Weekly Newsletter #6 - 8 March 2023
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Reflection
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From the Executive Director
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2023 Principal Appointments
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Diocesan Leadership Awards Nominations Open - 2023
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People and Development Update
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Catholic Education Update
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CRT Primary School Program
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Parent Leadership Opportunity - Catholic School Parents Australia
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Catholic Identity and Mission Update
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Save the Date – SIMON User Conference 8th & 9th of May
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Student Wellbeing Team Update
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Learning and Teaching Update
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Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Reflection
A Prayer this International Women’s Day
Look! We are all around you:
in the work rooms of industry,
and of every functioning enterprise,
unheralded, invisible,
some say nonexistent,
but we know otherwise.
Look! We are all around you:
contributing, setting standards,
changing the course of history,
preparing, supporting,
challenging those resentful of our collegial claims and capabilities.
Look! We are all around you:
Woman of courage, compassionate, patient.
Our number is legion, our gifts diverse,
Our goal one and the same:
that history hear, that history is cognisant of,
that history will one day recall our names.
We honour the women of the Hebrew scriptures,
especially Mary, the Mother of Jesus,
whose courage, persistence, love, and fidelity
kept faith alive.
We honour the women of Jesus’ time
Who cared for the community of believers;
Who followed Jesus to Calvary;
Who buried Him;
Who proclaimed Jesus’ resurrection
Who passed the Gospel to their families, friends and strangers;
We honour the women of our own time
Who nudge us back on track;
Who remind us of the promises of Christ’
Who claim the Gospel for women, too;
Who preach the reality of wholeness;
Who strain against a patriarchal church
Who challenge us to grow!
Living God, Today we gather in and among Your Presence.
With women throughout the world,
We, raise our voices in global petition
for your promise of wholeness –fullness of life–
to be realised in all our world, in our nations and in our lives.
This we pray in Your Name.
Amen.
Adaptation of Miriam Therese Winter’s “Valiant Women” by Cathy O’Keefe.
Found at https://www.sistersofmercy.org/resource/prayer-for-international-womens-day/
From the Executive Director
International Women’s Day
Today we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) and the theme Embrace Equity. Each of us can actively support and embrace equity within our sphere of influence. We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias and seek out inclusion.
Within our own Catholic Church, the findings of an international research project on the views of Catholic women, led by two Australian academics, will be presented at the Vatican this week to coincide with International Women’s Day.
Diocesan School Visits
On Friday last week I began my annual school visits to all schools within the Diocese. I was warmly welcomed at St Brigid’s PS Ballan, St Michael’s PS Daylesford and St Augustine’s PS Creswick. It was a wonderful opportunity to speak with staff, students and the Principals.
Yesterday the CEB Leadership Team held our monthly meeting at St Alipius Primary School Ballarat. The day began with a tour of the school by Grade 6 students Greta, Winnie, Fletcher, Jack, Zakiah and Charlie, followed by a wonderfully unique Acknowledgement of Country and Prayer led by the Year 6 Leaders.
Tomorrow I will be visiting the Country Diocesan Leadership Program participants. This year we welcome teachers from the Diocese of Wagga Wagga to join Sandhurst and DOBCEL teachers.
On Friday I will be attending Damascus College for their opening school Mass.
I thank you for welcoming me to your schools.
Enterprise Bargaining Agreement Negotiations Update
We continue to make progress in enterprise bargaining negotiations with meetings taking place this week. In addition to the release of the updated salary tables and the application of back pay in Term 4 2022, the employer bargaining team and IEU agreed to the introduction of the following limited, yet significant changes from the start of the 2023 school year:
- Reduced SCT (that is, 21.5hrs for primary schools and 19.0 for secondary schools);
- Introduction of the 30+8 model to organise and regulate a teacher’s working week; and
- Recording of TIL accrual for school camps from Term 1.
Regarding the reduced SCT and the introduction of the 30+8 model, this was to be effective from the start of the school year if possible, or by Term 2, 2023 if more time was required to operationalise the change.
For secondary schools, the reduction of extras to 10 hours in 2023 was also agreed.
We are aware that the IEU continue to release information about the details of the “new Agreement”. However, it is important to clarify that we are still in the bargaining process; the employer bargaining group and the IEU have not yet reached an in-principle agreement on the entire replacement Agreement.
Other than those specified above, changes to other clauses have not yet been confirmed and are not yet effective.
