Weekly Newsletter #13 - 12 May 2021

Reflection

From the Executive Director

On Monday night the DOBCEL Board hosted a dinner for Central Zone Principals, School Advisory Councils and Parish Priests. Despite the challenging weather conditions, we had a good night. Tracey O’Neill, DOBCEL Board Chair, spoke about the Board’s strong desire to be a Board that is visible, engaging and enabling for our DOBCEL schools. Each Director spoke about their background, skills that they bring to the Board and passion for Catholic Education. I am very confident that all in attendance would have left thinking that our DOBCEL schools were not only in safe hands, but with an understanding that their Board Directors really care about their individual school and how as a system of schools we can all work together as partners in Catholic Education, open to God’s presence, to pursue fullness of life for all. It was a great sign of partnership to have been joined by our colleagues from St Patrick’s College, Loreto College, Damascus College and St Francis Xavier Primary School - the latter two schools will join DOBCEL in 2022.

I am looking forward to finally meeting all of our Principals and Parish Priests at the one time and in the one place this Thursday and Friday at our Faith in the Future: Pastor and Principal Forum. Not only will we have the privilege of Fr David Ranson leading us over these two days, we will be able to meet up with one another as a whole group; for some of us for the first time, for others for the first time in over 12 months.

Yesterday Michael Trainor sent an email direct to principals inviting feedback in regard to the upcoming Victorian Catholic Education Multi-Enterprise Agreement negotiations. I am very keen for principals within our diocese to provide feedback to Michael to ensure we understand the issues and opportunities experienced by our principals. 

Principal Announcements

Gerard Raven – Appointment
I am delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Gerard Raven as Principal of St Brigid’s College, Horsham commencing in Term 3, 2021, after his current appointment as Interim Principal (read official announcement).

Gerard is a highly qualified and experienced educational leader, having held a number of leadership positions throughout his career at Ouyen Secondary College, Catholic College Bendigo (now Catherine McAuley College), The Cathedral College, Rockhampton and Sacred Heart College, Geelong.

Please join me in wishing Gerard every blessing for the future in his role as Principal of St Brigid’s College, Horsham. 

Eugene Dalton – Resignation
It is with sadness that I advise that Mr Eugene Dalton has announced his resignation from the Principal role at Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School, Warrnambool East (read official announcement).

Eugene has been Principal of OLHC since 2004 and has been a highly valued member of our Ballarat diocesan education community for over 40 years. Please join me in thanking Eugene for his significant contribution at OLHC, Warrnambool in addition to the other diocesan schools where he has served as Principal, Vice Principal and Teacher.

Catholic Education Ballarat will now commence a recruitment campaign for a new Principal with an anticipated commencement date of January 2022. During the recruitment process Mr Stephen Madden will continue to act as Interim Principal.

Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat

Annual Report to the School Community Update

Please note that due to the issues that the new online platform for the Annual Report to the School Community has been experiencing, the CECV has extended the 2020 Annual Report to the School Community due date to Friday 11 June, 2021.

CEB Updates

Asbestos Audit 2020/2021 

As part of CEB’s continuous effort to assist schools in the identification and management of asbestos we are pleased to announce that after hundreds of hours work and hundreds of samples taken from schools sites that all Asbestos Audits have now been completed with Audits and Management Plans issued to all participating schools and CEB Service Centres across the Diocese. The final rollout of hard copy Asbestos Registers to enable schools to manage identified Asbestos and to be physically available to contractors is still continuing but is expected to  be completed by the end of the month.

Catholic Education Ballarat would like to thank all participating schools for their support of this centralised service and for their cooperation in working with CEB and Environmental Health Solutions (EHS) to achieve the required compliance. The feedback that was received by CEB from EHS in relation to working with our schools was fantastic and to quote an email from one of the Auditors, Rob “I do have to say that everyone in the schools have been absolutely amazing. It has been a pleasure”.

We thank you all again and should you have any further questions relating to Asbestos please contact Penelope Irish, CEB Properties and Facilities Advisor. 

New DOBCEL Directory and CEB Organisational Chart

An updated version of the DOBCEL Directory (published today, 12 May) and the CEB Organisational Chart (published 28 April) are now available to download.

New CEB Resource Links page

The new CEB Resource Links page provides quick and easy access to DOBCEL and CEB systems and websites from one place.

As shown below, access the page from SIMON by clicking on the hamburger menu on the top right, then selecting CEB Resource Links from the menu (click on the images to enlarge them).

Reminder: National Reconciliation Week Resources 2021

Reconciliation Australia’s theme for 2021, More than a Word. Reconciliation Takes Action, urges the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action.

Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians - as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

National Reconciliation Week will take place  from 27 May - 3 June.

Schools are encouraged to use this collection of resources to assist with professional learning and planning learning experiences and activities.

