Weekly Newsletter #22 - 24 July 2024

Reflection

From the Executive Director

Last night I was pleased to join DOBCEL Board Chair Terry Harney and Directors Anne Pekin and Kathleen Donnellon for a Mass to commission the Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA) Board, CEO Professor Elizabeth Labone, and her Executive Team. This was a significant event as the VCEA is now fully-formed as the entity (replacing CECV) representing and advancing the interests of Catholic education authorities at state level. Our own Bishop Paul Bird delivered an excellent homily on the occasion.

Closer to home, our DOBCEL Board will gather next Tuesday and Wednesday with Principal representatives Terrielynn Groves (St Mary’s, Hamilton), Garth Kydd (St James, Sebastopol) and Michelle Hauesler (St Mary Mackillop College, Swan Hill), along with the CEB Directorate team to advance the strategic planning process. We look forward to further exploring the plan when all Principals gather in Horsham during Week 4. 

On behalf of our diocesan education community, I would like to pass on our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to Fr Michael O'Toole, Parish Priest of St Mary's Parish, Colac on his recent Golden Jubilee celebrations as a priest. Fr Michael has been a wonderful supporter and faith leader of numerous Catholic schools in the diocese throughout his priesthood.    

I remind our community of the upcoming Feast Day of arguably the most significant figure in the history of Catholic education in Australia, and our first Saint, Mary MacKillop, on 8 August. Mary began her teaching career in Portland in 1863. Her example of courage, leadership, and dedication to her students through the guiding principles of faith, hope and love, are no less relevant to our work in Catholic schools today. Some resources to help recognise this feast day are available here.

I encourage you to read this week’s stimulus piece examining the importance of creating space to help focus on what works - ‘Is de-implementation the key to supporting staff wellbeing? Transforming Schools to Become Thriving Workplaces.’

With best wishes

Tom Sexton
Executive Director

 

Bishop Paul Bird delivered the homily on the occasion of commissioning the Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA) Board, CEO Professor Elizabeth Labone, and her Executive Team at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne last night.  

'Our Diocesan Community'- latest edition now available

The July edition of “Our Diocesan Community” is now available via https://www.ballarat.catholic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ODC-July-2024-web.pdf   

Please include the link in your school newsletter, social media and/or website posts to help promote the great work happening across our diocesan schools, parishes and agencies. 

A reminder also that if your school community has a good news story to share, please forward articles and photos for publication to odc@ballarat.catholic.org.au

Professional Learning Program

Please click the link below to view the PL calendar 2024.

Religious Education Leaders Conference - 22/23 August

This is a reminder for Religious Education Leaders to register for the upcoming REL Conference.

Could all RELs please register for this conference (including dietary requirements) via the link below by 9 August 2024 - Trybooking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/CQOHS 

The details are:
Venue: Country Plaza Halls Gap, 
141 Grampians Rd, Halls Gap VIC 3381 

Date:     22-23 August 2024.
Focus:     Liturgy

Please book your accommodation directly with Country Plaza on Ph (03) 5356 4344 (The accommodation cost is paid by your school)

Attached is a draft copy of the Agenda for the Conference and this will be finalised closer to the event. Over the two days, there will be three rounds of workshops of a practical nature with regards to Liturgy and Prayer. Prior to the Conference, there will be an opportunity to select and register for preferred workshops.  

Reminder of resources available through 'Australian Catholics' 

St Mary of the Cross's feast day is approaching, and it's time to start preparing at school to celebrate her legacy. As Mary MacKillop, she made significant contributions to Australia and Australian education, founding schools and championing the education of underprivileged children. Let's honour her dedication and spirit by planning meaningful activities and lessons that highlight her impact on our nation's history and the value of education for all. Please enjoy these updated AC+ resources on St Mary MacKillop of the Cross, and this new article Saints in song by Fiona Dyball.

Music in Mission worskhop: Analysing well-known hymns in the classroom to teach theological concepts.
Date: Tuesday, 30 July.
Time: 4.30-5.30pm AEST
Book here.

Deputy and Assistant Principal and Senior Leaders Forum

20 & 21 August

The two-day Forum is open for both primary and secondary Deputy and Assistant Principals and Senior Leaders.

There will be a variety of presenters across the two days with interactive sessions on the school improvement framework, leadership formation (developing psychological safety and empathy) and developing trust to have crucial conversations.

• Time: Day 1 – 10:00 – 4:00pm and Day 2 9:00 -2:00pm
• Date: Tuesday 20 August and Wednesday 21 August
• Location: St Brigid’s College Horsham VCAL room – 97 Robinsons St, Horsham
• Cost: $150 -  includes
  • Day 1 – morning tea, lunch and evening dinner
  • Day 2 - morning tea and lunch
• Try booking registration

Schools will be expected to organise and pay for any necessary travel and accommodation costs of participating staff.

