as well as select secondary schools in
Semester Two. Ms Arnold hopes other
schools can learn from the Nichols Point
Primary School experience.
“We are at a point where we are willing
to and excited about sharing our journey
with staff from other schools in Semester
Two to help them with their Ultranet
journey.” I
For more information, and links to the school’s ultranet, Facebook and Twitter updates, visit
www.nicholspointps.com or click on the QR code (right).
50 inspire june 2012
first persOn
Helping troubled
youths to go the distance
ruth Williams is a year 11 foundation english teacher at the Distance education
Centre Victoria and works with boys at the Melbourne youth justice Centre.
THE DISTANCE Education Centre Victoria
(DECV) has had a long association with the
Melbourne Youth Justice Centre (MYJC),
which is designed to accommodate 15 to
17-year-old males through four units and
a separate multi-purpose unit that houses
remand prisoners. It is a partnership
that has, and still is, providing options
for clients who wish to continue their
academic studies during the time of their
incarceration.
Students who wish to continue their
studies are encouraged to do so through the
DECV’s Inmate Education Program. Young
offenders must be under 21 on enrolment.
The inmate education coordinator liaises
with subject teachers and the education
officers based in prisons. Tutoring visits
are also organised when and where they
are allowed within the regulations of the
relevant institutions.
While all DECV students are expected
to submit their work weekly, or provide
an explanation as to why they haven’t
submitted any work, it is understood that
the circumstances under which the boys/
young men at MYJC are living makes this
more challenging than for the majority of
other students.
There are times when the MYJC-enrolled
students do not have access to computers.
Textbooks required to complete the course
work often take several weeks to arrive,
and from time to time, pens are removed
from all clients if they are being used
for the wrong reasons. Add to the mix,
court attendance, day leave, sickness,
lock downs, lack of motivation, or simple
‘bad behaviour’, there are a myriad of
compounding factors that may make it
seem almost impossible for these students
to achieve success.
However look through a wider lens and
it becomes apparent that there are many
plusses to be gained from this partnership.
One of the positive implementations made
in 2008 was for the Department of Human
Services (DHS) to employ someone to
regularly visit the boys studying with
DECV.
I have held this position since its inception,
and from my observations I believe that
this initiative has been of great assistance
to the students and to education inmate
coordinator Denis Holliday by providing
continuity between the two institutions.
The DECV motto is ‘flexible learning for
all’. In working with the MYJC-enrolled
students, we have worked hard to create as
flexible a program as possible and continue
to evaluate the way we work with the boys
and the ways in which we can improve
their outcomes.
One MYJC student who was enrolled with
us for two years started off doing Year 9
English and only submitted four weeks
of work. In the second year, he took on
Year 11 Foundation English and Maths,
and succeeded in passing both subjects.
Because he had been out of school for
several years his ability to apply himself
was severely affected. By the second year,
he had finally regained the ability to focus.
In fact, after one session of two hours, he
declared it to be the longest period of time
he had ever spent doing school work.
Although this was an unusual case in that
this boy was at MYJC longer than most
would be, it provides an example of the
hidden benefits to continuing to offer
DECV as an alternative.
Many of the MYJC boys have had less than
positive experiences in a regular school
environment. I’d like to think that we can
restore even the smallest bit of faith in
their perception of school and of teachers
and most important of all, of learning.
Even though they may only complete one
week of work over a semester, they are
at least aware that it is possible to study
via distance. This may be one of the only
options that works for them, considering
many have been out of school for many
years or did little while they were at school.
There is potential for the MYJC student to
take something from their experience of
studying via distance and have it change
their sense of what they are capable of
achieving, whether it is the boy in remand
who grows mustard seeds on his window
sill for science, the boy who created a
plan for how he would like his backyard
landscaped once he is released, or the boy
who, in exploring pregnancy and birth in
health studies, was able to gain insight into
what it must have been like for his sister to
have given birth to his niece and nephew.
I don’t think we can underestimate what an
individual will take from even the smallest
exposure to what is possible when one
continues to learn.
inspire june 2012 51
sister sCHOOLs
Launch of Sister
Schools Lighthouse Grants
ten Victorian schools will share in $70,000 to expand their sister-school programs and open
the door to a new world of global connections and learning.
MORE THAN 380 Victorian government
schools currently have sister-school
relationships with schools in about 25
countries.
and cultural awareness such an important
part of our culturally diverse community,”
Education Minister Martin Dixon said at the
launch of the program on 26 March.
