Weekly Newsletter #7 - 15 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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Principal Inductions - March 30 & 31
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Diocesan Leadership Awards Nominations Open - 2023
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Catholic Education Update
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Holy Week & Easter Season Resources
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Business Services Update
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People and Development Update
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CRT Primary School Program
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Student Wellbeing Team Update
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Save the Date – SIMON User Conference 8th & 9th of May
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Learning and Teaching Update
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Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Reflection
National Close the Gap Day
Tomorrow, 16th March is National Close the Gap Day. The following prayer speaks deeply about this day and its significance to Australia.
Creator God,
We thank you for this land of Australia. We thank you for our First Nations People who you placed as the original custodians and stewards of this precious land. We pray that as we begin to acknowledge the truth of past hurt it is the start of a deep healing in our nation.
We pray that the gap in health outcomes between First Australianscand other Australians will be closed. We pray for all health professionals - doctors, nurses, carers, dentists, administration staff in health facilities - may these health professionals be filled with compassion, understanding, and love as they see their frontline role in helping to Close the Gap. We pray Australia will Close The Gap!
We pray for greater cultural understanding and improved access to health services. Show us how we can each, individually, be a part of making this a reality. Teach us how to love each other and journey together in this process of reconciliation and true friendship.
We thank you for the First Australian Elders past and present who have journeyed with their communities through much sickness, hardship, and grief. Fill them afresh with your strength and wisdom and courage.
We pray that we may always be the agents of your healing, in Jesus name.
Amen.
Adapted from Dr Maleika Selwyn
From the Executive Director
Catholic Education Week Awards Dinner
The annual CEW Awards Dinner will be taking place on 26 May 2023 at Damascus College. Schools who have staff going into their 30th year of service with Catholic Education, will receive an email asking them to confirm details. If a school has not received an email by 9am Thursday (16 March), please make contact with Kerrie Zammit.
The Award nomination forms were made available last week and I encourage as many schools as possible to look within your staff and nominate those that you believe fit the three different categories of Partnership Award, Catholic Leadership Award and Fullness of Life Award. Nominations are due 4pm 16 March. Please use this link.
I am also asking schools to nominate a student or group of students that may wish to provide background vocal and/or musical entertainment for when guests arrive on the evening. Please forward a video of the student/s performing, along with their names and year levels. Contact will be made, via the school, early Term 2 to confirm which performers have been selected.
I am looking forward to celebrating Catholic Education Week as a Diocese with you all.
Catholic Diocese Leadership Program
I had the pleasure of meeting the 30 participants across the Ballarat, Sandhurst and Wagga Wagga Dioceses who participated in the CDLP at Cammeray Waters in Woodend last week. This 12 month course focuses on developing leadership capabilities in aspiring and middle leaders and is a testament to the partnership across the Ballarat, Sandhurst and Wagga Wagga Dioceses who combine forces to enhance system leadership through this program.
Participants now move into a coaching phase and will come together again in July.
Commissioning of Steven Mifsud
On Friday, the Principal of Damascus College Mount Clear was officially commissioned in front of the school community. My thanks to DOBCEL Board Directors Tracey O’Neill and Sr Berenice Kerr, Deputy Director: Catholic Education Matthew Byrne and Secondary Consultant Tim O’Farrell for attending and taking part in the commissioning of Steven.
Cyber Security Briefing by the Australian Signals Directorate
The DOBCEL Board takes its responsibilities for the safety of children and young people extremely seriously and supports all our schools in each local context. To ensure that the Directors and CEB are kept abreast of cyber security issues, earlier today we were privileged to hear from Stephanie Crowe, First Assistant Director General, Cyber Security Resilience, Australian Cyber Security Centre, Australian Signals Directorate.
Stephanie spoke to the group and gave insights on best practice cyber security management and strategies in an educational setting. It was a very informative session. Our cyber security within CEB has significantly improved over the past 12 months under Damian Foster’s leadership and we will continue to work on this.
We have also been working on ways to improve the cyber security in DOBCEL schools. Our next two big projects for DOBCEL schools will be to:
- To provide a managed security suite for servers and eligible staff devices
- Significantly improve the backup and recovery of school data. This project will also reduce the workload and equipment required in each of our DOBCEL schools.
Further details below in the Business Services Update section.
NAPLAN
This week is the start of a busy time for our schools as students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 undertake the annual NAPLAN testing regime. I wish these students and staff all the best.
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
2023 Principal Appointments
For our final introductions of the 2023 Principal appointments, we introduce Tim Bourke and Janet Cain.
Principal Inductions - March 30 & 31
For Principals in their first three years of principalship, the scheduled Induction session will take place on March 30th and 31stat the Red Lion Hotel in Ballarat.
The focus of the professional learning is on leading from a Catholic perspective, specifically social action and culture. Principals are encouraged to book accommodation. You will receive an invitation and agenda this week.
Diocesan Leadership Awards Nominations Open - 2023
NOMINATIONS CLOSE TOMORROW MARCH 16 !!!
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.
Article Submitted by Fiona Murphy.
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.
Holy Week & Easter Season Resources
The following resources may be helpful for staff prayer during Holy Week and the coming Easter Season. Next week there will be a further resource for staff to use during the Easter Season leading up to Pentecost.
Catholic Agency for Overseas Development - Holy Week Prayers.
A collection of Holy Week prayers from CAFOD.
Holy Week Prayers
A Prayer/Reflection for Good Friday.
This resource refers to a Church space but it could take place in a variety of settings.
Good Friday Prayer Around the Cross
JRS - Stations of the Cross.
A guide for prayer and reflection to accompany Jesus on his journey as we pray for renewal of our earth and for those forced to flee from its destruction.
