PROGRAM

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MYSA International Conference

The Middle Years of Schooling Association invites all those committed to the education, growth and development of young adolescents to their Fourth International Conference, 26-28 May 2005.

Conference Themes
The theme of the conference is "Riding the Wave of Success in the Middle Years", and the program will include national and international keynote speakers, theme papers, school site visits and pre-conference workshops. Papers showcasing current practice will be presented on the following conference themes:

Development needs and interests of young adolescents

Family and community partnerships

Relevant curriculum

Learning and teaching

School leadership and organisation

Technology and resources

Professional development

Research

Who Should Attend?
Teachers, administrators, teacher educators, students, parents, community and agency representatives.

Why Attend?
The conference will enable participants to:

Identify approaches for engaging young adolescents in rigorous and intellectually stimulating learning environments

Focus on a balanced and meaningful approach to catering for the needs of students in the middle years

Consider ways for all stakeholders to work together in achieving these approaches

Network with others to share a common vision for the middle years of schooling

Jack C. Berckemeyer - Invited Speaker

* Assistant Executive Director, National Middle School Association, USA

During his teaching career, Jack taught in Middle Schools in Colorado in various subject areas including language arts, social studies, health, expression skills, and physical education. He was named outstanding educator after two years of teaching at Scott Carpenter Middle School, and shortly thereafter he was identified as one of the outstanding educators in the Adams County School District. In 2003, Jack received the Outstanding Alumni Award from the Falcon School District.

Jack has presented to several school districts in the USA on middle years practice. He has also presented to middle level educators in thirty different national and international locations. He is known for his practical teaching ideas that involve and motivate young adolescents.

Jack's responsibilities with NMSA include working with their 58-affiliate organisations throughout the world, author and editor of one of NMSA's most popular member benefits, Classroom Connections, and coordinating on-site professional development for schools and school districts. For the last several years he has been a judge for the Disney American Teacher Awards and serves on the selection committee for the USA Today All Teacher Team.

Jack is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado. He has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary and Middle Level Education, and a K-12 certification in School Administration.

Dr John M Novak - Invited Speaker

* Professor of Education, Faculty of Education, Brock University, Canada

As a public school teacher in North Carolina, Washington State, and the Virgin Islands, John Novak taught from pre-school to high school levels. In higher education he has won various teaching awards, has been selected as a visiting professor at several universities, taught courses in psychological, socio-philosophical, and research foundations of education. He was elected Chair of the University Faculty Board, and served as a member of the Board of Trustees.

John received an academic scholarship and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Ohio University, Master of Arts degree in Education and Teacher certification from Western Carolina University, and his doctorate, combining Psychological and Social Foundations of Education, from the University of Florida.

An active writer and speaker, John has written and edited numerous chapters in academic books and journals, presented papers at educational, philosophical, and psychological conferences, and been invited as Keynote Speaker to educational groups as far north as Kotzebue, Alaska, and as far south as Dunedin, New Zealand. His recent books include the Third Edition of Inviting School Success (with William Purkey), Democratic Teacher Education, Advancing Invitational Thinking, the Phi Delta Kappan Invitational Education (with William Purkey), and Inviting Educational Leadership.

Sue Daly - Invited Speaker

* Head of Middle School, All Saints Anglican School, Australia

Sue is the foundation Head of Middle School at All Saints Anglican School, a P - 12 coeducational school on the Gold Coast. The Middle School, which was established in 1999, caters for 470 students in Years 7, 8 and 9.

Sue has been an active member of MYSA since its incorporation in 1999, contributing in the roles of Regional Coordinator, Newsletter Editor, Vice President and President during that time. She is committed and dedicated to assisting young people in their education, growth and development. A passionate middle schooling educator, Sue has been generous and open in assisting schools as they embark on their own middle schooling journeys.
Her leadership, professionalism and "down to earth" realistic approach are always appreciated.

Dr Nan Bahr - Invited Speaker

* Lecturer in Education, School of Education, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Ipswich Campus, Australia

Nan teaches and researches in the field of educational psychology and has published in the areas of educational technologies and pedagogy, learning and building positive adolescence. She consults widely on the issues surrounding effective teaching and learning derived from integrated pedagogies in higher education and schooling contexts, particularly in the middle years of schooling. In 2000 Nan was awarded a University of Queensland Award for Excellence in Teaching and, in 2002, the University of Queensland Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences Award for Program Innovation in Teaching. She has been an individual finalist for the Australian Awards for University Teaching in both 2002 and 2003.

Heather Bell - Invited Speaker

* Adviser, Massey University College of Education, New Zealand

Heather Bell is an adviser working for Massey University College of Education, based in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. Her curriculum area is Technology but she has a background as an environmental education facilitator as well, so her work tends to have a green tinge applied to it. Heather was a primary classroom teacher for many years, but more recently changed to specialist technology teaching after completing postgraduate study.

