Weekly Newsletter #36 - 16 November 2022
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Reflection
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From the Executive Director
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2023 Calendars
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Opening of STEAM Building - St Brigid's College, Horsham
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School Wide Behaviour Support with SIMON
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Catholic Education Update
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Student Wellbeing Update
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Teaching & Learning Update
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People & Development Update
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Advent Resources 2022
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Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Reflection
Last Sunday, 13th November, was World Kindness Day. What is the connection between kindness and The Catholic story and vision for the world? The following reflection by Jim Quillinan, explores what kindness means in relation to The Reign of God.
We acknowledge the generosity of Catholic Education Diocese of Sale Ltd, in allowing us to reprint this wonderful wisdom.
You can download this reflection here.
From the Executive Director
Today our EBA Bargaining team met with the IEU bargaining team. We have put a revised proposal to the IEU where we agreed to significant additional commitments alleviating workload demands and to delivering improved conditions for staff in Catholic schools. All staff will receive details of our offer via CECV email over the coming 24 hours. I will hold a Video Conference to discuss this revised proposal with Principals at 10:30am tomorrow.
DOBCEL Board Meeting
Yesterday the DOBCEL Board met at the CEB Offices in Gillies Street. We were very appreciative to have the Chief Executive Office of the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority, Mr Jonathan Kaplan and the Principal Commissioner for Children and Young People, Ms Liana Buchanan attend in person and present to the Board on their respective organisations.
Throughout the duration of the meeting, the Board discussed a multitude of topics including the 2023 Primary School budgets, the ECSI Symposium for Governing Bodies that a number of the Board Directors attended, the Teacher Accreditation Program, updates on the CECV Review and the continuing negotiations relating to the EBA.
School Visits
On Friday 11 November I visited Lumen Christi PS in Delacombe, St Aloysius PS Redan and Sienna PS Lucas. Thank you to the staff and students for making me feel welcome in their schools. Later that evening I attended the Principals Association of Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools (PAVCSS) Annual Dinner in Melbourne.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
2023 Calendars
DOBCEL/CEB Meeting Calendar.
The updated 2023 calendar (Version 3) can be accessed here.
Any comments please direct them to Kerrie Zammit.
Professional Learning Calendar.
The 2023 Professional Learning calendar is now available here.
Any comments please direct them to Sarah Johnson.
Please note these calendars will no longer be available on the DOBCEL website.
We are currently working on an alternate location for both calendars to be accessible to our communities. Once this location is confirmed, a note will be placed in the weekly newsletter.
Opening of STEAM Building - St Brigid's College, Horsham
Yesterday the community of St Brigid's College, Horsham alongside Senator Jana Stewart celebrated the offical opening of their new Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) building.
These fantastic new facilities will provide the St Brigid's staff and students a new place to work, teach and learn within.
School Wide Behaviour Support with SIMON
Last month SIMON presented their work to a secondary school cohort in the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools. They showed all the new and improved products that are located on the Social Behaviour work desk for schools.
SIMON, together with the Student Wellbeing Team, are aiming for a data platform that can support and inform student behaviour progress within social behaviours.
Last week, Marymede Catholic College, a P-12 Catholic College in the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools, welcomed representatives from St Brigid’s Horsham, Mercy Regional College Camperdown, Jo-Ann Patrick from MACS PBL team and our Student Wellbeing Team to an SWPBS presentation.
The staff from Marymede shared their implementation of School Wide Positive Behaviour Support. Anne Ruddell, from our Student Wellbeing Team, presented the Social Behaviour data collection platform. A true and authentic example of partnership principles; mutual benefits; equity; and transparency.
A great celebration of all the hard work SIMON has done in collaboration with Anne to produce a great product when monitoring social behaviours.
Catholic Education Update
REMINDER - School Closure Day. Due Friday 18 November.
Please complete the School Closure Day form and send it through to Sarah Johnson by 4pm this Friday – 18 November.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your Education Consultant.
CTC Information Session December 2022.
There is an upcoming online Information Session, CTC 2023 FIND YOUR PATH, which is to be held by Zoom on Monday 5 December at 7.30pm. Presenters will outline the various courses, units of study, and modes of delivery available.
