Welcome to Edition # 3 of Parent Update, a free monthly email news service from the
Department of Education & Training.
By joining the Parent Update mailing list, you can keep in touch with the 'big picture' of
education across Victoria and ensure that you and your child get the most out of school.
One-stop schooling
Parents sometimes feel like they spend half their day behind the wheel – taxiing
between school, kindergarten and childcare on a never-ending round of collecting
and dropping off the kids. At Karingal Primary School this is about to become a thing
of the past with plans to build a 'one-stop shop' for parents. more
Future bright for Victorian students
More young people are working or studying here in Victoria than any other state,
according to a Monash University study into the education and employment
outcomes of our students. more
Getting the most out of tertiary open days
With open day season almost upon us, it is important that parents and students feel
confident navigating the range of choices in front of them. Find out how you and your
child can get the most out of tertiary open days. For TAFE open day dates click here
Learning from computer games, the 'hard fun' way
Teachers have recognised that computer games – one of the most popular types of
children's entertainment – can also help them learn better. more
Starting on the right note
Is musical talent something children are born with, or is it something any child can
learn? How can parents support their child in learning an instrument? Find out more
Student art to inspire Commonwealth Games athletes
The Commonwealth Games are around the corner and now Victorian students have
a way of getting up close and personal with their sporting heroes. more
'Small is beautiful' school
This could be the motto of Principal Fiona Hermon and her school, Penshurst
Primary School. With only seven pupils, Penshurst Primary, between Hamilton and
Warrnambool, is one of the smallest schools in Victoria. more
Parents Victoria Annual Conference
Parents are invited to attend the Parents Victoria Annual Conference on 24 August.
Topics to be covered include nutrition, teaching values and what children will learn in
2006 and beyond. more
One stop schooling
Parents can sometimes feel like they spend half their day behind the wheel –
taxiing between school, kindergarten, and childcare in a never-ending round
of collecting and dropping off the kids.
As life becomes increasingly hectic, a new idea in community planning has
taken off – the community hub, which brings educational, childcare and
welfare services together in a single location convenient to families.
At Karingal Primary School, this idea is about to become a reality, as a result
of the Karingal Children’s Hub – a new $4.9 million project announced by the
Minister for Education Services Jacinta Allan today.
The Hub, which is to be built at Karingal Primary School, will revolutionise
early childhood education, health and welfare services in the Frankston area.
It will feature three Prep classrooms, a full-size gymnasium, a maternal and
childcare centre, a pre-school, a neighbourhood house, an out-of-schools
childcare facility, and a family resource centre.
The Department of Education & Training is providing $1 million to the Hub – in
a joint venture between the Department, Frankston City Council, and the
Department of Human Services.
Karingal Primary principal Christopher Gay said the new state-of-the-art
facilities would serve as a ‘one-stop shop’ for parents and enable the school to
open its gates even wider to the community.
“Parents will be able to take their child in for an immunisation at the maternal
and childcare centre, access the occasional and after-school care, and
perhaps visit the community house to use the computer room facilities, all
under the one roof.”
“Having access to all these services without going further a field simplifies
things for parents, and strengthens links between the school and the
community.
“It’s exciting to be part of such a ground-breaking venture. I don’t think there is
anything existing on this scale yet in Australia.”
Future bright for Victorian students
More young people are working or studying here in Victoria than in any other
state, according to a Monash University study into the education and
employment outcomes of our students.
The report was released by Monash University’s Centre for the Economics of
Education and Training and commissioned by the Business Council of
Australia, the Education Foundation and the Dusseldorp Skills Forum.
Titled ‘Setting The Pace’, the report demonstrates the improvements to postcompulsory education made over the past five years, and the investment put
into creating further education and training options for students, are delivering
results.
Former Box Hill Institute of TAFE student Amber Sarda, 21, is living proof of
just how far talented and committed young people young people can go using
Victoria’s further education programs to bridge the gap between work and
study.
Amber undertook a three-month automotive mechanic pre-apprenticeship
course at Box Hill’s Centre for Automotive, Transport and Engineering.
Amber’s obvious aptitude resulted in her being offered work experience with
the German car maker Porsche, a dream come true for the lifelong prestige
car fan.
Nine months after finishing her work experience Amber was offered a full
apprenticeship at Porsche, something she puts down to persistence.
“I kept in touch with Porsche every week, just to let them know I was still really
interested in working there. Nine months later, it paid off,” she says.
Now in the third year of her apprenticeship, Amber’s achievements have been
recognised not only by Porsche, who have granted her eight weeks working
on the elite Porsche Racing Team Program in Stuttgart, Germany, but by the
education service that helped her reach her elite position. Having won Box Hill
Institute of TAFE’s Best Third Year Apprentice Award, Amber has now been
short-listed for a Victorian Training Award.
For further details on the report, visit
http://www.dsf.org.au/papers/174/SettingThePace_0.pdf
Getting the most out of tertiary open days
It’s a lot bigger than anything they’re used to, it’s filled with almost limitless
options and the responsibilities are heavier – in many ways, tertiary open days
mirror the world that secondary students face when they leave high school.
