Weekly Newsletter #35 - 9 November 2022
Reflection
Called to be PeaceMakers
This Friday is Remembrance Day - we remember all those whose lives have been torn apart by war. Those who have served their country in the armed forces and those on active duty. We remember those whose lives have been changed forever by the experience of war in their lands and especially those who have died. We remember the people of Ukraine and the many parts of our world who have lost their lives innocently in the immense tragedy of war. We recommit ourselves to peace on occasions such as Remembrance Day - What does this mean for us living in a relatively peaceful country? Pope Francis in his encyclical Fratelli Tutti (2020) explores this concept and what it may look like in our world.
77. Each day offers us a new opportunity, a new possibility. We should not expect everything from those who govern us, for that would be childish. We have the space we need for co-responsibility in creating and putting into place new processes and changes. Let us take an active part in renewing and supporting our troubled societies. Today we have a great opportunity to express our innate sense of fraternity, to be Good Samaritans who bear the pain of other people’s troubles rather than fomenting greater hatred and resentment. Like the chance traveller in the parable, we need only have a pure and simple desire to be a people, a community, constant and tireless in the effort to include, integrate and lift up the fallen. We may often find ourselves succumbing to the mentality of the violent, the blindly ambitious, those who spread mistrust and lies. Others may continue to view politics or the economy as an arena for their own power plays. For our part, let us foster what is good and place ourselves at its service.
Francis (2020) Fratelli Tutti
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html
Let us Pray.
God of Everlasting Peace
We bow to the sacred in all creation.
May our spirits fill the world with beauty and wonder.
May our minds seek truth with humility and openness.
May our hearts forgive without limit.
May our love for friend, enemy, and outcast be without measure.
May our needs be few and our living simple.
May our actions bear witness to the suffering of others.
May our hands never harm a living being.
May our steps stay on the journey of justice.
May our tongues speak for those who are poor, without fear of the powerful.
May our prayers rise with patient discontent until no child is hungry.
May our life's work be a passion for peace and nonviolence.
May our souls rejoice in the present moment.
May our imaginations overcome death and despair with new possibilities.
And may we risk reputation, comfort, and security to bring this hope to the world.
Amen.
Mary Lou Kownacki, OSB
From the Executive Director
New Leader of Teaching & Learning
It is with great excitement that I write to inform you that Joe Ewing has been appointed to the role of Leader: Learning and Teaching for the Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL). Joe will commence his new role at the beginning of the 2023 school year and will be based from the Warrnambool office.
Joe has served the St Pius X Parish School community as a Teacher, Religious Education Leader, Curriculum Leader and Deputy Principal over the past 20 years with the last 7 years as Principal. Joe’s work at St Pius X has been to provide fullness of life for all within a just, compassionate and loving context, modelled on the life of Jesus and the ideal of Christian living. Joe has been authentic in his leadership and has always acted with the best interests of students, families and staff of the school.
Joe has worked across the South West as a member of staff at St Patrick’s Camperdown, Mercy Regional College Camperdown and St Colman’s Mortlake. He has invested heavily in his own professional growth through the ECSI project at the Katholieke Universiteit in Leuven and he has a Professional Certificate in Education (Positive Behaviour & Learning) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies (Student Welfare). Together with a Master of Education from the University of Melbourne, he has a Master of Arts (Theology), a Graduate Diploma in Religious Education from Australian Catholic University and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Deakin University.
Joe’s enthusiasm for his new role is based in his passion as an educator and a learner. He has consistently striven to engage learners through innovative, creative, and relevant teaching. Joe was able to demonstrate that the intended educational excellence of our Catholic schools lies within our most defining characteristic; our Catholic Identity. His strong understanding of wellbeing and connectedness as vital protective factors essential to the learning process was key to his appointment. He has a strong knowledge of curriculum and diverse pedagogical processes and was appointed from a highly competitive field.
I offer my congratulations to Joe and express my gratitude for his wonderful contribution at St Pius X. I ask you to join me in wishing Joe all the best in his new role at DOBCEL.
Ballarat Diocese of Secondary Principals (BDSP)
Early this week I took part in the BDSP meeting hosted by Trinity College in Colac. It was a productive meeting, followed by a tour of the College which has some very impressive facilities. Following this meeting, Matthew Byrne and I took the opportunity to visit Sacred Heart Primary School and St Mary’s Primary School in Colac before heading out to St Brendan’s Primary School in Coragulac. Matt and I were impressed with what we saw and heard at all three of these great primary schools.
Artwork for Gillies Street
We are looking for school artwork to display at our new Gillies St office in Ballarat. We would like artwork that has a Catholic Identity focus and includes elements of your local community identity. We are interested in artwork from F-12. If you have something that you believe is suitable please send in a photo to the Marketing & Communications team. Please note in 2023 we will run a display of student artwork in Catholic Education Week which will run from 22 to 26 May.
