Weekly Newsletter #24 - 11 Aug 2021
Reflection
Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop
This week we celebrate the feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. The Josephite legacy is strong in the Ballarat diocese, and a foundational charism for many of our schools. During this time of pandemic, we are reminded of the challenges faced by the fledgling Josephite order in the face of disease and the Spanish flu, prompting Mary MacKillop to write to her sisters: “We must often feel weary and tired and yet God brings us through all these things”. May that same determination and trust in God instil within us, who are the bearers of Catholic education in our troubling times, confidence and hope.
Holy Spirit working among us
fill us with gratitude for education
and with appreciation of those in the teaching ministry
who empower our communities.
Calm us in this time of pandemic
to be supportive of children, young people and teachers
negotiating the new realities of this time.
Strengthen the commitment of governments, churches and institutions
to the goal of universal education in our world.
Encourage us to take advantage of opportunities
for learning through all our lives.
And bless us with critical minds, grateful hearts and willing hands
to do our bit.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ
the way, the truth and the life.
Amen
Margaret O’Sullivan rsj
From the Executive Director
It is difficult to know what new words to write in terms of gratitude and empathy for the amazing work you and your school communities have done in the last few days as we rapidly went into and emerged from remote learning in such a short space of time. You are showing great resilience and perseverance, yet I also understand that it is hard and tiring work and is wearing down many in our communities. It is so important to look after yourselves and others as this pandemic continues. We will continue to do our best to support each of our school communities.
Last week’s virtual Leaders’ Gathering meeting for principals was very well attended despite being in lockdown on the Friday morning. For those of you who were unable to attend parts of meeting due to lockdown issues, we have recorded the sessions so that you can catch up – the video and relevant documents will be circulated later this week. I would be grateful if you are able to follow up with further feedback from the various sessions at your next principal meetings. As discussed, we will also follow up at our next Leadership Gathering in Week 4 of Term 4.
CEB Staffing Update
Resignation of Lesley Price – CEB Psychologist
CEB Psychologist Lesley Price has announced that, following a current period of Long Service Leave and accrued Annual Leave, she will conclude her time working within the Diocese of Ballarat on Friday 8 October. Lesley, who has been primarily based in the Northern Zone of the Diocese has impacted positively on many schools and individuals over the course of her 20 year engagement at CEB through her role as a psychologist, Learning Diversity Officer, colleague and friend.
Lesley shared the following in communicating her resignation. ‘Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work in this position for the past 20 years. I have thoroughly enjoyed working here and appreciate all of the opportunities which have been given to me. However, I have decided that it is time for me to move on to another challenge. Thank you again for the opportunity, and I wish you and Catholic Education Ballarat all the best for the future.’
We congratulate Lesley on her years of service and wish her well for the future.
Patrice Rickard, who joined CEB in May, has replaced Lesley.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
Catholic Identity and Mission Updates
Catholic Education Week 2022 Announcement
It has been confirmed that Catholic Education Week 2022 will be from Sunday 22 – Saturday 28 May, 2022, with the following theme:
Spread the Good News!
Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation Mark 16:15
After his resurrection, Jesus appears to his disciples and instructs them to continue his mission and be the gospel (Good News!) to the world. As bearers of that same mission, we involved in Catholic education are called to be living examples of this good news.
Pope Francis challenges the community of missionary disciples to spread the joy of the gospel to all creation- human and other-than human - especially to those on the fringes:
… all of us are asked to obey (Jesus’) call to go forth from our own comfort zone in order to reach all the “peripheries” in need of the light of the Gospel. Evangelii Gaudium 20
Reminder: REL Conference Faith in the Future – online format
A reminder that 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.
Resource Smart Schools – Professional Development Opportunities
These free PD opportunities for Term 3 are available to Resource Smart Schools and those interested in Education for Sustainability in their schools. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Crowe.
Consent Education – Professional Development Opportunity
CEB has engaged the services of Jenny Walsh to facilitate some professional development on Consent Education. Jenny was the Relationships and Sexuality Education Consultant that worked with CEB to write the Fullness of Life Scope and Sequence. Jenny is a leading consultant who has worked with various education bodies across Australia to prepare Relationships and Sexuality Education resources. The focus will be on how ‘Fullness of Life’ includes and addresses consent education along with research informed approaches to be used in this area.
This PD will be delivered online on Wednesday 25 August starting at 4:00pm for one hour. For further details please see the attached flyer.
System Improvement Updates
Learning and Teaching Updates
Mathematics Teaching and Learning Centre (ACU) Webinar Series
The MTLC team has planned an extensive range of online webinars to be facilitated by nationally and internationally recognised experts in their field. These online webinars start on Wednesday 8 September. Sessions run from 4:00 - 5:15pm and cost $40 per participant. Places will fill very quickly so we advise you to book ASAP if you would like to attend. See details and registrations here.
Responding to COVID-19 and its Impact on Education –
Research-based Measures for Consideration
Victorian schools, including the schools of the Ballarat Diocese have been subject to six periods of remote learning since March 2020, due to COVID-19 lockdown orders. Many students have missed over 125 days of face to face learning. Whilst schools have employed extraordinary and unprecedented measures to ensure the continuation of learning, this has been done variably and with yet-to-be measured levels of success. School leaders and teachers are anecdotally reporting a significant impact on social and academic outcomes. The CEB Educational Services Team has compiled a list of considerations for schools, based on the current research available.
