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Archive for February 2013

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METRO BUS DISPUTE
Three bus strikes next week
ABC News, 1 Mar 2013
Metro busesMetro bus drivers are warning of strikes on three days next week.
The union is quoted as saying the strikes are on "Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday" but an earlier ABC report and the Mercury's 2 March report say "Tuesday, Thursday and Friday".
...

Bullet Driving hard bargain, The Mercury, 2 Mar 2013
Bullet Dispute set to escalate, The Examiner, 2 Mar 2013

Prime Minister Julia GillardTASMANIAN SCHOOLS
PM sees Dunalley miracle
The Mercury, 1 Mar 2013
The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, visited the temporary Dunalley Primary School today, calling the rebuilt school a "miracle"...

METRO BUS DISPUTE
Chaos fizzer
ABC Radio, 9am 1 Mar 2013
Metro busesPredicted traffic congestion failed to occur this morning, some people reporting the best driving conditions all week.

METRO BUS DISPUTE
Tuesday bus stoppage details
Metro website, 28 Feb 2013
Metro busesMetro bus services will be disrupted between 4pm and 9pm on Tuesday next week. See the Metro statement issued late today...

METRO BUS DISPUTE
Worst traffic ever on Friday
ABC News, 28 Feb 2013
Metro busesPolice will be out in force during the very heavy traffic predicted for tomorrow, Friday 1 March..
Bullet City braces for traffic snarls, The Mercury, 1 Mar 2013
Bullet Bus chaos, The Examiner, 1 Mar 2013

GONSKI REVIEW
Gonski education fundingNo stoush here
The Examiner, 28 Feb 2013
Unlike certain other states, Tasmania does not have a disagreement with Prime Minister Julia Gillard over the federal government's Gonski funding proposals, the Premier, Lara Giddings, says...

METRO BUS DISPUTE
Metro busesSchool buses to be hit
The Mercury, 28 Feb 2013
Friday's bus strike will cause parents to be inconvenienced and students to miss school...

TASMANIAN TIGER
The thylacine lives!
28 Feb 2013
Thylacine (picture: rainforestinfo.org.au)The large number of relatively recent credible sightings of the Tasmanian tiger, as evidenced by listeners phoning in to ABC Radio yesterday afternoon, leaves no doubt that the thylacine is about to make a comeback.
This development comes as an exhibition on the search for the tiger is about to be opened in the State Library building in Hobart (dates: 1 Mar - 1 Jun)...

Bullet Like something which I've never seen, Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts

Industrial actionMETRO BUS DISPUTE
Bus dispute to escalate?
ABC News, 27 Feb 2013
Metro bus drivers are vowing to walk off the job on Tuesday next week (5 March), in addition to Friday morning, if their demands are not met...
Information for Parents, Department of Education [pdf]
See Metro Tas website for details of effects on services in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie
Catholic Education message

METRO BUS DISPUTE
Metro busesSchool safety fear
The Examiner, 27 Feb 2013
More parents driving children to school as a result of tomorrow's bus strike will mean an unsafe environment around schools, the Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations says...
Bullet Bus chaos looms, ABC News, 27 Feb 2013

STUDENT HEALTH AND NUTRITION
Move Well, Eat Well
Tas Govt media release, 26 Feb 2013
A federal/state program to help young children develop healthy eating and physical activity was launched today...
Bullet Move Well Eat Well website

Industrial actionMETRO BUS DISPUTE
Metro bus stoppage this Friday MORNING
Metro Tas website, 25 Feb 2013
Metro bus services will stop this Friday morning, 1 March, resuming at approximately 11.00am, a Metro statement says...
Metro busesBullet The Mercury, 26 Feb 2013
Bullet ABC News, 26 Feb 2013

GONSKI REFORMS
PM's reading blitz
ABC News, 24 Feb 2013
Gonski education fundingPrime Minister Julia Gillard is attempting to make the states agree on an intensive three-year reading program in schools in return for the benefits of Gonski funding...
Bullet Herald Sun, 24 Feb 2013

METRO BUS DISPUTE
Industrial actionSchool bus threat for Friday next week
ABC News, 21 Feb 2013

(See update, 25 Feb 2013, above)
Metro buses
Metro bus drivers have threatened to strike during the busy 2-5pm time slot on Friday next week, a time which would affect Metro school bus services...