For further information on the forum, please contact Janet Claassen or Fiona Murphy.

People and Development Update

Crucial Conversations – Swan Hill 3 & 4 September 2024

• Time: 9:00-4:00 (both days)
• Location: Swan Hill (Murray Downs Resort, Swan Hill)
• Cost $500 (inclusive of learning materials (3 x books), morning tea and lunch) 
• Try booking registration

Crucial Conversations teaches a model for effective communication, that can be applied to any situation, but particularly difficult or high-stakes situations. It focuses on fostering dialogue, managing emotions, and achieving mutual understanding. The model helps to navigate high-stakes discussions with openness, respect, and skill, enhancing relationships and driving positive outcomes. 

This program is designed for anyone who would like to develop skills in providing effective feedback and fostering open dialogue. The skills can be transferred across a range of situations including providing feedback and fostering open dialogue with colleagues, parents/carers and the community. It is relevant for people working in schools as well as the CEB office. 

Future workshop dates:  

• Crucial Conversations will also be run on 12 & 13 Nov in Ballarat.
• Try booking links will be supplied for bookings soon. 

Any queries, please contact Fiona Murphy on fmurphy@dobcel.catholic.edu.au 

'There Where You Are'- Early Careers Teachers Retreat (Years 1, 2 and 3 and any pre-service teachers.)

 Only 3 spots left !

August 14 and 15

The 2024 Early Career Teacher Retreat in Halls Gap is back in Term 3. The retreat is run on a three-year cycle and this year is titled “There where you are.” The two-day retreat will provide content and experience on –

1. Nurturing your own spirituality
2. Caring for my spirit
3. Making connections with other early career teachers in The Diocese of Ballarat.
4. Why be ecological?
5. Sacred Ground
6. Caring for our common home.

There will be the opportunity to explore nature as a component of the retreat, reflecting on scripture and Tradition in the process.

Click here to view a little more on the retreat.

Additional details:

Wednesday August 14 and Thursday August 15 2024

Timings - August 14 - 9:30 to 4:00pm and August 15 - 9:00 – 1:00pm

Venue – The Country Plaza, Halls Gap, 141 Grampians Rd, Halls Gap VIC 3381

Web link – https://www.countryplazahallsgap.com.au/

Cost – $200 per person

meals provided include –

Day 1 – morning tea, lunch and dinner

Day 2 -  morning tea and take-away lunch.

Try Booking link –

https://www.trybooking.com/CSCEB

Travel and accommodation are to be organised by participants. A limited number of rooms have been reserved for participants to book at the Country Plaza.

Introductory webinar on the Reportable Conduct Scheme -Tuesday 30 July 

Child safety is central to the work we deliver and it is incumbent on each of us to understand our legal responsibilities as we continue to strengthen our culture of child safe schools.

If you're new to the Reportable Conduct Scheme or need a refresher, please consider attending this webinar delivered by the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP).

Webinar details:

Tuesday 30 July, 11am - 12pm

Thursday 12 September, 1pm - 2pm

Go here to Register: https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/resources/information-sessions/#TOC-1

Workplace Gender Equity Act reporting requirements

The Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 requires non-public sector employers with 100 or more employees to submit a report to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (‘WGEA’). 

The reporting period is the same each year, from 1 April (the previous year) to 31 March (the current year).

As part of our governance obligations, DOBCEL successfully submitted our WGEA Report covering all DOBCEL schools on 30 May 2024.

Access the summary report here.

Access the public reports:

Public Questionnaire

Workforce Statistics - Public

Workplace Profile - Public

Please direct and questions or comments or to Fiona Murphy fmurphy@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

Recruitment Best Practice Webinar – August 30th 

This informative session will guide you through the recruitment process, covering off various steps from advertising positions through to appointing someone to a position.

Key topics to be covered include interviewing skills, ensuring a positive candidate experience, legal compliance, and adherence to the VCEA Guideline for Employment of Staff in a Catholic School. This session will ensure you know what is required for a structured, fair, and successful recruitment process. 

Who should attend: Anyone responsible for recruitment activities in schools or the CEB office is encouraged to attend. 

Date: 30 August

Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 

Location: Online 

Cost: Free of charge

Registration via Trybooking: https://www.trybooking.com/CRINC  

For any enquiries about the program, please feel free to contact Sarah Hanley, Talent Acquisition Partner. 

Bullying No Way - National Week of Action (12-16 August)

 The theme for 2024 is 'Everyone belongs'. 

Schools are invited to register via: https://qedgov.eventsair.com/2024-bullying-no-way-week/2024bnw/Site/Register

Registered schools will receive an online toolkit containing lots of resources—including teaching and learning activities, social media and newsletter content, webinars, a podcast, 'Everyone belongs' videos and much more. 

