Welcome to 2026!

 "Happy New Year!"

A new year has arrived, and with it the promise of exciting things to come. As teachers, we are constantly looking for new things to learn, whether they be content, strategies or techniques. We want to arm ourselves with learning opportunities for our students, that will excite them. 

Steps for Success!

1. Be rested! (Make sure that you get enough sleep!)

2. Be ready! (Start doing some online PDs, so that you are up to date with what is 'current' in the educational field.)

3. Set yourself up for success! (Maybe, a 'fresh' version of yourself.)

4. Dress for success! (Look professional, all the way!)

5. CV time! (Make sure that your CV is current. It should demonstrate your 'thirst' for knowledge, and new personal learning areas. Remember, it is now 2026!)

Remember, "You've got this!"

Enjoy this wonderful year ahead.

Term 3, 2025

Well, Term 3 has already started, and we have been braving the 'Winter' chills for the past few weeks. Our colleagues, and students, have been busy exploring new learning outcomes, and engaging in exciting, 'teachable' moments. 

It is wonderful when learning opportunities come our way, and we recognise the value of them, for our students. Simple things like, "What is celebrated in the world, on this day?" can be a stepping-stone into a world of discovery. As global citizens, we are constantly searching for meaningful connections with our global neighbours. 

Enjoy this term and give it everything that you have got. Most importantly, have fun!  

Welcome to 2025!

Happy New Year! Well, another new year has started, and we are all preparing to amaze our students with the prospect of learning countless ways of knowing more about the world in which we live. 

We are getting ready to understand how our students want to learn, through their numerous 'learning styles'. We will want to develop a thirst for learning in our students, that sets them on their individual journeys of discovery.

We need to be ready!   

Have fun in Term1!

Term 1, 2024 - Happy New Year!

Welcome back everyone! I hope that you had a relaxing and restorative holiday, and are now ready for an exciting year ahead. 

When I look back over 2023, I know that we ended the year in style, with three dynamic PDs from: Sophie (Bringing Nature into the Classroom), Julian (the Language of the Deaf), and Yolanda (Neurodiversity and Inclusion in a School). We were definitely lucky to access these three amazing presenters. 

I know that 2024 will hold some great opportunities for us; all we have to do is identify them, and make the most of them. We will have to approach each new experience with our wonderful 'Love of Learning', and embrace every new challenge. 

Enjoy your new year!

Term 3, 2023 - The Excitement of a New Term!

Well CRTs, Term 3 is with us, and that brings the excitement of new avenues to engage students. In order for us to be at our best, we have to be in the right mind-set. So, what is our plan? Strategy 1: Make sure that we are fit and healthy, and definitely looking after ourselves. Strategy 2: Surround ourselves with opportunities to create excitement, in our own learning. Strategy 3: Look for adventurous, learning activities that we can share with others. Strategy 4: Be passionate about the learning that we will pass on to our students. It is as simple as that! Enjoy the term ahead.

Term 4, 2022 - A New Term!

It is great to see the sun shining today; 'Spring' is truly in the air. Well, I hope that everyone is happy and healthy, and coping with our new 'normal'.

The year is going by extremely fast, and we are about to embark on Term 4. Remember to inject every new project with your own personal enthusiasm and 'love of learning'; it's what you do so well!

Enjoy the new term ahead! 

Term1, 2022 - Welcome to another new year!

"Happy New Year" to you all! Well, another exciting year has commenced and we are all waiting to see what it will bring. As teachers we know that we can handle whatever is put our way. In particular, as CRTs, we know that our adaptability and flexibility will be put to the test, and we have to be ready for it. We all bring into the new year a love of learning, and a willingness to share what we have, with others. We know that we have to take our 'A Game' into every classroom that we enter, and 'make a difference'. A great 'New Year's Resolution' is to approach every challenge with a positive mindset. We've got this! Have fun everyone!

Term 1, 2021 - Welcome to the New Year! 

 'Happy New Year' everyone! It is definitely a time to celebrate. 2021 is already presenting us with wonderful opportunities to 'make a difference', once again, and we are up for the challenge.

Looking back on 2020, we know that there were many 'mountains to climb' and 'rivers to cross', but we did it 'together'. COVID-19 presented us with a new platform, 'remote learning', and the chance to 'upskill'. All we had to do was prove how adaptable and flexible we were, and we did! 

Well, now that 2021 is here, we are ready! We know that we need to look at our ability to support schools in the best way possible, and that is, by looking at our capacity to teach, using a 'blended delivery'. So, let's see what is out there for us.

Enjoy Term 1!

Term 1, 2020 - Accept the challenge!

This new year (decade) has already presented many challenges: some that we can do something about in tangible ways, and some that we cannot. As teachers, our commitment is to educate and support to the best of our ability. In the classroom, is where we do some of our finest work!  

Recently, a friend of mine reminded me of the following quote, "If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn." Ignacio Estrada. This quote says it all!

Welcome opportunities to bring out the best in your teaching; they are waiting to be found. 

Enjoy your year!   

Term 4, 2019 - Well, here it is holiday time once again, with the final term in full view. It is definitely that time of the year when we take stock of our accomplishments, and look at what we still have written on our, "To Do lists!"

One thing that I was reminded about recently via an email that I received, was the fact that the online safety for CRTs should be something that we should be mindful about. There are a number of free, online PL courses for teachers, which would serve as reminders of our own personal cyber safety, as well as the safety of any students whom we teach. When you have a spare minute or two, do your own research and share whatever you find with your fellow-CRTs.

Enjoy the up-coming term, and remember to look after yourself, and those around you!

Term 3, 2019 - Accept the challenge with both hands!
As Susan Coull said to us at our recent professional learning session: our mind set, positive attitude, background research and "self-correcting ability", are the tools that we need to set us on our way in this new term.

Don't waste a moment, accept the challenge!

Term 2, 2019 - A challenging and exciting term ahead!

Prepare yourself for a challenging and rewarding term. Make sure that you are fit and healthy, and ready to make a difference in every school, with every student.

Remember to enter every classroom with your "Box of Tricks", handy resources to use when designated teaching has been completed, e.g. sensory games, exciting puzzles, against-the-clock activities for individuals or groups, and some great books. 

Enjoy what comes your way!

Term 1, 2019 - Welcome to the new year!

Well the year started productively for the CRT Networks with a meeting at the VIT on the 22nd January, with Hannah Galloway. It was a great opportunity for Hannah to fill in the Network Leaders on what has been planned for CRTs. We brainstormed, shared and planned for the year ahead. This is truly an exciting time for CRTs, with a raised profile!

Embrace new opportunities, and demonstrate your "Best Teaching Practice" in 2019.

Have fun!

Term 4, 2018 - Great things are happening for CRTs!

To give you a brief update, some of the CRT Network Coordinators were able to meet up with Hannah Galloway, Senior Standards Advisor/Regulatory Services (VIT) in Melbourne, on Monday 1st October. It was a wonderful opportunity to discuss the workings of the networks, and the possibilities ahead for CRTs. 

Hannah has been proactive on the VIT website and created a CRT section with valuable information. (Make sure that you take a look at it.)

Enjoy the term ahead! 

Term 3, 2018 - VIT Registration Time

Well, winter is here with all its charm. Soups, hot chocolate and great preparation, will help us through to spring. Now is a good time to check on all that you have done for your up-coming VIT registration. (Believe it or not, you have already accumulated an amazing number of hours that have aided your "Professional Development".)

 Stop and think about the formal and informal conversations, in which you have been involved! What about the preparation that you had to do for specific classes? Don't forget the programs that you have watched, that stimulated your "teaching passion"! Remember also, the "coffee get-togethers" with colleagues, where you debated new and old educational programs. On top of all of those, you have also taken part in formal PDs. All "food for thought"! 

Enjoy Term 3, and remember that enthusiasm is contagious.

Term 2, 2018 - CRT Policies, Procedures and Protocols

At our recent CRT Network Coordinators' Meeting (12th April) at the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT), Hannah Galloway reminded us all of our professional obligations, "Duty of Care" as teachers.

Let us take this awareness with us, to every educational environment where we teach, this term.

Mandatory reporting[1]

“Mandatory reporters must make a report to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (Child Protection) as soon as practicable if, in the course of practising their profession or carrying out their duties, they form reasonable belief that a child or young person is in need of protection, as a result of physical injury or sexual abuse, and the child’s parents are unable or unwilling to protect the child from that abuse.

A mandatory reporter who fails to comply with these reporting obligations may be committing a criminal offence.”

Child Safe Standards[2]

Victoria has introduced compulsory minimum standards for organisations that provide services for children to help protect children from abuse.

From 1 January 2017, organisations that provide services for children are required to comply with the standards. For more information about the organisations that are required to adopt the standards, visit the Commission for Children and Young People website.

The standards aim to drive cultural change in organisations so that protecting children from abuse is embedded in everyday thinking and practice.

The standards are compulsory for certain organisations, but are not prescriptive. This allows organisations some flexibility in how they implement the standards to meet the requirements. To create and maintain a child safe environment, an organisation must have:

The Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) are the oversight body for the child safe standards. 

---

[1] http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/spag/safety/Pages/childprotectobligation.aspx

[2]http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/home/safer+communities/protecting+children+and+families/overview+of+child+safe+standards+and+reportable+conduct+scheme

Term 1, 2018 - Happy New Year!

As a CRT are you ready to start the new year with vim, vigour and vitality? Well if you are, plan ahead; plan for enjoyment, challenges and triumphs. Take control and work out what you want to "give" in 2018, and what you want to "be given" in 2018. Set your sights high and work proactively towards achieving your goals.

Your year will be a fulfilling one if you have clear direction and know what you want. 2018 will be the year that you want it to be, if you navigate confidently one step at a time.

Make the most of every opportunity that comes your way.

Term 4, 2017 - Well, this term has had a focus again, on "Teacher Registration Renewal", and everything that goes with it. It has been a time to reflect on: Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct and Teacher Professionalism.

Hannah Galloway (Senior Standards Advisor / Regulatory Services - VIT) has reminded us of our "Duty of Care" and obligation to present "Best Teaching Practice" at all times in educational environments.

With that in mind, let's finish the school year with enthusiasm, vigour and vitality.

Enjoy yourself in the classroom!

Term 3, 2017 - Well this term has had a steady focus on practical and interesting PDs, "Teacher Registration Renewal", and staying fit and healthy during the winter months. 

We set our goals earlier this year, and have had to creatively stay focussed and challenged by new and unexpected events. Remember to embrace new learning; it will bring out the best in you.

Term 2, 2017 - The Three "Rs": Re-vitalise, Re-energise and Re-invent

Term 2 is an opportunity for you to re-invent yourself.

Take on board PD offerings, update your knowledge of pedagogy, and prepare yourself physically and mentally to step forward into the new term, with re-energised passion and interest.

Use your holidays well, have fun and relax, and prepare yourself to accept the challenges ahead. Get ready to put the "best you" on display.