elearning opportunities for Department schools 2016

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eLearning opportunities for

Department schools 2016

Department of Education

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Introduction

From 2016 the Professional Learning Institute will have responsibility for the eLearning provision that has provided a number of online K-12 courses and programs to DoE schools for a number of years. This will continue to develop an eService that will

complement, augment or extend local provision and provide students with access to educational experiences and opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable. Increasingly there will be a focus on providing high quality professional learning that will build workforce capacity in designing and delivering blended and online learning.

The programs for 2016 continue to include extension programs for students identified as gifted as well as other curriculum extension programs for highly able/high performing students or those requiring specific differentiation through an online opportunity. Programs vary in length and nature; for example some are full year subjects while others are term by term opportunities. Most programs are delivered by an online teacher who will work with students in partnership with staff who provide support and supervision at the students’ local school.

In addition a variety of online courses can be accessed free to any classroom teacher as a “ready to go” Fronter room in the Department’s Virtual Learning Environment for use with students.

Procedures

Online courses and programs outlined in this guide are available to students in any Department school.

Information about the programs is available from:  the overview of courses in this guide

 [email protected]

 contact Kent Poulton (Coordinator eLearning) 0428035871 / 63327702

Enrolment Process

Schools can propose enrolment for students via an

online enrolment form found by searching for eLearning programs on the Department of Education website. The process of enrolment is shown in this diagram.

Supporting students working online

Student success in online courses is strongly correlated with school and / or home-based support, in addition to the support provided by the online teacher. Each student or group of students in a program / course needs a local support person who may be a teacher, teacher aide, learning advisor, or supportive adult at school or home. This role is critical to ensure that students fully engage with their program and that comprehensive assessment information, if required, is included in their school report. For more information

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please refer to the more comprehensive eLearning Procedure document.

Quality local support will assist students to:  access the online program regularly, work

within set timeframes and regularly submit required learning tasks and assignments to agreed expectations

 communicate regularly with their online teacher through the tools provided

 behave appropriately when using ICT, including the Internet, in accordance with the Acceptable Use Agreement signed in their school.

School Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the school accessing online programs to provide

;

 a support person who needs to actively support and monitor student engagement and progress in their course and liaise regularly with the relevant delivery teacher

 a suitable working environment and technology for the students to engage in their online course

 an appropriate time allocation for students to successfully undertake and complete the course  local co-ordination as needed for the online

teacher visits (if required) including the

opportunity for the teacher to work with their online students

 specific materials or software used to support delivery as required

Good communication between the support person, online teacher and the classroom teacher is important to enable strong links to the student’s classroom program.

What does it cost?

Access to programs and courses is on a subsidised basis. Some courses are free to DoE schools and some courses are fee for service. Check course description for full details.

Please note that:

 courses and programs are offered on the basis of demand and available resourcing

 proposed enrolments are required (as much as possible) to be entered via the website before the end of the school year

 course viability is dependent on enrolment numbers.

 all courses have upper limits of participant numbers and students may be added to a waiting list if courses are full

Important dates 2015 / 2016

Early Dec 2015 Proposed enrolments open for ₂₀₁₆ Monday 8 Feb 2016 Start of online delivery for ₂₀₁₆ Monday June 6 2016 Mid-year enrolments _commence

Curriculum connections

Courses align with the appropriate learning area of the Australian Curriculum.

Reporting and assessment

Some courses will provide midyear and end or year reports others will provide certificates of participation. Please check at enrolment or commencement of course.

Contacts

For further information please contact Kent Poulton Coordinator eLearning on 0428035871 / 63327702 or email [email protected]

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Online programs for gifted students

Gifted students are part of all Department of Education school communities. Research shows that

moderately to highly gifted students require significant academic extension and enrichment to ensure that

their entitlement to

challenging and engaging learning opportunities

is met. (

Learners First 2014/17

) Such

students sometimes struggle to find like-minded peers in their class and can feel isolated and different

from other students.

