From the President's Desk - Norm Hart

11 April: More information about palnet, the online professional learning network managed by the Principals Australia Institute has been added further down this website page. We encourage you to follow the link to the palnet website and participate in the activities. Click here to read the information below.

5 April: The APPA – NZPF Trans Tasman Primary Principals Conference: 'Our Primary Purpose: Leading Learning' brings together the world’s leading educationalists including Pasi Sahlberg of Finland, Yong Zhao of China, Kishore Mahbubani of Singapore and Andy Hargreaves of Canada. As both speaker and workshop facilitator, each of them will offer a unique perspective on 21st Century schooling. Happening at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 18 - 21 September (Welcome Reception at the MCG on the 18th, with the Conference program – click here – beginning the following day) this conference will focus strongly on the role of leading learning in an increasingly global context. This is a conference for all primary school leaders. Click here and follow the links to register.

5 April: As we move through 2012 we will try to make the APPA website as accessible as possible. If you are looking for information about the Funding Review (APPA Papers, press releases, etc), go to the Funding Review (Gonski) menu item under the APPA Business menu item above. APPA regularly places professional reading articles on our website. The most read, plus the most recent, of these articles can be accessed on the Home page from the right column, while there is a large library of articles to be found under the Professional Learning menu item, many of which would be very useful for school executive staff and teachers. And don’t forget that APPA has some Special Deals for primary school principals - click here to read about them.

5 April: In 2011, Brooke Topelberg of Westminster Primary School in WA received the Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools. Click here to see how Brooke used puppets, a garden, and boundless enthusiasm to bypass language barriers and bring science to her students. Information about the 2012 National Science and Science Teaching Awards can be found at www.innovation.gov.au/scienceprizes. The Closing Date for nominations is 27 April 2012.

30 March: APPA and Educational Experience today begin a Business Partnership arrangement whereby every Australian primary school is eligible for significant discounts on all products advertised on the Educational Experience website (www.edex.com.au) or in their 2012 National Catalogue. The attached letter announces the partnership, and APPA simply asks that, when schools purchase classroom or other resources, consideration is given to Educational Experience as a possible supplier. APPA always appreciates the financial support received from its Business Partners knowing that such support contributes significantly to the task of representing primary school principals at a national level. Please inform your relevant staff and teachers of this arrangement, and note that the attached letter details an important but simple step in obtaining the discount.

30 March: In 2011, APPA supported a highly successful educational leadership study tour to Scotland. This year, in association with the Australian College of Educational Leaders (ACEL), we again offer the opportunity for school leaders to embark on a tour, this time to the birth place of democracy and pedagogy in the Mediterranean countries of Cyprus, Malta and Greece. Focusing on two themes of modern school leadership – the leadership of democratic schools and pedagogical innovation – the study will visit schools, lead international symposia at the Commonwealth Council of Education Administration and Management (CCEAM), participate in presentations in Athens and Malta and, of course, tour the region. Click here for the APPA – ACEL 2012 Study Tour information.

20 March: Earlier this year principals’ association presidents met with officers from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and worked through a fairly hefty agenda which included funding for schools, the National Principals Conversation, Empowering Local Schools, Teach Next, Rewards for School Improvement and AITSL projects. Click here to read the meeting summary and on the following to see related documents: Certification of Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers (AITSL presentation), ICT innovation Fund Projects (palnet, PLANE, Teacher Online Toolkit and Teaching Teachers for the Future), Improve Project, Supporting the Australian Curriculum Online Factsheet, Australian Curriculum Connect Factsheet and Online Diagnostic Tools Factsheet.

19 March: The March APPA Newsletter (click here to go to the Newsletters page) is sent to principals across Australia through the various state and territory principals’ association presidents (and representatives) who make up the APPA National Executive Council. It is important that, wherever possible, principals are aware not only aware of the national agenda and its impact at a school level, but also of how, through state associations or directly to APPA, contributions can be made to the debate that unfolds. The Review of Funding for Schooling is one such item on this agenda covered in the newsletter. This newsletter also brings with it a copy of our Business Partnership News (click here to go to the Newsletters page) and an invitation from Minister Garrett to participate in a School Funding Forum with Principals (click here to download) on Wednesday 21 March.  Happy reading!

13 March: Nominations for the 2012 Australian Awards for Outstanding Teaching and School Leadership are now open. The Australian Awards for Outstanding Teaching and School Leadership celebrate and recognise the nation’s most outstanding teachers and principals for their significant role in delivering high quality education to young people in schools across Australia. Government, Catholic and independent peak school education bodies in each state and territory are invited to nominate a teacher or principal in six award categories, with judging and final selection to be made by September this year. Read the media release here. For more information, click here to go to their website.