Highly Qualified and Inspirational TeachersLindfield East School is lucky to have a team of highly qualified, motivated, inspirational teaching staff.This page highlights their achievements. |
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Ms Rixon, Mrs Wares & Mrs Myburgh complete their ‘Hub School' Peer Coach-ing Accreditation
Quality Teachers at LEPS
Year 6 LEPS teacher Miss Sarah Lyell was presented with a certificate and medal by Premier Mike Baird upon her successful completion of the 2016 'Beginning Teacher' induction course last week. Miss Lyell has been an outstanding acquisition for both Stage 3 and LEPS. In her first year of permanent teaching, Miss Lyell has significantly contributed to the new teachers' network, coordinated by retired principal Vicki Treble, across Northern Sydney Public Schools.
2016 Excellent Service to School Sport Award
The Excellent Service to School Sport Award recognises outstanding achievement by teachers and their contribution to student outcomes in sport in New South Wales Public Schools over an extended period of time. Mr Philip Tilsley has been acknowledged by the NSW Department of Education for his outstanding contribution to school sport at Lindfield East Public School. Mr Tilsley embodies all that sport stands for – individuals and teams enjoying fitness in a community environment. He has been involved as a long term sports organiser in public education, he has provided young people with support and encouragement to participate in all levels of sporting activity. Mr Tilsley has introduced a myriad of new sports to the school sport structure and has been an integral part of assisting students to achieve at the highest possible levels. Every year he delivers a comprehensive PE program to 770 K-6 students which has resulted in improved coordination and skill development of all students. Congratulations to our Mr T!
Professional Learning a priority at LEPS
LEPS is fortunate to have a multitude of highly skilled educators facilitating quality teaching and learning programs. To make sure that our teachers stay at the forefront of best practice in education and abreast of any changes, we have a constant program of teacher professional development. This last fortnight has seen professional development sessions in Mathematics, English and Future-focused education. In the Mathematics session, teachers deepened their knowledge of strategies to improve students' knowledge of fractions. The following week, teachers worked collaboratively to create and refine units of work based on English concepts. Three teachers also undertook a research tour for a day to observe how other schools are creating innovative and flexible learning spaces (please see page 3). In addition, several members of the Numeracy Committee attended a conference on Saturday. The theme of the conference, Show Me the Maths, aimed to promote the visualisation and representation of mathematics ideas and their crucial role in supporting students' learning of key concepts. Research indicates 75% of the fastest growing occupations require STEM but the number of students taking intermediate and advanced maths at secondary school has fallen by 34% over the last 18 years. Engaging students with inspirational and innovative mathematical ideas is vital to instilling a love of this subject.
Congratulations to Mrs Elliott and Mrs Nielsen on 29 years service to the Department.
Harvard Graduate School of Education - quality teacher professional development
As part of LEPS' commitment to ongoing professional development, four staff members have been participating in an action research project under the auspices of the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Teachers Michelle Schrieber, Lauren Mason, Pam Milthorpe and Rachel Watkins are involved in the ‘Visible Thinking – Building Understanding Through Critical and Creative Thinking' course online.
‘Visible Thinking' refers to the process of using a number of ‘thinking routines' – simple protocols for exploring ideas. ‘Visible Thinking' includes attention to four big categories of thinking – Understanding, Truth, Fairness and Creativity. Sometimes they are called ‘Thinking Ideals' because they are all ideal aspirations for good thinking and learning. Visible Thinking emphasizes several ways of making students' thinking visible to themselves and one another, so that they can improve it.
The group meets once a week to work collegially, planning lessons and assignments and reflecting on their learning. They are finding the course inspiring, useful and stimulating, and the children are responding very well to the routines, exhibiting greater depth to their responses during lessons and a real engagement with the ownership of their thinking and learning.
Gifted Education
In January Mrs Cheryl McNamara and Ms Susan Easey were given the opportunity to attend a Gifted Education Program run by GERRIC (Gifted Education Research Resource and Information Centre) at UNSW.
Gagne, one of the main exponents in this field designates giftedness as "the possession and use of untrained spontaneously expressed natural abilities (called attributes or gifts) in at least one ability domain, to a degree that places an individual at least among the top 10% of age peers". We discussed giftedness in academic, creative, physical and gender based terms. We recognised that emotional (overexcitability) development played a key role and discussed the advantages and disadvantages of perfectionism. It was a very intensive course but extremely illuminating and worthwhile. Ms Susan Easey
This introduction to gifted education was the first of four modules we will study over the course of 18 months. Future programs will focus on the identification of gifted students, curriculum development and programs to support the academic, social and emotional development of gifted students. As well as attending the professional learning at UNSW, I am also applying myself to a program of formal assessment and aim to complete the course with a Graduate Certificate in Gifted Education in 2014.
We appreciate the opportunity to have access to internationally acclaimed practitioners and the latest research about gifted education, to extend our knowledge in this field and further develop our teaching practices. Mrs Cheryl McNamara
LEPS Teachers Are Challenged!
The entire staff spent the School Development Day (aka Pupil Free Day) involved in a challenging team building event. This exciting professional learning opportunity pitted grade against grade in a problem solving scavenger hunt in the CBD.
The 'BeChallenged' facilitators did a great job in providing our teachers with such a motivational collegial event to start the year.
Another Gifted Education specialist on staff
Year 2 teacher, Miss Emily Hewitt became the 5th LEPS staff member to successfully complete the UNSW - GERRIC "Certificate of Gifted Education' over the past 4 years. Her post graduate accreditation came as a result of over 18 months of coursework and has been acknowledged with a ‘High Distinction'. Miss Hewitt and the other COGE trained teachers have continued to provide invaluable knowledge of best practice in GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) to all LEPS students, staff and parents in recent years.
