Weekly Newsletter #40 - 14 December 2022
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Reflection
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From the Executive Director
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Catholic Education Ballarat Christmas Card
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End of a Six-Generation Era - St Brendan's Primary School, Dunnstown
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Farewell Roger Morris - 41 years of Teaching
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James 2:17 Project - Marian College Ararat
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CSPV Connect December Newsletter
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Learning and Teaching Update
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Advent Resources 2022
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Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Reflection
Silent Night?
The following piece invites reflection about what happened that first Christmas and is a powerful reminder that all human experience may be moments touched by the sacred.
I have always loved to sing the hymn “Silent Night.” It is so seared into my brain that I can’t help but hum it when I see the first Christmas decorations showing up around town. But as much as I love the hymn, the words challenge my imagination a little, especially the first two lines: “Silent night, holy night. / All is calm, all is bright.”
When I imagine the night our Savior was born, the last things I imagine are silence and calm.
The only thing I have to compare to that holy night is the nights that I gave birth. I remember so clearly the doctors and nurses rushing around, the newborns crying, the occasional visitors, the buzzing of machinery, and the groans of pain. Everything was far from calm and silent. In the stable, of course, there were no doctors or nurses or machinery buzzing, but there were no doubt visitors, a newborn crying, probably even more groaning from terrible unmedicated pain, and worse, the dirty hay and restless, stinky animals rustling all around.
So, at first glance, the hymn “Silent Night” seems to sugarcoat the Holy Family’s experience. After all, in addition to the cacophony of sounds all around them, they would soon need to flee a king who wished their newborn dead. Calm is definitely not how I imagine Mary and Joseph felt. How then, do we interpret what Fr. Joseph Mohr was thinking when he jotted down these words more than 200 years ago?
Reflecting on those first moments with my oldest, I remember something else besides the chaos, the noise, and the fear of suddenly being responsible for the life of the new human being before me.
I remember the briefest of moments when I first held my son’s hand in mine, such a small gesture that indicated that he was mine and I was his from this day forward. As I held his tiny hand and watched his fingers move in mine, the chaos surrounding both of us was stilled for just the briefest of seconds before it all started up again.
“Silent Night” is a powerful reminder of the awed silence we experience when the space between heaven and earth narrows, and God comes close. This song is a reminder that again and again we are overcome by God’s presence, right here in this broken yet beautifully human world.
By Gretchen Crowder Downloaded from https://www.ignatianspirituality.com
Let us pray
Vulnerable God,
As we contemplate the wonder of your birth,
Stir in us the desire to cradle those who have nowhere to lay their head,
That together we may rock the boat of injustice.
Give us grace to offer our hands to those who reach out
That with faltering steps we may find a way home
And kindle our hearts to embrace the rejected and dispossessed
And so meet you face to face.
We ask this in your name.
Amen.
Annabel Shilson-Thomas/CAFOD
From the Executive Director
Our final DOBCEL Board meeting for the year was held yesterday at the Catholic Education Ballarat Office. Key issues that were discussed included, the importance and application of Cyber Safety, the Roadmap for the future of SIMON, Secondary School and CEB 2023 Budgets and Policy updates. In addition to this agenda, a lengthy discussion and update on the current Enterprise Bargaining Agreement took place.
The Board expressed their gratitude to all for your great work over the course of this school year, as we work together towards returning to a sense of normality, continuing to provide high standards of education for our students these past several years.
I would like to finish this final newsletter of the year with my own heartfelt thanks to everyone in our school communities spread across our Diocese for everything that you have done individually and collectively to ensure each student has had the best educational experience possible in a year compounded by additional challenges.
In addition to all having dealt with the third year of COVID-19 affecting our lives in different ways, each school community has also faced its own challenges up to and including defending against flooding, high winds, and subsequent clean-ups. Despite this, throughout this year we have continued to be beacons of hope, displaying great resilience and both supported and partnered with one another to bring our vision to life: As partners in Catholic Education and open to God’s presence, we pursue fullness of life for all.
I wish you, your family and friends a safe, peaceful, joyful and holy Christmas.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
Catholic Education Ballarat Christmas Card
Very special thanks to Jamie Walsh and Kerri-Ann O'Keefe at All Saints Parish Primary School, Portland for sharing the fantastic images featuring on this year's Christmas Card.
Article submitted by Alexander J. Brodie
End of a Six-Generation Era - St Brendan's Primary School, Dunnstown
The Grade 6 graduation of Sienna Cahir and Kade McKay from St. Brendan's Primary School, Dunnstown signifies the end of an incredible era for both the Cahir and McKay families but more significantly the end of an era for 86 year-old Nellie Leonard. 16 years she has attended as a mother, 20 years as a grandmother and 13 years as a great grandmother.
Nell, the great-grandmother of Sienna and Kade, has had a long association with St Brendan's spanning over 6 generations.
Nell, and her late husband, Leo, were both students at the school in the 1940s, both their respective mothers (Nell Murphy -née Britt and Kathleen Leonard - née McCormack) also attended the school in the early 1900's.
Nell's grandfather, Con Britt, was also educated at this rural Catholic school in the late 1860s.
