Weekly Newsletter #31 - 12 October 2022
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Reflection
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From the Acting Executive Director
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Extensive Rain and Possible Flooding Forecast
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Country Dioceses Leadership Program (CDLP) 2023 Applications Open
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Catholic Education Update
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Teaching and Learning
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People & Development Update
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Wellbeing Team Update
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Staff News
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Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Reflection
Some Reflections on Hopes and Dreams!
Many things have been written about Catholic Education and its purpose. The following few thoughts offer some reflections that may inform our thinking.
As educators we deal with people’s dreams - their individual and personal visions - and because of this, every day we are in the realm of the sacred. We are involved with forces and energies larger than our own. We are engaged in a sacred transaction of which we know only a little: we see the shadow, never the shape.
Ruth Starrett, ‘Education with a Sense of Wonder: A Spiritual Journey”, in Catholic Education: A Journal of Inquiry and Practice, volume 3, number 2, December 1999 216-225
Teaching (all educators) has an extraordinary moral depth and is one of the most excellent and creative activities, for the teacher (educator) does not write on inanimate material, but on the very spirit of human beings
Congregation for Catholic Education: The Catholic School on the Threshold of the Third Millennium paragraph 24
Perhaps the most helpful spiritual foundation of Catholic faith, to be intensely put to work in Catholic education, is to assure students that they always have the help of God’s grace, especially in difficult times. Students can always make their own best efforts with God's grace empowering them to keep on with hope. In sum, because Jesus dying and rising and the grace of God that this paschal mystery releases into human history with abundance, all people can live with hope, come what may. p. 36
Groome, T (2021) What Makes Education Catholic? Spiritual Foundations Orbis Books New York
Let us Pray.
Love all God’s creation,
The whole and every grain of sand in it
Love every leaf, every ray of God’s light.
Love the animals, love the plants, love everything.
If you love everything,
You will perceive the divine mystery in things.
Once you perceive it,
You will begin to comprehend it better everyday.
And you will come at least to love the whole world
With an all embracing love.
Amen.
Feodor Dostoevski
From the Acting Executive Director
Yesterday and today the DOBCEL Board are meeting in Swan Hill and enjoying the hospitality of the St Mary’s community facilitated by Kate Quin. As is the practice of the Board, the directors visit school communities and meet with Principals and SAC chairs, which has again taken place for this meeting. The Board, Megan and I have appreciated the genuine welcome, the hospitality and the amazing work that is being undertaken in each of our school settings and thank those who have enabled the visits.
As we move into what will be the final week of classes for Year 12 VCE and VCAL students we keep them, their families and their school communities in our thoughts and prayers.
We also acknowledge our Grade Six students as they progress through their final term at Primary School.
Times of transition bring both joy and challenges and we acknowledge the wonderful partnership families and schools navigate together in these respective times of change.
Very significant rainfall today and tomorrow are forecast right across the Diocese. More information is contained within this newsletter, but all members of the Diocesan community need to be mindful of the potential risk of flooding, should not enter flood waters and must revise school activities if there is any potential of flooding in areas where school activities will take place.
Stay dry.
Matthew Byrne
Acting Executive Director / Deputy Director: Catholic Education
Extensive Rain and Possible Flooding Forecast
In line with the weather forecasts of significant rain again for Wednesday and Thursday, it is reasonable to anticipate that heavy seasonal rainfall may again cause localised flooding.
Schools are advised to monitor the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts and Vic emergency app. https://emergency.vic.gov.au over the coming days.
In the event of significant rainfall, schools should liaise with the local DET bus coordinator regarding disruption to services that may be caused by flooding.
As advised at the end of last week, schools should revise risk assessments considering increased risk on roads for any camps, excursions or staff PD planned for the immediate future.
Schools with outdoor education or camping activities planned over the next week need to conduct onsite risk assessments to ensure student safety.
