Weekly Newsletter #17 - 9 Jun 2021
Reflection
The Divine Dance
Recently the Church celebrated Trinity Sunday which recognizes a central tenet in Christian thinking – that of one God in three persons. The doctrine of the Trinity took centuries to develop and is often represented in such static models as the shamrock (thanks St Patrick!) or triangular algorithms that posits what God is or is not. It was eastern Christianity that best captured the dynamic nature of the trinitarian relationship using a theatrical term perichoresis—circle dance—to describe the foundational quality of God’s character: relationship and communion.
The spiritual writer Richard Rohr elaborates on this dynamism in his book The Divine Dance:
Trinity is saying, “In the beginning is the relationship.” When we start with God as relationship, we begin the spiritual journey on a very different foundation. This foundation is not static but continually evolving and creating new forms of communion and interdependence.
God is not the dancer but the dance itself! God is much more a dynamic verb than a static noun. God is constant flow. You don’t even need to understand it intellectually or theologically to participate in the flow of God. You are already there. Within your heart, body, and mind is an implanted flow toward life, goodness, love, communion, and connection. “Sin” is quite simply any resistance to that flow.
God For Us, we call You Father,
God Alongside Us, we call You Jesus,
God Within Us, we call You Holy Spirit.
You are the Eternal Mystery
That enables, enfolds, and enlivens all things,
Even us, and even me.
Every name falls short of your Goodness and Greatness.
We can only see who You are in what is.
We ask for such perfect seeing.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. Amen.
From the Executive Director
As a result of the Acting Premier’s COVID press conference this morning, a COVID Update went out to principals earlier today and we are expecting the updated School Operations Guide to come out tomorrow. As always, I am grateful for all the staff in our schools and at CEB for being able to get on with our core work in a changing world.
At this week’s CECV Board meeting we discussed the NCEC presentation to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference where the NCEC outlined its three Strategic Priorities:
Priority 1: Enliven faith formation and religious education
Priority 2: Support the continual improvement of educational outcomes for all students
Priority 3: Respond to the needs of families through strong advocacy for recurrent and capital funding, legislation and policy.
Other matters of note included the review of the CECV, terms of reference for this review have been finalised, the review panel membership is being finalised and I expect this review to be underway soon.
Prayers and Condolences for Marg McDonald
Marg McDonald’s mother Doris passed away last Friday with her family by her side, at the age of 96. Due to COVID restrictions, a private funeral will be held on Friday 11 June at 10.30am at Ss Michael and John Catholic Church, Horsham, and will be livestreamed via the Church's Facebook page. Please keep Marg and her family in your prayers and thoughts at this time.
Updated Directory and Organisational Chart
An updated Directory and Organisational Chart are now available on our website.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
System Improvement Updates
Learning and Teaching
The HIVE Facebook page
The HIVE now has a Facebook presence and you are all invited to follow the page. Please visit us on Facebook and press LIKE to keep up with the latest news on The HIVE Blog.
Save the Date: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day Mass
The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria invites all Victorian Catholic schools to join Archbishop Comensoli in celebrating National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day by participating in an online Mass. The Mass will be held at 11am on Wednesday 4 August at the AMCV Chapel with further details to be announced soon. This year’s theme is “Proud in culture, strong in spirit” – see further details on National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day.
Save the Date: High Ground Movie and Q&A Panel (Professional Learning)
The CECV Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Working Party are currently organising a Q&A panel to take place after school on Tuesday 27 July. The panel will consist of members of High Ground (2021) which revolves around events that took place during the Australian Frontier Wars and the complex relationship that developed between two of the film’s protagonists. School staff are invited to watch the movie and participate in the online session. More details including registration will be disseminated shortly but please contact Jeanette Morris if you have any queries in the meantime.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Competition
The CECV Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Working Party invite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Victorian Catholic schools to finish a design for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan. Entries close on Friday 18 June at 4.00pm – see flyer for details.
Student Wellbeing
Wellbeing Staffing Update
As notified previously, CEB Psychologist Lucia Bongiorno will conclude her time at CEB on Friday 16 July. After an initial recruitment process to replace Lucia proved unsuccessful, a second round of advertising will now be initiated.
