Weekly Newsletter #19 - 22 June 2022
Reflection
Refugee Week - 19-25 June
Healing
This Week is Refugee Week. We give thanks for the lives of the many refugees over centuries who have contributed so much to creating our rich, vibrant, peaceful society of Australia.
The theme of Refugee Week 2022 is Healing. Fr. Andy Hamilton SJ when reflecting upon this theme writes;
For refugees and people seeking asylum to find healing, they must find hospitality in the places to which they flee. Unfortunately, they often meet further trauma. Those who have come to Australia in recent years to seek protection are not seen as refugees but as criminals and are treated so. They have languished in gaols for years, have been dumped off-shore, moved around the nation like chess pieces, have been left resourceless in the community and denied the permanent protection that they need to build a new life. (Jesuit Social Services Refugee Reflection 2022)
This week in particular, we are invited to discern how we can bring about healing in our communities offering hospitality, love and welcome to all.
This poem by a 17-year-old asylum seeker held on Christmas Island in 2015 speaks eloquently of the experience of refugees and asylum seekers who are incarcerated, without family and without any hope of a durable solution. Without any hope of healing.
"If Only
If only you could feel how much it hurts to be locked up behind the fence.
If only you could see how my tears are falling down every moment.
If only you could know how much it means to me, to be a normal person,
Like any other – like people outside the fence.
If only you could see the world I left behind.
If only you could see how lonely I am without my family,
And knowing they are not safe.
If only you could hear me out and listen to why I came.
If only you could feel the pain inside my chest.
If only you could see how many times I wake up in the middle of the nights,
My blue bag to Nauru waiting at my door.
If only you could see how many dreams I have for my future."
Let us pray…..
Lord, make us bearers of hope, so that where there is darkness, your light may shine, and where there is discouragement, confidence in the future may be reborn.
Lord, make us instruments of your justice, so that where there is exclusion, fraternity may flourish, and where there is greed, a spirit of sharing may grow.
Lord, make us builders of your Kingdom, together with migrants and refugees and with all who dwell on the peripheries.
Lord, let us learn how beautiful it is to live together as brothers and sisters.
Amen. - (Pope Francis, Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2022)
For more information, please see the links below:
From the Executive Director
I would like to thank staff across all our schools and CEB for their commitment to the mission of Catholic Education this Term. Once again, I have heard and seen many examples of the collective commitment to our students during this complex and challenging time. I both encourage and hope all our school based staff have a well deserved two week break.
Students themselves will no doubt welcome the break from the first regular face-to-face learning period in some time. As William Doyle, Fulbright Scholar, and author of ‘Let the Children Play’ penned in a recent entry to his Twitter; “A Child’s summer (winter) assignment for success: Be a child. Have fun, go outside, be bored, run around until you’re exhausted, goof off, draw stuff, build Legos, get muddy, scrape your knees, read lots of paper books, and think nothing of screens or school".
The Council of Priests held their latest meeting at the Catholic Education Ballarat Office, Lake Wendouree on Tuesday of this week. The clergy toured the new building and were very impressed with the new office space. We look forward to welcoming them back in the future.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
Learning & Teaching Update
2023 Teaching Excellence Program.
The Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership aims to improve student outcomes by increasing the effectiveness and impact of teaching and school leadership practice in our schools through the design and delivery of specialised professional learning programs. The Academy’s flagship offering is the Teaching Excellence Program, a one-year initiative aimed at further developing exceptional teachers from Victorian government, Catholic and independent schools.
Teachers can now view the eligibility requirements and register their interest in the program via the Academy’s website. Those who register will be notified when applications for the program open and will also receive information about the selection process.
The program is a unique professional learning opportunity that includes access to experts in discipline areas, participation in master classes, membership of a Teaching Excellence Learning Community, support to conduct practitioner inquiries in classrooms, and a focus on enhancing and demonstrating dispositions that support development and growth as a teacher.
The program will consist of a combination of face-to-face professional learning, online and in class learning. Through the Teaching Excellence Program, teachers will have the opportunity to deepen teaching excellence and advance their professional practice through disciplinary knowledge, the science of learning and contemporary pedagogies.
Eligible teachers are invited to register their interest in the Teaching Excellence Program via the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership website.
2022 Graduate Teacher Survey.
The Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET) is conducting research via a survey that seeks feedback from first-year teachers, teacher mentors and school leaders to enable improvements to teacher education course quality and support for new teachers.
The 2022 Graduate Teacher Survey is a cross-sectoral survey and will be open from Monday 2 May to Friday 24 June 2022.
First year teachers, teacher mentors and other school leaders are invited to participate.
Feedback gathered in the survey provides evidence to support schools when working with universities to develop high-quality teacher graduates. The school leader and mentor surveys will take no more than 10 minutes to complete. The first-year teacher survey will take no more than 15 minutes to complete. Participation in the survey is voluntary and anonymous.
Link to survey: 2022 Graduate Teacher Survey
Catholic Education Ballarat is in the process of reviewing our current Graduate program and will also be seeking input from interested graduates, mentors and school leaders in the near future.
Planning & Infrastructure Update
Final Reminder - Portable Allocation 2022 Survey.
As a part of the Catholic Education Ballarat’s planning for 2023, we are currently in the process of:
- Auditing current placements of CEB relocatable classrooms
- Accessing school relocatable allocations needs for 2023
Could all schools please complete the 2022 Application for Placement of DOBCEL Portable Classrooms survey here no later than 24th June.
If you have any questions relating to this, please contact Penelope Irish (CEB – Properties & Facilities Advisor).
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Deputy Principal Vacancy.
- Deputy Principal – Student Engagement & Staff Development – St Brigid’s College, Horsham (closes 27 June)
School Vacancies.
- Accounts Payable Officer – Loreto College, Ballarat – fixed-term position for Term 3 at 0.6 FTE (closes 22 June)
- Health and PE Teacher – St Paul’s Primary School, Mildura – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 23 June)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Alipius Parish School, Ballarat East (closes 30 June)
- Classroom Teacher – St Mary’s School, Donald – fixed-term position at 0.6 FTE (closes 11 July)
- Positions of Leadership – Loreto College, Ballarat – ongoing positions at 1.0 FTE to commence 2023 (closes 15 July)
- Classroom Teacher (F/1/2) – St Joseph’s School, Penshurst – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 18 July)
- School Officer: Reception/Administration – Siena Catholic Primary School, Lucas – ongoing position (FTE to be confirmed) to commence Term 3 (closes 20 July)
- Classroom Teacher – St Mary’s School, Swan Hill – fixed-term position for 2023 at 1.0 FTE (closes 22 July)
- Director of Faith and Mission (POL 4) – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 8 August)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Francis Xavier, Ballarat East (closes 9 December)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Columba’s School, Ballarat North (closes 18 December)
Catholic Education Ballarat Vacancies.
- Communications Administration Officer – Ballarat Office – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 24 June)
- Manager: Finance and Accountability – Ballarat Office – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 27 June)
- Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator – Ballarat Office – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (position advertisement will be available on the DOBCEL website in the coming days)