Wodonga CRT Support Network Monthly Meetings.
The main reason that VIT started their CRT Network initiative was to encourage CRTs to meet on a regular basis to share PD ideas and resources just like full time teachers do in schools. Most networks accomplish this through regularly scheduled meetings and we are no different.
We hold monthly meetings on alternating Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Wodonga South Primary School library. We have avoided "the second Wednesday of every month" type scheduling because we don't want to exclude those who have meetings or their child's piano lessons every Wednesday. Alternating between Wednesdays and Thursdays allows us to work around these sorts of scheduling in people's lives outside of the Network. We also have to fit meetings around PDs. Presenters often only have limited days available around other commitments which we have to operate around and it's simply more viable to get the presenters we need and than fit meetings around them.
Meetings are held from 4.00pm to 6.30pm on the scheduled days. For regular meetings these times are flexible! If you have to be half an hour late? By all means come in an hour late. If you have to leave half an hour early? That is perfectly OK too! The idea behind the structure is to allow as many people as possible to participate in a way that's perfectly suitable to them.
Meetings that are Pdi approved Workshops are a little more rigid. We do prefer that you attend for the proper amount of time in these cases. At the same time we also realise that sometimes late arrivals or early departures just can't be avoided. We aren't going to stop you coming if you have to arrive late or leave early, we just ask that if at all possible you arrange to be there for the full duration.
We hold monthly meetings on alternating Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Wodonga South Primary School library. We have avoided "the second Wednesday of every month" type scheduling because we don't want to exclude those who have meetings or their child's piano lessons every Wednesday. Alternating between Wednesdays and Thursdays allows us to work around these sorts of scheduling in people's lives outside of the Network. We also have to fit meetings around PDs. Presenters often only have limited days available around other commitments which we have to operate around and it's simply more viable to get the presenters we need and than fit meetings around them.
Meetings are held from 4.00pm to 6.30pm on the scheduled days. For regular meetings these times are flexible! If you have to be half an hour late? By all means come in an hour late. If you have to leave half an hour early? That is perfectly OK too! The idea behind the structure is to allow as many people as possible to participate in a way that's perfectly suitable to them.
Meetings that are Pdi approved Workshops are a little more rigid. We do prefer that you attend for the proper amount of time in these cases. At the same time we also realise that sometimes late arrivals or early departures just can't be avoided. We aren't going to stop you coming if you have to arrive late or leave early, we just ask that if at all possible you arrange to be there for the full duration.
Meeting schedule:
- No Meeting January 2018
- Wednesday 28th February 2018
- Thursday 22nd March 2018
- Wednesday 18th April 2018
- Thursday 10th May 2018
- Wednesday 6th June 2018
- Thursday 26th July 2018
- Wednesday 22nd August 2018
- Thursday 13th September 2018
- Wednesday 17th October 2018
- Thursday 15th November 2018
- Wednesday 12th December 2018
Meetings with the dates in red are specially scheduled meetings arising from an opportunity we have been able to take advantage of. Meetings in Green have already been run.
What goes on at meetings?
Our goal is to make sure that meetings remain friendly and social as well as be informative and a source for your Teacher Identified PD. For this reason we like to keep things as informal as possible with an open structure to allow everyone to benefit by attending.
Usually we have a little up front about what the network has been up to in the past month in short form, followed by answering questions if anyone has any. This generally only takes 5 to 10 minutes and then we are on to what we are really there for!
After that the meetings are somewhat of an open format and subject to change should the need arise. We always have a plan before we start the meetings but if someone brings in something of importance or interest to look at then we are willing to go with that instead should enough people want to. If only a few people want to have a look at the topic someone has brought in? Then we encourage a small group to break away for a while and discuss it! The whole purpose of these meetings is to get you what you need when you need it, not for us to decide what you need for you!
Because some of us are coming right from work to attend the meeting we also provide some food to tide you over until dinner as well as tea, coffee and milo. We cover this cost with a simple gold-coin donation at the door.
If you have any special dietary requirements please inform us prior to attending a meeting by emailing me at wodongacrt@vit.vic.edu.au a couple of days in advance. Please put "diet for meeting
Meetings and formal PD.
Occasionally, if the opportunity arises, we will replace the monthly meeting with a 2 to 2.5 hour PD with a presenter. We don't envisage this happening very often but sometimes an opportunity presents itself that's just too good to pass up! If this happens this PD will likewise be covered by gold coin donation at the door. The format of these PDs could be anything from question and answer sessions to workshops or more "chalk and talk". Unlike many of our PDs these will be sessions for members only and may or may not come with PDI numbers for "verified PD hours".
If this is going to happen you will always be provided with sufficient warning. Because of the gold-coin donation format, we may be unable to supply a "Goodie Bag" of stationary and resources like we normally do so we will also give you a list of things to bring with you if anything is needed.
Melinda Lichnovsky-Klock
Wodonga CRT Support Network Coordinator.
