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Louisa Lawless

West Moreton Anglican College

Louisa Lawless is a Music teacher and the
​Band Co-ordinator at West Moreton Anglican College.

She is kept busy running a curriculum band program for all year 5 & 6 students, teaching Music Performance (extension Music) to classes of year 7 & 8 students, teaching Year 9 & 10 elective music, conducting multiple ensembles in Junior, Middle and Senior school and organising the instrumental and extra-curricular program comprising approximately 250 students.
Picture
Louisa Lawless fosters a love of music among her students in the classroom and in the school bands she leads.

She promotes passion for music making and growth in personal confidence and ensemble skills. Louisa maintains a personal approach and strong connections with students and families.

The West Moreton Anglican College teacher is drawing on a range of techniques to improve students’ achievements in the field of musical literacy.

Initiatives including a band reading day, various workshop opportunities, external concert trips, extending the specialist Music performance classes to both years 7 & 8, introducing advanced students to ensembles outside of the college and nominating students for various state/national extension programs throughout the year.

With teaching experience in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, Louisa is using her extensive knowledge of teaching to develop engaging learning programs that her students genuinely look forward to. 
The largest project Louisa is currently undertaking is in co-ordinating the year 5 & 6 Instrumental program.

This involves the testing of every year 4 student currently enrolled at the college and new students for their instrumental suitability.

Also, presenting the program to new and existing parents, assigning approximately 90 instruments per year, organising instrumental staff and conducting/co-ordinating the 4 concert bands and string orchestras.

This has been a huge undertaking but the results are speaking for themselves with numbers of students taking up instrumental tuition increasing exponentially.  


"I take particular pride in being able to “find” a student," says Louisa.

"By that I mean see the potential in them where others perhaps do not and to help them to grow as much as a person as a musician."

"To see a student that is shy and unassuming become a confident and respected member of the school community, carry such presence when walking around with a full sized tuba is amazing.  Or that quiet girl that then stands at the front of a big band and improvises on the trombone like a star."

"To see that student finally grinning like a Cheshire cat whilst concentrating on that bass drum part like his life depended on it. You can’t just ask for that commitment and trust, it has to grow within the child."
​“Louisa models exemplary ethical behaviour and radiates a warmth to her students whilst maintaining very professional dealings with students, colleagues, and the community,” class parent Suzanne Garvey said. 

“In particular, my son loves Symphonic Band, as Louisa consistently has high expectations and encourages her students to pursue challenging goals with new and more advanced pieces of music,” Suzanne said.

Louisa’s consistent encouragement has seen her school bands excel, regularly winning competitions while having a great deal of fun doing so.

The brass ensemble has consistently achieve Gold at the local Eistedfodd as has the College symphonic band in its competitions, winning Silver in their first National competition.

‘Jazzin’ Up the Hall’ is the Music departments’ biggest fund raising event and grows each year in attendance, community reach and funds raised.

The UQ (University of Queensland) Big Band performs with the WestMAC Big Band giving the students an opportunity to perform with and integrate with experienced musicians and connecting with Alumni students who also often return to the college to work with existing students.

An expert collaborator, Louisa engages colleagues and parents in musical performances, assessments, and competitions to ensure that everyone understands the educational priorities of both her classroom and the school more broadly.
 
Congratulations Louisa on your nomination.
 
By Claudia Farhart.

Queensland College of Teachers
Level 5, 601 Coronation Drive
​Toowong Qld 4066
Call (07) 3377 4777
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  • Home
  • TEACHX AWARDS
    • 2019 TEACHX Winners
    • 2019 TEACHX Finalists
    • 2019 TEACHX Nominees >
      • Beginning to Teach Award Nominees 2019
      • OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO SCHOOL COMMUNITY AWARD NOMINEES 2019
      • Excellence in Teaching Award Nominees 2019
      • Innovation in Teaching Award Nominees 2019
      • Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning Award Nominees 2019
      • Outstanding Contribution to Teaching Award Nominees 2019
  • Teacher Stories
    • Teaching graduates meet tough standards
    • Rachel Downie
    • The importance of teachers
    • Marsden State High School has the answer to keeping beginning teachers in the classroom
    • Exceptional support for early career teachers in Far North Queensland
    • QBECT
    • 2018 Awards >
      • 2018 Winners
      • 2018 Finalists
      • 2018 Nominees >
        • Excellence in Beginning to Teach Award
        • Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning Award
        • Excellence in Teaching Award
        • Outstanding Contribution to Teaching Award
        • Outstanding Contribution to School Community Award
    • 2017 Awards >
      • 2017 Winners
      • 2017finalists
      • 2017 nominees >
        • Excellence in Beginning to Teach
        • Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning
        • Excellence in Teaching
        • Outstanding Contribution to Teaching
    • 2016 Awards >
      • Excellence in Beginning to Teach
      • Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning
      • Excellence in Teaching
      • Outstanding Contribution to Teaching
    • HAT and LT >
      • Meet the Assessors
      • Ruth Graham
      • Tracey Peden
      • Helen and Dwayne
      • Carly Sopronick
      • Jessica Roberts
      • Jessica Roth
    • OAM >
      • Kathryn George, OAM
      • Keith Graham, OAM
      • Dr Judith Grimes, OAM
      • Michael Goodwin, OAM
      • Steve Parle, OAM
      • Dr Lyn Bishop, OAM
      • Dr Catherine Day, OAM
    • Taryn Gollshewsky
    • Vanuatu
    • NAIDOC >
      • NAIDOC Week 2017
      • NAIDOC Week 2016
    • QLD Day >
      • Bundaberg East State School
      • St Catherine's Catholic College
      • Mornington Island State School
      • Queensland Week 2016
    • ANZAC
  • Anxiety and trauma―an expert’s advice