Weekly Newsletter #4 - 24 Feb 2021
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Reflection
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From the Executive Director
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DOBCEL Policy Implementation Update
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Bishops’ Pastoral Letter Celebrates 200 Years of Australian Catholic Education
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Staff Resignation - Ashleigh Freckleton
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Long Service Leave - Tony Perkins
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Invitation for Students to Participate in a DOBCEL Video Montage
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Professional Learning Updates
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Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Reflection
Into the Desert
And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness Mark 1:12
In the gospel reading that we hear each year at the start of Lent, the Testing in the Desert, we hear that Jesus was compelled to go into the wilderness. In other words, the proper preparation to begin his ministry required this process of discernment and I would suggest inner turmoil. In Hebrew the word satan meaning an adversary or one who plots against another. It can also refer to one who obstructs. The rich imagery of the conversation between Jesus and Satan suggests struggle and obstructiveness – experiences shared by any of us when we confront major decisions or a change of direction in our life.
The desert can be a place of danger, where wild beasts dwell or revolutionaries hide out. It was a place of testing for Israel, as well as a place where one could be alone with God, with nothing to distract and where one is confronted with one’s true self – not always a comfortable place to be!
The spiritual writer Carlo Carretto who spent ten years of his life as a hermit in the Sahara Desert notes this about the nature of “desert”:
The desert is no geographical expression but a spiritual reality
Desert means quest for silence, peace, austerity, solitude
Desert means intimacy, true, strong intimacy with the divine.
In the desert we learn the art of sustained life-giving prayer, we get used to the hardships of the journey, we come to know our own limitations.
The desert will help you, purify you, make you truer, more real, freer
… come with me
Carlo Carretto Journey Without End
From the Executive Director
Thank you to all our primary principals who attended last Friday’s Zoom meeting at short notice. Your feedback from both the Child Safe and Instrument of Delegations workshops is now under review.
Yesterday the Pathways to Leadership program began with 20 CEB participants and 8 MACS (Melbourne Archdiocesan Catholic Schools) participants. This high quality program is being facilitated by Dr Stephen Brown and is a key component of our CEB strategy to foster, support and grow our own leaders.
DOBCEL Board held their first meeting for the year yesterday, a summary of which will be circulated next week. The next meeting of the Board will be in Hamilton, with Board Directors visiting schools in and around the Hamilton district on Monday 22 March prior to the Board meeting on Tuesday 23 March. The Board will host a dinner for school communities local to Hamilton on Monday 22 March - so please mark that date in your diary.
As I visited all our DOBCEL schools in Term 4 2020, I was delighted to see a range of different schools embracing different forms of Play Based Learning, this is an area I’m passionate about and will encourage across our diocese. It was a pleasure on Monday to drop into St James’ Primary School, Sebastopol to participate in, “Let’s Play in Schools” workshop facilitated by Emeritus Professor Karen Stagnitti and Professor Louise Paatsch. For those who are interested in finding out more about Play Based Learning I would recommend the book, “Let the Children Play” by Salsberg and Doyle.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
DOBCEL Policy Implementation Update
VRQA requires all DOBCEL schools to implement policies and procedures by mid-2021. Below is a set of new and updated policies being rolled out this week, along with an updated version of the implementation timeline.
Duty of Care Document Suite
The following links outline key points and changes for each policy and procedure, actions required by schools, and the location of each document in eSort.
- Duty of Care Statement - summary document
- Communication Policy - summary document
- Digital Technology Policy - summary document
- OHS Policy and Procedures - summary document and video presentation
(Powerpoint slideshow providing audio commentary) - Pastoral Care and Well Being Policy and Procedures - summary document
- Student Attendance and Register Monitoring - summary document
- Supervision of Students Policy and Procedures - summary document
Also Available this Week
The Terms of Reference for School Advisory Councils is now also available. This summary document outlines key points and changes, actions required by schools, and the location of the documents in eSort.
Updated Policy Implementation and Timeline
An updated version of the Policy Implementation and Timeline is now available.
Bishops’ Pastoral Letter Celebrates 200 Years of Australian Catholic Education
The Catholic Bishops have written a pastoral letter to school leaders, staff, students and families to mark the 200th anniversary of Catholic education in Australia.