Computer Specialist Teacher completes her Masters Degree
P&C funded LEPS Technology specialist, Mrs Cheryl Hill has been delivering innovative lessons to all of our students K - 6 over the past decade. Her portfolio of responsibilities extends to managing the school website, coordinating the student web design team, teaching creative workshop programs, social media support, slideshow presentations and teacher professional learning.
On 13 December, Mrs Hill will graduate with a distinction in her Master of ICT in Education course.
Congratulations!
Regional Director's Awards
On Tuesday 15th November 2011, Northern Sydney Region's annual awards night saw three LEPS teachers recognised with prestigious regional awards.
Mrs Samantha Tuckerman, Ms Michelle Marquet and Mrs Cheryl Hill were all recipients of the Regional Director's "Environmental Sustainability Education Award" for their dedication to the "Climate Clever" program.
Accreditation
LEPS classroom teacher Miss Emily Hewitt has just attained the NSW Institute of Teachers ‘Certificate of Professional Competence' and also her Teacher's Certificate. The accreditation is the result of Miss Hewitt providing evidence of competence across all seven elements outlined by the NSW Institute of Teachers. Accreditation is now a mandatory requirement to teach within the system.
We congratulate Miss Hewitt and wish her all the best in her teaching career!
Staff professional development
The staff of LEPS were engaged in a quality professional learning session on the first day of Term 3. The 5 Staff Development Days provided annually by the Education Department, are a integral part of planning and the up-skilling of teachers. This term, our development sessions focussed on the school targeted areas of Literacy and Numeracy. Assistant Principals, Mrs Zorian and Ms Desmond, along with parent and acclaimed author, Tony Davis delivered an insightful session on visual literacy. Mr Haworth and Ms Schrieber, who are currently undertaking their Gifted and Talented Education certification, provided knowledge and mechanisms to allow teachers to best cater for all learning levels in mathematics through curriculum differentiation. All staff also maintained their Anaphylaxis training via a Dept. of Health Services accredited workshop.
Drumming the beat
One of the LEPS targeted curriculum areas in 2011 is to improve student outcomes in Visual and Performing Arts. A major committee comprising of teachers across K - 6 are focussed on ensuring resources and teacher training are enabling quality learning programs to exist.
At Term 2's Staff Development Day, all teachers were inspired and up-skilled in percussion and drumming skills. Angela from DrumBeats, (a professional musician) gave an amazingly creative and interactive presentation. If your children start randomly tapping beats around the house, you know where it stemmed from!
Dramatic Library transformation
Mrs Pam Milthorpe, our LEPS Teacher/Librarian has overseen a dramatic transformation of the LEPS library in recent years. Whilst keeping pace with the paradigm shift of libraries incorporating increased technologies, Mrs Milthorpe has ensured that the provision of quality literature has been maintained for our students.
Mrs Milthorpe's extensive K—6 experience allows her to introduce and promote outstanding literature and also incorporate quality research skills that compliment classroom teaching programs. Her commitment to providing a dynamic and engaging learning centre has seen the upgrading of books and resources, vibrant displays, increased IT and a new foyer cabinet being installed. The cabinet pictured, will house an archival exhibit featuring digital images and items from LEPS past.
The Tooth Tally Project
The P&C funded specialist technology teacher, Cheryl Hill has had her fine work at LEPS featured in the North Shore Times newspaper on 16 February 2011. Mrs Hill is in her 4th year of coordinating the 270 international schools participating in a unique collaborative and technology based learning tool. The toothless smile of young Marcus Z, 1SE appeared in the newspaper article and highlights the project's aim to track, record and communicate the loss of baby teeth via a Wiki site.
Find out more about LEPS participation in the Tooth Tally Project by clicking here.
Gifted Education
In 2011, LEPS Year 1 teacher, Emily Hewitt becomes the 5th of our classroom teachers to undertake the Certificate of Gifted Education (COGE) at the UNSW. This school funded opportunity is an intensive training program. It is designed to equip our teachers with skills which will assist them to identify intellectually and academically gifted students in their schools, and develop curricula and programs through which these students may develop their potential more fully. Congratulations Emily!
ICT Teacher Awarded
Mrs Cheryl Hill as you might know is LEPS' specialist teacher when it comes to Information and Communication Technology Education. Mrs Hill has successfully led this years Gifted and Talented Stage 3 Technology Team in the state-wide Centre for Learning innovation Awards in the Web Design Awards category, achieving state finalist status.
What you don't know is that Mrs Hill is also currently undertaking a Graduate Diploma in Information and Communication Technology Education through Charles Sturt University. We are very proud of Mrs Hill's achievements in attaining a scholarship to the value of $1,520. She attended NSW Parliament House to receive this scholarship. Congratulations Mrs Hill!
Gifted Education
Ms Caroline Desmond and Mrs Belinda Zorian officially graduated with a Certificate in Gifted Education on Saturday 30 October 2010 at the UNSW.
Professor Miraca Gross the Director of GERRIC and Mr David Patterson the Chairman of COGE were present to bestow the honour upon two of our leading teachers. Both Ms Desmond and Mrs Zorian have used their advanced certification to ensure that LEPS is delivering an exemplary Gifted and Talented program. Their whole school structures are fast gaining recognition across the region. Both these Assistant Principals have focussed teachers on the identification of students and the differentiation of the curriculum to cater for them.
Mr Haworth and Miss Schrieber are also currently undertaking the COGE certification, both attaining ‘Distinctions' in their recent major assignments.