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April - June 2006
Networks and Associations
SAMYP Coordinator’s Group 2006
The South Australian IBMYP coordinators have continued to meet once per term with meetings and chair conducted on a rotational basis at participating schools. The group embraces Catholic, Independent and State school coordinators and provides a forum for discussion and an avenue of providing Professional Development for teachers.
On 9 March an Induction Day for newly appointed MYP teachers was conducted at Glenunga International High School. The format of the day was an Overview of the IB, the underlying principles of the MYP, including the significance of the Areas of Interaction, and then teachers were able to work in small subject specific groups. This was well attended with over ninety teachers participating with input from eleven presenters.
In May two evening Professional development sessions, from 4.30 - 8.00pm, focusing on sharing good practice, will be held at Blackwood High School. These sessions are subject specific and prove extremely valuable as they develop clear understanding and networks for each subject. The offerings are in Humanities, Mathematics, Language A, Health and Physical Education and Visual Arts.
Further sessions following this format will be held in Term 3.
Spotlight Seminars are planned to occur in Week 5 of each term. The next Spotlight Seminar is focussing on “Planning an Interdisciplinary Unit with a focus on the Area of Interactions”. This will be held at GIHS on 1 June.
Chris Rebbeck
Blackwood High School
Secretary, SAMYP
Library Information Specialists (LIS)
Committee update
The IB Asia-Pacific LIS committee would like to thank two committee members who have contributed over the last eight months. Sue Bonifant from Somerset College, Mudgeeraba, Queensland, Australia has left the committee due to other commitments. Sara Stubbins is leaving us and we wish her well at her new school in Khartoum.
Helena Trevor, a committee member from Sekolah Global Jaya, Indonesia is moving to Western Academy of Beijing, Beijing, China and will become our China representative and replace Sara Stubbins.
Welcome to a new committee member from Indonesia, Hannah Latuputty who is replacing Helena Trevor and will represent Indonesia.
We have a vacancy for a member from the Indian region and welcome interested persons to contact us.
The committee has been discussing and evaluating constitutions this year and has been finalising the constitution for approval by the Regional Director. Some members have been active on the OCC and I would encourage everyone to log on and participate.
Thanks to the committee
I would like to thank the committee members Yvonne Barrett (Singapore), Anthony Tilke (Japan), Helena Trevor (Indonesia), Marie Turnbull (Australia) and Sara Stubbins (China) for their input to discussions on the OCC and continued support of IB Asia-Pacific LIS.
Regional group reports
Regional groups within areas across Asia Pacific continue to meet and hold worthwhile discussions. We would welcome their input in the quarterly newsletter. These reports can be sent to Jane Viner at vinermj@mlc.vic.edu.au
Australia - New South Wales - Sydney - Diploma program Inaugural meeting
IB Network Sydney Chapter had its inaugural meeting on 5 April at Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College. Issues discussed included providing students with the research support they need to complete the Extended Essay in the Diploma program. Each school discussed the different ways they supported their students. This was a very practical session that was helpful to schools already involved in IB and those about to embark on the program.
IB is growing in Sydney and we envisage that this group will also grow. The next meeting is planned for August, 2006. Stacey Taylor May 2006
Australia - Victoria - PYP meeting
The PYP network in Victoria met on 5 April 2006 at Geelong Grammar and were welcomed by Fiona Zinn, PYP Co-ordinator who explained that Geelong Grammar School is committed to sharing facilities with the library network. Nicole Ginnane, Toorak College, Mt Eliza with Kaye Hunter, St. Leonard's College a co-facilitator who has recently retired has been instrumental in continuing this enthusiastic group of PYP teacher librarians. A big thank you to Kaye for her input. Two new co-facilitators for 2006 who volunteered their assistance are Jenny Hodges from St. Margaret's School and Helen Taylor, Geelong Grammar, Glamorgan Campus. A presentation by Kate Sheppard from Austral Ed, located in South Australia, presented recommended books to the group that connect with the attitudes, Learner Profile and the concept of Internationalism. Adapted from minutes by Nicole Ginnane April 2006
Interested teacher librarians and library staff can contact us via email and we will ensure they are forwarded to the relevant committee member or contact person. Looking forward to hearing from you either by email or on the OCC.
Jane Viner
Chairperson IB Asia-Pacific LIS
Australasian IB Schools Conference
The AAIBS Conference will be held in Gold Coast, Australia from 1 – 3 July 2006 and the theme is “Internationalism in National Schools”. For more information, please click here
News from Networks and Associations
We would like to receive more regular updates from networks and associations across the region. Please email your article and photographs to ibap@ibo.org.
Networks and Associations in the region
AAIBS
The AAIBS was established specifically to assist schools in Australasia, providing a network of professional support, information and service. The AAIBS has information on entrance requirements for universities throughout the region.
AAIBS Conference
The upcoming AAIBS conference will be held at Somerset College on the Gold Coast in July. Please click here for registration information.
Contact info@aaibs.org.
SAIBSA
SAIBSA members are authorized or implementing schools and its education practicioners. SAIBSA aims to facilitate communication with authorized and implementing IB schools in the South Asia sub-region and with the South Asia sub-regional office.
http://saibsa.org/universities.htm
AIBSIJK
The AIBSIJK started by the heads and coordinators of the Diploma programmes meets twice a year. The September meeting is an AGM for heads and co-ordinators of all three programmes of IB World Schools. The May meeting attended by DP coordinators is devoted to discussions pertaining to the Diploma examinations.
Contact kbaker@sfs.or.kr or jswitzer@sfs.or.kr.