This year, 10 schools have been awarded
$7000 each through the Sister Schools
Lighthouse Grants program to enhance
their existing sister-school relationships
and develop resources for all schools.
“Sister-school programs like the one
operating at Northcote High School are
a great way for students to not only gain
an understanding of other cultures and
languages but to also build their own
awareness of world issues and events.
Northcote High School is among the schools
to receive a $7000 Victorian Government
grant
to
expand
its
sister-school
relationships with Huaibei Number One
High School in China and the Romanazzi
Institute in Italy.
“Victoria’s population comprises people who
speak more than 230 different languages
and dialects, making languages education
52 inspire june 2012
“Getting to know their peers in China is
just a video chat away for Northcote High
students who are fast proving that the
world really is their oyster and that learning
transcends the traditional boundaries of the
classroom.
Mr Dixon said it was fantastic to see the
students using online communication tools
such as Skype to conduct video chat
sessions and become more familiar
with what their counterparts in China
are learning and different methods of
teaching.
“Importantly, students will have
the opportunity to get involved in
community projects overseas and
teachers participating in professional
exchange programs overseas will share
their learning when they return to
Victoria.”
The Sister Schools Lighthouse Grants
program
supports
the
Victorian
Government’s languages focus, which
will see all government school students
from Prep to Year 10 learn a language by
2025, starting with Preps by 2015.
sister sCHOOLs
‘HANDS-ON’
EDUCATIONAL
SHOWS
TO CHOOSE
FROM!
www.wildaction.com.au
AUSTRALIAN
ANIMALS
• Belmont High school – Liceo Classico Banfi, italy
• Bright p–12 College – Wirtschaftschule Alpenland,
Germany and Gamagori Junior High, Japan
• essendon Keilor College – Tran Dai nghia Gifted
High school, Vietnam
• Frankston High school – Kawaguchi Kita High
school, Japan and Lycee Jean Zay, France
• Gladstone park secondary College – Blaise
pascal, italy
• neerim District secondary College – no.11 Juijian
school, China
ENDANGERED
SPECIES
COMPLEMENTING
VELS
ELS
E
LS STAGES O
OF LEARN
LEARNING
R ING
RN
Booking hotline: 0419 385 245
Want to teach
home economics?
Are you interested in teaching students life skills in food,
nutrition, family, health and human development? Do
you want to become a qualified home economics, Food and
Technology and Health and Human Development teacher?
Our Vocational Graduate Diploma of Home
Economics Education (21868VIC) is designed
especially for teachers wishing to upgrade
their qualifications.
Key features:
• northcote High school – Huaibei High school,
China and romanazzi institute, italy
Nationally recognised qualification
• red Cliffs secondary College– Dali prefecture
Middle school, China
Flexible delivery
• Taylors Lakes secondary College – Mito Junior
High, italy
For more information, contact Andrew Willimott at
willimott.andrew.g@edumail.vic.gov.au or call 9637 3457.
BACKYARD
BIODIVERSITY
D CL
• Alkira secondary College – nanjing Baijiahu
secondary school, China
S
AL R
NIMO YOU M!
E AIRECT ATSSROO
the schools awarded grants are:
ROCKPOOL
DISCOVERY
LIV
education Minister Martin Dixon took part in a Skype session with
students from northcote High School.
INSECT-AMANIA & MINI
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Endorsed by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT)
Fast track opportunities
New intake each semester
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inspire june 2012 53
sister sCHOOLs
Connecting
Hands-on learning in a
science lesson about
electricity and magnetism.
54 inspire june 2012
with China
sister sCHOOLs
Bimbadeen Heights primary school principal Leigh Johansen paints a picture of a
recent study tour to suzhou in rural China.
AT THE end of Term One I was privileged
to spend 12 days in China along with 35
other principals and teachers from schools
across the Gippsland region and Yarra
Ranges and Yarra Valley networks.
This was the Combined Gippsland/Eastern
Metropolitan Region Rural China Study
Tour to Suzhou. The mantra drummed
into us at all of our pre-departure briefings
was to keep an open mind. Years of
preconceptions and ignorance made this
very good advice.
Several preconceptions were challenged
and others were confirmed. We must
pay tribute to those Victorian educators
who had gone to China before us.
(Contrasts in the Classroom, inspire
June 2011, pps 76–77). Not only were
they worthy ambassadors for Victorian
government schools that smoothed the
way, they also provided great advice
and suggestions as we prepared for the
experience that proved to be a career
highlight.
