24 March 2017
Newsletter Articles
President’s Message
We should never forget that our mission-cum-mantra of 'Teachers Leading Teachers' is what influences and shapes the work that we all do in our voluntary capacity for professional teaching associations in the Northern Territory. Intuitively I know that Associations are hard at work brainstorming and shaping their year ahead. Management Committee meetings are happening and colleagues are meeting around Faculty tables, in the aisles of supermarkets and at various leisure spots around the NT (The Cool Spot, The Cornucopia, The Sailing Club, The Ski Club) to fashion the year ahead for their members. The vitality and passion of these conversations are powerful examples of our commitment to leading each other in the work we do for colleagues, for our Associations and, most importantly, for the kids in our classrooms.
2017 will be a greater year yet because we continue to build on the previous two years, the hallmark of which is the Festival of Teaching. The 2017 Steering Committee has now met twice and are well underway in shaping an even stronger Festival that will be even more impressive than 2016. We are in the process of finalising Keynote speakers and, once confirmed, Associations will receive information about them. Associations are again given a strategically important role in shaping the professional learning they wish to provide to members and I would encourage all members of professional teaching associations to make contact with their respective management committees.
At a more global level, the PTANT Management Committee continues to advocate and drive forward its vision around teachers leading each other. Our Strategic Plan is almost complete and we will be ready to share this with our member Associations at the Annual General Meeting. We have already met with the Minister for Education and shared with her our work and vision for the way forward. We received some positive feedback about our work and there are one or two things in the pipeline that we will share with Associations closer to the AGM.
Over the last fortnight, the Management Committee has allocated $129 000.00 worth of professional learning grants to Associations for 2017. This investment is demonstrable of the amazing work and scope of professional learning provided to Association members. The Management Committee was awed by the range of professional learning on offer to teachers and was impressed with the level of professional responsibility, expertise and knowledge targeted for teachers in Territory schools.
On a more personal note, I would like to publicly express my thanks to Bala Naidoo who has stepped down as PTANT Treasurer. Bala has 'managed the books' for over 10 years and has provided valuable advice on the finances of the Association. We will be officially farewelling Bala at the Annual General Meeting and I would like to invite all of Bala's colleagues, his Principal and friends to join us in recognising his contribution to PTANT.
I look forward to working with all professional teaching associations in 2017 and wish you the very best for the year ahead.
John Sarev
President
ACHPER NT
30th ACHPER International Conference
The 30th ACHPER International Conference held at the University of Canberra from January 16-18 2017 provided 320 teachers, researchers and health, sport and recreation professionals from across Australia and overseas with a dynamic and highly engaging professional learning experience. Fiona Ness and Carolyn Knutsen represented ACHPER NT at the conference. The conference theme was Participating in an Active and Healthy Life - Valuing the Participant Voice. Some of the standout keynote speakers were Donna Cross speaking about the link between social connection and mortality, Phillip Morgan speaking about the ‘Dads And Daughters Exercising and Empowered’ (DADDEE) program and Gaylene Clews speaking about the benefits of sport and exercise on the brain.
Fiona Ness, Natalie McMaster and Carolyn Knutsen at the ACHPER pre-registration event.
NTBOS Award Recipients
ACHPER NT sponsored two awards at the recent NTBOS award ceremony at Parliament House. Congratulations to Adam Cundy from Essington (PE) and Bonnie Hunt from NTSDE (Health) for receiving these awards.
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Adam Cundy receiving his NTBOS |
Bonnie Hunt receiving her NTBOS |
AENT
Out of the Art Room
This is the third year running that the ‘The Art Educators of the NT (AENT)’ are hosting a members’ exhibition. The AENT is a very diverse and dynamic group committed to supporting visual arts teachers in the top end. They facilitate networking opportunities, professional development and learning for teachers from all stages of arts education. They believe in the importance of quality visual arts programs and are constantly working towards improving their practice and networks. In 2016 their exhibition represented 40 members – all from top end art teachers. This year’s exhibition is promising to be just as fruitful. The members’ works are varied and diverse - reflective of our dynamic and growing association and represent only the tip of the iceberg of the creative talent that is represented by this varied and talented group of artist educators.
