2011 Awards
Teacher Award
Mrs Katharine Finlayson
Music Specialist Teacher
Ngunnawal Primary School, Ngunnawal, ACT
Katharine Finlayson is a highly committed, knowledgeable and energetic specialist music teacher. She has developed a program that provides a sequential and developmental music program to all students from pre-school to Year 3. She also conducts two large choirs, coordinates the school’s band program, teaches the Year 5 & 6 woodwind and brass bands in conjunction with visiting specialists. Katharine ensures that each child in her care experiences the joy of music-making and pride in learning the language of music. Her teaching encompasses the approaches of Orff, Kodaly and Dalcroze resulting in students being musically literate.
Katharine’s work with the choral program is an example of taking an inclusive approach to music education where she has utilised technology to ensure that students with severe hearing impairments can participate fully in this program. Katharine provides a range of opportunities beyond her regular classroom music program, with a recent example being the school winning the ACT award in the Generation One “Hands Across Australia” Song Competition.