Page 19 - Journal 2018A

with the introduction of the new SACE Stage 1 curriculum for these subjects. During the year, we also developed Stage 2 workbooks for biology, chemistry and physics to be published in 2018.
SASTA Annual Report 2017
SASTA Board
As at 28 April 2017
Karen Palumbo (President), Mark Divito (Vice President), John Glistak (Treasurer), Bruce Baker, Vanessa Fay, Yvonne Zeegers and Peter Turnbull.
As at 31 December 2017
Vanessa Fay (President), Mark Divito (Vice President & Treasurer), Anthony Armstrong, Marianne Nicholas, Jane Wright and Yvonne Zeegers.
Staff
Greg Cole (Executive Of cer), Rebecca Cooke (Of ce Manager), Tegan McClean (Events, Marketing & Communications Coordinator), Kate Dilger (Education Of cer) and Becci van Schuilenburg (Events Coordinator) on maternity leave.
Awards
SASTA Medal: Katrina Elliott
Helen Castle Memorial Scholarship: Teresa Erceg (Glossop High School) and Rachel Pillar (Kangaroo Island Community School)
Credit Union SA/SASTA Outstanding Teacher Awards: Upper Secondary – Anthony Armstrong (Glossop High School).
BHP Billiton Teacher Awards: Vira Wallis (Mawson Lakes School)
Graduate Teacher Awards
The University of Adelaide: Brianna Lush, Ellen Morey, Ingrid Sierp, Sowmya Roy and Karen Au;
UniSA: Alana Cooper, Philomena Scrafton and Georgie Toth;
Flinders University: Jacinta Fong, Emily Halls, John Marriott, Alice Nield, Elizabeth O’Fathartaigh and Georgie Wells.
Professional Learning
• Psychology Summer Conference - 20 January at Education Development Centre. Convener: Lois Ey.
• Workshops for Teachers new to SACE Stage 1 and/or SACE Stage 2 Biology, Chemistry, Nutrition, Physics and Psychology were held in February and March.
A new practical Student Workbook for Year 9 has also been developed, following the positive feedback about the Student Workbook for Year 8, which was published in 2016.
While SASTA conducts a number of regular conference and professional learning activities throughout the year for all science teachers,
the introduction of a new curriculum for Stage
2 biology, chemistry and physics in 2018 meant that SASTA had a particular focus on organizing professional learning activities which would provide support for our members teaching these subjects. Consequently, subject experts at The University of Adelaide presented seminars in August covering the new content in the science curriculum. Lois Ey convened our Psychology Summer Conference in January, and Dr Jane Wright convened our Annual Conference in April and the STEM 6 – 11 Conference in December. We thank them all, together with the members of the Professional Development Reference Group who also contributed to these events.
My report would not be complete without commenting on our Oliphant Science Awards competition. The number of projects in 2017 were slightly down from 2016, with 2,083 entries this year, compared with 2,156 in the previous year. All winners awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the ‘Models & Investigations’ and ‘Scienti c Inquiry’ categories were eligible to enter the BHP Billiton Science & Engineering Awards which were judged in Melbourne.
I would like to congratulate the staff, the Oliphant Science Awards committee and
all volunteers involved, but especially the Conveners, Peter Turnbull and Gerald Little, who put so much work into the Oliphant Science Awards competition on behalf of students and their teachers.
In conclusion, I would like to thank my fellow board members who have met regularly throughout the year, our many volunteers who freely gave their time and effort, and our SASTA staff for their contribution to SASTA’s ongoing strength and success.
Vanessa Fay SASTA President 17 April 2018
Number 01 / 2018
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