Minnis Journals

For Education Leaders

How Bree Hills revived Canberra Christian School
When Bree Hills returned to Canberra to raise her son after a teaching and corporate career, the born and bred Canberran thought it would be good if he went to Canberra Christian School, the same primary she had attended, after all there would be a sense of coming home and her experience there was remembered fondly. What struck Hills was how little had changed physically about the school. Read more

When a pandemic strikes in Year 12
Associate Professor Joanne Dickson is an expert in mental health, wellbeing and motivation, here she gives you her tips for getting through a doubly stressful Year 12.
Anxiety levels often soar in Year 12, but COVID-19 adds another layer of stress. However, according to ECU Associate Professor Joanne Dickson ‘threats’ also create opportunities, such as developing new skills and the prospect of personal growth.
Professor Dickson said while students should be mindful about the impacts of COVID-19, it’s important to keep their long-term goals in sight.
Read more

Kids' online creative writing platform enlists Aussie authors and offers free resources
Littlescribe is an Australian online educational writing platform which kickstarts school childrens’ writing by linking them with published authors. The platform is now making literacy services free to teachers and parents working to keep home learning on track. Read more

UniSA confident SA schools can transition to online education
UniSA’s Head of School: Education, Professor Shane Dawson, believes this will be a challenging period for teachers, students and parents alike, but says the broad ambition of delivering an online curriculum for the majority of the State’s school students is achievable. Read more

Can schools’ IT hold up? Q&A with Nathan Steiner Head of Systems Engineering Veeam
In Australia we’re quite lucky as schools are well positioned and have been delivering edge use cases of distance, digital and remote schooling requirements for some years now.
From personal experience having three boys in high school, who are accessing school via their collaboration and education toolsets that include Google Classroom, moodle and Teams, the rapid adjustment has been very smooth and the experience normalised.
Don’t forget that students are digital natives and have a high degree of digital dexterity. Read more

Resources and virtual experiences for locked down kids
Merlin Entertainments ANZ, owner and operator of SEA LIFE Aquariums, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo and other first rate attractions have launched a free education resource portal ‘Merlin’s Education Toolbox’. Read more

Mission Australia’s Youth Survey 2020 is open
Mission Australia’s Youth Survey 2020 is now open, with the charity extending the opening period to encourage as many young people as possible aged 15-19 across Australia to have their say. Read more