Social Justice Activities Update

Plastic Free July continues 

#PlasticFreeJuly 

To find out more and work through the process of See-Judge-Act method, one of the guiding methods of Catholic Social Teaching (CST), click the link 👉 Plastic Free July 24.07.2024   

🎨 Season of Creation Art Competition is back on for this year! 

Each year Catholic Earthcare runs an art competition for the Season of Creation. The theme of the competition is the theme for the Season of Creation, which this year is ‘Hope and Act With Creation’. Students can create ANYTHING they want aligned to this topic, as long as they can take a photo of it to submit. We ask that teachers register on the behalf of students by emailing the submission, school name, student name and year level to catholicearthcare@caritas.org.au. 

There is a primary and secondary category, with awards presented by the  Bishop of Parramatta Vincent Long, and there is also a people's choice award. Last year we used facebook likes to judge the people's choice, this year we will host the images and the voting on our website and details will be sent out about how to vote once registrations are closed.

The winners will be announced at our convocation later in the year and each winner will receive a voucher to an art supplies store. Entries close September 2 at 9am sharp! If you have any questions, please email Alice Carwardine at Alice.Carwardine@caritas.org.au. 

Upcoming significant Ecological Events:

• July 2024 Plastic Free July: Explore the resources on the Plastic Free July website 

• Friday 26th July 2024 Schools Tree Day: Get Involved As A School - National Tree Day  
• Tuesday 30th July 2024 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons #EndHumanTrafficking: World Day Against Trafficking in Persons | UN   World Day Against Trafficking in Persons | World Vision  Human Trafficking | Caritas  
• Monday 2nd September 2-24 Entries close for the Season of Creation Art Competition 9am sharp! 
• Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th September 2024 The Catholic Earthcare Season of Creation Convocation 2024

Catholic Earthcare is celebrating the Season of Creation this year with a Convocation that will explore how we can ‘Wonder, Weave, and Heal’ Earth and her communities. Click on the link below to find out more and to access the link to the website where you can register. Registration closes Monday 12th August 2024. Note: Cost for the 3 days is $100 BUT if you register a group of 4 or more you get 50% discount! You can also register for just 1 or 2 days and the same discount applies for 4 or more. The Diocesan Hub experience includes Morning Tea & Lunch

Flyer: The Catholic Earthcare Season of Creation Convocation 2024 

Learning and Teaching Update

Improving Literacy in the Secondary Years - Professional Learning

The ILSY professional learning suite uses a disciplinary literacy approach to guide and support secondary teachers and leaders in the Diocese of Ballarat to explicitly and systematically lead school improvement.  Read more

For further details, please contact Julia Petrov, Learning and Teaching Education Officer (Secondary) on jpetrov@dobcel.catholic.edu.au or 0432 499 683. 

Primary Literacy Strategy 

Yesterday an information session was hosted to introduce the FLARE Primary Literacy Strategy for school leaders.  A recording of this session will be made available to all schools later this week.

In the opening weeks of this term, an expression of interest form is being shared with all DOBCEL primary schools. All primary principals will be asked to indicate by Wednesday 28th August whether their school is selecting 'Guided Literacy Improvement' or 'Self-Guided Literacy Improvement' for 2025.

Structured Literacy Project - Level 1A Day Two (Please register ASAP)

Primary Leaders of Learning - Save the date 

• ALL Primary Leaders - (Mathematics, Literacy, Instructional, Curriculum) 
• When: Term 3, Week 4 - Wednesday 7 August, 1:30pm - 3:00pm. 

Please keep your eye out for the full agenda, coming soon. 

Maths Bites - Unpacking The Victorian Mathematics Curriculum V2.0  

Online sessions will take place on:

• Tuesday 30^th July, 2pm - 3pm
• Tuesday 6^th August, 2pm - 3pm
• Tuesday 13^th August, 2pm - 3pm

The content will include:  

• The structure and introductory documents for the Victorian Mathematics Curriculum V2.0
• The similarities and differences between V1.0 and V2.0
• The connections between the Achievement Standard, Content Descriptions and Elaborations
• New reporting requirements
• Mapping a Scope and Sequence for the year demonstrating the interconnectedness of concepts.

Registration Link 

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 (F-10) 

The Victorian Curriculum 2.0 is currently being rolled out. Up to date DOBCEL advice regarding familiarisation and implementation can be accessed here. 

ACER PAT Professional Learning 

ACER is pleased to offer a series of webinars targeted to schools using, or about to use, the PAT Progressive Achievement suite online. Here's the schedule for Term 3.

