Feature articles

These Year 9 students proudly represented the state as recipients of the Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize, which is now in its third year. The prize was established in memory of Tasmania’s longest surviving World War I veteran to recognise the importance of Gallipoli and other battles in our nation’s history. Frank MacDonald was born in Ulverstone in 1896 and died in 2003 aged 107.

Nearly 500 children signed up to the exciting activities held in Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie. Based on the Essential Learnings curriculum, the activities and workshops provided the opportunity for all school children aged four to 16 to learn more about topics of interest to them. Activities were provided by organisations such as The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, CSIRO, Port Arthur Historical Site, University of Tasmania and National Institute of Dramatic Art.

With KidzED in the school holidays, children need never be bored again.

The students produced a leaflet to raise awareness of the disease and developed fundraising ideas including the production of red ‘devil library bags’. As a result of their efforts, the class was able to donate $1000 toward research into saving our devils.

Innovative approaches to learning have shown these young children that everyone can make a difference.

Margaret uses technology to engage and inspire her students. She teaches using approaches such as game development and real-world applications and even runs entire classes online.

But, Margaret’s use of technology goes beyond her classroom. She collaborates online with teachers around the world to share and develop her expertise in innovative teaching methods. This means that the real winners are… our students!

Students in this year’s program participated in a range of activities including visits to special places and sites of significance. They also had invaluable discussions with older Aboriginal community members about community change. Students learned about traditional values and lifestyle and collected materials for activities such as basket weaving, shell stringing, spear making and constructing kelp water carriers.

Increasing knowledge and understanding of their culture is helping students to find their place within their communities and giving them confidence to find their niche within the wider community.

Assisted by their YLO, each student is encouraged to develop their own educational pathway, taking into account their interests and strengths. YLOs continue to support students for a school term once they start at college, enrol in training or find a job.

In 2005, YLOs worked with 350 students. With 79% of these students continuing with further education or training or commencing a job in 2006, the value of this intensive one-to-one support is clear.

A range of initiatives have been established to improve access to higher education. There are ‘back to school’ days, where former Claremont students studying at university visit the college to talk about their experiences. In a mentoring program at the university, former Claremont College students provide assistance and advice to newly enrolled university students from the college. There are visits for Year11 students to the university and information nights for parents. A scholarship scheme has also been introduced.

This innovative program is really opening the doors to further education for Claremont’s students.

The winners were Claire Ackerly, Rob Banfield, Danielle Bresnehan, Kristen Kelly, Maria Leaver, Martin Stalker, Sheree Vertigan, Bob Phillips, and the Lincoln Centre Study Group made up of the following 10 teachers of the arts, Janet Austin, Frank Bansel, Carolyn Cross, Karolyn Davidson, Rebecca Miller, Mark Prichard, Andrew Sweeney, Joanne Waldon, Katie Wightman and Tony Woodward.

Many of these recipients completed their fellowships this year, with others set to embark on their journey in Term 3 2006.

Thanks to the Playground Blitz initiative which provided the funding for the bikes, the students at Kingston High can now take part in the bike education program designed to develop their riding skills and understanding of road safety. Students can get active by riding during lunchtimes, on excursions to the bike track, on bike activity days and at school camps. The bikes will also be used to help promote cycling in the community with squads from Kingston High visiting other local schools and community groups.

The prefects developed an action plan, which they continued working on with the support of their school. They are now able to run the program and become leaders in the MindMatters Youth Empowerment program at Reece High School and other schools.