This event would be an ideal opportunity for teaching staff at all stages of experience to explore the range of possibilities at CTC for professional, theological, and leadership development.
The Master of Education and Theology program will be of particular interest to senior staff involved in or aspiring to leadership. Teachers who need to gain and/or maintain accreditation to teach RE will be interested in the Graduate Certificate in Teaching Religious Education or individual units such as Theology and Religious Education through Art and Teaching Meditation and Prayer.
Click here to register for the online Information Session. Registration is essential.
You can also view the 2023 Timetable.
Please see the attached document for details regarding the upcoming session.
Student Wellbeing Update
School Attendance Professional Learning Opportunity.
The Melbourne Graduate School of Education (MGSE) in conjunction with Deakin University invite you to join for a day focused on school attendance with national and international speakers.
This full day conference will be on November 24. There is also an online mode available.
With school attendance decreasing across Australia, a systems level approach that brings together practitioners, educators, researchers, policymakers, families and young people is required.
For more information please visit Innovation in School Attendance.
DOBCEL Student Wellbeing Framework - Northern Zone.
The Student Wellbeing Team would like to invite the Northern Primary School and Secondary Wellbeing Practitioners (pastoral care workers, counsellors, psychologists) to a meeting.
When: Wednesay 23 November 2022.
Time: 9:30AM - 11:00AM
Where: St Joseph's College Mildura. 154 Twelfth St, Mildura Vic 3500
Register Here.
Please forward this Trybooking link to the appropriate Wellbeing member in your school.
Any question please email Brooke Nester.
Teaching & Learning Update
Country Education Partnership (CEP) News.
Please find the November edition of Bush Voices here.
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 are available for principals, school leaders and other staff who are responsible for overseeing and engaging with the CISS in primary and secondary schools.
Please note that RIPJP schools are also more than welcome to participate.
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 HERE by midday Thursday if you have not already recieved a link to the meeting.
A Teams link from KPMG for the workshop will be emailed to you Thursday afternoon.
Please email Jacqui Righetti with any questions.
Advent Resources 2022
Advent 2022 commences on Sunday 27th November. The following resources may assist staff prayer in your school community.
A prayer resource from Catholic Education Ballarat, is currently being developed and will be available in next week’s newsletter.
Advent 2022 - Parish Resource.
This resource invites parish participants to journey through the four weeks of Advent exploring the themes of hope, peace, joy and love.
Visit this resource here.
Mercy Spirituality: Advent Series.
Mercy International Association (MIA) is offering a virtual gathering of spirituality to enter the season of anticipation. All are welcome to join MIA on each of the four Wednesdays of Advent, beginning November 30th.
Register your interest in this event here.
An Advent Invitation - To Pray the Examen Daily.
The Examen is an ancient and simple method of reviewing your day in the presence of God. It’s more a process than a prayer in the traditional sense.
During Advent you are invited to pray the Examen daily, in whatever form suits
you and at whatever time suits you.
See outline here.
Sandhurst Advent Leaflets.
These leaflets are from 2019 but are the 'Year A' readings of the liturgical year which commences in Advent 2022.
View leaflets here.
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Catholic Education Ballarat Vacancies.
- Education Officer (Learning and Teaching) – Mildura, Swan Hill or Horsham – 3-year fixed-term position or secondment (closes 25 November)
- Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director: Stewardship – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 28 November)
- Compliance Support Officers – 2 ongoing positions at 1.0 FTE (Ballarat and Horsham) (closes 28 November)
School Vacancies.
- 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)
- Year 5/6 Classroom Teacher – St Mary’s School, Robinvale – fixed-term 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)
- PE Teacher/Classroom Position – St Colman’s School, Mortlake – fixed-term position at 0.6 FTE (closes 21 November)
- PE Teacher/Classroom Position – St Thomas’ School, Terang – fixed-term position at 0.6 FTE (closes 21 November)
- Classroom Teacher – OLHC, Wendouree – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 21 November)
- Classroom Teacher – St Pius X School, Warrnambool – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 22 November)
- Generalist Classroom Teacher – St Paul’s PS, Mildura – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 23 November)
- Head of Student Pathways & Organisation (Senior Leadership Role) – Marian College, Ararat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 25 November)
- VCE Mathematics Teacher – St Patrick’s College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 27 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)