Weekly Newsletter #23 - 3 August 2022
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Reflection
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From the Executive Director
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"What's the Crime Mr. Wolf" school play at St Patrick's Primary School, Gordon
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People & Development Update
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Catholic School Parents Australia 2022 Parent Survey Now Live
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Catholic Education Update
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Learning & Teaching Update
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Wellbeing Update
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Staff News
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Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Reflection
The Gift of Deep Listening
Listening is a creative force. Something quite wonderful occurs when we are listened to fully. We expand, ideas come to life and grow, we remember who we are. Some speak of this force as a creative fountain within us that springs forth; others call it the inner spirit, intelligence, true self. Whatever this force is called, it shrivels up when we are not listened to and it thrives when we are.
The way we listen can actually allow the other person to bring forth what is true and alive to them. Sometimes we have to do a lot of listening before the fountain is replenished. Patience is required to listen to such a person long enough for them to get to their centre point of tranquillity and peace. The results of such listening are extraordinary. Some would call them miracles.
Listening well takes time, skill, and a readiness to slow down, to let go of expectations, judgments, boredom, self-assertiveness, defensiveness. I’ve noticed that when people experience the depth of being listened to like this, they also begin to listen to others in the same way.
Over the years I have discovered that there is a basic context that nurtures and develops the practice of listening as a sacred art. Three qualities that are essential to this deep listening context are silence, reflection, and presence.
Silence creates the space for listening to God. It provides time to explore our relationship to Source. The practice of being in this silence nurtures our capacity to listen to others.
Reflection gives us access to listening for our inner voice. The practice of taking a few breaths before responding to a situation, question, or comment gives time for your true wisdom to reveal itself. It’s a slowing down, waiting, practising patience.
Presence is the awareness of listening to another, of connecting at the heart level. The practice of taking a mundane, ordinary activity and giving it your full attention, for example, washing your hands or brushing your teeth, trains your concentration and your ability to be in the present moment with another. . . .
Heart communication happens when we slow down, when we quiet down, look, and listen. Stop to take a breath. Become fully present with the person we’re with. Listen with all of our being. At this point, communication can occur without words. Being present is a gift that fills our hearts and spirits. We are in communion.
Lindahl, K (2002) The Sacred Art of Listening: Forty Reflections for Cultivating a Spiritual Practice Woodstock, VT: Skylight Paths Publishing, 11, 12, 16, 24.
Let us pray.
God of Silence,
God of all Sound,
Help us to listen.
Help us to hear the deep sounds of our souls,
Waiting to hear Your soft voice calling us deeper into You.
Give us attentive ears
that begin to separate the noise, from the sounds that are You;
You who have been speaking to us
and through us our whole lives,
Today help us hear anew.
Amen
From the Executive Director
Recently I attended the St Patrick’s Primary School Gordon school play,"What’s the Crime Mr Wolf". It was a great play - very entertaining, the kids and the audience had a ball. Every student at the school had a part and joined in with great gusto. The school hall was packed with family and friends. Well done to all the staff and students at St Patrick’s, with a special congratulations to Libby McKew for producing an outstanding play.
The negotiations on the Catholic Education Multi Employer Agreement (CEMEA) have been in the news lately and I would like to address one inaccuracy in regards to these negotiations. There have been reports that Employers have “sat on their hands since the Agreement expired”. As the Employers and IEU negotiators know, historically the Catholic sector always waits on the outcome of the Department of Education and Training (DET)/AEU Agreement before any meaningful negotiations can take place. The DET/AEU agreement was not approved until 15 June 2022. Both Employers and IEU had meetings since the start of 2022, with negotiations beginning in earnest after 15 June. We continue to meet regularly and look forward to reaching agreement on a new CEMEA.
For more information on these negotiations, you can refer to last week’s newsletter. We will provide regular updates in the coming weeks.
On Thursday and Friday this week we will hold our Diocesan Leadership Gathering in Horsham. These important gatherings are held in Week 4 of each Term.
Over the next fortnight, many schools across the Diocese will be accessing the Circuit Breaker Long Weekend after considering the cumulative and current impact of the pandemic on their school setting. Given that there is some variance in the time breaks that are being taken, and in some cases, not being taken at all, the CEB offices will be open and available to provide support across this period as normal. Please access CEB services as you ordinarily would over the coming weeks.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
"What's the Crime Mr. Wolf" school play at St Patrick's Primary School, Gordon
People & Development Update
The New Safeguarding Children and Young People Code of Conduct.
The new Safeguarding Children and Young People Code of Conduct was highlighted for action and has been shared with schools via eSort. The code of conduct requires contextualisation and signing by all current staff and volunteers as soon as possible. We have asked schools to meet this requirement by the end of Term Three. Any staff on extended leave for the whole of Term Three should sign the new Code of Conduct on their return to school.
To explain why the signing of the new code of conduct is important please view this 5-minute presentation via this link.