We thank all DOBCEL staff for their continued contributions to Catholic Education in the Diocese of Ballarat. As more detail of the new Catholic Education Multi-Enterprise Agreement (CEMA) is confirmed we look forward to sharing that information with you.
Leadership Awards
I encourage you to nominate staff in your schools for these important awards as one way of acknowledging the great work of our staff across our Diocese. Details below.
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
Photos from School visit to St Michael's Primary School, Daylesford
Photos from CEB Leadership meeting at St Alipius Primary School, Ballarat
2023 Principal Appointments
We continue to introduce Principals that have been appointed for 2023.
This week we introduce to you Trinity Johns and Nerrida Holland.
Diocesan Leadership Awards Nominations Open - 2023
DOBCEL is proud to again sponsor the Diocese of Ballarat Leadership Awards recognising outstanding service and leadership within the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Ballarat, our school communities and Catholic Education Ballarat.
The Diocesan Award categories are:
Partnership Award
Nomination criteria for staff or community members who demonstrate:
- a commitment to enhancing partnering between the School, Catholic Education Ballarat, Parish, or the local community that enhance learning for students;
- ongoing witness to partnership in Catholic education and an active presence in the education, parish, diocesan and/or local community;
- promotion of Catholic education as partnership in local and/or extended community.
Catholic Leadership Award
Nomination criteria for staff who demonstrate:
- leadership that provides active witness to God’s presence in education, parish and/or diocesan community which enhances Catholic identity;
- excellence in leadership around Religious Education, spirituality, liturgy, religious art, social justice, the founding charism, evangelisation and/or ecology.
Fullness of Life Award
Nomination criteria for staff who demonstrate:
- leadership that leads to fullness of life for colleagues and/or students;
- excellence in education, staff formation or professional learning, student learning and/or;
- educational innovation for demonstrated commitment to evidence-based practice in education.
Nominations are invited via the Nomination Link until Thursday 16th March 2023.
People and Development Update
8 MARCH 2023
For International Women’s Day and beyond, let’s all fully #EmbraceEquity.
Equity isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must have. A focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society’s DNA and it’s critical to understand the difference between equity and equality.
The aim of the IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme is to get the world talking about Why equal opportunities aren’t enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action. Read more about this here.
Imaging a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can all #EmbraceEquity.
Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness about discrimination. Take action to drive gender parity.
IWD belongs to everyone, everywhere. Inclusion means all IWD action is valid.
Article Submitted by Tania Lund.
Catholic Education Update
Mentoring for Graduate Teachers.
The Effective Mentoring Program
The Effective Mentoring Program (EMP) is a free professional learning program developed and delivered in partnership with DET, and is open to fully registered teachers working in government, Catholic and independent schools and early childhood services.
For more information, please see document attached below.
Article Submitted by Dr Susan Crowe.
Aggiornamento Series in Open Learning ECSI101.
As part of the Professional Formation Activities in Theology and Catholic Identity 2023, Australian Catholic University is offering engagement through the Aggiornamento Series.
If this is of interest, please contact Kate Lawry or Gina Bernasconi.
Article Submitted by Kate Lawry.
CRT Primary School Program
From the 7th March the second round of the CRT Primary Schools Program will launch.
This program provides a gift of $2,000 to twenty-five Parents & Friends Associations (or equivalent) which support a rural or regional primary school in an area within the stores footprint.
This will assist the work of these important volunteer organisations and recognise the part they play in supporting the success of the next generation in growing and learning.
For more information and how to enter, see attached documents below.
Parent Leadership Opportunity - Catholic School Parents Australia
Catholic School Parents Australia is seeking nominations for a parent of a child in a Catholic school to hold the position of Independent Chairperson. The successful applicant requirement is for a parent of children who are currently enrolled in a Catholic primary, secondary or special school.
Catholic School Parents Australia is recognised as the national body representing and advocating for the parents* of over 785,585 children and young people who attend the 1755 Catholic schools across Australia. CSPA works in collaboration and consultation with the National Catholic Education Commission and is recognised by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference through the Bishops Commission for Catholic Education.
*Parent includes natural, adopted or foster parents, guardians or care givers of young people attending Catholic Schools.
A full description of the role and responsibilities of Chairperson for Catholic School Parents Victoria is attached below for further information.