Term 3 2024 

• Coping, resilience and fortitude: Supporting adolescents in schools [24 July] 
• Understanding and making comparisons using PAT norm data [7 August] 
• Analysing data using ACER's Bands, Group and Student reports (Linear assessments) [17 September] 
• Analysing data using ACER's Data Explorer (Adaptive assessments) [18 September] 

Koorie Big Day Out - 30 August

An aspirational, statewide event promoting university pathways for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students in Years 10 - 12.

A great chance to connect with the Koorie Units of the 9 Universities in Victoria and explore future pathways and careers.

Parents and Carers are invited to attend the Koorie Big Day Out as well.

For any questions please contact VAEAI on (03) 9481 0800 or emailing vaeai@vaeai.org.au

Read more.

Thomas Mayo in Ballarat

Best-selling author and advocate Thomas Mayo speaking to teachers about the power of schools in reconciliation in Ballarat on Monday August 12 at 3.45pm.

Read more.

Reconciliation Victoria Education Webinar 

Now More Than Ever: The Importance for Educators to Rise as Allies with First Nations Peoples

Date: Tuesday 30 July 2024
Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Delivery: Online via Zoom

Cost: Free

Key themes:

• The Uluru Statement from the Heart is still relevant and current in its messaging
• Unpacking the advancement of Treaty in Victoria and the Yoorrook Justice Commission
• How do we be strong allies?
• How do we engage with local Aboriginal organisations and local reconciliation groups?

Registration and further information: via this link. 

Early Career Teachers

All first, second and third year ECTs are invited to attend a two day formation retreat on August 14 and 15th at Country Plaza in Halls Gap. Register HERE

If you are an Early Career Teacher and have not had an opportunity to attend any of the ECT days this year, we have content and resources available online through CANVAS. Register for ECT Canvas access here.

Asia Education Foundation (AEF)  

AEF is designed to support the development of students' and teachers' Intercultural Understanding, Global Citizenship, Global Competence, Asia Literacy and engagement across the region.

AEF offers cross-curricular curriculum resources, international school partnership programs, educator professional learning programs and student programs that connect people across 23 nations in the Asia Pacific.

Upcoming youth programs for Term 3 and 4

• Victorian Emerging Leaders Forum (Junior Secondary) - Years 7 – 8
• Victorian Emerging Leaders Forum (Primary) - Years 5 – 6
• Victorian Global Youth Forums (Two Cohorts) - Year 9

More information: https://www.asiaeducation.edu.au/

NAPLAN FEEDBACK

The VCEA has been asked to provide feedback on the 2024 experience of NAPLAN for the Catholic Education sector.

Whilst schools may have fed information directly back to ACARA, independent quality assurance being conducted by KPMG is now seeking to compile data to assist with continued improvement.

Of particular interest to the quality assurers are the following:

• The execution of the NAPLAN event from school perspectives.
• Key challenges experienced.
• Potential learnings for ACARA.

While the timeline given is short, any relevant information can be shared with Joe Ewing in brief dot points for submission to VCEA prior to 12.00 noon this Friday - jewing@dobcel.catholic.edu.au 

Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community

Principal Vacancies:

• • Principal - St Mary's Primary School Warracknabeal (closes 4 August) 

CEB Office Vacancies

• Speech Pathologist – Warrnambool office preferred, ongoing position at 0.5 FTE (closes 28 July)
• Marketing and Communications Officer – Ballarat office, ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 4 August)

School Vacancies 

• Classroom Teacher (Leadership Positions Available) – Siena Catholic Primary School, Lucas – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 25 July) 
• Mathematics and Science Teacher – Damascus College, Mount Clear – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 26 July)
• Expressions of Interest for all Subject Areas - Marian College, Ararat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 26 July)
• Religious Education and Faith Leader – Marian College, Ararat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 26 July)
• Classroom Teacher - Junior - Leave Replacement Position – St Patrick’s Primary School, Ballarat – fixed term position at 0.4 FTE (closes 28 July)
• Primary Teacher Mildura/Red Cliffs – St Joseph’s School, Red Cliffs – fixed term position at 0.4 FTE (closes 29 July)
• Head of Senior School – St Patrick’s College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 31 July)
• 2025 Teacher Expressions of Interest- Trinity College, Colac – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 5 August)
• 2025 Teacher Expressions of Interest – Emmanuel College, Warrnambool – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 7 August)
• Teachers – St Mary MacKillop College, Swan Hill – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 7 August)  
• Teacher- Monivae College, Hamilton – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 12 August)
• Casual Relief Teachers – St Columba’s School, Ballarat North (closes 30 August) 
• Teacher Expressions of Interest for 2025 – St Joseph’s School, Red Cliffs – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 31 August)
• Casual Relief Teachers – St Aloysius’ School, Redan (closes 30 November) 

Article submitted by Sarah Hanley.