Weekly Newsletter #25 - 17 August 2022
Reflection
A Woman of Inspiration.
On Monday 15th August we celebrated the ceremony of the Assumption. This is an opportunity for us to explore images of Mary, Mother of God, that have been interpreted and presented in a variety of ways since the early Church.
The following description by Joan Chittister OSB, offers us one that is relevant for us today. A deeply human picture. Mary knew, like us, uncertainty, as we still struggle through COVID-19. She knew fear, like we do, as we see war in Ukraine and tensions growing in our own region.
Mary knew what it is to be human and to walk faithfully with God. May we also experience her courage and faith as we continue our journey.
May I introduce Mary of Nazareth.
Mary of Nazareth knew very well what it meant to be strong. She was strong enough to know that she had been favoured by God when the society said she couldn’t be so favoured, and the tradition said she wouldn’t be so favoured.
She was strong enough to realise the strength of another woman when she went to Elizabeth for support and affirmation rather than to the synagogue to try to persuade the priests of the legitimacy of their visions, or to the government for protection, or even to the men to whom they were espoused to explain or cajole or plead.
She was strong enough to bring the right concerns, the right questions, the right witness, the right insight into our world, even if it meant questioning the angels.
At Cana she was strong enough to insist on miracles and to get them.
She was strong enough never to give up, not to be afraid, to begin over again and again and again, after Bethlehem, and after Egypt, and after the crucifixion.
Mary is not simply “Mary, the Mother of God.” No, on the contrary. The Mother of God is the image of women everywhere. The Mother of God is Mary, independent woman; Mary, the unmarried mother; Mary, the homeless woman; Mary, the political refugee; Mary, the Third World woman; Mary, the mother of the condemned; Mary, the widow who outlives her child; Mary, the woman of our time who shares the divine plan of salvation; Mary, the bearer of Christ.
Mary of Nazareth made feminism an article of the faith, and power holy. Mary shows us the sanctifying power of a human being who has become fully human.
Chittister, J (2020) Women Strength: Modern Church, Modern Woman, Benetvision Pennsylvania
Let us pray.
Creator God,
May this beautiful feast stir in us a "rising"...of hope, of courage, of faith...so with Mary, we can birth Jesus to the world.
Amen.
Jambaroo Abbey NSW
From the Executive Director
The DOBCEL Board’s August meeting was held in Horsham on 15 August. With the circuit breaker weekend occurring on this day, the meeting was held at the CEB Horsham office instead of at a school. During the Board meeting, Bishop Paul and the Directors discussed many topics including the Plenary Council and its outcomes, the continuing negotiations for the Multi-Employer Agreement along with CEB and the Board’s responses to Laudato Si.
Following the meeting, the Board attended Mass to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption, then the Board had the opportunity to meet with local Principals, School Advisory Council Chairs and Parish Priests over dinner. This is always a highlight for the Directors as they have the opportunity to hear directly from the schools on the impact of DOBCEL’s governance, including students - which is always forefront in the Board's decision making process.
On 16 August Bishop Paul and the Directors, along with Megan Ioannou and myself visited schools in Horsham, Murtoa and Warracknabeal. Ss Michael and John’s Primary School, Horsham hosted Bishop Paul with a tour of the lovely grounds and classrooms by the student leaders Ruby, Christopher and Eamon.
The next DOBCEL Board meeting will be held in September at the Ballarat Office.
Industrial negotiations are continuing, with a scheduled meeting of our Bargaining Team and IEU held this afternoon. We will be briefing our Primary Principals tomorrow and Secondary Principals on Friday.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
DOBCEL Board School Visits
Catholic Education Update
Conversations about Catholics.
Listening to parents of children who are about to start school, or who are preparing for Baptism and other sacraments and/or are a parent with a different faith tradition, there are often questions about the Catholic faith and traditions. In these formal settings, parents can feel embarrassed and don’t want to ask.
A simple program (please view via this link) to connect people with the Catholic Faith and to provide answers to some of these questions has been designed, printed and used by Anne McLean and Sr Alice Sullivan from the Diocese of Bathurst.
Book Week Inspiration.
Looking for some quick and simple ideas for Book week costumes?
We hope these inspire:
- Winston and the Indoor Cat by Leila Rudge – Early Childhood category
- Blue Flower, illustrated by Gabriel Evans, text by Sonya Hartnett – Picture Book of the Year category
- Your School is the Best! By Maggie Hutchings, illustrated by Felicita Sala (the companion book to “Your Birthday Was the Best”, shortlisted in the Picture Book of the Year category in 2021)
For more ideas for Book Week consider becoming a member of CBCA (Vic Branch) via this link.
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.
Learning & Teaching Update
Country Education Partnership (CEP).
The Country Education Partnership is a not-for-profit organisation, working to support the provision of high quality education within rural and remote communities across Australia.
Read their latest news Bush Voices via this link.
The CEP Committee of Management met recently to hear about the work CEP has done, advocating for rural small schools, principals, teachers, students and communities as well as look at plans that extend CEP’s reach nationally. Samantha Meerbach is CEB’s representative on this committee.
Wellbeing Team Update
ReLATE Expression of Interest 2023/2024 .