This HIVE page provides resources and summarises some of the key recommendations gleaned from national and international research about mitigating the impact of COVID-19 in schools.
Schools may find this information helpful to affirm existing practice, identify areas of practice to strengthen further, or to consider future possibilities. CEB teams are now working towards providing some recommended actions to support these considerations.
We also extend an open invitation to be part of a diocesan-wide discussion about the recommendations and the incredible ways in which schools have already responded to the disruptions of the pandemic. You are invited to add your expression of interest in participating in this webinar by completing this form.
Webinars will be held on the following dates:
- Wednesday 1 September, 4pm - 5pm
- Thursday 9 September, 4pm - 5pm
- Monday 13 September, 4pm - 5pm
Schools seeking to engage in greater depth with any of the recommendations are encouraged to contact CEB staff.
Co-Creating an Educational Landscape – Update
Ten primary schools and four secondary colleges have begun the process of exploring the Reflection and Dialogue tool offered as part of the Educational Landscape Research Project. The tool has offered leaders opportunities to gather new insights and multiple perspectives from the voices of staff and students. Find out more about the Educational Landscape Project and how you can be involved.
The following quotes have been gathered from conversations with school leaders across the diocese as they engaged with possibilities offered by the Reflection and Dialogue tool in the context of their ongoing work:
- “Uncovered some very important insights and offered an experience of creating the conditions for young people to have a voice” Primary Deputy Principal.
- “This survey will capture a ‘snapshot’ in time to show us where we are now, where we have been and where we will be in the future.” Secondary Principal.
- “The reflection prompts and process act as starting points for dialogue and uncovering what might be possible in this school community.” Primary Principal.
The project provides ongoing opportunities to witness the mutual benefit for individual schools and the system as a whole, as the current educational landscape is explored together.
In Term 3 we are looking forward to reconnecting with participating schools, and gathering their stories as part of this exciting research.
People and Development Updates
Injury Management Update
For assistance with managing workplace injuries, WorkSafe inspections, return to work arrangements or lodging a Workcover claim, please contact Grant Victor-Gordon, CEB Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator, on 03 5337 7183 or via email.
New Poster: IF YOU ARE INJURED AT WORK
A new poster has been released by WorkSafe Victoria and must be prominently displayed on all health and safety noticeboards. The new poster includes the contact details for the DOBCEL Return To Work (RTW) Coordinator.
The new poster can be accessed here. Older versions of the poster must be removed and replaced with the new poster which must be displayed on all health and safety noticeboards in each school or office.
All Workcover Claims
Please ensure that all new WorkCover claims are sent to returntowork@dobcel.catholic.edu.au for assessment. Once assessed, the claim form will be lodged by Catholic Education Ballarat with our Authorised Agent (Gallagher Basset).
New Obligations
On 1 July 2021, early notification and provisional payment obligations came into effect for mental health injuries sustained at work.
This means once an injured employee or volunteer provides a completed Worker's injury claim form to their employer, the Principal working with the Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator must review and submit the claim for assessment to our Authorised Agent within three (3) working days.
Other Workcover Claims
Once an injured employee or volunteer provides a completed Worker's injury claim form to their employer the Principal working with the Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator must review and submit the claim to our Authorise Agent for assessment within ten (10) working days.
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 three sessions are now available (updated) and session handouts can be accessed via the seminar overview.
Upcoming Seminars
The full schedule, details, booking links and handouts are available here.
- 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
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
- 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)
- Classroom Teachers – St Columba’s School, Ballarat North – fixed-term for 2022 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)
- Secondary Teachers – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing at 1.0 FTE (closes 18 August)
- Head of Science Faculty – St Patrick’s College, Ballarat – 12-month POL at 0.2 FTE and ongoing teaching position at 0.8 FTE to commence Term 4 2021 (closes 18 August)
- Classroom Teachers for 2022 – St Joseph’s College, Mildura – ongoing positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 20 August)
- POL 4 Leader of Learning and Teaching – St Brigid’s College, Horsham – 0.5 FTE, 12 months fixed term (closes 23 August)
- POL 4 Leader of Student Wellbeing – St Brigid’s College, Horsham – 0.5 FTE, 12 months fixed term (closes 23 August)
- Teaching Positions – St Brigid’s College, Horsham – full time, part time and casual, ongoing or fixed term (closes 23 August)
- Classroom Teachers for 2022 – St Mary’s School, Swan Hill – contract positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 23 August)
- Classroom Teacher – St Mary’s School, Donald – ongoing at 1.0 FTE (closes 23 August)
- Classroom Teachers for 2022 – St Alipius’ Parish School, Ballarat East – fixed-term for 2022 at 1.0 FTE (closes 27 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 Around the Diocese
Our Diocesan Community (ODC) – Issue 64 now available
Our Diocesan Community – Issue 64 (July 2021) is now available. As digital communications is the preferred method of distribution to families, please share ODC with your school communities so that we may continue to share the good news stories of our schools, parishes and agencies across the diocese.
If your school community has a good news story to share with others in the diocese, articles and photos for publication in ODC and the Diocesan e-News can be sent to odc@ballarat.catholic.org.au.
Some highlights of the current issue can be viewed below (click to enlarge).
From Other Diocese and Beyond
Australian Catholic Education News
The latest edition of Australian Catholic Education News (5 August) is now available.
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.