Latest Our Diocesan Community
Read the October 2022 edition here.
Remembrance Day in Schools
Friday 11 November is Remembrance Day - a day for us to remember those who have served and those who have died in all wars and peacekeeping operations. Remembrance Day marks the date in 1918 when the First World War came to an end and is officially observed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, each year.
To mark Remembrance Day, schools are encouraged to pause at 11 am on Friday 11 November 2022 for a minute’s silence, to remember the service and sacrifice. Schools must fly the Australian National Flag at the masthead from 8.00am to 10.30am, at half-mast from 10.30am to 11.02am, and at the masthead from 11:02am onwards.
Schools are invited to watch the Shrine of Remembrance’s commemorative service. The service will be live streamed on the Shrine’s Facebook and YouTube channels from 10:30am. Please Refer to the Shrine of Remembrance website for more information.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
Rising COVID cases
The Department of Health has reached out to DOBCEL to indicate that they are seeing rising trends in presentations of COVID cases across the health systems.
Members of our school communities are reminded that if you are experiencing symptoms to please stay home. Please continue to encourage students to optimise social distancing when possible and practice good hand hygiene.
If schools have additional RAT tests, remind families that these are available. Continue to encourage anyone within your community who would like to wear a mask to do so, to continue to support the medically vulnerable.
Weather Alert
Tree Risk and Safety Management.
From the ongoing extreme weather conditions, we can expect the trees within our school precinct to suffer some hazardous exposure from flooding of the root system to falls from the high winds. Now is the time to be vigilant and to check your trees visually and your site maintenance plan for when your arborist is due for an inspection.
Please view this link as a guide to the risks associated with the safety of your foliage.
Extreme Weather Warnings.
Be aware of the heightened risk of Thunderstorm Asthma this week throughout the peak of the grass pollen season and be appropriately prepared.
The forecast is in conjunction with an appropriate prevention and good asthma and hay fever management plan, which is the best way to protect yourself from thunderstorm asthma.
Please view this link each day, for this week’s Thunderstorm Asthma forecast.
BOM Weather Warning.
Please see attached document below for the Thunderstorm Forecast which is valid from midnight tonight until midnight Thursay, 1o November 2022.
Catholic Education Update
Dear All,
This is an updated communication regarding the program taking place IN PERSON at the Catholic Leadership Centre and ONLINE via YouTube Livestream (further advice in due course) from 9:00am-1:00pm on Friday, 11 November.
You are invited to attend a presentation by Prof Didier Pollefeyt and Dr Jan Bouwens who in two parts will focus on the mission and identity of the Catholic school today (refer to the attached program below). Professor Pollefeyt and Dr Bouwens are visiting Australia in November and come to us from the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University Leuven (Belgium).
Dr Paul Sharkey (MACS), with Prof Pollefeyt and Drs Bouwens have confirmed a process of lecture-workshop-plenary with content that over two sequences will strengthen an understanding of religious education and a Catholic understanding of self, of others and of God and consequently, of what it is to be a Catholic school today. See details here.
Sequence 1. The Lustre of Life: critical considerations for religious education pedagogies
Sequence 2. Teaching the Unteachable or Why Too Much Good Is Bad: religious education in Catholic schools today
Looking forward to connecting with you as we seek together, to deepen our understanding of what it is to be a Catholic school today.
Gina (Bernasconi)
Education Officer: ECSI
School Closure Day.
As per the Executive Director Update #55 sent to all Principals on 2 November, please complete the School Closure Day form and send it through to Sarah Johnson by 4pm next Friday – 18 November.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your Education Consultant.
Liturgy Brisbane.
Music Ministry in the Liturgy online course
There is a new online liturgy course “Music Ministry in the Liturgy.” Through a series of short, engaging videos, readings, quizzes and detailed downloadable notes, the course offers comprehensive formation to provide parish and school music ministry teams with the liturgical and musical knowledge, understanding and skills to confidently and competently choose and lead music in liturgy. Music ministers can complete the course at their own pace, in their own home, at times that suit them. Total engagement time is approximately three hours. A downloadable certificate confirms that the course content has been completed.
Course cost is $25.00 (+ GST if applicable). Pre-paid discounted voucher bundles are available for parishes and schools to distribute to music ministers to access the course - 5 vouchers $110.00 (+ GST if applicable) 10% discount; 10 Vouchers $200.00 (+ GST if applicable) 20% discount. Find more information here.
Free Advent Resources.
Other resources available include a 2022 Advent Calendar with lots of practical ideas to help families journey through Advent, the Names of Jesus Advent chain to help families explore who Jesus is and the Little Nativity Pack so that children can play out the wonderful story of Jesus coming!
Find these resources here.
