Brian Bahnisch Award 2010
The winner of the prestigious Brian Bahnisch Award for 2006 was Assisi Catholic College at Upper Coomera at the northern end of the Gold Coast.
This is a biennial award that recognises and encourages collaborations and partnerships involving teacher-librarians, teachers and other members of the school community.
The Brian Bahnisch Award has as its focus positive learning outcomes for students. As the learner is central to the school and to the work of teachers, so the teacher-librarian as curriculum leader and information specialist working collaboratively with teachers in a school community is central to achieving positive learning outcomes for students.
The judging panel supplied the following comments:
"The Awards Committee would like to commend the nomination and the work of the teacher-librarian, Maureen Twomey, the Head of Campus, Matthew Edwards and the Careers & Senior Years teacher, Jane Fox on the comprehensive and highly collaborative implementation of the Dimensions of Learning program. The significant support for the value of the program is clearly evident in the testimonials offered by the participants - school leaders, teachers across curriculum areas and from students using the Student Manual to support their learning. The program has excellent prospects for sustained development and implementation through the philosophy, policy, curriculum implementation and student learning outcomes of Assisi College supported by the Principal of the college, Dora Luxton. The Assisi Catholic College application clearly articulates the innovative manner in which the teacher-librarian, in collaboration with other members of the school community, has developed and implemented a project which has positive implications for student learning outcomes."
The award was presented by Brian Bahnisch and accepted by Teacher-librarian Maureen Twomey on behalf of the College, at the SLAQ/IASL conference awards presentation in Brisbane. On accepting the award Maureen said, "Our Dimensions of Learning (DOL) Project has been and continues to be our major focus as we work towards our goal to improve student learning. We have the advantage of being a new college in the Brisbane Catholic Education system and have been able to embed DOL as our learning and teaching framework. I have been very fortunate to be working with a wonderful team led by our Principal Dora Luxton who not only believes in the power of school libraries in making a difference to student learning but who has empowered me to work in new and innovative ways in developing a future role as a teacher-librarian in a digital learning landscape."
Congratulations to Maureen and Assisi College for their professionalism, dedication and excellence in teaching.
From the remaining nominations, the judging panel awarded a Certificate of Commendation to the submission from Hambledon State School at Edmonton in Cairns.
The project nominated by Hambledon State School clearly demonstrates commitment to improving learning outcomes for students. The Awards Committee offers its congratulations on a lively and comprehensive program of active and informed citizenship with evidence of wide involvement of students. The collaboration and partnerships within and beyond the school are well demonstrated across the criteria of the application. It is clear the teacher-librarian, Liz Jorgensen, has a significant role in educational leadership in the school and that her role as information specialist is highly valued. A worthy focus on the future capabilities needed by our students to become informed and critical citizens is evident in all aspects of the submission.
The award was presented by Brian Bahnisch and accepted by Teacher-librarian, Liz Jorgensen, on behalf of the Hambledon State School.
Congratulations to Liz and Hambledon State School for their contribution to lifelong learning.
