Weekly Newsletter #38 - 30 November 2022
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Reflection
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From the Executive Director
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St Alipius Parish School - Community Spirit
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Share news of your school's Christmas activities!
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CSPV Connect Newsletter and Parent Flyers
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Advent Appeal for Ukraine
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Created and Loved - Zoom Session
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Teaching & Learning Update
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Advent Resources 2022
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Staff News
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Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Reflection
No Need to Wait…….
Last Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent. One of the themes that has been traditionally associated with Advent is waiting. Today’s reflection by Janet Schaeffler, OP explores this concept anew.
The science fiction film “The Arrival” tells the story of an astrophysicist whose passion is watching the stars, constantly waiting for a message from beyond.
Maybe this is a metaphor for how many Christians have approached Advent?
We don’t need to wait. God continually reaches out to us from beyond - as well as from within and all around. ‘The Arrival’ that comforts and challenges our lives takes place constantly as well as in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago.
We really don’t need to wait, for our God is always here. Rather than waiting, we need to increasingly watch. God is with us continually and constantly in the ordinary happenings of our everyday lives. Watching for the Lord means our eyes (and hearts) are wide open to the possibility - and reality - of God with us anytime, at all times, in any person, in every event.
Daily Practice:
At the end of the day, ask yourself: Where did I see and meet God today? As you go through these Advent days, let that question pervade your whole day: Where is God in this?
Advent Prayer:
Everyday God
Thank you for the wondrous ways you are a part of every corner of our lives. Deepen in us a constant awareness of your closeness, of your presence in all we meet, in everything that happens.
Help us be aware of your presence
Amen.
Schaeffler, J (2022) Advent 2022 Daily Reflection, Practices and Prayers - Awaiting the Good News Twenty Third Publications, Waterford, Connecticut
From the Executive Director
Last week I continued my school visits around the Diocese, this time to St Thomas More Primary School in Alfredton and Emmaus Primary School in Mt Clear. I was warmly welcomed at both schools and thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the students and staff during my tours.
This afternoon I am attending the Australian Catholic University Vice-Chancellor’s Welcome Reception at the Ballarat Campus. This will be an opportunity for me to liaise with senior staff to seek to find collaborative means of addressing workforce shortages.
I am looking forward to attending the Damascus College, Mt Clear Awards and Achievement Ceremony this evening and then attending the St Patrick’s College, Ballarat Academic Award Assembly tomorrow. It is a busy time across all communities with a vast number of school events. I wish to congratulate all students at all schools within the Diocese of Ballarat on their dedication to their studies over the course of the year. I also wish to acknowledge the extraordinary work of staff in creating opportunities for children and young people to flourish.
As we come to the end of the academic year, it is a time for us to celebrate the festive season and enjoy each other’s company socially. Please remember, however, that when attending a work function, the standard of behaviour remains the same as at the workplace and all workplace policies and procedures apply to the event. If food and drinks are provided at the event, please ensure that you drink responsibly and make plans in advance to get home safely without driving.
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.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
St Alipius Parish School - Community Spirit
The Grade 6 Leadership Team at St Alipius Parish Primary School are working to make a big difference in Ballarat with their newest student-led project!
After learning about homelessness and hearing how bad the problem is in Ballarat, the Grade 6 students have decided they want to raise money for a Ballarat Sleepbus. Hoping to receive enough donations, this would accommodate up to 20 homeless people, many of whom are women and children.
To do this, the students have organised a ‘Great Christmas Raffle’ to raise funds to contribute to Compassionate Ballarat, a volunteer organisation which encourages compassionate decision-making and actions within the city of Ballarat.
If you wish to support this project, and want to try you luck at winning some of the amazing prizes up for grabs, you can purchase raffle tickets here!
Ticket sales are open until December 11 and the raffle will be drawn on December 12.
Article submitted by Amber Innes
Share news of your school's Christmas activities!
How is your school celebrating the start of the Advent Season as we head towards Christmas Day?
Share your unique stories with the Diocese by sending content to the Marketing & Communications Team via this link.
Article submitted by Alexander J. Brodie
CSPV Connect Newsletter and Parent Flyers
Please find below links to the November Issue of CSPV Connect Newsletter and CSPV Parent Connect flyers for primary and secondary school parents of children in Catholic Schools.
In this issue:
- Updates from CSPV Annual General Meeting including the CSPV Annual Report
- Remembering what Advent is all about in the lead up to Christmas
- Resources for safe swimming this summer and supporting families impacted by the floods
- Group gift ideas for families to thank teachers
- How to support children and families to 'Be the Change' and carry out the Laudato Si action goals through Upschool
- Spotlight on a Catholic secondary school implementing mental health literacy for students and Dr Lyn O'Grady presents a webinar on supporting children with anxiety and mental health challenges.
Advent Appeal for Ukraine
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is supporting a special Advent appeal for the people of Ukraine, following a request from Bishop Mykola Bychok CSsR, Eparch of Sts Peter and Paul for the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Australia.
Collections in dioceses, eparchies and parishes on the Second and/or Third Sunday of Advent will support Mudra Sprava (Wise Action), a Patriarchal Charitable Foundation in Ukraine.
The organisation has three focus areas: Evacuation of people from frontline territories; Food packages for people in need; Shelters for internally displaced persons. Find out more on the Catholic Australia website.
Created and Loved - Zoom Session
On Tuesday the 13th of December the NCEC will be hosting a zoom session breaking open Created and Loved, a guide for Catholic schools on gender.
This online gathering will be a repeat of the presentation given at the NCEC Conference. It will be held at 4pm AEDT.
