ETAQ E-pistle 18-12
Posted by Garry Collins on June 3, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Have your say on ACARA’s draft senior English courses
Members in the SE corner are reminded that meetings to discuss and provide feedback on ACARA’s new drafts of senior English courses for the Australian Curriculum are planned for this coming week as follows. Please try to come along and have your say.
Brisbane north– Date: Monday 4 June; venue: Chermside BCC Library, Hamilton Road, Chermside, Meeting Room 2A; Start: 3:45pm; Convenor: Garry Collins gazco48@bigpond.net.auor 3359 5993.
Brisbane south– Date: Wednesday 6 June; venue: Citipointe Christian College, Wecker Road, Mansfield,Room E6 Integrated Technology Building, just to the right (East) of library (a map will be uploaded to the ETAQ website);Start: 3:45-4:00; Convenor: Ian Hoddinott IHoddinott@chc.edu.au
Gold Coast– Date: Tuesday 5 June; venue: Merrimac State High School, Dunlop Court. Mermaid Waters, Library Meeting Room; Start: 3:45pm; Convenor: Karen Farrow karen.farrow@qdeta.orgor 5595 8666.
If you’re able to attend one of these meetings please let the relevant convenor know. CPD certificates will be emailed to attendees after the event. Feedback from individuals, branches or school English departments is invited and could be sent to me at gazco48@bigpond.net.au.
To assist in your consideration of the drafts, four Word documents have been uploaded to an Australian Curriculum Page to be found under the Discussions tab on the ETAQ website at http://www.etaq.org.au/. The first puts key information about English, Essential English and Literature side by side and the other three put the four semester units side by side for each of those three subjects.
Presenters for the ETAQ State Conference
Instead of just attending the annual ETAQ State Conference at Lourdes Hill College in Brisbane on Saturday 18 August, why not be part of the program? Further volunteers are sought to share aspects of their professional practice via workshops and papers. A reduced registration rate applies for presenters. The conference theme is “Making connections”.
The Call for Presenters document was included in the most recent mailing and can also be downloaded from the website at http://www.etaq.org.au/?page_id=308. Session proposals are required by Saturday 23 June.
ALEA author event
ETAQ members are cordially invited to an evening with Jackie French, author of many books suitable for the Australian Curriculum: English. The event is being hosted by Meanjin Local Council of ALEA and will be held from 5-7pm on Monday 20 August in Brisbane at St James Primary School, Kirkland Ave, Coorparoo. Drinks and finger food will be served. Pay and register at http://www.meanjin.edu.au/event_calendar.htm#jackie_french.
AATE national conference
What about a trip to Sydney in the second week of the spring vacation? Members are strongly encouraged to attend this year’s AATE national conference at Sydney Grammar School on 3-4 October. Early Bird registrations close 1st August and on-line registration is now open at http://www.englishteacher.com.au/FiveBells/Home.aspx. Previous E-pistles, now available on the website, contained details of financial assistance for selected members but applications need to be received by 9 June.
Competitions for students
Amidst the usual end of semester rush, please try to find time to encourage talented students to enter the Annual Literary Competition (short stories, poems & non-fiction prose in Years 11 & 12) and/or the new Digital Story Competition. Details have been mailed and are also available under the Competitions tab on the ETAQ website http://www.etaq.org.au/
PD on cyber safety
Members may be interested in a seminar entitled “Cyber Citizenship” being conducted by Speakers Ink at the State Library on Friday 10 August. The activity is designed to support and inform teachers, librarians, educators and student welfare professionals. Full information can be obtained and registration effected at http://www.speakers-ink.com.au/news-and-events/cyber-citizenship.
Garry Collins
President, English Teachers Association of Queensland (ETAQ)
Saturday, June 02, 2012