We experienced a very modern China that is
developing at an amazing rate, and started
to build relationships with impressive and
dedicated educators from some incredible
schools. We discovered that the children
in whose homes we were graciously hosted
are just like children here: they can, and do,
have tantrums when they don’t get their own
way and their parents have to deal with their
whinging over issues like homework and
getting ready for school. The parents generally
respond in the same way we do, which is to
... continued next page
resources and ideas for your classroom, school and career
Caulfield Racecourse
Friday 10 and Saturday 11 August 2012, 10am – 3pm
Register for your free pass at www.educationshow.com.au
a great opportunity for professional development and to access resources,
products and services for your classroom, school and career
exhibitors with
• resources, products and services
for primary and secondary schools
and educators
seminars on topics including
• teaching and learning programs
• learning technologies
• leadership and school improvement
• classroom management
and engagement
• the Australian Curriculum
inspire june 2012 55
sister sCHOOLs
... continued from previous page
Bimbadeen Heights Primary
School principal Leigh
Johansen (second left) with
colleagues natalie Lowe and
Matt Laws and assistant
principals of Wujiang Shengze
experimental Primary School.
were very impressed that not a minute of
learning time was wasted and lessons were
well planned and paced with a good balance
of teacher instruction and group activitybased learning. We also observed really
positive relationships between teachers and
students with genuine warmth, friendship
and respect.
use a range of strategies from positive spoke with the leadership teams, teachers
and students. Structure and organisation
encouragement to frustrated orders.
was different, confirming one of our
An important part of our trip was time
preconceptions. They do have classes of
spent in Shanghai where, in addition to
more than 40 children, who are amazingly
experiencing the culture for the first time,
well disciplined. We observed the whole
we had a seminar at the East China Normal
school doing morning exercises in unison, a
University with leading educational thinker
flag raising ceremony at assembly that was
and leader Professor Zhao Zhongjian.
carried out with precision, and students
Professor Zhao has been a leading academic
jogging off to class after assembly in perfect
behind much of the educational changes
time. School uniforms were not compulsory
that have taken place in China over the past and aside from a small red scarf called the
10 to 15 years. In summary, he said that the ‘corner of the flag’, most children wore
old ways of education in China just won’t casual clothes.
work any more and education must change.
Even at primary school level they have
China’s new approach reforms the receptive specialist teachers for every subject. We
styles of mechanical training and learning
by rote and encourages students to have
hands-on, authentic experiences, teaching
them to develop critical analysis, creativity
and innovation. Teachers understand that
they must develop a culture of learning-tolearn and life-long learning.
The highlight for our group was, without
doubt, visiting schools and developing
sister-school relationships. For Bimbadeen
Heights Primary School, that relationship
is with Wujiang Shengze Experimental
Primary School. This multi-campus school,
with a total of 5115 students across four
campuses with 292 teachers, is a place
where we were treated like honoured guests
and valued professionals.
We visited several schools and observed
classrooms and some outstanding lessons,
56 inspire june 2012
The friendships made and links developed
from our first visit to China will continue.
It is an association that will take time to
fully develop, however there is strong
commitment from all levels, including both
of our governments, education systems,
schools and teachers.
We look forward to staff from Shengze
visiting Bimbadeen Heights in the future
and also look forward to our return visit.
In between, we will use the technology to
stay in touch with our colleagues and the
children at Shengze Experimental Primary
School and are confident of achieving our
goal of building greater knowledge, insights
and understanding about Asia (China in
particular), better preparing our students to
be outstanding global citizens and leaders
of the next generation. I
Winners photographed with John Scarlett,
Director, Victoria Teachers Mutual Bank
Victoria Teachers Mutual Bank
congratulates winners of the 2012
Victorian Education Excellence Awards
Victoria Teachers Mutual Bank Outstanding Teacher Award – Disability and Additional Needs Winner
Michael Duckett, Frankston Developmental School, Southern Metropolitan Region
Victoria Teachers Mutual Bank Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher Award Winner
Lori Farchione-zappia, Dawson Street Preschool, Northern Metropolitan Region
Victoria Teachers Mutual Bank Outstanding Primary Teacher Award Winner
Kathleen Morris, Leopold Primary School, Barwon South West Region
We would like to recognise and commend all of our nominees for their commitment and contribution to
providing excellence in our education system.
Victoria Teachers Limited
ABN 44 087 651 769
AFSL/Australian Credit Licence Number 240 960
reGiOnAL rOunDup
good news from
around the state
canterbury Girls’ Secondary college
n If there are any budding Collette Dinnigans, Carla
Zampattis or Alannah Hills at Canterbury Girls’
Secondary College in the Eastern Metropolitan
region, they got the chance to showcase their talents
at the school’s Big Gig event.