We extend the invitation to all members of Faith and Mission Teams, School Principals, Religious Education Leaders and members of Wellbeing Teams.
For those wishing to attend, we ask you to make a note of the time on your calendar, RSVP to Laura Avery and a link to the zoom will then be sent out on Monday the 12th of December.
Teaching & Learning Update
Term 4 Newsletter
Please find our Term 4 Learning and Teaching Newsletter here.
Upcoming Reconciliation Victoria Webinars
Cultural Safety in the Classroom (Thursday 8 December 4pm – 5pm)
Reconciliation Victoria will be hosting a webinar on Cultural Safety in the Classroom on Thursday 8 December.
Jo Drummond (Rec Vic Education Officer) and AJ Williams-Tchen will be discussing how to support cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the classroom and the importance of including families and communities to keep young people safe.
To participate in this timely webinar, please register here.
Truth-telling and Reconciliation in Early Learning (Thursday 15 December 4pm – 5pm)
Join Jo Drummond, Casey Goodman (Early Childhood Teacher) and Alistair Gibbs (Early Childhood Australia) on Thursday 15 December as they reflect on the importance of reflective practices and how to respect and embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pedagogies and protocols into an Early Learning service or classroom.
To join, please register here.
Join the ACER Global Academic Challenge in 2023!
The Global Academic Challenge is a unique academic competition designed for students in years 4, 6 and 8.
Based on internationally-endorsed frameworks, the Challenge enables educators to gain rich insights into their high-achieving students' academic abilities and to see how their results compare to their peers nationally and internationally.
Students also receive recognition of their achievement with certificates for their portfolios.
Learn more here.
Register for a Free Webinar on High-Quality Curriculum as a Mechanism for Equity and Student Success.
Ochre Education is partnering with Teach For Australia with an opportunity to hear from some leading international and Australian voices.
Hear more about how systems, schools and teachers are approaching systematically translating the curriculum from the page to the classroom, as a key lever to addressing educational disadvantage.
Register now to hear keynote speaker Clare Sealy, Head of Education Improvement, States of Guernsey, UK and Editor of The researchED Guide to The Curriculum. A panel discussion will feature system-level, school and teacher perspectives, including voices from the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, Serpentine Primary School (WA) and Aveley College (WA).
Come and hear from two case study schools featured in the recent Grattan Institute report 'Ending the lesson lottery'.
Sign up for the free webinar on Thursday 8th December at 7pm – 8.30pm AEDT below:
Article submitted by Susan Paulka
Advent Resources 2022
A prayer resource from Catholic Education Ballarat, is now available.
Advent 2022 commences on Sunday 27th November. The following resources may assist staff prayer in your school community.
A Journey with Isaiah - CEB Prayer Resource.
The focus will be on the first reading of each week, which is taken
from the Prophet Isaiah.
These readings invite the listener to consider justice and hope, especially from the perspective of those most in need of them.
View this prayer resource here.
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.
Article submitted by Jim Waight
Staff News
Mary Ann Delima.
Mary Ann Delima has resigned her position as Payroll Officer, effective January 2023. We are very sorry to be farewelling Mary Ann as she has been an extremely valuable member of the team, and we are sure that the schools she has been supporting will miss her greatly.
Mary Ann is going to be working with her husband in their manufacturing business, Ballarat Saddlery and Canvas, and she goes with our thanks and very best wishes for the future.
Aileen Loader.
Aileen Loader has resigned her role as Finance and Fleet Officer with CEB to take up a Finance and Payroll position with Primary Health Network Western Victoria.
Aileen has been a committed and professional Finance Team member for the past eight years and she goes with our gratitude and very best wishes for her new position.
Please note that any queries regarding motor vehicles can be emailed to Fleet.
Article submitted by Jo Huntley
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Catholic Education Ballarat Vacancies.
- Finance and Fleet Officer – Full-time or part-time opportunity located in Ballarat (closes 23 January)
- Education Officer (Learning and Teaching) – Mildura, Swan Hill or Horsham – full or part-time opportunity (closes 1 February)
School Vacancies.
- Learning Support Officer – Lumen Christi PS, Delacombe – fixed-term position at 0.73FTE (closes 30 November)
- First Aid Officer/Administration Support – Lumen Christi PS, Delacombe – fixed-term position at 0.53 FTE (closes 30 November)
- Development Office Administration and Administration Support – Emmanuel College, Warrnambool – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 1 December)
- Library Technician – Sacred Heart PS Mildura – fixed-term position at 0.36 FTE (closes 2 December)
- Learning Support Officer – Sacred Heart PS Mildura – fixed-term position at 0.81 FTE (closes 2 December)
- Learning Support Officer – Sacred Heart PS Mildura – ongoing position at 0.81 FTE (closes 2 December)
- Classroom Teacher 2023 – Sacred Heart PS Mildura – fixed-term position at 0.6 FTE (closes 2 December)
- Classroom Teacher 2023 – Sacred Heart PS Mildura – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 2 December)
- Learning Support Officer – St Alipius’ Parish School, Ballarat East – fixed-term position at 0.9 FTE (closes 2 December)
- Classroom Teacher – St Patrick’s School, Camperdown – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 2 December)
- Classroom Teacher – OLHC Warrnambool – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 5 December)
Learning Support Officer – Siena Catholic PS Lucas – fixed-term position at 0.86 FTE (closes 7 December)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Francis Xavier, Ballarat East (closes 9 December)
- Italian Language Assistant – Siena Catholic PS Lucas – fixed-term position at 0.16 FTE (closes 15 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)
Article submitted by Jo Huntley