Country Dioceses Leadership Program (CDLP) 2023 Applications Open
The Country Dioceses Leadership Program (CDLP) enables middle leaders from across three country Dioceses (Ballarat, Sandhurst & Wagga) to engage in a residential 7-day professional development program with a significant focus on the skills, knowledge and capabilities for effective middle leadership within a Catholic context.
The program provides opportunities for participants to identify their effective leadership practice and apply this within their own school context through a spaced learning model, and a coaching program.
Applications for the 2023 program close on Friday 4 November, 2022.
See further information and applications forms below.
Catholic Education Update
Sponsorship.
Due to some late additions to study priorities, information regarding success of sponsorship applications for 2023 will not be sent out until Wednesday 9th November.
Collective Efficacy or Individual Inefficiency? – a conversation with John Hattie.
Friday 21st October 9-10am AEDT (8:30-9:30am SA time)
How can we, as school leaders, create a culture of collective efficacy amongst our teachers?
In this webinar, BTS Spark will be in conversation with John Hattie - described by TES as "possibly the world's most influential education academic".
“Collective Teacher Efficacy is the collective belief of teachers in their ability to positively affect students” and has been “found to be strongly, positively correlated with student achievement” (Visible Learning). But how do we move in the same direction when there is so much noise? In this conversation we will be diving into the ‘what’ of Collective Efficacy and also discussing how we tackle barriers along the way.
John Hattie has become most well-known for his Visible Learning work exploring different factors on educational outcomes, which led to his two books Visible Learning and Visible Learning for Teachers. He has advised education systems around the world, and this global webinar is targeted at an international audience of educators.
Register for this free webinar via this enrolment link.
More information is available via the PDF below.
Next Generation Victorian Curriculum F–10
Expressions of interest now open to join the Reference Panels
An Expression of Interest is now open to join Curriculum Area Reference Panels (panels) in providing advice on the scope and revisions required to ‘adopt and adapt’ the revised Australian Curriculum into the next generation of the Victorian Curriculum F–10.
Applications close COB Thursday 20 October 2022.
The latest version of the Australian Curriculum was approved by Australian Education Ministers in April, 2022 and includes revisions to all 8 learning areas, the general capabilities and 3 cross-curriculum priorities.
We strongly encourage all interested teachers to submit an expression of interest to be a part of one of the panels. If you are a generalist primary school teacher, please select a curriculum area you are most interested in contributing to.
This review process and the establishment of the panels presents the opportunity for you to help ensure the next generation of the Victorian Curriculum F–10 continues to provide a high-quality, relevant curriculum that effectively meets the needs of students and teachers across the state.
The panels will consider recent research in curriculum discipline areas and reflect on the current Victorian Curriculum F–10 and Australian Curriculum Version 9.0. The input from practicing teachers and discipline experts from each curriculum area is essential to this process.
The work of these panels is expected to take place from November 2022 to July 2023. Panel meetings will be held regularly at a set time and place (including options for online meetings) according to a schedule, established by mutual agreement. The meetings may be a combination of after-school or all-day meetings and will usually be held every 4–6 weeks.
CRT payments are available to schools for the release of panel members to attend meetings during school hours.
We will keep you up to date with more information about the revisions and implementation process.
For further information about the panels and the Expression of Interest process, please contact the VCAA on 9032 1629 or vcaa@education.vic.gov.au.
Secondary Teachers - Personal Learning Day.
For those considering a 7 – 10 biology program in 2023 you might like to attend the PL Day at Melbourne Zoo on Thursday 10th November.
Ethical capabilities at the Zoo is a wonderful combination of biological sciences and the capabilities curriculum and is particularly well suited to Catholic Secondary schools as a contextual learning experience for your students and can form a focus for real world inquiries.
This PL is free to all teachers in Victorian Catholic secondary schools.
There is also an online version for remote schools Science & Ethics in Zoos for 7-8 Science. They’re all on the same site.
Check out details via the website.
