3rd Annual Education Conference

On Saturday September 27 ^th over 300 teachers from the four schools in the Saint Mary's Group of Schools met in Dubai for their third annual Education Conference entitled, "Promoting Deeper Learning throughout the whole school community."

Organised by the Professional Development Committee, this annual Conference is an opportunity for teachers and teaching assistants to meet together to share experiences, be challenged and in so doing continue to build the growing community that is Saint Mary's Group of Schools.

The Conference was opened by Mr. Joseph Flynn, the Managing Director, who welcomed the delegates to Saint Mary's Catholic High School in Dubai by setting out the objectives for the day ahead which included his desire to see ever increasing collaboration between the schools as was being seen by the successful development of the Professional Development Committee.

Following a moment of quiet reflection and prayer led by Sister Tziana D'Agostino, Mr John Turner, the Director of Teaching and Learning welcomed each of the school Principals to address the Conference by giving a brief presentation outlining the key characteristics of their school, celebrating their successes and sharing a message outlining their school ethos. This was well received by the delegates who appreciated the opportunity to feel part of something bigger than just their own school.

John Turner proceeded to welcome the presenters who were to deliver workshop sessions for the teachers. Visiting presenters from Zayed University and the American School in Dubai were complemented by presenters from within the staff of the St Mary's Schools network.

The Professional Development Committee, who organised the Conference based upon the wishes expressed by the teachers within the schools, had selected a range of workshop sessions to stimulate and motivate the teachers.

The workshop sessions were on: Developing the potential of Information and Communication Technology; Differentiation; Special Educational Needs; Gifted and Talented provision; Assessment for Learning; Independent Learning; Lesson Observations; Practical Maths; Cross-Curricular Links; Early Years provision; Developing the Catholic Ethos; School Leadership; Attainment and Progress; Time Management, Giving effective Feedback; Effective teaching and learning of Arabic.

Each delegate attended four one hour workshops within a busy schedule and throughout the day there was a positive energy and enthusiasm amongst the teachers as they eagerly sought out their next workshop challenge.

The day concluded with a gathering in the main hall where all of those who had worked to make the day a success were acknowledged. Firstly Ms Lise-Ann Pinto from the school staff was thanked for the smooth and efficient handling of the logistics. A team of over 30 school students who had given up their weekend were thanked for their impeccable politeness and efficiency in ensuring that the needs of all of the presenters and all of the teachers were seen to.

Each presenter was given a certificate and a small gift as recognition of their efforts and all reported enjoying the positive response and engagement of the teachers. Finally the teachers themselves were thanked for their active participation in the day.

As the teachers began their journeys back to their schools across the Emirates there was a feeling that the event had brought everyone a little closer together and that within each school there was certainly an increasing desire to build on what had been learnt so that the most important people within the Saint Mary's Community of Schools, the children, would benefit from the day spent together.

The presentations, handouts, and other presenter materials are available here.

Check out the web site Photo Gallery for photos, or click here for a complete set of 300 photos on Google Drive.