The eLearning

Gifted Online

programs are designed to meet the needs of such gifted students and are

available free to DoE schools. Gifted Online programs are available to extend students who have

particular strengths and interest in the subjects of Mathematics, English, Visual Arts and Digital

Technologies, as well as programs that focus on developing students’ General Capabilities (e.g. Critical

and Creative Thinking) within a concept-based, cross curriculum context. The programs also provide

opportunities to connect with other like-minded students with similar interests and abilities from around

the state.

Gifted Online programs are delivered by teachers who are very experienced in working with gifted

students in an online learning environment. The programs develop a partnership between each

participating student’s school, their classroom teacher, (or support person, if it is someone other than the

teacher) and the program delivery teacher. This ensures that students gain maximum benefit from the

program and that their progress and achievements are accurately reflected in their assessment, including

reporting for relevant curriculum area/s. Further details about the partnership roles and responsibilities

are available in the eLearning Procedures document.

Places in Gifted Online programs are usually limited to a maximum of five students per school per

program, with each student accessing a maximum of one program at any one time to ensure equitable

access state-wide. Thus, selecting students who are likely to derive most benefit from Gifted Online

programs and matching the program to their area of strength or interest is very important. Students who

perform at a high level with little real effort, those who indicate they are bored, but are under-achieving

and students who have been formally identified as being gifted (for example through early entry to school)

are likely to benefit most from Gifted Online programs.

Further extension programs available on a fee for service basis, as well as free online resources designed

for use directly by classroom teachers, can also be used to extend and enrich the learning of gifted and

highly able students; see pages 9-14 of this guide for further details.

Additional support for working with gifted students

An online professional learning community has been established to support teachers, principals and school

psychologists (in government schools) working with gifted and highly able students. The community

provides a ‘one stop shop’ for information, resources, research and support relating to the learning, social

and emotional needs of gifted students. It is open to all department employees; you just need to indicate

your interest to the community facilitator Ros Cocker, PEO Extended Learning and Diversity. Send an

email to

[email protected]

and you will be added to the community and sent the link and

brief instructions on how to access it.

Gifted Online

GO!

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Gifted Online – GO!

Course Year Duration Availability Assessment Curriculum Cost

ArtyFacts (Junior) P-3 Year Enrol Term 1 Participation Arts (Visual Arts) Free Ad Astra (Junior) P-3 Year Enrol Term 1 Participation Cross curriculum Free Hypatia’s House 2/3 Half a Year Enrol Term 1 / _{Term 3} Participation Cross curriculum Free So Far So Good 2/3 Half a year Enrol Term 1 / _{Term 3} Participation Cross curriculum Free Ad Astra (Senior) 4-6 Year Enrol Term 1 Participation Cross curriculum Free ArtyFacts (Senior) 4-6 Year Enrol Term 1 Participation Arts (Visual Arts) Free Holly’s Heroes 4-6 Half a Year

Enrol Term 1 (episodes 1-6) Term 3 (episodes 7-13) Participation Cross curriculum Free

Socrates Café Book 4-6 Half a Year Enrol Term 1 / _{Term 3} Participation Cross curriculum Free Socrates Café

Topical 5-6 Half a Year Enrol Term 1 / Term 3 Participation Cross curriculum Free Python4WhipSnake

s 5-8 Half or Full Year Enrol Term 1 /Term 3 Participation Digital Technology, Mathematics Cost Infinity Squared 5-8 Year Enrol Term 1 Participation Mathematics Free CodeXX 5-10 Half a Year Enrol Term 1 / _{Term 3} Participation Digital Technology, _Mathematics Free SmartBots 5-8 Half a Year Enrol Term 1 / _{Term 3} Participation ICT, Digital Technology, _Mathematics Free ACTion Pact 5-10 Year Enrol Term 1 Participation Cross curriculum Free

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ArtyFacts Junior

(Prep - Year 3)

ArtyFacts challenges gifted visual spatial learners while encouraging independent learning. The aim is for students to produce

interesting, unique artworks, while developing their creative thinking and problem solving skills. Year level: P - 3

Course length: Year long

Commencement date: Term 1

Curriculum focus: Visual Arts

Cost: Free to all government schools

ArtyFacts Senior

(Years 4 - 6)

ArtyFacts challenges gifted visual spatial learners while encouraging independent learning. The aim is for students to produce

interesting, unique artworks, while developing their creative thinking and problem solving skills. Year level: 4 - 6

Curriculum focus: Visual Arts

Cost: Free to all Government schools

Ad Astra Junior

(Prep - Year 3)

Ad Astra is designed to provide cross-curriculum extension and has a strong emphasis on communication, problem solving and thinking skills while providing students with the opportunity for negotiated study.