ATESOL NT
ATESOL NT Dinner Chat
Dr. Kinloch gave a presentation to ATESOL NT members on Tuesday 21st February, followed by an informal dinner discussion at the Darwin Sailing club.
Dr. Kinloch discussed the importance of engaging students in authentic and meaningful language and literacy experiences. The presentation Language, Literacy & Identity: Lessons from African American Youth focused on sharing research and experiences of American school students who do not speak Standard American English.
Dr. Kinloch spoke of some of the successes achieved and also challenges that they face in the United States creating awareness around cultural and linguistic diversity. Dr. Kinloch presented examples of strategies that teachers and education systems can implement that create real educational improvements for students who are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, such as speakers of non-standard dialects or languages other than English. Dr. Kinloch shared compelling case study stories of one particular student to highlight the journeys linguistically diverse students are negotiating in their education.
ATESOL NT representatives with Dr. Kinloch
During the question and answer session after the presentation, the audience commented on the similarities and differences between the American education context and the issues facing teachers in the Northern Territory. Several members’ comments reflected that discussing another educational context enabled them to reflect on issues from a different perspective and that this ‘distance’ was very helpful.
The presentation highlighted the crucial role that teachers play in creating welcoming, engaging, inclusive learning environments. In particular, Dr. Kinloch challenged us as educators regarding the importance of working towards ‘culturally and linguistically sustainable’ classrooms, so that students feel ‘free to learn and don’t have to shed their identity at the classroom door’.
PSTANT
The Preschool Association of the Northern Territory Inc (PSTANT) is excited to be offering many free professional development opportunities for its member this semester. Based on member’s needs we have been able to sponsor three members to attend Traffic Jam in my Brain on March 24th in Darwin as well as host two National Early Childhood Specialist, Heather Barnes and Shona Bass to speak to our Association regarding Preschool teacher specific learnings needs- Building Literacy & Numeracy in Play Based Curriculum and Leadership Skills in Early Childhood Settings.
PSTANT would like to thank the Professional Teacher’s Association as well as the Department of Early Childhood Education as care for their ongoing support.
STANT
BHP Billiton Science and Engineering Awards
In February the annual the BHP Billiton Science and Engineering Awards were held in Melbourne. Since 1981 these have been Australia's most prestigious school science awards. The student awards reward young people who have undertaken practical research projects which demonstrate innovative approaches and thorough scientific or engineering procedures. The teacher awards recognise outstanding contributions made by classroom teachers to science education.
The Science Teachers’ Association of the NT (STANT) president Veronica Ross has been the Competitions Coordinator for the NT for several years. Veronica and STANT executive members have the task to select NT student and teacher entries for nomination to the final national pool. This year saw some strong entries, with one senior NT student making the semi-finals.
Three STANT members attended the awards ceremony in Melbourne in February. Veronica Ross as the NT Competitions Coordinator, Jenni Webber representing the Australian Science Teachers executive and as a student judge and Kate Harden the NT Science Teacher of the Year. Kate was recognised for her exceptional leadership of science and sustainability at Berry Springs Primary. Kate has been awarded a full scholarship to the next STEM-X academy.
http://asta.edu.au/programs/stemx
The awards are sponsored by the BHP Billiton Foundation, a charity funded by BHP Billiton, and are managed by CSIRO, Australia’s premier scientific research organisation. The third partner in the awards is the Australian Science Teachers Association, ASTA, and includes the state and territory based Science Teacher Associations. The awards are also supported by Intel Corporation, the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer.
‘NT Science Teacher of the Year’ Kate Harden with Jenni Webber
For further information about the awards, student entries and the finalist science camp, visit the website below.
http://www.scienceawards.org.au/