Weekly Newsletter #39 - 6 December 2023

Reflection

From the Executive Director

DOBCEL Board Meeting
Yesterday the DOBCEL Board held its final meeting of the year. With another full agenda, Bishop Paul and the Directors worked their way through the following items:

• Reviewing and approving a range of updated Finance policies along with the Student Suspension, Negotiated Transfer and Expulsion policy
• Briefing on the establishment of the DOBCEL School Building Fund and DOBCEL School Scholarship Fund
• Supporting an application to be made to the Australia Taxation Office for DOBCEL to be endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR)
• Reviewing and approving the 2024 Primary and Secondary School Budgets and Service Contribution Charges
• Update on the Digital Re-Imagination project and SIMON
• Update on the transition of the new CECV Board

At this meeting, we recognised our inaugural Chair, Tracey O’Neill, following her retirement from the Board. Bishop Paul spoke about Tracey's commitment and outstanding service to DOBCEL and how well she has led the Board through the transition of governance. The Directors and I also took the opportunity to thank Tracey for her leadership and fierce advocacy for our diocese.

Bishop Paul announced the appointment of the new Chair and Deputy Chair: congratulations are extended to Terry Harney, our current Deputy Chair, who will take on the role of Chair and Dr Berenice Kerr rsm who will take on the Deputy Chair role.

Directors also visited Siena Catholic Primary School in Lucas and Our Lady Help of Christians School in Wendouree to round out their school visits for the year. Thanks are extended to all schools who have hosted a DOBCEL Board visit this year. Bishop Paul and the Directors are looking forward to visiting more schools in 2024.

Capital Funding Announcements
Yesterday Catherin King MP announced that St Augustine’s Parish Primary School, Creswick had received a Federal government grant of $3.3M. St Patrick’s Primary School, Nhill also received a Federal government grant of $2.9M. This is very exciting and welcome news for both communities. You can read the article from today's Courier about this exciting announcement here.

School Visits
Thank you to the following schools who welcomed me over the last week: Our Lady Help of Christians School, Wendouree; St Patrick’s Primary School, Koroit; St John’s Primary School, Dennington and Mercy Regional College, Camperdown.

I look forward to visiting all of our schools again in 2024.

Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat

Images from Board dinner, farewelling Tracey O'Neill and school
visit by Monsignor Glynn and Anne Pekin to OLHC, Wendouree.

Images from funding announcement at St Augustine's, Creswick.

Images from recent school visits to OLHC, Warrnambool and OLHC, Wendouree.

Catholic Diocese of Ballarat Notices

Parent Engagement in Learning at St Mary’s Warracknabeal

On Thursday 30 November, educational consultant Tony Dalton guided parents, Nerrida Holland and fellow Principal Melissa Drum (from St Mary’s Donald) through the process of a Learning Walk. Rather than offering a school tour, Learning Walk allow parents to engage through their questions and focus on learning. The Learning Walk has a structure and a clear protocol to follow to provide families with the opportunity to walk through classrooms and speak to children with set questions to find out about the learning at school.

Parents were very impressed with the process. From their classroom observations and conversations with students they were able to answer: What does learning at St Mary's look like?

- "it is explicit and child-centered"

Learning Walk allows families to see for themselves what is actually happening in the classrooms as well as provides an opportunity for parents to have engaging conversations with their children about their learning. 

Article submitted by Nerrida Holland (Principal at St Mary’s Warracknabeal).

2024 Professional Learning Opportunities Program

For planning purposes please find below a provisional version of the 2024 Professional Learning Opportunities Program.

Please be aware this is not the final document, it will continue to be updated throughout 2024.

Outstanding VCE VM Student Awards (Secondary) - CLOSING MONDAY

Nominations are open for a new category of the Premier’s VCE Awards 2023 which recognises the outstanding achievements of Victoria’s first VCE Vocational Major (VM) students.

SchoolTV DOBCEL Engagement

This session will support initial set-up of your school’s SchoolTV site and provide you with a greater insight into how the SchoolTV site will interface with your school’s webpage and how this is best managed.

Attendees can include:

• Any staff member who has been appointed as an administrator.
• Wellbeing leaders, counsellors, psychologists, Principals, administration staff and marketing/comms staff members.

Session Times and details:
Please find below the scheduled training sessions and links. Attendees can click on the zoom link of the session they wish to attend at the appropriate time.

Article submitted by Tony Perkins.

People and Development Update

The December 2023 edition of Converge International’s Flourish Health and Wellbeing eMag is now available.