Heather and her partner, Alec, farm a wonderful piece of paradise that they share with school groups in the area, aiming to pass on their passion for the environment.

Dr Grady Venville - Invited Speaker

* Associate Professor of Science and Technology Education, Edith Cowan University, Australia

Grady Venville has taught science, English as a second language and science education in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in Australia, England and Japan. She has also been involved with several large education research projects in Australia at Curtin University and in England at King's College, London.

Grady has published widely in international and national journals on curriculum integration, conceptual change, students. learning in genetics and cognitive acceleration. She is co-author of "Let's Think" a curriculum package on cognitive acceleration for Year One teachers (2001, nferNelson) and co-editor of a newly published science education textbook titled .The Art of Teaching Science. (2004, Allen and Unwin).

Michael C Nagel - Invited Speaker

* BEd, MEd, PhD, Head of Middle Schooling, EDUCANG Ltd, Australia

Dr Nagel has been an educator for twenty years and has worked with children on three continents. He is Australia's only Master Trainer with the U.S. based Gurian Institute specialising in 'gendered brain' difference. He has taught middle school and high school in Canada, was the Director of a foreign language institute in Japan and has been involved with Education Queensland as a teacher and behaviour specialist since 1996. Michael also lectured at the Queensland University of Technology where he did his doctoral research which was an international project that looked at how Australian and Canadian children conceptualise various school experiences. He has presented papers, workshops and seminars nationally and internationally and is expecting to release a new book later this year entitled 'Boys-Stir-Us'. Michael is the newly appointed Head of Middle Schooling for EDUCANG Ltd and its three affiliated colleges. His insights into the 'gendered brain' have been well received at conferences across all sectors of education from early childhood to tertiary settings and have been praised for mixing theory and practice together in a way that educators can use immediately. Michael draws much of his insights and ideas from almost two decades of practical educational experiences on three continents, contemporary neurological research and from watching his two children, Madeline and Harrison, grow up.

Dr Donna Pendergast

Donna Pendergast is Program Director of the Bachelor of Education, Middle Years of Schooling, at the University of Queensland. Donna has conducted a number of national research projects in middle schooling. She provided strategic advice to the Education Minister regarding the development of a middle phase policy, and to Brisbane Catholic Education during the development of their position paper. Donna is currently in the final stages of editing a book on middle schooling reforms for use by teachers and tertiary students.

Dr Robi Sonderegger

Dr. Robi Sonderegger is the Clinical Director of Family Challenge; a charitable trust that provides specialist psychological services to families & schools in Australia, New Zealand, and the developing world. For many years he was part of a world leading Clinical-Child-Psychology team that developed and validated evidence-based treatment programs for childhood disorders.
In recent years he was contracted through the Commonwealth of Australia to coordinate National Clinical Service projects for the treatment and prevention of childhood anxiety and depression. Together with esteemed colleagues from Griffith, RMIT and Melbourne Universities, he has made significant advances for refugee children and their families.
Robi currently runs a Clinical Psychology Practice on Queenland’s Sunshine Coast, provides regular keynote lectures and seminars around the country, and is the author of numerous publications. Internationally, Robi currently coordinates community projects in the rural-copperbelt of Zambia, promoting self-sufficiency among orphan-communities impacted by HIV/AIDS, and provides trauma rehabilitation training services in Northern Uganda for formerly abducted child-soldiers and child-sex-slaves.

School Visits

School visits will take place on Thursday 26 May. The cost is $40.00 per person for one school visit which includes return bus transfers, lunch, and your visit to the school. Please note you can register to attend one school only. The one exception to this is the trip to Brisbane which includes a visit to two schools (also $40). The schools offering visits are listed here.

Workshops

Five concurrent pre-conference workshops will take place on Thursday 26 May from 1600-1730 at Conrad Jupiters. The cost is $65.00 per person. The aim is to provide delegates with an opportunity to access optional workshops provided by the invited presenters in areas of their expertise. Further details on each workshop are available.

Registration Information

All prices are quoted in Australian dollars (inclusive of GST). Payment in any other currency will not be accepted.

UP TO 25 FEB 2005 / FROM 26 FEB 2005
MYSA Member $420.00 / $500.00
Institutional Member $420.00 / $500.00
Non Member $520.00 / $600.00
Full-time Student+ $250.00 / $250.00

Institutional membership allows a maximum of three delegates from the one institution to register at the member rate.

+Please fax evidence of your student status to the conference secretariat on +61 3 9682 0288

Payment of the registration fee entitles you to the following:

Entry to all sessions

Lunch and refreshments daily

Welcome reception on Thursday 26 May

Conference satchel

Copy of Final Program and Abstract Book

Entry to the trade displays

The cost of the school visits, pre-conference workshops and the conference dinner are additional to the registration fee.

