CEB Staff Newsletter #38 - 5 Nov 2021

COVID updates for CEB staff

Return to working on-site

As we advance through the Victorian Government Roadmap for recovery, it is exciting to be able to welcome staff back to the workplace. By returning to the office, we want to start again unlocking the benefits of in-person collaboration, learning from each other, problem solving together, partnering, and building our high-performance culture.

For now, while density quotients apply, there may be some adjustments required for less open workspaces or meeting rooms. Please continue to engage with your Team Leader on the days you would prefer to work in the office. 

Face masks must be worn indoors unless a lawful reason not to wear one applies.  

Phase C - 80% fully vaccinated (16+ years) | from 29 October 2021 

• Fully vaccinated or excepted workers: work from home if you can, but on-site work is permitted.  
• Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated workers: if no vaccination requirement applies to your role, in most cases you may only work outside your primary place of residence if your work cannot be performed from home.
• A density quotient of one person per two square metres applies for spaces not accessible to the public  
  

Phase D - 90% fully vaccinated (12+ years) | from 24 November 2021

• Fully vaccinated or excepted workers: on-site work can return

Blended Working Arrangements

Earlier in 2021 CEB was pleased to introduce blended ways of working, recognising that providing opportunities for blended ways of work may improve employee wellbeing and engagement.   

A number of staff entered into a Blended Working Arrangement (BWA) earlier in the year. The BWA were to be reviewed in January, however, given the stop-start nature of working on-site, we have decided to extend all current Blended Work Agreements until Friday 8 April 2022 (end of Term 1).  Those staff on a BWA will receive a letter regarding this in the coming weeks.

Working in schools

Although schools have fully returned to on-site learning, we request that staff continue to minimise school contact, supporting schools remotely where needed.

As per page 7 of the School Operations Guide, the following has applied since Monday 1 November:

Visitors to school grounds must comply with vaccination requirements, density limits, face mask requirements, QR code check-ins and practise respiratory etiquette and good hand hygiene.

The density limit of one person per four square metres should be applied to any spaces and activities being attended by parent/carers and other visitors. The density limit applies to all persons in the space, including students.

School COVID Updates

Please continue to refer to our Executive Director’s COVID Updates for updates pertaining to schools.

CEB staff announcements

Anne Bone

CEB Learning and Teaching Education Officer, Anne Bone, has announced that, following a current period of Long Service Leave and accrued Annual Leave, she will conclude her time working within the Diocese of Ballarat on 30 June 2022. Anne, who has been primarily based in the Central Zone of the Diocese, has impacted positively on many schools and individuals over the course of her 16 year engagement at CEB through her role as Education Officer, colleague and friend. Anne’s time at Catholic Education Ballarat has been characterised by her commitment to increase student learning outcomes through improved learning and teaching, particularly in the area of Literacy. 

Anne shared the following in communicating her resignation:
I have had the honour of working in Catholic education for 36 years in many capacities – classroom teacher, curriculum leader in many areas, and as an education officer. I have worked at the Catholic Education office for the past 16 years and have appreciated the opportunity to refine, build and share my skills as an educator. It has been a privilege to have worked alongside so many professional, dedicated and knowledgeable colleagues in pursuit of the vision of Catholic education. 

We congratulate Anne on her years of service and wish her all the best in her retirement. We look forward to recognising and celebrating her contribution to CEB at the end of this year.

The following staff have been appointed to join the Learning and Teaching team in 2022:

Julia Petrov

Julia comes to us from St Patrick’s College, Ballarat, where she is currently Director of Teaching and Learning.  Julia has previously taught at Firbank Grammar, RMIT and Avalon College and has been a VCAA Assessor for VCE English. Julia is replacing Rachel McGennisken who has been appointed as Deputy Principal at Trinity College, Colac.

Julie Cooper

Julie is currently Leading Teacher at St James’ Parish School, Sebastopol. She has previously held the leadership positions of Deputy Principal, Religious Education Leader, Learning and Teaching Leader and PLC Leader at St Columba’s Primary School, Ballarat North and St Mary’s Primary School, Clarkes Hill. Julie has also taught at St Brendan’s Primary School, Bacchus Marsh. Julie is a qualified Reading Recovery and EMU teacher and has completed the Leading for Learning and Country Dioceses Leadership Program. Julie is replacing Anne Bone who is retiring.

Shay King

Shay is currently the Student Wellbeing Leader at St Aloysius Parish School in Redan and has previously held the leadership positions of Numeracy Leader, Literacy Leader and Curriculum Leader. Shay has previously taught at Lumen Christi, Delacombe, St James’ Primary School, Sebastopol and St Joseph’s Primary School, Charlton. She has completed the Leading for Learning program, is a qualified EMU teacher and has completed a Master of Education in Student Wellbeing. Shay is replacing Kathie Turkenburg who is retiring.

Casey Stoetzer

Casey is currently Deputy Principal and Learning Diversity Leader at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Primary School, Merbein. He has previously held the leadership positions of Learning and Teaching Leader and Digital Technologies Coordinator. Casey has completed the Leading for Learning program and is currently part of the Brown Collective program. Casey has previously taught at Ouyen P-12 College. Casey is replacing Emma Rutherford who is on a one year secondment to St Paul’s Primary School, Mildura.

Breeana Wade 

Breanna is currently Assistant to the Principal with responsibility for Learning and Teaching and Systems & Management at St Joseph’s Primary School, Red Cliffs. Breeana has completed the Leading for Learning program and has previously held the leadership positions of IT Leader, Digital Technologies Specialist and Peer Coach at Sacred Heart Primary School, Mildura. She has previously taught at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Primary School, Merbein and St Francis Xavier Primary School, Wentworth. In this new role for 2022, Breeana will be on secondment from St Joseph’s Primary School, Red Cliffs, and will be replacing CEB staff who are on leave and staff who have been redeployed within the organisation. 

Staff Retreat – keynote and workshop selections

Planning is well underway for our CEB Staff Retreat taking place on 15 and 16 December. To help you choose which workshops are most suited to your needs, here is a brief overview of the keynote and workshops. 

Please indicate your preferences of which workshops you would like to attend on this google form. 

It will be extremely helpful if this could be completed by Friday 12 November.

End of year dinner registrations required

As previously announced, an end of year staff dinner will be held on Friday 3 December, with partners invited. This will be an opportunity to come together to celebrate 2021 and to farewell colleagues who are moving on from CEB.

Please register your attendance and advise whether your partner will be attending, so we can ensure an appropriate space is booked. The venue will be announced once numbers are finalised.

Staff Prayer

Staff Prayer will take place remotely on the morning of Monday 8 November at 8.30am. The google meet link and the prayer for the session will be on our SIMON homepage on Monday.