The day’s main attraction was the Retro Runway
fashion parade featuring 56 garments designed and
produced by students. Outfits ranged from period
couture to sophisticated Manhattan-style catwalk
fashion and the wacky Eco-Spin category where
would-be designers created outfits made from
recycled materials such as garbage bags, plastic and
even paper doilies.
Textiles teacher Chris Watts says, “All the teams
produced very impressive entries but some were
outstanding because of the clever use of materials,
such as the Year 8 team (pictured) that used bin
liners for their ballerina tutus.”
A biannual event that made its debut in 2010, the
Big Gig aims to raise funds for the redevelopment of
the school hall into a state-of-the-art multifunctional
learning and performing arts centre. The new facility
has been tentatively christened The GIG Centre
(Girls Inspire Greatness).
Tootgarook Primary School
n P–2 students at Tootgarook Primary
School in the Southern Metropolitan
region have been actively involved in
learning about their local waterways and
coastal environment. The school is lucky
enough to have access to a community
classroom based in a boat shed on the
foreshore within 200 metres of the
school.
Rangers from the Capel Sound Foreshore
have been teaching the students about
the local environment, with members of
Melbourne Water assisting with lessons
about waterbugs and salt and fresh water.
“Most recently, we took a charter boat to
view seals in their natural habitat, while
back on the land students got up close
and personal with other marine life via
touch tanks,” says teacher Alicia Perkins.
58 inspire june 2012
reGiOnAL rOunDup
Tarneit Senior college
Orbost Secondary college
n Tarneit Senior College in the Western Metropolitan region held
a luncheon to commemorate ANZAC Day and 15-year-old student
Cameron Mansell was lucky enough to spend some quality time
talking to 89-year-old Ralph Proctor who served in the Australian
Air Force and was chosen for the Special 38 Group, a key component
of which was supplying the French Resistance with ammunition
during World War Two.
A few days after the luncheon Cameron received a signed copy of
Mr Proctor’s 2005 autobiography aim high: Proc’s Journey. “I was
both surprised and humbled and I feel incredibly honoured to have
had the opportunity to meet such an Australian hero,” Cameron says.
Tarneit Senior College is a new Year 10 to 12 school that opened
its doors to around 70 students in February. Only Year 10 students
will attend during 2012.
n Gippsland is renowned for its beautiful beaches, rivers,
forests and mountains and Orbost Secondary College has
taken the opportunity to base its curriculum around its
beautiful local environment.
The Year 8 Sustainability Unit was selected as a finalist in
last year’s Regional Community Achievement Awards and
has helped students to build awareness of environmental
conservation as well as social, economical, political and
cultural sustainability.
“It also enables them to explore the relationships between
sustainability and different cultures – Indigenous cultures,
small-town Australian culture, global cultures, and multicultural societies,” says teacher Adrian Konieczny.
Some of the projects the students have instigated include
collecting local litter and removing bottled water from the
canteen.
East Gippsland Water, local water treatment plants, Water
Watch, Power-works, CERES, the Moogji Council, Snowy
River Hydro and parents support the unit, which incorporates
team teaching, practical lessons, professional speakers,
excursions and the delivery of a Student Learning Passport
based on a work folio.
The world of LIVE BUTTERFLIES up close!
Life cycle / Biodiversity / Amazing facts
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inspire june 2012 59
reGiOnAL rOunDup
Westbreen Primary School
n Legendary AFL coach Tom Hafey
visited Westbreen Primary School in the
Northern Metropolitan region to launch
their new initiative, the STRIVE program,
which promotes and encourages students
to support, trust, respect, involve, value
and encourage each other.
Teacher Karen Wileman says staff and
students alike were enthralled and
inspired by Mr Hafey’s anecdotes and his
positive outlook on life.
“He had some very strong messages
about the kind of person we should each
strive to be. He stressed to the students to
always do your best, keep fit, never give
up, love and appreciate your family and
friends, support each other and always
follow your dreams.
“He also stressed the importance of
being part of an effective team and the
responsibilities that go with that. He
gave the students many examples of
experiences in his life as a footballer,
coach, father, friend and mentor to
support his positive messages,” she says.
Rochester Primary School
n Rochester Primary School in the
Loddon Mallee region has developed a
new spelling program that is run with
the assistance of parent volunteers.
Teacher Leesa Ross says the school was
thrilled with the response, and a dozen
parents are now working with small
groups of students in half-hour weekly
lessons that have been planned by the
teachers with step-by-step instructions
and an explicit focus on, for example,
grasping short or long vowel sounds.