GOODS DELIVERY
Road Runners in administration
The Examiner, 21 Feb 2013
Tasmanian courier service Road Runners is in voluntary administration...
Bullet Buyer found, ABC News, 22 Feb 2013

AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM
Healthy food in new curriculum
Daily Telegraph, 20 Feb 2013
Australian CurriculumPreparing healthy meals, growing vegetable gardens and considering the environmental impact of farming are covered by the Foundation to Year 10 draft technology curriculum...
Bullet ACARA Draft Australian Curriculum Technologies Foundation to Year 10 - Information sheet [pdf]

STUDENT HEALTH
Obesity worse for boys
news.com.au, 20 Feb 2013
Obese boys suffer more than obese girls, an Australian study shows...

Industrial actionMetro buses to stop today (Thurs)
ABC Radio, 20 Feb 2013 5.52pm
Metro drivers will go ahead with their planned statewide stoppage on Thursday 21 February.
Metro busesNormal Metro bus services will run till 10am, then resume at 2pm.
School bus services will not be affected.
Bullet Metro statement, 20 Feb 2013
Bullet Metro services affected on Thu 21 Feb

STUDENT HEALTH
New dietary guidelines
ABC News, 19 Feb 2013
Revised dietary guidelines from the National Health and Medical Research Council promote healthy weight and healthy growth in children...
Bullet NHMRC Australian Dietary Guidelines (2013)

AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM
Draft technology curriculum now out
The Australian, 19 Feb 2013
Australian CurriculumA draft technology curriculum paper has been release for discussion by the federal Schools Minister, Peter Garrett...
Bullet Media release, Peter Garrett, 19 Feb 2013
Bullet ACARA Draft Australian Curriculum Technologies Foundation to Year 10 - Information sheet [pdf]

Road safetyROAD SAFETY
Slippery roads today (Tuesday)
BoM website, 19 Feb 2013
With today's predicted rain following an extended dry period, drivers are warned that roads are expected to be particularly slippery in the morning.
Bullet Current road weather alert web page (Bureau of Meteorology)

YOUTH AFFAIRS
National Youth WeekNational Youth Week looms
Tas Govt media release, 18 Feb 2013
Tasmania's National Youth Week will run from Friday 5 to Sunday 14 April and will be launched at the Bellerive Boardwalk Youth Festival...
Bullet National Youth Week

STUDENT SUPPORT
New South WalesBoost for gifted kinders
SMH, 17 Feb 2013
Gifted and talented NSW kindergarten children are to be identified and have their programs specially tailored...

SHARK EDUCATION
Shark (Photo supplied to Perth Now)Sharks not that bad
Perth Now, 16 Feb 2013
WA schools will be offered shark education lessons to counter the negative publicity about sharks...

STUDENT HEALTH
Vaccinations for boys
The Examiner, 16 Feb 2013
A school program will deliver three vaccinations of Gardasil to boys to protect them against cancers and disease caused by the HPV virus (human papillomavirus). Girls already receive the vaccine ...
Bullet Media release from Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for Health, 15 Feb 2013

TEACHING PROFESSION
USATeacher shaped hand like gun
Mail Online, 14 Feb 2013
A teacher has been suspended after shaping his hand like a gun and saying "Bang! You're dead" during a game to teach first-graders about the Connecticut shooting incident. His students were offered counselling...

STUDENT SUPPORT
New South WalesHSC special assistance urged
SMH, 16 Feb 2013
Government schools in NSW have been urged to make more use of special assistance provisions for HSC candidates, after the Ombudsman found non-government schools were using such provisions to a greater extent...

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Dunalley Primary SchoolPermanent Dunalley school yet to be planned
ABC News, 15 Feb 2013
It could be a couple of years before Dunalley students have permanent buildings for their school, Premier Lara Giddings said...
Bullet Premier tours Dunalley school, Tas Govt media release, 15 Feb 2013

EDUC ATION POLICY
$40m fund will help kick-start Year 12 policy
The Mercury, 15 Feb 2013
Will Hodgman, Oppositioon leaderA $40 million funding kick-start would help the Tasmanian Liberals implement their policy to extend high schools to Year 12, Opposition leader Will Hodgman said yesterday in announcing 89 policies ...
Bullet Libs launch plan, Will Hodgman website, 14 Feb 2013
Bullet Speech [pdf],14 Feb 2013
Bullet Change for a brighter future (Liberal Policy Initiatives) [pdf], 14 Feb 2013
Bullet Hollow promises, Tas Govt media release, 15 Feb 2013

 

VirusSTUDENT AND TEACHER HEALTH
Deadly SARS-like virus emerges
The Independent, 13 Feb 2013
A potentially fatal virus related to SARS has appeared in the UK, apparently having originated in the Middle East...

