Executive Director’s Update to Principals #32 - 11 July 2022
Prayer
God who loves those we love,
God who loves those we don’t;
it is easy to empathise
with people who behave as we do, and face what we fear.
But when the us means those who seem part of the problem, our Christ-like compassion is tested. Can our us include those who take short-sighted decisions? Can our we mean those
who put others at risk? Can this community extend to those whose actions threaten the whole? We pray that it can, because it already does.
Your compassion has included us all.
Amen.
Updated School Operations Guide – Term 3, 2022
An updated School Operations Guide for Term 3, 2022 is now available on CEVN. The updated Guide contains new advice on face masks, screening requirements, household contacts, and vaccination requirements for visitors to schools. The following are the key changes.
Vaccination requirements.
The School Operations Guide now includes the changes to vaccination requirements for mainstream schools that came into effect from 11.59pm Friday 24 June, which means there are no longer any mandatory vaccination requirements for staff or visitors working or attending mainstream schools.
Rapid Antigen Tests.
The Victorian Government is providing up to three further deliveries of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) in Term 3 and again in Term 4 to schools. These should be distributed by schools for use by staff and students who are symptomatic or who are household contacts. Household contacts are required to test negative using a rapid antigen test on at least 5 out of 7 if they are attending or working at a school onsite.
Schools will be able to provide these RATs to parents/carers, staff or students on request, as the previous settings that required weekly or daily testing of students and staff have ceased. Each delivery for mainstream schools will include one pack of RATs per student or staff member. We expect that schools will receive their first delivery of RATs by Friday 29 July 2022.
Schools that have an existing adequate stock of RATs can opt-out of receiving further deliveries after the first delivery in Term 3. Further information on how to opt-out of subsequent deliveries will be communicated shortly. RATs will also be delivered in Term 4, with a further opt-out option provided at the end of Term 3 for schools that have adequate stock.
Face Masks.
Schools are asked to remind staff, students and families that the current advice from the Victorian government is that it is recommended face masks are worn in indoor settings (except for close contacts, who must wear a mask indoors unless an exception applies). Everyone including students aged 8 years and above must wear a face mask when travelling on public transport, taxis or ride share vehicles.
COVID-19 reporting to the school community.
As with Term 2, Principals must notify staff and the school community through a daily email (where applicable) when a student(s) or staff member(s) have returned a positive COVID-19 test result and had attended the school.
Provision of COVID-19 case data to the Department of Health.
The Department of Health has advised that non-government schools are required to continue to provide weekly aggregate data on COVID-19 cases. Please continue to forward your case reporting (staff and students) to COVID@dobcel.catholic.edu.au by midday each Friday until future notice.
Updated COVIDSafe Plan and COVID-19 Safety Risk Review templates.
The templates for the COVIDSafe Plan and COVID-19 Safety Risk Review have been updated and are available on the CEVN website.
Expanded eligibility for fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has updated its recommendations around fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccination. From Monday 11 July 2022, people over 30 years will be eligible for a fourth dose. ATAGI recommends that people aged 50 to 64 years should have their fourth dose, while those aged 30 to 49 years may choose to have a fourth dose. For further information see the ATAGI website.
Invitation to participate: Principal Standard Consultation
I am delighted to advise you of an exciting, voluntary, opportunity for Principals in the Diocese of Ballarat and CEB system leadership to engage in a consultative process to personalise the Australian Professional Standard for Principals to the Catholic context.
Why?
Our Catholic context is central to our collective purpose: to lead the Church's mission through its leadership of Catholic education communities. Working from a standard-referenced perspective when defining school leaders' roles and responsibilities is necessary. We need a language to talk about leaders and leadership and define pathways, accountabilities and responsibilities. Taking ownership of the Principal Standard will inform the investment in professional learning programs and services we deliver in the future, including the Principal appointment and appraisal process.
Consultation.
Widely recognised academic expert in educational leadership, Emeritus Professor Stephen Dinham OAM, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, has been engaged to work with Louisa Rennie, General Manager Leadership Development MACS, to deliver the keynote address and facilitate the consultative activity that will follow.
Principals and members of the CEB system leadership team are asked to attend to offer expertise, input and feedback on the customisation of Principal Standard to reflect a Catholic understanding. Pre-reading material will be provided and Professor Dinham’s keynote will also be made available to attendees.
Consultation: CEV Principal Standard
Date: Tuesday 23 August 2022
Time: 10:00am – 12:30pm
Audience: Principals and system leaders
Venue: Ballarat (venue TBC)
Note: a light lunch will be provided on conclusion
Intended outcomes.
The intended outcomes of the consultation process include:
- High-level engagement of Principals and system leaders from Ballarat, Sandhurst and Melbourne Dioceses in the personalisation of the Principal Standard to the Catholic context,
- A final product that describes what principals are expected to know, understand and do to achieve excellence in Catholic leadership of schools,
- A final product that is cross-diocesan relevant and inclusive,
- A desire from all to continue to build understanding about how to use the Standard to guide work with/for/as principals and school leaders.
As the Catholic Education Victoria Principal Standard is developed, we will consider how this may impact key DOBCEL documents, including CHECS and the Diocesan Leadership Framework.
Register to attend.
We look forward to ensuring that principals and system leaders across the Ballarat Diocese have the opportunity to add value to this process. Participation is voluntary. However, we welcome as many principals as would like to attend this consultation event.
Register to participate in this consultation event here via this link.
We will continue to update all Principal and system leadership of this work and of future opportunities for consultation.