Weekly Newsletter #22 - 28 Jul 2021
Reflection
Waste not want not
When they were satisfied, Jesus told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ John 6:12
In a world where we produce enough food to feed everyone, up to 811 million people — more than 10 per cent of the world's population — still go to bed hungry each night. 272 million people are already or are at risk of becoming acutely food-insecure due to the aggravating effect of the COVID-19 crisis.
While there are many fronts on which this battle is faced, Sunday’s gospel reading highlights a Western issue that can be easily avoided, wastefulness. Wasting food is the equivalent of depriving others of the food they need to survive. “Wasted food is food taken away from others,” Aloysius John, Caritas Internationalis’ secretary general noted.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, each year Australians waste around 7.3 million tonnes of food – this wastage equals about 300kg per person or one in five bags of groceries. Food waste accounts for more than five per cent of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.
The World Wildlife Federation suggest the following simple ways each of us can reduce food waste
- Check the fridge before you shop and only buy what you need.
- Plan your meals. It saves time, money and reduces food waste.
- Check date labels and know the difference between:
- ‘Use by’- food has to go.
- ‘Best before’- food is at its best and can be eaten after this date as long as it has been stored correctly.
- ‘Display until’- a stock control message for retailers.
- Use leftovers and be creative with your next meal.
- Ask for smaller portions or a ‘family bag’ when eating out.
These can be our simple “loaves and fishes” that can ensure that nothing may be lost.
From the Executive Director
Having spoken with some principals this morning, the simple joy of students coming back to school and reconnecting with their classmates has been a delight to see as we resume onsite learning today. I understand and have great empathy for our students, staff and families switching from remote learning and then back to on-site learning in our schools yet again. For some there will be a natural inclination to try and catch up on the “missed learning”; for me, as I have said when coming out of previous lockdowns:
Recently, a number of news articles have appeared expressing concern about academic performance of students and how they may have fallen behind during remote learning.
I believe in the resilience of our students, their families and our staff.
I believe during a pandemic, safety, love, hope and mental wellbeing should be our priority, and indeed if we don’t attend to these basic human requirements very little learning can take place. So let us remember that for our precious students to flourish, safety, love, hope and mental wellbeing are foundational to any academic growth.
I thank our school communities for ensuring these fundamentals have been prioritised for our students and for doing so much under very difficult circumstances.
Pasi Sahlsberg writes in his recent article Five things not to do when schools re-open:
“.... children will not be ready to learn and thrive unless they feel physically and emotionally safe and protected at school. I agree with colleagues who have called for giving top priority to child and teacher wellbeing in schools before expecting that they will be able to return to business-as-usual in school learning.”
Leadership Gathering
Our Leadership Gathering scheduled for Horsham next Thursday and Friday will now become an online event. The Design Team (Narelle Gallagher, Jo-Anne Bond, Ben van de Camp, Matt Byrne, John Meneely, Sandra Harvey and myself), have modified the agenda to spread it over Thursday and Friday mornings. The key purpose of this virtual meeting is to brief, consult and to receive feedback from principals on a number of crucial matters. The agenda will be circulated tomorrow in an Executive Director’s Update.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
Catholic Identity and Mission Updates
REL Conference – Faith in the Future Update
Due to the latest set of COVID restrictions, the REL Conference scheduled for Thursday 19 and Friday 20 August at the Mercure, Ballarat, will migrate to a virtual conference on the Friday only with a virtual twilight opening presentation delivered by Rev Dr Kevin Lenehan on Thursday evening, open to all members of diocesan school communities. More information to come.
Consent Education – Professional Development Opportunity
CEB has engaged the services of Jenny Walsh to facilitate some professional development on Consent Education. Jenny was the Relationships and Sexuality Education Consultant that worked with CEB to write the Fullness of Life Scope and Sequence. Jenny is a leading consultant who has worked with various education bodies across Australia to prepare Relationships and Sexuality Education resources. The focus will be on how ‘Fullness of Life’ includes and addresses consent education along with research informed approaches to be used in this area.
This PD will be delivered online on Wednesday 25 August starting at 4:00pm for one hour. For further details please see the attached flyer.
New Online Course: Introduction to the Mass
The Religious Education team have created another online learning course, Introduction to the Mass, which can be accessed in the PD catalogue through our Canvas learning management system.
This course is aimed at F – 12 teachers gaining accreditation or maintaining accreditation to teach in a Catholic school and counts for 2.5 hours accreditation.
Details of the course are available here.