Software Library Platform Support
Softlink Trainer, Russell McGrath, will be running a full day training course for Oliver v5 on Stocktake and Advanced Oliver at Damascus College, Ballarat on Monday 21st November.
To attend the course, click here to download the Registration Form.
Course: Oliver v5 Advanced & Stocktake
- Date: Monday 21st November 2022 (9am – 3:30pm)
- Host School: Damascus College, Ballarat
- Cost: 1 x 6 hour course $399.00 per person, ex GST.
- Course code: VICDC2111
Attendance is limited. Register your interest as soon as possible by emailing the completed Registration Form.
Check out the Course Description below!
Teaching & Learning Update
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Funding for Primary Schools.
Information regarding 2023 funding to assist in the educational support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students is currently being finalised and will be published in next week’s newsletter.
People & Development Update
Ballarat Diocese CISS Capacity Building Workshops- Friday 18 November 2022.
The Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd (CECV) has obtained a grant to build capacity and promote awareness of the Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS) among Victorian Catholic schools.
The CISS is an important tool which allows prescribed Information Sharing Entities (ISE) to share confidential information with each other to promote the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
As part of the project, KPMG will be conducting a series of workshops which have been developed through the results of the School Perception Survey and focus group sessions which staff from schools across the Diocese recently participated in. The workshops will be available for principals, school leaders and other staff who are responsible for overseeing and engaging with the CISS in primary and secondary schools.
The final activity that KPMG will be conducting as part of the Project is the delivery of a number of workshops across CECV schools. The purpose of the workshop is to address the gaps identified in the Gaps Analysis, to promote the successful implementation of the CISS within our schools, and introduce the new resources developed as part of the project.
Please note that RIPJP schools are also more than welcome to participate.
In terms of the logistics of the workshops, this is as follows:
- Workshop length: 2 hours
- Workshop format: Virtual
- Audience: Workshops will be delivered to senior school leadership and other nominated leaders, as well as school staff, including regularly used casual staff or volunteers
- Max. number of participants per workshop: 20 however preferred group of 12-16 people
Ballarat workshops: both Friday 18 November
- Primary school staff: 9.30am- 11.30am
- Secondary staff: 1.30pm-3.30pm
TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND PLEASE REGISTER YOUR INTEREST HERE
A Teams link from KPMG for the workshop will be emailed to you in the same week.
Please email Jacqui Righetti with any questions.
FINAL SESSION - Wellbeing Webinar Series 2022.
This week is the final session of the 2022 Wellbeing Webinar Series. We encourage you to share this information with your teams and register for the final live session. These webinars are in partnership with Converge International and are open to all DOBCEL staff and their families. These virtual sessions are accessible from anywhere.
Session 5: Mental Fitness
When: Thursday 10 November 2022, 4:00pm to 5:00pm
- Discover the difference between mental health, mental wellbeing, and mental fitness
- Discover mental fitness ‘set point theory’ and its relationships to lifetime wellbeing
- Understand the interplay between life stress, wellbeing, and mental fitness
- Discover the 4 domains of mental fitness and how these differ from person to person
- Learn tips to improve your mental fitness
- Understand how your unique routines and disciplines can strengthen your mental fitness
Click here to join the meeting
Session details, including participation handouts and links, are available via the attached document.
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Catholic Education Ballarat Vacancies.
- Policy and Governance Administrator – ongoing position (closes 14 November)
- Education Officer (Learning and Teaching) – Mildura, Swan Hill or Horsham – 3-year fixed-term position or secondment (closes 25 November)
School Vacancies.
- Maintenance Officer – St Patrick’s College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 9 November)
- Classroom Teacher (Yr 3-6) – St Joseph’s School, Penshurst – fixed-term position at 0.6 FTE (closes 9 November)
- Teacher of English, Humanities & RE – Emmanuel College, Warrnambool – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 10 November)
- Classroom Teacher – St Patrick’s Primary School, Ballarat – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 11 November)
- School Services Manager – St Patrick’s College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 13 November)
- Classroom Teacher (2) – St Columba’s School, Ballarat North – fixed-term positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 14 November)
- Graduate Classroom Teacher – St Thomas’ School, Terang – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 14 November)
- Mental Health Clinician – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 15 November)
- Marketing and Design Officer – Damascus College, Mt Clear – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 15 November)
- Classroom Teacher – Siena Catholic Primary School, Lucas – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 16 November)
- Classroom Teacher – St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Warracknabeal – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 16 November)
- Primary Teacher – St Joseph’s School, Hopetoun – fixed-term position at 0.6 FTE (closes 18 November)
- Specialist Teacher (Science or PE) – St Mary’s School, Ararat – fixed-term position at 0.4 FTE (closes 21 November)
- 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)
- Classroom Teachers – Primary and Secondary Schools (closes 31 December)