August 21, 2008

CEFA today launched its Parliamentary Club NSW South Coast Cluster training day for teachers from across the region. Schools from both the public and private sector were represented. Training for teachers included sessions on implementing a whole-of-school civics, citizenship and student leadership project, building learning communities and incorporating cross-disciplinary activities.

Over 80 school children, teachers and prospective volunteers from surrounding schools also attended the day to view the St Joseph’s High School Student House of Representatives to witness The Parliamentary Club in action. 

The ten schools represented on the day were:

Bateman’s Bay High School
John Therry High School Rosemeadow
St John’s High School Nowra
Albion Park High School
Holy Spirit College Bellambi
Illawarra Christian School Albion Park
St Mary’s College Wollongong
St Paul’s Primary School Albion Park
Nazareth Primary Shellharbour
St Joseph’s High School Albion Park (mentor school) 

Many of the teachers who attended the training course are now able to use CEFA’s Parliamentary Club professional development in the teacher accreditation process. The Parliamentary Club training is now registered by the NSW Institute of Teachers and is one of their endorsed courses. All new scheme teachers must attend 100 hours of professional development within a 5-year period and 50 of these must come from endorsed courses. 

CEFA will now support these schools through the implementation process. Each participant was presented with a resource kit that included DVDs, written materials, posters and a ‘mace’ to enhance the teaching and learning of civics and citizenship within their school.

Thanks must also go to the Wollongong Catholic Education Office who partially funded the cluster by covering the cost of teacher release for each of the catholic schools involved.