Executive Director’s Update to Principals #54 - 13 December 2024
Bushfire preparedness update
You will be aware that we have entered the Fire Danger Period in all fire districts. This period extends until 1 May 2025.
We trust that you have undertaken robust emergency management planning and preparedness during Term 4 with your leadership teams, staff, students and school community.
Through this process we trust that you have-:
- considered and included in your EMP all actions that the school, particularly non-BARR schools, will undertake in the event of a confirmed day of Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating
- communicated potential responses to the school community
- undertaken an emergency drill and
- pre-prepared communications and channels.
Please be reminded of the following matters:
- Should a Catastrophic fire danger rating be called in a particular region, schools on the BARR and Category 4 in that region are required to close.
- School bus routes will be impacted. School bus coordinators are required to inform client schools, who in turn must inform all families.
- In some instances non-BARR schools in a Catastrophic fire region may choose to close due to extenuating circumstances. Such an action should already have been considered in your planning and should follow discussion with your Education Consultant and neighbouring schools.
- It is necessary to re-assess your risk assessments for all camps and excursions proposed in times of elevated fire danger.
- Entering all school offsite activities into the School Activity Locator is paramount.
Your EMP should already include how you will communicate your intended response to potential or determined Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating Days. Attached for your reference is a series of VCEA letter templates that have been developed; these are attached and include:
- Warning of potential school closure
- Confirming school closure
- Cancelling school bus routes, where a client school remains open
- Cancelling off-site activities
- Telephone Script – Closure for elevated fire danger or catastrophic days
- Poster information for closure
If the fire rating does move to Catastrophic attached is a checklist for principals.
When using the VCEA templates, schools are advised to:
- review the text for relevance to their specific circumstance - noting that red text indicates statements that are optional or that must be reviewed for each use.
- copy the required text onto the school’s letterhead and/or website.
The best source of information regarding upcoming Fire Danger ratings is https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/.
For further advice, please contact your Education Consultant in the first instance.
Best Wishes and Farewell to Dr Susan Crowe
After 47 dedicated years in Catholic education, including 25 years with Catholic Education Ballarat, Susan Crowe has retired.
Susan has made a significant contribution to Catholic education as a teacher, Principal and member of CEB staff. She has brought passion and an unwavering commitment over this journey.
Throughout her career, Susan has consistently exemplified the values of our faith and the mission of Catholic education. Her devotion to the service of others and her genuine care for all have made her a significant contributor to Catholic education. She has also supported the Diocese on the Diocesan Liturgical Commission, the Bishop’s Social Justice Commission and in the preparation of hundreds of Liturgies.
As Susan steps into a new chapter, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for her extraordinary service, leadership, and friendship. We wish her every blessing in her retirement and hope that this next phase of her life is filled with joy, peace, and fulfillment.
Preview + hard copy delivery - DOBCEL Strategy 2035
We are pleased to provide you with a published version of the Executive Summary of DOBCEL 2035 Strategy - Pursuing fullness of life for all.
Hard copies of this document for your staff, along with ‘strategy on a page’ posters (see graphic below) to display in your schools, will be delivered by courier next week.
These are intended to be used as part of a suite of resources (powerpoint and video to follow in January) to assist you to engage your teams with the new Strategy early in 2025.
Please contact Gerard Delaney on gdelaney@dobcel.catholic.edu.au or 0413 274 176 if you do not receive or need additional materials.
DOBCEL Strategy 2035 - Implementation Manager Appointed
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Julia Petrov as Strategy Implementation Manager.
Many of you will know Julia from her role as Education Officer: Secondary Learning and Teaching at DOBCEL. She will transition to her new role on Monday, 20 January 2025.
Julia brings an impressive academic background, holding a Master of Instructional Leadership, Master of Education (Knowledge Networks and Digital Innovation), Master of Education (Teacher Librarian), Graduate Certificate in Teaching Religious Education, Graduate Diploma of Education, and a Bachelor of Arts.
Julia’s extensive experience in the education sector, including roles at St Patrick’s College, Ballarat, Federation University, and teaching in Siberia, will greatly enhance DOBCEL’s 10-year strategy vision and implementation. Recruitment for her current position will commence in Term 1 next year.
REMINDER: DOBCEL Strategy 2035 – System Initiative opportunities
Andy Hargreaves keynote presentation: Leading from the Middle
(registrations extended to 20 December 2024)
This keynote, by Andy Hargreaves, will focus on how leadership from the middle becomes a driver of transformational change. How can leaders enable their schools and communities to be adaptive, safe and effective places of learning that help young people develop the knowledge and character that will empower them to shape their futures?
Event Details
- Date and Time: 7 February 2025 (1.5 hours)
- Format: Available in-person at Ballarat (venue TBC) or via video conferencing (VC).
- Audience: Open to anyone who is interested in the content.
Registration
To register, click here
Registration Deadline
Friday, 20 December 2024 (extended)
Leading from the Middle: The Beating Heart of Educational Transformation
Expression of Interest (EOI): 12-Month Program
Following on from Andy Hargreaves’s keynote, continued by Pasi Sahlberg, and Dave Runge (EOIs extended to 20 December 2024)
This program is designed to develop aspirant ‘middle’ leaders and foster collaborative cultures through:
- Action research projects tailored to school-specific challenges.
- Mentorship by Pasi Sahlberg and Dave Runge.
- A combination of in-person and virtual workshops.
- This program will be co-designed and developed with the participants.
- It will include conversations with global thought leaders (such as Michael Fullan and Alma Harris).
- Where possible, Pasi and Dave may schedule school visits to support the action research initiatives.
Program Details
- Duration: 12 months (February 2025 – February 2026)
- Session Schedule:
- Term 1 in-person session: 7 February 2025, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- One additional virtual session per term (2 hours).
- Terms 2, 3 and 4 will include one in-person session and one virtual session (dates TBA)
- Team Composition: Each school nominates:
- 1 Participant: Aspiring leader.
- 1 School Leadership Mentor: Principal or senior leadership representative.
Eligibility
- Open to a maximum of 10 schools.
- Small Schools: May apply collectively, pooling staff from multiple settings.
Mentor’s Role
The role of the school leadership mentor is to support the aspirant middle leader through the program to lead transformation from the middle.
Expression of Interest Requirements
To apply for this 12-month leadership program, schools must submit an EOI via this link providing details of their school team composition and rationale for participation.
The selection process may include a brief (15-minute) VC interview to understand your aspiration and intent to be involved and how this may support you in progressing the DOBCEL 2035 Strategy and evolving your school.
Cost – All program costs are covered by DOBCEL (any travel/accommodation-related expenses and backfill costs are to be covered by individual schools).
Submission Deadline
Friday, 20 December 2024 (extended)
Confirmation
Successful schools/participants will be notified of their acceptance before the start of Term 1, 2025.
Contact Information For inquiries please contact: Fiona Murphy or Ange Jones
Other Leadership Development Opportunities facilitated by the Brown Collective:
(registration due by Friday 13 December 2024)
(registration due by Friday 13 December 2024)
(EOIs close Friday 13 December 2024)
Contact Information For inquiries please contact: Fiona Murphy
School holiday period - Emergency contact
In the event of an emergency over the school holiday period, please contact Executive Director Tom Sexton directly on Ph 0448 512 831.