Weekly Newsletter #20 - 14 Jul 2021
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Reflection
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From the Executive Director
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Catholic Identity and Mission Updates
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System Improvement Updates
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People and Development Updates
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Business Services Updates
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200 Years of Catholic Education Updates
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Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
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From Around the Diocese
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From Other Diocese and Beyond
Reflection
Take Nothing for the Journey
Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts… Mark 6:7-8
And you said:
“Take nothing for the journey.”
What did you mean?
Trust or more than trust?
Did you perhaps imply that we can’t wait
Until we have all the possible things we need?
That we can’t postpone “doing”
Until we are positive of our talents?
That we can’t hold off our commitment
Until we are absolutely sure
We won’t make a mistake?
I think of all the excuses and reasons
We can give for not serving and giving:
No time, no talent, no knowledge,
No energy, no assured results.
You say, “Take nothing.
Don’t worry about your inadequacies.
I will provide for you.
Go! Just go! Go with my power.
Risk the road, risk the work.
Go! I will be with you
What else do you need?”
Joyce Rupp
From the Executive Director
Welcome back to Term 3. I hope you all have had a good restful break, although I do know that some have been caught up travelling interstate and have had to test and isolate until negative, or for 14 days in some cases. No doubt we will continue to have COVID challenges for the foreseeable future.
I’m looking forward to continuing my school visits in Term 3. I will need to catch up with some Central Zone schools that were postponed last term due to COVID and then I will head back out to the Southern and Northern zones.
Last week all CEB staff met over three days at Damascus College’s new and superb Events Centre. These were busy days, where we covered many topics including: strategic goal setting for 2022, discussions and planning in relation to pedagogy, NAIDOC week reflection and information, individual team meetings, Wellbeing review update and a thorough briefing and information session on the ReLATE program. A number of these topics will be raised at the week 4 Leadership Gathering in Horsham for information and feedback from principals. The Design Team will meet tomorrow to map out our days at Horsham.
Last term we were able to fill a number of long standing vacancies. We were pleased to officially welcome the following new staff at our CEB Staff meeting last week:
Left-Right:
- Eugene Dalton – Education Consultant – Southern Zone
(Replacing Lee Schlooz while Lee is on Long Service Leave in Term 3) - Mary Ann Delima – Payroll Officer
- Patrice Rickard – Psychologist – Northern Zone
- Brooke Nester – Education Officer: Wellbeing Secondary (Diocesan)
- Pictured with Tom Sexton, Executive Director
- Kelly Pails – Visiting Teacher – Central Zone
- Jo Huntley – HR Advisor
- Paul Jans – Assistant Director: Business Services
Sally Anderson – Speech Pathologist (absent)
Review of the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd
Archbishop Peter Comensoli has sent this communiqué regarding the appointment of the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd (CECV) Review Panel to the directors of religious institute and ministerial public juridic person (RI/MPJP) education authorities, parish priests and school principals in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
Leadership Gathering – 5 and 6 August
Registrations are now open for the Term 3 Diocesan Leadership Gathering to be held in Horsham next month. Please register here by Friday 23 July to secure your spot.
Bernie Dowling
Our condolences to the extended Dowling family on the recent passing of Bernie Dowling, father of Cathy Prunty (Damascus College staff member). Bernie served in both the Catholic education system and the State education system, and was one of the first Lay Principals of the modern era (60’s) in the Ballarat Diocese. He served at St Patrick’s School, Koroit and Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School, Warrnambool East, and is fondly remembered for his ‘hobby’ of miniature trains with trains running from room to room! Please keep Cathy and her extended family in your prayers and thoughts at this time.
Organisational Chart and Directory
A new version of the Organisational Chart is now available, and a new version of the Directory will follow in the coming weeks.
Are New Staff Starting at your School in Term 3?
If your school has any new staff starting in Term 3, please contact Emma Newman to add their email address to the Weekly Newsletter mailing list.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
Catholic Identity and Mission Updates
Faith in the Future – Religious Education Leaders Conference Update
The final details for the Faith in the Future – Religious Education Leaders Conference are now available. The conference will be held on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 August in Ballarat, and will feature four keynote and workshop speakers:
- Rev Dr Kevin Lenehan – Master, Catholic Theological College
- Prof Mary Coloe pbvm – Professor, Yarra Theological Union (Biblical Studies)
- Dr Emmanuel Nathan – National Head of the School of Theology at the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, Australian Catholic University
- Rev Andrew Hayes – Ararat and Stawell Parish Priest; Director and Deputy Chair of Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL)
Registrations close on Tuesday 27 July – see further details here.
Recontextualising Pedagogy National Conference Workshops – Final Call
Recontextualising Pedagogy National Conference final call for workshops. A vibrant religious education is vital for the future of Catholic schools and has wider ethical and cultural impacts that need to be more readily explored and acknowledged. This conference will be an important way of furthering that discussion by showcasing successes and challenges through the workshops. Please don’t be shy – download the flyer and consider participating!
System Improvement Updates
Annual Report to School Community 2020
Thank you for your perseverance in using the new online model for the ARSC. All school reports have now been successfully uploaded to CEVN via EduDocs, and CECV has lodged the 2020 Annual Reports to the School Community with the VRQA for publishing on the State Register.
The Annual Report to the School Community 2020 (ARSC) should now be uploaded to the school website immediately. As part of compliance for CECV and Commonwealth Accountability Requirements “the school's annual report is made publicly available within six months of the end of the year…”.
Any feedback regarding the use of this model will be gratefully accepted by Susan Crowe to take to the upcoming meeting to review the new EduDocs tool for reporting ARSC.
Learning and Teaching Updates
New EAL Education Officer
We welcome Meagan Becker, CEB English as an Additional Language Education Officer, who has commenced work this week. Meagan has worked in a similar role within the government system and is really looking forward to partnering with our schools in their work with EAL students.
She is based in the Warrnambool office and will be working 2 days per week on Monday and Tuesday.
Meagan can be contacted by email mbecker@dobcel.catholic.edu.au or by phone on 0416 232 696.
Primary School Languages Information Pack Now Available
The CEB F – 6 Primary School Languages Information Pack is a digital resource designed for Principals, Leadership teams and school staff to provide information to school communities about the teaching of Languages in the Ballarat Diocese. The Languages Pack can be downloaded from The Hive.
Mathematics Online Interview (MOI) Information session
The Insight Assessment Platform is an Education State initiative aimed at helping teachers assess the progress of all learners and support more targeted teaching practices.
The Platform supports high-quality assessment practices and provides teachers with specific information to target the learning needs of students through its comprehensive data analytics and instrument reporting capabilities. The Mathematics section of this portal contains The Mathematics Online Interview (MOI) which is the same as the Mathematics Assessment Interview (MAI) and The Fractions and Decimals Test.
You are invited to attend an online information session facilitated by The Insight Team on Monday 19 July from 4–5pm. If you are interested in attending individually or with a team, click here to register and record any initial questions you would like addressed.
Introducing the Canvas Professional Learning Catalogue of Self-Paced Courses
The professional learning catalogue of self-paced courses within Canvas is a small but growing collection of professional learning opportunities from CEB. This video explains the process of using this new feature within Canvas and will be included in the introduction to Canvas short course which can be found on your dashboard. Be sure to check out this great new online learning space at hive.ceob.edu.au/lms
Reminder: High Ground Q&A Session
CECV invites school staff to watch the Australian film High Ground and attend an online Q&A session with members from the crew/cast on Tuesday 27 July from 3.30pm - 4.45pm. Visit The HIVE for further information and for details on how to register. Registrations close on Friday 23 July.
People and Development Updates
July Flourish and Health eMag
The July edition of Flourish Health and Wellbeing eMag is now available. In this issue:
- Growth mindset and how we can grow it
- Diabetes awareness and risks
- The impact of languishing and how to identify it
- Pick positive - the pursuit of a happy and satisfying life
- Recipe for lemon-thyme chicken
- ... and more
See details on Converge's Employee Assist Program (EAP).
Safeguarding and Standards
Updated Mandatory Reporting eLearning Module
As advised in the CECV Circular (09 July 2021), an updated version of the eLearning module ‘Protecting Children – Mandatory Reporting and Other Obligations’ is now available.
All school and CEB staff employed in the Diocese of Ballarat are required to complete the eLearning module each year, including those who are mandated and those who are not mandated.
Some school and CEB staff will be required to complete the module before the end of the 2021 school year. This includes staff who commenced in Semester 2, 2021 and those who have not completed the Mandatory Reporting eLearning Module in 2021.
The eLearning module can be accessed through the Department of Education and Training (DET) Information Sharing and MARAM Online Learning System. Staff who already have an account with the DET’s online learning system should use their existing details to log in. Staff without an account can sign up by going to the online learning system homepage.
The previous eLearning module housed on ELMO Learning was disabled on 1 July 2021.
Schools and CEB must keep local records to track staff completion of the module. A copy of the certificate of completion should be submitted to the principal or delegated school representative. CEB staff should submit their certificate to Tim O’Farrell.
Contact Tim O’Farrell (CEB) on 0457 808 134 or tofarrell@dobcel.catholic.edu.au for enquiries.
