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- Going Deeper
- Shine 2019 - Celebrating Youth Alive in the Church
- St Carthage's 10's Rugby
- A Guide to School Evangelisation in the Diocese of Lismore
- Exuro 2019
- $45,000 Teaching Fellowship open to Australia’s great teachers and school leaders
- NAPLAN Scout Update
- Digital Technologies - Google Suite Updates
- Young Innovators Challenge: Northern Rivers
- Positions Vacant
- My Learning
This week we listen to one of the most significant passages in all the documents on Catholic education. It’s a great synthesis of some of the issues and challenges we face.
The documents state, “The school is undoubtedly a sensitive meeting point for the problems which besiege this restless end of the millennium. The catholic school is confronted with children and young people who experience the difficulties of the present time.
To this we must add – on the part numerous pupils and families a profound apathy where ethical and religious formation is concerned, to the extent that what is in fact required of the Catholic school is a certificate of studies or, at the most, quality instruction and training for employment” (The Catholic School on the threshold of the Third Millennium, 5).
In Sunday’s Gospel Jesus imparts his desire for the Church to be servants of all. Jesus spends three years in public ministry accompanying his disciples in the hope that they imitate his way long after he is gone. His way is the way of love. A love that is completely selfless and willing the good of the other. This is Jesus’ hope for the Church and all her entities.
Somewhere along the way perhaps we have forgotten the servant way. But Jesus, who lives in us, encourages us to let go of the top down structure and love all those we serve.
To learn more please click here.
Shine 2019 - Celebrating Youth Alive in the Church
“Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world, and everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life.” These are the very first words Pope Francis writes to all young people and the wider Church in his most recent exhortation Christus Vivit. SHINE embodies this message and the 700 participants who gathered last week at St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour.
This year the central theme for keynotes, workshops, dramas, activities, music, small groups and prayer was ‘You Know My Name’. “I have called you by name. You are mine,” is how Isaiah articulates this truth. Who doesn’t want to be called by name; known? The “knowing” and the “naming” seem to hit that inner part of ourselves and as disoriented, forgotten or ashamed as we feel, we are precious in God’s eyes and in the words of Bishop Greg, “we must learn to love ourselves.”
A powerful moment at SHINE was during the morning rally when a choir of students joined the band on stage to sing Psalm 23. Even though the students had only learnt the song in a workshop the day before, the harmonies kindled the hearts of everyone in the hall. The Youth Ministry Officers took the lead during most of the sessions with the help of 100 senior student leaders. Interactive workshops offered this year included ‘Faith in Sport’ and ‘Looking out for your friends: Mental Health’ were very popular.
Bishop Greg’s presence at SHINE is always a highlight and we are extremely grateful for his insight and support. The accompanying teachers, Sr Dedith Moralde and members of the clergy including keynote speaker Fr Paul Gooley, offered a special layer of spirituality and guidance.
The boys demonstrated a ‘never give up’ attitude with a try and conversion on the final siren, securing a win by 26-12. The team work and skills from the boys was commendable. Congratulations.
Read LessExuro is a whole day retreat for representative Year 5 students from each school across the Diocese. Through various group processes and peer led discussions the students will experience faith nurturing activities and a development of skills to be faith leaders back in their respective schools. Parish primary schools will be allocated a number of students based on enrolments. A total of sixty students will attend each venue.
Further information regarding this event, including student allocations, will be emailed to Principals, Leaders of School Evangelisation, Catechesis and AP Mission.
- 22 October - Port Macquarie Region: St Agnes' Parish Youth Hub, Port Macquarie
- 22 October - Lismore Region: Tullera Hall, Tullera
- 25 October - Clarence Region: McAuley Catholic College, Grafton
- 29 October - Coffs Harbour Region: Toormina Sport and Recreation Club, Toormina
- 29 October - Tweed Heads Region: Murwillumbah Parish Hall, Murwillumbah
$45,000 Teaching Fellowship open to Australia’s great teachers and school leaders
Nominations and applications for the 2020 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards are now open.
