Weekly Newsletter #23 - 4 Aug 2021
Reflection
Give us this day our daily bread …
The recent series of Sunday gospel readings centres on bread, specifically Jesus as the bread of life. An underlying theme of these readings however focuses on the proper stewardship of the resources with which we are gifted and the avoidance of wastefulness. We hear the words of Jesus instructing his disciples to gather that which has been leftover following the feeding of the 5000, “so that nothing may be lost.” Jn 6:12
Similarly, in the book of Exodus, the complaining Israelites on their way to the promised land are given manna from heaven to appease their hunger. A New York Times article from several years ago notes that manna is real and has become something of a delicacy in restaurants. What the Israelites called manna is the sweet sap of the tamarisk tree that oozes at night and dries up in the morning flaking off and requiring no cultivation, hence it has little preservative quality – eat it quick or you’ll lose it!
God provided this manna to the travelling Hebrews with certain prohibitions. It was forbidden to keep manna overnight, inviting them to trust that God would feed them anew each day. One day’s food was all that was needed; to demand more was to mistrust God’s care.
This tale, well known to first century Palestinians, formed the catalyst for Jesus’ instruction on prayer: Give us this day our daily bread – not our weekly, yearly or “I’ll keep some in storage” allowance – but our ‘enough’ for this day, this project, this meeting, or this encounter. In our fast-paced, work-intensified culture, embracing sufficiency is not only good spiritual practice but has proven wellbeing benefits.
What is my daily bread for this day?
From the Executive Director
I am looking forward to our Leadership Gathering tomorrow and Friday. The agenda for both days is available here.
Today is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, a day for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to celebrate the strengths and culture of their children, and also an opportunity for all Australians to show their support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The Opening the Doors Foundation 20th Anniversary video has been launched to commemorate the occasion and I would like to acknowledge the school communities and Jeanette Morris (CEB Education Officer – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education) for their involvement in the production of the video. Opening the Doors Foundation supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to participate fully and equally in education, and in 2021 they supported 722 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Victorian Catholic schools. See further information below under System Improvement Updates.
Congratulations to Helen Goode, Rachel McGennisken and Emma Rutherford on the recent publication of ‘An Adaptive Leadership Response to Unprecedented Change’ in the Journal of the Commonwealth Council for Education Administration and Management. This exploration of educational leadership and practices in rural and regional communities during the COVID pandemic is an exemplary achievement.
NCEC has released a series of short professional learning videos designed to encourage discussion among Catholic educators through the unpacking of the NCEC Framing Paper on Religious education in Australian Catholic Schools (2018). These resources support Religious Education staff to consider the variety of learners in the classroom with their unique life experiences, particular motivations, expectations and aspirations. They will provide a valuable complement to the formation element of a staff meeting. Ballarat diocesan schools, leaders, teachers and students feature throughout the series, but predominantly in Video Three: Religious Education in the Mission of the School. We thank all diocesan staff and students who contributed to this national offering.
CEB Staff Appointments
Mel Willis – Education Officer: Learning and Teaching
We are delighted to welcome Mel Willis as an Education Officer: Learning and Teaching in Term 4. Mel will be working from the Warrnambool office in a full-time capacity. She is currently Deputy Principal at St Robert’s Primary School in Newtown, Geelong, and has previously worked at Clairvaux Catholic School and St Patrick’s Primary School in Geelong. Mel has experience as both a Learning and Teaching Leader and a Wellbeing Leader.
Tegan Bell – Psychologist
We are delighted to welcome Tegan Bell to our Wellbeing Team for the remainder of the 2021 year. Tegan has a Master of Psychology and comes to us from private practice with Unique Brains and Solution Psychology.
Sue Powell – HR Administration
We are delighted to welcome Sue Powell back to CEB in a casual capacity next week. Sue assisted us with HR administration as we prepared to move schools into DOBCEL at the end of last year. She is returning to undertake the same process ahead of Damascus College and St Francis Xavier Primary School joining DOBCEL next year.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
Catholic Identity and Mission Updates
REL Conference Faith in the Future – Update
Due to the uncertainty of COVID restrictions, the REL Conference Faith in the Future has been changed to an online format during which keynote speakers Rev Dr Kevin Lenehan and Prof Mary Coloe pbvm will provide invaluable insights into the future of RE and faith education in our Catholic schools. See updated flyer for details.