Resource Smart Schools - Celebrate 2022 with a week of water events and more.
Term 4 has arrived, and as 2022 draws to a close we would like to thank you, your school and your community for the part you have played in ensuring that to date, the ResourceSmartSchools program has:
- Saved more than $41 million on bills.
- Planted 5,271,038 trees.
- Saved more than 118,000 tonnes CO2e greenhouse gas emissions.
- Diverted 194,000 cubic metres of waste from landfill.
- Saved 1,884,783 kilolitres of water.
We continue to work with our partners to deliver workshops and opportunities aimed at achieving great things together. In this edition you will find:
- Professional development opportunities.
- Student leadership forums.
- Resources and events.
Read the Resource Smart Newsletter here via this link.
The Mission and Identity of the Catholic School Today: a Vatican II perspective.
During early November 2022, Prof Dr Didier Pollefeyt (KU Leuven) and Drs Jan Bouwens (KU Leuven) will be in Melbourne for a series of events.
While our work with Prof Pollefeyt and Drs Bouwens is most often situated within the context of the Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) project, these events will be framed within a Vatican II context.
Victorian Catholic school and office staff with leadership responsibilities for the religious life of the school are encouraged to attend the following sessions. Please note that all face-to-face sessions will have participant number limits.
- Session 1 (face to face only)
- Session 2 (online)
- Session 3 (face to face only)
- Session 4 (face to face)
- Session 4 (online)
Registrations are essential for all participants (face to face and online) with online links to be provided closer to the date.
Please note registrations close on Tuesday 25 October (different date to flyer)
Please contact Gina Bernasconi via email for further information.
REAP (RE & Pedagogy) 2023/24 Program
Because of the number of expressions of interest for REAP next year there will be two streams running in Ballarat and we will have two providers
- Yarra Theological Union will offer the Grad Cert in Teaching RE (a college of the University of Divinity)
Cost: $2162 per unit x four units = $8648Additionally, there is an integrative exercise unit approximately $960
Total cost: $9508 - covered by Diocesan Sponsorship; 2/3 paid by CEB, 1/3 paid by the school (primary); total cost covered (secondary)
Location: Cathedral Glowrey Room - ACU will offer the Grad Cert Religious Education (GCRE)
Cost: $1975 per unit x four units = $7900 – covered by Diocesan Sponsorship; 2/3 paid by CEB, 1/3 paid by the school (primary); total cost covered (secondary)
Additionally, if you are to study with ACU there will be a student amenities fee $122 per semester not covered by Diocesan Sponsorship and payable by the participant.
Location: Aquinas Ballarat
For justice’s sake, participants will be allocated to one or other of the courses based on the following:
- Participants who live closer to Ballarat will participate in the ACU course – with an advantage of a uni campus and actual library
- Participants from furthest away will participate in the YTU course – with an advantage of no student amenities fees
- Geography will inform the allocation of participants to one or other of the courses offered so that colleagues can travel together if they choose etc. We’ll do our best.
Dates for both REAP streams:
- Unit 1: Fri 24 Mar, Sat 25 Mar, & Fri 12 May, Sat 13 May 2023
- Unit 2: Fri 28 Jul, Sat 29 Jul, & Fri 13 Oct, Sat 14 Oct 2023
An accommodation reimbursement of $75 per night per person will be available for those who travel in excess of 2 hours to get to Ballarat.
Upon completion, both courses will provide eligibility to apply for your Accreditation to Teach RE and Lead in a Catholic School.
A reminder that participation in REAP brings with it a commitment to attend face to face. If this does not suit, there are other alternative online courses provided through universities.
Places may be limited so please register your commitment to join REAP by clicking this link and completing the details by Tuesday Oct 18th.
Once we have collated registrations for REAP you will be sent two links:
- University enrolment link
- Diocesan Sponsorship link
Please contact Gina Bernasconi via email if you have any questions.
Teaching and Learning
Professional Learning - Data Literacy.