The letter, 200 Years Young, recognises the contribution of religious, clergy and lay people to the foundation of Catholic education, and the distinctive role Catholic schools play in educating and forming young people of faith and service in their communities.
Staff Resignation - Ashleigh Freckleton
It is with regret that we have accepted Ashleigh Freckleton’s resignation as Speech Pathologist for the Northern and Southern region schools, effective 25 February 2021. Ashleigh, who is currently filling a Maternity Leave replacement position, has decided to pursue a personal project. We wish Ashleigh all the best for her future endeavours.
An unexpected staffing change such as this presents its challenges. Understanding this, we are grateful to Ashleigh for her willingness to create the best opportunity in these circumstances for CEB to ensure continuity of service to schools through the offering of a longer term replacement.
The following measures have been taken:
- Senior Education Officer of the Speech Pathology Team, Robyn Cranage, will coordinate the allocation of Ashleigh’s current caseloads in the short term.
- A recruitment process to replace Ashleigh has been initiated.
- CEB will maintain contact with schools impacted by this matter to clarify the longer term provision of speech pathology in each school.
Long Service Leave - Tony Perkins
Tony Perkins, CEB Leader Wellbeing, will be on Long Service Leave for the period Monday 1 March to Thursday 1 April. Any matters that would normally have been directed to Tony should be directed to Sandra Harvey during this period.
Invitation for Students to Participate in a DOBCEL Video Montage
We are seeking video footage of primary and secondary students for a short video montage to introduce DOBCEL and to showcase the diversity of our schools. Please see the attached guidelines for details on how to participate; note that footage can be filmed using a smart phone. The video montage will be used in promotional videos and recruitment videos.
Submissions close on Tuesday 2 March.
Professional Learning Updates
Graduate Teacher Induction Program (Primary) - Reminder
Thank you to the Primary school Principals who have completed the information regarding 1st to 3rd Year Graduates. If you have not yet had time to do so, could you please read the Graduate Teacher Induction Program (Primary) letter and fill in the Graduate Template (Word document) by Friday 26 February.
Religious Education - ECSI 101 Course
Presented by CEB and Australian Catholic University, ECSI 101 is a 12 week course providing an introduction to Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) for beginners, including teachers, parents, clergy, religious sisters and brothers, parishioners, School Advisory Council members, school leadership teams. The course will be conducted online via Zoom and commences on Wednesday 21 April.
Bookings close this Friday 26 February. See further course details and how to book.
Developing Oral Literacy in F-2 Languages Webinar
Developing oral literacy for F-2 students is a key component of the Victorian Languages Curriculum. Join our webinar on Tuesday 2 March.
Registrations close Monday 1 March - see further details and how to book.
Introduction to Primary Languages Teaching Workshop
Understanding the Victorian Languages Curriculum is critical to developing quality units of work and assessment. Join us for this two day workshop on Monday 22 March and Monday 19 July.
Registrations are open until Friday 12 March - see further details and how to book.
Improving Literacy in the Secondary Years Program
The benefits of strong literacy skills are well-evidenced in supporting students' academically, gaining employment and living a happy life. Join us for this program over a series of sessions from April to October.
Registrations are open until Friday 19 March - see further details and how to book.
Other PD Opportunities
See our full PD Events Calendar for the full list of professional development opportunities currently available.
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Principal Vacancy
Principal – St Joseph’s Primary School, Warrnambool
Contract, Full time position
Closes: Monday 15 March
CEB Vacancies
Education Officer, English as an Additional Language/Curriculum
Fixed Term, Full-time position (0.4 EAL and 0.6 Curriculum) until the end of the 2021 school year
Location: a negotiated choice of Ballarat, Mildura, Horsham, Swan Hill, Warrnambool office locations
Closes: Monday 8 March
Human Resources Advisor
Fixed Term, Full-time position
Location: Warrnambool
Closes: Monday 1 March
Speech Pathologist
Permanent, Full-time position
Location: Warrnambool
Closes: Monday 1 March
Education Officer – Wellbeing (Secondary Schools)
Permanent, 0.5 FTE position
Location: a negotiated choice of Mildura, Horsham, Swan Hill, Ballarat, Warrnambool office locations
Closes: Monday 1 March