November's newsletter looks at...

NEW PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENT

We're very excited to announce that we are releasing a wonderful facility to enhance your communications with parents, save you time, money a lots of trees in the process.
We know that the most read item on your web site is your school newsletter. And we know through a recent school survey that over 80% of parents prefer their communication with schools to be electronic.
So we've made life easier for everyone.

This is how it works;
• You upload your newsletter onto your web site (always as a PDF)
• Parents subscribe (on the web site) to receive an email alert informing them that the school's newsletter is now online
• You go into your web sites admin (CMS) section and create the alert 'A friendly reminder from Summer Heights High that the schools newsletter is now available online, please click here'
And that's it.

We have been trialing this system with several schools for a number of months. We have seen a dramatic reduction in the number of hardcopy newsletters produced with most schools quoting that 'only a handful' of paper copies are now being produced. Really, in this age, it isn't necessary to produce paper copies. And we know in those areas where through socio-economic issues may not see a high penetration of PC's in the home, the gap is closing fast, and also schools are very good at managing and dealing with those issues respectfully.

To register your interest in setting up your free email alert system, please email helpdesk@sponsor-ed.com.au and say, 'hey Wally, I don't want to chop down any more trees - get me going on the email alerts'. I was joking, just write what you like but remember to mention your school
 

Founder & CEO of Apple Computers, Steve Jobs is renowned for giving dynamic presentations to unveil each new technological development Apple creates.     Carmine Gallo, a US Communication Coach has watched hours of Jobs' presentations to work out what makes them so successful. Following on from his research, Gallo has written 'The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to be insanely great in front of any audience'.  Gallo has found that Steve Jobs does not sell computers; he sells an experience. The same holds true for his presentations that are meant to inform, educate, and entertain. An Apple presentation has all the elements of a great theatrical production -- a great script, heroes and villains, stage props, breathtaking visuals, and one moment that makes the price of admission well worth it.

From the book we have listed the top 5 key points that Gallo uncovered are in every Jobs' presentation.  Click here to read them...

For the past 18 months sponsor-ed has been focused on gaining a strong foothold in Victoria.  Thanks to the cooperation and foresight of many Victorian principals, we have enjoyed a rapid success and now have over 170 schools onboard.  We have are now spreading our digital wings to launch to the rest of Australia and have signed up our first interstate school, Koorana Primary School in Western Australia!  A relatively young school, Koorana PS opened in 1994 and now has over 600 students.  Our WA activities also saw us present to the State Assembly of the WA Primary Principals Association (WAPPA). The feedback was fantastic with many more schools soon to join the sponsor-ed program.

I read with interest the recent Herald Sun article by Stephen Drill titled, ‘Facebook twist for teachers’. This had all the ingredients to make me sit up and take notice. It combined my two most dominant activities, social media and education. So the scene was set for an opinion piece.
The article’s point was, ‘should teachers become facebook friends with their students?’
Surprisingly a senior Department of Education official, Darrell Fraser said he had no problems with teachers becoming ‘friends’ online as reported by Stephen Drill . Opposing views came from two prominent organisations in Parents Victoria and the Victorian Association of Secondary School Principals; breaches of the Victorian Teaching Profession Code of Conduct was cited as a major reason why facebook friending was inappropriate. more....
 

Denis Masseni - Director

you can follow more of Denis' new media articles at www.thedigitalden.wordpress.com

If you're confused about the acronym AGPPA stands for the Australian Government Primary Principals Association - we met with representatives from each of the participating states in Canberra 2 weeks ago. We presented the sponsor-ed story and considering the positive feedback we received, we are excited to say that sponsor-ed is going national. We have schools coming on board from Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia with meetings scheduled for NSW's and Queensland.

We also met with the President of the Australian Primary Principals Association - so many associations, so little time. Leonie Trimper gave us a great insight into the activities at the Federal level and according to Leonie, schools really do need to get their web site's in order. Music to our ears!

We are very excited to announce that Bunnings have become a schools sponsor. Bunnings has selected 90 schools that are wrapped around ther stores to promote D.I.Y.

Keep an eye out also for their 'enviro week' activities. Want to learn how to build a worm farm? - click here

On October 15th, we had the opportunity to attend the annual VPA 'Shaping Culture...Learning from Successful Leaders' conference held at the Hilton Hotel.  It was my first visit to an education industry conference and it was both heartening and inspiring to see so many leaders of schools gathered in one spot to listen and discuss the best methods of how to lead a school.  There was a full day of speakers including: A 'Welcome to Country' by Aboriginal Leader Stephanie Murphy, the Hon Bronwen Pike, Dr Adam Fraser, Elida Brereton, Prof Marilyn Fleer, Robert Lamb and Christine Nixon.  Click here to read more...