TEACHING PROFESSION
Teacher lassoed student
USAwfaa.com, 13 Feb 2013
A US history teacher was suspended after he lassoed a grade 7 student in the course of teaching about cowboys...

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Northern TasmaniaFrom Waverley to Grammar
The Examiner, 13 Feb 2013
The new junior campus head of Launceston Church Grammar School is former Waverley Primary principal Jane King ...

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Southern TasmaniaDunalley re-opens
ABC News, 13 Feb 2013
Students begin using the temporary classrooms at Dunalley Primary School today...
Bullet The Mercury, 13 Feb 2013
Bullet The Mercury, 15 Feb 2013

STUDENT NUMBERS
Fewer students
SMH, 12 Feb 2013
The number of students in Tasmania fell from the year 2011 to 2012, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show.
In NSW a shift from government to private schools has been attributed to recovery from the GFC...

COMPUTER USE
Google bug lists porn sites
SMH, 12 Feb 2013
GoogleGoogle is trying to fix a search bug that sometimes lists porn sites for certain patterns in searches, although it is unlikely people would actually attempt the contradictory searches...

BUSHFIRES AND SCHOOLS
Molesworth and Collinsvale reopen
Tas Govt media release, 11 Feb 2013
Collinsvale and Molesworth primary schools are to reopen on Tuesday 12 February. School buses will also return to normal...

STUDENT ABSENCES
Truancy fines disastrous
The Examiner, 11 Feb 2013
Following a Victorian proposal to fine the parents of truanting students would be disastrous for single parent families, some of whom have to resort to using the eldest child for babysitting, Tony Reidy of TasCOSS says...

AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM
Australian CurriculumCultural wellbeing of Australia at stake
SMH, 10 Feb 2013
The draft arts curriculum has met with criticism from teachers, especially in relation to visual arts...

BUSHFIRES AND SCHOOLS
These schools are OPEN
ABC Radio, 7.20am 8 Feb 2013
The Education Department says the primary school at Franklin and the high school at Geeveston are OPEN today, Friday 8 February.
(There is a bushfire in the Franklin area.)

BUSHFIRES AND SCHOOLS
Sacred Heart Primary closed on Friday

ABC Radio, 8.15pm 7 Feb, updated 7.30am 8 Feb 2013. Sacred Heart Catholic School website
Sacred Heart Catholic School
at Geeveston will be closed on Friday 8 February as a result of a local bushfire. There are no alternative arrangements for students.

BUSHFIRES AND SCHOOLS
Schools remain closed
Tas Govt media release, 7 Feb 2013
Collinsvale Primary
and Molesworth Primary will remain closed on Friday 8 February due to the  bushfire threat.
Bullet For details see the statement from DoE Deputy Secretary Andrew Finch.

STUDENT HEALTH
Free health checks for young children
Tas Govt media release, 7 Feb 2013
Free health checks for very young children are being provided by the state government...
Bullet Low uptake, The Examiner, 9 Feb 2013

Northern TasmaniaTASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Support for Legana to have first K-12 school
The Examiner, 7 Feb 2013
A push to make the proposed school in Legana a purpose-built K-12 school has been dismissed by the Department of Education...

FINANCIAL LITERACY
Special high school finance lessons begin
SMH, 5 Feb 2013
Mobile phone plans and a focus on "invisible money" are among the components of the new financial literacy program now being trialled in some high schools...

BUSHFIRES AND SCHOOLS
Schools closed due to bushfire danger
Tas Govt media release, 6 Feb 2013
Collinsvale Primary and Molesworth Primary will be closed on Thursday 7 February due to the local bushfire.
Bullet For details see the statement from DoE Deputy Secretary Andrew Finch.

TASMANIAN BUSHFIRES
BTN segment features Dunalley fires
ABC - Behind the News, 5 Feb 2013
Behind the NewsThis ABC Behind the News segment on the Dunalley fires and the rebuilding of Dunalley Primary makes extensive use of student-produced videos, and could well be the best report on the fire damage that has been on television..
.

FREEBIES
Free bus travel galore
Tas Govt media release, 6 Feb 2013
Metro busMetro buses will be free this weekend, as well as on Monday for southern Tasmania.
This will encourage people to participate in major events such as the Hobart Regatta, Launceston Festivale and Red Hot Summer Tour in Hobart and Launceston..
.

