NSW Secondary Deputy Principals Association Inc.

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Workshop Session 1: Thursday 11.20 am - 12.20 pm

Professor Steve Dinham: "Being an Authoritative Leader"

In this session the desired type of leadership termed authoritative is contrasted with the types of uninvolved, authoritarian and permissive.

Participants are encouraged to reflect on their style of leadership and how it relates to the above.

The importance of adjusting one’s leadership style depending on context and conditions is also explored.

School Safety and Security Unit: "Exercise SATCHEL - Serious Incident Management"

Note: Exercise continues in Workshop Session 2

Exercise Satchel has been developed to support school principals and deputies in managing incidents involving violence, weapons, illegal drugs and other criminal activity. The simulation exercise uses video footage, email, etc relating to an ongoing incident in a fictional high school.

Participants make decisions to manage the situation as it unfolds throughout the school day. The decisions are then discussed and input is provided by DET and police officers from the Safety and Security Directorate.

DET policy and procedures will be highlighted as well as procedures for working with police.
The exercise will take the full 2-hours. Normally this exercise is a 3-hour presentation however it will be reduced to fit the time restrictions for the Conference.

Anna Morris and Trisha Ladogna (Child Wellbeing Unit): "Child Wellbeing, Making it Happen"

The implementation of the NSW Government Plan, Keep Them Safe: a shared approach to child wellbeing is having a significant positive impact on the lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and families in NSW. The Plan supports children earlier by improving services and building on the child protection system by strengthening universal, early intervention and community-based services.

The Department of Education and Training supports the key principles of Keep Them Safe, which include that ‘child protection is the collective responsibility of whole-of-government and the community’. A Child Wellbeing Unit has been established within Education and Training to assist and support schools to implement the changes arising from Keep Them Safe.

This workshop discusses the Child Wellbeing Unit’s role is supporting schools as vehicles for implementing the changed child protection and child wellbeing directions within their communities, to allow for earlier support to children and families in need of assistance, and so to support the learning and potential of each child. The presentation will include case examples from the Child Wellbeing Unit exemplifying the implementation of these changes and positive outcomes for children and families.

Lindy Taylor: "Leading others in changing times"

One of the greatest challenges for a school leader is managing people and supporting their executive leading change.

This is not a presentation, this is a hands on workshop which will involve:

• A fresh look at current change research
  
• Unpacking what happens in a real school change situation
  
• Investigation of a range of strategies that work in supporting head teachers in implementing change

Materials shared and developed during the workshop will be collated and sent to participants after the conference.

Sabreena Taylor and Julie Dupuche (NSR QT&DER consultants): "Time saving tools for DPs: Creating and converting interactive forms with Acrobat Pro 9 and Web 2.0 tools"

This is a very practical workshop where we will demonstrate how to create new forms that can be interactive, tracked and the information collated – automatically. You will also learn how to convert existing forms.

We will also showcase some of the best Web 2.0 tools for saving time with administrative tasks.
Bring along a laptop with Adobe Acrobat Pro 9 Extended on it and a Word version of a form or document that you would like to be able to track and collate the responses.

David Smith (Head Teacher Administration at Cherrybrook Technology High School) and Brett Clements (Principal of Gibberagong Environmental Education Centre): "Starting Sustainability in the Secondary School"

The aim of the presentation is to provide Secondary Deputy Principals with an overview of the current situation with regards to sustainability in schools followed by a look at some of the sustainability programs underway at Cherrybrook Technology High School.

David Smith will commence the presentation with an examination of the major activities occurring within the NSW Department of Education in the Year of Learning for Sustainability. This will include updates on the Environmental Education Policy and the new waste contract.

Brett Clements will then provide a detailed look at the current situation at Cherrybrook High School and an overview of the schools journey towards sustainability, including helpful hints and pitfalls to be aware of for schools willing to follow a similar path.

Chris Cooper (Edval Timetables): "Timetabling, staffing and electives: New methods, new technology."

Very different approaches to traditional problems of timetabling and staffing result in better educational outcomes, less time & effort, and also reduce the real costs of staffing classes.

• Balance class sizes automatically, even across elective lines
  
• Collapse classes, even across elective lines
  
• New concept of weighted “Subject interest” as the key metric in determining number of or which elective line classes to run in each subject – not raw subject preferences.
  
• Student priority based elective preferences with multiple reserves, to provide significant improvement in subject satisfaction rates, or reduced staffing costs. Subject re-counselling not required. Method means ZERO students need to reselect missed subject preferences.
  
• New concept of shuffling students into classes based on late submissions or subject changes: Replaces old method of manual class list changes, being easier & better quality.
  
• Class list auto-assignment assistance, based on balancing class size & gender, but also student social links. Examples include visibility of mischievous or virtuous student pairs.
  
• New concept of “merge class” prompted covers: Save on casual teacher cover expenses (One small school saved $8500 on their casual budget last year alone using this feature)
  
• New method of Exception based study classes leads to fully automatic and highly accurate study class lists per period.
  
• Resource set timetabling approach. Captures knowledge, facilitates visibility & automation.

Replace old method of “staff to the grid” with staff preferences being expressed without the traditional timetable grid restrictions. Increase in staffing quality with chaotic grid generation.

Michael Cham (Ontrack): "Assisting Schools in Making it Happen– Supporting schools in effectively transitioning at risk and students with learning support needs into meaningful post-school vocational options"

Enlightening schools on how government funded private providers such as Ontrack Employment can work together with schools to provide employment /transition opportunities and life skills for at risk students and students with learning support needs.

• Ontrack works collaboratively with schools to make students more vocationally aware and employable through initiatives such as their “Job Club Program”. The program can be delivered on or off site and consists of different modules of work such as; developing interview skills, presentation skills, resume building, marketing , budgeting and applying for motor vehicle and other licences. All modules contain those vital ingredients necessary in becoming more employable.
  
• Job placement of students into a variety of jobs through our marketing team. Ontrack’s main focus is to assist in transitioning students into worthwhile career pathways. We possess our own trained assessment teams qualified in ascertaining those strengths, abilities and some cases barriers that are intrinsic in defining meaningful and relevant career choices for students.
  
• Ontrack’s specialisation is in Apprenticeships and Traineeships. We are equipped in managing the entire process from job matching to placement to the final stage of sign up . Tafe enrolments, training assistance, incentives and fee exemptions are all handled by our experienced staff to make the process as less confusing and anxious as possible for all parties concerned. Over 20 years Ontrack has been very successful in this area, leading the nation amongst providers in the placement of Apprenticeships and Traineeships. Added to this we provide information to schools in market trends and changes to government regulations.
  
• Ontrack is equipped to provide on the job training and support for our clients along with individual case management. We are able to work collaboratively with employers, closely monitoring the progress of our clients and effectively dealing with first hand issues which may jeopardise a job or hinder progress. Ontrack can maintain direct support for up to 18 months if needed.

Page last updated July 2010