School News, Australia - Term 4, 2023

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The essential industry guide

Issue 30 | Term 4, 2023

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INSIDE four term

FRONT DESK Editor’s Note: Happy Holidays … almost!.........................................................05

EDUCATION Special Report: School funding is it fair?....................................................... 06

09

Profile – Giant Steps School, TAS: Individualised learning on the spectrum....................................................... 09 Principal Speaks: Supported staff means thriving students................... 12 Literacy: a skill for life.............................................................................................. 16

ADMINISTRATION Furniture and facilities for the modern staffroom....................................... 19 Case Study: Learning space transformation with Resource Furniture........................................................................................24 Case Study: Healthy Classrooms with Solaris Paper..................................26 Off and Away: Mobile phone bans.....................................................................28

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EXTERNAL LEARNING Real-world learning experiences for school groups....................................30

TECHNOLOGY

School News is distributed to primary, secondary and intermediate schools throughout Australia

by Multimedia Pty Limited.

The views and images expressed in School News do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The information contained in School News is intended to act as a guide only, the publisher, authors and editors expressly disclaim all liability for the results of action taken or not taken on the basis of information contained herein. We recommend professional advice is sought before making important business decisions.

Advertising Conditions The publisher reserves the right to refuse to publish or to republish without any explanation for such action. The publisher, it’s employees and agents will endeavour to place and reproduce advertisements as requested but takes no responsibility for omission, delay, error in transmission, production deficiency, alteration of misplacement. The advertiser must notify the publisher of any errors as soon as they appear, otherwise the publisher accepts no responsibility for republishing such advertisements. If advertising copy does not arrive by the copy deadline the publisher reserves the right to repeat existing material.

Disclaimer Any mention of a product, service or supplier in editorial is not indicative of any endorsement by the author, editor or publisher. Although the publisher, editor and authors do all they can to ensure accuracy in all editorial content, readers are advised to fact check for themselves, any opinion or statement made by a reporter, editor, columnist, contributor, interviewee, supplier or any other entity involved before making judgements or decisions based on the materials contained herein.

School News, its publisher, editor and staff, is not responsible for and does not accept liability for any damages, defamation or other consequences (including but not limited to revenue and/or profit loss) claimed to have occurred as the result of anything contained within this publication, to the extent permitted by law.

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The Multimedia Pty Ltd team acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands upon which we gather, work, and publish. We want to pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future, who continue cultural, educational, and spiritual connections to Country. © 2023 Multimedia Pty Ltd. It is an infringement of copyright to reproduce in any way all or part of this publication without the written consent of the publisher.

Set your laptop free.................................................................................................40 Pty Limited

Encouraging creativity with broadcasting studios......................................44

30

HEALTH & SAFETY Air quality for a healthy learning environment..............................................46 Safety first in school carparks.............................................................................48 Case Study: Improved COLA functionality at Carlton Public School........................................................................................49

PROPERTY

04

EDITOR, Gemma Easton editor@school-news.com.au INDUSTRY REPORTERS Naomii Seah and Sarah Davison PRODUCTION, Richard McGill ADVERTISING, Pip Casey advertising@school-news.com.au CONTRIBUTORS Michael West and Sarah Drysdale

Maintaining green spaces....................................................................................52

44

PO Box 1080, Noosaville BC, Queensland, Australia 4566 Phone: (07) 5440 5322 Fax: (07) 5604 1680 mail@school-news.com.au school-news.com.au

Good-looking, organised bag storage..............................................................56

WHAT’S HOT...................................................................................58 Front Cover: Integrate AV

FRONT DESK

KEY Commercially funded supplier profile or supplier case study Supplier information or content Suppliers share their views in one-off, topical pieces General editorial. Case studies and features may cite or quote suppliers, please be aware that we have a strict ‘no commercial content’ guideline for all magazine editorial, so this is not part of any commercially funded advertorial but may be included as relevant opinion. Happy reading!

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

all year levels, group sizes and learning outcomes.

It’s that time of the year, when we all look at each other and wonder, where has the year gone?

It feels like August has only just happened, but now, suddenly we are in November. The end of the school year is rapidly approaching.

And while the holidays feel close enough to touch, there is still, I am sure, a lot happening at your school this term. The final few weeks of learning, followed, for older students, by exams and assessments can be a busy and stressful time for both students and teachers. The reward that follows though, is the end of year celebrations, award presentations and break-up parties. There will no doubt be some sad goodbyes as students move on to new schools or graduate from primary school or high school.

Gemma Easton,

Editor, SchoolNews editor@school-news.com.au

As this year draws to a close, attention shifts to planning for next year’s activities. In this edition, we round up some of the best Education Outside the Classroom experiences for students in 2024.

From exploring STEAM learning in museums, team building workshops, and conquering the great outdoors in adventure activities, there is an external learning experience to suit

Michael West, from Bellbird Park State Secondary College in Queensland, is our Principal Speaks columnists this term. A multi award-winning educator, Michael believes that fostering staff development and growth is integral to student success. Michael shares how he and his school are working actively to foster an environment where professional development and staff wellbeing are prioritised.

Our reporter Sarah Davison takes us to Giant Steps School for this term’s profile. The school is the only school in Tasmania that is specifically for children on the Autism spectrum.

Inclusive, accessible learning

for all students is championed, without adherence to rigid age and class group structures.

Soon, mobile phones will be banned from all public schools around the country. We examine the benefits to this, and some practical solutions to keep phones safe and away from students.

From the School News team, I would like to wish everyone a safe, happy, and restful holiday period. Whether you are relaxing at home with family, visiting an exotic location or taking on a new project, I hope the time away gives you the opportunity to unwind. And while you are relaxing, we hope you find time to truly enjoy the Term 4 edition of School News!

The School News team acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands upon which we gather, work, and publish. We want to pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future, who continue cultural, educational, and spiritual connections to Country.

• • •

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

FRONT DESK

05

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Holidays … almost!

SPECIAL REPORT

 n i d n u F l o Scho

?

R I A F T I IS

By Gemma Easton, Editor

Funding is always a hot topic in schools, and now, the debate is heating up. The current economic climate sees budget squeezed ever tighter, as schools make decisions about where to prioritise resources.

In the lead up to the 2022 Federal election, Labor committed to ensuring every school in Australia was on a path to 100 percent of its fair funding level. This promise was repeated by Minister for Education, Jason Clare in March this year, when he announced an expert panel to inform a better and fairer education system.

“At the election we made a commitment to work with State and Territory Governments to get every school on a path to 100 percent of its fair funding level,” Minister Clair said. “Funding is critical, but so is what it does.”

The Review’s Terms of Reference say it will focus on driving real improvements in learning and wellbeing outcomes for students, and consider how funding and reforms can be more transparent and better demonstrate links to student outcomes.

So how is school funding determined, and is the government on track to meet its funding promises?

School News investigates.

The calculations Recurrent funding is provided by the Australian Government for every student enrolled in a school. In 2023, recurrent funding for schools totals an estimated $27.3 billion, including $10.6 billion for government schools, $9.3 billion for Catholic schools, and $7.4 billion for independent schools.

Data from the 2023 Report on Government Services (ROGS) found that the majority of school students, including the vast majority of students from low socio-economic

Only 13 percent of teachers say their workload is manageable

06

backgrounds, are educated in public schools, but that almost no public school is fully and fairly funded to cater for students.

Funding is a partnership between the Federal Government, and the states and territories. The Federal Government allocates funding to states and territories, which then distribute this funding to schools. To receive funding, states and territories must be party to a national agreement relating to school education reform – the National School Reform Agreement (NSRA). Each state and territory is also required to have a bilateral agreement with the Australian Government.

These agreements outline state-specific actions to improve student outcomes, including activities that support particular student cohorts. Minimum funding contributions state and territories must meet as a condition of receiving Australian Government funding are also set out in the agreements.

Funding in all schools, government and nongovernment, is based on the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS), a calculation made annually by the Australian Government to identify the cost of educating a child. The SRS was the central recommendation of the Gonski Review, handed down in 2010. Calculating the SRS comprises a base per student amount, and six loadings to help schools and students in priority cohorts. Loadings are provided for students with low English

EDUCATION

proficiency, disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island students, socio-educational disadvantage, school location, and school size.

For every student attending a government school, the SRS amount is fully funded regardless of the income of parents.

SRS funding to non-government schools’ is reduced based on parents’ capacity to contribute.

This is calculated according to the median parental income at each non-government school.

From 2020, the Morrison Government introduced improved data collection and analysis to improve the calculation of non-government school funding, helping to target funding at students who most need it.

Beyond general funding provided through the SRS, additional funding is often made available to schools from state and federal governments in response to specific concerns or areas of need. Schools can also apply for a range of grants from local, state and federal governments to fund specific projects.

The controversy In June this year, internal Department of Education figures appeared to highlight unfair and inequitable school funding for government and nongovernment schools. The figures, included in a departmental briefing prepared for witnesses appearing before Senate Estimates, was publicly released through freedom of information.

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

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required Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) levels each year.

According to the briefing, 1152 private schools will be overfunded to the tune of $3.2 billion over and above their public funding entitlement under the SRS. The briefing said that the Australian Government would provide close to $319 billion in recurrent funding to schools between 2018 and 2029.

Funding is growing fastest for government schools at an annual average growth of 4.7 percent per student each year over 2018 to 2029. Non-government school funding will increase by 3.8 percent per student each year over 2018 to 2029.

The Australian Education Union (AEU) has been advocating strongly for equitable school funding, with President Correna Haythorpe vocal in funding debates.

“We cannot continue to accept the deep inequity in school funding in this country, where private schools are overfunded by billions, and public schools are underfunded by billions,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“It is public schools that enrol the vast majority of Australian students, and it is public schools that enrol disproportionately higher rates of students with additional needs, students that experience disadvantage and students with disability.

“The current funding agreements are so deeply flawed because they leave public schools way below the minimum funding standards set out in the 2012 Gonski review, with a report by economist Adam Rorris last year revealing that public schools remained underfunded by almost $6.5bn below their

“The sad reality is that successive governments have failed a generation of public school students, denying their schools urgently needed resources for more teachers, support staff and additional learning programmes, especially for students with additional needs.”

The potential For Every Child: Fully Fund Public Schools is an advocacy campaign organised by the AEU. Data from the group indicates that, as well as 98 percent of schools being funded below the SRS, only 13 precent of teachers say their workload is manageable, and more than half of all parents and guardians say access to a small group and individual tutoring would help their child.

Benefits of full-funding, then, would be felt well beyond the individual learner, with benefits for teachers, families, and the school community.

And the AEU has been heartened by recent funding commitments made by the government. In this year’s budget, the Federal Government committed $40 million to ensure every school in Central Australia is fully funded.

“For public schools across the country, it is the first, albeit small, step towards the delivery of Federal Labor’s 2022 election commitment - to get every public school on the pathway to 100 per cent of the SRS,” Ms Haythorpe said.

While this is a positive step towards funding equity, more work will need to be done to ensure schools are properly resourced. Funding must

also remain fair for public schools, and their important contribution to the Australian education system recognised.

Independent Schools Australia (ISA) said that on average, independent schools in Australia receive half the funding of government schools. ISA Chief Executive Officer, Graham Catt, has backed calls for the Australian government schools to be funded to 100 percent of their SRS. “We support the Australian Government’s objective of full implementation of the current funding model to ensure that all schools are funded to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard by the end of the decade. All school sectors face common challenges, including supporting wellbeing, addressing workforce issues, and improving outcomes for disadvantaged and at-risk students,” Mr Catt said.

“Independent schools not only provide choice and quality education to a wide range of families and communities, they are uniquely positioned to contribute valuable insights and evidence.”

A report released by the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work called for increased investment in public school funding to lift flagging completion rates and spark economic growth.

The report, titled “The Case for Investing in Public Schools: The Economic and Social Benefits of Public Schooling in Australia”, found that public schools are currently inadequately funded, and this is preventing students form reaching their full potential. Further, the benefits of high levels of

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school completion are unable to be enjoyed by the nation.

Key findings of the report included that inadequate funding is linked to falling school completion rates and declining performance in international achievement. Enhanced funding and resulting improvements in school completion, the report said, could lead to employment, economic activity, productivity gains and social savings equal to $17.8 billion and $24.7 billion after two decades.

“Australia’s economic success relies heavily on the potential of our young minds,” said Dr Jim Stanford, Director of the Centre for Future Work, and coauthor of the report (with Eliza Littleton and Fiona Macdonald).

“Public schools play a critical role in ensuring that students have access to an education that provides them with choice and opportunity throughout their lives – regardless of their postcode or economic and family circumstances. With stronger school completion and academic achievement, our communities thrive and our nation benefits from increased economic activity, productivity and earnings.”

There are many winners if full funding is realised for all schools – students who will benefit from smaller class sizes and more focussed teaching; teachers, who may enjoy lighter workloads, and the ability to access more professional development opportunities; and families as their young people are able to enjoy access to better educational outcomes. These will all support the ultimate winner, the nation as a whole.

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Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

PROFILE

Giant Steps School, TAS:

Individualised learning on the spectrum

By Sarah Davison, Industry Reporter

and the needs of each of our students,” acting co principal Sam Langley said. “We organise students based on the best fit for each individual, rather than, ‘this student is in Grade 6 so needs to be in the Red Room’.”

There are no school bells to mark the end of recess or messages blasted over the PA at Giant Steps School.

Class sizes are also limited to no more than 12 students in each room on any given day. This helps to limit sensory overload and facilitate the school’s high teacher to student ratio.

Located in the picturesque town of Deloraine on the Meander River in Northern Tasmania, Giant Steps is a small, holistic school that caters specifically to students with autism.

The school was established in 1995 by a group of dedicated parents and local community members who were committed to ensuring Tasmanian students had access to education to suit the individualised needs of children on the Autism Spectrum. After visiting Giant Steps in Montreal, the group lobbied the government to establish the school, which remains the only autism specific school in Tasmania.