Reminder: Co-Creating an Educational Landscape

An invitation to participate in this new project with colleagues across the diocese

Co-creating an educational landscape for the diocese of Ballarat is an invitation to participate in a process of reflection and dialogue; an opportunity to learn with and from each other as we ‘.... take a step further and never be satisfied with conventional things.’ (Pope Francis, 2013). And as one principal colleague commented on the opportunity to use this tool:

“We see how this process could enable us to reflect, review and create strategic direction through professional inquiry – it reminds us to take the time to reflect on some simple but important questions.”

Curious about these questions?

• Why this? Where did this come from?
• What is this project?
• How will this happen?
• Why might we be interested?
• What does Pope Francis have to say?
• What are school colleagues saying about it?
• When will this happen?
• How do we register to find out more and to participate?
  

Find out more about this exciting opportunity to learn from others across the diocese, and register here to participate.

200 Years of Catholic Education Updates

Reminder: RSVP for 200 Years of Catholic Education Eucharist in Ballarat

Could all schools who are planning to send representatives to attend the 200 Years of Catholic Education Eucharist Celebration in Ballarat on Monday 24 May please RSVP to Dr Susan Crowe ASAP if they have not already.

The DOBCEL Board is inviting every school in the diocese to send a representative group of students to attend the Mass for the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians. Due to COVID restrictions, the Cathedral can accommodate only 300 students and teachers, therefore we are suggesting five student representatives and one teacher from each school.

It is understood that this Mass is complementary to local celebrations planned for this day and  for many schools this may mean substantial travel, if you wish to offer your places to a school with greater availability, please feel free to do so – however, if you could inform Dr Susan Crowe of your generosity, this would be appreciated.

Request for Photos and Footage of Local 200 Year Celebrations

Is your school holding a celebration of 200 years of Catholic Education? We are compiling a gallery of local celebrations across the diocese to share with our school communities and beyond. The footage and videos will also be shared with NCEC for possible use in a national compilation. 

Submissions Guidelines

• Make sure DOBCEL and NCEC has consent to publish the images/footage you are submitting 
• Upload your photos or footage into this google drive -or- iPhone and iPad users: share your files with enewman@dobcel.catholic.edu.au
• Upload the highest quality files you can (largest filesize = best quality)
• Clearly label each file with your school name and location
• Submit your files by 5pm on Thursday 27 May

For enquiries please contact Emma Newman.

Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community

CEB Vacancies

Education Officer Learning and Teaching
2-year Secondment or Fixed-term role, Full-time position
Location: Based in the CEB Warrnambool Office
Closes: 9am on Monday 24 May

Psychologist
Permanent, Full-time position
Location: Ballarat
Closes: 9am on Monday 24 May

School Vacancies

School vacancies are listed here.

Secondment Opportunities at St Mary’s Primary School, Donald 

St Mary's Primary School, Donald has two exciting opportunities for an experienced Teacher looking for either a temporary or permanent rural teaching experience.

• Position 1: Fixed Term Secondment for Term 3 2021, Full Time Teacher (Long Service Leave position)
• Position 2: Fixed Term Secondment until January 2022, Full Time Teacher (Parental Leave position)

Applications close Friday 28 May, 9am. See further details here.

From Other Dioceses and Beyond

Reminder: Recontextualising Pedagogy National Conference

The Recontextualising Pedagogy National Conference will be held on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 November at the Catholic Leadership Centre in Melbourne. 

Presented in association with Australian ECSI Professional Learning Consortium, this conference offers an opportunity to showcase new learning and ongoing research into recontextualising pedagogies exploring four areas:

• Leadership
• Student agency
• Teacher professional learning
• Teacher practice

Educators from all spheres of the Catholic school sector are invited to register now. See further information here.

Expressions of Interest Invited
Expressions of interest are invited from researchers, leaders and school practitioners to lead workshops in the following areas:

• Leading in the ECSI Space
• Student Agency and Recontextualisation
• Teacher professional learning
• Teacher practice for recontextualisation

Applications close on 30 July 2021. See further information here.

Principal Positions in Sandhurst Catholic Schools

Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd is currently seeking applicants for the position of Principal at the following schools for the commencement of the 2022 school year:

• St Kilian’s Primary School, Bendigo
• St John’s Primary School, Euroa
• St Therese’s Primary School, Kennington
• St Joseph’s Primary School, Rochester
• Our Lady’s Primary School, Wangaratta
• St Patrick’s Primary School, Wangaratta
• St Anne’s College, Kialla
  
• Galen Catholic College, Wangaratta
  

Applications close at Monday 31 May, 4pm, and the commencement date is January 2022. See further details here. 

Principal Positions in Sale Catholic Schools

Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd is seeking suitably qualified and experienced personnel for the following Principal positions:

• St Michael’s Primary School, Berwick
• St Vincent de Paul Primary School, Morwell
• St Joseph’s Primary School, Warragul

Applications close Wednesday 19 May, 4pm. See further details here.