Year level: P - 3

Curriculum focus: Cross-curriculum

Ad Astra Senior

(Years 4 - 6)

Ad Astra is designed to provide cross-curriculum extension and has a strong emphasis on communication, problem solving and thinking skills while providing students with the opportunity for negotiated study.

Year level: 4 - 6

Hypatia’s House

Hypatia's House promotes discussion of issues arising from two selected picture books. For example, The Short and Incredibly Happy Life of Riley deals with happiness, greed, whether material possessions give happiness, and whether or not people should get everything they want.

Course length: Half a year

Commencement date: Term 1 & 3

Curriculum focus: Cross-curriculum, Philosophy

So Far So Good!

So Far So Good! is based on the video series Worst Best Friends distributed by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation. The series has a focus on problem solving, friendship and resilience. Year level: 2 - 3 with preference to groups of 5

Commencement date: part 1 Term1 Part 2 Term 3

Curriculum focus: Cross-curriculum, English, Health and wellbeing, ICT

Materials: DVD (available on loan)

Holly’s Heroes

Holly's Heroes, a production of the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, is used as the stimulus. Students are challenged to find other ways of solving problems that occur in each episode and which often occur in their own life.

Yearlevel: 4 - 6 with preference to groups of 5

Commencement date: part 1 Term 1 Part 2 Term 3

Curriculum focus: Cross-curriculum, English, Health and wellbeing, ICT

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Socrates Café: Book

(Years 4 - 6)

Socrates Café: Book is a

philosophy-based online program, which uses selected texts to stimulate discussion of issues and ideas.

Commencement date: Term 1, 3

Socrates Café: Topical

(Years 5/6)

Socrates Café: Topical is a philosophy-based online program which uses a variety of specially selected current Australian or world-wide events to stimulate discussion of issues and ideas. Yearlevel: 5 - 6

Commencement date: Term 1and 3

CodeXX

CodeXX is a computer programming course for girls only. It aims to strengthen computational thinking, logic and problem solving through the creation of multimedia stories and animations. Students will use the Alice programming environment (this is free). Because of the challenging nature of this course, strong mathematical ability is essential.

Year level: 5-10

Course Length: Half Year

Commencement dates: Term 1 & 3

Curriculum Focus: Digital Technology, Mathematics

Coding

Python4WhipSnakes

Python4WhipSnakes will teach students coding skills in the Python programming language, a text based language which is easy for beginners to learn. Coding is a skill that not only teaches you how to work with computers, but also teaches you how to think about solving problems with systems. The course is particularly suited to students who enjoy Maths. Python4WhipSnakes will provide a challenging, ‘gamified’ learning environment designed to increase motivation while strengthening computational thinking, logic and problem solving skills. The content of the course will address many of the Australian Curriculum Digital Technologies outcomes. As part of this course, students will participate in the National Computer Science School

Challenge, which runs for 5 weeks in August/September.

Year level: 5 - 8

Course length: Half or Full Year

Curriculum focus: Digital Technology

Cost: $30 per student (site membership)

SmartBots

SmartBots is a robotics extension program where students

collaborate in small teams using LEGO MINDSTORMS robotics kits to work through a series of skill-building activities and challenges.

Year level: 5 - 8 with a maximum 2 teams of 3 students

Course length: Half year

Commencement date: Term 1 and 3

Curriculum focus:ICT, Digital Technology, Mathematics

Materials: LEGO Robotics kits (available on loan)

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Action Pact

ACTion Pact is a cross curriculum extension course that encourages students to explore and to become more informed about a range of issues, particularly in the area of civics and citizenship. Each week they will be challenged to use higher-order critical thinking skills in response to many local, national and global topics. Students will be encouraged to make a difference by developing a plan of action in response to some of these issues. Students will be expected to take more control of their own learning and will be invited to pursue their own topics of interest.