Kardia Formation
Teachers needed for current research on teacher formation, wellbeing and resilience
Kardia Formation is looking for teachers and those in school leadership who would be willing to receive eight sessions of spiritual direction over the next twelve months to participate in diocesan approved research that is investigating the contribution that spiritual direction can make to teacher formation, wellbeing and resilience. Kardia Formation is committed to exploring spiritual dimensions of oneself within the context of wholeness.
Interested in finding out more? Contact John Meneely, Jim Waight or Dr Bernadette Miles. See further details about the project on the Kardia website.
System Improvement Updates
Learning and Teaching
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day Resources
Although the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day online Mass and PowerPoint presentation planned for today have been cancelled due to the uncertainty of COVID lockdowns, schools are invited to utilise this activity resource for students and staff. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day website also offers further information, resources and videos. As part of the day’s celebrations, the Opening the Doors Foundation launched their 20th Anniversary video this morning.
Wellbeing Updates
1. Census Data Validation Warnings
Please refer to the attached COMS regarding 2021 NCCD August census data validation warnings, the tutorial to support schools to navigate the new NCCD Warnings function and response template (Excel file).
The Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) has published the Non-Government School Census Data Specification 2021. This document outlines the full list of data validation warnings, with pages 15–17 listing those specific to the NCCD.
Prior to declaring their August Census data on SchoolsHUB, principals will be expected to provide short text responses to any data validation warnings.
Data validation warnings do not mean that the NCCD dataset is incorrect, rather the DESE is requesting a brief explanation of what is happening at the school level that accounts for the change in data.
To support schools with the data validation process, principals and staff with administrator access to the NCCD application will be able to view a warnings summary.
Please note that this replaces the CECV data anomaly process that has occurred in previous years. If you have any questions – please contact your NCCD Key Contact/diocesan representative.
2. Submitting 2021 NCCD
As you are aware, all CECV schools must submit their 2021 NCCD via the CEVN website by COB Friday 6 August. If there are any errors identified post 6 August, please contact the census helpdesk in the first instance to discuss censushelpdesk@macs.vic.edu.au.
Most schools have already engaged in the CECV quality assurance process. If you have not booked in a time, please do so as soon as possible.
3. Current student details ODT file
In order to ensure that your student enrolment information is updated in the CEVN NCCD system is accurate, please ensure that a current student details ODT file is uploaded. Updates to your student level data within the CEVN NCCD system typically appear 30 minutes after upload.
For all ICON schools, please contact the ICT Helpdesk on 9267 0422 / ICTSupport@macs.vic.edu.au to update your current student details ODT file. This process is not completed automatically.
For all other schools, the instructions to upload a current student details ODT file are in the attached NCCD Submission tutorial.
People and Development Updates
Reminder: Wellbeing Webinar Series –
Converge International
The series of online seminars in partnership with Converge International continues next week. These one-hour seminars provide different insights and strategies for supporting our own and others’ wellbeing. Hosted by Converge International on GoToWebinar, these sessions are open to all Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education employees.
For more information, contact Ange Jones (Assistant Director People and Development, Catholic Education Ballarat) via email or on 0400 831 040.
Recording of Past Seminars
Each recording will be available for 30 days following the seminar. Recordings of the first two sessions are now available and session handouts can be accessed via the seminar overview.
Upcoming Seminars
The full schedule, details, booking links and handouts are available here.
- Session 3: Building Resilience
Monday 9 August, 4.00 – 5.00pm
Register for Session 3
- Session 4: Thriving Under Pressure
Monday 16 August, 4.00 – 5.00pm
Register for Session 4
- Session 5: Recovering from Difficult Situations
Monday 23 August, 4.00 – 5.00pm
Register for Session 5
- Session 6: Looking After Yourself and Others Post-Crisis
Tuesday 31 August, 4.00 – 5.00pm
Register for Session 6
August Flourish Wellbeing eMag now available
The August edition of Flourish eMag is now available. In this issue:
- Positive mindset
- Looking after your brain
- Melatonin and sleep
- What is resistance training
- Going vegan + more
See information about Converge’s Employee Assist Program (EAP).