Though the school has a small cohort of 47 students, Giant Steps has welcomed families from all corners of the globe who have relocated to Deloraine to give their child access to the learning environment at Giant Steps.

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

Giant Steps Acting Co-Principals, Sam Langley & Kimberly Trebilco.

Images supplied by Giant Steps School

“We currently have students who travel daily from various places to attend our school, stretching as far as Beaconsfield, Scottsdale and Ulverstone,” acting co principal Kimberly Trebilco said. “We have families that move from other parts of Tasmania so that their child can attend Giant Steps in addition to students who relocate from the mainland to start a new life in Tasmania. We have also

had several international students relocate to Tasmania just to attend Giant Steps.”

Unlike traditional schools, Giant Steps doesn’t dictate grades by age. Instead, students are assigned a spot in one of four ‘rooms’ that meets their own individual needs.

“The year levels within each of our class groupings are flexible and can change year to year based on enrolment numbers

EDUCATION

Giant Steps works with a concept-based curriculum that was originally developed to address some of the challenges teachers faced with planning for flexible multi-age class groupings and the diverse range of learners within each room.

The concept-based curriculum enables students to access the same curriculum as their age equivalent peers, in a way that is appropriate for their stage of learning and readiness.

“Students at Giant Steps Tasmania are entitled to access meaningful, engaging, age-appropriate curriculum on the same basis as all other students,” Ms Trebilco said. “This requires flexible and creative use of curriculum and the ongoing implementation of the principles of Differentiation or Universal Design for Learning.”

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As an example, Giant Steps’ English Concept-Based Curriculum has been developed with an overview of the concept and with tiered entry points for learning. “The tiers support teachers to plan inclusively, where all students are ‘learning the same thing’ within the overarching concept, but how the students learn and the specific tasks they complete will differ,” Ms Trebilco explained.

“The tiers enable educators to see each concept as inclusive of all students, as it breaks the concept down into levels of complexity to cater for student diversity. This approach allows us to differentiate content, process and product, by enabling students to access the same key learning, but through different tasks or approaches, matched to their stage of readiness or preferred ways of learning.”

In addition to the flexible curriculum delivery, Giant Steps has curated a physical environment that is nurturing and supportive of the diverse needs of its students. Visual aids take centre stage in the classrooms, with each student having their own individualised visual routine which they can refer back to throughout the day.

“These visual routines are so valuable for our students in ensuring they know what is happening in their day,” Mr Langley explained. “We also consistently use the Zones of Regulation program throughout the school. Within each room you will see the ‘zones’ visuals, including pictures of all students and staff in the room.

Students use their picture to show which ‘zone’ they are in.

Mr Langley said that when it comes time to transition to the next room, students are prepared well in advance.

“It is a process that begins in Term 4 and is planned with our Occupational Therapist and teaching staff, to ensure the student is prepared at the beginning of the school year,” he said.

“The transition process is quite individualised for each of our students, but the student will often initially spend short periods of time, during a preferred lesson in the class they are transitioning to with a staff member from their current room. Over the course of the fourth term these visits will slowly increase in time.”

“We then have visuals of different tools, or strategies which could be used to assist a student get back into the ‘green zone’ which is the optimal zone for learning.

These tools are individualised and vary depending on each individual student. They may include things such as a specific sensory tool, break, drink or a ‘walk and talk’.

“Each classroom also has a break room. This is a space for students to utilise if they need a break, or a quiet space away from other students.”

Each classroom has a generously sized kitchen to enable cooking to become integrated into the curriculum.

This helps students develop life skills, which will serve them well beyond their time at school.

On campus, Giant Steps has an allied health building that allows allied health specialists to hold appointments for students. “This has a number of benefits for

our students including reducing the time they miss from school due to travelling to and from appointments, as well as being in a familiar environment, rather than needing to go somewhere new,” Ms Trebilco said.

“The allied health building also consists of ‘the ballroom’, a very generously sized bathroom, that enables space for our staff to work with students on personal care skills such as toileting, showering, dressing, and brushing teeth.”

The most popular on campus facility, though, remains the swimming pool, where qualified swim teachers implement swimming programs for students.

Giant Steps works to minimise changes and transitions for its students. With classes spread across four rooms, students often spend three years in the same room with the same teacher.

While some students transition back to mainstream school, many complete their schooling at Giant Steps.

“We aim to work with families and students to prepare them for the future. This can look quite different for each student, depending on their aspirations and support networks. Giant Steps has worked hard on supporting a wide range of students in accessing communitybased day programs through our focus on independent living skills and participation in community access.

“Several of our students have started businesses after leaving Giant Steps. One of our students created a firelighter business, Warm Home Warm Heart, focusing on producing a product that was environmentally friendly, with no nasties. Another student started a dog walking and bin cleaning service.”

All Images supplied by Giant Steps School

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EDUCATION

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

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PRINCIPAL SPEAKS

Supported staff means thriving students Image courtesy of Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards presented by Schools Plus

programs and providing opportunities for pre-service and beginning teachers are all important in achieving this.

I want our teachers to succeed, so our students can excel

By Michael West, Principal, Bellbird Park State Secondary College, QLD

In mid-2016, I was appointed as the foundation Principal of Bellbird Park State Secondary College.

This was indeed a challenge, but would become the single biggest achievement of my career.

BPSSC opened in 2017 with 212 Year 7 students and 31 staff. Currently, we are the fastest growing school in the aspirational growth

12

corridor in Ipswich, in southeast Queensland, with 1800 students and more than 150 staff members. I have been joined on this journey by an exceptional, strong and committed team. I have personally worked to develop leaders at all levels throughout the school, and I am proud of my staff. Much of my success is thanks to my incredible team.

Teacher attrition is a persistent and well-documented problem in Australian education. The problem is especially acute in historically disadvantaged schools, where teachers are leaving the profession at increasingly high rates.

Ensuring we have dedicated,

enthusiastic and well-trained teachers is essential to provide our students with the education they deserve. I want our teachers to succeed, so our students can excel.

Every day, as educators, we challenge our students to learn, grow, and achieve their very best. We should, then, extend this same expectation to ourselves. I am passionate about improving the quality of teachers at all stages of their career. All staff should have the opportunity to further develop their skills and build on their experience. Coaching and mentoring, instructional leadership development, aspiring leadership development

EDUCATION

I, along with my school, work hard to provide opportunities for all staff – both teaching and non-teaching – to reach their career aspirations. I have high expectations for all of my staff members.

Through my leadership, I carefully support the individual development of each professional through regular and meaningful performance development exchanges.

At BPSSC, through our strategic plan, we have instigated several targeted strategies to retain our staff. Initiatives include the provision of quality professional development, to continue to grow our staff ; strong and clear systems and processes for the management of behaviour and curriculum; and wellbeing and attendance support for our students to ensure that our teachers can teach, and our students can learn.

As a college we have developed initiatives that further improve teacher recruitment strategies for BPSSC. Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

This will not only address the immediate staffing problem, but also promote ways to make teaching an attractive profession in our community in the long-term for the future success of BPSSC.

guarantee support during study, with assessment assistance and professional development opportunities; and guarantee employment at Bellbird Park State Secondary College when you graduate from the program.

A major strategy is the Bellbird Park Teacher Guarantee. This aims to promote the profession of teaching as an attractive prospect for a life-long career.

Key to this is the reframing of perceptions of and attitudes towards teachers. With my team at the College, I have sought to shift discussion around the profession, by highlighting the positive impact teachers have on students and their families.

Beyond the classroom, teachers help to connect our community, providing an essential link between the school, students, staff and our broader local area. Of course, no one wants to work for free, so I have stressed the financial incentives of teaching, particularly for a beginning teacher.

At Bellbird Park State Secondary College, we cultivate a collaborative culture and enable continuous professional learning. We take a multi-faceted approach to this, with several critical elements. Firstly, we foster a culture of collaboration and continuous professional improvement. We create opportunities for colleagues to work together and to learn from each other’s practices.

We promote our teacher guarantee to the entire BPSSC community from our cleaners to our students. Attracting and retaining quality staff is essential for our school to continue to deliver the best educational outcomes for our students. Ensuring everyone in our community has the opportunity to explore teaching as a career is an important step in achieving this.

The guarantee promises that for any staff member or student at BPSSC who wants to become a teacher we will guarantee placements at our school for practicum placement;

Make great classes and save time!

Creating balanced classes has never been so easy!

We have developed a detailed professional learning plan, and associated budget, to provide opportunities for staff that support school and, where appropriate, system priorities. Additionally, the school provides differentiated professional development to build teaching expertise in key areas, such as curriculum and assessment, pedagogy, and in analysing student data. We promote a range of evidencebased teaching strategies and provide opportunities for collegial sharing and structured classroom-based coaching, so that teachers and leaders can receive ongoing feedback on their practice.

At BPSSC we have an unwavering resolve to see educators continue to develop across their entire careers. I believe that a focus on continual improvement maintains motivation for teachers.

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Image courtesy of Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards presented by Schools Plus

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

EDUCATION

13

Images courtesy of Bellbird Park State Secondary College, QLD

All of the staff development structures at our school are established to ensure teachers continue to build their capacity, repertoire and stretch themselves yearly. We have implemented a systematic approach to staff observation, feedback and coaching that is aligned to our pedagogical framework and our explicit improvement agenda.

Our Collegial Engagement Framework priority is to build staff capacity, which sees our staff eagerly participating in targeted PD; classroom and peer observations; temperature checks and learning walks.

We have built an ethos that collective efficacy and intentional collaboration embodies the belief that together we are stronger.

we could enhance student access to the curriculum, and in turn achievement within the curriculum. The collaborative learning communities deliberately focus on teacher improvement and growth. All staff are members of CLCs. A key feature of CLC longevity and success has been our rigorous quality assurance processes and responsiveness to staff voice and student outcomes, in reviewing and refining our approach. Another key feature of our success with these programs has been the retention of teacher

facilitators. Retaining 70 percent since 2017 has enabled staff to build genuine hightrust relationships and team cohesion. The high performing staff who have relinquished their roles still hold additional responsibilities or promotional roles within education.

Our student cohort here at the College is diverse. Our teachers must be equipped to deal with the challenges each individual student faces, and adapt teaching styles to suit our learners. The success of our teachers is evidenced in our students results.

We have demonstrated sustainable growth and progress for our students with diverse learning needs due to our whole school responsibility, shared accountability and differentiated teaching and support processes. Our use of ACARA’s CASE model (adapted to CAPSE model) to deliberately and systematically plan for differentiated instruction on a universal and individual level has had a highly significant impact on student outcomes and engagement. Each staff and faculty meeting is aligned to CAPSE as we move through the stages of moderation

We support 150 staff members to uphold the college values of “years’ worth of growth for years’ worth of learning”. The desire to cultivate a space where staff could intentionally collaborate to build clarity, credibility, and efficacy, underpinned this work. The Collaborative Learning Communities (CLC) vision, was that, if we could harness precision, in using the right pedagogy at the right time, for the right context,

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In 2022, 335, or 20 percent of our students were recorded as having a disability, and accessed adjustments to participate in the Australian Curriculum. We categorically refute segregation, and our 335 students with a disability are included in all aspects of College life, and curriculum delivery. We have successfully implemented inclusion on a very large scale. Students with a disability at BPSSC have an attendance rate which is trending positively, and student disciplinary absences among this cohort have decreased. All students with a disability are on a viable post schooling pathway.

EDUCATION

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

and differentiation – ensuring all of our entire staff ‘row in the same direction’.

The BPSSC community remains committed to reconciliation, diversity, and acceptance not only on our campus, but across our broader community, as we continue to deliver programs and initiatives that engage and inspire people from all walks of life. A Reconciliation Committee comprising teaching and non-teaching staff was formed in 2022 with a vision to ‘support our Jarjums to be successful learners with Deadly futures’. The Narragunnawali Reconciliation Plan guided the college’s review of processes and procedures to help ensure equitable educational access and success for First Nations students.

In the space of just one year, the Reconciliation Committee appointed targeted First Nations Outcomes Coordinators that assisted each and every First Nations student to gain a Queensland Certificate of Education, while all First Nations Year 12 graduates went on to further education, training

Image courtesy of Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards presented by Schools Plus

or employment. This is a truly life-changing outcome that was backed by initiatives like The YAKKA (Hard Work) Room, a devoted study centre with culturally appropriate support workers; the development of a Yarning Circle; a community garden that incorporates local bush tucker; and the official opening of The Culture Hub, a culturally safe space for students to seek support and connect with culture.

We are proud of our successes as a College, and as a teaching community. I commend all of my staff for their hard work, dedication, and unwavering support for our ideals and values at BPSSC, and their commitment to our students.

The strength and success of any school relies on its teachers. I am privileged to work with a great group of educators, and look forward to witnessing their continued growth and development.

Michael West is a mult-award winning educator, claiming the title of A Team Tuition School Principal of the Year -Government, in the 2023 Australian Education Excellence Awards. In the same awards, Michael was a finalist in the Principal of the Year category, while BPSSC was shortlisted for Special School of the Year, and the Ideagen Complispace Best First Nations Education Program. Additionally, Michael was awarded a Teaching Fellow in this year’s Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards presented by Schools Plus.

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Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

EDUCATION

15

Literacy: a skill for life Images courtesy of LiteracyPlanet

By Gemma Easton, Editor

Results from this year’s NAPLAN tests revealed that one in ten students need additional support in literacy.

The data released by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) showed that nationally, around 10 percent of students are in the ‘needs additional support’ category.

Across all year levels, around a third of Indigenous students ‘need additional support’.

This was echoed by the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) findings, which showed that since 2000, Australia’s mean score in reading and writing outcomes has declined by the equivalent of around threequarters of a year of schooling.

In the Australian Curriculum, literacy encompasses the knowledge and skills students need to access, understand, analyse and evaluate information. Success

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Supporting students, teachers and families

in any learning area relies on a student’s ability to use the distinctive literacy that is important for that subject area or concept.

Poor literacy levels can broadly impact a person’s life. The World Literacy Foundation (WLF) said that people with below average literacy rates are more likely to experience poorer employment opportunities and outcomes, and lower wages.

This can lead to a dependency on welfare, low self-esteem, and higher rates of crime.

A range of factors will impact a student’s performance in literacy, including their educational background, the language or languages spoken at home, and whether English is an additional language.

Different learning needs should also be considered, for example dyslexia, vision or hearing impairment or ADHD or ASD which can make concentration more difficult.

EDUCATION

While literacy is not just about a student’s ability to read and write, these skills form the cornerstone of literacy more broadly. Students who struggle with literacy may not have the tools to enjoy reading.

Disappointment, frustration, and a feeling that it is too hard will hinder progress. Capturing a student’s interest before you read with them, and sharing their favourite books can help foster a love of reading.

A whole-of-school literacy framework may be useful Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

Image courtesy of the THRASS Insititute

to ensure literacy is taught uniformly across the school.

This is particularly important for younger students who are developing these key skills.

At home, families can be encouraged to read often with their children. Along with books, magazines, newspapers, community newsletters and anything else that can be read to children can all be used as home reading sources.

Ongoing professional development is essential to ensure educators can deploy evidence based, best practice models for supporting all students’ literacy needs. This could be undertaken in small groups across subject areas or year levels, or as a wholeof-school opportunity.

Soft ware solutions can at times prove useful in aiding student’s literacy development, and assist in reinforcing explicit teaching.

It is important, though, to ensure that programs work towards Australian Curriculum achievements, and do not replace the classroom teacher.

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

What the experts say Tom Richardson, CEO at LiteracyPlanet said the key to effective literacy support lies in recognising that every student is unique. “Students will respond differently to teaching methods.

While some may thrive in writing, others prefer speaking or even drawing. By embracing a variety of approaches, educators can ignite students’ interest, making learning a fun, personalised journey.

“Educators can instil a sense of purpose in learning by aligning lessons, resources or texts with the student’s interests and everyday experiences. When they see the connection between the curriculum and their own world, their engagement, motivation, and enthusiasm for learning increases.”

When selecting resources to aid with literacy development, Mr Richardson recommends offering a wide range of activities and exercises to maintain student engagement and promote comprehensive literacy development.

EDUCATION

THRASS®

Taking learners from oral language to written language.

THRASS® PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

thrass.com.au

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Understanding the ‘real’ or authentic code in any language is essential to building successful literacy acquisition

Denyse Ritchie from The THRASS Institute said most literacy problems can be overcome by specific interventions tailored to the learners’ needs. “Sadly, almost all (if not all) ‘scope and sequenced’ intervention programs start with teaching or reteaching ‘simple code’.

Learners are getting further doses of the code they have relied on and therefore the intervention is not addressing the learners’ needs. These learners need to be taught the complexities of the English code to develop an understanding of the Alphabetic Principle beyond ‘simple phonics code’. They need to be explicitly taught the real English phonics code, including morphemes and etymology.”

Image courtesy of the THRASS Insititute

“Ensure the chosen resource includes diverse reading levels that will help build upon each individual’s learning level, and aligns with the individual learning styles, strengths, and weaknesses of each student.

“Learning goals should facilitate the achievement of specific literacy objectives and cater to individual student needs.

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Educators should consider resources or soft ware with a user-friendly interface.

“Testing the student and educator’s experience with a program before making a decision is important for the long-term effectiveness and enjoyment of the program.

Always look for a free trial before committing long-term.”

Ms Ritchie said learning in an additional language brings its own complexities. “To ensure EAL students perform on par with their peers we need to cover specific and non-negotiable elements to teach speaking and to successfully move from oral language to written language.

Having a system to visually connect speech sounds to spelling (phonics) patterns is a big help in EAL teaching.

“For many who learn English as

EDUCATION

an additional language, English is first taught as a transparent 26-letter sound simple code.

This incorrect understanding holds them back in their independent learning of spoken language and, as with those struggling with decoding and encoding in literacy, interrupts the reading and spelling process. Understanding the ‘real’ or authentic code in any language is essential to building successful literacy acquisition.”

Professional Development around literacy should further develop teachers’ knowledge to enable them to become better and more effective in their craft , Ms Ritchie said. “Professional Development to me is ‘sacred time’. Focussing on how to deliver a one-size-fits-all ‘Scope and Sequenced’ program, rather than developing teacher knowledge is an expensive and irretrievable opportunity, for the school, the teacher, and the learners that will be immersed in the program.

“Effective teachers reflect on and evaluate their teaching decisions and practices, they do not simply go through the motions of teaching being compliant and following manuals with fidelity.”

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

Furniture and facilities for the modern staffroom Images courtesy of Sebel Furniture

By Gemma Easton, Editor

Can you think of one area of your school that is used by all staff almost daily?

Apart from the bathroom, the school staffroom is the busiest, most high-traffic facility in your school.

From relaxing between classes, grabbing a snack to eat on the go, making a coffee to help get you through to the end of the day, to collaborating with other staff in team meetings, the modern staffroom has many functions. Designing a space that can accommodate a multitude of uses is paramount to the area being a wellloved and well used hub.

A place to eat The primary, and most important function of the staffroom is to provide a space for all school staff to enjoy a meal, snack or drink. This makes tables and chairs, and bench space for food prep a must. A sink, large fridge and freezer, microwave and dishwasher are also essential.

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

Adequate storage is necessary to house cutlery and crockery.

These items should be easily accessible, allowing staff to take out and put items away safely. Consideration should be given to safe access for people with additional mobility requirements.

Other components of the staffroom eating facilities may include a sandwich press

or toaster oven, and coffee machine. Adequate bench space must be available so that several staff can be preparing or cleaning up from lunch at the same time. Solutions are available for quick access to hot and cold water, which can prove invaluable when many people require this at once. Some systems integrate directly into sinks, while other

ADMINISTRATION

systems can be wall mounted.

Storage space for some staff personal items is also useful.

Coffee cups, for example, may be best stored in the staff room rather than individual workspaces. Some people may wish to store specialist tea or snacks in the staffroom, which may alleviate the risk of rodents or bugs infiltrating work areas in search of a meal.

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couches, lounges and high leaner tables with stools. We’re also seeing a lot of outdoor courtyards or spaces where staff can get some fresh air.

“Staffrooms are now much more considered when it comes to creating a space for staff to take a break and where they can feel welcomed and refreshed.

Schools are opting for flexible furniture in staff spaces, just like they do with classrooms.”

Ms Hallett said that in new buildings or major refurbishments, staffrooms are being designed as more generous open plan spaces with furniture used to create zones within these, and often opening out onto outdoor courtyards or balconies where feasible.

Images courtesy of Furnware

A place to meet Beyond gathering for meals, staffrooms can also serve as important places for meetings and team collaboration. To facilitate this, furniture needs to be simple to reconfigure.

Tables and chairs that are on castors make moving furniture easier. Similarly, whiteboards on wheels can be brought out when necessary, and stacked out of the way when not in use. Modular furniture that can be quickly rearranged to suit requirements may also be useful.

Portable furniture could be incorporated into the staffroom to increase functionality.

Items like trestle tables and folding chairs can be stored in cupboards and brought out as necessary. This is useful for social events like large group lunches or morning teas, as well as planning sessions and meetings. Additional tables and chairs could make the staffroom a suitable venue for hosting guest speakers and professional development sessions.

In any large space, noise can be a challenge. This is particularly true when many different groups are working in the one area.

Acoustics, then, need to be considered. Soft furnishings can help to absorb noise and decrease reverberation. Acoustic panels can also be implemented, to section of different areas. This can help to create distinct zones, segmenting groups or teams.

Portable panels which can be quickly set up and then stored out of the way would work well.

As it is a common meeting area, staffrooms often house staff pigeonholes. Again, these should be easily accessible to all staff, and a suitable size to neatly fit papers.

Like all areas of a school, access to technology is important in

the staffroom. Enough power points should be available so that staff can plug in computers, phones and other devices to charge. Interactive panels can make a great addition to the space. These can be used to display staff-wide messages and photos, improve communication with presentations during meetings, or even for staff to watch the news or other TV programs during breaks.

The latest trends Jaime Hallett from Sebel said there has been a shift to a more corporate style of furnishings for staff rooms. “Mixed seating types at different height levels are being used, which generally include a combination of cafe-style tables and chairs,

“Soft surfaces can absorb noise so incorporating soft furnishings into staffrooms not only provides comfort but also provides improved acoustics.”

Helen Jones from Furnware said the growing focus within schools towards health and wellbeing for students is extending to staff and educators as well “This means that staffrooms are no longer utilitarian spaces with mismatched furniture.

They are now being designed with far greater consideration to create inviting places for staff to retreat to.

“Schools are increasingly wanting to differentiate between “student” and exclusively “adult” spaces by utilising different furniture with a more sophisticated look and feel.”

Despite this, Ms Jones said flexibility remains key, with staffrooms serving a wide range of functions beyond that of staff relaxation during breaks.

These include one on one, through to larger group meetings and events, staff meetings, parent groups, committees, professional development training and presentations.

A variety of seating can help the staffroom cater for multiple uses. Couches and armchairs can be added, providing staff a place to rest and relax in their downtime. High tables with stools can allow staff working from the space to sit or stand depending on their preference.

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“Soft furnishings with castors in the staffroom allow for modularity in the space and give staff the option to create different zones depending on the types of activities they are carrying out. Having different areas or seating options is important to staff based on whether they are having smaller or larger group discussions or even working individually.

ADMINISTRATION

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

“Modular furniture is an important addition to spaces in all areas of schools. Lighter framed furniture, or soft furnishings on castors allows for easy movement and provides the perfect option for casual time out, individual working or more active group collaboration.

Having whiteboards or furniture with writeable tops is also quite common for brainstorming in the staff room.

“If enhanced privacy is required, some schools are opting for acoustic booths or high-backed booth seating options to block out noise.”

Annabel Parletta from Resource Furniture said flexible and modular furniture has become a popular trend for staffing areas in schools.

“Its versatility promotes a dynamic and collaborative environment, facilitating teamwork and fostering communication among staff members. The ability to adapt and transform the furniture layout according to specific needs enhances the functionality and overall productivity of these areas.

Image courtesy of Resource Furniture

“Modular soft seating and padded chairs offer great flexibility for various needs.

They can be easily stacked away when not in use. In addition, flip tables on castors provide an excellent option to maximise flexibility for meetings, collaboration, and relaxation.

With these furniture choices, you can create an engaging and

comfortable environment that meets various requirements and enhances productivity.

Ms Parletta said if staff rooms become too noisy, meeting pods can serve as an excellent alternative. “These enclosed spaces offer a quiet environment for meetings or team calls when needed.

Back to school guide out now

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

ADMINISTRATION

“Another option to consider is the use of acoustic room dividers. These dividers not only help to reduce noise but also create a clear distinction between casual staff areas and designated meeting spaces. By implementing these solutions, you can ensure a more conducive and efficient work environment for school staff.”

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Creating comfortable, safe spaces for students Kilbreda College in Mentone, Victoria has been providing education for senior students for 120 years. Refurbishing their school, one space at a time, they’re creating a holistic educational environment that allows students to learn and grow academically, spiritually, physically and emotionally.

Kilbreda’s Assistant Principal: Learning and Teaching Jane Ward strongly believes that personal growth and collaboration happens when students are comfortable, feel at home and are welcome in their learning environment. When exploring the furniture solutions at Kilbreda College, these, along with their holistic education approach were important considerations, as they continue to reevaluate their learning spaces to fit the changing needs of their students.

“Students need the right equipment and a safe space where they can be themselves and collaborate with their peers.”

– Jane Ward, Assistant Principal The dedicated Furnware Account Manager and Learning Space Design Specialist collaborated

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Kilbreda College’s students love the change from standard tables and chairs to a more fluid learning environment.

They were initially unsure of the high tables, but now they’re a firm favourite, with students gravitating towards them first.

The new spaces are airy and modern, allowing for different configurations across different rooms within the same classroom.

with Jane to fully understand their pedagogy, vision and objectives.

Flexible classrooms with agile furniture to create spaces for students to work individually, in pairs or in groups was at the heart of the design. With Jane’s extensive educational experience, the Furnware Account Manager was able to produce flexible classroom design options where furniture could be easily moved around without disrupting the class. Their final decision of having a single Year 8 classroom design that’s agile and flexible has resulted in learning environments that can be transformed quickly and easily by the students and teachers using the spaces to create a range of different layouts based on the lesson requirements throughout the day.

The consultation process for the Year 8 refurbishment project as well as the previous STEM and Art refurbishment projects, were extremely collaborative. Using Furnware’s 3D floorplanner app, the Furnware Account Manager and Jane were able to bounce ideas off one another for floorplan design and colour schemes that worked best for their learning spaces. Kilbreda College were elated with the ability to do trials with furniture in the classroom

so they could involve students and teachers with the decision and final choices of furniture.

“I really like how Furnware listens to schools and their needs. They use their research to create solutions to the problems schools face with their learning spaces.”

– Jane Ward, Assistant Principal Jane’s longstanding relationship with Furnware stems from the way the collaboration feels like a partnership, which she believes differentiates Furnware from the other furniture suppliers.

She loves Furnware’s willingness to participate in trials, which is invaluable in making the right furniture choices for the space. The end-to-end project management and ongoing support has made Furnware Kilbreda College’s trusted supplier for many years.

In conjunction with the new carpets and fresh paint, there is a feeling of more space even though student numbers have not changed.

“Take your time, do your research, involve students and teachers and listen to their ideas and feedback in order to find solutions to their problems that fit their needs.

Work together as a community to enhance the learning opportunities of students and give them a sense of belonging.”

– Jane Ward, Assistant Principal The Year 8 classrooms are now a thoughtfully designed, flexible space that adapts and changes to accommodate the needs of the students, making it a truly fit for purpose environment.

“Learning spaces have a major influence on the student mindset.

When students have the right comfort and sense of belonging, they can focus on learning and the task at hand rather than being distracted by uncomfortable furniture that is not conducive for effective learning.”

ADMINISTRATION

– Jane Ward, Assistant Principal Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

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CASE STUDY

Learning space transformation with Resource Furniture

Images courtesy of Resource Furniture

By Sarah Davidson, Industry Reporter

When Pedare Christian College looked to undertake an ambitious project, they knew they had to get expert advice to turn their vision into a reality.

The project looked to transform two existing classrooms into a school library for 350 Junior School students from Reception to Year 5. Initially serving as the Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) area, the objective was to repurpose the two spaces into a library area that was functional and carefully designed to meet the needs of young learners.

showed an exceptional degree of professionalism, quality and design aesthetics.

“From our initial meeting, Resource Furniture’s customer service and communication, particularly from designer Grace Misso, was so friendly and collaborative,” Ms Mossel said. “Being able to see samples of the material selections, layout designs, and revisions was so valuable,

and no question or request was ever too much trouble.”

The school wanted the layout of the new library to be relatively open, with flexible furniture - both the shelving and the seating - so that it could cater for individual classes, but also larger groups when necessary. The limited space made it imperative to maximise all the available room. This necessitated a meticulous

approach to both storage and layout, aiming to optimise floor space for additional shelving and breakout furniture.

“As this space was going to be a medium-term location for the Junior Library, the furniture needed to not only fit the existing footprint, but also be flexible enough to move and fit in another location in the future,” Ms Mossel said.

Sarah Mossel, Pedare Christian College Resource Centre Coordinator, said collaborating with Resource Furniture throughout the design and execution of the project helped the College’s vision come to life. “Working with an Adelaide-based company was important to us, and Resource Furniture’s previous projects

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ADMINISTRATION

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

Images courtesy of Resource Furniture

“We were also looking for a calming colour palette to match our other Junior School learning spaces, and the ability to differentiate our collections of picture books, fiction novels and non-fiction resources in zones for different ages.”

Annabel Parletta from Resource Furniture said ensuring ample natural light filtered into the space required some innovative solutions. “Recognising the importance of a well-lit learning environment, custom-height shelving units were crafted to sit directly beneath the

windows. This thoughtful design consideration created a bright and inviting atmosphere conducive to reading and study.

“The College also stressed the importance of an open, clean layout. This was achieved by incorporating lower-height shelving units on the floor, not only to open up the available space but also to provide an unobstructed line of sight across the entire area, benefiting both staff and students,” Ms Parletta said.

With the library up and running, the school is very pleased

with the result. “Resource have helped us create a really beautiful, welcoming library for our College community.

Their products are not only stylish and contemporary, but practical and functional for our purpose in a school library,” Ms Mossel said.

“Over the year so far, the soft furnishings have been very popular with our students and staff, but the high-quality materials and craftsmanship mean they still look brand new.”

Ms Parletta said the end result served as a testament

to collaborative design and innovative solutions in the transformation of an educational space.

“Working with Pedare Christian College, we have created a brand new, beautifully functional space that has been warmly embraced by both staff and students,” she said.

“This project showcases how thoughtful planning and creative execution can lead to spaces that not only meet functional requirements but also inspire and enhance the learning experience.”

ĚØ¿ĦëĄã }ċīĚ _ė¿ÎØ JīĚ ÔØĞëãĄ ĦØ¿ă ëĞ èØĚØ Ħċ èØýė ÎĚØ¿ĦØ ĦèØ Ğė¿ÎØ Ħè¿Ħ ëĞ ĚëãèĦ âċĚ Ľċīʔ wëĦè ¿ Îċýý¿ÌċĚ¿ĦëĶØ ¿ėėĚċ¿Îè Ħè¿Ħ ĚØëă¿ãëĄØĞ ĽċīĚ ýØ¿ĚĄëĄã ØĄĶëĚċĄăØĄĦ ¿ĄÔ ĚØĞīýĦĞ ëĄ Ğė¿ÎØĞ Ħè¿Ħ ¿ĚØ âýØļëÌýØʕ ØĄÎċīĚ¿ãØ Îċýý¿ÌċĚ¿ĦëċĄʕ ¿ĄÔ ¿Ô¿ėĦ Ħċ Îè¿ĄãëĄã ĦØÎèĄċýċãĽʔ Ø ÔØĞëãĄ˺ĚØĞċīĚÎØâīĚĄëĦīĚØʔÎċăʔ¿ī ė ȊȌȉȉ ȎȐȐ ȋȏȐ ̃ ĚØĞċīĚÎØâīĚĄëĦīĚØʔÎċăʔ¿ī

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

ADMINISTRATION

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Healthy classrooms with Solaris Paper

By Gemma Easton, Editor

Toilet tissue, paper towels and tissues are some of the mostused products in all schools, with everyone using at least one of these items daily.

© Adobe Stock, stock.adobe.com

CASE STUDY

of keeping everyone well to learn. “The range from Solaris Paper focusses on effectiveness and softness for sensitive, washed hands, helping with compliance and breaking the germ transmission.

High-quality, reliable paper products must be available in school washrooms, staffrooms and classrooms to encourage good hand hygiene, trap germs, and facilitate cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces.

“Preventing cross-contamination is critical to keeping those in your care well to learn.

Solaris Paper make it easier with our colour coded heavyduty wipes that prevent cross contamination. Red for highrisk areas like toilets, green for food preparation and serving areas and blue for general purpose use,” Mr Lewis said.

Jeff Lewis, National Bussines Manager at Solaris Paper said hand hygiene is a critical part

Solaris Paper works with many distributors to deliver its products to schools around the

Solaris Paper makes it easier to avoid cross contamination Image courtesy of Solaris Paper

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ADMINISTRATION

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

free of charge. And faster delivery service with Virtue Plus, as we are located in Tasmania,” Mr Tchappat said.

Livi dispensers are available in a range of formats to suit the needs of all schools, including space savers, large capacity units for high traffic zones, and HACCP approved designs.

“To minimise wastage, the Livi autocut dispenser can ensure only the required amount of towel is dispensed.

Alternatively, the Livi folded towel dispenser ensures each sheet is presented, preventing cross contamination with the next sheet,” Mr Lewis said.

Image courtesy of Solaris Paper

country, enabling them to enjoy cost-effective, premium quality paper solutions. The company has three brands, Livi, Sorbent Professional and Handee Ultra.

Tasmanian family business Virtue Plus has been working with the education industry since the company was founded 30 years ago. The company services the whole eastern seaboard, working with education institutions

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

across multiple states. Recently, Virtue Plus was selected to supply Tasmanian Government Institutions and Schools under the Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) banner. It will service 390 locations statewide.

Edward Tchappat, Sales Account Manager at Virtue Plus, said the contracted product lines consist of the Livi branded

Interfold Hand Towel, Roll Towel, Toilet Paper, and Facial issues.

“We selected Solaris Paper Livi brand to fulfill the requirements of the government department, due to Virtue Plus’ long-standing relationship with the company, and the quality of both the product and the service.

“The benefits of the Livi product include the option of upgrading the paper dispensers

ADMINISTRATION

The strong working relationship Virtue Plus has fostered with Solaris Paper, and with the school’s they service ensure a seamless process for all parties. “Through Virtue’s vast network of area managers and representatives, we are able to maintain a great working relationship with each school, meeting requirements and needs individually, and immediately,” Mr Tchappat said.

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Off and away:

Mobile phone bans

By Gemma Easton, Editor

In the past year, mobile phones have been disappearing from classrooms and school yards, with bans to restrict their use being rolled out.

The bans, introduced by state and territory governments, stipulate that student mobile phones must be off and away during the school day. In some jurisdictions, the ban extends to break times.

New South Wales is the latest state to introduce a ban.

Students in public high schools across NSW must now have their mobile phones turned off and out of sight, as the NSW Government delivers on its commitment to ban students’ use of phones at school from the start of Term 4.

Consultation with teachers, students and parents took place before the ban was proposed, and will apply during class,

Images courtesy of Thinc Products

recess and at lunch. Students will still be permitted to carry a phone while travelling to and from school. This will complement the ban in place in NSW public primary schools.

The government said the ban is one of a number of measures it is putting in place to improve

the classroom environment and student outcomes.

the use of mobile phones in government schools.

Principals and teachers can authorise the use of mobile phones for educational purposes, or as part of a reasonable adjustment for student learning and wellbeing – such as monitoring blood sugar levels for students with diabetes. Schools will determine how they enforce the ban and respond to any breaches.

It is hoped that banning the use of mobile phones during school hours will reduce the negative impact from inappropriate use of mobile devices, and reduce unnecessary distractions in classrooms to help both teachers and students focus on learning.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said: “This ban creates a level playing field across all NSW public schools, and means students can focus on what’s most important – learning in the classroom.

“It will help to provide more productive classrooms for students and teachers, reducing opportunities for distraction and cyberbullying.”

Managing and restricting mobile phone use at school is on the national agenda, with all education ministers agreeing to a national commitment to ban, restrict or manage

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ADMINISTRATION

Not allowing phone use during break times encourages students to use breaks as quality time away from screens. Reducing incidents of cyberbullying has also been cited as a reason for mobile phone bans. Face-to-face social interactions between students may also improve, as students are not on their devices during break times.

Victoria rolled out mobile phone bans several years ago. From Term 1, 2020, phones brought to Victorian public schools had to be turned off and stored securely during the school day.

A ban also came into effect from Term 1, 2020 in Western Australian public schools, and Tasmania introduced a similar ban from Term 2, 2020.

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

Mobile phone use at school is on the national agenda

A mobile phone ban has been in place across South Australian public high schools since Term 3 this year. The ‘off and away’ policy was introduced to reduce distraction in the classroom and stop some of the bullying that occurs through social media, with both outcomes leading to improved learning.

From Term 1 2024, mobile phones will be banned in Queensland public schools.

Principals and school leaders across Queensland have already implemented bans and been supported to do so: more than 95 percent of schools have a clear policy banning the use of phones during class times, with the remaining schools restricting usage informally.

While these bans are only compulsory for state schools, many Catholic and independent schools have also elected to enforce a phone ban.

Phil Philippou, National Business Manager at Thinc Products Australia, said the benefits for limiting student access to phones are wide ranging, and said there is research indicating improved student outcomes, decline in cyberbulling, and improved student wellbeing when mobile phone use at schools is restricted. He shared some tips for ensuring the mobile phone ban can be enforced in your school.

“The first step is to have a clear written policy in place

Image courtesy of Thinc Products

that outlines the rules and consequences for using mobile phones during school hours. Educate students on the importance of unplugging, and hold regular school-wide assemblies or classroom discussions about the negative effects of excessive screen time and the benefits of unplugging during school hours.

Mr Philippou said keeping parents and guardians informed about the school’s mobile phone policy was important, as is storage solutions for phones.

“Implement a system where students can store their phones in a designated location, such as a locked box or pouch, during school hours. This helps to prevent students from accessing their phones during class.”

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Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

ADMINISTRATION

29

Real-world learning

experiences for school groups

By Gemma Easton, Editor

education opportunities, exploring museums and art galleries, and curriculumlinked incursions all provide students with different ways to access, process and interpret information.

As the school year comes to a close, discussions turn towards 2024 – what new and exciting learning opportunities will you offer your students?

School trips can be some of the most rewarding and enriching experiences of the school year, drawing on several curriculum areas and helping to synthesise information for holistic learning. The extra planning and coordination involved is appreciated by students and families, and ensures students enjoy a rich, memorable learning experience.

Images courtesy of Venture Corporate Recharge

Learning and teaching in the classroom will always be important. Here, students gain foundational skills that equip them to further investigate subject areas. External learning

allows students to consolidate learning, taking what they have learned and applying it to real-world situations. Camps, community service, outdoor learning programs, STEAM

Leaving the classroom forces students to experience the world as a whole – they will face new and potentially challenging situations, and will need to apply what they have learned to solve problems and test hypotheses, and interact with others to make sense of the world around them.

Students who are engaged in learning outside of the classroom report feeling more motivated to learn, retain information more readily, and enjoy better academic performance as a result. There is also a greater sense of agency when learning takes

Immerse Students in History at the Old Treasury Building Excursions for History, Civics and Citizenship, Democracy. Level 2 - Level 10 & VCE (National Curriculum)

School tours by appointment only Visit otb.org.au/school-programs Costs apply or call us on (03) 9651 2233

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EXTERNAL LEARNING

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

Image courtesy of Alexandra Adventure Resort

place outside the classroom; students feel they have more control over how they learn.

The outdoor learning framework within the Australian Curriculum outlines how educators can provide students with guided, integrated learning across the curriculum in natural environments. Suggested activities include field trips, camps, and engaging with local environments.

Outdoor activities help students develop a positive relationship with natural environments, and promote the sustainable use of these environments. Learning across several curriculum

Image courtesy of Queensland Museum Network

areas can be supported by outdoor learning, including Health and Physical Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Geography, and Science.

We are fortunate in Australia to have a rich ecological playground to explore, with diverse environments to support all learning outcomes.

Mountains, bushland, rainforests, beaches and waterways are all home to distinct wildlife and plant species. Learning experiences can be tailored to suit these locations, and align with multiple curriculum areas.

Camps and excursions also provide opportunities to

challenge students, encouraging them to extend themselves outside their comfort zone.

Adventure activities like rockclimbing, canoeing, and mountain bike riding will challenge students physically. As well, skills such as resilience, problem-solving and safe risk taking will be developed.

climbing may give students the opportunity to discover the history of an area, explore native plant and animal species, and study rock formations. Again, several curriculum areas will be incorporated into the one activity, making the experience a worthwhile learning opportunity.

The learning opportunities available while on camps or excursions is vast. Students could learn about ocean conservation, water safety, basic first-aid and local fish species all while enjoying a surfing lesson.

Aspects of Physical Education, Geography, and Science are all incorporated into a fun, interactive experience. Rock

Many external learning experiences will require teamwork. Putting up a tent with friends to shelter for the night, preparing meals together, or navigating a difficult walking track will require strong communication skills, and the ability to listen to different points of view.

Located just 5 minutes from Alexandra and less than 2 hours’ drive from Melbourne CBD, our school camp overlooks our lake and is surrounded by scenic farmland in a beautiful valley.

Your Adventure Starts Here!

• Over 16 onsite activities • Accommodates over 200 people • Luxury teachers’ unit • Chef prepared meals

/HW XV RUJDQLVH DQ DFWLRQ SDFNHG SURJUDP IRU \RXU 6&+2ǰ/ &$03 03 5772 1409 info@alexandraadventureresort.com.au 43 Murrays Road, Whanregarwen 3714 @alexandraadventureresort Aerial photo credit - Richard Fraser

www.alexandraadventureresort.com.au Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

EXTERNAL LEARNING

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Image courtesy of Australian Wildlife Parks

Image courtesy of Wilderness Escape

Working together to achieve a common goal will need to take precedence over individual achievement. With many assessment activities focussing on individual student performance, opportunities for collaboration are important.

These skills will prove useful across all subject areas, and serve students well beyond their time at school.

Community service activities are an important part of an holistic education. Students could clean up a local park or waterway, visit a retirement village to engage with local residents, or volunteer time to pack care packages for those in the community less fortunate than themselves. These experiences can expose students to life-situations different to their own, and help them to become compassionate global citizens, with an understanding of varied life experiences. This perspective will stay with them throughout their lives, and may impact decisions they make both personally and professionally.

Histories and Cultures crosscurriculum priority. This is designed for all students to engage in reconciliation, respect and recognition of the world’s oldest continuous living cultures. Through the Australian Curriculum, students will understand that contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are strong, resilient, rich and diverse.

The Australian Curriculum also emphasises the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Schools could engage with local Elders to learn more about the history and culture of First

Images courtesy of Old Treasury Building

Nations People specific to their local area. Native plant and animal species, and First Languages of the area could be investigated. As well as an important educational opportunity for students, this can also help strengthen relationships between your school, and your broader local community. For First Nations students, these experiences can help them feel seen, and promote a greater understanding of their personal history, culture, and circumstances.

Image courtesy of Venture Corporate Recharge, Photo: Sam Oster.

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External learning does not need to involve a trip away from the school grounds, or an overnight stay. Many external providers can visit your school to offer rich and varied educational opportunities.

A year level cohort may enjoy a day of connection, self-reflection and bonding during a retreat day. Student leaders, or a sports team or music group may benefit from time together undertaking structured team-building exercises. Live drama, music or dance performances can make the arts accessible to students, and increase their exposure to creative and performing arts.

EXTERNAL LEARNING

Incursions can also be held to explore cyber-safety, respectful relationships, coping with change, and other issues which are prominent in your school. Dedicated focus days or sessions on these topics, delivered by a professional other than the regular classroom teacher, can help students engage more thoroughly in these learning activities.

External learning opportunities can be tailored to suit any age group, curriculum area, or learning outcome.

Image courtesy of Old Treasury Building

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

• BOAT CRUISE • CROCODILE FARM TOUR • CROCODILE ATTACK SHOW • SNAKE SHOW • CASSOWARY FEEDING • WALLABY FEEDING

• Have a group photo with a koala or snake • The Gallery of Living Art displays colourful snakes and lizards along with a Komodo Dragon and a giant Reticulated Python • Explore Gondwana Gateway and learn about Australia’s fauna evolution • Exciting and educational presentations throughout the day supported by informative displays • Student group menus available

School Excursion and Education Groups are our specialty!

40 mins north of Cairns, 15 mins north of Palm Cove & 25 mins south of Port Douglas OPEN DAILY: 8.30am - 5:00pm • Captain Cook Highway • Ph: 4055 3576 For more info contact: sales@crocodileadventures.com • crocodileadventures.com

Images courtesy of Crocodylus Park

From one day excursions to overnight and multi-day stays, School News spoke to industry providers to learn what they offer for school groups.

cassowaries and other animals.

Crocodylus Park is committed to educating students, and the general public about wildlife and its many positive values.

The Old Treasury Building is a unique resource, and one of Australia’s most beautiful and historic buildings. School groups can explore programs including democracy, the gold rush and early Melbourne.

The team believe that to empower humanity to better conserve wildlife, a fundamental prerequisite is to value and respect both wildlife and the people who share their daily lives with them, those best suited to apply stewardship in rural areas.

Excursions take students from the original gold vaults designed to hold the precious metal from the 19th century Victorian gold fields, to the Executive Council Chamber, where Victorian bills become law. Along the way they will discuss how Melbourne evolved from early settlement to Marvellous Melbourne, and expose the underbelly of how colonisation impacted the local First Nations peoples. Students will consider everyday struggles for democratic rights, including

women’s rights, the fight for First Nations recognition, and influence of the Eureka Stockade on Victorian governance.

In addition to the Old Treasury Building’s one-hour paid programs, extensively researched articles covering a multitude of topics are available for free online at the Old Treasury Building’s website.

Crocodylus Park features thousands of crocodiles, ranging

from cute hatchings to large, snappy adult crocodiles. The park is located 15 minutes from Darwin city, and features an array of exotic and native wildlife.

Founded by Darwin based world-renowned crocodile biologist Professor Grahame Webb, Crocodylus gives students the opportunity to observe and learn about lions, meerkats, spider monkeys, marmosets,

For more than 30 years, Wilderness Escape Outdoor Adventures has been and continues to be a leading provider of school camps, excursions and outdoor experiences in South Australia, and one of the largest nationally.

Working in partnership with schools, Wilderness Escape provide quality, outdoor, educational experiences for students from Primary to SACE level.

Images courtesy of Wilderness Escape

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EXTERNAL LEARNING

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

IMMERSIVE OUTDOOR LEARNING AT AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE PARKS

Our Education Adventures offer students interactive, enjoyable, educational activities, designed to foster greater interaction with the animals and our passionate zookeepers.

• Meet & Greet Session with a friendly zookeeper • Learn fascinating facts from passionate & highly knowledgeable zookeepers • Every student receives a souvenir print photo to take home • Comprehensive workbooks aligned with the syllabus • Pre and post visit activity suggestions for teachers • Pat a Koala at Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park* • Hold a Shingleback Lizard at Hunter Valley Wildlife Park or Mogo Wildlife Park* • Every student will receive a Free Child’s Ticket to visit our parks

Learn more *Animal experiences may vary due to animal welfare.

Images courtesy of Queensland Museum Network

Tailored school programs enable students to embark on a journey of growth and development through age-appropriate, outdoor challenges and transformative activities. Wilderness Escape offers a dynamic and successive approach to curriculum integration, personal growth, and fun-filled adventure activities.

The team thrive on igniting minds, inspiring hearts and empowering young Australians through outdoor education.

Wilderness Escape will work with you to implement a comprehensive, long-term

strategy for student engagement and well-being tailored to your school’s needs. Discover the perfect blend of education and adventure for your school, and work together to build a brighter future.

Venture provides two amazing training hubs at Mount Lofty and Blewitt Springs, as well as natural surface rock climbing, incursion-based activities and even mobile rock-climbing walls.

Adventure Based Wellbeing activities teach students how to embrace their education in positive, mindful ways.

Darwin’s premier wildlife park

Founded by Darwin based world-renowned crocodile biologist Professor Grahame Webb, the park is also home to lions, meerkats, spider monkeys, marmosets, cassowaries and more!

To empower humanity to better conserve wildlife, a fundamental prerequisite is to value and

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The day at Venture starts at the Mount Lofty Adventure Hub with students participating in inclusion activities, getting them interacting with each other in fun, educational ways. Your students then spend the rest of the morning and early afternoon

working together in teams to support each other through the belayed High Ropes Challenge Course, or Rock Climbing Tower.

In the afternoon students work together; problem solving, learning how to use their new team skills and bonds to create and focus on appreciating each other’s strengths.

Designed to ignite the curiosity of young minds and inspire the next generation of scientists, innovators and thinkers, World Science Festival Brisbane’s Schools Program returns from March 20 to 24.

Learning come to life with Museums Victoria

CROCODYLUS PARK

Welcome to Crocodylus Park, Darwin’s premier wildlife park, featuring thousands of crocodiles from cute li’l hatchings to snappy big ‘uns!

Venture’s Outcome Focused Activities include group dynamics, leadership training, problem solving, resilience and personal responsibility, with long term impacts that have been successfully used on a range of youth groups and behavioural issues.

respect both wildlife and the people who share their daily lives with them, those best suited to apply stewardship in rural areas. Crocodylus Park is committed to educating the public about wildlife and its many positive values.

Located just 15 minutes from Darwin city, Crocodylus Park features an array of exotic and native wildlife! The Park is open 9am to 4pm every day, except for Christmas day. ▲ Contact us via email at crocpark@wmi.com.au for our special school group pricing and information!

Museums Victoria’s innovative and engaging education programs are designed to inspire young minds.

Tailored to curriculum, these programs offer an immersive experience outside of the classroom and foster creativity, critical thinking, and a love for learning.

Our expert educators bring lessons to life with interactive workshops, captivating exhibits, and hands-on activities, making every visit an unforgettable experience.

Travel back in time at Melbourne Museum, experience hands-on science at Scienceworks and the Melbourne Planetarium, explore migration stories

EXTERNAL LEARNING

at Immigration Museum and be transported to other worlds at IMAX Melbourne.

Plan your school’s visit to our museums and destinations today: museumsvictoria. com.au/learning/ Stay in the loop with Museum Teachers, our free program open to all Victorian teachers and educators to create the best learning outcomes through our museums.

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

Images courtesy of Alexandra Adventure Resort

Featuring a program designed for Junior, Middle and Senior students across themes of palaeontology, space, mathematics, chemistry, physics, well-being, natural world and so much more, WSFB 2024 offers STEM with attitude! Programs have been designed to encourage a strong STEM literacy from Prep to Year 12, with links to Queensland curriculum.

valley. A complete renovation has transformed the site into an outdoor adventure camp open to all school communities.

The camp boasts large facilities with more than 220 beds in lodges, each with central heating and cooling. More than 16 activities are offered onsite, including water-based activities such as canoeing,

raft building, and a swimming pool. There is also a sports oval and large undercover area, as well as a campfire pit with log seating overlooking the lake. An expansive main facility hall with air conditioning and heating, and a projector makes the ideal venue for a movie or trivia night.

The team at Alexandra Adventure Resort can assist with all aspects

2024 will also be the final year of the always popular, The Hatchery: Turtle Conversation Experience.

Educators are invited to join WSFB 2024 for a fun, hands-on program that unpacks STEM education for both educators and students.

Alexandra Adventure Resort is a family-owned school camp, located less than two hours northeast of Melbourne CBD. Set on a magnificent property overlooking a lake, the camp is surrounded by scenic farmland in a beautiful

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

Image courtesy of Australian Wildlife Parks

EXTERNAL LEARNING

of planning your camp, and can create a program specifically to suit your school’s needs.

Introducing Education Adventures

by Australian Wildlife Parks available at Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park, Mogo Wildlife Park (near Batemans Bay) and Hunter Valley Wildlife Park.

Programs have been designed to be more engaging for students and teachers and provide more interaction with the animals and passionate zookeepers.

All three Australian Wildlife Parks provide a safe, caring and natural environment to ensure the welfare of all species housed for exhibit, educational and conservation purposes within the wildlife parks. Passionate and highly knowledgeable zookeepers facilitate the parks’ interactive, immersive outdoor learning activities.

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Source: Museums Victoria, Photo: Tiny Empire Collective.

The new Featherdale Education Adventures program allows your students to experience three Keeper Talks and ask keepers questions, pat a koala in the Koala Sanctuary, and take home a souvenir photo of their Koala Meet and Greet. Hunter Valley Wildlife Park similarly links to the NSW Syllabus, with comprehensive workbooks for students to support this and a complete guide to fun pre- and post-visit activities. Students visiting Mogo Wildlife Park and Hunter Valley Wildlife Park can hold a Shingleback Lizard.

Whether your students are learning about living things, the environment, endangered species or need inspiration for visual arts classes, Mogo Wildlife Park will inspire young

Image courtesy of Australian Wildlife Parks

minds and encourage them to grow. Educational Adventures’ learning content has been developed to specifically link to Early Stage 1 and Stage 1 NSW syllabus outcomes, ensuring your visit will reinforce and support classroom activities.

Children aged 8 to 11 years of age can also experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a Zookeeper for a Day at Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park, Mogo Wildlife Park and Hunter Valley Wildlife Park during each school holidays.

Museums Victoria’s museums and learning experiences offer your school wondrous worlds of science, history and culture.

Explore curriculum-linked programs across the museums, or bring a Museum in a Van

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EXTERNAL LEARNING

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Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

SCHOOL PROGRAM 2024 Source: Museums Victoria, Photo: Tiny Empire Collective.

incursion direct to your school.

The friendly Museum Bookings team can help you create an accessible and inspiring museum experience for your students, with opportunities across Melbourne Museum, Immigration Museum, Scienceworks, the Royal Exhibition Building and IMAX Melbourne In the heart of the city of Melbourne, plan a day at the Immigration Museum to engage students in stories of migration from the 19th century to the present day through interactive sessions and exhibitions.

Discover Scienceworks and the Melbourne Planetarium, or delight your students with the new Lightning Room

shows offering electrifying demonstrations of energy.

Across from the Melbourne Museum visit Melbourne’s only World Heritage site—the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens. Your students can visit this extraordinary place to experience the rich history, art and architecture of the building and enjoy breathtaking views of Melbourne from the iconic Dome Promenade.

Three explosive days of curriculumlinked science programming for students of all years.

20-22 MARCH 2024 BOOK NOW AT WORLDSCIENCEFESTIVAL.COM.AU

Within Melbourne Museum, the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre tells the story of survival against the odds and celebrates the vibrant cultures of Indigenous Australia with rich traditions of performance, storytelling and artwork.

Source: Museums Victoria, Photo: Tiny Empire Collective.

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

EXTERNAL LEARNING

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Set your laptop free Images courtesy of CommBox

By Sarah Drysdale, Head of Product, CommBox

In Australia, the world of education is always changing. Teachers are busy adapting to new curriculum standards, technological advances, the rise of artificial intelligence, and an increase in cyberbullying. These changes bring both new possibilities and challenges to classrooms.

The team at CommBox are aware of these challenges. Our goal is to offer solutions that make learning smooth and rewarding. From conversations with teachers in our CommBox Crew, we’ve designed the CommBox Classic S4 to tackle real-life classroom issues. We’re focused on making education not only easier but also more engaging and effective. We believe the right tools can transform both teaching and learning experiences.

The product team at CommBox was determined to solve this problem. We understand teachers need their laptops to be portable and versatile. That’s why one of our product goals is to free the teacher’s laptop from being connected to the screen.

We needed to ensure that Classic S4 would enhance the teaching process, making it more flexible and efficient without any drawbacks. To achieve this, we need to give teachers the tools to open and use the teaching content on the interactive screen without needing their laptops.

We introduced a significant feature called CommBox Accounts. This feature allows teachers to log into the CommBox Classic S4, automatically linking to their

Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive. Teachers can easily log in by scanning a QR code, via a browser or with their NFC card, ensuring that their login details remain private from students.

Once logged in, teachers have direct access to all their saved content from OneDrive or Google Drive right on the screen.

They can easily open documents like PowerPoints or PDFs and interact with them directly on the whiteboard, such as highlighting text or annotating over the top. This eliminates the need for screen sharing to access and display these materials, freeing the teachers laptop.

The second important feature we’ve added is the integration of teaching and learning

content directly on the screen via CommBox Tools. With the CommBox Classic S4, teachers can easily install a variety of educational apps from the CommBox Store, making lessons interactive and enjoyable for students.

This feature provides teachers with instant access to a wealth of content, reducing their dependence on laptops.

For instance, the Phonemes app allows teachers to create interactive lessons on word construction using graphemes and phonemes. Another useful tool is the Poster app, where teachers can display and annotate educational content on various topics, aiding in the learning process.

One specific issue we’ve noted is teachers having to keep their laptops connected to interactive screens all day for screen sharing. This often leads to the laptop’s battery draining quickly, forcing teachers to plug them in, which can be inconvenient.

This connection also makes it difficult to use the laptops for other important teaching tasks.

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TECHNOLOGY

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

Images courtesy of CommBox

We recently introduced interactive posters that serve as excellent tools for front-of-classroom teaching.

Teachers can first demonstrate to students and then invite them to interact with the content directly on the screen, promoting active learning.

These interactive posters are also accessible through a web browser, offering additional flexibility in how content is accessed and presented.

The third major improvement is the enhancement of the CommBox Whiteboard with added features. This whiteboard is essential for teaching, now offering the ability to create mind maps, add sticky notes, build tables, use various rulers,

and insert images directly from Google, making lessons more interactive and engaging.

Saving your work is easy and quick. With CommBox Accounts, teachers can instantly save their whiteboarding sessions to OneDrive or Google Drive and pick up where they left off in future lessons. No more lost whiteboards!

Additionally, the Picture in Picture feature lets teachers overlay content from other sources onto the whiteboard, making lessons even more dynamic and informative.

A lot of teachers share video content on screen. Now, with the new CommBox Chromium Browser and various Android

apps from the CommBox store, videos can be played directly on the screen. This gives students better picture and sound quality, making the videos easier to watch and hear.

Meanwhile, teachers are free to use their laptops for other tasks, like planning lessons or grading student work.

CommBox is always moving forward. We’re committed to improving and innovating our products to fit the changing needs of education today.

Our goal is for teachers to feel supported by technology, making teaching more enjoyable and effective. Keep an eye out for new features coming from CommBox in 2024!

Integrate AV is a CommBox Platinum Partner and has a dedicated education team who can assist you with an interactive flat panel solution for your school. Integrate AV is a supplier on contract with the NSW Department of

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

TECHNOLOGY

Education Multimedia Solutions 278 State Contract, QLD Department of Education Standing Offer QEDSOA-71789 and the Tasmanian Information and Communication Hardware C150 contract.

Sarah Drysdale has over 25 years of experience as a teacher and tech innovator. She holds an MComm, EMBA, and Grad Dip Edu. As the Head of Product at CommBox, Sarah partners with teachers, IT managers, and school principals to create the best interactive screen for Australian schools. Because she understands teachers’ needs so well, she’s passionate about making technology that changes the classroom for the better.

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Encouraging creativity with broadcasting studios

Images courtesy of BlackMagic

By Gemma Easton, Editor

There has been a rapid shift in the way we create, consume and distribute content.

Sharing personal messages, finding out the latest news and enjoying some entertainment all happen differently than a decade ago.

increasingly common. Students are often encouraged to incorporate a range of media into their work, including video, images and music, as well as a written script.

Broadcasting studios can provide all the tools necessary for an effective multimedia project all in one place.

In class and extra-curricular opportunities with broadcasting studios may include student produced podcasts and video

news bulletins, and professional quality support at school performances. For students hoping to pursue a career in the media, familiarity with producing, editing and distributing content via a broadcasting studio could prove particularly useful.

Beyond the classroom, broadcasting studios can prove beneficial for the whole school community. Conflicting schedules mean it is often difficult for parents to attend

events during school hours, such as award presentations and class performances. The ability to livestream events, or record and then distribute at a later date means families can enjoy these events without having to be there in person.

This can also help alleviate pressure on small venues – people who miss out on tickets to an event can watch a recording of the event.

With this technological revolution, schools have had to change their approach to student teaching and learning, and how they communicate with families. Broadcasting studios in schools are an effective way to help students learn how to use and create with a range of different media, and ensure the school community remains up to date with all that is happening at the school.

Multimedia approaches to classroom projects and assessment are becoming

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TECHNOLOGY

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

© stock.adobe.com

far from anyone’s mind, throw in a third goal of being able to sustain the first two goals year in and year out within budget.”

Use products that students can, and want to learn on

Having the necessary equipment to facilitate this onsite can be a substantial cost saving for schools, as external providers will not need to be hired to record the event. Tasking students with managing the livestream, or editing a recording will help build their skills while working on a practical, real world project.

“Schools need to think of building film or broadcast rooms in terms of a couple of high-level goals and build classes around these. First, build excitement with the students for what they can create. Second, provide the tools they need to do that.

And since budgets are never

And while budgets are a concern, Mr May said to remember it is all about creativity and the technology available should never get in the way of that.

“2023 is far from years past when the difference between what a school could afford and what the film and video industries were using was night and day.

Those days are long gone.

“The most important thing you need to think about when choosing products is not whether the products have the latest and greatest tech specs.

You need to make sure that they do not lock you into one technology or format. Pick gear

that works with a wide variety of formats. Choose cameras that let you use a wide variety of lenses. And pick software that does not charge you monthly fees, does not demand upgrade charges and never limits your ability to actually get to your student’s work.” Mr May said.

While it may seem obvious, Mr May said there is something which schools sometimes overlook. “Use products that students actually can, and want to learn on. Too simple, and the students will be bored and won’t be ready for a career. Too complicated and too expensive will keep a student from having the time needed to experiment.

Trust your students. Once they see what they can do and know that they are using professional level tools, they will learn.”

Setting up a broadcasting studio may seem overwhelming.

We talked to Dan May from BlackMagic to find out the best approach.

Mr May said the basic essentials for school broadcasting studios are cameras, post production (editing, VFX, audio and colour correction), audio hardware, switchers and lighting, as well as streaming hardware and software. “A student needs to learn how to frame up a shot, work with that image or feed and understand how to handle media,” Mr May said.

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

Image courtesy of BlackMagic

TECHNOLOGY

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Air quality for a healthy learning environment

Could air quality be affecting your students’ learning?

By Naomii Seah, Industry Reporter

With up to thirty kids in a small room, who may at times be chatting, laughing, presenting or – if they’re younger students – running around, keeping the indoor air quality to acceptable minimum standards may be a more arduous task than anticipated.

COVID is still a real threat in many communities, as well as winter sniffles. Preventing airborne disease remains of high importance. And according to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), disease can be easily transmitted in poorly ventilated areas due to “build-up and stagnation of infectious aerosols”.

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But apart from being a potential infection risk, did you know that poor air quality could also have an effect on student performance and concentration?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency states that poor indoor air quality can affect staff and students alike. Schools are especially prone to bad air quality due to indoor pollutants like arts and crafts supplies or science experiments.

Additionally, in winter especially, when doors and windows are shut to the bad weather, CO2 levels will tend to rise above acceptable levels. Studies have shown that high carbon dioxide environments are linked to headaches, dizziness, nausea and fatigue, and can exacerbate respiratory conditions like asthma.

As part of the Work Health and Safety laws, schools are also required to minimise risk of

COVID as an employer. That includes examining existing ventilation and taking measures to improve systems if necessary.

So how can schools improve their ventilation?

The AHPPC notes that understanding and controlling building ventilation systems is the first port of call for improving indoor air quality. For some schools, that may be as simple as auditing the existing HVAC systems – have vents been cleaned and maintained?

Are all elements properly operational? These checks are especially important after a period of HVAC shutdown.

For schools with complex ventilation systems, a consultation with mechanical or ventilation engineer may be necessary. A complementary consultation with an occupational hygienist may also

HEALTH & SAFETY

be prudent if the main concern is minimising infection risk.

At the very simple end of improving indoor air quality, schools can open windows and doors and consider airflow through indoor spaces. Are furniture items, curtains or other objects obstructing airflow? Given adequate ventilation, can indoor temperatures be maintained at comfortable levels?

Other measures include the use of indoor fans to improve air-flow and therefore quality.

Schools may also find a CO2 monitor useful as a measure of ventilation. Schools and other businesses should aim to keep indoor air concentrations of CO2 at 800 parts per million (ppm) or less. Between 800 and 1500 ppm may indicate lowered air quality. Of course, higher use areas and indoor sports complexes may need more than just open windows and HVAC to keep CO2 levels below 800 ppm.

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

For areas where none of the above measures are sufficient to keep CO2 levels to acceptable standards, schools should investigate air purifiers fitted with high grade HEPA filters.

The industry insiders weigh in Martin Moelle, Managing Director at BenQ Australia said with students spending most of their time in classrooms, keeping the air clean is crucial.

The latest healthy learning technologies are easy to integrate into the classroom.

and teachers are near it, and the system releases millions of ions which latch onto suspended airborne pollutants, weighing them down and purifying the air.

“Air quality sensors provide real time data on key environmental parameters by detecting temperature, humidity, dust, and monitoring high CO2 levels that can cause student drowsiness. These sensors alert teachers and remind them to take necessary action, whether that be by switching on the air conditioning or simply opening a window.

“Solutions like air quality sensors are now available on interactive displays, measuring air quality in classrooms to ensure the optimum environment for education.

These technologies should be a factor when deciding on any touch display for classrooms,” Mr Moelle said.

“Through device management soft ware, IT staff can also remotely turn on the air ioniser, cleaning the air before students and teachers enter the classroom. Policies can be enforced by school managers to make the purification of classrooms a morning routine, should the air quality metrics be consistently poor from the records they can see.”

The latest development in air purification is air ionisers, which are designed to complement the school’s HVAC system. “The display detects when students

A Dyson engineer said pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, VOCs, formaldehyde and NO₂ can be emitted from both indoor and outdoor sources

and can impact air quality in the classroom. Open windows in urban areas can result in outdoor pollutants coming indoors, particularly if there are idling engines close to the building as parents drop off their children each day.

“Seasonal factors may also cause heightened outdoor pollution, such as increased pollen counts which may be distracting for children suffering from allergies.

Indoor sources of pollutants include particulate matter from printers, dust and pollen, VOCs from cleaning products, hand sanitizer or air freshener, and formaldehyde released from classroom furnishings, materials and paints,” they said.

For classrooms, the Dyson engineer said there are air purifiers specifically designed for larger spaces such as classrooms, which deliver powerful, long-range projection for whole-room purification – HEPA H13 grade filters can capture 99.95 percent of particles, and activated carbon filters can remove odours and gases. 2

“Currently Australia and New Zealand exceed the World Health Organization (2021) guidelines by up to two times.

Most air pollution can’t be seen or smelled, with advanced sensors required to measure the level of impurities – like pollution and chemical particles – in the air. Good air quality contains only small levels of pollutants or solid particles.” 3 References 1.

The ability of purifying a large room up to 100m2 (10m*10m) proven from a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling, with the purifier placed in a corner of the room running at the maximum flow and horizontal projection reaching 10 metres to fully mix the room. The projection distance was measured from internal flow reach testing under the maximum directional airflow. The actual performance in real life condition may vary.

2.

Tested for filtration efficiency at 0.1 microns (EN1822, ISO29364).

3.

Information sourced from https://www.dyson. com.au/products/airtreatment/air-science.

Projects air over 10 metres to purify large spaces. Quietly.