Please contact Victorian Representative, Rachel Saliba (CSPV Executive Officer) with your expression of interest or for recommendations for this position email: executive@cspv.catholic.edu.au
Catholic Identity and Mission Update
Resources for Lent 2023.
This year, Ash Wednesday is on 22nd February. The following resources may be useful for staff prayer and reflection during Lent.
These resources are intended for adult formation. They can be used by individuals, at a whole staff prayer gathering or in a way that best suits the context of your school community.
Caritas Booklets - Project Compassion 2023.
Caritas has some wonderful resources to be used in the schools to assist students engage in Project Compassion during Lent 2023.
This Project Compassion Fundraising Booklet is more compatible to the needs of students than the parish resource below.
A Project Compassion 2023 Parish booklet that includes checklists to help run Project Compassion in your parish/school along with this year's stories, weekly reflections, prayers of intercession, fundraising guidelines and a list of who to contact for further information.
This may be suitable to use with the staff of your school.
Garratt Lent Calendar 2023.
This year, Garratt Publishing’s Lent Calendar is exploring the places where Jesus did his ministry.
Download the calendar below.
Enhancing Catholic School Identity website.
2022 Stations of The Cross: Renew the Earth Resource - JRS USA.
Access here, this booklet may be suitable for staff prayer each week during Lent.
Lenten Prayers.
This site provides several prayers that may be suitable for staff prayer during the Season of Lent.
The Hand Examen: A prayer for all - The Summit Online.
The hand Examen, is not a prayer that has been formulated particularly for the Season of Lent, though it may be a meaningful way that adults can enter into prayer. View here.
2023 Daily Reflection - Action Calendar to Cultivate Creation Justice.
A calendar that outlines concrete actions for each day during the Lenten journey. It is from an American perspective but could be modified for your context.
Download calendar here.
Mercy International Association: Ash Wednesday Prayer Service.
A prayer service for adults to use on Ash Wednesday from “Mercy World”.
Resources Submitted by Jim Waight.
Family Lent Calendar 2023.
Download this free calendar for practical ideas to help families journey through Lent.
Resource Submitted by Julie Boyd.
Save the Date – SIMON User Conference 8th & 9th of May
SIMON will be holding its User Conference on the 8th and 9th of May at the Uni Hill Conference Center in Bundoora.
The conference sessions and hands-on workshops will provide useful huge value for Principals, Teaching and Learning Staff, Administrators, Wellbeing and Marketing experts.
More details will be made available shortly.
Article submitted by Danny Gruber
Student Wellbeing Team Update
SIMON - Social Behaviour Platform.
The SIMON Social Behaviour Platform is an excellent way of recording, analysing and supporting students' needs around behaviour. The Social Behaviour work desk has a number of new functions addressing individual student needs and whole school systems and structures.
This platform is offered and available to all schools in our Diocese. If you would like to know more please do not hesitate to contact Anne Ruddell.
MTSS Behavour Management Strategies.
We welcome back Dan Petro - Presentation on MTSS towards behaviour. See information attached below.
- Trybooking Link
- Date: 16th of June
- Time: 9.30am- 3.30pm
- Location : Ballarat / Glowrey Room
- Cost: $70
Please note registration closes 9 June.
Wellbeing Leaders Network.
Secondary Wellbeing Leaders Network
- Registration Link
- Date: 30th of March 2023
- Time: 9:30am – 2:30 pm
- Venue: Damascus College, 1412 Geelong Road, Mount Clear
- Participants/Target Audience: School Wellbeing Leaders and members of their school teams (wellbeing coordinator/counsellors/pastoral care workers/psychologists/allied health professionals etc.)
For further information please contact Brooke Nester.
Primary Wellbeing Leaders Network
- Registration Link
- Date: Monday 3rd of April
- Time: 9:30 – 3:00
- Venue: St Alipius, 106 – 108 Victoria Street, Ballarat East
- Cost: Nil
- Participants/Target Audience: School Wellbeing Leaders and members of their school teams (wellbeing coordinator/counsellors/pastoral care workers/psychologists/allied health professionals etc.)
For further information please contact Brooke Nester.
Youth Mental Health First Aid.
Increase your capacity to support student’s 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: 15th & 16th of March
- Cost: $156
- Participants / Target Audience Teachers, school nurses, LSO’s, year level coordinators, administration staff, (anyone in the school community).
For further information contact Brooke Nester
Family and Community Engagement.
An opportunity for you to engage in conversations with Anne Henderson about her new publication "Everyone Wins!".
