Shine Magazine, Issue 9, October 2009 - Department of Education ...

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4 Oct 09 Messages Welcome to the October issue Minister for Education Bronwyn Pike Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Maxine Morand Welcome to a special early childhood edition of Shine. There is overwhelming evidence and increasing recognition that the early years of life have a profound impact on each child’s future. Parents, families, the community and government are all vital influences on ensuring our children have the best possible start in life. We know that children’s learning and development starts from day one and that their early experiences have a direct impact on their future wellbeing – which is why we outlined our commitment to improving early childhood services in the Blueprint for Education and Early Childhood Development. Already this year we have launched the Children’s Services Regulations, increased funding for technology in kindergartens, released the draft Early Years Learning and Development Framework, and made significant headway in implementing the ‘Transition: A Positive Start to School’ initiative – all key elements of a broader reform agenda designed to improve early learning in Victoria. The Victorian Government is also committed to the delivery of an inclusive education system that ensures all students have access to a quality education to meet their diverse needs. Schools and kindergartens across Victoria will now be even more welcoming to people with a disability, thanks to a new resource kit launched last month. World Teachers’ Day – held annually in Australia on 30 October – was developed in 1994 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. It is a day to celebrate teachers and the central role they play in guiding children, youths and adults through the lifelong learning process. This year, World Teachers’ Day focused on the role of teachers within the context of the global financial and economic crisis, and the need to invest in teachers now as a means to secure post-crisis regeneration. There is no doubt that teachers provide an invaluable service to every community, and here in Victoria we can be incredibly proud of the quality, dedication and commitment of our teaching staff. Teaching is a profession that simply cannot be underestimated, and World Teachers’ Day serves as reminder of the importance of this vital role. Secretary of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Professor Peter Dawkins For the second year in a row, Victorian students have been amongst the nation’s highest performers in literacy and numeracy. Results from the National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests show that Victoria, along with the ACT and NSW, are the highest performing states and territories in Australia. In the Blueprint for Education and Early Childhood Development, we highlighted our commitment to improve student achievement, and these results are a terrific indication that we have a lot to be proud of in our education and early childhood system. In the last edition of Shine we brought you news of the Regional Network Leader (RNL) Institute – a weeklong professional development session for regional network leaders and other regional staff. After five days of professional learning, Victoria’s RNLs put their newfound knowledge into practice, coordinating a Big Day In for principals. The day was an overwhelming success, with events held at 30 venues across the state – giving education professionals a valuable opportunity to discuss school improvement. You can read more about these developments in this edition of Shine. Advance Tutoring School Home or centre tuition – Year 1 to Year 12 The Professional Teachers • English • Chemistry • Physics • Scholarships • Business management • Maths • Biology • Italian and more • Accounting Tuition bookings: 0411 333 001 / 0413 880 897 Teachers are welcome to join our team www.advancetutoringschool.com.au
Letters T 28 Apr Jul 09 Opinion Pandora Petrovska Why Aboriginal languages should be taught “Before we started I had absolutely no idea that our language even existed.” – VCE Indigenous Reclamation Language Student here is something profoundly sad about a young person being oblivious to their own history. Knowledge about oneself and one’s heritage is fundamental to our sense of self, and understanding of the world. Language is an enduring marker of identity and culture, and this story shows how individuals strive to overcome the deep wounding of past policy affecting self, to this day. It was the summer of 2005 when I first met Wotjobaluk woman Jennifer Beer from the Wimmera, as she stood in the doorway of my office. It was hot and she had trave led from Horsham to Melbourne to meet with somebody who could help her realise her dream: the teaching of her language, Wergaia. Jennifer Beer is one of those remarkable characters you are truly fortunate to meet in a lifetime; a person whose vision inspires many to do things they never imagined were