System Improvement Updates
Learning and Teaching
Cancellation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day Mass and PowerPoint Presentation
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day online Mass which was planned for 4 August has been cancelled due to uncertainty surrounding the current state-wide lockdown and potential future restrictions.
Sherry Balcombe (Manager, Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria) and the CECV Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Working Party members would like to thank school and parish communities for the generous support provided for the various activities associated with the day. Sherry wanted people to know that it was with a heavy heart that she announced the cancellation and that she is very grateful to all who worked hard and contributed to the forming of the mass. Consequently, we will not be proceeding with the PowerPoint Presentation.
If schools are acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, this activity resource might provide some ideas for your students/staff.
Introduction from Meagan Becker, New EAL Officer
My name is Meagan, the new EAL officer for CEB. I am taking this opportunity to both introduce myself and also remind schools that the Professional Learning webinars run by CECV on the new EAL curriculum start up again this week – Thursday 29 July. These are a great opportunity to not only learn about the content of the curriculum, but provide an in depth look at how to use the curriculum and whole school practices and processes that support EAL learners. If you haven’t yet attended any of the webinars, now is a good time to jump on board.
The Leading in EAL webinar will be held tomorrow, Thursday 29 July, from 3.45 – 4.45pm and can be accessed via this Zoom link.
All previous webinars can be viewed on the CEVN website (under Curriculum).
Please do not hesitate to get in touch at mbecker@dobcel.catholic.edu.au or on 0416 232 696 if you have any queries regarding the webinars or support of EAL students in your school. I am here to help and am really looking forward to meeting with schools.
Butterfly Body Bright – A New Primary School Body Image Program
Butterfly Body Bright is an evidence-informed program that helps school staff to address the modifiable risk and protective factors associated with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating through the six Body Bright themes (Brave, Resilient, Inclusive, Grateful, Happy and Thoughtful). These themes aim to empower students to be BRIGHT in their bodies so they can thrive socially, emotionally and academically.
The Body Bright curriculum is mapped to the Health and Physical Education curriculum and provides Australian primary schools and their communities with all they need to help foster a healthy body image in children.
Free Civics and Citizenship Professional Learning Program
Register now for a free short course to enhance teacher capacity in implementing Victorian Curriculum Civics and Citizenship Levels 3–10. We are pleased to be conducting the course in collaboration with Monash University and Australian Catholic University.
The course is open to Victorian primary and secondary school teachers from government, Catholic and independent schools. Teams of teachers from the same school are encouraged to participate. Participants will have the option of either completing the 8 modules of this course entirely online or via blended learning.
One day of CRT is provided for every participant, which will be payable to the school upon the teacher’s completion of the program. Travel costs of regional teachers attending face-to-face workshops may be reimbursed on application. At the end of the program, participants will be awarded a Digital Badge as a record of their achievement.
Course dates: 6 September to 15 October 2021 (10 hours’ total time commitment); course places are strictly limited. For more information visit the VCAA web page.
Mathematics Association of Victoria (MAV) Professional Learning
The Mathematics Association of Victoria (MAV) offers lots of benefits to all educators of Mathematics. You may wish to consider an individual or school subscription for newsletters, connection to research, invitations to Professional Learning and more…
This link will connect you with professional learning opportunities for educators of F-10 learning – quite a number of them are FREE.
This link is for the Poke the Bear flyer. Poke the Bear is a professional learning opportunity to hear from disruptors, change makers and classroom practitioners who are shaking things up and moving beyond conventional structures to engage learners and challenge the traditional models of mathematics teaching and learning.
People and Development Updates
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
DOBCEL’s Employee Assistant Program (EAP) is available to all staff providing access to complimentary, confidential counselling services. To make an appointment, or for more information, contact Converge International on 1300 687 327 or via their website.
Wellbeing Webinar Series –
Converge International
We are pleased to share details of a series of online seminars in partnership with our Employee Assist Provider (EAP) provider, Converge International. The seminars, commencing this Friday, will provide different insights and strategies for supporting our own and others’ wellbeing.
Hosted by Converge International on GoToWebinar, these sessions are open to all Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education employees. A recording of each session will be published and available for 30 days following each session. See details here.
For more information please contact Ange Jones, Assistant Director People and Development (Catholic Education Ballarat) via email or on 0400 831 040.
Session details
The full schedule, details, booking links and handouts are available here.