The attached brochure contains details of these webinars and how to register.
Webinar 1 Spotlight on Children will include reflections of local primary school students in conversation with Anne.
Articles Submitted by Student Wellbeing Team.
Learning and Teaching Update
Dr Selena Fisk, Data Storyteller. Don’t Miss Out!
There are still places for the three Selena Fisk events.
Selena Fisk is a data storyteller, whose work with educators aims to bring data to life assisting in evidence-informed decisions.
The video linked below offers an insight into Selena’s work:
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 learning .
Please note the change in the dates, which have been modified due to the number of bookings:
- Wednesday March 22nd - Mildura (Venue TBC)
- Thursday March 23rd - Horsham Service Centre 6A McLachlan Street (Possibility for online participation)
- Friday March 24th - Ballarat - Mercure Conference Centre, Main Rd. Golden Point
Each day is 9am-3pm.
Registrations will remain open for these dates:
Cost - $100 per person; morning tea and lunch will be provided.
Please contact Teresa Hadden or Mel Willis with any further questions.
Country Education Partnership.
Country Education Partnerships are offering a Professional Development Series through 4 webinars in March from 4-5pm.
The Autumn series will focus on the demands associated with working in the education industry and balancing educators' own health and well-being. Specifically designed by educators, for educators, this season consists of 4 highly interactive sessions.
- Stay informed on the latest industry trends and strategies to enhance your own well-being.
- Learn from experts in the field and discover new ways to navigate the challenges of the education industry.
- Participate in highly interactive sessions that provide participants with the opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback from educational industry experts.
Sign up now and take the next step towards professional growth and well-being.
Please email Samantha Meerbach for further information.
City Country Partnerships Grants Program.
As part of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, the Australian Government is investing $24.6 million in the City-Country Partnerships (CCP) Program to improve school education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
The program supports the establishment of formal partnerships between high-performing metropolitan schools and remote schools with a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to boost outcomes of Indigenous students, particularly in reading, mathematics, attendance and school completion. See further information here.
Find Expression of Interest Form here.
For any questions please contact Andrew Lloyd (Director City Country Partnerships Program | Yadha Muru Foundation) via phone 0410 063 871 or email andrew.lloyd@yadhamuru.org.au
Beginner language classes (online).
It is not too late to register! CECV has commenced offering beginner language maintenance classes in Auslan, French, Indonesian, Italian and Japanese this year.
These classes are intended for Specialist Language Teachers or Teachers and Co Learners teachers who wish to build their confidence with pronunciation.
They will provide opportunities for you to explore basic grammar and main points of difference between English, teach you beginner level interactional skills and to develop cultural understanding.
Classes will be held on Thursday afternoons from 4.30 - 5.30pm. Class dates for Term 1 are 16 March and 30 March. You can still register here.
Foundations of Learning.
In 2022, an enthusiastic group of educators from St James’ Sebastopol, St Alipius Ballarat East, St Michael’s Daylesford, Lumen Christi Delacombe and members of CEB met to form a Community of Practice around the Foundations of Learning.
The group gathered with a common purpose to collectively understand the learning process in relation to neuroscience, cognitive psychology and sociology. Foundations of Learning recognises the modern mainstream school as a complex organisation. It also recognises that learning is a highly complex process.
The group connected fortnightly at the participating schools on a rotational basis, providing an opportunity to witness the impact of this learning in real time.
The 2022 Foundations of Learning group will continue to learn alongside one another and also have an opportunity to be a part of the Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Research, a pilot course being run by The University of Melbourne in 2023.
Testimonials from 2022 participants
“Foundations of Learning, in conjunction with Agile Systems Design, enables educators to form deep understandings about the brain and the neural processes involved in learning; equipping practitioners with the knowledge, skills and confidence to establish rich and dynamic learning environments. A practical and comprehensive approach to education that is transferable to all aspects of the curriculum and focuses primarily on the science of learning. Foundations of Learning supports educators to love what they do and to do it well.”
Kathryn Lynn - St Alipius, Ballarat East
“The Foundations of Learning has been an experience of developing clarity about mental models of learning - linking the concepts from multiple researchers to inform designs for learning. It has been valuable co-learning in making connections between theory and experiences to transform understanding about learning.”
Samantha Meerbach - Senior Education Officer - Learning and Teaching - CEB
Are you interested in Foundations of Learning 2023?