possible, like asking for the basic rights we take for granted. For Jennifer, this meant teaching a Victorian Aboriginal language that is no longer spoken as a primary means of communication. It is a well-known fac that after the establishment FRIDAY 31 JULY Phonics and Spe ling in the Early Years David Hornsby PREP TO YEAR 2 TEACHERS WEDNESDAY 12 AUGUST Three Dimensions in a Day – Part 2: Measurement, Chance & Dat and Working Mathematically Rob Vingerhoets (can be a tended as a stand-alone seminar) PREP TO YEAR 6 TEACHERS of government and church missions, where Aboriginal people were forbidden to speak their language, or practise their culture, the transmission of Victorian Aborigina languages ceased. This, and the threat of having their children removed, was an effective mechanism to achieve a situation where these languages simply faded. Jennifer Beer had come to the right place: the Victorian School of Languages, a specialist government language school teaching 45 languages in over 40 schools in Melbourne and country Victoria, as we l as a distance education section teaching nine languages to a l school sectors. With broad VCE provision, many thousands of students around the state, and Term 3 & 4 Program THURSDAY 20 AUGUST Project-Based Learning in the Middle Years of Schooling Darryn Kruse YEARS 3 TO 9 TEACHERS THURSDAY 27 AUGUST Comprehension and Strategies for Fiction Deb Sukarna YEARS 3 TO 9 TEACHERS TUESDAY 1 SEPTEMBER Assessment for Learning in the Inquiring Classroom Kath Murdoch PREP TO YEAR 6 TEACHERS We had a country centre at Horsham, so delivering an Indigenous language was possible. But this experience was very different from the many established languages we taught. I read with great interest your article on ‘Why Aboriginal languages should be taught’ (issue 06, page 28). I think that reviving, reclaiming and honouring all cultures is important. When apartheid was lifted/banned in South Africa in 1994, at least 15 African languages and three Indian languages were made compulsory in schools, acknowledging and representing the varying segments that made up the South African population. This was a moment in history that reflected that all people were equal and important and that the South African culture was not only a reflection of Western values but made up of a rich tapestry. It is wonderful to see that my niece’s children learn English, Hindi, Zulu and Afrikaans at school. The inclusion of all languages is a true representation of the people. The shame of being black has been replaced by dignity when all languages are recognised and acknowledged in the curriculum of the school. If the government wants to build a true and united nation then Indigenous languages need to be taught. In South Africa the overthrow of the ‘white only’ government saw three major changes: the flag, the national anthem and the inclusion of Indigenous languages in the curriculum. Apart from the ‘Sorry Day’ speech, so far the Australian Government has not changed anything to acknowledge the Aboriginal people as the First Nation of Australia. The Aboriginal culture has a lot to teach us about conservation, harmony and interconnectedness. I feel that it is a sorry day indeed that Aboriginal culture is still not officially reflected in our government logos and community. Dr Intal Chetty recent delivery of Yorta Yorta in partnership with Northland Secondary Co lege, we were we l placed to assist. We had a country centre at Horsham, so delivering an Indigenous language was possible. Bu this experience was very different from the many established languages we taught. There were no dictionaries or grammar books. Even when we undertake the teaching of refugee languages, like Dinka and Somali, materials have often been developed internationa ly, and may be adapted for the Australian classroom. This required a partnerships and co laboration with many to become a reality. Permission to undertake the reclamation and revival of Wergaia was given by the community in the Wimmera, and after consultation with the Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (LAECG) and the Land Council, the community received funding from the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages (VACL) to develop a Wergaia word list. Monash University linguist, Dr Julie Reid, developed the Wergaia Community Grammar and Dictionary in 2007. For the firs time, Wergaia was taught at VCE level to students in Horsham and Ba larat using Ivanhoe Grammar School is committed to building academic professional knowledge through the delivery of high quality seminars and workshops presented by internal and external speakers. FRIDAY 9 OCTOBER Ensuring an Effective and Strong Final Term in Maths Rob Vingerhoets PREP TO YEAR 6 TEACHERS THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER Mathematics – Teaching and Learning the Four Operations in Number Michael Ymer PREP TO YEAR 6 TEACHERS Fo registration forms and enquiries, please contact Paula Welham on: Telephone: 9490 1877 • Mobile: 0488 110 000 • Email: mail@ivanhoepl.com • Book online: www.ivanhoepl.com Where: Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre (Cnr Be l Street & St Georges Road, Preston) Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm (Registration from 9:00am) Cost: $185 (inc. GST). Cost includes morning tea, lunch& hand-outs our video conferencing facility in Thornbury. Linguist Dr Julie Reid conducted weekly twohour classes, and regular one-day workshops in Ba larat in accordance with the VCE Study Design for Indigenous Languages of Victoria: Revival and Reclamation, which was specifically designed to teach the fundamentals of language reclamation. The starting point for the linguist, and the class, was the sketch grammar written by Hercus (1986) based on 1960s audio recordings of individuals speaking Wergaia. Unbeknowns to her, these audio recordings had captured the voice of one of Jennifer’s own relatives. “I remember growing up hearing Uncle Walter and others speak language as a sma l child, but I did not know he had been recorded,” she told me. “When I heard his voice on the tapes, I had a deep sense of pride.” Seeing these VCE Indigenous Language Reclamation students successfu ly complete their studies and receive validation from Minister for Education Bronwyn Pike, at our VCE Top Scorers Function was bri liant. The joy for me wi l be seeing what they do with this knowledge in the future and the language classes they wi l teach. On reflection, as I write this, I understand why I came to spend so many years with this language school. Pandora Petrovska is assistant principal of the Victorian School of Languages (VSL). She leads curriculum and training for over 700 language teachers employed by the VSL statewide and has been instrumental in the implementation of VELS electronic reporting and many other projects at the VSL, which are shared across a l government schools. Tell us what you think. Email editor@edumail.vic.gov.au Email editor@edumail.vic.gov. au Letters may be edited for space. Opinion Shine 29 Briefcase Shine 5 Letter of the month We applaud Dr Patricia Edgar’s continued efforts to combat the advertising of junk food on television (issue 07, page 26). Such marketing is indeed highly questionable, particularly when it is aimed at children. Our concern is that it becomes so pervasive in the child’s world that it limits knowledge and interest in other food choices, putting additional health-related pressures on families. It is a disservice to our young people to underestimate their capacity (and their right) to enjoy real food. While children are susceptible to advertising, on the other hand they can be wonderfully open to new, fresh and healthy choices. Parents and home economics teachers know what pleasure young people get from preparing, tasting and sharing food, and how much they can learn along the way. This experience and knowledge can help children to be critical of the food advertising they see around them, and to aspire to long-term health. But kids, parents and teachers could do without the constant bombardment of counterproductive messages on television. Jo Scanlan Bouquets for Shine magazine! It’s very attractive, encourages a browse and there is an interesting range of articles. There is a gap though. I have been a full-time classroom teacher since 1970. It has been a privileged, professional life and it continues for me. Many of my peers are retiring or have retired. A concern to me is the prevailing view that many workers will change careers numerous times during their working lives. This view encourages a perception that being a teacher is not a long-term commitment, and that after a while a person might/ought seek greener pastures and move on/up in their professional journey. I, on the other hand, believe we should be encouraging new teachers to see this career as lifelong and not just one railway station on the longer line. People need to be encouraged to stay the distance. They need to be shown how others have stayed the distance; that you don’t have to become burned-out wrecks after a short time. Dennis Matthews Next month’s best letter wins an audio book! 26 Aug Apr 09 Opinion Send us your views on an article in this month’s issue and you could win the classic Andy Griffiths novel Mascot Madness: Schooling Around in audio book format, courtesy of Bolinda audio. Email editor@edumail.vic.gov.au I sat on the beach last summer observing the parade of bodies, recalling photographs taken of my children playing on that same beach one generation before. The difference was massive. Australians are now among the fattest people on the planet. Twenty per cent of Australian children are overweight and 10 per cent are obese. These young people will battle i lness for most of their lives – type 2 diabetes, bone disease, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Studies pu the cost of obesity in children and adults in Australia in excess of $21 bi lion dollars. Researchers are warning that, In Sweden, television advertising to children under 12 has been banned since 1991. In the UK, television