With open day season almost upon us, it is important that parents and
students feel confident in navigating the often confusing series of choices that
awaits them, as it is parents who are usually best informed about their child’s
abilities and hopes, and parents who children will turn to for advice.
Peter Day, Careers Guidance Co-ordinator at Laverton Secondary School,
says that “doing your homework” is the key if students want to make the most
of tertiary open days.
“The students who are motivated and have done their preparation inevitably
find these things a lot easier. Often, these kids already know what they want
to study after school, which is also an advantage.”
Peter advises students who have not quite decided what to study attend as
many open days as they can and investigate as many options as possible.
“My main aim is to get my students into tertiary education of some sort. As
Laverton Secondary is a fairly small school, I know my kids very well and can
suggest they make it down to a particular open day if I know they have an
aptitude in a particular area,” he says.
Parents and students can find out more about TAFE open days by visiting
http://www.tafe.vic.gov.au/courses/openDay.asp or by contacting their
school's careers coordinator.
For information about University open days check with individual universities.
TAFE Open Day Dates for 2005
BENDIGO REGIONAL INSTITUTE OF TAFE
Open Week 15–19 August
BOX HILL INSTITUTE OF TAFE
7 August
CHISHOLM INSTITUTE
Rosebud: Thursday 4 August 12pm – 7pm
Frankston: Saturday 6 August 10am – 3pm
Dandenong: Sunday 7 August 10am -3pm
EAST GIPPSLAND INSTITUTE OF TAFE
Various faculty open times June–October
GIPPSTAFE
3 August
GORDON INSTITUTE OF TAFE
21 August 11am–3 pm
GOULBURN OVENS INSTITUTE OF TAFE
Every day is open day
HOLMESGLEN INSTITUTE OF TAFE
Chadstone: 13 August 9am–3pm
Moorabbin: 27 August 10am–3pm
Waverley: 10 September 10am–3pm
KANGAN BATMAN INSTITUTE OF TAFE
Every day is open day
NORTHERN MELBOURNE INSTITUTE OF TAFE
August 10
RMIT UNIVERSITY (TAFE DIVISION)
August 14
SOUTH WEST INSTITUTE OF TAFE
August 7
SUNRAYSIA INSTITUTE OF TAFE
August 14
SWINBURNE INSTITUTE OF TAFE
August 28
UNIVERSITY OF BALLARAT (TAFE DIVISION)
August 21
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
August 14
WILLIAM ANGLISS INSTITUTE OF TAFE
August 14
WODONGA INSTITUTE OF TAFE
August 21
Learning from computer games, the ‘hard fun’
way
Teachers have recognised that computer games – one of the most popular
types of children’s entertainment – can also help them learn better.
Associate Professor Catherine Beavis, from Deakin University, says computer
games can teach young people many useful skills.
“There is an old truism in learning that people learn best by doing. Games
allow children to do things that they could not otherwise do,” says Ms Beavis.
“They are particularly powerful examples of learning experiences that allow
children to be active and critical learners. If they can raise the temperature in
a frog pond by a degree in an environmental computer game, they can see for
themselves what happens.”
“Games are great for allowing children to try things out for themselves.
They’re visual, they’re interactive and they include talking and writing.”
“But I have to stress that while games help children learn, they are no
substitute for a good teacher.”
According to Ms Beavis, there is much that parents and teachers can gain
from observing the kinds of learning going on in games.
As well as learning to co-operate and negotiate with others, games can
challenge children intellectually and teach them problem-solving skills.
“Children learn how games work. They become experts in the game. Learning
by trial and error, they are challenged intellectually,” she says.
“In the future, we expect that as a result of globalisation, work and social life
will be different from the way things are today.
“Children who have learned to be adaptable, flexible and share knowledge
through computer games, and who have learned about the ways in which
messages and ideas are communicated through images, symbols and words
as they are in games, may be able to live and work more successfully in that
new world.”
Sounding a note of caution, Ms Beavis says parents and teachers should be
sensitive to children’s needs and give them games that are suitable for their
age.
“Games have an important role to play in learning inside and outside the
classroom, but they should take their place alongside books, stories, films, TV
and other media.”
To find examples of computer games that can be used for learning visit The
Le@rning Federation website
www.thelearningfederation.edu.au/tlf2/showMe.asp?nodeID=242#groups
Starting on the right note
Many people assume that musical talent is something people are born with
rather than something we can learn. Tales of a six-year-old Mozart writing
concertos and symphonies leads people to assume that if a child does not
show a natural facility for an instrument or singing early in life, they will never
develop it.
Sonny Chua, President of the Association of Music Educators in Victoria –
and Assistant Director of music at Melbourne High School – says nothing
could be further from the truth.
“From an early age children naturally love to sing and bang instruments,” he
says.
“But they can also develop a music appreciation very early on and start
playing instruments. Piano and stringed instruments are the most commonly
taught but young children can even learn brass instruments.”