PAYMENT
All prices quoted are in Australian dollars and payments in any other currency will not be accepted. Registration cannot be confirmed until full payment is received. The conference secretariat can accept the following:

Cheque/money order/bank draft
Please make payable to 4^th International Conference of the Middle Years of Schooling Association. Overseas delegates: personal cheques will not be accepted and will be returned to sender. Company cheques will only be accepted if issued from an Australian Bank.

Credit card
All major credit cards are accepted: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa. Credit card payments will appear as ICMS Pty Ltd on you credit card statement.

Telegraphic Transfers
Telegraphic transfers will be accepted free of fees to the account listed below. To ensure prompt reconciliation please send a copy of the transfer record to the conference secretariat on +61 3 9682 0288.

SWIFT Code: ANZBAU3M
BSB No: 013 606
Account No: 1077 85215
Account Name: 4^th International Conference of the Middle Years of Schooling Association
Bank: ANZ (Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Limited)
Branch: ANZ Private Bank
Branch address: 3/388 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia

REGISTRATION ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Your registration will be acknowledged electronically via facsimile. Registration fees are based on date of receipt of payment (not based on date of receipt of registration forms).

ALTERATIONS
Alterations to your registration will not be accepted over the telephone. Alterations must be in writing via:

E-mail: registration@icms.com.au
Fax: +61 3 9682 0288
Post: MYSA 2005, C/- ICMS Pty Ltd, 4 Queensbridge Street, Southbank VIC 3006, Australia

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS
Cancellations must be advised in writing to the conference secretariat. Cancellations received before Thursday 21 April 2005 will receive a refund of registration fees, less an administrative charge of $100.00. Cancellations after this date will not be refundable.

REGISTRATION DESK
The registration desk will be located in the Convention Secretariat of Conrad Jupiters and will be open every day of the conference. We advise you to collect your documents as soon as possible after your arrival. Please note the registration desk will be open from 1400 on Thursday 26 May 2005.

NAME BADGES
Name badges will be given to all delegates on registration. It is requested that you wear your name badge at all times, including social functions. Entry tickets will be provided inside your name badge for all social functions.

Accommodation Information

ICMS Travel, as the official housing bureau for the conference, has been able to secure discounted accommodation rates at Conrad Jupiters. Reservations need to be made before Thursday 21 April 2005.

The room rates are per night and do not include breakfast. Accommodation will be allocated in order of receipt of bookings and payment. Each delegate should complete a separate accommodation form, a clear photocopy of the form is acceptable.

ARRIVAL TIME
Please indicate on your registration form your estimated time of arrival at the hotel. Check-in time is 1300. Should you wish to guarantee your room is ready before the hotel check-in time it is recommended that you book and pay for the room for the evening prior to your arrival. Failure to advise your arrival time may mean that your room will be released.

DEPOSIT
To secure your reservation a deposit equivalent to one night.s room tariff is required. If paying by credit card, your details will be passed onto the hotel as a guarantee. The hotel may not initially deduct a deposit payment from your credit card but may charge you full payment at the time of checkout. Bookings cannot be made until ICMS Travel receives your payment or credit card details.

Room rates are in Australian Dollars and include the Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST).

ACCOMMODATION PAYMENT
The conference secretariat can accept the following:

Cheque/Money Order/Bank Draft
Please make payable to ICMS Travel Trust. Overseas delegates: Personal cheques will not be accepted and will be returned to sender. Company cheques will only be accepted if issued from an Australian Bank.

Telegraphic Transfers
Telegraphic transfers will be accepted, free of fees, to the account listed below. To ensure prompt reconciliation please send a copy of the transfer record to the conference secretariat.

SWIFT Code: ANZBAU3M
BSB No: 013 435
Account No: 3103 44706
Account Name: ICMS Travel Trust
Bank: ANZ (Australian and New Zealand Banking Group Limited)
Branch: South Melbourne
Branch Address: 307 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, VIC 3205 Australia

Credit Card
All major credit cards are accepted: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa.

CHANGE OF BOOKING
Alterations to your accommodation booking will not be accepted over the telephone. Alterations must be in writing via:

E-mail: registration@icms.com.au
Fax: +61 3 9682 0288
Post: MYSA 2005, C/- ICMS Pty Ltd, 84 Queensbridge Street, Southbank VIC 3006, Australia

Please note the conference secretariat cannot accept new accommodation bookings or amendments to existing accommodation bookings after Thursday 21 April 2005. Accommodation amendments after this date will need to be forwarded directly to the hotel.

CANCELLATION OF BOOKING
Cancellations must be advised in writing to the conference secretariat. The deposit will be forfeited for all cancellations received after Thursday 21 April 2005, or if the room is not occupied on the advised date of arrival.

Travel Information

Corporate Travel Management (CTM) is providing a "one stop shop" airfare booking service for the conference.

CTM can present options on the best value for money and/or most flexible airfares in the market, irrespective of airline.

For bookings, please contact CTM and quote the conference code ICMYSA05:

TOLLFREE (within Australia) 1800 630 866
Email: groups@travelctm.com

Please click here to access the on-line travel inquiry form.