“Our Year 5 and 6 teachers were looking
at ways to cater more for individual
students. A literacy consultant showed
us the Spelling Inventory test, which
is very explicit and can identify the
exact areas where students struggle,
such as consonant digraphs, short
vowels, long vowels, and several other
common areas. Once we had a clearer
direction, we decided to ask for parental
assistance.
which aims to consolidate the students’
skills in this area.
staff, but most importantly the support
“The lesson is broken into four or five
areas, with the main part being a game,
“I am extremely proud of the way this
has started off, the commitment from our
in and help us to improve in this area,”
60 inspire june 2012
from the parents who are willing to come
she says.
reGiOnAL rOunDup
Queenscliff Primary School
n queenscliff Primary School students
were very keen to share their knowledge
of the local Barwon South Western
environment when they explored the Swan
Bay mudflats with a group of students from
Nagoya in Japan.
The Japanese students were hosted by the
City of Greater Geelong as part of a wetland
partnership the city has with Nagoya.
The students were in Geelong for five
days visiting various wetlands including,
Armstrong Creek and Serindip Sanctuary.
They were keen to study the similarities
and differences between the local wetlands
and the Fujimae Tidal Flats in Nagoya.
queenscliff Primary School has a major
focus on environmental learning having
received NAB Schools First seed funding in
2011 in conjunction with the DPI Marine
and Freshwater Discovery Centre in
queensliff. This has allowed the school to
employ a specialist environmental teacher
and to make use of their purpose-built
environmental learning centre.
une
ay
M
28
Schools’ Program 2012
27 August to 30 August
Melbourne Writers Festival
2012 Schools’ Program is
jam-packed with more than
50 exciting events for young
people from upper primary
to VCE.
Join us to explore issues of
identity, meet international
illustrators, discover new
technology, delve into fantasy
and be arrested by poetry.
For bookings call 03 9999
1199. Visit www.mwf.com.au
to book or find out more.
Major Partners
Regional Tour:
Melbourne Writers
Festival hits the road!
27 August to 31 August
Level 1 to 6 Science Teacher?
We’ve got your Term 2 Learning
Focus covered.
Mildura, Wangaratta,
KynEton and EChuCa.
Hands-on scientific stations make learning water
conservation, use and re-use fun and personal.
For the full teacher’s guide and details of our
week of World Environment Day activities, visit
www.nwm.vic.gov.au or www.ccma.vic.gov.au
Free talks and workshops for
young people with acclaimed
national and international
authors davina Bell, Cath
Crowley, Brian Falkner and
tim Pegler.
For booking information,
visit www.mwf.com.au
regional tour Partners
J
- 27
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26 Moorabool Street, Geelong
Tel: 03 5272 4701
Email: nwminfo@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
Students $4 – Teachers and Supervisors Free
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inspire june 2012 61
CLAssifieDs
Retirements
CLARK, GRAEME
Mill Park Heights Primary School Council & Staff
announce Graeme’s retirement after 33 years of
primary teaching. We congratulate Graeme on
his valued contribution to the education of
Victorian children.
HARRIS, MARIA
Mill Park Heights Primary School Council & Staff
announce Maria’s retirement after 35 years of
primary teaching. We congratulate Maria on her
valued contribution to the education of Victorian
children.
RETIRING SOON?
Volunteers for Isolated Students’ Education
recruits retired teachers to assist families
with their Distance Education Program. Travel
and accommodation provided in return for six
weeks teaching. Register at vise.org.au
or George Murdoch 03 9017 5439 Ken Weeks
03 9876 2680
Reunions
ENGRAVED GLASSES
Have your reunion or commemorative message
permanently laser engraved on glassware.
Contact Ian Newman, telephone/fax 9645 8699,
or PO Box 5164, Middle Park Vic 3206.
MILL PARK HEIGHTS PS 20TH
Mill Park Heights Primary School is celebrating
its 20th Birthday in 2012. “Back to School” for
students & ex-staff 4.30pm-6.00pm Friday 22nd
June. Following the “Back to School” session, a
“Back to School Dinner” will be held for past and
present staff from 6.00pm-10.00pm. Also
coming up later in the year, a “Gala Event
Dinner” @ $60 per head for ex-staff, students
18 years & over, parents and current staff at La
Mirage Epping 7.00pm Saturday 12th October.
Tables of 10. Any photos, memorabilia or
information would be greatly appreciated.
Contact kenny.jason.p@edumail.vic.gov.au or
9436 8866.