1

Captures allergens and 99.95% of ultrafine particles.2 Destroys formaldehyde, permanently.3

Call us on 1800 426 337 | Email: aucommercial@dyson.com 1. The ability of purifying a large room up to 100m2 (10m*10m) proven from a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling, with the purifier placed in a corner of the room running at the maximum flow and horizontal projection reaching 10 metres to fully mix the room. The projection distance was measured from internal flow reach testing under the maximum directional airflow. The actual performance in real life condition may vary. 2. Tested for filtration efficiency at 0.1 microns (EN1822, ISO29364). 3. Third party full machine testing based on GB/T 18801-2022 formaldehyde cumulative clean mass testing with continuous injection until plateau of formaldehyde CADR is achieved. Results may vary in practice.

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

HEALTH & SAFETY

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Safety first in school carparks Images courtesy of Area Safe Products

By Sarah Davison, Industry Reporter

The well-being of students is always of concern to a school.

This extends to their safety during the busy moments before and after school.

According to the 2020 AAMI Crash Index, more than a quarter of all road incidents in Australia occur in the afternoon, around school pick-up time.

Russell White, the founder and CEO of the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF), said the prevalence of accidents during this time period was due to a range of factors.

“You see high volumes of people channelled into relatively small areas so there’s obviously a congestion issue, then you also see people under moderateto-intense time pressure and you see pinch points in terms of attitudes to other people aggression, horn blowing and the early stages of automotive violence,” he explained.

“Then you have young children focussed on where they’re heading to next, so the cumulative effect of all those makes school zones and pick-up times high-risk.”

School car parks and pick up zones, then, require extra attention to ensure they are safe for motorists and pedestrians, students, staff and families.

and drop-off zones, and with crossings. He recommends rehearsing and practising the ‘Stop, Look, Listen, Think’ method and ‘Walk – Don’t Run’, and enforcing a shared zone car park speed limit of 10km/h.

play a pivotal role in ensuring that these safety measures are enforced consistently.

Speed humps, bollards, and barriers can enhance student safety during peak times, slowing vehicles down, and directing traffic flow.

Line marking is an oftenoverlooked aspect of car park safety. Properly marked drop-off zones and allocated parking spaces contribute to the smooth flow of traffic on school premises and surrounds, ensuring people park in designated areas, minimising driver confusion and therefore, congestion.

Implementing strategies to separate pedestrians from vehicular traffic is crucial.

This can include designated walkways, pedestrian crossings, and the installation of barriers to ensure a safe pathway for students. It is also vital to educate all students about the importance of being vigilant pedestrians. Younger students or those new to your school

may need to be accompanied to pick up zones initially, until they are familiar with the rules and procedures of the area.

While students are a focus of any school car park safety initiative, staff members also deserve a secure and convenient parking experience. Access control solutions, such as electronic gates or key card systems, can be employed to ensure that parking areas are restricted to school staff only.

Safety programs and resources can be used to educate both students and parents about car park and road safety. Look to your local council or engage with local law enforcement to enquire about any programs you can implement in your school.

Particularly for older students who may be beginning to get their licence, bringing in local experts to give presentations about road safety can be lifesaving.

Lindsay Stead from Area Safe Products said student safety is paramount in school car parks

“Speed humps are the most effective means of enforcing low speeds. Reduced speed is a critical factor in eliminating collisions with pedestrians.

Heavy duty rubber or plastic speed humps are the best option for schools as they suit cars, buses and trucks, and are quieter to drive over than steel speed humps.

“Bollards are essential in school carparks to protect pedestrians from out-of-control vehicles, protect infrastructure, and comply with Australian Standards for accessible parking shared zones. These are available as powder coated safety bollards, or in a variety of architectural options including concrete spheres, stainless steel, I-Beam or slatted,” Mr Stead said.

“Modular pedestrian barriers are an important consideration in carparks to help contain walkways and prevent pedestrians walking into the path of vehicles. Pedestrian barriers also help to control safe access points in pick-up and drop-off zones for cars or buses.

“Well planned fresh line marking improves car park safety and traffic flow because it shows drivers where to go and where not to go. Allocated staff parking spaces at schools work well to help staff find parking quickly and alleviate frustration. These reserved parking spaces can be well utilised by installing changeable designated parking signs.”

It is essential to have clearly defined areas for parents to park and drop off students, with adequate signage and clear demarcation. Moreover, schools must have comprehensive safety protocols in place, covering everything from pedestrian crossings to vehicle speed limits within the premises. Properly trained staff and volunteers can

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Mr Stead said speed humps, bollards and barriers, are essential considerations in maximising car park safety.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

CASE STUDY

Improved COLA functionality at Carlton Public School

play music wirelessly. Sound would need to fill the entire COLA to ensure a great listening experience across the whole space. Simplicity, and ease of use were extremely important within the school’s brief.

Images courtesy of Prolinx

By Gemma Easton, Editor

The addition of a PA system to a covered outdoor learning area can greatly improve the functionality of the space. This was the experience at Carlton Public School.

Outdoor areas provide an excellent venue for large school events, community gatherings and school PE lessons. Moving lessons outdoors into covered outdoor spaces gives students a break from the classroom.

Educators, though, still need to be able to effectively communicate with students.

In many cases, PA systems provide a practical solution.

engaged Prolinx to fit the PA system. The school required a purpose-built system to be installed, that was easy to use and functional.

Zoran Aleksovski, Director at Prolinx explained the school’s brief. “The school requested a school COLA audio system to suit a newly upgraded area that included an outdoor stage.

The space would be used for activities including school assemblies, performances, and community events.”

Wireless microphones needed to be accommodated in the area, as well as the ability to

The size of the space presented a challenge for the Prolinx team. “The area is quite large with a very high cover. Since the microphones and music all needed to be wireless, we designed a system with great coverage and reliable transmission,” Mr Aleksovski said.

“We started by mounting six 8-inch weatherproof outdoor speakers across the top of the COLA. Our intention was to make the sound uniform across the entire area. The amplifier selected was a 4 channel amplifier which had a built in DSP. This enabled us to

Adding a PA system to a space removes the need for the constant use of equipment such as megaphones or loud hailers, or corded microphones.

An in-built, easy to use system can transform a school COLA from a basic covered learning area, to a state-of-the-art performance and meeting venue.

“Our next hurdle was the wireless transmission for microphones and music. It was decided early on to mount external aerials for the microphone system and use a long-range bluetooth receiver that would cover the area.”

Mr Aleksovski explained that these audio systems can become quite complex. Recognising that schools are busy places, and a large number of different staff members would use the system, simplicity of design was paramount. “We spent some time designing an easy-touse system so all staff were able to use it trouble free.”

Now, Carlton Public School can use the area to hold assemblies, with the whole school gathering in one covered location. As the area is covered, weather conditions have little impact on the usability of the area, making it functional year-round.

Additionally, the need for the school to use more than one system in the space has been removed. The area, including the stage can be used for entire school assemblies and events.

Steven Mead, Carton Public School Principal said ease of use and suitability to the specific area for music and microphones were key considerations in the project. Prolinx was able to deliver on both these requests.

Looking to add to an existing covered outdoor learning area, which had recently been upgraded, Carlton Public School Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

EQ the area for better sound reproduction and balance.

“We have enjoyed utilising the system for a variety of community events since the installation,” Mr Mead said.

HEALTH & SAFETY

49

Hustler FasTrak SDX:

Pro quality at the right price

Hustler gets it done quickly and efficiently. * Images are for illustration purposes only, overseas model shown here.

Introducing the Hustler FasTrak SDX, a commercial grade mower, built for the demands of wide area grounds maintenance.

With a sub $20k price tag to keep your treasurer happy!

is a safety feature that prevents the mower from moving when the operator gets off the mower. Pushing the steering levers to the side to get up and out of the seat automatically engages the parking brakes, ensuring the mower stays in place, and preventing any accidental rolling.

Hustler mowers are built tough. The FasTrak SDX features a continuous, heavy-duty welded tubular steel frame that provides reliable support for all day commercial mowing, while the 10-guage fabricated steel deck is capable of withstanding even the most challenging environments.

The Hustler FasTrak SDX range offers high-performance mowing solutions, designed for wide area mowing applications.

Fast, powerful, and comfortable with important features to make mowing more accessible, efficient, and enjoyable.

Hustler Mowers - Built to Work. * Images are for illustration purposes only, overseas model shown here.

Decks size options are available in 48”, 54” and 60” widths, to suit various applications, while the standard Rollover Protection System (ROPS) is an essential safety feature, especially when mowing on steeper ground.

to be easily maintained and serviceable.

Convenient features such as a flipup seat, removable floor pan, toolless pulley covers, and easy access to the engine and primary components make routine maintenance a breeze.

The FasTrak SDX range is powered by commercial-grade Kawasaki® V-Twin engines, with options ranging from 22 to 23.5 horsepower. These engines come with a remote air cleaner that ensures the engine remains in top condition, even after prolonged use.

The operator’s station is thoughtfully designed for comfort and convenience. It includes an extra high back suspension seat with padded armrests, ergonomic controls, cup holder and a dual USB port, ensuring the operator is well looked after and can enjoy allday comfort during longer stints in the seat.

The commercial-grade Dual Hydro-Gear® ZT-3400™ transmissions are robust, providing smooth manoeuverability and precise control of speed – with a top speed of 16km/h.

With a variety of impressive features, Hustler has designed the FasTrak SDX

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Other smart features include Hustler’s famous SmoothTrak Steering™, a patented steering system that allows for easier and more precise manoeuverability, making mowing in tight spots and around obstacles easier. The Automatic Park Brake System PROPERTY

Step off fresh at the end of a long day, and get your mowing done easily with Hustler!

The Hustler FasTrak SDX series is available in the following models: FasTrak SDX 48: 22HP Kawasaki® FX691V V-Twin engine and a 122cm (48”) fabricated steel deck.

FasTrak SDX 54: 23.5HP Kawasaki® FX730V V-Twin engine and a 137cm (54”) fabricated steel deck.

FasTrak SDX 60: 23.5HP Kawasaki® FX730V V-Twin engine and a 152cm (60”) fabricated steel deck.

The Hustler FasTrak SDX range features a 4 year/1000-hour commercial warranty for added peace of mind.

Book a test drive and find your local dealer at hustlermowers.com.au.

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

BOOK A DEMO At Your Local Dealer

HUSTLERMOWERS.COM.AU

Maintaining green spaces Images courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker Outdoor

By Sarah Davison, Industry Reporter

There is a growing body of evidence that shows access to green space is linked to the healthy development of children.

In a study on the impact of greenery on 851 primary schools across greater Melbourne, school-level academic performance in reading, numeracy, grammar and punctuation was found to be better on average for schools located in areas with more greenery. Research conducted internationally suggests greenness surrounding schools can lead to better cognitive development in primary school-aged children.

Green spaces at schools may include practical areas such as sports ovals or courts, and outdoor eating areas. Other areas may serve more aesthetic purposes, including native gardens and grass surrounding paths and walkways. Outdoor garden areas can be used for community gatherings and celebrations, and shady green areas can be used for learning and teaching activities, giving students a break from the classroom.

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With increased urbanisation, and the shrinking of backyards at home in many areas, it is vital that schools provide useable, well-kept green space for students and staff to enjoy.

Whether your school’s green space is large or small, proper maintenance is necessary to ensure spaces look good, and are safe. This requires access to the right equipment.

The right tools for the job Schools should consider the size of the area that needs to be maintained when purchasing any new equipment.

Small tractors are a versatile option that can simplify the

task of maintaining school green spaces. A key benefit of these machines is their ability to handle a wide range of attachments. This versatility makes small tractors an excellent choice for schools looking to maximise the utility of their equipment.

As sustainability becomes increasingly important, schools might want to explore ecofriendly or electric tractor options that align with their environmental goals.

Ride-on mowers come in various configurations, including zero-turn, front-deck, and centre-deck models. Choosing the right one depends on the specific needs of the school.

PROPERTY

Zero-turn mowers are well-suited for intricate mowing tasks.

Front-deck and centre-deck models provide different cutting advantages, with front-deck mowers offering a clear view of the cutting area and centre-deck mowers excelling in uneven terrain. When selecting a ride-on mower, consider the size of the school’s fields. Cutting width should match the size of the area to be mowed, ensuring efficient and timely maintenance.

Push mowers are particularly useful for common areas that require a lighter touch.

When choosing a push mower, schools should consider factors like the type of grass, terrain, and the need for selfpropelled or electric models.

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

VENTRAC

Maintenance Solutions Maintaining outdoor open spaces in schools can be time consuming and a headache for limited staff.

Time poor Property Managers and Grounds staff require the right equipment to help maintain a standard that the students and teachers require. This is where Ventrac answers the questions.

Outdoor spaces in schools offer mental and physical benefits for both students and teachers.

Having well maintained grassed areas and sporting fields is crucial for social and physical interaction.

Ventrac is an ideal fit for school grounds maintenance with its compact size and versatility. The Ventrac is a gamechanger in the way we maintain these vital areas.

VENTRAC 4520 TRACTOR

One Ventrac Tractor to perform over 30 tasks is what sets Ventrac apart from its competitors. With over 30 attachments on offer from mowing, blowing, aerating, sweeping, fertilizer spreading, loader buckets and more.

The Ventrac tractor has a unique Flex-frame allowing it to complete tasks that a zero turn or rigid framed machine simply can’t achieve.

Rated to work on 30 degree slopes makes it the safest compact tractor on the market. Its low ground pressure has you cutting in very wet conditions without damaging the turf.

From blowing and cleaning tight school areas to mowing large ovals with our 95” finishing deck.

The changing of attachments is done in less than a minute.

The enjoyment of owning and using a Ventrac makes the task at hand easy and enjoyable, taking away the chore of having to perform the job with multiple and outdated equipment.

Join the growing number of schools already enjoying the Ventrac experience and become part of our Ventrac Family!

Book your demonstration today for a brighter future.