CSS Policies in Other Languages.
The Diocesan Schools Child Safety Network (DSCSN) is compiling a list of languages spoken within our schools to provide families and students with child safe policy documents in other languages. So far, the list consists of: Telugu, Vietnamese, Filipino, Thai, Tongan, Mandarin (Chinese), Fijian, Afrikaan, Malay, Hindi, Cambodian, Cantonese and Malayalam.
Please email jrighetti@dobcel.catholic.edu.au if you would like to request other language versions.
Catholic School Parents Australia 2022 Parent Survey Now Live
Have your say on what matters regarding the wellbeing and learning of your child.
For example, has COVID-19 or your partnership with the school affected your child’s wellbeing and learning?
If you are a parent or carer with a child in a Catholic school, CSPA would love to hear from you.
Click on the survey link and share your feedback to assist CSPA in reporting to the Federal Government and Catholic education.
Your feedback will remain anonymous.
Catholic Education Update
Graduate Retreat.
On the 1st and 2nd September our graduates are invited to Halls Gap for a retreat.
This opportunity is designed for all graduates both Primary and Secondary in the first three years of teaching.
The last few years have been challenging for all in education. This retreat is designed to nurture the spirits of our wonderful graduates as they begin their career and for them to be sustained in their ministry.
It is a way to acknowledge and celebrate who they are and what they bring to Catholic Education.
This formation opportunity is strongly encouraged as it builds on the connections and relationships that have begun as part of the Graduate Program. The retreat experience is a practical way we can embed that “Formation for mission is a process that is systematic, collaborative, graduated and ongoing. This process holds itself within relationships built on accompaniment centred on self, others creation and God” p. 14 NCEC (2016) A Framework for Formation for Mission in Catholic Education
Regarding accreditation, this will contribute 10 hours . This can be recorded in the normal way via TAP.
The venue for this event is at The Country Plaza Halls Gap. Each school is to book accommodation for the staff from their school.
The Retreat, as outlined on Eventbrite, will commence at 10.00am Thursday 1st September and conclude at 1.00pm on Friday 2nd September.
Please register here via this link.
For further information contact Jim Waight via email jwaight@ceoballarat.catholic.edu.au or 0417 869 912.
Accreditation Hours - The Catholic School Today Two-day online seminar.
CTC offers annually a 2-day seminar (4 sessions) that is open to all teachers in Catholic Schools – especially those not teaching religious education.
These sessions will provide a strong introduction to the language and purpose of the Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) Project.
See the the flyer below for more information.
Learning & Teaching Update
Webinar Q&A - All things PAT Adaptive.
In this webinar running on Thursday 1 September 4PM to 5PM - all things PAT Adaptive, will be unpacked and discussed, including:
- Rationale
- Framework
- Development
- Construct and design
- Implementation and administration
- Reporting
Questions will be answered and effective practice will be discussed. Engage in this webinar to better understand PAT Adaptive.
Please Register via this link.
PAT Adaptive assessments are now more accessible for students.
PAT Adaptive was created to support a more equitable testing experience, offering students individualised pathways and educators a more precise picture of student achievement. Now these assessments have been expanded to include greater accessibility to support students with disability and a range of additional needs.
Wellbeing Update
DOBCEL Student Wellbeing Framework - An Introduction.
The Student Wellbeing Team would like to invite the Central Primary School wellbeing practitioners (pastoral care workers, counsellors, psychologists) to meet on the 18th of August. Please forward this Eventbrite link to the appropriate Wellbeing member in your school. Further sessions will be held in the Southern and Northern zones, (dates yet to be announced). Any questions please contact Brooke Nester bnester@ceob.edu.au.
Please Register via this link.
Date: 18th August, 2022
Time: 9:30 - 11:00am
Location: Catholic Education Ballarat 200 Gillies Street North Lake Wendouree, VIC 3350
Youth Mental Health First Aid.
Increase your capacity to support student’s mental health. Mental health first aid strategies are taught in an evidence-based training program authored by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Australia. The course teaches adults how to assist adolescents who are developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis.
Dates: 13th & 14th of September, 2022
Participants / Target Audience: Teachers, school nurses, LSO’s, year level coordinators, administration staff, (anyone in the school community). For further information contact Brooke Nester bnester@ceob.edu.au
Secondary Wellbeing Leaders Network.
To facilitate a collaborative and supportive approach to improving wellbeing & learning outcomes for all students in the Diocese of Ballarat. For further information please contact Brooke Nester bnester@ceob.edu.au.
Please Register via this link.
Date: 24th August 2022
Venue: St Mary MacKillop Swan Hill
Time: 9:00 - 2:15pm
Please also note that the professional development for SWPBS set for the 5th of August has been moved to an online platform - Zoom meeting set for the 16th of August
The changed details for this event are:
Date has been changed to 16 August.
Time has been changed to 3:45pm to 4:45pm and it is now via Zoom.
It is now a free event.
