CEB Staff Newsletter #18 - 14 June 2023
The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart
This Friday, 16 June is The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This day commemorates the love of Jesus for all of creation, especially the most vulnerable and marginalised.
The following reflection explores what this commemoration may mean for Christians in the present age. Themes such as imagination and God’s transforming love, are deeply related to The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the way Christians can experience and indeed be the love of Jesus in their lives.
Let us pray….
The Prayer of St. Teresa of Avila
Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassionately on this world.
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good.
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands.
Yours are the feet.
Yours are the eyes.
You are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassionately on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
Amen.
Article submitted by Jim Waight
150 Year Anniversary of the Diocese of Ballarat
DOBCEL is working closely with Bishop Paul on our plans to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Diocese. We will consult and provide further direction to our school communities as the year progresses.
For now please note the dates outlined in Bishop Paul’s letter.
Artifical Intelligence
Earlier this year I addressed the topic of Artificial Intelligence in education with our Principals, triggered by the launch of ChatGTP and similar AI tools over the summer. Here is a short excerpt:
What are the implications for education? I don’t know what all or even many of the implications will be – that will take time. I believe it will be disruptive and some of that disruption will be a good thing, some may not. Currently within education circles there is much discussion on the effect of AI on assessment tasks and exams. I believe this is a great opportunity to look at some of our assessment tasks. Are catering for all students? Do we have an unconscious bias for written assessments (whether handwritten or typed) over audio, verbal or graphic assessments? Are some of our assessments outdated?
We can’t ban ChatGTP or the like, it will not go away. The video I showed last year about the Future of Work: Will our Children Be Prepared already told us this type of AI was writing media articles in the mainstream media amongst other things. AI will only get better. Education has practically a 100% failure rate when trying to ban things (including the grey lead pencil in the 1930’s!!) So how can we use it for good? I have already found it useful in my work. What about you?
Here is an interesting article from the ABC on AI use in schools, which provides further food for thought. I am interested in what opportunities and challenges you are finding in our schools with the use of AI.
Article submitted by Tom Sexton
Proposed Catholic Education Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2022 (CEMEA 2022)
The Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd (CECV), on behalf of the relevant Catholic education employers and the Independent Education Union Victoria Tasmania (IEU), is pleased to provide you with the terms and conditions of the proposed Catholic Education Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2022: Diocese of Ballarat, Diocese of Sandhurst, Archdiocese of Melbourne and Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon (CEMEA 2022).
As an employee proposed to be covered by the CEMEA 2022, and as required under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), you have the opportunity to vote on the proposed CEMEA 2022.
In advance of the employee ballot, the CECV has published relevant Employee Information on their website at www.cecv.catholic.edu.au/Employee-Relations/Enterprise-Bargaining-2022
You may also like to view these short explainer videos.
Article submitted by Ange Jones
Catholic Identity & Mission
Promotion for Prayer Service During Refugee Week
Please see attached promotional material from Gavi Abraham at the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) for the upcoming prayer service the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office have prepared for Refugee Week later this month.
Please reach out to Gavin Abraham, Media and Communications Director at the ACBC gavin.abraham@catholic.org.au or 02 6201 9859 if you have any questions.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday - 2 July
Every year, on the first Sunday in July, Catholics come together to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday. It is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the gifts of Australia’s First peoples to our Church, our country and our communities.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) has developed a resource to assist schools in celebrating the day as well as conducting activities to encourage further learning and exploration. The 2023 resources are titled A new life in Christ….. and include a number of suggestions that can assist in creating liturgies in a classroom setting.
Importantly, a youth activity has been developed that provides students with the space to explore the upcoming Referendum from a Catholic and moral point of view.
The resources and associated multimedia assets are available at https://www.natsicc.org.au/2023-atsi-sunday.html
If you have any questions regarding the celebration or use of resources, please contact Craig Arthur at NATSICC 08 8363 2963.
Faith at War Display
The “Faith At War display” is now online https://www.ballarat.catholic.org.au/services-agencies-2/stewardship/diocesan-historical-commission/faith-at-war-and-the-priests-who-served-from-the-catholic-diocese-of-ballarat/ It can also be downloaded.
For further information, please contact Samantha Fabry, Diocesan Archivist & Collections Mangaer on 0415 600 180.
Pilgrimage Opportunity in 2024
The Sisters of Our Lady of Sion are pleased to be offering an opportunity for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land that concludes with the celebration of the Easter Triduum in 2024.
We warmly invite you to extend the invitation as you see appropriate, to leaders in education and ministry in your region.
Please contact Carmel Crawford, Mission, Co-ordinator Notre Dame de Sion at sionmissionaustralia@gmail.com or on 0417 450 867.
ResourceSmart Schools
For more information about the ResourceSmart Schools, please click on this link
Article submitted by Susan Crowe
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Principals
- Principal – Ss Michael and John’s Primary School, Horsham (closes 3 July)
CEB
- Payroll Officer – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 21 June)
- Social Justice Education Officer – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 23 June)
Schools
- Classroom Teacher (Term 3) – All Saints’ Parish School, Portland – fixed-term position at 0.8 FTE (closes 14 June)
- Deputy Principal – St Brigid’s College, Horsham – contract position at 1.0 FTE (closes 19 June)
- Learning Support Officer – Emmaus Catholic Primary School, Mt Clear – fixed-term position at 0.6 FTE (closes 19 June)
- 3/4 Classroom Teacher – Lumen Christi School, Delacombe – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 20 June)
- Classroom Teacher – St Mary’s School, Donald – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 22 June)
- School Services Administration Officer – Learning Innovation Support – St Patrick’s College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 23 June)
- English and Humanities Teacher – St Patrick’s College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 23 June)
- School Services Administration Officer – Indigenous Support – St Patrick’s College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 23 June)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Warracknabeal (closes 23 June)
- 2023 & 2024 Teacher Positions – Damascus College, Mt Clear – ongoing positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 26 June)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Columba’s School, Ballarat North (closes 2 October)