IT WAS PARTY TIME....

There is an immense feeling of satisfaction today although a bit of a flat feeling too..
For the last six months,  four of us have been working tirelessly to put together a PD day for Teacher Aides in our region....
It all started in 2011 when we asked our Principal if we could hold a PD for Teacher Aides to learn how to use the IWB's that we had in each of our classrooms.  We wanted to be able to invite a few other teacher aides in our area of town....

Our Principal was new this year also, and she was hugely supported, almost embarassingly so as she continually praised us for wanting to provide this for other teacher aides.
Our first PD day was held in July 2011.  We thought we would accept 30 registrations but in fact we accepted 45 and turned away 20....

Our lovely Principal was so supported that she suggested we should hold another one in the October of that same year.  We thought this time we would accept 50 Teacher aides and this would at least allow those that had missed out the opportunity to come.  Well the registration was overwhelming with us accepting 65 registrations and turning away over 115 teacher aides...

One of the schools that came to our second PD day,we approached to see if they would work with us to provide extra PD the following year so that we could cater for all the teacher aides in our district to come.  Jannett had transfered from our school to her new school a couple of years previously, but we had still kept in touch and were really good mates.... We work very well together...

During 2012 and 2013 we were able to offer PD to 150 teacher aides in our regions but still we were being approached by teacher aides that had missed out to include them in our PD.

We decided that this year we would combine and hold our PD at one of the Sports Clubs in town, where we could comfortably hold 200 Teacher Aides.  As 2014 marks the anniversary of 40 years o teacher aides being in Qld schools. we would make this our focus and celebrate....

We had so much fun working together to put a really good day together for the Teacher Aides and provide them with a little gift to mark the occassion also.   We made it a celebration and even had a cake.  Even the media came this year.  It really was the best day and we received so much positive feedback...

The four of us

We even got special uniforms to wear this year so that we were able to be identified by anyone needing help or advise.
Becasue it was a special year, we really wanted to make the aides free special, so we set about making sure that everything was just perfect.
We even made table decorations to sit on the table.  They were pretty cheap to make, we just bought a $5 straw broom from Bunnings and Sue spray painted them both silver and maroon.  All we did was put them in a small jar with sand in it and then tie a piece of silver paper around the base to make them all look the same.  We cut out lots of 40s so that we could hang them in the tree.  They really did look very effective. 

Our table decorations

on the Saturday night before I thought about the stage decorations and decided that some nice balloons on the stage would add to the celebration feel of the day, so I ducked into Spotlight on the way to the club to get some helium balloons.  They looked perfect and gave the day a party feel. 

Our helium balloons. 

The tables looked lovely when they were all set up.  One of our Principals reckoned that the tables looked heaps better than her bridal table did when she got married. 

Our table all set up for our PD day.

We bought each of the Teacher Aides, a nice mug and pen as a gift to celebrate our 40 years in Qld schools. 

A lovely gift wrapped mug and pen for each of the Teacher Aides. 

We had folders made for each delegate, with notes from the presenters in there along with a little notebook, fridge magnet, so our aides really did have a lot of things to take home. 

Folder and Mug

It kind of did look a bit like a wedding, but the Aides were just wrapped.  The room really did look lovely and we were all super proud of it.

Our room all set up. 

Celbrating 40 years of Teacher Aides in Qld Schools. 

We wanted to get some photos of the girls from each school

Jannett and Sue...

We ended up with two cakes.  We needed this many to feed the 200 Teacher Aides who had registered to attend our PD Day. 


 Jenny, the Teacher Aide from our shcool actually puit together a Pwer Point presentatons of OUr PD from the very start.  She does a great job with these phowerpoints. 

Viewing our PowerPoint presentation. 

 This year I drew the staw to welcome everyone and do all the hosuekeeping. 

Welcoming everyone to our "Teacher Aides Learning Together" PD Day

Giving my speech

Celebrating the great work that Teacher Aides do...

Both of our Principals had the opportunity to speak to the Teacher Aides.  It was wonderful to hear them acknowledge the great work that Teacher Aides do, and how much they value the teacher aides that work in their schools.  It is nice for the Teacher Aides to hear this sort of feedback, as not admin staff feel this way.  We really do appreicate the support our wonderful Principals give to us also.

Both our Principals

Our lovely Principal

 Our princiapl then  called up one of the Teacher Aides from our school to cut the cake for us.  Denise has been an Aide for over 33 years

Denise Cutting the cake

Our celebration cake. 

We had also orders some little balloon Topiary Trees to decorate the tables where lunch would be served.  They looked really nice. 

Balloon Topiary Trees on the lunch table

Morning tea was lovely.   We got lots of favourable comments on our evaluation about the food...

Morning Tea

Morning Tea

Hot finger food and our cake

We had two food stations and people just liked up and helped themselves...

Serving themselves at morning tea

Teacher Aides Learning Together

Everyone was very involved in the day's program

Our second speaker was from the Union Shopper.  She was able to tell all our Teacher Aides about the benefits of using the union shopper for when they want to buy items whether large or small and how by going through their union shopper they can save a lot of money....
We have often used them, and have always saved, so it was nice to share this with Teacher Aides who are all entitled to use their services.  We were amazed at the number of Aides that didn't realize that they could access their services. 

Michelle informing everyone of the Union Shopper's services.

Then it was time to introduce one of our key speakers.  She was really good... Interesting, highly motivated and passionate about her topic and had everyone engaged.... Our first session with her was on Communication, and she left us with some wonderful stategies to use, and lots to think about. 

Sue-Ellen Kusher addressing the Teacher Aides...

Sue-Ellen Kusher - our main speaker

More strategies for us to use.....

Then it was time to eat again....
More lovely food...

Lunchtime..

Lovely wraps

Assortment of Sandwiches...

In the afternoon, Sue-Ellen presented to us again, and this time she addressed some work life balance issues and also dealing with stress.  This was a really wonderful session and even I got a lot out of it...

Dealing with stress in our lives

Everyone involved in the sessions...

The Union Shopper had a lucky draw with us all too... Someone was going to win a $50 gift voucher at JB Hi Fi.
We drew it at the end of the day and this lucky lady won it...

Jannett presenting the lucky winner with her voucher....

At the end of the day,  I managed to find someone to take a photo of both Jenny and I. 
We have been working together now for four years putting these PD's together and have never managed a photo together... Probably because I usually am always the one behind the camera....

Jenny and I in our new uniforms...

Jenny and I...

It was a wonderful day...
Our feedback was really very positive...
It is going to be hard to top it next year...