Featured Articles:  

• Addressing family conflict through mediation 
• Working in retail over the holiday season 
• Preparing psychologically for the bushfire season 
• Podcast – What is OCD

Also in this edition:  

• How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolution 
• Staying in Shape Over the Festive Season 
• Meditation, Self Care & Loving Kindness 
• Prostate Risk
• Sleep Debt
• International Day of People with a Disability & The Workplace 
• And more!

For more information about the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) visit Converge International website. 

Article submitted by Tania Lund.

Wellbeing Team Update

Reframing Learning and Teaching Environments (ReLATE)

DOBCEL maintains its commitment to engaging all DOBCEL schools in the ReLATE whole school culture change model. Across the initial three years of our engagement, we have seen significant and positive impacts across a range of schools that have improved the learning environment for students and work environment for staff. Across these three years we have also gained valuable insights from schools as to how best to apply this model in DOBCEL schools. Feedback has been gathered in various forms and specific forums have been conducted to help evolve the model for our purposes.

Linked below you will see a letter to school leaders from MacKillop Institute Group Director, Anne Henderson which outlines the specific developments that have been committed to, given the feedback received from schools. The Student Wellbeing Team will continue to support schools currently engaged with MacKillop Institute and work with those yet to engage to determine how engagement with ReLATE will support your school’s Vision and values.

Student Wellbeing Update

End of Year Update and Christmas Blessing

Please click here for the Student Wellbeing Christmas Newsletter, featuring an end of year update and reflection, as well as key dates for 2024.

Catholic Identity and Mission Update

Staff Prayer Resources for Advent 2023

Advent commences on Sunday 3 December. The following resources may assist with staff prayer in your school/college during the Season of Advent.

These can be adapted to best meet the needs of local context and communities. 

Resources submitted by Jim Waight.

Learning and Teaching Update

Engaging Students in their Mathematical Learning

Professional Learning for Leaders of Mathematics and Classroom Teachers Facilitated by Michael Ymer.

Rationale: To impact on teacher practice from planning through to teaching of engaging Mathematical tasks. 

 Focus / Learning Intentions 

• Explore classroom management strategies 
• Identify mathematical tasks which are engaging for ALL students
• Enhance participant’s knowledge of the Mathematical curriculum

Dates

• 13 May – Ballarat 
• 14 May – St. Patrick’s Koroit School Hall 
• 15 May – Horsham 
•  17 May - Mildura 
  

Registration links will be made available soon.

Upcoming Truth Telling in Education webinar
First Peoples' Art and Truth Telling 

Kobi Sainty (Palawa/Bunurong) contemporary artist and Education Officer at the Bunurong Land Council will lead Reconciliation Victoria’s final 2023 Education webinar. Kobi will talk about First Peoples’ art from a cultural expression and cultural safety perspective. 

This webinar will explore themes of: 

• The variety of First People’s art, from traditional to contemporary  
• How art can create and foster cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids in schools and early learning centres. 
• How First Peoples’ art is an important part of Truth Telling in education 
• How to connect and collaborate with Traditional Owners and local First Peoples’ communities 
• The importance of consulting with First Peoples when commissioning art pieces for your educational setting  

Details:

• Date: Thursday 14 December 2023 
• Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm 
• Cost: Free 
• Delivery: online via Zoom 
• Register: via this link 

Opening the Doors Foundation: 
Financial Grants for Aboriginal and  Torres Strait Islander Students 

The Opening the Doors Foundation provides grants to families to assist with the extra costs incurred in the schooling of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary or secondary school students. The 2024 Grant Round is now open, with a closing date of 12 April 2024. For students to commence the 2024 school year with the necessary items, the ideal time to apply is now or before the start of Term 1. 

Full criteria and guidelines are included on the Opening the Doors Foundation website and the Opening the Doors Foundation Application, but the following points may prove helpful for families who are considering applying: 

• The Applicant (child) must be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. 
• The Applicant must be enrolled in a Catholic or Independent educational institution located within the State boundaries of Victoria. 
• The Applicant can only submit one regular grant per year. 
• First time applicants must provide a Confirmation of Aboriginality Certificate, which must be in the child’s name. If a Confirmation Certificate is not obtainable, please contact the Foundation as applicants may be able to submit a Statement of Recognition (Recognition of Aboriginality Form) instead. 
• The Foundation supports the extra costs of school. This does not include 'fees'. 
• Items already purchased cannot be reimbursed. 
• Maximum grant amounts are included in the app. 
• Applications will not be accepted after the closing date - 12 April 2024. 

Pertinent information: 

• Website: Opening the Doors Foundation; Foundation Application Criteria and Guidelines 
• App link: Opening the Doors Foundation Application 
• Phone: 0401 487 414 or 1300 236 356 
• Email: enquiries@openingthedoors.org.au 

Closing date: 12 April 2024 

ILSY 2024 

Founded in contemporary research, evidence and best practice, the Improving Literacy in the Secondary Years (ILSY) program will continue to offer professional learning in approaches to disciplinary literacy. In its fourth year, the program in 2024 will offer three series of workshops facilitated by Professor Larissa McLean Davies, Dr Pauline Thompson and Dr Rob Sbaglia from the University of Melbourne. 

