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- President Update
- Updated NTPA Exec team 2021
- TOP END Adventures of the Meerkats (TEAMs)
- 2020 School Leader Wellbeing Grant acquittal reminder
- Principal Day 2021- Save the date
- NTPA 2021 Membership
- Links to other Professional Learning Opportunities, Publications, and Professional Reading:
- Podcast Recommendation
The success of our schools is intrinsically linked to the flourishing state of our wellbeing. The Principal Health and Well-being Survey which has run nationally every year since 2011 continues to put the spotlight on the increasing stress and excessive workload school leaders are experiencing on a daily basis. As an NTPA executive we are advocating for our school leaders to improve this situation. It is important that we do what is within our control to prioritise our own wellbeing. The upcoming term break is a good opportunity to relax, rest and enjoy and re-charge your batteries for next term. It is important if you feel you need to that you take some rec leave.
There is a lot of research that highlights the positive benefits of laughter. In the week break I would like you to consider how you could prioritise some time for laughter:
Organise an activity this week that makes you smile and brings joy into your life.
- For example, surprise a colleague, friend or family with a thoughtful gesture, watch some humorous clips on Youtube throughout the week, arrange a trip to somewhere fun.
- Find an amusing story that you can share.
- Organise a ‘Joke of the day’ segment, a ‘Joke Telling’ session or competition.
“Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
William Jennings Bryan
Warm regards,
Britany Roestenburg
ph. 0409386744
President Email: ntpa.admin@education.nt.gov.au or ntpa.president@education.nt.gov.au
Welcome to Jane Arnott from Borroloola School who was elected Chair of the Katherine Chapter at their AGM in March.
Thank you to Jeff Parker for his time last year.
TOP END Adventures of the Meerkats (TEAMs)
At the first 2021 Top End Principal Collaborative Learning Day 5 Meerkats were given out as an incentive for participating in a learning experience. 4/5 Meerkats were won by Top End Remote Principals. To celebrate this the Superman and Crocodile Meerkat explored our beautiful Top End remote region.
The meerkats ventured into Arnhem Land. Arriving on Groote Eylandt they enjoyed visiting schools, meeting engaged learners, charter flights, and yummy local delights. Finishing off the tour with a beautiful sunset over the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Watch the video of their adventures below
2020 School Leader Wellbeing Grant acquittal reminder
School leaders are required to acquit expenditure of 2020 grant funds by 31 May 2021 using the following link:
If you are yet to spend your grant below are some ideas:
Alternatively NTPA partnered with BTS Spark and the following 2 courses are eligible to beused with the grant:
If you need assistance with understanding or identifying the types of wellbeing activities that would apply to this grant, please email wellbeinggrant.doe@nt.gov.au with your query.
Time to renew your membership for 2021.
Links to other Professional Learning Opportunities, Publications, and Professional Reading:
A special update on School Based Policing (SBP)
NTCOGSO has been continually advocating for the School Based Policing program to the Minister for Education, Minister for Police including media coverage across radio and television interviews with ABC Radio Darwin, Channel 9 & Mix 104.9.
We continue to call for the return of SBP Officers to be based at our ten middle schools and for an expansion of additional resources into those primary schools who have requested the program.
Background
School-Based Police are trusted adults, advisers and confidants for our children. The NT once led the way in crime prevention and positive relationship building between our young people, police, schools and communities.
NTCOGSO was successful in having the program returned to schools Term 4, 2018. As we know, in early 2020, the school based officers were removed and placed on border duties. Schools now find themselves back to the very beginning of advocating for the return of the policing program.
At the 2020 NT COGSO Annual Full Council Meeting, Schools requested and passed the following motion:
2.17 | School Based Police
“THAT NTCOGSO insist to the Northern Territory Government that it be a key stakeholder, in the collaboration of designing the service delivery framework between the Department of Education and the NT Police in regards to the School Based Policing Constable Model to:
- clearly define the program aim by the end of Term 4, 2020
- roles and responsibilities
- line management accountability
- key performance indicators and
- program evaluation requirements
Current situation
Four of the thirteen School-Based Police (SBP) have returned, with one School-Based Police Officer working across both Palmerston and Taminmin Colleges with more than 2,300 students. Previously there were four SBP Officers based at these two Colleges alone.
NTCOGSO has received advice from the Department of Education on the work they are undertaking with Police on aligning the program to the Australia Curriculum and developing a service delivery framework, in accordance with the recommendations of the ‘Report: School-Based Police Program Review May 2019’.
During the February 2021 Legislative Assembly Sittings, we were pleased to hear the Minister for Police, Nicole Manison, stress her commitment to the school-based policing program and its expansion, in addition to recognising “we need to have qualified Police Officers as they are very important”.
On the 26th March NTCOGSO wrote to the Minister for Police and Minister for Education, seeking their commitment for 13 officers to be embedded in NT middle school communities from the commencement of Term 2, 2021.
NTCOGSO if your voice for public education. If we can further support your school, please write to us at enquiries@ntcogso.org.au.
To view the full latest newsletter from NTCOGSO please click HERE
Helping young people take their next steps
Supporting school leavers to figure out their next steps after school is the National Careers Institute’s (NCI) SLIK, or School Leavers Information Kit and its dedicated contact centre, the School Leavers Information Service.
The SLIK
The SLIK has been especially developed to help school leavers with their education, training and work options. It provides:
- information and support to help with decisions about post-school career pathways
- information on work and education options such as university, vocational education and training (including apprenticeships and traineeships), volunteering and community service
- tips and resources to help apply for jobs, and
- resources outlining government financial support and subsidies available.
The SLIK is supported by a the Parents and Guardian’s Guide for School Leavers to help start careers conversations at home.
School Leavers Information Service
The School Leavers Information Service (the Service) is a contact centre where school leavers aged 15 to 24 can ask education, training or work-related questions they may have. Trained NCI Information Officers are on the line ready to help people to:
- navigate the SLIK
- access and use the yourcareer.gov.au website
- find relevant support services, if needed.
School leavers can also access a free, 45 minute personalised careers guidance session with a qualified career practitioner, where needed.
There are three ways young people can get in touch with the Service:
- Call: 1800 CAREER (1800 227 337)
- Text: SLIS2021 to 0429 009 435
- Email: schoolleavers.nci@dese.gov.au
If you know a young person who would benefit from the SLIK and the Service, link them to this video which provides a quick explanation.
For more information, including some great articles about different industries school leavers may like to consider, visit www.yourcareer.gov.au/schoolleaver.
Why get involved?
- Teach people about mental health: Each day, your students can learn about mental health with a statistic as they target a number of push-ups;
- Encourage connection: Students and teachers can track their push-ups through The Push-Up Challenge phone app or website, and are encouraged by their classroom’s, year level’s or school’s progress and achievements;
- Promote fitness: Push-ups can be done anywhere and anytime – in the classroom, on the oval, or at home;
- Make a difference: Fundraising is optional but a great opportunity to bring the community together and raise funds for youth mental health.
How do we get involved?
Your school can register for this free event now
Students will be challenged to complete 3,318 push-ups over 25 days in June. They can aim for this goal as an individual or as a team. This year, there’s an option for students to aim for 25%, 50%,75% or 100% of the push-up target instead. Exercise alternatives are also welcome.
You’ll be able to track your school’s success with a unique ‘Community’ webpage, showing the number of push-ups completed and funds raised. Last year, school communities came together as a whole, while others chose to challenge their classrooms and year levels to complete the push-ups.