- Session 1: Dealing with Uncertainty
Friday 30 July, 4.00 – 5.00pm
Register for Session 1
- Session 2: Compassion Burnout
Monday 2 August, 4.00 – 5.00pm
Register for Session 2
- Session 3: Building Resilience
Monday 9 August, 4.00 – 5.00pm
Register for Session 3
- Session 4: Thriving Under Pressure
Monday 16 August, 4.00 – 5.00pm
Register for Session 4
- Session 5: Recovering from Difficult Situations
Monday 23 August, 4.00 – 5.00pm
Register for Session 5
- Session 6: Looking After Yourself and Others Post-Crisis
Tuesday 31 August, 4.00 – 5.00pm
Register for Session 6
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
CEB Leadership Vacancy
- Education Consultant: Secondary – to commence Term 1 January 2022 (closes 16 August)
Principal Vacancies
- Principal – Lumen Christi Primary School Delacombe, to commence Term 1 January 2022 (closes 16 August)
- Principal – St Mary’s Primary School Donald, to commence Term 1 January 2022 (closes 16 August)
- Principal – St Joseph’s Primary School Penshurst, to commence Term 1 January 2022 (closes 16 August)
School Vacancies
- Music/Performing Arts Teacher – St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballarat East – ongoing position at 0.8 FTE (closes 30 July)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Columba’s School, Ballarat North (closes 31 July)
- Director of Library Services – Loreto College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 2 August)
- Learning Diversity Leader – Loreto College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 2 August)
- Religious Education Teacher – St Joseph’s College, Mildura – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 6 August)
- Classroom Teacher – St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballarat East – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 6 August)
- Learning Support Officer – St James’ School, Sebastopol – part-time position (closes 6 August)
- Secondary Teachers – Mercy Regional College, Camperdown – fixed-term positions at between 0.2 to 1.0 FTE (closes 6 August)
- Finance Officer – Mercy Regional College, Camperdown – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 6 August)
- F-1-2 Teacher – St Joseph’s Primary School, Penshurst – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE to commence Term 4 2021 (closes 6 August)
- Positions of Leadership & Teaching – Emmanuel College, Warrnambool – fixed-term positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 8 August)
- Classroom Teachers – St Columba’s School, Ballarat North – fixed-term positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 9 August)
- Deputy Principal – Trinity College, Colac – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 16 August)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballarat East (closes 10 December)
From Other Dioceses and Beyond
Family Week – 8-14 August
Family Week will be celebrated from 8-14 August in Catholic school communities. The week recognises the significant contribution of families, and coincides with the Feast Day of Australia’s First Saint, Mary MacKillop, who was a passionate educator and advocate for children and families.
The following resources are available for schools:
- Suggested Activities & Events
- Newsletter Message template
- 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)
Read yesterday’s media release about Family Week.
Australian Catholic Education News
The latest edition of Australian Catholic Education News (22 July) is now available to read.
Catholic School Parents Victoria (CSPV) Invitation for Parents and Carers
CSVP has new opportunities available for parents and carers to contribute their perspective to education research and improvement for various education projects that are happening right now. See details here.
Diocesan Liturgical Commission Membership
The Ballarat Diocesan Liturgical Commission assists the Bishop with diocesan liturgies, liturgical matters of the diocese and provides formation to assist the growth of good liturgical practices. Membership of the Commission includes representation from priests, religious and laity throughout the diocese.
The Commission is currently seeking new members from all areas of the diocese. Membership is for an initial term of three (3) years with the option of two further terms (3 years per term). The Commission meets five times per year in Ballarat. Video linking facilities are available for meetings. All members of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission must hold a current Working with Children check or VIT (Victorian Institute of Teaching) registration.
Expressions of interest can be forwarded to liturgy@ballarat.catholic.org.au.
‘Imperfect Leadership’ Webinar Series –Steve Munby of The Brown Collective
Too often we hear talks or read books about perfect leaders; super-hero leaders who are hugely successful and are exceptionally good at what they do. It is supposed to inspire us, but it actually has the reverse effect. In this webinar Steve will argue that the concept that we need to be good at all aspects of leadership is not only unrealistic, it is bad for the mental and physical well-being of leaders. The more we seek to become the perfect leader, the more likely we are to make ourselves ill and to disempower those around us. In contrast, imperfect leaders have a deep self-awareness, they know their strengths and weaknesses and they are good at asking for help. They value their teams, they distribute leadership responsibility and they build trust amongst their colleagues. They lead with power and with love.
The webinar will be held on Wednesday 18 August from 5-6pm. See further details here.
Recruitment Opportunities in Other Dioceses
The following recruitment opportunities are currently available in other dioceses: