From the President's Desk - Norm Hart

27 January: We have added 4 new articles to the Professional Learning section of the website. Click on the link on the menu bar above to begin another year of reading artivles that aim to help you to enhance your work in your school.

29 November: There is no doubt that principals around the nation are in the throws of those hectic last weeks of the school year. The business of schools, not unlike the business of APPA, doesn't allow much down time to be sure. The final APPA Newsletter for 2011 (click here to download it) brings a helpful, broad picture of your national association's efforts on your behalf over the course of the year. And what a year it's been! The pace of the Education Revolution has meant things are happening quickly - consultations are many, submissions are aplenty, and the change impacting on schools now and into the future might just seem unrelenting. More will happen over the coming weeks, but I sincerely hope that the end of year travels as smoothly as possible for all Australian primary schools and for all APPA members.

25 November: This morning's Reward Payments for Great Teachers announcement by the Minister for School Education has shown that the Federal Government has heard the concerns of APPA. Importantly, payments are aligned to the elements of the National Professional Standards for Teachers which bring high quality, effective teaching to the classroom. APPA sees this, rather than a set quota or any assessment of teacher quality based on student performance data derived from NAPLAN, as a far better way to recognise and identify great teachers. Click here to read APPA's media release and the Minister's announcment.

24 November: There has been quite a bit of recent coverage of the Federal Government's Empowering Local Schools initiative. Given that APPA has a well developed position paper (click here to download the paper) and has been very much involved in consultation. A media release has been issued nationally (click here to read and download the media release). APPA sees that supporting up to 1000 schools across Australia to set and achieve the priorities that are relevant to them is a step in the right direction. Schools involved will receive a grant of between $40,000 and $50,000 in initial funding. This funding will go a long way to ensuring that school communities receive the appropriate support to see through the implementation of this important initiative.

4 November: The Gonski Review of Funding for Schooling is scheduled to release its final report by the end of the year. Many would know that APPA has made ongoing submissions to the Review on behalf of principals across Australia. APPA's most recent submission was in response to the Paper on Commissioned Research. In coming towards the end of the Review's term, it is well worth becoming familiar with APPA's position through these submissions. The discussions ahead will be many! Click here to read the APPA submissions - the Terms of Reference Consultation Paper, the Emerging Issues Paper, the Designing a Funding Model Paper, the Four Considerations Paper, and the Commissioned Research Paper.

14 October: A survey on the Implementation of the Australian Curriculum has been developed by Professor John Halsey, Sidney Myer Chair of Rural Education and Communities at Flinders University in South Australia. APPA has reviewed the survey and considers that the information gained will be helpful to us and others who wish to see successful implementation. Participants will not be identified in any publication of results. Click here to go to the survey website. Click here for the letter from Professor Halsey introducing the research - it also contains the Ethics Approval reference to conduct it.

13 October: In 2012, APPA joins the New Zealand Principals Federation (NZPF) in bringing together the Trans Tasman Primary Principals Conference: 'Our Primary Purpose: Leading Learning'. Click here to download the flyer to register your interest and receive updates. To be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 18 - 21 September (Welcome Reception at the MCG on the 18th, with the Conference program beginning the following day) this conference will focus strongly on primary school education in an increasingly global context. It's definitely time to Claim the Date and keep an eye out for further information coming out soon on the 2012 conference page on this website! 

28 September: APPA today released Targeting Support for High-Need Students in Primary Schools: Report of the TRIPS Study. The report examines National Partnership funding which came to schools to improve educational outcomes for students, particularly those who need it most. There are several important implications arising from the Study which will help inform primary school principals as they allocate resources into the future to meet the needs of students. Click here to read the report and the accompanying media release.

27 September: Your Child’s First Year at School has proved invaluable for parents, teachers and principals who want those children beginning school in 2012 getting the best possible start. It offers parents all the practical advice and information they need to see that their child is prepared, settled and ready for the very first day. Produced through collaboration between APPA and Early Childhood Australia this book is a must ­ at just $9.99 ­ for every family to have in their home. Click here to read more information, including a sample chapter and a brochure with an order form so that you can order copies for your 'new' parents.

27 September: The September issue of your APPA Newsletter from Norm Hart is now available on the website - click here to go to the Newsletters page. It covers the work of your national association over recent months, with coverage of this month’s National Executive Council meeting where both the Minister and Shadow Minister for Education gave their views on various aspects of primary school education. You will also see that the work of APPA has been rewarded through changes to the School Chaplaincy Program (now called the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program), and that two important Position Papers ­ Performance Pay and School Autonomy ­ are now in place. Also, if you're into, or getting into, that holiday mode, take the opportunity to read the flyer about APPA's Business Partners on the Newsletters page, including our new partnership with Camp Australia, leaders in quality before and After School Care.

16 September: The APPA National Executive Council recently endorsed two position papers: ­ Performance Pay (click here) and School Autonomy (click here). In endorsing position papers, the three national sector primary principals associations (AGPPA, ACPPA and IPSHA) ­ work from these positions in any discussions in which they are involved. Of course, these papers form the basis for APPA’s ongoing discussions with Minister Garrett and with his department at a national level. Given that both issues will impact considerably upon schools, principals across Australia are encouraged to read and familiarise themselves with both papers. Feedback, too, is most welcome.