KWS Magazine 2013 Issue Two - Kinross Wolaroi School

ConnectionsMeaningful LinksWorkshops focus on teacher‘expertise’“Of all the variables that a school can control, teachereffectiveness is the single most important factor in studentsuccess.”So says internationally acclaimed education expertProfessor John Hattie, whose research findings formed thebasis of a series of Professional Development workshopsoffered to KWS teachers recently.The workshops were presented by KWS Social Scienceteacher Susan Cameron, who has worked under contractfor the NSW Board of Studies and was involved inProfessor Hattie’s research for three years.Susan’s workshops drew on Professor Hattie’s workwhich challenges teachers to make the transition from‘experienced’ to ‘expert’. She focused on practical waysto apply the research findings in the classroom, throughsuch activities as lesson planning, explicit teachingstrategies, co-operation and evaluation between teachers,and tools for providing more valuable feedback tostudents.KWS offers numerous Professional Developmentopportunities to staff throughout the year, bringing inoutside experts as well as encouraging staff to share theirown insights and knowledge of research with each other.Pictured: Top and middle - Susan Cameron presenting at the workshop.30Soloist still in the spotlightKWS Head of Strings LorraineMoxey returned to the stage inJuly, performing as a soloist on theMacquarie Philharmonia Orchestra’s10th birthday tour.Lorraine performed the solo inMozart’s Violin Concerto in A majoras part of the ‘Celebrate’ concerttour, playing to highly appreciativeaudiences in Bathurst, Young andDubbo.“It was great for many of my studentsto hear me perform at this level andsee me putting into action so manyof the things I regularly nag themabout,” Lorraine said.“It is also extremely important that,as a full-time teacher, I don’t let myperformance skills slip.”Lorraine played with the AustralianChamber Orchestra for 13 years andhas performed with elite musiciansall over the world.She is concert master of theMacquarie Philharmonia, which alsofeatures her KWS colleagues LaithIsmail, Anne Stevens, SamanthaSchoeler-Jones and Dahle Innes.Pictured: Above - Lorraine Moxey on Violin performing with the Macquarie Philharmonia