Casey Stoetzer and Breeana Wade will be facilitating a professional learning opportunity for primary teachers and school teams wishing to learn more about Data Literacy in Ballarat on Tuesday 25 October.
Some of the key concepts that will be covered include:
- What is Data Literacy?
- Establishing effective data mindsets
- Data Visualisation
- Data Storytelling
- Understanding PAT Assessments
- Effectively using data tools
We would strongly encourage multiple representatives to attend from each school to help support discussion during the professional learning and support the implementation of ideas, practices and tools.
Please find more information via this link.
Register via this link.
Diocesan Mathematics Leaders’ Network term 4 VC.
Mathematics Leaders’ Video Conference Thursday 27th October 4:00 - 5:00pm
This video conference will be designed to enable leaders and Classroom Teachers to learn with and from each other.
Leaders and interested Classroom Teachers are invited to contribute to the content for this VC by adding your agenda items here.
We invite you to register for this event here.
Learner Agency Professional Learning
Increasing Learner Agency and moving to a more student-centred approach to learning and teaching has been identified by many of our schools as a school improvement priority over the next few years.
To assist with this, we are again offering schools the possibility of partnering with Dr Jayne-Louise Collins and Ed Partnerships regarding co-designing some professional learning for 2023 in the area of Learner Agency. A number of our schools across the Diocese have participated in this professional learning in 2022.
There are possibilities for schools to partner in this work in clusters across our Diocese and the learning will be co-designed to ensure fidelity to individual and local contexts.
If you would be interested in learning more about this possibility, please contact Sue Paulka via email.
People & Development Update
REMINDER - Dealing with Technology Stress Webinar Tomorrow 4PM
Wellbeing Webinar Series
We are pleased to offer the Wellbeing Webinar Series, in partnership with Converge International, to all DOBCEL staff and their families. These virtual sessions are accessible from anywhere.
Up next: Session Three – Dealing with Technology Stress
When: Thursday 13 October 2022, 4:00pm to 5:00pm
- Define technology stress and its consequences.
- Learn about the 4 common types of technology stress.
- Dealing with the daily demands of technology in the workplace.
- Learn tips to make technology work for you.
- Learn where to access further support.
Click here to join the meeting
Upcoming sessions include:
- Session 4: Growth Mindset (24 Oct, 4-5pm)
- Session 5: Mental Fitness (10 Nov, 4-5pm)
All upcoming session details, including participation handouts and links, are available via the PDF below.
Wellbeing Team Update
Youth Mental Health First Aid.
Increase your capacity to support students’ 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: 15 and 16 November 2022
Venue: Catholic Education Ballarat, 200 Gillies Street North
Participants / Target Audience: Teachers, school nurses, LSO’s, year level coordinators, administration staff, school community. For further information contact Brooke Nester via email.
Student Wellbeing Framework.
DOBCEL welcomes the launch of the Student Wellbeing Framework. The framework has an intentional focus on the social, emotional and mental wellbeing of all members of the school community, ensuring a culture of child safety. It promotes a sense of meaning and purpose in life that is supported by the spiritual dimension of a Catholic school.
The DOBCEL Wellbeing Framework includes the following five elements: School Culture, Inclusive and Support Relationships, Social Emotional Learning, Learner Agency and Empowerment and Family and Community Partnership.
The Framework can be accessed via the HIVE under Wellbeing Resources.
For further information please contact the Student Wellbeing Team via email. studentwellbeing@dobcel.catholic.edu.au
Welcome to Term 4.
This term we have two Professional opportunities on offer!
The first being a SWPBS leader's zoom.
This will give our leaders an opportunity to share ideas and resources that have supported the implementation of SWPBS in their school. RSVP Anne aruddell@ceob.edu.au
- Monday the 24th of October 3.45-4.45
Join Zoom Meeting
The second is a school visit to a Secondary College P- 12 at Marymede, Morang.