Expressions of Interest for ReLATE 2022
Reframing the Learning and Teaching Environment
Within ReLATE, wellbeing is understood as an essential pre-condition for quality learning and teaching. Safe, predictable and supportive learning environments are created and maintained in classrooms where students are not just known, but deeply understood. School leaders and staff are supported both on their professional learning and development journey and in their wellbeing.
You are invited to join Ben Sacco, National Implementation Manager (ReLATE) from MacKillop Family Services, who will speak with Ben van de Camp, Principal of St John’s Primary School, Dennington and Stacey Atkins, Deputy Principal of St Pius X Parish School, Warrnambool, about their ReLATE journey and answer any questions you may have about the ReLATE model.
Please feel free to come and join us at one or both sessions:
- Friday 18 June, 9:30-10:30am – use this Zoom link to join
- Tuesday 22 June, 2:00-3:00pm – use this Zoom link to join
Business Services Update
Compliance and Risk Management
CEB Systems Operational Workshops – HINT and Risk Register
A reminder that there is still one workshop available for HINT and Risk Register tomorrow, Thursday 10 June at 9:30-10.30am – use this WebEx link to join.
As part of any roll-out of a new system or process, we like to know that those within Catholic Education Ballarat can become proficient with the tools they use in their daily roles to make their efforts easier. We have recently released two platforms that will indeed do this. There is the opportunity for our risk and compliance personnel, along with school administration team members and those who have a hand in reporting mechanisms, including our principals, to take part in an operational workshop to cover-off on the following platforms.
The workshops will show you how to use the following:
- HINT – DOBCEL’s own Hazard and Incident Notification Tool for documenting, investigating and addressing mitigation factors to the harm of personnel within our school communities and operational offices.
- Risk Register – DOBCEL’s own platform for rating and addressing levels of risk within the educational sector with a view to mitigation and eradication – be aware of possible harms and dangers.
At the workshops we will work through demonstrations of the two platforms and attempt to answer any questions as a panel, as they arise. The workshops will be recorded for those interested participants who are unable to attend to access at their convenience for future viewing.
The following training videos will also assist in the implementation of the programs:
- HINT Tool Presentation (video)
- SIMON Risk Register Tutorial (video)
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Principal Vacancies
- Principal – St Joseph’s Primary School Red Cliffs, to commence Term 1 January 2022
(closes 28 June) - Principal – St Joseph’s Primary School Penshurst, to commence Term 1 January 2022
(closes 5 July)
CEB Vacancies
- Education Consultant – Mildura, Horsham, or Swan Hill office location – 1.0 FTE and 5-year contract (closes 18 June)
- Psychologist – Ballarat office location, to commence Term 3 2021 – 1.0 FTE and ongoing position (closes 28 June)
- Education Officers – Learning and Teaching – 2 positions: Term 3 and 4 2021 LSL replacement position/ongoing position from Term 1 2022 – both 1.0 FTE (closes 28 June)
School Vacancies
- IT Network Administrator – St Brigid’s College, Horsham – 1.0 FTE ongoing position (closes 11 June)
- Executive Officer – Emmanuel College, Warrnambool – contract position at 0.4 FTE (closes 18 June)
- Classroom Teacher – Maternity Replacement – St Columba’s School, Ballarat North – 1.0 FTE contract position (closes 12 July)
- Timetable and SIMON Administrator – St Joseph’s College, Mildura – ongoing position at 0.8 FTE (closes 12 July)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Columba’s School, Ballarat North (closes 31 July)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Francis Xavier School, Ballarat East (closes 10 December)
From Around the Diocese
Math Olympics at Horsham College
This term, the Western Trinity Network – St Joseph’s School, Coleraine, Sacred Heart Primary School, Casterton and St Malachy’s School, Edenhope – has coordinated their first online Math Extension Group, where students meet once a week with a teacher, via Google Meet, to work on extended mathematical concepts. To foster their engagement in Maths, we gave the students the opportunity to be a part of the Maths Olympic event, hosted by Horsham College.