regulator Ofcom banned junk food advertising in and around children’s television programs in 2007. Opinion Dr Patricia Edgar Biting off more than we can chew Children are targeted relentlessly by fast food companies with irresponsible marketing campaigns. As teachers – your voices should be raised in this debate. for the firs time in more than a century, life expectancy may fall. The psychological impact of obesity can be as damaging as the physical effects with many children demonstrating increased levels of stress with effects on their behaviour, concentration, learning ability and mood. I am sure teachers observe these symptoms in classrooms across the state. We are hearing more and more messages about healthy eating bu they get lost under the welter of products designed to tempt, which are thrust under our noses. In supermarkets there are lo lies, chips, chocolates and biscuits all on shelves at children’s eye level so they can pester their parents. It’s not just the amount o food we now eat but also what is in the food – the saturated fats and the quantity of sugar – that make the battle to keep weight within normal range a cha lenge for many people. The way food and drink is advertised creates confusion about what are the contents of food products and what represents healthy eating. Labels trumpet: 20 per cent less fat; 70 per cent less sugar, but the real meaning is less clear. Children are targeted relentlessly by companies and advertisers with irresponsible marketing fat, sugar an promotions Shrek promo popcorn, Cok Without a very un Sophistry bedevil industry’s role in t industry insists we media industries in they only offer ente calls on parents to b children: they can tu refuse to buy, feed th But business conspire are way ahead of the g best minds to bear on w develop the market. The people genera ly would of french fries or two bu buy the super size, the va Super-sizing led to a revo A serving of McDonald’s ballooned from 200 calorie
Page 1 and 2: Shine A publication of the Departme
Page 3: Contents Shine 3 30 38 56 Shine is
Page 7 and 8: Ready, set - walk! Walktober Walk-t
Page 9 and 10: Happy 120th birthday Mentone Primar
Page 11 and 12: Celebrate CHILDREN’S WEEK Childre
Page 13 and 14: HUME All aboard Sat 31 Oct; 10am-4p
Page 15 and 16: Kindergarten teacher loved by all E
Page 17 and 18: Shine 17 ILLUSTRATIONS BY TONY REAR
Page 19 and 20: Shine 19 9. Create an ecosystem •
Page 21 and 22: Early Childhood Shine 21 Long day c
Page 23 and 24: For Teaching English As A First Or
Page 25 and 26: Premier John Brumby and Minister Br
Page 27 and 28: Whether the goal is to develop unfu
Page 29 and 30: “The more we know about the typic
Page 31 and 32: Rock climbing Nothing tests limits
Page 33 and 34: 1929 Flashback Shine 33 “Melbourn
Page 35 and 36: Leadership Program Brightest gradua
Page 37 and 38: Early Childhood Shine 37 Playgroups
Page 39 and 40: Where are they now Shine 39 STORY B
Page 41 and 42: to schools to apply for in the mid-
Page 43 and 44: Negotiated reviews help schools per
Page 45 and 46: School News Shine 45 Wireless upgra
Page 47 and 48: PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES O’ROURKE
Page 49 and 50: The Big Day In for principals was a
Page 51 and 52: Tate Street’s Trojan horse www.te
Page 53 and 54: By trying to do too much thinking f
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Careers Education Shine 55 Careers
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Experiences for Kids) study. We alr
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Shine 59 Starting school is a time
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A positive start to school A number
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During the Royal Melbourne Show tho
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VCAL Shine 65 Auslan gives VCAL stu
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NEWS BITES Ultranet update The Depa
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NEWS BITES Organisational Developme
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Innovative Program Shine 71 Rolling
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Our Early Years www.education.vic.g
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NEWS BITES Education and Training R
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Innovative Program Shine 77 Ouyen P
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Shine 79 Eastern Metropolitan Boroo
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Shine 81 Grampians Kaniva College w
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Appointments Shine 83 NAME SCHOOL C
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Classifieds Shine 85 DON’T MOVE P
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87 Attention teachers! Nothing brin
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Adobe In-Design Thursday 29 October
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it’s your sChool’s ChanCE to sh
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