- To commence Term 2, 2023
- FOL will be run at participant host schools on a rotational basis
- 2 full days per term (6 contact days per year) plus asynchronous contact via Foundations Of Learning site
- Further information to follow.
Expressions of interest for Foundations of Learning in 2023 can be addressed to pfahey@sjsebastopol.catholic.edu.au
Mathematics Assessment Interview: DOBCEL Schools’ Hub.
For schools using the MAI, all materials associated with the testing have now been moved from The HIVE to the DOBCEL Schools’ Hub.
To access the MAI materials, you will need to be in your school’s page of the hub, for which you will need a password. If you have not accessed the hub before, please ask your school’s Education Consultant for the password. Moving the MAI resources to a password-protected site means that schools will no longer need to request access to the materials and wait for that to be granted in order to use them.
For assistance with administering the MAI or in analysing the data, please contact your Ed Officer. If you have any issues with accessing the materials via the hub, please email Breeana Wade.
LaTrobe University & The DOBCEL Structured Literacy Project.
The DOBCEL Structured Literacy Project is excited to announce a research partnership with LaTrobe University. While the finer details of this partnership are still being confirmed, we do know that the project leaders will work alongside Professor Pamela Snow and Dr Tanya Serry, of La Trobe University’s SOLAR (Science of Language and Reading) Lab, to evaluate the power of a Structured Literacy approach in improving teacher knowledge and student outcomes.
More detail will be shared with our diocesan schools as further decisions are made.
DOBCEL Structured Literacy Project.
Over the past few weeks, the Structured Literacy Project team has travelled the length of the Diocese, meeting with Level 1 and Level 2 schools. These meetings have been a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the many steps schools have already taken towards enacting an evidence-based approach to Literacy instruction and plan a way forward together.
We have also been able to finalise the levels of support for each of the project schools. These levels are as follows:
This Friday, we will have the first L1 Closure Day, at which St Joseph's Hopetoun, St Mary's Sea Lake and St Mary's Charlton will come together to learn about the Principles and Elements of Structured Literacy and the key characteristics of a Structured Literacy classroom.
Next Tuesday, the first VC Network for the project schools will take place. Together we will learn about the history of reading instruction, examine some key research and reflect on the importance of strategic change management.
Reminder: All SL schools (levels 0-3) have been sent a form to complete that will outline your PL attendance intentions. Please aim to complete this form by the end of this week. Thank you.
From the Heart: Kerry O'Brien in conversation with Rachel Perkins.
As part of their conversation series A Better Future for All, Griffith University will be hosting an in-person and livestream event From the Heart: Kerry O'Brien in conversation with Rachel Perkins on Wednesday 29 March.
Rachel, an Arrernte and Kalkadoon woman, acclaimed filmmaker, producer and advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, will be joining journalist Kerry O’Brien for a candid and powerful exploration of her life in art and advocacy.
Rachel will be discussing the “central role she has taken in the fight for Indigenous constitutional recognition as a key supporter in the creation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart” whilst also providing “real insights to the struggle by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples over generations to be heard in Australia’s corridors of power, leading to the referendum for constitutional recognition of the Voice”.
- Date: Wednesday 29 March 2023
- Time: 6.00 – 7.15p.m.
- Registration: via this link (online is free)
Articles Submitted by Joseph Ewing.
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Catholic Education Ballarat.
- Talent Acquisition Partner – Ballarat Office – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes Monday 13 March)
- Compliance and Risk Support Officer (CARSO) – Ballarat or Horsham Office – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 13 March)
School Vacancies.
- Year 2 Classroom Teacher – Sacred Heart Primary School, Mildura – fixed-term position at 0.6 FTE (closes 14 March)
- Year 6 Classroom Teacher – Sacred Heart Primary School, Mildura – fixed-term position at 0.8 FTE (closes 14 March)
- Communications, Marketing and Engagement Officer – Mercy Regional College, Camperdown – ongoing position at 0.7 FTE (closes 15 March)
- PE Teacher – St Joseph’s College, Mildura – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 17 March)
- Speech Therapist – St Joseph’s College, Mildura – ongoing position at 0.7 FTE (closes 17 March)
- Year 5/6 Teacher – OLHC School, Wendouree – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 17 March)
- Classroom Teacher – St Mary’s School, Donald – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 6 April)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Warracknabeal (closes 23 June)
Article Submitted by Jo Huntley.