Schools are invited to confirm your Expression of Interest in ReLATE in 2023 or 2024 via email to tperkins@dobcel.catholic.edu.au or lmcintyre@dobcel.catholic.edu.au by Friday 16th September, 2022.
Further Detail is available via this link.
Learning Diversity Network Days Term 3.
Primary and Secondary Learning Diversity Leaders to meet together in their local Regions.
Times: 9:30am - 4:00pm
August 22, River
Venue: 'The Jack' Robinvale Bridge Motel
August 22, Ballarat
York Room, Sovereign Park Motor Inn
August 24, Warrnambool
Venue: St Patrick's Primary School, Queen Street, Koroit
August 26, Horsham
Venue: Horsham Catholic Education Office
The Key focus: Transition for Students with Disabilities.
The key transition points students move through in their schooling years are school commencement, year-to-year progression, the move from Year 6 to Year 7 (in most instances involving a new school), and finally the move to the senior years where important options and choices need to be resolved about post-school pathways. Catholic schools provide continuity during each stage of transition and recognise that positive transitions not only enhance each student’s engagement with and connectedness to their learning but offer all students the best opportunity to identify and achieve their personal goals.
Positive transitions play an important part in shaping lifelong learning and the overall development of children (Astbury 2009). Well-negotiated transition experiences can produce positive effects on a student’s wellbeing over an extended period of time (Rice, Frederickson and Seymour 2011). Evidence also suggests that children who do not make successful transitions are at risk of lower rates of academic achievement, decline in attitudes to learning, and reduced social and emotional wellbeing. These factors can contribute to early school drop-out rates and non-completion of Year 12 or its equivalent. For transition to be successful, students must be engaged with and feel connected to school (Butler et al. 2005).
Successful transitions rely on promoting continuity of learning and development, with every effort made to link a student’s previous experiences with the challenges presented in the new setting (DEECD 2009). The impact of transition on students at any stage in their education journey is also influenced by the institutional processes, policies and practices that are in place. Optimising student learning, engagement and a positive sense of self requires school leaders, teachers and staff to commit to working collaboratively as they inquire into policies and ‘best practice’ related to transition (CECV 2012).
As a network we will provide an opportunity to explore best practice in terms of transition at key points within a student's education. The opportunity to bridge strategies between Primary and Secondary Learning Diversity Leaders will also be provided.
Speech Pathology Team Update.
21-27 August is Speech Pathology Week!
Our DOBCEL speech pathologists are highlighting the week’s theme: Good Communication, Better Communities.
Learn more via this link.
Student Wellbeing Update – Out of Home Care.
Please register via this link for Designated Teacher Training on 30/08/2022.
This two-part training will be held on the following dates:
- PART A: Tuesday, 30 August 2022: 10am - 11.30am
- PART B: Tuesday, 30 August 2022: 2pm - 3.30pm
Parts A & B will assist participants gain an understanding of:
- the experience of children in out of home care
- attachment and trauma theory
- the requirements of the Out of Home Care Education Commitment
- the importance of cultural responsive schools
- the role of DFFH
- the role of the Designated Teacher
- the role of LOOKOUT Centres
Once you register you will be sent a link to attend the training.
Paw Pals -Animal Assisted Education.
MacKillop Education Programs has appointed a Ballarat based facilitator for their Paw Pals Program.
The Paw Pals Animal Assisted Education program supports students who are currently disengaged or at risk of disengaging from education. Paw Pals focuses on building student engagement and confidence through animal assisted activities and individualised learning sessions working alongside our trained therapy dogs and program facilitators.
Learn more via this link.
Staff News
We Welcome:
Chinmayi Atluri.
We look forward to welcoming Chinmayi to the position of ICT Support Officer and System Administrator next week. Chinmayi (or Rayi) has a Masters of Networking (Cyber Security) from MIT and is currently undertaking her Professional Year with Performance Education in Melbourne.
Scott Sherritt.
We are delighted to announce that Scott has accepted the position of OHS Coordinator and will commence early in September. Scott comes to us from Ballarat Community Health where he is currently Governance and Quality Coordinator, and Safety and Infrastructure Manager. Prior to this, Scott was the Risk Management and Insurance Officer/Legal and Compliance Officer with the City of Ballarat.
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.
- Expressions of Interest (all subject areas for 2023) – Trinity College, Colac – ongoing positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 22 August)
- Mathematics Teacher Years 7 - VCE – Mercy Regional College, Camperdown – ongoing position 0.6 to 1.0 FTE (closes 22 August)
- VCE Psychology Teacher – Mercy Regional College, Camperdown – 12-month Parental Leave replacement at 0.4 – 1.0 FTE (closes 22 August)
- Student Development Leader POL 4 – Mercy Regional College, Camperdown (closes 22 August)
- Middle Years Leader POL 3 – Mercy Regional College, Camperdown (closes 22 August)
- Deputy Principal (initial 3-year opportunity) with ongoing specialist teaching component – St Patrick’s School, Port Fairy – ongoing position with initial 3-year Deputy Principal role (closes 26 August)
- Classroom Teachers; 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)
External Vacancies.
- Kimberley Calling Information Session - Please see this flyer for details.