AUSTR A L I A INFO@VENTRACUS.COM.AU

VENTRAC.AU@TORO.COM TORO.COM.AU 0423.759.415

TORO AUSTRALIA TERRITORY VENTRAC AUSTRALIA TERRITORY

VENTRACUS.COM.AU +61.2.4625.2308

Images courtesy of Ventrac Australia

Chris Stig, Managing Director at Ventrac Australia said choosing the right equipment for your school’s green spaces will depend on your area size. “A school with multiple sporting fields would definitely need a larger machine to handle the workload.”

Regardless of which equipment you choose, it is important to ensure regular maintenance is carried out on mowers and tractors. Ongoing care can ensure your equipment remains safe to operate, and lasts for a long time.

Leasing and financing options for mowers and tractors provide flexibility for funding. Leasing allows schools to acquire the equipment they need without a significant upfront cost, and allows schools to ‘try before they buy’. Some leasing models provide the option for schools to purchase the equipment after a certain timeframe.

Another consideration, Mr Stig said, was the expectations of the school to have highquality playing fields. “Schools that endeavour to compete at a high level in sport should choose the equipment that will offer them the highest quality of cut to ensure the playability of the ovals.

Still not sure what equipment is best for your green spaces? We asked the experts for their tips.

Ben Donovan from Stanley Black & Decker Outdoor said area size is a key factor in selecting a mower for your school. “The bigger the cutting deck and stronger the engine and transmission, the quicker and more reliably you will get the job done. Most large area school mowing applications would call for a minimum 60 inch deck size, 25+ HP engine, and commercial grade transmissions.

“For schools with sloping grass areas to mow a ROPS bar (roll over protection) would be a must. Consider additional features such as steering wheel control (as opposed to lap bars) and four-wheel steering for even steeper mowing applications.”

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Mr Donovan said a zero-turn mower will usually offer the best compromise between size, manoeuvrability and cost.

“Look for dual hydrostatic transmissions to indicate true zero turn capability.”

For walk behind mowers, Mr Donovan said a self-propelled function is best for open areas, while non-self-propelled is better for an area requiring a lot of back-and-forth manoeuvring.

“Side discharge mowers are good for clearing longer grass more quickly, however catching the grass will result in a cleaner finish. Mulching is only recommended if the lawn is mowed at least weekly as mulching longer grass

tends to leave clumps and requires frequent cleaning of the mower deck.

“Good quality battery mowers may be suited to smaller areas when runtime is not a concern.

Petrol mowers are still more flexible and convenient for most applications, although will be significantly noisier.

“Lastly, always ask for an on-site demonstration when buying a large area commercial mower for schools. An on-site demo will ensure you get the most suitable unit for the job at hand and allow you to ask any questions of the dealer that are relevant to your specific needs and operating conditions.”

PROPERTY

“A machine with the ability to offer a Reel and Bedknife cutting style compared to a rotary cutting style may need to be considered,” Mr Stig said.

“Most rotary mowing machines offer a good quality of cut. The size of the area will determine the size of the machine needed.

I would recommend picking a machine that easily handles the area capacity. This makes the machine work easily and doesn’t push the machine.

“Schools with multiple ovals and larger areas to cut, or that simply want to raise the bar, should consider a multi attachment machine. This gives the school more options to meet changing requirements in the future, and helps to save on storage space.”

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

AU ST R A L I A N M A D E + D E S I G N E D B AG + H AT H O O KS

SAFEHOOKS FOR YOUR SCHOOL

www.safehook.com.au

EuroV2 Hook

Ihook Mk2

Our Classmate® range of school bag & hat hooks, offer a durable, safer alternative to sharp metal bag & hat hooks.

The Classmate® range of bag & hat hooks, now four great designs and a wide range of colours to choose from. Suitable for installation indoors or out.

All New Stowmate® Aluminium BagTrac FS2400, designed specifically for use with your Safehook Ihook products. Stowmate offers End-Users and Specifiers a smarter, safer way to mount bag and ®

Stowmate FS2400 BagTrac

hat hooks. Double sided, floor mounted storage.

SHOP ONLINE @safehook.com.au or call 07 3511 1668 © July 2023 Linc Furniture Pty Ltd

TM

By Sarah Davison, Industry Reporter

and development will result in serious spinal problems immediately and later on in life.”

Well-designed storage solutions can be an important consideration for the safety and wellbeing of staff and students.

School bags strewn across the floor can become a trip hazard or interfere with evacuations in the case of fire or other emergency.

Clutter is also a problem, as a space that is cluttered distracts learners, particularly early primary-age students.

Extreme clutter reduces student engagement and increases stress in the classroom.

For teachers too, clutter becomes overwhelming and can disrupt lessons and waste time, as students struggle to find laptops, book bags and stationery. Vermin, mould and theft can also become issues if piles of belongings including backpacks, lunchboxes, hats and blazers are regularly left around the school grounds and in classrooms.

For student safety and wellbeing, a designated storage spot for school bags can also help

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Innovative bag rack design Bag rack design and bag storage solutions have evolved in recent years. A range of options are now available to suit space restrictions, cope with daily use and rough handling, work with the design considerations of your school, and fit within school budgets.

Image courtesy of Safehook

prevent back injuries. Research into the risks associated with heavy school bags on growing children and young people are well-documented.

Many students were found to be carrying an average of 17 percent of their body weight on their back, despite the recommended limit of 10 percent.

In fact, a Chiropractors’ Association of Australia study found that 90 percent of school children exhibited bad posture when carrying their school bag. The research, which was carried out at 340 schools across Australia, also found that 75 percent of students were not using the ergonomic features of their backpacks, which could help prevent spinal damage.

CAA Spokesperson Dr Billy Chow said the results are a major concern. “Despite the increased use of technology in schools to assist learning, schoolchildren are still overloading their backpacks with textbooks, sports and other gear or simply not wearing them in the correct way,” he said. “Putting too much stress on a child’s back at such an important stage of growth

PROPERTY

Modern-day bag rack designs are sleek and can blend with the design aesthetic of almost any school space. Suitable for a range of grades and classroom sizes, bag racks can come in multiple tier levels to allow a streamlined storage solution, minimising the space required to store bags and backpacks during the school day.

When offered in durable materials such as aluminium or plastic, bag racks are a hygienic solution for schools and can be cleaned and disinfected when required.

To ensure the longevity of your storage solution, robust and durable materials that are also low maintenance are key.

Eco-friendly options made from Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

© stock.adobe.com

Good-looking, organised bag storage

recycled or sustainable materials are also a popular choice for schools looking to solidify their commitment to sustainability.

To enhance the longevity of bag racks, innovative coatings are an important consideration. Some offer excellent protection against rust, particularly important for bag racks stored in an openair or moist environment.

Antimicrobial coatings are another option that has gained popularity in recent years.

These coatings can inhibit the growth of bacteria and viruses on surfaces, promoting a more hygienic environment for students and staff.

Many of these finishes are often available in a range of colours, allowing schools to match their bag racks with their interior design or school colours.

Hooks have long been a tried-and-true method for organising school bags. Hooks are cost-effective, easy to install, and are particularly wellsuited to schools with limited storage areas. Importantly, hooks allow school bags to be kept off the ground while allowing students quick and easy access when required.

The versatility of hooks also allows them to be used to hang up school hats or jackets when not in use. Compared to older designs, many modern-day hooks are weight tested up to 100kg, allowing schools a durable option that can withstand the pressure of any school bag.

From the industry insiders Len Hyde, Managing Director at Safehook said space, practicality, safety and cost will impact school decisions around bag storage.

“The benefits of having appropriate school bag storage can be substantial but are often overlooked. Port racks worked well when kids carried hard suitcases. Lockers made sense in principle but in practise are rarely used in the way they were designed.

safehook STORAGE IDEAS

“Simple bag hooks create more space, improve traffic flow and mobility, save money with easy maintenance and cleaning, reduce pest problems, and meet all statutory requirements, and all building and design regulations.

This is without mentioning the aesthetic benefits of colourful hooks and clutterfree spaces,” Mr Hyde said.

“One of the biggest mistakes schools tend to make is not taking the time to understand that there are better options available to accommodate the storage requirements of today’s schools. It’s a mistake made by many, including those that remotely manage or design new schools. School staff aren’t always familiar with the requirements of the National Construction Code, but they are responsible for providing safe, compliant work spaces.”

Mr Hyde said that building codes state that walkways and corridors need to provide a minimal accessible route of 1500mm in schools where corridors are less frequented by end users, and 1800mm where corridors are used frequently as is the case in most school corridors and bag storage areas.

“Conventional bag racks generally extend 500 to 600mm into a walkway, and they take up the same amount of space occupied or not. Meanwhile, bag hooks fixed to a wall extend no more than 100mm into the same space, facilitating traffic flow and minimising congestion.”

Stowmate® WM BagTrac T Trac

STOWMATE BAGTRAC SYSTEMS ®

Stowmate W Wall Mount Systems provide for a smarter, rr, safer way to mount your Safehook bag & hat hooks. Wall mounted aluminium rail extrusions alternative to traditional wooden rails & bag racks.

Stowmate® FS2400 BagTrac BagTrac T

Stowmate® BagTrac T Trac FS2400 when wall space is a

© stock.adobe.com

up to 48 hooks on a 2.4m unit. Extend your system with optional inline bollards & rail extensions.

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

PROPERTY

SHOP ONLINE @safehook.com.au or call 07 3511 1668 © October 2023 Linc Furniture Pty Ltd

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S ’ T A H W

T O H

BRING FUN & INTERACTION WITH BENQ & SNOWFLAKE!

FREE LITERACY RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS LiteracyPlanet, a fun curriculum-aligned digital literacy tool, has unveiled a treasure trove of themed resources that teachers can download for free via the @literacyplanet Pinterest page. In an era marked by constrained budgets and limited teaching time, this is a suite of helpful, dynamic and engaging worksheets that promise to invigorate the learning experience. Spanning themes such as football, animals, transport, pirates, and the festive season, the toolkit encompasses a variety of enriching materials including interactive games and quizzes, sound bingo, visual cues for word acquisition, word searches, crosswords, and scrambles, creative colouring activities and even classroom decorations.

C LiteracyPlanet P 1300 565 696 E hello@literacyplanet.com W literacyplanet.com

Ideal for both in class and distance learning, NUITEQ Snowflake gives you access to teacher-made curriculum-aligned lessons anytime, anywhere. Paired with the latest BenQ Interactive Display, teachers can increase classroom engagement, lesson retention and overall gamified fun! Snowflake has streamlined single sign-on and data synchronisation for Canvas and a powerful AI assistant, helping to increase collaboration and continue learning even in a remote environment. Contact BenQ for special offers on BenQ Board and Snowflake Software at BenQ.com.au C BenQ W BenQ.com.au

OUTDOOR AREAS TOO HOT TO HANDLE? Providing adequate sun protection is essential during the warmer months. Our solution? Astra Street Furniture’s new Manchester Cantilever Shelter with Clear Anodised Slat Screen.

Designed with durability and functionality in mind, the shelters are pivotal in ensuring that students and teachers have safe and shaded spaces to relax. What’s more, we understand the need for urgency. With all components in stock, we promise swift delivery with a lead time of just 1 week. This means less waiting and more immediate protection. Available in two sizes 6 x 4 metres and 2 x 4 metres. Made of structural grade aluminium with a Colorbond Custom Orb roof.

C Astra Street Furniture P 1300 889 821 W astrastreetfurniture.com.au

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WHAT’S HOT

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

STOWMATE BAGTRAC FS2400: ELEVATE YOUR SCHOOL STORAGE Discover the perfect complement to our Stowmate wall mounted units—the Stowmate BagTrac FS2400. This versatile dual sided unit is designed to hold up to 48 bags, all while maintaining a compact footprint, making it ideal for areas with minimal space and where wall space is limited. Stowmate BagTrac FS2400 features a sleek design and durable aluminium construction, ensuring a tidy safe environment for students and staff alike to store their Bags. Its super-strong build requires minimal maintenance, making it a reliable storage solution for busy school environments. With customizable options, you can tailor the unit to fit your school’s unique needs, creating a seamless and efficient storage solution. Don’t miss the chance to transform your school’s storage capabilities. Embrace Stowmate BagTrac FS2400 and experience the difference it can make in your school.

C Safehook P 07 3511 1668 W safehook.com.au

LIVI ESSENTIALS Did you know that although our facial tissues are biodegradable, they are made to stay strong when wet, so they don’t break down easily like toilet paper. Therefore, bin don’t flush facial tissues after use. The flu season is here, and it’s important to be prepared with the right tools to fight the discomfort caused by runny noses and sneezes. Stocking up on soft, hypoallergenic facial tissues is an essential step towards ensuring comfort and maintaining good hygiene. Livi offers premium tissues that are soft and absorbent, perfect for sensitive noses. They are a great value option, combining quality and affordability. Sorbent Professional provides silky smooth tissues that tare luxurious and gentle on sensitive skin. Both brands are hypoallergenic and made from sustainable materials.

C Solaris Paper W solarispaper.com.au

SALTO NEOXX G3 – TOUGH AND VERSATILE SECURITY The tough SALTO Neoxx is perfect for gates, storage areas, and other outdoor locations that need an electronic access solution, or even iPad and technology trolleys. The Neoxx G3 is versatile and easily extends SALTO’s cutting edge electronic access control solution – one swipe card for everything.

C Salto Systems P 03 8683 9782

72” COMMBOX LED BANNER CommBox LED Banners are the perfect solution for any school looking to instantly showcase vibrant signage and messaging. They are easily mobile and can transition from one location to another with ease. You can easily schedule images, videos, create playlists and send any content to any LED Banner screen from anywhere. The banners are remarkably bright even in direct sunlight, and you can even connect more the one banner together for a more dynamic effect.

E info.oceania@saltosystems.com W saltosystems.com

Term 4, 2023 | school-news.com.au

C Integrate AV P 1800 742 748 W iav.com.au

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