Course length: Full year

Curriculum focus: Cross-curriculum, Thinking

Infinity Squared

Infinity Squared offers a variety of mathematical problems and challenges. The program is delivered by a specialist mathematics teacher. Year level: 5 - 8

Curriculum focus: Mathematics

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Online programs for curriculum extension

The following programs aim to support students who require access to programs to value-add and extend existing provision in schools. This may be because students need to access a particular subject or learning opportunity that may not be available in the local school or if the online program is deemed to be a high priority aspect of a

student’s learning pathway. Again, this can assist schools, teachers and parents in improving the engagement and motivation of students who have strengths, ability and interest in a specific curriculum area or require access to a differentiated learning opportunity.

In addition to the teacher delivered and supported programs there are a number of ready to go online rooms, courses and units available as resources for teacher use. These have been developed in the Fronter virtual learning environment by curriculum writers and subject experts and are aligned to Australian Curriculum. They incorporate content and activities that make effective use of online and web based functionality. These can complement,

augment or extend local provision and are available to all teachers as a class resource for blended learning. For more information see page 14

Online Curriculum Extension

Course Year Duration Availability Assessment Curriculum Cost

Xpress 360 Blog

Challenge 1-12 Year Enrol Term 1 Participation Global Connections Free Athlete

Development 9-12 Year Enrol Term 1 Report Health / Phys Ed Cost Prep for Math’s

Methods 9-10 Year (2years) Enrol Term 1

Report _Mathematics Cost Mathematical

Challenge 3-8 Half Year Enrol Term 1 Participation Mathematics Cost

Creative Writing 7-10 Year Enrol Term 1 Report English Cost

Multi-Media Digital

Tech 8-10 Year Enrol Term 1

Report Digital/Design Technology

Cost Photography - Image

editing 8-10 Year Enrol Term 1 Report Digital/Design Technology Cost

French 7-10 Year Enrol Term 1 Report Languages Cost

Indonesian 7-10 Year Enrol Term 1 Report Languages Cost

Japanese 7-10 Year Enrol Term 1 Report Languages Cost

German 7-10 Year Enrol Term 1 Report Languages Cost

Chinese (Mandarin) 7-10 Year Enrol Term 1 Report Languages Cost Big History 9-10 Ready to go VLE room available for local use Science, History, _Geography Free Hands on Science

-Biology 5-8 Ready to go VLE room available for local use Science Free Hands on Science

-Rusty old cars &

ice-cream (Physics) 5-8 Ready to go VLE room available for local use Science

Free Hands on Science –

Switched On (Physics/Electronics)

5-8 Ready to go VLE room available for local use Science Free Find Out Now

Science Inquiry 5-8 Ready to go VLE room available for local use Science Free Into Scratch P-4 Ready to go VLE room available for local use Digital Technology Free

Curriculum

Extension

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Xpress 360 Blog Challenge

Do you want your students to participate in collaborative global challenges and write for a global audience? If yes, we can support you to start a school, class and student blog. This could be private or open to the world.

Students will be able to participate in shared blogs and teachers will receive support and training if they are interested in starting their own class site.

There will be ongoing

opportunities to participate in a variety of collaborative and global projects and challenges.

The ‘Lets Blog’ project uses a secure Edublogs site at

www.xpress360.net.au

Skills Developed:

Writing / reflecting / Publishing for an audience, ICT Checklist

Course length: blogging challenge Terms 3&4

Commencement date: Negotiable

Curriculum focus: Global Connections

Cost: Free

Example Class Blog

http://www.xpress360.net.au/jmoore/

Some students who have their own blogs http://www.xpress360.net.au/gou19penelope

http://www.xpress360.net.au/gou19esther/

http://www.xpress360.net.au/gou19nicholas/

Athlete Development

This course helps students achieve their potential in their chosen sport. Students study a range of topics including nutrition, sports injuries, training methods, fitness components, physiology,

sponsorship and marketing, and sport psychology.

