Four new primary schools for future generations
The West Austraian State Government is to invest $70.2 million building four new primary schools in North Butler, Treendale, Hammond Park, North Yanchep and Wandina which will open in 2014. Education Minister Liz Constable said the State Government was building for the future and responding to population growth in burgeoning residential areas. The new $26.7million North Butler Primary School for instance, will be built as a fully inclusive school with facilities to support high needs education support students, on a site where the roads are yet to be instated and named. The Minister said the latest population data indicated that enrolments would continue to grow in those areas, putting increased pressure on existing schools.

Yates Junior Landcare Watermelon Challenge & $75K Grants
The Yates Junior Landcare Watermelon Challenge has wrapped up with two massive 20kg watermelons winning both the individual and group categories. Six-year-old Wyatt Kahler from Basin View, NSW, won the individual category with his giant watermelon weighing 20kg with a circumference of 83cm. The group winner was Cooran State School in Queensland, where the students also managed to grow a 20kg watermelon with a 77cm circumference. The challenge, launched last year by Junior Masterchef winner Isabella Bliss and her sister, Sofia, attracted over 40,000 participants from across the country. For more information about the $75,000 Junior Landcare grants and activites: www.juniorlandcare.com.au

Australian schools need $5bn a year more
The review of school funding, headed by businessman David Gonski, recommends injecting an extra $5 billion into the nation's schools each year. But the Federal Government has not committed itself to any spending increase and will instead embark on extensive consultation.
The Gonski report, released publicly yesterday, recommends state and federal governments pool funds to serve all schools, as opposed to the existing system in which public schools are majority-funded by the states and private schools funded federally... Read>>

Private schools acting as parents to middle-class chldren
In the UK, teachers are effectively acting as surrogate parents for thousands of pupils who often eat breakfast at school and remain in extra-curricular activities until the early evening, said Andy Waters, chairman of the Society of Heads of Independent Schools. He said “more and more responsibility” was falling on schools during the economic downturn because of the sheer rise in parental workloads.... Read>>

Education must develop entrepreneurs
Schools must take a leading role in boosting the number of youngsters who grow up to become successful entrepreneurs, says the Forum of Private Business (FPB). Jane Bennett, the Forum’s head of campaigns says, ‘Schools are vitally important because they are essentially where young minds are honed and appetites for working life whetted. ‘They have a vital role to play in encouraging entrepreneurial spirit, which is why we are calling for a greater focus by government on making sure schools are given the tools for the job.

Headteachers given discretion over setting of homework
Education Secretary Michael Gove, has moved to scrap formal limits on what volume of homework should be handed out to pupils aged between five and 16. Previous guidelines, introduced under Labour, specified how much time pupils should be spending on homework each night. Department for Education spokesman said: “Homework is part and parcel of a good education. We trust headteachers to set the homework policy for their school. They know their pupils best and should be free to make these decisions without having to adhere to unnecessary bureaucratic guidance.”...Read>>

New iPhone app aimed at reducing youth road toll
Melbourne based e-log Systems™ Pty Ltd has released a new, patented iPhone app aimed at combating a sharp increase in falsifying, misleading and incorrect entries currently being recorded by learner drivers into their paper log books.
Learner drivers in all Australian states are required by law to input entries into a paper log book before and after completing every driving session, until they reach their required practice hours.

How texting helps students with their textbooks
Can modern messaging enhance your children's literacy skills? This cd b v expensive chat, observed my son. He is 19 and in London, I in Tanzania. A scheduled conversation on Skype had failed, but I was determined to extract
some news. A dozen brief – and similarly abbreviated – messages followed. An
expensive chat indeed. But the alternative – that he write a letter to update his parents... Read>>

Make cyberspace a better place
3.5 million school students will have the chance to learn how to prevent cyberbullying and stay safe online with the national launch of a suite of free, comprehensive lesson plans. The Make Cyberspace a Better Place campaign, an initiative of Kids Helpline sponsored by Optus to help schools tackle cyber-safety, will see each of Australia’s schools receive an education pack containing information on cyberbullying, sexting and the safe use of technology. To find out more visit kidshelpline.com.au.

13 The Musical
The all-singing, all-dancing young stars come from all over Sydney (and beyond) – from Burwood to Wollongong… but mostly from the Sutherland Shire. Set in a small town in Indiana, "13" is a grown-up story about growing up!  

When his parents get divorced and he's forced to move from New York to a small town in Indiana, Evan Goldman just wants to make friends and survive the school year. Easier said than done!
The star quarterback is threatening to ruin his life and his only friend, Patrice, won't talk to him. The school freak sees an opportunity for blackmail and someone is spreading the nastiest rumours. More information and bookings:
www.shiremusictheatre.org

Help to make a dreams come true
A year 12 Greenwood College student who has dreamed of being a pilot since he was eight years old, has received a $3,000 scholarship to help him achieve his
goal.
Education Minister Liz Constable visited the school
today and announced that year 12 student Michael Burbidge was the recipient of the 2012 Minister for Education’s Aviation Scholarship. “Michael has already clocked up 700 hours flight simulator experience; been part of trial flights; and learnt about aircraft maintenance through the Royal Aero Club of WA.

One of four WA public secondary schools to offer aviation as specialist program to selected students. More information on specialist programs is available online at
det.wa.edu.au/specialistprograms/

More than 2200 teachers trained to help children with autism
Children with autism are receiving more help at school. The Australian Government’s Positive Partnerships initiative, has seen 2250 teachers given additional training in providing classroom support.

Children want to learn about the environment
Children are so concerned about the environment they would rather learn about it than traditional subjects such as science and history, a survey of 1027 youngsters found. While parents struggle to answer their children's questions on environmental problems, they are bending to pester power to be more green, the research from the Co-operative showed.... Read>>

Help improve literacy rates
According to the National Literacy Trust, one in six people struggle to read and write. Through a network of volunteers London Literacy Champions is a project running in 12 London boroughs which will increase family engagement with literacy. The Trust is looking for volunteers visit their website to find out how you can get involved. The Literacy Trust's Where’s Wally? fundraising pack is all about having fun, reading more and making a difference to literacy in the UK.