8 August 2024

Zart Art

It’s that time of year again! As we gear up for Back-to-School 2025, Zart is excited to offer you the best in classroom essentials.

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President’s Report

Welcome back for the start of term 3 and for those that have enjoyed a two week break, we hope that you have returned feeling rested and rejuvenated for the term ahead.

Australian Principals Day

There is no clever coffee mug, witty fridge magnet or ‘heartstrings’ Hallmark card that truly captures the essence of a school principal. I think that the impact of the principalship is even more profound in close knit communities and education systems like Tasmania, where we often have the pleasure to follow the journey of the young people in our care, long after they finish grade 6. Last week, a principal of a year 12 shared of a student that was previously in a primary school they were principal of. Ironically, they crossed paths again and with the student completing their TCE this year, knowing the principals genuine care and interest, they shared with immense excitement that their dream of stepping in to maths teaching next year was looking like a reality. Whether it’s a handwritten card from a year one, a smile of thanks from a year 6, or a young adult going out of their way to say hi and share their good news because they remember you care, we’d all have plenty of moments like these that really fill our cup, and remind us of the joy that we can draw from these connections in what really is one of the best professions.

Whilst we marked Australian Primary Principal’s Day, it’s a perfect opportunity to acknowledge and show gratitude for the role that ALL of our school leaders play in communities around Tasmania.

On behalf of our state exec, thank you for the work that you do, the connections you foster, and your commitment to public education and the profession in our state.

Better & Fairer Schools Agreement

There has been considerable activity in the national media in past weeks with the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement released by the Federal Education Minister Jason Clare. The signing of this agreement is absolutely vital for every student, school, staff member and school leader in this state. It is now 12 years since Gonski delivered his report highlighting decades of underfunding of public schools. The Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) was developed by the Gonski panel as a minimum funding standard for every school, yet less than two percent of students attending government schools in this country are funded at this level.

If we have a situation where we reach the end of the year without the Agreement being signed, it would be a tragedy for our public education system and potentially enshrine schooling segregation in Tasmania for another generation. The Federal Government needs to show leadership in this space to ensure Tasmania and the nation's public school students are properly resourced. It’s important that school leaders continue the conversations in these next few vital weeks in order to have this agreement signed and our schools funded at 100% of the SRS. 

We encourage you to read and share the below articles from our two National Association Presidents.

Parliamentary Inquiry into Discrimination & Bullying and the Tasmanian Education System

Thank you for our members that have asked questions and engaged in the process to date. The Association will be collating member responses to the survey in readiness for a TPA submission which closes this Friday, August the 9^th

Kelly Dyer (Sorell School) and I met with the independent chair Vicki Baylis in the first week of term as part of an initial round of consultation to discuss the Terms of Reference of the broader inquiry.

Critical Incidents Research Project

This has been well supported by members and by the DECYP, with a number of briefings provided to Departmental staff interested in knowing more about the project. Stage three of the project involves individual or small group focus group interviews, with the opportunity to do these online. If you were unable to make the sessions in week one at Montrose Bay or Launceston College please make contact with the ACU research team.

Welcome to New Sponsor

We are absolutely delighted to announce that Hart Sport are joining our Association as a sponsor. Hart are synonymous with Australian schools with their products kicked, thrown, climbed over and under and keeping kids safe in PE lessons and playgrounds for more than 30 years. We look forward to providing opportunities for our members and the Hart staff to connect across the coming months.

School Visits

Thank you to the leadership teams at Molesworth Primary, Collinsvale Primary, Burnie High, Launceston College, Bridport Primary, Winnaleah District School & Ringarooma Primary Schools for making time for school visits recently, they are always a highlight for us.

Welcome to New Members

A warm welcome to our new members who have joined our association in recent weeks. We look forward to your engagement with your Association for many years to come!

• Heather Parker – Devonport Primary
• Jenni Maartensz – Havenview Primary
• Kate Hume – Kings Meadows High
• Karen Richardson – Sprent Primary
• Leesa Petit – Jordan River Senior School

TPA Elections

The elections of 3 members of the Executive will be conducted by the Association's Business Manager in accordance with the Constitution of the Tasmanian Principals Association.

The positions, each for a two-year term of office commencing 1 January 2025, are:

• President
• Vice President Primary
• Vice President

Nominations Invited 

Nominations are invited from all eligible members and must be lodged (posted or emailed) so to be received by the Returning Officer before 12 noon on 26 August 2024.

Nomination forms are available from the Tasmanian Principals Association (see contact details below).

As part of the nomination process, candidates may provide a written statement (300 words maximum) in support of their nomination. This will accompany the ballot papers sent to electors. If word count is more than 300 words, the Returning Officer will return the statement to the candidate and request that they edit it to under 300 words, providing a time frame for this to be completed and returned.

If only one nomination is received for a vacant position, that person will be declared elected unopposed. If more than one nomination is received, a ballot will be required.

Election Timetable

Nominations open at 9 am Wednesday 24 July 2024

Nominations close at 12 Noon Monday 26 August 2024

Ballot papers distributed (if a ballot is required) on Tuesday 27 August 2024

Close of ballot at 10 am Tuesday 10 September 2024

Scrutiny & declaration of the ballot (after the close of ballot 10 am) on Tuesday 10 September 2024

For more information and nomination forms visit TPA Election

TPA/TSAA Collaboration

Our first TPA and TSAA breakfast sessions were held this week at Ulverstone Secondary College (Tuesday 6 August), and Launceston College (Wednesday 7 August) and The Old Woolstore on (Thursday 8 August). These provided the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and contribute to collaborative actions following the recent TPA/TSAA Survey conducted in term one. The survey was completed by more than 140 individuals with the information carefully reviewed and then summarised with the intent to bring the consistent themes to the attention of the DECYP Executive from a proactive and solutions-focused position.

We appreciate the ongoing support of the Australian School Canteen Association (ASCA), who support both association's conferences. Thank you to David Edwards, CEO and Kerry-Danks Guy, National Sales Manager for their presentation.

• ASCA is a not-for-profit member association with approximately 6,700 schools in Australia, including over 200 in Tasmania. 
• Over the last 20 years, ASCA has contributed more than $11 million to charities focused on the education of vulnerable children. 
• ASCA has introduced a staff benefits program that allows staff and volunteers to access substantial discounts from various suppliers. 
• For further information contact Kerry  kerryd@asca.com.au

26Ten

Ensure your colleagues are familiar with the 26Ten Chat

Explore the Tutor Adult Literacy Learners TasTAFE course 

• free for Tasmanians to enrol – please disregard the tuition fee.

TPA Sponsors

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