In addition to his normal music teaching duties at Melbourne High
School, Sonny is involved in the Music. Play For Life campaign.
The program describes itself as “a campaign to encourage music-making by
people of all ages, all musical tastes, in community settings or schools, from
the cities or the country, whether for simple recreation or in pursuit of a
professional career.”
Sonny says one of the main aims of the program is to remove the perception
that music is something ‘you have to be good at’ already.
“Sometimes people get put off by the idea of learning music, because they
see it as somehow elitist or outside of real life, but music is something
everyone can learn and enjoy.”
Parents can play a vital role in encouraging and nurturing their children
towards a life-long enjoyment of and participation in music.
“A lot of research has shown that music lessons can improve children’s
confidence, develop their socialisation skills, and improve communication,” he
says.
“They (parents) are very influential, both as role models, and in supporting
their child’s commitment to learn an instrument. Parents need to be
supportive, but they do not need to be musicians for their children to become
musicians.”
For further information on the Music. Play For Life program please visit
www.mca.org.au/music.playforlife.htm
Student art to inspire Commonwealth Games
athletes
The Commonwealth Games are just around the corner and now Victorian
students have a way of getting up close and personal with their sporting
heroes as part of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Education
Program.
The Art4Athletes program, launched Australia wide by the Minister for
Commonwealth Games, Justin Madden, allows students to send artistic
messages of support to over 6000 Commonwealth Games athletes and
officials.
The Director of the Office of Commonwealth Games Coordination, Jenny
Samms, says the program is a “great way to give visiting athletes and officials
an understanding of what the Games means to the young people of Australia
and a great way to bring the Games to all Australian schools”.
Every athlete and official from the 71 nations taking part in the Games will find
a unique piece of artwork on their pillow when they arrive in their
accommodation in the Games village. It is hoped athletes will use the artwork
to brighten up their rooms and will take their memento of the Games home
with them.
Port Phillip Special School principal Bella Irlicht, whose pupils produced the
first batch of fifteen paintings for the program said Art4Athletes had proved “a
wonderful experience for the kids”. Port Phillip Special School caters for
children with disabilities aged between three and eighteen.
Ross Denby, a Port Phillip teacher who assisted the students in creating the
work said he was pleased at the level of engagement the children had shown.
“It was really exciting for the children. They chose a sport that they liked and
then did their painting or drawing on that sport.”
“The Games mascot Karak the cockatoo was also really popular with the kids,
who included him in some of the posters,” he said.
In addition to the Art4Athletes program, five secondary schools will be invited
to create tactile artworks like sculpture for vision-impaired athletes competing
in the Elite Athletes with a Disability events.
Schools can register their interest in taking part in Art4Athletes by visiting
www.melbourne2006.com.au/education before 31 August 2005.
'Small is beautiful' school
This could be the motto of Principal Fiona Hermon and her school, Penshurst
Primary School.
With only seven pupils, Penshurst Primary, between Hamilton and
Warrnambool, is one of the smallest primary schools in Victoria.
And that’s what Fiona loves about it – she has been acting principal of a
succession of schools across Victoria’s Western District – the largest, a
school of 130 students. But she far prefers smaller schools.
“It’s just so easy to organise things – if there’s a performance somewhere say,
or we want to visit another school, we can pop the kids into cars and just go.”
The seven children at Penshurst Primary come from just four families, all of
whom are on the school council.
There are three Year 6 students, and one each in Years 5, 4, 2 and 1. With
their differing ages and abilities, formal year levels aren’t strictly adhered to –
each child receives individual attention according to his or her needs.
“The children are all on individual learning plans – so they’re each learning at
their own ability level,” says Fiona.
One of the few disadvantages of a small school is the limited contact pupils
have on a day-to-day basis with other children – but this is compensated for
by a great deal of contact with other schools in the area.
The children join in sporting activities and go on school camps and excursions
with other schools.
There’s one special member of this tiny school community – and that’s
Fiona's11-month-old daughter Georgia, a favourite with the children.
“The kids just love her,” Fiona says.
“She’s crawling now and trying to walk and when the kids see that, they’re just
blown away.”
Parents Victoria Annual Conference
A healthy education system produces happy students.
It is widely accepted that for students to do well at school they need to feel
positive about their education and learn in an environment where they feel
safe, happy, and supported.
This is the theme of Parents Victoria’s upcoming annual conference – A
Healthy Education.
“This year, we look at our children and will be addressing their emotional and
physical wellbeing, plus health, lifestyle, and a positive social outlook,”
Parents Victoria president Gail McHardy said.
Topics at the conference will include:
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How nutrition affects stress, energy levels and brain function in children;
How children learn;
Views on teaching values in schools; and
What children will learn in 2006 and beyond.
Ms McHardy urged parents to come along and discuss educational issues, as
well as “have some fun and laughs”.
Parents Victoria’s Healthy Education Conference will take place on 24 & 25
August 2005.
For more conference information, or to register for the conference, contact
Parents Victoria on 9380 2158 or visit http://www.parentsvictoria.asn.au/.