THE WAY (Term 2 Week 5 - 25 May 2020)
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Entrusting Australia to Mary Help of Christians
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National Reconciliation Week
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National Reconciliation Week Prayer Resource
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Sport Update (current as at Thursday 21 May)
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Accreditation News - Proficient Teacher Applications
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Olympics Unleashed Online!
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Re-commencement Confirmation of Work Placement for VET students
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WHS in Focus - Staff Psychological Support
Bishop Greg invites you to pray the prayer of Entrustment (attached) on Sunday, 24 May and Monday, 25 May.
Wednesday, 27 May marks the commencement of National Reconciliation Week (NRW) in Australia. The term Reconciliation is applied in various forms. The dictionary defines reconciliation as an action of making one view or belief compatible with another. Accountants use it to ensure two sets of accounting records are in agreement. For Catholics, Reconciliation is a Sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ in his love and mercy to offer us forgiveness for the times we have sinned and turned away from God. Regardless of how the word is used, at the heart of the matter is that reconciliation can only take place if the cause of a division is addressed, whether it be a set of financial records, a relationship with a friend or family member or our relationship with God.
National Reconciliation Week is a national call to action. If ‘divided people are to be reconciled, both symbolic and practical actions are important. Both must flow from a shared imagination in which harsh historical realities and large hopes are held in tension. Symbolic actions of reconciliation are important because they help to preserve the tension’ (Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ, 2017).
For Australians reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians. NRW provides rich opportunities to learn our about shared histories, cultures and achievements and explore new ways to strengthen respectful relationships between the broader Australian community and our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters.
Pray the Aboriginal Creed
We believe in God, creator and sustainer of life,
creator of the black woman and the white woman
of the black man and the white man
of the woman who is not quite black and not quite white
of the man who is not quite white and not quite black.
We believe in God, the Creator
Who gave us the desert pea and the flowering gum,
The Murray cod and the platypus,
The Southern Cross and the Milky Way.
We believe in God,
who gave us a land to keep, to reverence and to cultivate.
We believe in Jesus, born of a woman
Who was not quite black and not quite white,
A woman who was not quite sure of who she was or who she was to be,
A woman who faithfully struggled to believe.
We believe in Jesus – risen,
Liberator of all humanity, Emmanuel, God-with-us, God-for-us.
We, women and men of the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit.
Please click on the attachment below to access the National Reconciliation Week prayer resource.
A number of sporting issues are being discussed at CSNSW level and above. It is important that schools keep in mind the following pressures that exist in this area:
- Financial and economic issues for parents;
- Moving dates of events into Term 3 and 4 places increased pressure on schools;
- Limited availability of transport to events.
School Based Sport
All school based sport is to be undertaken within the school grounds until further restrictions are lifted by the government (this date is unknown). This decision would allow local venues and sporting grounds to be used into the future.
There is to be no inter-school sport until further notice.
PDHPE Lessons
PE classes can continue within each school with increased hygiene procedures in place. Individual schools are required to manage the increased risk around these activities.
Diocesan Athletics
School and diocesan athletics carnivals and the pathway to State is still under consideration. Further advice will be available early June.
Representative Sport
At this point both Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) and Combined High Schools (CHS) pathway sports will commence in mid to late Term 3, pending the rollback of government public health orders.
If PSSA and CHS resume mid to late Term 3, both Polding and Combined Catholic Colleges (CCC) events may go ahead as scheduled.
Further advice will be provided at the end of May when the next State level meetings occur.
Review of Submission Requirements Term 2
Now that graduate teachers are back at schools and able to work with their mentors, proficiency application submissions can be processed under the following requirements:
- Mentors and principals are satisfied with the candidate's proficiency prior to submission.
- Submitted via dio-taa@lism.catholic.edu.au as per current policy (up until 1 June).
- Submitted via the online portal (after 1 June).
- Formal observation of teaching practice that occurred prior to 25 March or after students return to school in person.
Slideshare process/procedure of an ONLINE application are found under resources on the Accreditation page on the intranet.
NOTE: When uploading evidence to the online portal, please keep the title of each of the documents submitted to 100 characters. The eTAMs portal will not let Mentors/Principals or TAA download the file if the title exceeds this character limit, which will cause a delay processing.
The Cluster Mentors are available in Term 2 to work with both graduates and mentors, currently however, casual relief is not available. Cluster Mentors have contacted the primary contact listed on the Cluster Mentor Release Record to determine school /staff needs.
With Australians adapting to life at home, Olympics Unleashed is now online and ready to connect Olympians & aspiring athletes to schools and students. Olympics Unleashed, presented by Optus is taking athletes into NSW virtual classrooms and homes to inspire and motivate students to be their personal best. Register here today to have an athlete join your classroom.
- Year 12 VET students may commence from 1 June 2020 (Term 2 Week 6)
- Year 11 VET students may commence from Term 3 2020.
Year 11 students requiring a VET Work Placement, must make an application to the school and be authorised by the VET Consultant, Sue Watts.
SBATS will continue to attend work and those with contracts on hold, may commence once the employer is able.
Workplace Service Providers will be in contact with the schools to plan possible upcoming placements in the next few weeks.
Consideration for the economic status of employers and their ability to take on a WP student may impact on the availability.
Health and Safety in the workplace will be the focus for all students attending a workplace.
This is the duty and care of the school.
Please note that Work Experience has been postponed until further notice and is not included in this directive.
As we have, and continue to go through extraordinary times in our lives, particular stresses are on all our staff professionally and personally.
As we return to the workplace, please be reminded that our Employee Assistance Program provider, AccessEAP can conduct debriefing, family support, adjustment issues or any other psychological support, completely anonymous and free. Please call 1800 818 728.