Co-Presidents’ Report 2017-2018

A concerted effort was made in 2017-18 on advocacy with key stakeholder groups and the trial of new initiatives to raise the public profile of SAATI across the broader community.

The Annual General Meeting last year was significantly well attended and a repeat record attendance is registered for 2018.

As a voluntary association established in 1975 SAATI continues to represent all teachers of Italian in the South Australian education sector.

SAATI is a not-for-profit incorporation and committed to supporting professional learning for teachers and in 2018 has offered free workshops for members and member affiliations (e.g. Dante).

Following the success of the preview of the Italian film festival for schools in 2017, SAATI is collaborating with Palace Nova Cinema to make this an annual event. The small amount of revenue generated from the film event last year was utilised for grants to schools to support students of Italian to attend the film festival screenings designated for classes.

Details of the 2018 preview of ‘Come un gatto in tangenziale’ will be available soon. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7129926/ and https://truecolours.it/#!/like-a-cat-on-a-highway

Key achievements

August –December 2017

Development of support materials and resources for the classroom based on the film Troppo Napoletano following on from the keynote presentation at the 2017 AGM and film screening.

Provision of financial support to schools for attendance at the Italian film festival school screening of Troppo Napoletano in September through an expression of interest.

Five applications were received

Four nominations were made through a panel process including CESA and DECD schools

In total, approximately 500 students of Italian attended school screenings at the Palace Nova Cinema.

SAATI sponsorship for a teacher to attend conference in Canberra

Nomination of two beginning teachers of Italian at the World Teachers Day Awards Ceremony and attending the reception with them in October 2017. The Minister for Education and Child Development officiated the awards.

Facilitation of an interview for Il Globo newspaper in October 2017 regarding an article to promote the teaching of Italian in South Australia. This included discussion on education and systemic priorities, professional learning for teachers of Italian and key issues in languages.

Progression on the work of the CEASA professional learning grant ($4,500) to explore Critical and Creative thinking in the Italian classroom led by Dr Michelle Kohler with seven teachers from across two primary and three secondary schools in CESA and the Department. This has included working within a professional learning community; undertaking action-based classroom research in sites. (Nov/Dec)

Provision of a formal presentation at a CEASA forum in November re the project implementation developed from the professional learning grant.

Distribution of ten free film tickets to Dante Alighieri film night.

In conjunction with Dante Alighieri and the Italian Consulate, organised and ran Schools competition on Food for “La Settimana della Cucina”. Awards night function organised at Marche Club for winning school teachers, students and their families.

Representation of SAATI at dinner for “La Settimana della Cucina” at Ruby Red restaurant

Attendance of a number of teachers representing SAATI at the function for the visit of the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs at the Fogolar Furlan

January –June 2018

Provision of support for the Italian Consul & Com.It.Es. Conference Strengthening the learning and teaching of Italian, K-12 on February 10, 2018 by working in collaboration with Angela Scarino to coordinate teacher presentations, participation and attendance. This included representation from 9 teachers across 7 sites in Catholic Education South Australia and Department for Education schools.

Participation at the CEASA Volunteers Ceremony in May 2018 with 1 SAATI committee member formally acknowledged for long term service to the Association.

Staged progression and implementation of the explore Critical and Creative thinking in the Italian classroom across Term 1 & 2. This includes meeting with Dr Kohler, as a PLC and across sites. Provision of one TRT day per project for xxx schools: East Adelaide Primary; Cowandilla Primary; Charles Campbell College, Mt Gambier High School and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College.

Organisation of an Italian networking banquet dinner at Ruby Red Flamingo in April 2018 for SAATI members and friends.

Organisation of a table for SAATI members and friends at the Dante…..film and pasta event at the Marche Club in May 2018.

Negotiation across a number of months for the preview of a new release Italian film “Come un gatto in tangenziale” with the Palace Nova Cinema. Our thanks are extended to the Italian Consul for the film suggestion and to Jade Henschke, Manager, Business Development SA, Palace Nova Cinemas for relentlessly pursuing permission to screen with the international film distributors. Screening date to be advised.

Representation at various receptions and meetings including:

Com.It.Es. reception for His Excellency Mr Stefano Gatti, Ambassador of Italy

Co-ordinating Italian Committee– AGM

Dante Alighieri – AGM

MLTASA - AGM

CEASA – Council meetings and AGM- finance one etc

Carnevale – Save the Carnevale meeting

Professional Learning for teachers

Matthew Absalom workshop in conjunction with the School of Languages in November 2017 with twelve teachers attending

Joe Geracitano workshop on the Italian Historical Society of SA Inc; Exploring Classroom Links in May 2018 with sixteen teachers attending from nine schools

Silvia DeCesare workshop on Italian conference for teachers of Italian at Canberra “L’Italiano al Cinema l’Italiano nel cinema” with sixteen teachers attending from nine schools

For students of Italian

Schools competition for R-9 students for “La Settimana della Cucina” with Dante Alighieri and Italian Consulate in November 2017

Schools competition in collaboration with Dante Alighieri on “L’Italia Festeggia!” for R-9 students currently in progress with final entries to be judged in November 2018

Maria Kitching and Antonella Macchia, Co-Presidents

14 June 2018