Metropolitan and Regional members are encouraged to identify specific programs that may be of interest in your local areas and contact the VPA to consider for addition to the Professional Learning calender.
Contact the VPA office with your local professional learning needs via info@vpa.org.au or by calling the VPA office on 8379 4000.
VPA offers new members free professional learning programs for the first six months of membership to the value of $120.
Members nominating their first new member receive $120 of professional learning in the first six months of the new member joining.
If this applies to you, make a note on your registration form.
VPA China Educational Leadership Study Tour
7th October– 20th October, 2012
An amazing opportunity for our leaders in Victoria
The VPA has conducted two very successful Chinese Study tours in 2010 and 2011. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create ongoing Professional Leadership Partnerships between Jiangsu Education Bureau (JESIE) and the VPA.
A 2012 VPA China Educational Leadership Study Tour is planned from 7 – 20 October. The tour will consist largely of working in schools and also include the opportunity to visit a few key cultural sites around Shanghai, Tongli, Suzhou and Nanjing.
What’s in it for me, as an educational leader?
The National Statement on Asia Literacy in Australian Schools 2011-2012 states that;
“Global integration and international mobility have increased rapidly in the past decade. As a consequence, new and exciting opportunities for Australians are merging... India, China and other Asian nations are growing and their influence on the world is increasing. Australians need to become ‘Asia literate’, engaging and building strong relationships with Asia.” (The Melbourne Declaration on educational Goals for Young Australians).
The VPA, working together with the Department of Educational and Early Childhood Development (DEECD), intends to encourage more schools to become ASIA LITERATE and engage with Asia.
This means promoting the teaching and learning of Asian languages and culture in school curriculum and communities.
An Asia literate school acknowledges;
“...the importance of including Studies of Asia (SOA) in the school curriculum and has a policy for ensuring students will connect Asia and Australia (as outlined in the National Statement for Engaging Young Australians with Asia in Australian Schools).”
For leaders developing and establishing Asia Literacy in your school, this involves;
1. School leadership valuing SOA.
2. Raising awareness in your school community and beginning to plan for its implementation.
3. There is a leadership strategy in place to implement, monitor and review inclusion of Studies of Asia.
The VPA 2012 China Educational Leadership Study Tour will be instrumental in assisting leaders to build Asia Literate schools.
Join our 2012 tour and assist your school in becoming Asia Literate, as detailed in 'Asia Literate Schools- A Guide to Recognition'
Again we appreciate the work of VPA Life Member, Aileen Hall who is planning this third VPA Study Tour. She is an invaluable asset to the tour, having lived and worked in China and she generously shares her local knowledge and contacts.
It is anticipated that the cost of this year’s tour will be $4900.
The package tour will include:
- Return Airfares
- Visiting Nanjing, Suzhou and Shanghai
- Professional development - improving school results/standards
- Guidance from VPA and JESIE
- Study tour can be claimed on tax
- Single rooms in 4 star hotels
- Land transportation, airport pickup and delivery (bus with air-conditioning)
- Entrance fees as per itinerary
- Meals as per tour itinerary (excluding the meal arrangements by schools)
- Drivers and guides’ service
- Travel accident insurance (in China only)
A proposed intineray of the tour has been developed- Proposed Intinerary
This is a rare chance to access really high level Professional Learning within the context of Chinese schools and the wider community.
Our previous two study tours helped us to establish an ongoing relationship between China and Victoria. The feedback from those who have participated in the trip has been overwhelmingly positive and they are eager to implement some of the ideas from the schools they visited in their own schools back home.
“I feel that this study tour has given me a cultural and pedagogical background that will be very helpful in introducing Chinese as a LOTE language in my school... Future directions I will take from this experience into my school include; the introduction of Chinese LOTE and culture, a trip to China with my teaching staff and the development of an effective Chinese LOTE curriculum.” – Ian Michelson, Principal of Bayswater Primary School
“I was delighted to have the opportunity to sign a sister school agreement with Meiling West Primary School.” – Sue Henderson, Principal of Blackburn Primary School
“I was overwhelmed by the hospitality and generosity shown to us in all schools we attended...I feel that the trip has really assisted me in getting a clear picture of what my school now needs to do to become Asia Literate.”– Nicole Bottriell, Principal of Tyabb Primary School.
“The opportunity to gain insight into another education system and to compare and contrast it with our own proved to be an outstanding experience... we observed classroom instruction, student learning, teacher professional development, school operations, a range of lessons across a range of curriculum areas and student performances.” - James Bell, Principal of Brentwood Park Primary School
“I have made a cultural agreement with Jenny Yang at Nanjing Huo Wa Xiang PS to exchange letters and emails between staff and students.” - Carole Mayes, Principal of Tyabb Railway Station Primary School
“A fantastic effort by everyone who organised such a rich, educational and cultural experience.” - Livia Motti, Assistant Principal of Toorak Primary School
Our partnership with JESIE aims to increase cultural understanding and acceptance of different cultures.
The 2012 Tour will give you the opportunity to forge such rewarding relationships with schools and educators in China.
The Tour will also enable you to enhance your Asia skills through an exploration of Chinese art, culture and language.
There will be a limit on numbers so please let us know of your interest by emailing Rebecca Vosper rvosper@vpa.org.au.
MAXIMISING YOUR SCHOOL REVIEW
A workshop for Principals, Assistant Principals and School Leaders
VASSP and the VPA, along with Geoff Barclay are offering this two hour workshop designed to give you an edge when engaging in your school review.
The workshop session will include a reviewer’s perspective on:
- The review process
- The importance of the School Self Evaluation
- Tools to assist self evaluation
- Involving others
Cost: Members $95.00 (inc. GST)
Non- members $110.00 (inc. GST)
Date: Tuesday 21 February 4.30pm – 6.30pm
Venue: VASSP/VPA Offices, Unit 2, 13 – 21 Vale St, North Melbourne
Light refreshments provided.
Further information and a registration form: Maximising Your School Review