This is a Secondary College that has embraced SWPBS and developed a positive and productive whole school approach towards student behaviour.
- 7th of November - 10.00am, Marymede College , Morang.
Morning tea and lunch provided. - Please email RSVP by the 27th of October for Dietary requirements to Anne aruddell@ceob.edu.au or Brooke Nester bnester@ceob.edu.au
Resources- SWPBS
https://booko.com.au/9781032030111/School-Wide-Positive-Behaviour-Support
Strategies for De-escalating Student Behaviour in the Classroom
practice brief about the phases of de-escalation from The Centre on PBIS, Dr. Kathleen Strickland-Cohen and Alex Newson.
Staff News
Nicole Jenkins.
Nicole will be taking on a permanent position within the Wellbeing Team from January, working 0.6 FTE as an Education Officer: Learning Diversity. We are delighted that Nic will continue in this capacity.
Maria Richards.
We are delighted to announce that Maria will be joining the Wellbeing Team as Education Officer: Learning Diversity from the beginning of 2023. Maria will be working part-time, supporting schools in the mid-North region of the Diocese and she comes to us from St Patrick’s College Ballarat where she has been the Enhanced Learning Coordinator and teaching Literacy and Mathematics.
Leah Crough.
We are pleased to announce that Leah will be commencing in the People and Development Team on Tuesday 18 October in the role of Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator. Leah comes to us with extensive experience in health and safety and human resources in construction and the social welfare sector, with her most recent role being the Occupational Health Safety and Wellbeing Lead at Child and Family Services Ballarat.
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Catholic Education Ballarat Vacancies.
- Payroll Officer – to commence November 2022 (closes 17 October)
- Policy and Governance Administrator – to commence November 2022 (closes 24 October)
- Data and Information Analyst – Project Opportunity – 10-week maximum appointment (closes 24 October)
School Vacancies.
- Learning Support Officer – Marian College, Ararat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 14 October)
- Classroom Teachers (English, Humanities, Maths, Science) – Marian College, Ararat – ongoing positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 14 October)
- Classroom Teachers (POL 2) – St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Warracknabeal – fixed-term positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 14 October)
- Classroom Teachers (4) – All Saints Parish School, Portland – fixed-term positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 14 October)
- Classroom Teacher – Lumen Christi School, Delacombe – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 17 October)
- Science Teacher – Monivae College, Hamilton – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 17 October)
- Humanities Teacher – Monivae College, Hamilton – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 17 October)
- Religious Education Teacher – Monivae College, Hamilton – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 17 October)
- Vocational Major Teacher – Monivae College, Hamilton – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 17 October)
- English Teacher – Monivae College, Hamilton – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 17 October)
- Wellbeing Team Member – Trinity College, Colac – fixed-term position at 0.7 FTE (closes 17 October)
- Director of Faith and Mission (POL 4) – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 19 October)
- Educational Psychologist or School Counsellor – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE or by negotiation (closes 19 October)
- Classroom Teacher – St Patrick’s School, St Arnaud – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE and other part-time positions available for 2023 (closes 21 October)
- Italian Language Assistant – Siena Catholic Primary School, Lucas – fixed-term position at 0.16 FTE (closes 28 October)
- Head of Student Pathways & Organisation (Senior Leadership Role) – Marian College, Ararat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 28 October)
- Health and Physical Education Teacher – St Michael & St John’s School, Horsham – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 31 October)
- Classroom Teacher – St Michael & St John’s School, Horsham – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 31 October)
- Classroom Teacher – St Joseph’s School, Charlton – fixed-term position initially, at 1.0 FTE (closes 31 October)
- 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)
Diocese of Wollongong – Principal Opportunities
- Principal (Secondary) – John Therry Catholic College, Rosemeadow – to commence January 2023 (closes 31 October)
- Principal – St Francis Catholic College, Edmondson Park – to commence January 2023 (closes October)