THE WAY (Term 3 Week 10 - 13 September 2021)
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Strengthening Connection and Community
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FOR ACTION
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Expression of Interest-Catholic Schools Office RE/Theology Study Scholarships 2022
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7-12 Collaboration Network Leaders - Expression Of Interest 2022
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FOR INFORMATION
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Announcements
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Change to the Pay Cycle
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New Curriculum Intranet Page
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National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) Year 12 Program
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Child Protection Sunday - 12 September
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Positions Vacant
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My Learning
Highlighting the many ways schools across the Diocese connect and strengthen their engagement with their school community. (24 August 2021)
During Learning from Home, our schools found innovative ways to create connection and belonging with their students.
Mary Help of Christians Primary School, Sawtell, hosted a virtual Science Fair for Kindergarten to Year 2. The Fair coincided with National Science Week and the theme of Food. Students were challenged to apply scientific methods and research at home with their families acting as lab assistants.
‘I loved how I got to see the mould grow on the bread that I had touched with dirty hands. I’m always going to wash my hands before I eat from now on!’ said Year 2 student Matilda.
‘We had so much fun creating our veggie superhero. It was a great opportunity to get involved with science at home. There are no failures in Science, only discoveries,’ said parent Emma.
St Joseph’s Regional College, Port Macquarie, challenged students to show off their baking skills as part of a series of Wellbeing Challenges that focused on creativity. Students had a week to bake any item. Seventy-five students submitted a range of delicious baked goods on Google Classroom and commented on each submission.
‘A great initiative Mrs Wallis. The next challenge may have to be one that assists us to get rid of the pounds we put on sharing the baking. A great community initiative,’ commented one parent.
St Mary’s Primary School, Casino, Principal John O’Brien created #MrOBriensChallenge. Students have posted videos of heartwarming and fun messages ranging from the importance of community and belonging to ensuring that we all get toilet paper! The challenge highlighted creativity and imagination of students as they took delight in entertaining their community.
‘What a touching and heartfelt video. It’s a great way to get a message across,’ commented one parent.
Creating a connected community during Learning from Home through creative, fun and engaging activities can help the whole school community during this time of uncertainty. We look forward to sharing more great ideas as Learning from Home continues.
For full details and how to express your interest, please refer to the memo attached.
Expressions of Interest are invited from experienced teachers who are interested in the position of Collaborative Network Leader for the cycle 2022-2024. Collaborative Networks have been established in the Lismore Diocese to support Secondary Schools. Leaders are required to provide subject-specific expertise and positive leadership. Responsibilities include: providing information about relevant professional learning and reading, communicating NESA updates, offering advice on curriculum and pedagogy, coordinating professional development when required, and providing the processes of the sharing of resources, programs, and learning and teaching strategies. Current Collaborative Network Leaders are also eligible to reapply for these roles.
Expressions of interest are invited for the following Collaborative Network Leader positions:
- Religious Education
- Mathematics
- English
- Science
- HSIE
- PDHPE
- TAS
- Music
- Drama
- Visual Arts
- Languages
Applicants are invited to submit a 1-page document outlining their background and why they feel this role would suit them to Georgina Robinson. The closing date for applications is 5pm Friday, 8 October 2021.
Full details, including how to apply, are in the attached flyer. If you have any questions, please contact Kurt Challinor (Secondary Learning & Teaching Consultant).
School Appointments
Tameeka Glass has been appointed to the position of Acting Assistant Principal at St Mary’s Primary School, Bowraville commencing 4 October 2021. Tameeka is currently employed as an Education Officer – Primary at the Catholic Schools Office.
Vanessa Hughes has been appointed to the position of Assistant Principal – Mission at St Joseph’s Primary School, South Murwillumbah commencing January 2022. Vanessa is currently employed as the Leader of Mission at St Joseph’s Primary School, South Murwillumbah.
Tony Davis has been appointed to the position of Assistant Principal – Learning and Teaching at St Joseph’s Primary School, South Murwillumbah commencing January 2022. Tony is currently employed as the Acting Assistant Principal at St Joseph’s Primary School, South Murwillumbah.
We congratulate Tameeka, Vanessa and Tony on their appointments and look forward to their commencement in their new roles.
As outlined in a recent memo to all Diocesan staff, there are changes to our pay cycle occurring in December that may have implications for you.
To find out more about the changes, please see the factsheet called “Change to pay cycle” under the News & Updates section of the Payroll Information page of the Intranet.
This page will be regularly updated with the latest information on this and other changes to Payroll, so please check in from time to time.
In October, we will provide optional information sessions with our HR Officers for staff to ask questions about this change. In the meantime, if staff have any questions or concerns regarding this change, please contact hr@lism.catholic.edu.au.
A "New Curriculm" page has been launched on the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Education Intranet to house information about the K-12 curriculum reform in NSW. The site is located under the Learning and Teaching tab and includes information about the curriculum reform as well as links to relevant sites and documents. Some links include the NSW Government Response to the NSW Curriculum Review and the K-2 Draft English and Mathematics Syllabus documents released in August. The site will be regularly updated to include links to professional learning and resources as they become available.
Attention Year 11 Coordinators
The last few weeks and months have been tough on many of you and your students with communities across Australia impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns. Year 11 can be a difficult time for many students, and the added uncertainty of COVID-19 restrictions shouldn’t add any more stress on discovering what their future studies hold.
Applications are open to students currently in Year 11 to apply for the 2022 National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) Year 12 Program, with the program beginning in January prior to starting year 12.
Through the program, the NYSF aims to take the pressure off students who are deciding on their future by introducing them to an array of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) study and career options.
The NYSF 2022 Year 12 Program will run from 12 to 25 January 2022 and offer a life-changing range of in-person and digital STEM experiences. It is the perfect program for students to explore tertiary study options and meet some of the world’s foremost STEM experts.
Click here to find out more about the program
Applications for the 2022 NYSF Year 12 Program remain open to students currently in Year 11.
The first round of selections have begun, however a late selection round is being offered. Please encourage your students in Year 11 to apply for the program as soon as they can manage or get in touch with the NYSF Office if they have any questions. Please email nysf@nysf.edu.au.
Students can seek and receive financial support through Rotary Australia by getting in touch with their local club.
Child Protection Sunday is being celebrated on 12 September. This year’s theme is ‘every child, in every community, needs a fair go’, which signifies the importance of the ‘bigger picture’ in addressing child abuse and neglect. It recognises that our children can thrive and be healthy when they have what they need to develop well. But not every family has these resources, which is why we need to support every child, family and community according to their needs.
The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) has the following resources that are available for schools to use at anytime during the year to raise awareness of Child Safety.
NAPCAN posters to display in your parish Posters and tip sheets
NAPCAN Children’s Art activity What should our neighbourhood look like? Children's Art activity
NAPCAN Children’s Voices activity Children's Voices activity
Information on employment opportunities within the Diocese of Lismore is available via Positions Vacant . Existing staff should apply through the Internal Positions Vacant Page on the Intranet; select School Services, then Recruitment and Positions vacant – Internal site.
Catholic Schools Office
- Regional Service Leaders – School Management
- Learning Designer
- Digital Technologies Coach
Staff are reminded 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.
Learning and Teaching Collaborative Day, Term 4 NORTH & SOUTH, 2021 21CSO-LATCT4
This workshop is for Leaders of Pedagogy and Assistant Principals Learning & Teaching to support professional collaboration, the development of educational leadership and the augmentation of quality practice and expertise to improve learning outcomes for students.
- North: 18 October - Zoom
- South: 14 October - Zoom