Stations of the Cross focusing on climate change and the impacts on the world
The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross is a traditional way of praying during Lent. We pray this familiar prayer to be with Jesus Christ who walked this journey, carrying the Cross, the instrument of his death, out of love and commitment to us.
Way of the Cross
CHA - Easter Reflections.
The Catholic Health Association in the United States produced these reflections in 2022. They may be useful for staff prayer and reflection during the Easter Season.
Easter Reflections
Diocese of Sandhurst - Leaflets.
Each year The Diocese of Sandhurst creates leaflets to assist prayer and reflection during Lent/Easter. The Following two leaflets are for Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday 2023.
Ignatian Sprituality - Reflection.
A reflection on Holy Week from Ignatian Spirituality.
How to Do Holy Week
The Great Triduum of the Church Begins.
This resource was developed to be used during the pandemic. It provides a good structure for a staff prayer for Holy Thursday.
Holy Thursday
Easter Sunday.
This is an excellent prayer for staff to celebrate Easter Sunday.
An Easter Sunday Reflection
Jesuit Resources - Easter Prayers.
A list of prayers that may be suitable for use in your context during the Easter Season. Please personalise them for your setting.
Easter Prayers
Resources Submitted by Jim Waight.
Business Services Update
Cyber Security Initiative.
As part of DOBCEL’s Cyber Security Initiative and in partnership with our security vendor SOPHOS, we will be offering all primary schools a Managed Security Suite for your servers and eligible staff devices.
The security suite provided by DOBCEL IT comes with an array of protective features including:
- Antivirus
- Anti-malware
- Ransomware protection
- Application control
- Web protection
- Intruder prevention
This will assist in protecting your school's digital assets from the constantly shifting and growing cyber threat landscape.
Having an active and managed antivirus is essential in the online education landscape and we believe that this is a necessity in securing your school's digital assets. While the antivirus software will be centrally managed, your school's nominated IT support staff will have access to the system, enabling flexibility in day-to-day management.
We are confident that this Cyber Security Initiative will greatly support your school and IT team in providing peace of mind that your systems and devices remain secure.
Costs for this initiative will be covered by DOBCEL. We will be providing more detail of this program in the coming weeks. In the interim, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Centralised Backup Services.
Consistent, secure and redundant data backup is of critical importance for business continuity in the event of an interruption event, however it can often be assumed that backups are working effectively, and that data is validated. To strengthen the backup posture within DOBCEL we are pleased to announce a centralised backup service for all primary schools.
With increased bandwidth now available from the recent roll out of the Edge Network, we are now able to offer a managed, offsite backup solution for schools. This allows schools to back up their server systems to a hosted solution at DOBCEL's Ballarat office which is also replicated in a Sydney data warehouse. This will enable unlimited retention of backups for the next three years under the service contract. This service will be managed by DOBCEL IT team, with costs covered through the ICT budget.
A significant benefit of using an offsite managed backup solution is the removal of the burden for schools to undertake the backup process. With the advent of newer monitoring technology, we can ensure that backups are both completed and validated. This will provide schools with confidence that data is secure and managed by a professional team. This will allow you to focus on other aspects of your school's operations, while we take care of your backup needs.
We will be providing more details of this initiative in the coming weeks. In the interim, please do not hesitate to contact Help Desk if you have any queries.
People and Development Update
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Resources.
Please click on the link below and complete the attached form if you would like delivery of materials to your schools, including brochures and/or wallet or business cards (print and digital) to be arranged.
Article Submitted by Tania Lund.
CRT Primary School Program
The CRT Primary Schools 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.
Student Wellbeing Team Update
Out-of-Home Care Data Collection.
As part of the Out-of-Home Care Education Commitment, biannual reporting is undertaken to monitor students’ educational progress and engagement.
Principals of Catholic schools that had students in statutory OoHC enrolled during Semester 2, 2022 (11 July – 20 December) will receive an email from Australian Survey Research (ASR) by Tuesday 14 March 2023 requesting they complete an online report by Friday 24 March 2023.
Principals are asked to:
- complete the online report for students in statutory OoHC enrolled during Semester 2, 2022 by Friday 24 March 2023.
- contact ASR on 03 9557 4211 or oohc@aussurveys.com. if you do not receive an email to report on a student in statutory OoHC enrolled at your school during Semester 2, 2022.
- notify relevant school staff, including the designated OoHC teacher, of the Semester 2, 2022 data collection process.
The online report will be open from Tuesday 14 March to Friday 24 March 2023 and schools must complete the report for each student listed by Friday 24 March 2023.
For general enquiries please contact Ms Liz McIntyre on 03 4344 4350 or email.
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.
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.
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.
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 insight and value for Principals, Teaching and Learning Staff, Administrators, Wellbeing and Marketing experts.
More details will be made available shortly.
Article submitted by Danny Gruber
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 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 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.
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
Principals.
- OLHC Parish Primary School, Murtoa – to commence Term 3 or by negotiation (closes 31 March)
- St Augustine’s Parish Primary School, Creswick – to commence Term 3 or by negotiation (closes 17 April) – advertising to commence Saturday 18 March
- Siena Catholic Primary School, Lucas – to commence Term 4 (closes 24 April)
Catholic Education Ballarat.
- Talent Acquisition Partner – Ballarat Office – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes Monday 31 March)
School Vacancies.
- 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)
- Risk and Compliance Specialist – Damascus College, Mt Clear – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 22 March)
- Learning Support Officer (Generalist plus extensive needs support) – Damascus College, Mt Clear – fixed-term position at 0.89 FTE (closes 22 March)
- Director of Marketing and Development – Loreto College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 27 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.