Students work with their support teacher to develop a range of fitness components throughout the course. ADP is now also available for students to support pathways in schools expanding to year 11 and 12.

Year level: 9/12

Course length: Year

Curriculum focus: Health and Wellbeing

Cost: $200 per Course per Term (up to 5 Students)

Preparation for Maths

Methods Foundation

This course is designed for Year 9/10 students seeking a foundation in algebra, function studies,

calculus, and probability for their future mathematics studies in year 11. It has an academic focus and the course covers the syllabus content of the TASC course Mathematics Methods Foundation MTM215116.

Commencement date: Term 1 (or by negotiation)

Mathematical Challenge

This course is designed for years 3 to 8 students of exceptional mathematics ability and interest, seeking an opportunity to explore mathematical concepts not normally encountered in the normal curriculum. It aims to develop and utilise their abilities in abstract thinking and deductive reasoning and connect them with like-minded students from all areas of the state.

Course length: Term 1 & 2

Cost: $25 per student (Challenge Stage) $40 (Enrichment Stage). Those students advancing to the Enrichment Stage (Term3) are provided with the appropriate book depending on their

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Creative Writing

Students explore the depth of their own creative ability whilst making meaning through

composing their own texts. The emphasis is on exploring the art of writing whilst improving their understanding of language conventions. This course aligns itself well with the language and literacy strands in the Australian English Curriculum.

Course length: half year with option of full year

Commencement date: Term 1 and 3

Curriculum focus: English

Multimedia &

Digital Technology

Multimedia & Digital Technology is a flexible subject that allows students to personalise their learning in the areas of computer aided design (CAD), 3D printing, coding, game making and

animation.

Students will work with a range of software programs including Scratch, SketchUp, TinkerCad, Pivot, Splodder to create and evaluate digital technology products. Students will gain an understanding of the role digital technologies play in solving problems, and plan and manage projects adhering to copyright and cyber safety conventions. While studying Multimedia and Digital Technology, students can focus on one topic in depth or change their focus each term to allow for a taster of multiple areas. Students can enrol for one semester or the whole year. (GIMP/Photoshop) · Animation (Scratch/Pivot) · CAD (SketchUp)

· Game Making

Students can enrol for one semester or the whole year. Year level: 8-10

Digital Photography

& Image Editing

In Digital Photography and Image Editing students will learn about image composition and

manipulation, uses of images and techniques for taking photos. Students will examine the different types of hardware and software relating to digital photography and follow this with some practice in basic digital photo manipulation. Students will be assessed on their own photography and related theory that they will be expected to develop throughout the course. Students will need access to a digital camera to be successful in this. The subject is appropriate for students who have an interest in Photography and image editing from either an art or IT perspective.

Year level: 8-10

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LANGUAGES

The Languages programs are open to students who are commencing a language other than English or who wish to continue with their language. An online classroom offers the options found in a face-to-face language program, and conversation skills are built during weekly video conference or telephone sessions. Support materials are always available in the online classroom and are used in tandem with course books, workbooks, audio materials and DVDs. Students are able to work at their own rate, with support from their online languages teacher.

In order to successfully undertake an online Language program, students require an appropriate allocation of in-school time including a 30 minute web / phone conference session per week at a negotiated time. Students also require a computer headset.

Indonesian

Bagus sekali at appropriate entry level – student course book and workbook.

Audio materials are available from the teacher.

Course length: full year

Curriculum focus: Australian Curriculum Indonesian ACLIN

French

Tapis Volant(second edition) – student book (can be shared) and workbook.

Cooking materials if required. Year level: 7 - 10

Curriculum focus: Australian Curriculum French ACLFR

Japanese

There is no required text for students who are beginners. Reference materials, worksheets, MP3s etc. will be distributed during the course as required. Much of the material may be retrieved from the subject website.

A suitable text may need to be negotiated with those students who are more advanced.

Curriculum focus: Australian Curriculum Japanese ACLJA

German

Deutsch Downunder 1 – course book (can be shared) and activity book.

