ETAQ E-pistle 25-12

National conference – earlybird rego extended
The cut-off date for earlybird registration for this year’s AATE national conference has been extended to Friday 17 August so there is still time for a bargain rate for this important event.

The conference is to be held at Sydney Grammar School on 3-4 October. There are also one-day intensive master classes on a range of topics on Tuesday 2 October. On-line registration can be effected at http://www.englishteacher.com.au/FiveBells/Home.aspx. I hope a strong contingent of ETAQ members will be joining me in Sydney for the Five Bells conference.

Don’t miss the State Conference
Members are again reminded to register for the ETAQ State Conference. With the theme of “Making connections”, this year’s event will be held at Lourdes Hill College in Brisbane on Saturday week,  18 August.

The program, registration form and workshop selection form were included in the most recent mailing and can also be downloaded from the website at http://www.etaq.org.au/?page_id=308 . A $20 late fee will apply to registrations postmarked after 10 August. This is a PD event not to be missed.

Free movie
As part of a film promotion, a number of free admit two passes are available for a preview screening on Wednesday August 29 at Regal Twin, Graceville at 6:30pm. The film is called MONSIEUR LAZHAR from Palace Films – Set in Montreal, a beloved teacher of a Year 6 class has abruptly passed away. Having learned of the incident in the newspaper, Bachir Lazhar (Fellag), a 55 year-old Algerian immigrant, makes his way to the school and offers his services as a substitute teacher. He’s in the right place at the right time, and is quickly hired to fill in.

Rather than distributing actual tickets, I will be sending names to go on the door list. If you’d like your name on the list, send me an email at gazco48@bigpond.net.au . First in, best dressed!

Patron’s new book
Literacy in 3D: An integrated perspective in theory and practice is a new book co-edited by Professor Bill Green and ETAQ Patron, Professor Catherine Beavis. A PDF flyer with full details can be downloaded from the ETAQ website at http://www.etaq.org.au/?page_id=9 . Here is an extract: “Literacy in 3D brings together an authoritative collection of essays by academics, policymakers and educators from across Australia, each drawing on Bill Green’s influential ‘3D’ model of the cultural, critical and operational dimensions involved in literacy, pedagogy and practice. The book is divided into three sections, which cover the model in theory, the model in practice, and extending the model.”

Meanjin Writers Camp
From Thursday 1 November to Sunday 4 November, the Meanjin (Brisbane) Local Council of the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association will conduct its 32nd annual camp, an experience designed to encourage & develop talented young writers by having them work with established authors. Students in Years 6, 7 & 8 from both state & non-state schools will be invited to apply to attend, with preference given to students who have not previously attended a Meanjin Writers’ Camp. This year’s authors include Simon Higgins, Ross Clarke, Terry O‟Connor, Sue Gough & Narelle Oliver. Application forms are now available on the Meanjin website: www.meanjin.edu.au. The application close has been extended to Friday 17 August, 2012.

Please promote this opportunity to students in Years 6-8. If you have any questions about the camp, please contact Helen Cooper at Holy Family School Indooroopilly on (07) 3810 9600. Helen is also eager to hear from registered teachers who would like to assist with the camp from Thursday afternoon 1st November through to Sunday morning 4th November, 2012. It’s a fantastic PD opportunity for teachers as you get to see how accomplished authors work with burgeoning young writers! Volunteer teachers would need to organise teacher release from their school position for Friday 2nd November or could join the camp activities from Friday afternoon 2nd November if their school is unable to accommodate a one day absence. Pre-service teachers who have blue cards are warmly invited to apply to attend. There is no cost for teacher/preservice teacher volunteers.

Breakfast for Jim Buckley
Those attending the breakfast to mark Jim Buckley’s retirement from the Management Committee are reminded of the following details:

• Day/Date/Time: Sunday 19 August, the day following the state conference, 9:00 am
• Venue: Eves on the River situated at 53 Vernon Terrace, Teneriffe. http://www.evesontheriver.com/ ).
• Cost: The $20 contribution can be paid to Treasurer/Admin Officer Trish Purcell on the day.
   

Engaging students with Shakespeare
Another resource available to help teachers to get students to engage with Shakespeare could be “rapper, father and teacher, Charlie Thomson, aka The Educator who has spent the past ten years teaching at a number of high schools and youth training facilities around Australia. Charlie, also a member of hip-hop group The Winnie Coopers, is passionate about engaging young people in the works of Shakespeare in a contemporary and relevant way through his project The Shakespeare Sessions. Charlie delivers edgy, engaging and inspiring presentations to help students “really get” Shakespeare.  Come and join him down the Bard Road.”  For more information and bookings, contact Speakers Ink at http://www.speakers-ink.com.au/speakers/854-charlie-thomson

Garry Collins
President, English Teachers Association of Queensland (ETAQ)
 
Wednesday, August 08, 2012