Business Services Updates
Planning and Infrastructure
MacKillop/Glowrey Room Usage
The attached form has been developed with the St Patrick’s Cathedral Parish for all users of the MacKillop/Glowrey Rooms and St Patrick’s Hall and Kitchen.
Paper copies of the forms are available in the hire spaces and are required to be completed each time any of the rooms are utilised.
When departing the space, any forms that have no issues can be left in the dropbox provided, however please return any forms where there is an issue such as room configuration, cleaning requirements, any maintenance etc, to Penelope Irish, CEB Property and Facilities Advisor.
Reminder: Portable Buildings
As part of CEB’s planning for 2022 we are currently in the process of:
- Auditing current placements of DOBCEL portable buildings
- Accessing school portable allocation needs for 2022
For schools who have not yet completed the Survey, please complete the 2022 Application for Placement of DOBCEL Portable Buildings by Friday 24 July.
If you have any questions relating to this please contact Penelope Irish (CEB Property and Facility Advisor) on 0429 473 351 or via email.
IT and Business Systems
ICT Staffing – Term 3
In Term 3 Haiden McLachlan from the ICT Support Team will be on leave on Tuesdays. Schools are requested to be mindful of this when contacting him in relation to the follow-up and completion of ICT requests.
200 Years of Catholic Education Updates
Reminder: Family Week – Celebrating 200 years of Catholic School families
8- 14 August 2021
*Prayer cards now available - see below
Parents and carers are the primary educators of their children and are crucial partners in each student’s learning journey. Family Week is an opportunity for Catholic school communities to celebrate the contribution of families during our bicentenary celebrations.
Family Week recognises the significant contribution families have made to the foundation, growth and continuity of Catholic schools in Australia over 200 years.
Family Week will be held on 8-14 August, which coincides with the Feast Day of Australia’s First Saint, Mary MacKillop, who was a passionate educator and advocate for children and families.
This is meant to be a local school celebration and schools may choose a totally different activity, for example: a Family Mass, a Family Assembly for the whole school or by Year group, or a Family Picnic. Or, a school might decide to simply send out the Family Prayer card to all families or use one of the resources provided below.
Schools may also choose to celebrate the contribution of families at a time/date that better suits them.
- Suggested Activities and Events
- Newsletter Message template (Word document)
- Draw your family colouring page
- St Mary MacKillop colouring page (source Catholic Education Western Australia)
- Family Week Prayer Card (generic option or customisable Word option)
Please note all files are saved in the 200 Years Branding Folder – Family Week Materials, and can also be accessed via the 200 Years website Resource page.
Faith in the Future Commemorative Magazine
The second edition of ‘Faith in the Future’ commemorative magazine is now available and highlights stories and coverage of the Bicentenary of Catholic education in Australia, including:
- National Mass for Bicentenary of Catholic education
- Saint Mary MacKillop’s contribution to Australian Catholic education
- Behind the scenes: Students raise their voices
- Highlights of bicentenary celebrations across Australia
- Historical: The first religious orders to establish Catholic schools in Australia continued
- Extracts from Not Forgotten: Australian Catholic Educators 1820-2020 and more…
Congratulations to Mercy Regional College, Camperdown; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Primary School, Merbein; and St Alipius Parish School, Ballarat East for being included in the magazine.
Federal Parliament Marks the Bicentenary of Catholic Education
On Wednesday 23 June, Federal Members of Parliament jointly supported a private member’s motion to acknowledge 200 years of Catholic education in Australia, which marks the anniversary of the first official Catholic school opened on Hunter Street in Parramatta in October 1820. Read the full article here.
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Principal Vacancy
- Principal – St Joseph’s Primary School Penshurst, to commence Term 1 January 2022 (closes 16 August)
School Vacancies
- Allied Health Teacher/Trainer – Damascus College, Ballarat – 0.4 FTE fixed-term position (closes 14 July)
- Deputy Principal: Learning Diversity/Learning Enhancement – St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballarat – 1.0 FTE (closes 23 July)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Columba’s School, Ballarat North (closes 31 July)
- Religious Education Teacher – St Joseph’s College, Mildura – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 6 August)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballarat East (closes 10 December)
From Around the Diocese
Saint Paul VI Parish, Wimmera-Mallee
On 1 July, Bishop Paul decreed the establishment of the new Saint Paul VI Parish, Wimmera-Mallee. The new parish covers the area of the former parishes of Hopetoun, Horsham, Nhill and Warracknabeal and will include the DOBCEL schools:
- St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Hopetoun
- St Patrick’s Primary School, Nhill
- St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Warracknabeal
- Ss Michael and John’s Primary School, Horsham
- St Brigid’s College, Horsham
Monsignor Glynn Murphy and Fr Jim McKay have been serving in these parishes and they will continue their service in the new parish.
