Minnis Journals

ET News Digest

Your Weekly Education Newsletter

Down, down STEM is down
Despite the money and fanfare directed at technology and science teaching we remain in a downward spiral, so how do we change that?
An integrated curriculum, early intervention and a stronger teaching workforce are key to reversing Australia’s downward trajectory in STEM teaching and learning, according to a new report released by ACER. Read more

Get language right to boost success
Preparing children for school with basic maths, language and social skills holds them in good stead when they enter the Year 1 fray and language skill looks like the important skill of all.
A child's use of vocabulary and grammar predicts future proficiency with the spoken and written word and affects performance in other subject areas.
It also looks to have an ongoing effect; performance in kindergarten predicts their success later. Read more

Old and young to learn from each other
A Montessori Middle School Program will soon be co-located at Kalyra Woodcroft Aged Care in Morphett Vale SA, supported by research that indicates interaction between old and young has significant wellbeing effects for both groups.
"This is a terrific step forward. Planning has been approved, we expect the new middle school will open in the first half of 2019. We are developing protocols, policies and procedures to enable us to work together effectively," said Sara Blunt, CEO Kalyra Communities. Read more

What’s your DNA?
People often discuss the influence of nature and nurture, and how a combination of our genes and our experiences, contribute to who we are. Similarly, we can apply the concept of DNA to our organisation. It is important to take an opportunity to discover the core of who you are as an organisation – that unique combination of vision and values (the ‘DNA’) and the collective experience. Read more

HP Kids Fund program $10k available
HP Australia is encouraging primary and secondary schools to nominate for the second-round applications for HP Kids Fund, a $500,000 initiative to help Australian students achieve digital literacy.
Schools have until 18 June 2018 to submit a video for their chance to receive one of fifty $10,000 technology grants. Each school that submits an application will receive 6 months of complimentary access to Code Camp World, an e-learning platform that helps to teach kids how to code. Read more

BBQ raises most fete funds
The school fete has become a major source of fundraising for a lot of schools and it looks like the barbeque is the leading profit centre.
There is significant money in fetes with an average of $26,000 profit for a large school (more than 700 students) with smaller schools generating $10,000. The largest profit from a single fete was measured at $93,000.
Of 500 surveyed schools the humble barbeque beat out amusement rides and cake stalls to rake in the most fundraising dollars. Read more

Beyond the bedtime story
A good way to get children reading and writing and loving books is the tried and true bed time story, but there is more that can be done.
A child's ability to self-regulate i.e. pay attention, retain memory of what’s been taught and perhaps inhibit behaviours are critical for their success in literacy and language development. Read More

Victoria’s world beating education architecture
The shortlist for the 2018 Victorian Architecture Awards reveals the world beating quality of the state’s educational architecture.
The awards program, run by the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, has shortlisted a total of 108 projects in 14 categories from a record number of entries, ranging from residential to public, commercial and educational architecture and competition is hot with entries up 20% on last year. Read more