Mid-year newsletter | Level 3 Classroom Teacher Association (L3CTA)

Dear Level 3 Classroom Teacher Association Member,

Many thanks to all members and committee members this term as Level 3 Classroom teachers continue to support each other and their school communities to achieve the best outcomes for students. Many of us are also attempting to optimise our own fitness and well-being through the Global Corporate Challenge – good luck with that! Our Committee meeting in May was a highly effective planning session and also served as an informal information and support session for aspirant Level 3 Classroom Teachers.

Our June Workshop was held in the Science room at Hollywood Primary School and included overviews of Case Management Planning, Leading Whole School Writing, the Contribution of Explicit Teaching in Literacy and Planning for Whole School Science. The prolonged, vibrant discussion confirmed the value of these sessions to those who attended and shared ideas. Many thanks to those who found time amongst report-writing to come and participate. Congratulations to Fae Turner, who won the Door Prize – an excellent set of teacher resources on the Brazil Olympics, and many thanks to R.I.C. Publications for providing the door prize and an excellent display of resources for viewing.

Congratulations to Margo Whittle, Life Member of the L3CTA Association and Membership secretary, on being confirmed as the joint winner of the Sangora Education Foundation Language Teachers Award. Margo will receive a generous grant to put towards her continued learning, allowing her to expand her knowledge of Japanese language. She will use the funds to travel to Japan during the December to January break to improve her language by research into areas in Japan including Fukushima, where the tsunami hit five years ago. She is also planning to travel to Hyogo to research the early WA and Japan relationship and the origins of the early Japanese pearlers in Broome. The Sangora Education Foundation Language Teachers Award was established in 2014 to provide the opportunity for teachers of languages to improve their knowledge of a language they teach through a study program in a country where that language is commonly spoken. Well-deserved recognition for excellent work, and we look forward to hearing about her travels.

Upcoming events

Our next Committee Meeting will be held in Hollywood Primary School Teachers’ Office at 10 am on Saturday 6th August. All members, not just current committee members, are warmly invited to attend and contribute as we plan ahead for events later in the year.

Our Workshop in term 3 will be Saturday 3rd September at 10 am, held in Hollywood Primary School Library. A reminder/flyer will be sent out nearer the time with details of the room and parking. This workshop is for aspirant Level 3 Classroom Teachers, especially those who have been successful in Stage I and are planning to participate in Stage II during the term 3 holidays. These ‘boutique’ workshops have proved popular in previous years, providing an opportunity for aspirants to fine-tune and rehearse their presentations and connect with colleagues for further practice and support. If you have been asked to support an aspirant, bringing or sending them to this workshop is a good way to do it. Current L3s who attend these workshops also find them a stimulating and refreshing update on ‘what’s new’ in teaching, because aspirant L3s have fascinating projects to discuss, and a useful opportunity to reflect upon their own continuing professional learning and development.

Diary dates for later in the year…..

Please make sure you have the date of our Annual General Meeting in your diary – Saturday 29th October. We are delighted that Angela Rossen, artist-in-residence at the University of Western Australia, will be speaking. Angela’s work in promoting student awareness of Environmental Science is inspirational. This year we will also be hosting the official recognition ceremony for newly-appointed Level 3 Classroom Teachers and this Celebration Event will be held on Monday 28th November. Not only is this when we congratulate new colleagues, it is our celebration of our role and ongoing leadership in classroom teaching and an opportunity to catch up with leaders from the Department and from both sides of politics. Not to be missed!

Renewals reminder

If you have not yet renewed your membership for 2016, please:

send your $50 payment either by cheque in the mail to L3CTA, PO BOX 1083, SUBIACO WA 6904 or
pay by deposit to BSB: 806-015 Acc. No. 01526959 and send confirmation of bank transfer by e-mail to l3cta@hotmail.com, ensuring that your name and contact details are included if you are a renewing member.

New members are asked to use the Membership form (available on the website) to ensure that we have all the correct details for them.

Many thanks to those who have renewed their membership already and a renewed welcome to new L3s who joined at the end of 2015 – your membership is still current until March 2017.

Professional learning opportunities

Developing a personal brand that is unique, visible and strong is vital in today’s current climate

Date: Thursday, 20 October 2016
Time: 4.00pm – 5.00pm
Venue: Hew Roberts Lecture Theatre UWA Nedlands Campus Cnr of Hampden Road and Stirling Hwy

Teachers as agents of change: Making connections between human rights, social justice and global citizenship in our education systems

Date: Thursday, 15 September 2016
Time: 4.00pm – 5.00pm
Venue: Hew Roberts Lecture Theatre UWA Nedlands Campus, Cnr of Hampden Road and Stirling Hwy

31st annual Western Australian Institute for Educational Research Forum, a great opportunity to meet with colleagues and share your research. This year’s theme is : Local Research, Global Focus

Date: Saturday, 6 August 2016
Time: 1.00 pm -5.30 pm
Venue: Tannock Hall, Notre Dame University, Fremantle

More information and details on how to register is available at www.waier.org.au/events?c=invitation-2016

Celia Elissegaray
President, Level 3 Classroom Teacher Association
1 August 2016

The Level 3 Classroom Teacher Association is not a part of the Department or funded by it, all positions are honorary and we depend on a strong membership to maintain our independent, professional association and activities and to advocate for our role. The contact e-mail address for Colleen Buck, the L3CT Program Manager at the Department of Education, is L3CT@education.wa.edu.au. This is the address aspirant Level Three Classroom Teachers should use if they seek information on the application process, dates etc. from the Department.