From Other Diocese and Beyond
Resources for World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly – 25 July
“I am with you always” (Mt 28:20) is the theme chosen by Pope Francis for this inaugural commemoration. Resources provided by Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life to assist in the celebration of this day, are available from the Diocesan website.
Recruitment Opportunities in Other Dioceses
The following recruitment opportunities are currently available in other dioceses:
Online Safety Webinars for Parents and Carers – eSafety Commissioner
eSafety’s parent guide to online sexual harassment and image-based abuse
Free webinar for parents and carers of secondary school students
1 in 3 young women and 1 in 5 young men have experienced online sexual harassment. When young people experience this type of online harassment and abuse it can have serious impacts. This webinar is designed for parents and young people to attend together to learn how to report and where to go for support.
eSafety’s parent guide to popular apps
Free webinar for parents and carers of primary and secondary school students
Understand the risks when using apps like Tik Tok, Snap Chat, YouTube and Instagram. This webinar also covers strategies for staying safer on social media and how to report if something goes wrong.
Visit esafety.gov.au for more information on parent webinars and to register.
Apple Term 3 Virtual Activities
- iPad in the Early Years Classroom
Drawing with iPad – Thursday 19 August
Music with iPad – Thursday 26 August - Engaging Primary Learners with iPad
Literacy with iPad – Thursday 29 July
Numbers with iPad – Thursday 5 August - Reimagining Learning for Today’s World
Infuse Creativity into Literature with iPad – Monday 16 August
Cultivate Inquiry in History with iPad – Tuesday 17 August
Engage Science Learners with iPad – Wednesday 18 August
Festival of Learning
In its second year, the Festival of Learning is a free virtual conference driven by community, learning and wellness. At the core of this festival are Apple Distinguished Educators (ADEs) –innovative educators who transform what is possible in the classroom using iPad and Mac.
- Festival of Learning Playground – Thursday 15 July, 10am
- Apple Teacher Meetup – Thursday 15 July, 5pm to 6pm
- Introducing Apple Teacher Portfolio – Friday 16 July, 1pm
Technical Sessions
- Introduction to Deploying and Managing iPads – Wednesday 4 August, 3:45pm (Vic Only)
- Deploying Apple in Education – Thursday 19 August, 11am
- What's New for IT in Education? – Wednesday 1 September, 11am
Resources
Learning Opportunity at ACU
ACU will offer a new postgraduate unit and professional learning seminar THLS601: Eucharist for the first time as an online weekend intensive: 7/8 August, 28/29 August. See further information about the Eucharist unit and the Professional Learning Seminar.
The unit is part of the ongoing rollout of ACU’s new Master of Theological Studies (Liturgy).CSSV Mission Inspired Leadership Program 2021
The Mission Inspired Leadership program is a professional development opportunity for senior leaders (Board members, CEOs, senior/executive managers and emerging leaders) in the Catholic social services sector and other affiliated organisations within health and education.
It is designed for busy people so it is set up as four 1.5 hour workshops over four months. A mix of practical knowledge, conceptual challenge, and reflective practice, the program is a chance to spend a few hours hearing from experienced, relevant and highly skilled facilitators. It is a space to consider, share and encourage each other in the mission that all our organisations are a part of.
This year each of these sessions will be run online via Zoom, with an additional face-to-face ‘cocktail’ networking event in Melbourne for local participants in late November. See further details and registrations here.
Australian Catholic Men’s Gathering 2021
As an initiative of the Australian Catholic Bishops, the National Catholic Men’s Gathering aims to inspire and encourage all men with a vision for personal discipleship, service and mission in the family, parish/diocese and the world. This online program hopes to reinforce that it is important to gather as men in the faith environment of the Church and be challenged to ensure the Gospel is alive in our homes, parishes/dioceses and our communities.
In this Year of St Joseph, the National Catholic Men’s Gathering is again being offered as a free event for registered participants. The 2021 program will focus on St Joseph and will include a pre-recorded introductory session, three pre-recorded sessions and a final commissioning, all available from Saturday 31 July. Read about this year’s speakers here.
“Mission: one heart many voices” Virtual Conference
Inspired by Jesus, this conference will focus on themes of encounter on the margins, inclusion, governance and synodality and challenge you to consider contemporary Mission in light of Pope Francis’ teaching, witness and vision of liminal leadership in mission. The Conference is from September 1-3, 2021 and is being convened by Catholic Religious Australia in conjunction with Catholic Mission. An opportunity not to be missed. See further details here. Discount for registrations prior to August 1.