CEB Staff Newsletter #21 - 28 June 2024

CEB Staff Meeting Agenda: 11 July 2024

Please find below the agenda for the CEB Staff Meeting scheduled for 11 July. Morning Tea and Lunch will be supplied.

The Catholic Education Team meetings will be held at Damascus College on 10 July, and team leaders will communicate their relevant agendas.

Morning Tea and Lunch will be supplied at Damascus College and the Office will be supplied with Morning Tea only.

As advised previously the Staff Dinner will be held at The Yacht Club, Wendouree Parade, Lake Wendouree, for a stand-up dinner on Wednesday, 10 July commencing at 6.30pm.

Diocesan Primary Literacy Strategy - FLARE

In working with the Structured Literacy team and in line with the recent Grattan Report 'The Reading Guarantee', the DOBCEL Structured Literacy Project will be expanded in 2025, into a Diocesan Primary Literacy Strategy. To mark this change, the expanded project will be known as FLARE.  The name honours the fundamental work of the SunLit Project (St Paul's, Mildura and St Joseph's, Red Cliffs) and La Trobe's SOLAR Lab. It builds upon the 'sunlight' theme and connotes a bright future for the students of the Ballarat diocese.

In line with the Grattan Report, the strategy aspires, as a minimum, to achieve 90% of primary school graduates confidently literate by 2035.  

It is intended to span 10 years and will contain the following elements

• Provides all DOBCEL primary educators with ongoing professional development opportunities that can be tailored for each school's particular context.
• Develops a knowledge-rich literacy curriculum with associated resources and assessment tools.
• Supports schools to track student progress and provide effective interventions for students who require support beyond core instruction.
• Fosters high-quality literacy leadership in all schools.
• Monitors and reports systemic improvement in Literacy outcomes

A proposed implementation timeline for the extended strategy is:

Implementation Timeline

In refining the work, there will be a move away from the level structure that has supported the implementation of the project. 

Replacing the level system, there will be two pathways available to support DOBCEL Primary Schools:

• Facilitated Literacy Improvement 
• Self-Guided Literacy Improvement

Existing Level One schools will simply continue through their implementation as planned, as 'Facilitated Literacy Improvement' schools. 

Primary schools that currently participate at Level 2 or Level 3, or who have not engaged with the Structured Literacy Project will have the option to become 'Facilitated Literacy Improvement' schools in 2025, or to be 'Self-Guided Literacy Improvement' schools within the overarching Flare strategy.

Thanks to substantial philanthropic funding and the support of La Trobe University, schools who select the 'Facilitated Literacy Improvement' pathway may be eligible for increased leadership support (additional to that already provided to all L1 schools) and subsidised LaTrobe SOLAR Lab training.  

Early in Term Three, an expression of interest form will be shared with all DOBCEL Primary Schools, which principals are asked to respond to by Wednesday 28th August. Schools can find out more about the two options by:

• Attending the Structured Literacy Level 3 Network Day on 15th July at Halls Gap (register here) – As previously advertised all are welcome but places are limited and registrations must close on Friday 28th June given this occurs at the start of term.
  
  
• Attending a 'Flare Introduction' online information session.
  The session can be accessed via this zoom link. It will be recorded and the recording will be made available. 
  • Tuesday 23rd July 4.30 - 5.00

• Current Level 1A or 1B schools will be updated as part of their upcoming PL Days, and an update will also be provided at the Level 1&2 Literacy Leaders' Network on Wednesday 24th July (L1&2 schools only).

Questions about the Flare Strategy can be addressed to: 
Emma Rutherford: erutherford@dobcel.catholic.edu.au, or to Leader of Learning & Teaching, Joe Ewing: jewing@dobcel.catholic.edu.au.

Testing and Tagging of electrical equipment at Gillies Street office

Please be advised that testing and tagging of electrical equipment will be undertaken next Thursday 4 July. 

Should you have any work items that require testing and tagging such as phone chargers, laptop leads, etc. please leave them on your desk so that they can be tested on this day. 

These works may extend into Friday 5 July if required.

If you happen to be working from the office on these days, interruption whilst testing your personal equipment should only be minimal.

If you have any questions, please contact Penelope Irish on email or on 0429 473 351. 

Catholic Identity and Mission Update

NAIDOC Week

The 2024 NAIDOC theme chosen by the National NAIDOC Committee is ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud.’ The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Held across the country from 7-14 July 2024, NAIDOC Week will celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

As we head into NAIDOC Week, let us be reminded that in the Gospel, Jesus compels us to welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35). Welcome in this context involves both an attitude and an action. It is our attitude which constantly needs to be assessed in light of the Gospel to ensure that we are carrying out the Lord’s commandment to love our neighbour as ourselves.

Pope Francis reminds us that we have much to learn from indigenous people across the world:

“They are the living cry of hope. They know what it is to listen to (the) Earth, to see (the) Earth, to touch (the) Earth. They remind us that we human beings have a shared responsibility to care for our common home.”
Pope Francis, Indigenous Peoples Forum, Rome February 2019.