Middle Leaders: 
Participants will engage in a series of workshops, team coaching and an action learning project to build disciplinary literacy practices in their own school setting. Further information and registration details here. 

Whole School Improvement Team: 
The Whole School Improvement Team (WSIT) will involve participants from the ILSY 2021, 2022 and 2023 cohorts and professional learning leaders. The program will assist teams to identify, implement and evaluate evidence-based disciplinary literacy strategies. Further information and registration details here. 

Executive Boost: 
The Executive Boost program has been designed to develop the capabilities of Secondary Principals and Senior Learning Leaders to improve student learning outcomes through a whole school approach to disciplinary literacy. Further information and registration details here. 

Introductory Workshop: The Victorian Mathematics Curriculum V2.0 

During term 1, Primary Leaders of Mathematics and  classroom teachers are invited to engage in introductory workshops on the F - Yr.6 Victorian Mathematics Curriculum. These sessions will be facilitated by Julie Cooper and Teresa Hadden, Primary Education Officers from CEB.  

The content will include: 

• Exploring the structure and introductory documents for the Victorian Mathematics Curriculum V2.0 
• Discover the similarities and differences between V1.0 and V2.0 
• Map out a Scope and Sequence for the year demonstrating the interconnectedness of concepts. 
• Focus on a key mathematical concept in each workshop and create I can statements and assessment ideas from F - Yr.6. This material will then be shared across the Diocese. 

 The format of this professional learning has been trialled and modified based on participant feedback by Teresa Hadden with 3 schools in the Southern Zone during term 4.   

This professional learning is targeted at Primary Leaders of Mathematics and classroom teachers. 

Dates & Venues: 

• 27 Feb: St. Paul’s Mildura  
• 1 March: St. Patrick’s Stawell 
• 4 March: St. Alipius Ballarat East 
• 6 March: St. Pius X Parish Hall Warrnambool West 

Registration details will be shared soon. 

DOBCEL Structured Literacy Project Newsletter: Issue 6

In this final issue for the year, you can read about: 

• Celebrations and Reflections 
• School Information Database 
• Levels and Clusters 
• Our Expanded Team 
• Key Dates and Communication 
• To Do List
• La Trobe University Partnership 

Recommended Reading: Between the Lines - Integrating the Science of Reading with the Science of Behaviour to Improve Reading Outcomes for Australian Children (Stocker, Fox, Swain, Leif, 2023) 

Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community

Pastoral Ministry Office Vacancies

• Bishop's Secretary- Catholic Diocese of Ballarat - part time position (closes 8 December)

School Vacancies  

• Classroom Teacher – Siena Catholic Primary School, Lucas – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 6 December)  
• Graduate Teacher – Loreto College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 6 December)  
• Classroom Teacher – St Augustine’s School, Maryborough – fixed term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 7 December)  
• Classroom Teacher, Full Time / Negotiated Part Time – St Joseph’s School, Penshurst – fixed term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 8 December) 
• Learning Support Officer – St Brigid’s School, Ballan – fixed term position at 0.6 FTE (closes 8 December)  
• Classroom Teacher 2024 – St Augustine’s School, Creswick – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 8 December)   
• Indonesian Teacher – St Augustine’s School, Maryborough – fixed term position at 0.6 FTE (closes 10 December)  
• Learning Support Officer – St Francis Xavier School, Ballarat East – fixed term position at 0.74 FTE (closes 11 December)  
• First Aid/Administration position – St Alipius’ Parish School, Ballarat East – fixed term position at 0.53 FTE (closes 11 December)  
• Classroom Teacher – St Francis Xavier School, Ballarat East – fixed term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 11 December)  
• Teacher of Science and Math – Emmanuel College, Warrnambool – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 12 December)  
• Teacher of Junior Woodwork – Emmanuel College, Warrnambool – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 12 December) 
• Classroom Teacher - Gr 5/6 - Term 2 Leave Replacement Position – St Patrick’s Primary School, Ballarat – fixed term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 12 December)  
• English Teacher - St Patrick’s College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 13 December)  
• Casual Relief Teachers – St Brigid’s School, Ballan (closes 15 December)  
• Casual Relief Teachers – St Alipius’ Parish School, Ballarat East (closes 30 December)  
• Classroom Teacher (Maternity Leave Replacement) – St Michael & John’s School, Horsham – fixed term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 15 February) 

Article submitted by Sarah Hanley.