Curriculum focus: Australian Curriculum German ACLGE

Chinese

Reference and audio materials available from the teacher as required

Beginners and intermediate courses available dependent on enrolment numbers

Curriculum focus: Australian Curriculum Chinese ACLCH

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Ready to Go’ online

rooms – Fronter VLE

A number of ready-made online rooms, courses and units which can complement, augment or extend local provision for students are available to all teachers as a class resource for blended learning.

For more examples and details on how to access these or set a Fronter room up for use by you and your class see page 14.

Hands On Science

Hands on Science provides middle school students with the

opportunity to participate in structured and engaging online units that are aligned with the Australian Curriculum. Students are able to work at their own pace, extending themselves through a variety of learning opportunities including:

information texts, learning objects, videos, research and practical inquiries. The course is ideal for students in smaller, isolated schools or schools where teachers are new to teaching Science. Hands on Science also provides an excellent avenue to extend gifted students or students with a strong interest in Science. Courses are available in Biological, Chemical and Physical Sciences.

Curriculum focus: Science

Ready to Go VLE room for teacher use

Find Out Now

Find Out Now – Science Inquiry Skills is a self-paced online Science course for middle school

students. This course provides the opportunity for students to work independently by guiding them through developing and carrying out an inquiry of their own choice.

The course is aligned with the Australian Curriculum’s Science Inquiry Skills strand and is broken

into the five sub

strands: Questioning and predicting, Planning and conducting, Processing and analysing data, Evaluating and Communicating.

Find Out Now is perfect for extending gifted students or those students with a high interest in Science. It can also be used by class teachers with their whole class or groups of students in a blended learning structure.

Curriculum focus: Science

Big History/Science:

An introduction to

everything

Explore 13.7 billion years of history – from the Big Bang to modernity. Big history tells the complete story of how we came to be here. We discover how stars were created, how life first developed and where the future will take us. The Big History Project brings science and history together to help us understand people, civilizations and our place in the universe.

Curriculum focus: Science, History, Geography

Into Scratch

This unit is aimed at early learning students (Prep to Year 4) who have been identified as gifted or talented, particularly in the areas of Maths, ICT and/or problem solving. It is based on the

Australian Curriculum for Digital Technologies and Mathematics for Foundation to Year 4.

Scratch is designed for students 8 years of age or older, however this room aims to make it accessible to younger, gifted students by offering a visual, less text based, scaffolded starting point. It is expected that once gifted students get a strong start in using Scratch they will be able to progress and continue to learn independently via the extensive resources available within the Scratch community.

Year level: P-4

Curriculum focus: Digital Technology. Ready to Go VLE room for teacher use

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‘Ready to Go’ online rooms – Fronter VLE

A number of ready-made online rooms, courses and units which can complement, augment or extend local provision for students are available to all teachers as a class resource for blended learning.

Features include:

 Ready to go virtual learning environment Fronter room with activities, resources and curriculum links mapped to Australian Curriculum

 Explore new pedagogies, task design and good teaching approaches using digital tools  Contribute to a bank of good teaching ideas and resources

 Opportunities for cross-school collaboration and sharing suitable for whole class or small groups These VLE resources are quality assured and mapped to the relevant Australian Curriculum learning areas. Some of the rooms support learning sequences linked to the AC Digital Technologies curriculum and the use of new and emerging technologies not readily accessible to many schools such as robotics kits, 3D printers and GPS units. These resources can be borrowed by schools on request.

Currently the selection includes:

To view these rooms logon to Fronter at

casas.tas.edu.au

enter username and password as below. Username: example1

Password: example

For a copy of a room contact

[email protected]

or

[email protected]

New rooms will be continually added so check back for new courses.

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Updated 30-11-15

Online

online enrolment

Department of Education

met. (Learners First 2014/17

www.xpress360.net.au

http://www.xpress360.net.au/jmoore/

http://www.xpress360.net.au/gou19penelope

http://www.xpress360.net.au/gou19esther/

http://www.xpress360.net.au/gou19nicholas/