I feel like it's 1996 and I am sitting at home waiting for 8.30pm to click over with Channel 10 on the TV. Why? you may ask.... well for anyone who has any form of social media will know that 'The X-Files' were re-opened tonight. After nearly 14 years, Mulder and Scully are back on our televisions screens. 

The whole thing has got me thinking about growing up with such a love of this television show. It was really where my passion for Science came from. I actually enrolled in a Forensic Science course at university, all because I wanted to be just like Scully. Unfortunately, it wasn't all power suits and chasing aliens and I struggled after not picking the right subjects for my HSC, but it still got me to where I am today - still with a love of Science.

Gillian Anderson's character, Dana Scully, is one of the strongest role models for females in television that was ever created. She isa highly intelligent woman who stood up for herself against her partner as well as the 'big bad' government - never afraid to tell them how she really felt. The thing I really love about Scully is she always wants proof. It's great to see a strong woman who doesn't just take people's word without having hard evidence to back it up. This was her biggest struggle throughout the 9 seasons. She didn't believe in half of the cases that she was working on, but she always did her job with integrity and dignity. 

Having 'The X-Files' back on my TV has given me an awesome context for the first unit with my Year 7 Science class this year. They will all be 'Agents' part of the Rosebank Bureau of Investigation, Department of Science. They each have an identification badge that they must wear at all times in class and all work will be distributed and submitted via a 'Case File' (aka a manila folder with a funky cover!). I have created a context for working through the first unit of work - based around water, mixtures and learning about Science in high schools. As RBI Agents they need to solve a crime where a prominent businessman was poisoned while trying to work towards a new design for a water treatment plant. 

Well 2015 has now come to a close and 2016 is upon us... 2015 was a great year in many respects, but I am excited to leave it in the past and see what 2016 has in store for me.

For starters, I will be taking up a new position at Rosebank College as Assistant Science Coordinator - a role I never really thought I would like to pursue. But, after much consideration and deliberation I have come to the conclusion that the one of the main ways that I can help improve the teaching and learning of Science is by helping to run a department. I have met with the Coordinator I will be working with and we have worked out who will be looking after what aspects of the department in 2016 and I am really excited for what is to come. Basically - I will mainly be working with the staff on improving their integration of technology into their classrooms and boosting the engagement of the students. So I will be doing two things I am extremely passionate about and hopefully passing some of that on to other teachers.

I have been thinking about some 'resolutions' that I will like to give a try for 2016. I'm usually not very good with these, but I don't usually put them out there for others to know... so maybe if people know I will feel more accountable for them!

Professionally:

• develop our Science department to work as a team towards a common goal of having the best programs available for our students
• continue with the flipped classroom for Stage 6 Biology 
• blog - I have a few 'blog prompts' up my sleeve that I plan on using to get me started on keeping up with this
• complete 2 more units of my Masters 
• continue to attend TeachMeets and network with other teachers from Sydney and beyond
• have another article published somewhere - I would love to write a book, so that's something I will be working towards!
• continue to be involved with #aussieED on Twitter 

Personally:

• reach my step goal of 10, 000 steps at least 5 out of 7 days a week
• have 2 days where I do not consume any sugar/soft drink 
• visit the gym (not really going to put a number on this - just do it! lol)
• cheer on my Wests Tigers at as many games as possible (and hopefully see them into the finals!!)
• work towards a run/jog of 5km
• cook! First I need to learn! HAHA
• keep up communication with friends I have made over the years, especially those from MSCW when I start at my new school
• spend time with my loved ones when possible - not just those 'special events'

I hope you have thought about a few things that you would like to do as you dive head first into 2016! May the year bring you everything you wish for and more... bring it on!!