Chief Executive’s Report

John Clarke

COVID-19 strikes again to interrupt the start of the 2021 school year.

CONSTAWA is the STAWA Primary and Secondary Science Teachers Conference. Planning for CONSTAWA 2021 was in full swing, but news from the North Metropolitan TAFE and the Novotel Langley Perth drew a rapid halt to progress. Unfortunately, TAFE had a change in policy due to COVID and can for the time being only host external groups. The Novotel is and remains a COVID quarantine site well into July. They kindly refunded our deposit and offered to help source an alternative venue. The committee are currently negotiating with a couple of schools as hosts and we have decided to postpone the conference until the second week of the July school holidays, possibly Wednesday 14 July. With the imposed changes, we will not be including a conference dinner or accommodation. We apologise for any inconvenience but hope that the new date will enable more teachers to attend, particularly our regional colleagues. Details will be updated on the STAWA website.

Member numbers have an important currency in improving our capacity to advocate on science education issues affecting science teachers when talking with Government and Industry. If you have not yet renewed your membership, I encourage you to do so. Please also encourage your non-member colleagues to become part of our great organisation. The Synergy School Solar Challenge events are happening from 9th March all the way through to the Grand Final on 30 March. As with previous years, 2021 would have events in Bunbury, Collie, Albany, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie and the 2 metropolitan events. We thank Synergy for their commitment to these events. Capping of event numbers meant that some schools may miss out. The numbers will be restricted again in 2022 so please, keep an eye out for 2022 registrations to avoid disappointment.

The 2021 Psychology Teachers Convention is planned for Thursday 19 August. The Fremantle location is yet to be confirmed. Initiated in 2015, the Psychology Teachers Convention aims to support teachers of the WACE Psychology course. The Convention program is developed by the STAWA Psychology Committee. Details of the convention will be provided on the website as they become available.

STAWA lost a life member Ray Forma early this term. Ray was an active, and an important Council member in the late 70s and early 80s which are renaissance years of STAWA. With contributions from Greg Linstead and others, Leon DeLeuil has provided reflections on Ray’s contributions to STAWA and science education in general in this edition of SCIOS.

In closing, please encourage your peers, particularly early career teachers to take up STAWA membership

and to actively seek to contribute to the goals of the association and to contribute your thoughts and ideas to help STAWA grow into the future. The STAWA Council have recently reviewed the strategic plan.

For details link to https://www.stawa.net/about-us/ constitution-and-strategic-plan/

Have a safe and enjoyable remainder of Term 1 and your much-deserved Term 1 holidays.

Your Chief Executive Officer,

John Clarke

STAWA pUbLICATIONS

Year 11 and 12 ATAR Resources: The STAWA Exploring Chemistry, Physics and Human Biology series support the Western Australian

Curriculum ATAR Courses. The Year 12 publications Exploring Human Biology Stage 3 and Revising Physics: A Study Guide with Investigations are also available.

Human Biology General Course Resources: The STAWA Exploring Human Biology Stage 1 and Stage 2 resources are available and together cover both the Year 11 and the Year 12 General Course.

Answers and Worked Solutions: http://stawa.net/stawa-textbook-solutions/

Member Discount: Members receive a 10% discount on all purchases through STAWA.