MILL PARK SC 20 YEAR REUNION
Mill Park Secondary College is celebrating 20
years of Creating Futures. To mark the occasion
the present day staff invites all founding teachers
and staff members of the College to a 20 Year
Staff Reunion. The evening will feature speeches
by former principal Adrian Bennetto and current
principal Trish Horner. EVENT DETAILS: Date:
Thursday 21st June 2012. Time: 5:30—7:30.
Venue: The Avondale Library. Middle Years
Campus, Moorhead Drive, Mill Park Cost: $20 a
head for finger food and drinks RSVP: by 15th
June 2012 to reunion@millparksc.vic.edu.au
Or to Sharon Polgar on 9407 9700
MORELAND PS 125TH
Moreland Primary School will be celebrating its
125-year anniversary in June. All former
students, ex-staff and members of the public are
invited to a BBQ and open-day on Sunday, the
17th of June from 11:00am to 3:00pm. There
will also be a sealing of the new time capsule to
be opened on the 150th anniversary. We hope to
see you there to celebrate the history of
Moreland Primary School.
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62 inspire june 2012
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Advertising
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E: ed.advertising@edumail.vic.gov.au
T: Diane Mifsud: (03) 9637 2862
email: education@mymac.com.au
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Models and kits. Custom sizes made. Please
contact Ozzie Traders. Ph: 03 5367 1519,
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APPLYING FOR JOBS?
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selection. Contact Geoff: 03 5998 4932 or
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PROFESSIONAL APPLICATIONS PREPARED
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Min charge: $30
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E: ed.advertising@edumail.vic.gov.au
T: Diane Mifsud: (03) 9637 2862
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telephone systems, IT/computer items. Contact
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inspire june 2012 63
ON
Contact Gowrie Victoria
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03 9349 3050 or email
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Phone Melbourne owner 9545 0505. Website:
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FRANCE, PROVENCE
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BLINDS REPAIRED AND NEW
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Maintenance service and laundering, GP Blinds,
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Holiday
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Smartsalary_Inspire_Classified_Jan12.indd
29/03/2012
1
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...turn to page 33 for
more information
MELBOURNE URBAN CAMP – RICHMOND HILL
We offer safe, secure, accommodation with a
choice of styles and tariffs. We are centrally
located in Richmond, with free coach parking in
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Call for a free quote. Tel 03 9428 6501 Email
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WARANGA HOLIDAY CAMP
We are situated 4 kms from Rushworth, a 70
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for further details, 5856 1243. Email info@
lakewaranga.com
Please note that School
Appointments are no longer
published as part of Inspire and
can now be found online at
www.education.vic.gov.
au/hrweb/careers/vacs/
advacsScH.htm
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Financial Planning
professional development
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Boo! Surprising ways to turn kids on to reading
Supporting children with autism
Bookings: www.vate.org.au
Tuesday 12 June, collingwood
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The Puzzle That Makes
Bookings: www.pdplus.com.au
Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 July, nunawading
Thursday 26 July, Thursday 9 August,
Thursday 30 August and
Thursday 13 September, collingwood
Monday 30 July, Moe
4. Cages with just one square can be filled in straight
Monday 6 August, Queenscliff
Bookings www.sovereignhill.com.au/education
Solutions network: preparing underperforming
Vce students for the exam
Wednesday 5 September, collingwood
be repeated
A number
5.
AusVeLS
in themay
primary
classroomin a cage but not in a row
or column.
Friday 20 July, Ballarat
national Wool Museum
Zart Art
Bookings: www.nwm.vic.gov.au
MEDIUM
education program for children’s
groups + ÷
aged playgroup
2
14 to Year4x
Bookings: www.zartart.com.au
colours of Australia
Wednesday 13 June, Box Hill
x-
Tuesday 12 June to Friday 29 June, Geelong
Shadows and light
Ticking Mind
Bookings: www.tickingmind.com.au
3
7+
Saturday 23 June, Box Hill
Book Week champions read
June, July and August, at a school near you
30 great novels to teach Years 7–10 and
how to teach them
Wednesday 13 June, Ringwood
8+
Gowrie Victoria
Bookings: www.gowrievictoria.org.au/bookings
50 free Web 2.0 tools to use in the english classroom
Monday 18 June, Ringwood
Fostering resilience
2÷
Tuesday 12 June, carlton north
Developing/reviewing your service philosophy
Wednesday 13 June, eLearning
QuIZ & PuZZLe AnSWeRS
SOLUTION:
© 2012. Melbourne Trivia Company.
