80 - 98 Park Road
Hurstville NSW 2220, Australia

Junior School:

(+612) 9580 9242

juniorschool@danebank.nsw.edu.au

Senior School:

(+612) 9580 1415

enquiries@danebank.nsw.edu.au

Welcome

Welcome to the Danebank Staff Professional Learning Portal. 

Here you will find a wealth of information to support your professional learning and growth, including information about accreditation, applying for professional learning and professional learning meeting schedules. 

 

 

  • Ms Penni Maher - Head of Professional Innovation and Practice
    Ms Penni Maher - Head of Professional Innovation and Practice
  • Ms Emma Pay - Director of Teacher Practice
    Ms Emma Pay - Director of Teacher Practice

Teaching at Danebank Newsletter

Current issue

Past issues:

 

 

    Applying for professional learning

    Please complete a professional learning application form if you are seeking to engage in professional learning that either:

    • occurs during the usual school day and will require your regular duties to be covered and/or
    • will incur a cost to the school. 

    Professional learning undertaken in your own time and for free does not require an application. 

    Please complete applications at least 2 weeks before the planned learning is due to commence. If your application is urgent, please submit this form and then contact Penni Maher directly to discuss your application. 

    If the learning opportunity you are seeking costs more that $1000 please discuss with the Head of Professional Innovation and Practice by phone or in person before making the application. 

    Do not book any professional learning without prior approval.  

    Application forms can be found below:

      Professional Learning Meeting Schedule

      Click  here to see the Term 2 2024 Professional Learning Calendar. 

        Accreditation

        NESA Accreditation

         

        Proficient Teacher Accreditation

        Provisionally and conditionally accredited teachers begin working towards accreditation at Proficient Teacher from the day they start employment at Danebank. 

        To achieve Proficient Teacher accreditation, teachers with provisional or conditional accreditation must:

        • complete NESA's online Proficient Teacher Orientation course
        • meet the Standards for Proficient Teacher
        • submit five to eight items of annotated documenatry evidence of their practice
        • submit a report on an observation of their practice completed by their Accreditation Supervisor NESA Lesson observation template
        • if accredited at Conditional, provide a certified copy of their transcript/testamur confirming the award of the approved teaching degree.
        • hold a current NSW Working With Children Check (WWCC) clearance.

        More information can be found at the NESA website

        Danebank Proficient Teacher Accreditation process - (under review)

         

         

        Maintenance of Accreditation

        NESA guidelines

         Danebank Elective Professional Development Log

         Make a copy of the template and store it on your individual drive.

        All accredited Professional Development will remain in your eTAMS account. You are required to evaluate accredited PD

         

        Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher Accreditation 

         

          ISTAA Experienced Teacher accreditation

           

          This level of accreditation acknowledges the high-quality, reflective teaching practices of teachers working beyond the Proficient Teacher level.

          Experienced Teacher Accreditation is managed by ISTAA (Independent Schools Teacher Accreditation Authority).

          Teachers who wish to apply for Experienced Teacher Accreditation, or who seek further information regarding the process, should contact emma.pay@danebank.nsw.edu.au. 

          Further information can also be accessed through the ISTAA website. 

          'Eligibility to apply for accreditation at the level of Experienced Teacher is based on the following criteria.
           
          Teachers who entered the teaching profession in NSW and ACT prior to 1 October 2004: 
          • must have completed seven years of full-time equivalent service by the end of the year in which the application is assessed, AND 
          • are currently on Band 2 of the salary scale in accordance with their school’s Multi-Enterprise Agreement. 
          Teachers who entered the teaching profession in NSW and ACT after 1 October 2004: 
          • must have completed at least five years of full-time equivalent service after achieving accreditation at the level of Proficient Teacher. The five years of full-time equivalent service must be completed by the end of the year in which the application is assessed. For New South Wales teachers, the date that the applicant achieved Proficient Teacher is stated on the Teacher Summary Report which can be accessed by logging into their account on the NESA eTAMS website.'

           

          Key Resources: 

          2025 Danebank Experienced Teacher Accreditation Processes and Procedures

          2024 Danebank Experienced Teacher Accreditation Processes and Procedures

          Submission in 2025

          Experienced Teacher Accreditation Important Dates 2025

          Start your 2025 Experienced Teacher Accreditation Journey

          Submission in 2024

          Experienced Teacher Accreditation Handbook 2024

          Experienced Teacher Accreditation Evidence Guide 2024

          Experienced Teacher Accreditation Important Dates 2024

           

          All templates can be found on the last page of the Evidence Guide. 