Nell and Leo Leonard's seven daughters were educated at St Brendan's (formerly OLOF), and 14 of their 25 grandchildren have been educated at Dunnstown as have 7 of their 33 great-grandchildren.
Sienna and Kade are the last of their great-grandchildren to graduate from St Brendan's Primary School.
Article submitted by Amber Innes
Farewell Roger Morris - 41 years of Teaching
Dedicating 41 years to teaching at Loreto College, Ballarat, cherished educator Mr Roger Morris is officially embarking on his well-earned retirement!
Mr Morris leaves an extraordinary legacy behind, being the first full-time male teacher at Loreto Dawson Street, the College has been blessed to receive such professionalism and wisdom over the years and now with a lifetime of fond memories and cherished bonds.
We wish Roger the very best as he heads off on his next adventure.
Article submitted by Amber Innes
James 2:17 Project - Marian College Ararat
Throughout the second Semester Year 9 Students from Marian College, Ararat have been completing their “James 2:17 Project”. This project provides students with an opportunity to bring the faith that is being learnt in the classroom into action in the community.
For this initiative students have worked with Saltbush, Balnarring Beach, a Not-for-Profit charity organisation that provides holidays, retreats and programs to families and carers who need it most.
Participating in a working bee, students were hard at work gardening, painting, window- and deck-cleaning, and installing compost bins across the site. Very impressed with the students’ work ethic, the Presentation Sisters who live on the property, baked them a cake after seeing how clean the place was!
The efforts of the students continued into a Bake Sale where over $560 dollars was raised for the charity.
Stephen East, Head of Religious Education, Justice & Sustainability said “It really was pleasing to see the effort the students put into helping others and to live out Marian College’s Catholic identity in the service of others. It is hoped that the James 2:17 Project will expand next year to become year long across the whole year level”.
Well done to the Marian College, Ararat community!
Article submitted by Amber Innes
CSPV Connect December Newsletter
Please find below the December issue of CSPV Connect News.
Learning and Teaching Update
EMU (Extending Mathematical Understanding) Early Years Training in Ballarat 2023.
The EMU Specialist Teacher course, facilitated by Dr Ann Gervasoni from Monash University, provides professional learning for teachers to work with students in the early years of schooling. It involves field-based learning and a six-day spaced learning program.
Training will take place in Ballarat on the following dates:
- Days 1 and 2 - 16 and 17 March
- Days 3 and 4 - 27 and 28 April
- Day 5 - 26 May
- Day 6 - 11 August
Cost: $2800 (incl GST)
To find out more information and to register click here.
Professional Learning Opportunity For School Staff: Data Literacy.
This professional learning will be facilitated by Dr Selena Fisk, data storyteller, working with educators to bring data to life to make evidence-informed decisions.
There will be a focus on developing strategic approaches to the collection, collation and usage of data and equipping school staff at all levels to have highly effective conversations about data to allow informed decisions to be made based on evidence.
The learning will take place throughout the year as outlined below:
- Term 1 - face to face with Selena Fisk.
- Terms 2 & 3 - webinars facilitated by CEB Teams.
- End of Term 3 - presentation of school’s Action Research Learning.
The face to face dates in term one will be from March 20th-24th in four locations-
- March 20th - Mildura
- March 21st - Horsham
- March 22nd - Warrnambool
- March 24th - Ballarat
Please note: locations and venues will be confirmed based on registrations, which will close on Thursday 16th February 2023. Each face to face day is 9am-3pm.
Please use these links to register:
Cost - $100 per person; morning tea and lunch will be provided.
Please email Teresa Hadden or Mel Willis for further information.
Articles Submitted by Susan Paulka
Advent Resources 2022
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
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.
- Italian Language Assistant – Siena Catholic PS Lucas – fixed-term position at 0.16 FTE (closes 15 December)
- Pastoral Care Worker – St Brigid’s School, Ballan – fixed-term position at 0.2 FTE (closes 15 December)
- Classroom Teacher – St Patrick’s School, Nhill – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 16 December)
- Learning Support Officer – Emmaus Catholic Primary School, Mt Clear – fixed-term position at 0.75 FTE (closes 16 December)
- Classroom Teacher – Mercy Regional College, Camperdown – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 16 December)
- Communications, Marketing and Engagement Officer – Mercy Regional College, Camperdown – ongoing position at 0.7 FTE (closes 16 December)
- Learning Support Officer – Mercy Regional College, Camperdown – fixed-term position at 0.75 FTE (closes 16 December)
- Canteen Assistant - Mercy Regional College, Camperdown – fixed-term position at 0.25 FTE (closes 16 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)
- Religious Education Coordinator – Marian College, Ararat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 20 December)
- Classroom Teacher (English, Humanities, Maths, Science) – Marian College, Ararat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 20 December)
- LOTE Teacher – Sacred Heart School, Casterton – fixed-term position at 0.2 FTE (closes 20 December)
- Classroom Teachers – Primary and Secondary Schools (closes 31 December)
- Classroom Teacher – St Mary’s School, Donald – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 12 January)
- Science Teacher – St Joseph’s College, Mildura – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 23 January)
Article submitted by Jo Huntley