CEB Staff Newsletter #16 - 2 June 2023

From the Executive Director

I would like to say a very warm thank you to the following students of Damascus College who took time out of their social lives, on a Friday evening no less, to experience working in an area that they have a passion for. Thank you to the musicians Chai, Pyper and Zeb; wait staff Caelum, Charlie, Cleo, Corina, Grace, Kaitlyn, Marlin, Ryleigh, Sophie, Sienna, Tayla and Zoe; and the official photographer on the evening Jake.

Thanks are also extended to CEB staff Kate Lawry, Susan Crowe, Fiona Murphy, Tania Lund and Kerrie Zammit for their tireless preparation over many weeks to ensure the success of the evening.

Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat

2023 Catholic Education Week Awards Mass and Dinner

On Friday evening, over 100 Diocesan staff, family and friends came together to recognise and celebrate our staff who have reached the remarkable milestone of 30 years of service to Catholic Education. We also celebrated with three staff members and their family and education community who were recognised for their outstanding service, leadership and innovation in our education community.

Congratulations to the following staff for reaching 30 years of service:

• Ena Bruty - Our Lady Help Of Christians School, Wendouree
• Leigh Denning - Damascus College, Mt Clear
• Debra Glasson - Marian College, Ararat
• Terrilynn Groves - St Mary’s School, Hamilton
• Suzanne (Suzi) Haley - St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill
• Genevieve Hawkes - St Thomas More School, Alfredton
• Patricia Lannen - St Brigid’s School, Ballan
• Elizabeth (Liz) Postlethwaite - Lumen Christi School, Delacombe

The following staff were noted as also reaching 30 years of service, but were unfortunately unable to join us on Friday evening:

• Natalie Howard - Loreto College, Ballarat
• Peter Ryan - St Patrick’s College, Ballarat
• Maryanne McDougall - St Mary’s School, Ararat
• Susan Larkin - St Thomas More School, Alfredton

Terrielynn Groves responded on behalf of the recipients. Please click here for her moving response.

Throughout Term 2, schools were asked to nominate staff and/or groups for the following awards: 

Partnership Award

Criteria for a staff member or community members who demonstrate:

• A commitment to enhancing partnering between the School, Catholic Education Ballarat, Parish, or local community that enhances learning for students
• Ongoing witness to partnership in Catholic education and an active presence in the education, parish, diocesan and/or local community
• Promotion of Catholic education as partnership in local and/or extended community

Catholic Leadership Award

Criteria for a staff member who demonstrates:

• Leadership that provides active witness to God’s presence in education, parish and.or diocesan community which enhances Catholic Identity
• Excellence in leadership around Religious Education, spirituality, liturgy, religious art, social justice, the found charism, evangalisation and/or ecology

Fullness of Life Award

Criteria for a staff member who demonstrates:

• Leadership that leads to fullness of life for colleagues and/or students
• Excellence in education, staff formation or professional learning and student learning
• Education innovation for demonstrated commitment to evidence-based practice in education

We received an array of applications and nominations (15 in total) and we were extremely pleased to present these Awards to the following staff.

Please click each of the awards to view how the recipient met the criteria, and for the recipients' response, please click on their name:

• Partnership Award: Linda McDonald - Loreto College, Ballarat
• Catholic Leadership Award: Marion Guthrie - Sacred Heart Primary School, Mildura
• Fullness of Life Award:  Jayne Bosworth - St Brigid’s School, Ballan

Those that were recognised for their 30 years of service and our Award recipients, recognise leadership that reflects one or more aspects of the Diocesan Education Vision being, ‘as partners in Catholic Education, open to God’s presence, we pursue fullness of life for all.’

We will be reviewing how the evening progressed shortly. One topic of discussion will be the possibility of hosting this function in another zone for 2024 - this will be dependant on where the majority of recipients are located. We look forward to bringing you this significant event again next year as we celebrate the Ballarat Diocese’s 150th anniversary.

Lost & Found - Ballarat Office

A Navy Beret has been handed in at the Ballarat office after it was found on the ground in the carpark next to 'pool vehicle no. 2'.

If you think it could be yours, please collect it from the lost and found drawer at reception.

People and Development Update

Public Holiday – second half of 2023.

Kings Birthday

• Monday 12 June is the Kings Birthday public holiday celebrated in most states. A leave form is not required, this is a statewide public holiday. 

AFL Grand Final

• Friday 29 September is a public holiday in Victoria, starting a long weekend that includes the AFL grand final. A leave form is not required, this is a statewide public holiday. 

Melbourne Cup or Show Day

• Melbourne Cup Day (Tuesday 7 November) is a public holiday across all of Victoria unless an alternate local holiday has been nominated by a regional centre’s Local Government Authority (LGA). CEB staff can take Melbourne Cup Day as a public holiday, or the alternate day nominated by the LGA in their regional centre. 
• A leave form is not required. However, you should inform your team leader of the public holiday day you intend to take. 

Christmas Day

• Monday 25 December is the public holiday for Christmas Day celebrated nationally. A leave form is not required, this is a statewide public holiday. 

Boxing Day

• Tuesday 26 December is the Boxing Day public holiday celebrated in most states. A leave form is not required, this is a statewide public holiday. 

Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community

Catholic Education Ballarat Vacancies:

• Currently no vacancies