The students participated with approximately 280 Grade 6 students from schools within the Horsham area. A variety of problem solving, puzzles and relay activities were put forward to our students to compete in and solve.
The activities were designed to give every student the opportunity to experience success in Mathematics. Students used teamwork, interpersonal, logical, visual, spatial and kinesthetic skills to solve problems and score points for their teams. The overall winning team for the day came from our Western Trinity cohort of students.
It was a credit to all the staff and students from Horsham College who organised the event, and to all the Grade 6 students who participated with such engagement, motivation and fun.
Kate Plush
Leader of Learning and Teaching
From Other Dioceses and Beyond
Mary MacKillop Today’s School’s Feast Day
Schools are invited to participate in Mary MacKillop Today’s fundraising campaign to celebrate Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day in August. Education was close to Mary’s heart and she knew its power to lift communities out of poverty. The funds raised from this campaign will go to the Mobile Kindy in Fiji to give vulnerable children in Fiji access to high quality and safe early childhood education.
During the month of August, schools are encouraged to host their own fundraising event alongside an assembly or Mass celebrating Saint Mary MacKillop, for example, a dress up day, market stall, fun run or any other idea to bring the school together in support of a good cause.
See further details and register your school.
New Australian Catholics website, Education Hub and online Teachers’ Networking Forum
With seven dioceses and 400 schools around Australia already subscribed, the Australian Catholics archive of digital resources is fast becoming the “go to” place to access resources for religious education, faith and mission formation.
To coincide with the 200th anniversary of Catholic education in Australia, the online Australian Catholics Education Hub and Teachers’ Forum - an exciting new interactive platform for current and new Australian Catholics AC+ subscribers, within a new and improved Australian Catholics website, has been launched. See further information.
Catholic Encyclopedia Bible Now Available
The new 2021 edition of the Holy Bible CEV Catholic Edition with Encyclopedia, written specifically for Catholic students in years 5-10, is now available for order. See sample pages and place your order.
Composing for a Church at Prayer Public Lecture
A public lecture on the topic of ‘Composing for a Church at Prayer’ by Fr J Michael Joncas will take place via Zoom on Monday 19 July at 10am. The event is sponsored by the ACU Centre for Liturgy. See further details and register your attendance.
Catholic Theological College Opportunties
Online Open Day Information Sessions
Catholic Theological College is offering free online Open Day Information Sessions “Getting Started in Theology” in June for anyone interested in beginning or extending their study journey. There are three sessions to choose from (they will all offer the same information) featuring Dr Rosemary Canavan, CTC Academic Dean, and Rev Dr Phil Gleeson SDB, Acting Postgraduate Coordinator. Drs Canavan and Gleeson will outline how to get started and how to plan study that matches the ministry and professional development needs of potential students. There will also be opportunities to ask questions. Sessions will be held on:
- Tuesday 15 June at 7.00pm – register here
- Thursday 17 June at 10.00am – register here
- Tuesday 22 June 7.00pm – register here
Online intensive study opportunities
- Christian Faith: Inter-religious Dialogue in Australia
Synchronous sessions online via Zoom over six Saturdays: 24, 31 July, 7 August, 4 September, 9 and 16 October, 10.00am – 12.00noon and 2.00pm – 4.00pm. - Liturgical Studies
- Liturgical and Sacramental Theology - Monday, Wednesday, Friday for 2 weeks commencing 28 June
- Liturgical Leadership in a Ministry Context - for three weekends commencing 31 July
- Baptism, Confirmation and Penance: 12 Wednesday afternoon classes commencing 28 July
- Marriage and Order: 12 Thursday morning classes commencing 29 July
Contact the Academic Records Office for enrolment information and appointments, email registrar@ctc.edu.au or phone 9412 3309.
Seeking a Statue of St Joseph the Worker
Penola College, Broadmeadows Junior campus is seeking a statue of St Joseph the Worker for its Chapel, standing approximately 60cm in height. Costs associated with delivery of the statue will be covered by the College. For more information contact Melissa Fry via email or phone 9908 9038.
Recruitment Opportunities in Other Dioceses
The following dioceses currently have recruitment opportunities available: