​Standard 7 - Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community

Evidence as to how I meet this Standard:

7.1.2 Meet professional ethics and responsibilities
​As a teaching professional, it is my responsibility to follow codes of ethics and conduct established by regulatory authorities and schools.  I need to ensure my Working With Children Clearance is kept up to date.  As a Department of Education employee I also have to keep my Child Protection updates, eEmergency Care, Anaphylaxis and CPR training current.  Any work that I do, or information on students I gather is to be kept confidential under the code of ethics. 
​
When I was given an 8 week contract at GMAS I was asked to had a sit down meeting with the Deputy Principal for 2 hours to go over my professional responsibilities and ethics.  We went over all the school policies, what was expected of me, dress code, safety issues etc.  At the end of the meeting I had to sign a document to state that I understood each of these requirements.  

​

7.2.2 Comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements
  
As part of the TBRWA requirements, I have completed a number of compulsory training requirements. I have ensured that I understand the implications of these requirements, including awareness of treatment for anaphylaxis, duty of care and medical treatment in emergency situations and my working with children check. I remain up to date with the compulsory training so as to guarantee my students’ safety and well-being under my care (7.2.2). 

7.3.2 Engage with the parents/carers

Over the many years that I have been teaching I have had a fantastic open communication policy with all parents.  Parents are kept informed about everything that is happening in my classroom right from my Kindergarten classroom to the year 6 classroom.   As a Kindergarten teacher at North Tom Price Primary School parents regularly make contact with me at the beginning of the day or at the end of the day to see how their child is going.  I believe it is very important to be approachable at all times as the first years of school can be not just a nervous experience for children but also the parents themselves.  Parents are kept updated about the highs and lows of their child's day so that their successes can be celebrated, while difficulties can be worked on.  Notes are regularly sent home to let parents know of important dates that may be coming up and if contact has not been made back by the parent then a phone call is given so that parents do not miss dates.  

As a pre-kindy teacher at NTTPS I created a Facebook page for the program and posted pictures of the children immersed in play and learning.  I also used this as reminders about upcoming dates and activities that children would be participating in.  

In kindergarten, I have on occasion had Jehovah's Witness children in my class.  At the beginning of the year I organise a parent meeting so that I am aware of what the child can and cannot celebrate, eat, participate in.  On the majority of occasions parents are more than happy for their child to participate but occasionally we may have a parent that would prefer their child be exempt from certain activities.  When this is the case I make sure that the child doesn't feel left out and if given an activity to do that is just as fun or if excluded from birthday celebrations can go outside with the teaching assistant and have fun in the playground so they don't feel to excluded.  

While teaching at Georgiana Molloy Anglican School parent contact is made frequently.  It is requested that we ring parents at least once a term to discuss their child's progress and if their are any concerns.  It is then noted on SEQTA with the conversation that we have had with parents for future reference.  We also keep parents up to date with diary notes so that they are aware of activities happening in their classroom.  This contact was made by myself in both the year 3 classroom and the year 6 classroom and was a good way to discuss their child's progress if they don't do drop off and pick up at the school.  Permission notes are also sent home for every activity so that parents permission is granted before their child can actively participate.  

As a relief teacher at GMAS I have been able to be part of the community garden and kitchen activities with the year 5 classes. Parents are invited to come and help out in the garden and kitchen and it is a great way for students to have time with their parents during school in the older grades.  

---

7.4.2 Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities

Facebook has become a great source of social networking for teachers.  I am currently on a number of sites where teachers can ask each other questions and gets lots of different opinions and some great advice.  Facebook sites include:

• relief teaching ideas
• DECD: Early career Teachers
• Scootle
• Teaching ideas
• Irresistible ideas for play-based learning
• educational insights
• Teach HUB
• Scholastic Teachers
• Teachers Pay Teachers
• Education World
• AITSL
• Pearson Australia
• Autism Awareness Australia
• Modern Teaching Aids

I also subscribe to:

• Teach this
• Teachers pay teachers
• Twinkl

PD certificates 
​