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
CEB Leadership Vacancy
- Education Consultant: Secondary – to commence Term 1 January 2022 (closes 16 August)
Principal Vacancies
- Principal – Lumen Christi Primary School Delacombe, to commence Term 1 January 2022 (closes 16 August)
- Principal – St Mary’s Primary School Donald, to commence Term 1 January 2022 (closes 16 August)
- Principal – St Joseph’s Primary School Penshurst, to commence Term 1 January 2022 (closes 16 August)
School Vacancies
- Classroom Teacher – St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballarat East – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 6 August)
- Learning Support Officer – St James’ School, Sebastopol – part-time position (closes 6 August)
- Secondary Teachers – Mercy Regional College, Camperdown – fixed-term positions at between 0.2 to 1.0 FTE (closes 6 August)
- Finance Officer – Mercy Regional College, Camperdown – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 6 August)
- F-1-2 Teacher – St Joseph’s Primary School, Penshurst – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE to commence Term 4 2021 (closes 6 August)
- Positions of Leadership & Teaching – Emmanuel College, Warrnambool – fixed-term positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 8 August)
- Classroom Teachers – St Columba’s School, Ballarat North – fixed-term positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 9 August)
- Science/Maths Teacher – Emmanuel College, Warrnambool – fixed-term position for Term 4 2021 at 1.0 FTE (closes 13 August)
- Deputy Principal – Trinity College, Colac – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 16 August)
- Teaching and Learning Leader: Learning Diversity (POL 3) – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 18 August)
- House Leader (POL 3) – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 18 August)
- Director of Faith and Mission (POL 4) – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 18 August)
- Classroom Teachers for 2022 – St Joseph’s College, Mildura – ongoing positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 20 August)
- Classroom Teacher – St Mary’s School, Donald – ongoing at 1.0 FTE (closes 23 August)
- Classroom Teachers for Years 3/4 and 5/6 – St Mary’s School, Hamilton – initially fixed-term for Term 4 2021 at 1.0 FTE (closes 30 August)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballarat East (closes 10 December)
From Other Dioceses and Beyond
Reminder: Family Week – 8-14 August
Family Week will be celebrated from 8-14 August in Catholic school communities. The week recognises the significant contribution of families, and coincides with the Feast Day of Australia’s First Saint, Mary MacKillop, who was a passionate educator and advocate for children and families.
The following resources are available for schools:
- Suggested Activities & Events
- Newsletter Message template
- Draw your family colouring page
- St Mary MacKillop colouring page (source: Catholic Education Western Australia)
- Family Week Prayer Card (generic option or customisable Word option)
Read a recent media release about Family Week.
ACER Global Academic Challenge and PISA
The attached letter provides details about ACER’s new Global Academic Challenge and news of ACER being selected to work with the OECD to develop a new PISA assessment for 2025.
Catholic Theological College ‘Engaging Your Faith’ Online Sessions
Bookings are now open for the Catholic Theological College Engaging Your Faith online sessions in August and September. Thirteen short online sessions are available, offering an opportunity to explore your faith through a variety of topics including: Meditation and Compassion, The Bible as the Great War Story to End All War Stories, Can a Scientist Believe in God? All topics are presented by lecturers of Catholic Theological College.
Social Justice Sunday – 29 August
The Bishops’ Social Justice Statement 2021-22: Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor, affirms that “we human beings need a change of heart, mind, and behaviour”. It draws from Scripture, from the theological tradition, from Catholic Social Teaching and from the wisdom of the world, including the insights of the First Nations. Liturgy notes and other resources are available from the ACBC Office for Social Justice website. The Social Justice Statement will be available for download on Thursday 5 August.
Recruitment Opportunities in Other Dioceses
The following recruitment opportunities are currently available in other dioceses: