Category Archives: Other

The Smithsonian Institute . . . an enormous museum


The Smithsonian Museum is one big museum. It extends for blocks along the Mall in Washington, that is, it is over 2 kms from beginning to end.

The Museum is actually made up of 19 museums and each of these is focussed on aspects of man’s world. As we walked along the Mall we found eight.

They were:

  • National Museum of the American Indian
  • Air and Space Museum
  • Museum Of Natural History
  • Museum of American History
  • Museum of African Art
  • African-American History and Culture
  • National Gallery of Art
  • Museum of Modern Art

Each of these museums is about twice the size of our Australian Museum in Sydney.

 

Mrs P and Mrs D in Washington Learning . . .

Mrs Pericles and Mrs Dyer are in Washington DC. They are attending NECC 2009 the biggest Technology Conference in the world. Not only are they looking at all sorts of new technology they are also learning heaps in the classes they are attending. What they are learning will help make the learning for all our students more interesting.

While in Washington DC, they have looked at some of the monumental buildings.

It is very hot and sticky and they have walked many kilometres. Here are some of what they’ve seen.

Mrs Pericles goes to Government House

Mrs Kimberly Pericles has been teaching for a long time. She is a very special teacher because she is committed to lifelong learning. In the time she has been teaching Mrs Pericles has always been an educational leader, guide and inspiration to other teachers and to her students. Why? Because she is always trying new ways to make sure learning in her class and in the school is engaging, motivating and alive.

Mrs Pericles has been a leading practitioner in the field of English and led the school to a National Literacy Award in 1998. In 2004 she was part of a team at the school who were Highly Commended in the National Quality Schools Awards. In 2007 Mrs Pericles was recognised as an Outstanding Microsoft Teacher of ICT.

This year Mrs Pericles has combined her expertise in the field of English and in using ICT to apply for a NSW Premier’s English Teachers Scholarship. Mrs Pericles was in a very strong field. Her application was the one that was awarded the Scholarship. 

Here is a photo of Mrs Pericles with the NSW Director General of Education, Mr Michael Coutts-Trotter at the reception for all Scholarship winners at NSW Government House.

Parents’ Online Courses

There are some great opportunities for parents to get online and find out how others are feeling about interests that all parents have in common. An online opportunity is being offered by Parent Victoria it is worth a look and best of all it doesn’t cost a thing!!

Parents Victoria Online Conference 2007

10-16 September

PARENTS of primary and secondary students in government schools, in all locations, are warmly invited to take part in the first online conference to be held by Parents Victoria. The conference will be held non-stop on the internet from 9am Monday 10 September to midnight Sunday 16 September. There is no cost for participating in the conference and no special software is needed, other than an internet-connected computer and a browser. The online discussions will be very easy to join in, and guidelines about how to participate will be provided. You don’t need to be a member of Parents Victoria to take part. Join in day or night, for all days or just some, depending on your lifestyle and other commitments.

Visit the conference website and register online at: www.cybertext.net.au/pv/ 

The discussion pages aren’t open yet but they will be when the conference opens at 9am on Monday 10 September. Please note down the exact website address, or save it as a ‘favourite’ so you can go there quickly next time.

The conference will feature seven ‘live’ daily online discussions, each of them hosted, for several hours each day, by a member of Parents Victoria.  Each 24-hour period will focus on a topic that is currently of concern to parents.

Monday: Should school uniforms be compulsory?

Tuesday: Is discipline in your school effective?

Wednesday: Parent participation – is the day of the parent club over?

Thursday: Literacy and numeracy standards – are our schools up to scratch?

Friday: How do you rate the new reports?

Saturday: Is the local public school still the best option for your child?

Sunday: Are we paying too much for free education?

It will be great for parents across the country / world to meet online to discuss these important issues.  The more of you join in, the more successful this e-vent will be.

Debra Brydon Conference Co-ordinator