Bullet Metro fare-free weekend web page

STUDENT SAFETY
Students lose fingers in tug-of-war
Huffington Post, 5 Feb 2013
SafetyTwo students lost fingers when the rope snapped in an American school's tug-of-war competition. A review of safety policies is underway..
.

STUDENT HEALTH
Birthday cake, sandpit fears
Herald Sun, 6 Feb 2013
Children should wash their hands using alcohol sanitiser before and after playing in the sandpit, and should not blow out candles on birthday cakes, under new National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines..
.

SCHOOL ZONE ROAD SAFETY
School zone safetyCrossing danger continues
The Mercury, 6 Feb 2013
A school crossing area in Bridgewater is still dangerous, parents say..
.

UNDERSTANDING THE LAW
Tas law handbook now online - free
Tas Govt media release, 5 Feb 2013
Hobart Community Legal ServiceA free online version of the 4th edition of the Hobart Community Legal Service's Tasmanian Law Handbook was launched by Attorney-General Brian Wightman today..
.

Bullet Tasmanian Law Handbook website

 

FOUR-TERM YEAR
Four-term year begins
Tas Govt media release, 5 Feb 2013
More than 62,000 government school students commenced a school year of four terms today..
.

Bullet ABC News, 5 Feb 2013

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Dunalley Primary SchoolDunalley delay for students
Tas Govt media release, 31 Jan 2013, updated 5 Feb 2013
Although Dunalley Primary School teachers will return as planned on Monday 4 February the students will now return for classes during the following week - but Prep to Grade 6 will have local excursions on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 February..
.

Bullet Details on New Dunalley School website

FOUR-TERM YEAR
Four-term excitement builds
The Examiner, 4 Feb 2013
Students and teachers experience the school year split into four terms for the first time tomorrow..
.

Pontville Detention Centre (photo source: modified from abc.net.au)DETENTION CAMP CHILDREN
School for young detainees
The Mercury, 4 Feb 2013
The children being held at the Pontville Detention Centre will soon attend Tasmanians schools and the Polytechnic, education minister Nick McKim says..
.

STUDENT SUPPORT
Illness delays TCE
The Examiner, 3 Feb 2013
A Newstead College student with a brain tumour who had to pull out of Year 11 after three months has found she needs to stay till Year 13 if she wants her TCE   ..
.

LaptopCOMPUTERS IN SCHOOLS
Laptop chaos looms
SMH, 3 Feb 2013
The end of the federal government's special funding of school computers means new expenses for parents and a raft of problems for schools..
.

TASMANIAN SCHOOLS
Northern TasmaniaPort Sorell school designed for the future
The Examiner, 3 Feb 2013
The design of the new Port Sorell Primary School promotes multi-functional use and a move towards collaborative teaching and learning..
.

Catholic schoolsSTUDENT NUMBERS
More in Catholic schools
The Mercury, 3 Feb 2013
There are now slightly more students in Catholic schools in Tasmania..
.

MARKETING EDUCATION
Education minister Nick McKim welcomes a group of students from BrazilBrazilian students welcomed
Tas Govt media release, 2 Feb 2013
Almost 50 Brazilian students aged 16 to 18 years will be studying in Tasmanian senior secondary colleges during Terms 1 and 2 this year..
.

Bullet The Mercury, 3 Feb 2013

BULLYING
Anti-bullying competition closes soon
Aust Govt media release, 1 Feb 2013
BullyingFederal Minister for School Education Peter Garrett has reminded schools they have only until 1 March to get their entries in to the Safe Schools are Smart Schools competition..
.

Bullet Enter the Safe Schools are Smart Schools competition by Fri 1 March
Bullet Register for the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence by Fri 15 March

GONSKI EDUCATION FUNDING
Gonski darkness continues
SMH, 1 Feb 2013
Gonski education fundingState education ministers are complaining they still do not know the federal government's Gonski funding plans, but Schools Minister Peter Garrett says the model will not be finalised until the end of February - and he warns that to receive the funding states will have to provide better information about school performance..
.

Bullet More transparency agreed, Peter Garrett, Schools Education Minister, 1 Feb 2013

REPORT ON GOVERNMENT SERVICES
Year 12 completion of 43pc too low
Michael Ferguson website, 1 Feb 2013
A Year 12 completion rate of 43 per cent, as revealed in the 2013 Report on Government Services, is alarming and indicates the Liberals' policy of extending high schools to Year 12 is justified, Opposition education spokesperson Michael Ferguson says..
.

Bullet State of our State revealed, The Mercury, 1 Feb 2013


 

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