QuIZ AnSWeRS 1. Red. 2. Orange juice and champagne (some older recipes list
grenadine). 3. Queensland (Fisher). 4. Portuguese (the number of languages spoken in
Mozambique is 39!). 5. Australia. 6. Pocket Monster. 7. Honey. 8. Aurora borealis.
9. Anthony – blue, Greg – yellow, Jeff - purple, Murray – red. 10. 1990. 11. Circular Quay.
12. QR Code. 13. The Block. 14. Surfing. 15. Boxing. 16. Green. 17. Neck/throat/base of
tongue. 18. South Pacific. 19. Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel (designed the Eiffel Tower and the
structure of the Statue of Liberty). 20. (Clay Target) Shooting.
64 inspire june 2012
Calkuro 212medium
S E P A R
D
H
A V I D
E
B
B R I D L
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A
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T A X F R
A
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T
A
S P R A Y
L
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D A R E
J
A T E
A
X
I
S T A RG
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L
L
A
T
E
A S T R
A
L
L
E E
S CO
V
N
I
I
S
C A N
E
C
T
SWE E T
A V A
V
A Z E
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I D E
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OP S
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I GH
M
P E A
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curtain call
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Attention teachers! nothing brings words to life for students like seeing them performed on stage.
feast your eyes on these educational stage productions and incursions.
Page to Stage
Identity in Print – Ann Harkin
The Tempest – William Shakespeare
Australian Shakespeare company
presents:
Bookings: pagetostageaustralia@gmail.com
Incursions through 2012
Macbeth – William Shakespeare
Incursions through 2012
cosi – Louis nowra
Workshops Term 3
The crucible – Arthur Miller
Workshops Term 3
Incursions through 2012
Bookings: www.shakespeareaustralia.com.au
Play on Shakespeare
Incursions through 2012
Shakespeare Intensive
Incursions through 2012
Shakespeare characterisation
The Storyteller’s Guide presents:
Bookings: www.storytellersguide.com.au
The Storyteller’s Guide to Australia
Incursions through 2012
Gold in the Heart
Incursions through 2012
Buckley: The Go-between
Incursions through 2012
Lest We Forget – Gallipoli
Incursions through 2012
Brainstorm Productions presents:
Incursions through 2012
Singing Australia Workshop
The Magic Words (Years P–6)
The Flying Bookworm Theatre
company presents:
Jan’s Story Workshop
Bookings: www.brainstormproductions.com.au
Incursions through 2012
The Protectors (Years P–6)
Incursions through 2012
Verbal combat (Years 7–10)
Bookings: www.flyingbookworm.com.au
Shakespeare without Tears – Romeo
and Juliet
Incursions through 2012
Incursions through 2012
Incursions through 2012
Wominjika: Indigenous Thank You
Workshop
Incursions through 2012
Shakespeare without Tears – Macbeth
complete Works Theatre company
Incursions through 2012
Bookings: www.completeworks.com.au
Bully (Years 7–8)
Romeo and Juliet
Incursions through 2012
Touring through 2012
The Banjo – AB Patterson (Years 3–6)
Macbeth
cheap Thrills (Years 9–12)
Incursions through 2012
Touring through 2012
Phat Poetry (Years 7–8)
Wired (Years 10–12)
Magical Journeys – where you choose
the stories! (Years Prep–3)
Incursions through 2012
The Hurting Game (Years 7–10)
Incursions through 2012
cyberia (Years 8–11)
Incursions through 2012
Incursions through 2012
Incursions through 2012
Regional Arts Victoria - education &
Families presents:
Bookings: www.rav.net.au/arts-in-education
Incursions through 2012
Touring through 2012
cosi
Vce Tour – Term 3
The crucible - encountering conflict
Vce Tour – Term 3
Say it to my Facebook! – Shake & Stir
Theatre co.
Touring 27 August to 7 September 2012
A Little Bit of Blue – Jenny ellis
Touring 5 to 16 november 2012
Scribble Jam! – Lotus expression
Incursions through 2012
COMPILED BY CAROLINE REIDY
ear-O-Polis – Arena Theatre company
Incursions through 2012
All Hands on the Puppet – Barking
Spider Visual Theatre
Incursions through 2012
inspire june 2012 65
tAKe A BreAK
Staffroom Quiz
Put your general knowledge to the
test with this month’s 20 questions.
1
What colour is Darth Vader’s light sabre ‘blade’ in the original trilogy?
2
What are the ingredients of the drink ‘Buck’s Fizz’?
3
4
in which state is peter slipper’s electorate?
1
2
3
7
One third of the world’s diamonds are mined in which country?
