Welcome to the March edition of TA Talk. It has been a busy first term for schools and we know that many of you are exhausted, and counting the days until the holidays.
Likewise, our days are full, as we continue to challenge ourselves, by committing to projects that align with our mission to empower educators.
One of our most ambitious projects, to date, is to develop a set of Standards for Paraprofessional Educators in Schools. We wish to thank the dedicated industry reference group members from around Australia, who are contributing their time and expertise to this essential project. We held two virtual meetings in March, and as a result, we are very close to finalising the draft Standards, and will keep you updated on our website.
Whilst we have a number of projects on the go, our focus remains on the development of evidence-based professional learning for education support staff. We are impressed with the number of members who are using our video resources to improve their practice, and in March we issued a massive 649 certificates of completion!
We continue to welcome new and returning schools to ATA, and acknowledge the Professional Learning Champion schools who have been ATA members for up to 6 years. These schools are to be congratulated for their long term commitment to the development of their teacher aide workforce.
On a more sombre note, our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the many communities in Queensland and New South Wales, still affected by the unprecedented floods, and in particular the people in the Lismore region who sadly, for a second time, are being impacted. As mentioned in last month's newsletter, ATA gives to a number of worthy causes, and for the next few months all our giving will be going to flood affected communities. We wish everyone a much deserved holiday and look forward to being in touch next term. Warm Regards Mandy and Stella |
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| Understanding the Impact of Adversity and Trauma on Behaviour in Schools |
Michelle Murray is a Senior Manager with Life Without Barriers, as well as a Speech Language Pathologist. Michelle has extensive experience working in schools, and believes that teacher aides can play a vital role in breaking down barriers for children who have experienced trauma. In this webinar, Michelle will discuss the impacts of adversity and trauma on children’s development, engagement, and behaviour. |
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| Strategies to Support Students with Intellectual Disability |
Students who are diagnosed with an intellectual disability often need extra assistance within the classroom so they are
able to complete a curriculum that is meaningful for them. In this webinar, Jane Wenlock, a teacher at Kolbe Catholic
College in Victoria, explains how students with intellectual disability are diagnosed, and how education professionals can work effectively with students who have an intellectual disability. |
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AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS REFERENCE GROUP |
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Thank you to our Industry Reference Group members who are helping to develop the AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS FOR PARAPROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS IN SCHOOLS.
ASPES Industry Reference Group Members
Leanne Hillman, Bolster Education NSW | Sharon Stone, Deputy Principal, Tallowood School, NSW | Sharon Crowther, Teacher, TAFE – Miller, NSW | Pragati Bhat, Teacher/ Assistant Principal, & Morgan Costa, Assistant Principal, Ponds School, NSW | Haley Will, Teacher Aide, Landsborough State School, QLD | Sarah Trussell, Executive Assistant, Lucindale Area School, SA |Angela Toniolo, Education Support, Mt Beauty Primary School, VIC | Jane Keating, Administrator, Padua College, VIC | Michelle Nunn, Principal, Newbury Primary School, VIC | Jane Wenlock, Coordinator Learning Support, Kolbe Catholic College, VIC | Glynnis Few, HR Manager, NT Christian Schools | Claire Jackson, PhD Candidate, Monash University/ Education Services Australia, VIC | Kerrie Atkins, Senior Director & Esther Duffy, Business Manager, Business Improvement and Support, ACT Public Schools | Astrid Morgan, Deputy Principal, Arbor Grove Primary School, WA | Jen Twine, Middle Leader of Pedagogy, Mater Dei School, Camden, VIC | Nigel Bowra, Lecturer, North Metropolitan TAFE, WA | Kim Thompson, Lead Education Assistant, Ocean Road Primary School, WA | Lianne Reedyk, Education Support, Somers Primary School, VIC | Renae Whyte, Lead Education Assistant, Byford Secondary College, WA | Roxanne Picoaga, Homebush West Primary School, NSW | Michelle Newell, Industry Innovation Specialist, TAFE NSW | Susan De Silva, Education Officer - Learner Diversity, Catholic Education, Sandhurst, VIC | Julie Buick, Teacher Aide, Kolbe Catholic College, VIC | Paul Sedunary, Principal, Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School, VIC | Bex Nikotemo, Deputy Principal, Currumbin Community Special School, QLD | Shantell Pike, Secondary Learning Support Coordinator, Kingsway Christian College, WA | Denis Mercier-Lee, Deputy Principal, Redeemer Lutheran College, QLD |
We have an outstanding commitment from all New South Wales and Victorian education sectors, and would like to establish further representation by the other States and Territories.
If your school would like to be part of this significant improvement to the workforce development of paraprofessional educators, please use the EOI link on our Standards page. |
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| Let's tick off some tasks! |
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HAVE YOU DOWNLOADED OUR WEB EVENTS FLYER? |
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| Share this with your colleagues today |
We have recently uploaded a flyer to our Web Events page, featuring all our live web events for 2022. We hope you will download a copy and share it with your colleagues as they, too, might be interested in attending our webinars. You can also post the flyer on the school staff noticeboard, or in your staff room :) |
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WHAT'S TRENDING ON THE ATA FACEBOOK PAGE |
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| Introducing the Cloud Spotter! |
39,282 views
1,333 reactions, comments and shares There was much sharing and tagging of this post. Most thought it a simple but brilliant idea - outside, on the grass, and looking up at the sky through the 'cloud spotter'. Couldn't think of a better way to learn about clouds!! |
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ATA PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CHAMPION SCHOOLS |
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| 6 year Professional Learning Champion schools
Congratulations to the following schools celebrating their 6th continuous year of professional learning with ATA. Fisher Road School NSW Kioma State School QLD Peachester State School QLD Wamuran State School QLD Waverley Christian College VIC |
5 year professional learning champion schools
Congratulations to the following schools celebrating their 5th continuous year of professional learning with ATA. Atwea College NSW Rowland Hassall School NSW Bungunya State School QLD Capalaba State College QLD Middlemount Community School QLD Redlynch State College QLD |
ATA PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CHAMPION SCHOOLS |
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WELCOME TO OUR NEW SCHOOLS AND TRAINING ORGANISATIONS |
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ACT Chapman Primary School NSW Gunnedah South Public School
Mimosa Public School Richard Johnson Anglican School NT Living Waters Lutheran School QLD Bribie Island State High School Caboolture Special School Carbrook State School Chevallum State School Coomera State Special School Currimundi Special School Foxwell State Secondary College Glennie Heights State School
Glenview State School Good Counsel College Gowrie State School Hills International College Ignatius Park College Kalbar State School |
| North Lakes State College Palmview State Special School St Brendan's Catholic Primary School St Columban's College St Joseph's College Coomera St Mary's College, Toowoomba St Peter's Primary School Rochedale
VIC Camberwell Primary School Heritage College John Paul College Frankston King's College Warrnambool Lalor North Secondary College
Lightning Reef Primary School Marist College Bendigo St Monica's School Wodonga Wallan Primary School WA Dale Christian School Leschenault Catholic Primary School St Joseph's School Southern Cross |
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Your impact goes beyond the classroom!
When you purchase or renew your ATA membership, not only are you providing professional learning to your team, you are also helping to improve the health and education of children around the world. |
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Leaders in Professional Learning for Schools |
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