SWPBS Building Tools for Behaviour Management TFI Presentation.
Please Register via this link.
ReLATE Expression of Interest 2023/2024.
The Diocese of Ballarat continues to partner with MacKillop Family Services and The MacKillop Institute to implement the ReLATE (Reframe the Learning and Teaching Environment) Model.
Schools who have already engaged in the ReLATE Model identify key improvements such as:
- Enabling safe relationships within the school climate through ReLATE community circles to address emotional intelligence, social learning, democracy, open communication, social responsibility, purpose, growth and change.
- Establishing School Implementation Teams to localise and develop a safe and stress-countering environment for students and adults in the school community where individuals and teams within the school are better able to work, grow and flourish.
- Empowering teachers to build their confidence in creating a growth-promoting climate where individuals can move forward and be capable of becoming their true self.
- Growth in staff confidence to engage student voice in the process of developing self-awareness and self-regulation.
The ReLATE model provides trauma-informed education and supports the implementation of a consistent school-wide approach to teaching, learning and wellbeing practices. This includes:
- A Discovery and Insights Report
- Participant workbooks for Day 1 and 2 professional learning days
- Four staff professional learning days
- Ongoing staff training days
- A school implementation team planning day per year for three years
- Online learning portal with additional teacher resources, videos, and research articles
Please see this link that provides further detail about ReLATE.
Currently 29 DOBCEL schools have commenced their engagement with MacKillop Family Services in the ReLATE (Rethinking Learning and Teaching Environments) whole school culture change model. CEB Leadership is committed to the engagement of all DOBCEL schools in the ReLATE model. A 4-year roll out of ReLATE has been budgeted for on the understanding that the program cost would be shared by CEB and participating schools with schools to fund $6,000 in each of the three years of their initial engagement with MacKillop Family Services and CEB to contribute the remaining $22 518 of the total program cost.
The commitment of 2 whole school closure days in the first year of engagement is a significant one. It has been agreed that the 2 ReLATE school closure days would be seen as additions to the prescribed 4 school closure days planned in 2023/2024.
Schools who would like to include ReLATE in their 2023 or 2024 plans are invited to contact Tony Perkins or Liz McIntyre to clarify arrangements.
To confirm your Expression of Interest in ReLATE in 2023 or 2024 via tperkins@dobcel.catholic.edu.au or lmcintyre@dobcel.catholic.edu.au by Friday 16th September, 2022.
Staff News
We Welcome:
Danny Gruber.
We welcome Danny to the role of Business and Partner Consultant – ICT and Business Systems. Danny has previously held the position of Director, Sales and Business Development with Schoolbox, which is a learning management and community engagement platform used in sections of the education sector globally. Prior to this, Danny was General Manager Sales and Marketing with the Reflex Technology Group (RTG).
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Principalship Opportunities.
- St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballarat East – to commence January 2023 (closes 22 August)
- St Joseph’s Primary School, Charlton – to commence January 2023 (closes 22 August)
- St Michael’s Primary School, Daylesford – to commence January 2023 (closes 22 August)
- St Patrick’s School, Camperdown – to commence January 2023 (closes 22 August)
Catholic Education Office Vacancies.
- Education Officer (Learning Diversity) – ongoing position at 0.5 FTE in the Horsham Office (closes 19 August)
School Vacancies.
- Director of Faith and Mission (POL 4) – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 8 August)
- Teachers (including Graduate Teachers) – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 11 August)
- Director of Wellbeing (POL 4) – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 11 August)
- Director of Faith and Mission (POL 4) – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 11 August)
- VET Coordinator (POL 2) St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 11 August)
- Daily Organiser (POL 3) – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 11 August)
- Teaching Opportunities (Term 4 2022 and 2023) – Emmanuel College, Warrnambool – ongoing positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 11 August)
- Speech Pathologist – St Alipius Parish School, Ballarat East – part-time, fixed-term position for the remainder of 2022 (closes 12 August)
- Classroom Teacher – St Patrick’s School, St Arnaud – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 12 August)
- Expressions of Interest (all subject areas for 2023) – Trinity College, Colac – ongoing positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 22 August)
- Position of Leadership (POL 2) – St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Warracknabeal – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE for Term 4 initially (closes 30 August)
- Class Teacher (T4 Parental Leave Replacement/Acting POL 2) – St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Warracknabeal – 1.0 FTE (closes 30 August)
- Digital Technologies Teacher – Our Lady Help of Christians School, Warrnambool – fixed-term position at 0.4 FTE (closes 2 September)
- Classroom Teacher – Our Lady Help of Christians School, Warrnambool – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 2 September)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Francis Xavier, Ballarat East (closes 9 December)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Columba’s School, Ballarat North (closes 18 December)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Warracknabeal (closes 18 December)
Opportunity External to the Diocese of Ballarat.
- Deputy Executive Director – Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Brisbane – to commence prior to January 2023, by negotiation (closes 3 August)