7
What sticky, sweet natural product was traditionally used as an
antiseptic ointment for cuts and burns? still works too.
8
What is the other common name for the northern Lights?
9
The Wiggles’ shirts are blue, yellow, purple and red. Associate each
with its wearer: Anthony, Greg, Jeff and Murray.
What is the origin of the name of the video game pokémon?
4
5
9
10
11
12
15
16
13
in what year did the AFL come into existence?
11
Arthur philip raised the flag at sydney Cove back in 1788. it’s still
called sydney Cove but to many of us now it’s also known as...?
12
What is the name for the square consisting of square black dots
arranged in a square pattern on a white background, which you can
use to get information onto your mobile phone?
13
As the Logies fade in our memories (if they were ever there) which TV
show got the award for Most popular reality program this year?
14
Captain James Cook reported observing which still very much alive
sport in 1771?
15
16
in what sport has Aussie Danny Green proved himself a winner?
17
18
Where in your body is your epiglottis? Be specific.
19
Who do the statue of Liberty and the eiffel Tower have in common?
On a roulette wheel, what colour is the zero on?
The song Some Enchanted Evening isINSPIRE
from what musical?
18
Quiz by Melbourne Trivia Company
www.melbournetrivia.com.au
See page 64 for answers.
66 inspire june 2012
20
21
22
23
24
Across
1. unconnected
5. Main indonesian
island
7. enthusiastic
8. study the heavens
9. Horse’s restraint
12. straddling
15. Without levy (3-4)
19. serves of ice cream
21. paint atomiser (5,3)
10. Curly-horned goat
11. perjurer
12. Drink, dry ginger ...
13. perfumed powder
14. inside
down
15. taunted
1. neglected-looking
16. enchantress,
2. stated further
femme ...
3. Gangway
17. ejects from house
4. praises highly
18.
respiratory
ailment
Puzzle
That Makes
5. American wild cat The
19.You
Because
Smarter!
6. retaliate for
20. Commencement
1. Fill in the numbers without repeating a number in any
22. Moan wearily
23. Venture
24. Climbing flower
(5,3)
See page 64 for answers.
row or column.
2. For a 4x4 puzzle use the numbers 1-4.
sudoku
3. The numbers in each heavily outlined set of squares
(cages) must combine to equal the number in the top
corner using the arithmetic sign indicated.
Difficulty level: Moderate
6
1
3
7
8
The
Puzzle That
1. fill in the
numbers
(1-4) Makes
without repeating
4
9
2
4. Cages with
just one
can be filled in straight
Smarter!
a number
inYou
anysquare
row or column.
thethe
numbers
in each
heavilyinoutlined
setcorner.
away 2.
with
target
number
the top
5
of squares (cages) must combine to equal
the number in the top corner using the
5. A number arithmetic
may be sign
repeated
in a cage but not in a row
indicated.
3. Cages with just
square can be filled in
6
or one
column.
8
9
4
2
3
5
1
7
2
5
7
9
6
1
8
3
4
1
3
7
6
5
9
8
5
8
4
9
2
6
1
Handy Cross 13A
Inspire13Ablank.pdf
4 2
© Lovatts Crosswords - 18/05/2011
At the Olympics, in which sport would you compete in the trap and
7 3
skeet events?
14
17
19
10
6
8
What is the official language of Mozambique?
5
6
20
Puzzles
9
6
8
5
1
2
7
4
3
1
7
9
4
5
3
6
8
2
5
4
2
6
9
8
3
1
7
3
8
6
1
2
7
4
5
9
straight away with the target number in the
top corner.
4. A number june be repeated in a cage but
not in a row or column.
MEDIUM
4
4x
7+
3
+÷x1-
8+
2÷
See page 64 for answers.
SOLUTION:
4 2 1 3
Winners photographed with
Filomena Garrubba, Community
Banking Manager, bankmecu
bankmecu congratulates winners of the
2012 Victorian Education Excellence Awards
As Australia’s first customer-owned bank, bankmecu is pleased to continue its support of
education in Victoria.
bankmecu is passionate about supporting the education community and believes that
recognising excellence in education is essential. Congratulations to:
Ann Robinson, Tarneit Senior College, winner of the bankmecu Outstanding Business
Manager Award
Chris Barry, Brentwood Secondary College, winner of the bankmecu Outstanding
Secondary Teacher Award
132 888
bankmecu.com.au
mecu Limited ABN 21 087 651 607 AFSL/Australian Credit Licence Number 238431 trading as bankmecu. VEEA33543
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