          Resources for Collection of Evidence for the Principal's Attestation:

          ET Evidence Collection for Principal's Attestation

          #1 ET Professional Conversation Preparation

          #2 Danebank Classroom Observation + ET descriptors

          #3 Form: Heads of Department and Stage Coordinators

          Find evidenced based research articles: 

          Teaching Sprints Research Hub https://teachingsprints.com/research

          Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) https://www.edresearch.edu.au/practice-hub/teaching-practices

          Education Endowment Foundation-Guidance Reports  https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/guidance-reports

          Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE) https://education.nsw.gov.au/about-us/educational-data/cese/publications

          EduResearch Matters (Australian Association for Research in Education) http://www.aare.edu.au/blog/

          8 Aboriginal Ways of Learning https://www.8ways.online/ 

            Professional Growth Planning

            Teaching Staff Goal Setting:

            2024 Professional Growth Planning Process

            2024 Professional Goal Setting Template for teaching staff

            Professional goal setting - an example 

            2024 Professional Goal Setting presentation

            Danebank Evidence Collection Templates (These are provided as optional to support your record of evidence)

            Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

            AITSL Teacher Self Reflection Tool

            AITSL SWOT Analysis Self Reflection

            Middle Leaders Goal Setting:

            2024 Professional Goal Setting template for Middle Leaders

            2023 Professional Growth Planning Process

            Support Staff Goal Setting: 

            2024 Support staff goal setting template

            Senior School:

            Faculty Goal template

            Junior School 

            Stage Goal template 

             

             

             

             

              Danebank Approach to Learning

              Overview of the Approach to Learning Dispositions:

              Link to the Approach to Learning - Glossary of Terms

              Danebank Approach to Learning  - Wheel

              Wellbeing for LearningReflective learningRelational LearningFaith & CharacterResourceful Learning
              • Strengths
              • Emotional Management
              • Attention and Awareness
              • Relationships
              • Coping
              • Habits and Goals

              Visible Wellbeing Resources

              • Courageous optimism
              • Compassionate Service
              • Respectful relationships
              • Creative Collaboration
              • Taking responsibility 
              • Personal Excellence
              • Loving Kindness 

              Reading to support your implementation of the Danebank Approach to Learning 

              Danebank Approach to Learning: Professional Reading. This folder contains resources for each of the learning dispositions. This will be continuously updated. Please let us know if you have anything to be added to this shared resource. 

              Click here to access readings from Building Learning Power by Guy Claxton.  

              Building Learning Power Website, search for different dispositions to discover ideas for teaching these. 

               

               Danebank Teaching Sprints

              Term 2 2023 Teaching Sprints workbook

              Term 2 2023 Approach to Learning Presentation 24/4/23

              Term 1 2023 Teaching Sprints workbook 

              Term 1 2023 Approach to Learning Presentation Thurs 9/2/23

              (Audio for 9/2/23 Presentation)

              Glossary of terms 

              How to 'Amplify' teaching with the Danebank Approach to Learning

              Some suggestions for activities to try 

              Term 4 2022 Reflection

              Prepare phase of sprint - presentation for stage & faculty meetings 

              Resources from Jann Robinson's presentation to Danebank

              Presentation

              Examples of the Approach to Learning in the classroom

              Stage 3 Reflective Learning Sprint T3 2022

              Resources from Teaching Sprints Showcase 18/7/22: 

              Showcase Slideshow

              Emma Wight: Habits and Goals punch-cards

              Esse Rowlands: Visible Wellbeing Strengths Circle Time Questions 

              Jessica Duggan: Let's be curious- Question Bingo and Generating Questions

              Alison Blair: Index Page with Reflection 

              Collaboration resources from Emma Pay: 

              Explicitly teaching Collaboration 

              Effective Collaboration

              Conversation Moves 

              Audio and Visual resources exploring the research behind the Danebank Approach to Learning

              Podcast interview with Guy Claxton link here   

              Guy Claxton with short (7minute) intro to The Idea of Building Learning Power  

              Nowra Anglican College  link to the teachers discussion here

               

              UK case studies a conversation here  or another conversation here 

                Middle Leadership at Danebank

                Coaching

                Resources

                 

                Leading the implementation Danebank Approach to Learning 

                Teaching Sprints Facilitator Training 

                 

                 

                Middle Leadership - collated resources from University of Sydney 

                 

                 

                Professional Learning Groups

                Coming soon.

                  Visible Wellbeing

                  Visible Wellbeing resources

                  Link to Danebank online VWB Modules: Teacher Certificate in Visible Wellbeing 

                    Reading Group

                    Next Staff Book Club - Term 2, 2024

                    Hidden Potential (2023)

                    Adam Grant

                     

                     

                    Teaching and learning reading and resources

                    AI and Education

                    Some useful links and resources

                      Project Based Learning (PBL)

                       

                      Project Based Learning is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging and complex question, problem or challenge.

                      Resources and templates for implementing PBL in the classroom at Danebank. 

                      For more information, contact Mr Lee Malin, Head of PDHPE / Coordinator of Strategic Projects (Student Learning)

                       

                        Quality Teaching Resources

                        Quality Teaching Element Explainer Videos

                          Differentiation

                           

                          Collated resources on differentiating assessment 

                            Practicum students at Danebank

                            Each year Danebank hosts students from a range of universities as they complete their practicum experience in Education. Staff are able to express their interest in supervising a student.

                            Permanent staff who have at least 5 years teaching experience can offer to supervise a tertiary student on their practicum placement. Please discuss your request with your Head of Department or Stage leader before emailing Penni Maher with your expression of interest. 

                            Universities regularly contact the school to place their students with us. Penni Maher will connect with HoDs and the Assistant Head of Junior School to determine our capacity to supervise students at Danebank.

                              Other

                              Podcasts worth hearing

                              Here are suggestions for some thought provoking listening. Get in touch if you have further suggestions. Find them wherever you get your podcasts.

                              • This is a podcast for Aspiring, Middle and Senior Leaders in Education. Each week we dive into a topic to talk leadership, strategy, culture and the business of K-12 education to define what success looks like in an educational setting in the 2020's and beyond. Our mission for the podcast is to create the best free professional learning on the internet for school leaders. Hosted by Mat Irving and Luke Callier.
                                This is a podcast for Aspiring, Middle and Senior Leaders in Education. Each week we dive into a topic to talk leadership, strategy, culture and the business of K-12 education to define what success looks like in an educational setting in the 2020's and beyond. Our mission for the podcast is to create the best free professional learning on the internet for school leaders. Hosted by Mat Irving and Luke Callier.
                              • The Education Research Reading Room (ERRR) Podcast brings you into the discussion with inspiring educators, and education researchers. Each month we delve into the ideas of a world leader, teasing out everything from fundamental education theories to classroom ready strategies that the wonderful world of education research and practice has to offer.
                                The Education Research Reading Room (ERRR) Podcast brings you into the discussion with inspiring educators, and education researchers. Each month we delve into the ideas of a world leader, teasing out everything from fundamental education theories to classroom ready strategies that the wonderful world of education research and practice has to offer.
                              • Millions of kids can't read well. Scientists have known for decades how children learn to read but many schools are ignoring the research. They buy teacher training and books that are rooted in a disproven idea. Emily Hanford investigates four authors and a publishing company that have made millions selling this idea.
                                Millions of kids can't read well. Scientists have known for decades how children learn to read but many schools are ignoring the research. They buy teacher training and books that are rooted in a disproven idea. Emily Hanford investigates four authors and a publishing company that have made millions selling this idea.
                              • Sue Larkey enlightens, and entertains with valuable insights into Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, ODD and PDA. Covering strategies from the Early Years to Teens Years and Beyond.
                                Sue Larkey enlightens, and entertains with valuable insights into Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, ODD and PDA. Covering strategies from the Early Years to Teens Years and Beyond.
                              • Huberman Lab discusses neuroscience — how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviours, and our health. Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology, and by courtesy, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. He has made numerous significant contributions to the fields of brain development, brain function and neural plasticity, which is the ability of our nervous system to rewire and learn new behaviours, skills and cognitive functioning.
                                Huberman Lab discusses neuroscience — how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviours, and our health. Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology, and by courtesy, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. He has made numerous significant contributions to the fields of brain development, brain function and neural plasticity, which is the ability of our nervous system to rewire and learn new behaviours, skills and cognitive functioning.