Offered through a partnership between national charity Schools Plus and the Commonwealth Bank, the Awards recognise and celebrate great teachers and school leaders who go above and beyond to make a difference and shape a brighter future for their students and schools, particularly in disadvantaged communities. The selected 12 outstanding teachers and school leaders will each receive a $45,000 Teaching Fellowship, which includes $10,000 to support their professional development, $25,000 for a major school project to improve outcomes for their students, and an overseas visit to a high-performing education system. Fellows will also receive unique opportunities to develop skills and networks, learn from leading education experts and become part of an alumni group helping to shape Australia's education future. Now in their fourth year, the Awards are open to teachers and school leaders from all Australian schools, from Government, Catholic and Independent sectors.
Applications close at midnight (AEST) on Friday 27 September 2019.
To learn more, apply or nominate someone, visit teachingawards.com.au.
The website also features profiles of previous award winners from throughout Australia.
Read LessWhilst the preliminary results for this year’s NAPLAN are available in the Assess Form platform the Department of Education has indicated due to number of data irregularities, the planned release of Scout has been delayed until next week. Student reports will be sent to schools to distribute to parents from 16th September. Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) has included a note on this year’s student reports advising caution in interpreting NAPLAN results if a child experienced disruptions when taking the tests online. For further information please visit the ACARA website.
For general advice regarding 2019 NAPLAN please contact the NAPLAN team at NESA on naplan.nsw@nesa.nsw.edu.au.
For Catholic school issues regarding Scout access please email naplanonline@csnsw.catholic.edu.au.
Read LessDigital Technologies - Google Suite Updates
Improved real-time collaboration in Google Docs for assistive technology users. Live updates on a sidebar of the document will now work with assistive technologies, such as screen readers and Braille displays.
https://gsuiteupdates.googleblog.com/2019/08/real-time-collab-accessibility.html
Improved as-you-type spelling and grammar correction in Lismore Diocese Google Mail and personal Gmail accounts. Gmail will now use artificial intelligence to make smarter spell-check suggestions and detect potential grammar issues.
https://gsuiteupdates.googleblog.com/2019/08/improved-as-you-type-spelling-and-grammar.html
Read LessYoung Innovators Challenge: Northern Rivers
Do you know a 15-25 year old innovator, thinker, doer or creator in the Northern Rivers region who has big ideas or big potential? Are you the person we’re looking for?
The Young Innovators Challenge is a launch pad for young people in the Northern Rivers, aged 15 to 25, to take their ideas from dream to reality. Throughout the challenge, Young Innovators will be supported with the tools, resources, and advice they need to start on their innovation journey. Through online components, face-to-face workshops, and mentoring, the Young Innovators Challenge will take you through the entrepreneurial process to help you make the most out of your big ideas.
For more information, please visit: https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/young-innovators/
Read LessInformation on employment opportunities within the Diocese of Lismore are available via Positions Vacant.
- Assistant Principal (Mission) - St Peter's Primary School, Port Macquarie
Staff are reminded that individuals are required to register for all professional learning courses through the My Learning site. The site has the facility to recommend courses to others. This will be potentially useful for Principals and Assistant Principals who wish to recommend staff to register for particular courses.
Staff are reminded that the closing date for courses is five working days prior to the course.
To register, please visit My Learning.
SEACS Christian Meditation Stillness Silence and Simplicity Retreat SCMSSAS
Christian Meditation was first introduced to the Lismore Diocese in 2014 and during the past five years, it has continued to become an important daily prayer for many of our students and teachers. This two day Christian Meditation Retreat is being offered in the Lismore Diocese to staff who have meditated using the method introduced by Fr John Main, based on the historical experience of the Desert Fathers and Mothers from the early Christian communities.
- 24-25 October: Invercauld House, Goonellabah
Secondary Sports Coordinators Conference LDSSCC205
All Diocesan Secondary Sport Coordinators are invited to the 9th Biannual Diocese of Lismore Secondary Sports Coordinators Gathering. This course has been developed by the Catholic Schools Office to provide sports coordinators with new skills and knowledge in various aspects of teaching, learning and school leadership. Please register for all three sessions if you can attend the three days.
- 30 October (evening)-1 November: Invercauld House, Goonellabah