Middle Schooling Association of Western Australia

General Aims | Specific Objectives | Executive | Committee | History

Executive - The 2009 MSAWA Executive members are:

President	Wendy Sinden
	Year 8 Team Leader Wesley College president@msawa.asn.au
Vice President	Maria Camilleri	Vice President	Mike Jenzen
	Head of Middle School Methodist Ladies College admin@msawa.asn.au		Head of Middle School Tranby College jenzenm@tranby.wa.edu.au
Treasurer	Belinda Derby	Secretary	Liz Smith
	Community 2 Math Teacher and Support Coordinator Mount Lawley Senior High School Belinda.Derby@det.wa.edu.au		Vice President of Middle School Governor Stirling Senior High School Liz.Smith@det.wa.edu.au
Committee - The 2009 MSAWA Committee members are:
	Geoff Kay		Bev Burnside
	Head of Middle School Wesley College Geoff.Kay@wesley.wa.edu.au		Head of Middle School Mt Lawley Senior High School bev.burnside@lawley.wa.edu.au

	Shaun Tate		Phillip McNamara
	Head of Middle School St Mark's Anglican Community School state@stmarks.wa.edu.au		Curriculum Consultant Warnbro Community High School phil.mcnamara@det.wa.edu.au
	David Hunter		Jenny Martino
	Deputy Head of Middle School Penhros College hunted@penrhos.wa.edu.au		Year 9 Science Teacher Mount Lawley Senior High School Jenny.Martino@lawley.wa.edu.au
	Simon Douglas		Trudi Horler
	Teacher Saftey Bay Senior High School Simon.Douglas@det.wa.edu.au		Methodist Ladies College

MSAWA Executive and Committee 2009

General Aims
The general aims of the Association are to:

Support, promote and extend the educational significance of middle schooling practices in Western Australia, and to
Maintain a strong network of members.

Members will have access to:

Research papers and organised workshops
Networking and professional development opportunities
Twilight workshop sessions featuring practising middle schooling teachers
Mentoring from practising middle schooling teacher and schools
An online bulletin board or forum for intrastate, interstate and overseas community interaction

Specific Objectives
The Specific Objectives of the Middle Schooling Association of Western Australia are to:

Provide a state focus for Middle Schooling
Support curriculum initiatives that address Middle Schooling
Provide a means for the exchange of ideas on the delivery of Middle Schooling
Maintain liaison with professional associations of primary and secondary educators plus other professional bodies
Publish and make available materials of interest and value to Middle Schooling practitioners
Encourage research in Middle Schooling
Encourage and assist Middle Schooling Practitioners to continuing education and professional development
Provide a vehicle for professional development program and support services for Middle Schooling throughout Western Australia
Respond to Middle schooling policy initiatives and support their implementation
Maintain an independent voice in representing Middle Schooling interests
Promote professional opportunities in Middle Schooling
Promote the value of the Middle schooling practitioner as one of responsibility and significance in education
Promote awareness of the aim of the Middle Schooling Association of Western Australia and encourage participation in achieving these aims.

History
In November 1999, the Education Department in conjunction with the Centre for Excellence in Teaching hosted the first major conference on Middle Schooling in Western Australia.

The Forum presented an opportunity for educators from around Australia to engage, discuss and promote the middle schooling philosophy. The Middle Schooling Forum raised the consciousness of the "middle years of schooling" debate within and across the education sector in Australia. As a result, more schools around the state are adopting middle schooling practices achieving significant gains for young adolescents.

A significant outcome of the National Middle Schooling Forum was the establishment of the Middle Schooling Association of Western Australia. This newly formed Association is open to all educators interested in supporting the development and implementation of middle schooling in Western Australia.

The formation of the Middle Schooling Association of Western Australia (Inc) was a Local Area Education Planning initiative. A Steering Committee developed the Constitution and followed the process through to the establishment of an Incorporated Association. The Steering Committee comprised:

Kathie Ritchie - Principal, Geraldton Secondary College
Mary Jane McNeil - Principal, Safety Bay Senior High School
Geraldine Hardy - Deputy Principal, Cecil Andrews Senior High School
Alan Swan - Manager Curriculum Improvement, Joondalup District Education Office
Pat Kiddie - Project Officer, Stepping Out
Emmy Terry - Senior Consultant, Local Area Education Planning

The Association was founded in 2000 with Mary Jane McNeil being elected as inaugural President.The patron of the Association is Professor Andy Hargreaves.