READ/VIEW

Social Justice Education Officer, Sarah Page, encourages you during NAIDOC week to take time to read, listen to, and reflect on one of the following:

1. “Listen” written by Australian Aboriginal man (from Wiradjuri Nation) Duncan Smith AO and Nicole Godwin, with paintings by (Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Warung descendant) Jandamarra Cadd.
   'Listen' by Duncan Smith and Nicole Godwin and Jandamarra Cadd | #readaloud by @helloreaders.  
2. A book from the Koori Curriculum's NAIDOC Week 2024 Reading List, NAIDOC Week 2024 | Koori Curriculum, or share books you have read by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors  with friends and colleagues. 
3. An episode from the SBS documentary series, The Australian Wars. In Season 1, Rachel Perkins journeys across the country to explore the bloody battles fought on Australian soil and the war that established the Australian nation, seeking to change the narrative of the nation.
   Watch The Australian Wars | Stream free on SBS On Demand  

REFLECT

After exploring your chosen reading or viewing your chosen documentary, consider; What does it mean to listen? What does the word truth mean? How can telling truths lead to healing? What does “laying bare the deep scars of the past” mean? Who was the stranger when you began your reading or episode, and who are they now that you have heard their story? Consider, how might you authentically and respectfully welcome this stranger into your own daily life? 

Let this reading/documentary/picture story book be an inspiration and moral compass to embark on this journey of Reconciliation together.

ACT

“Keep the Fire Burning.” 

• Attend a NAIDOC Week event - Plenty of events will be taking place nationwide. By participating, you can learn from and engage with Indigenous Elders, listen to their stories, and reflect on their challenges and resilience. Attending a local NAIDOC Week event, workshop, or gathering is a commitment to human rights, social justice, and intergenerational equity. Check out social media for local events. 
• Commit to practicing genuine allyship - Being a genuine ally involves a lot of self-reflection, education and listening. It means knowing you’re often coming into a space from a position of power and privilege. Genuine allyship is important in any fight against injustice, but it’s crucial to understand how your presence impacts the people and communities that you want to support.
• Further your learning by listening to Indigenous voices - Consume and enjoy the wide range of Indigenous-led content available to you this week. Check out SBS and NITV's extensive line-up to celebrate NAIDOC Week this year.

Upcoming significant Ecological Events:

• July 2024 Plastic Free July: Explore the resources on the Plastic Free July website
• Sunday 7 July to Sunday 14 July 2024 NAIDOC Week
• Monday 15 July 2024 World Youth Skills Day | United Nations
• Monday 26 July 2024 Schools Tree Day: Get Involved As A School - National Tree Day 

The Catholic Institute of Western Australia (CIWA) has expanded its course offerings to encompass a distinctive Professional Certificate of Catholic Social Ecology.

Please see information below:

People and Development Update

Crucial Conversations – Swan Hill 3 & 4 September 2024

• Time - 9:00-4:00 (both days) 
• Location – Swan Hill -   Murray Downs Resort, Swan Hill 
• Cost $500 (inclusive of learning materials (3 x books), morning tea and lunch)  
• Trybooking registration

Crucial Conversations teaches a model for effective communication, that can be applied to any situation, but particularly difficult or high-stakes situations. It focuses on fostering dialogue, managing emotions, and achieving mutual understanding. The model helps to navigate high-stakes discussions with openness, respect, and skill, enhancing relationships and driving positive outcomes. 

This program is designed for anyone who would like to develop skills in providing effective feedback and fostering open dialogue. The skills can be transferred across a range of situations including providing feedback and fostering open dialogue with colleagues, parents/carers and the community. It is relevant for people working in schools as well as the CEB office. 

Future workshop dates -

Crucial Conversations will also be run on the following dates -

• 12 & 13 Nov - Ballarat
• Trybooking links will be supplied for bookings soon.

If you have any queries about the program please contact Fiona Murphy.

6-Month Self-Reflection/Annual Review Process - Now Open

The 6-month self-reflection process for the CEB office is now open.

The self-reflection process aims to ensure an opportunity for conversation to affirm and reflect on your achievements to date in 2024 and provide space to discuss and capture any support or growth and development opportunities for delivering on the goals you set for 2024.

Each person has received an email from Culture Amp (notifications@cultureamp.com) containing a link to complete the self-reflection. You can access your self-reflection via the email or by logging into your Culture Amp account. The link to the self-reflection is located on the home page.

Before completing your self-reflection, you should update the status of your goals. Once you’ve completed the self-reflection, submit it to your team leader; and expect to have a meeting to discuss your reflections.

6-month self-reflections and meetings should be completed by Friday, 14 July 2024.

Instructions for updating the status of goals and completing the self-reflection can be found here.

If you have any questions about Culture Amp please speak with Fiona Murphy.

Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community

Principal

• St Mary's Primary School, Warracknabeal (closes 4 August)