THE WAY (Term 4 Week 3 - 18 October 2021)
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Social Justice in Action at St Joseph’s Primary School, Alstonville
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FOR ACTION
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Grants Available for 2022
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FOR INFORMATION
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Announcements
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Digital Inclusion - ‘How to’ Professional Development (PD) Series
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2021 Virtual Retreat
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Reading Doctor® Online
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Free Virtual Lessons from Kids Helpline
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Payroll Q&A Zoom – Change of Pay Cycle & Leave not recorded in a timely manner
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Positions Vacant
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My Learning
Social Justice was in action at Joseph’s Primary School, Alstonville, as they held engaging activities to raise student awareness regarding homelessness. (20 and 23 July 2021)
Each year, St Joseph’s Primary School, Alstonville, makes their Vinnies Winter Appeal special. This year a number of unique events were organised to assist students in understanding homelessness and what the homeless require.
For over five weeks, the school held a House Competition to collect bedding and pet food to support Mary’s Place, a homeless support centre in Ballina.
Students were visited by Orange Sky Laundry, a free mobile laundry and shower service that connects those in need with these basic services.
Volunteer, Dave Paulson, gave students an insightful opportunity to understand how the van works, explaining their mission in providing a safe and supportive environment for those within our community who need these services.
As part of this visit, St Joseph’s celebrated the day with ‘Orange Sky Day’. Students donated a gold coin and wore orange with orange themed food served at the canteen.
‘Once again, I am blessed to organise these examples of good works which support the dignity of others in the community,’ said wellbeing teacher Lyn Rowling.
The week ended with students volunteering to take part in the Winter Sleepover. Students were immersed in the reasons that cause homelessness, the difficulties the homeless experience and just how challenging it is to try and sleep in the wet and cold. Students were provided with soup and bread for dinner along with makeshift sleeping shelters.
‘This was a wonderful week to help us learn how fortunate we are and how we should be reaching out to others,’ said student Grace.
‘I was amazed by the involvement of all the students in these events. As a newcomer, I am so impressed with the students’ regard for others,’ said Assistant Principal Mission, James Farr.
This was a thoughtful way to bring awareness and strength compassion for members of our community who struggle with homelessness.
Opportunities exist for schools to apply for grants in the areas of Innovation and the Arts.
Innovation grants provide an opportunity for teachers and school leaders to accelerate and advance learning in the classroom. These grants are awarded to support an innovative vision of education within Catholic schools. For more information on innovation grants, and to apply, refer to the link 2022 Learning & Teaching Innovation Grant Overview & Guidelines.
Arts Partnerships grants provide the opportunity for diocesan schools to partner with creative professionals as artists in residence or arts and cultural organisations. For more information on Arts Partnership grants, and to apply, refer to the 2022 Arts Partnerships Grant Overview & Guidelines.
Expressions of Interest for both the Innovation and Arts grants close on Thursday 18 November 2021.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE RESIGNATION
Jill Cummings has submitted her resignation from her position as VET Administration Assistant, effective 14 January 2022 to engage in a new direction for her career within the Diocese of Parramatta.
Jill’s commitment and contribution to her role at the Catholic Schools Office since 2017 and the Technical College, Port Macquarie (now Newman Senior Technical College) in 2009, is highly valued and greatly appreciated.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE APPOINTMENT
Karen Townsend has been appointed to the Education Officer - Primary commencing January 2022. Karen is currently employed as the Assistant Principal – Learning and Teaching at St Joseph’s Primary School, Laurieton.
We congratulate Karen on her appointment and look forward to her commencement in her new role.
Every week, this term there will be a quick two minute practical PD video on various Texthelp toolbars and functions. Teachers from across the diocese are embedding the toolkit in their teaching pedagogy to remove barriers and increase student participation and engagement. These 2-minute clips show how the teachers in various settings are achieving success with the Texthelp suite.
Digital Inclusion for all students - watch this quick 2-minute video
‘How to use the Speech to Text tool - Read and Write toolbar’
Mark Wilson, Year 6 teacher, St Josephs, Tweed Heads
Want more information?
Contact: Kara Collyer or visit Texthelp.com
All staff and students with a ‘lism’ email address can access the extension for free.
This National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) retreat will focus on the understanding of Faith and Spirituality from both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non Indigenous perspectives. The event is suitable for those working in a Catholic Context with First Nations Catholics in addition to First Nations people. We have adopted a true 'Retreat' format (in difference to a conference format) that incorporates quiet time for reflection and a slower, more contemplative pace.
We hope to foster healing and mutual respect through sharing and understanding.
For more information or to register please click here.
Those who have already made the transition to the online version may also access this reimbursement (but will need to supply supporting documents as proof of purchase). STAR continues to be the preferred Tier 2 Intervention for Years 1 and 2.
ReadingDoctor® Online is a scientifically based teaching tool designed to help students improve their reading skills. It was created by Speech & Language Pathologist, Dr Bartek Rajkowski. Schools across the Lismore Diocese have been using Reading Doctor in conjunction with STAR reading intervention for some years. The platform has recently been upgraded to 'Cloud-based' access and has vastly improved it's functionality.
Reading Doctor® Online targets all of the main skills involved in reading acquisition and includes comprehensive data analysis for progress monitoring. It includes a student login for students to use the program independently as well as a dashboard for teachers and parents. School subscriptions include free access for students at home and may be accessed from any computer (PC, Mac or Chromebook) or tablet device (including iPads and Android tablets).
For more information regarding the Reading Doctor® Online please click here.
Session topics vary for primary and secondary schools.
Sessions for primary schools are focused on enhancing coping strategies and overall wellbeing, developing resilience strategies as well as safe and responsible technology use.
Session topics for secondary schools have been designed to focus on mental health literacy, coping and resilience skills, and promote help-seeking behaviours.
The sessions are presented by qualified Kids Helpline counsellors via video link. Sessions typically run between 30-50 minutes and can be adapted for classes or cohorts.
Skills and content related to mental health and wellbeing are included in the mandatory NSW PDHPE K-10 syllabus. These Kids Helpline sessions are designed to complement comprehensive PDHPE teaching and learning activities and form part of a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing in consultation with PDHPE, wellbeing and school counselling staff.
To book, schools complete a booking request via the Kids Helpline website:
If you have any questions about the primary school sessions, please contact 07 3867 1284 or email school@kidshelpline.com
If you have any questions about the NSW secondary school sessions, please contact Georgia King on 07 3867 1334 or email highschoolnsw@kidshelpline.com.auTo support recent Payroll communications on the change to the pay cycle and a new process for leave not recorded in a timely manner, we invite all interested staff to attend one of four Zooms. The Zooms will be held during Week 4 to answer any questions you may have regarding the payroll change process.
The two key changes that will be discussed during this zoom include:
- Changes to the pay cycle
- Changes to the process for responding to leave not recorded in a timely manner
Relevant documents will be added to the Zoom sessions at a later time.
Dates for these Zooms are listed below (accessed via the following Zoom Link):
- Tuesday 26 October, 1.00-1.30pm
- Tuesday 26 October, 3.30-4.00pm
- Wednesday 27 October, 8.30-9.00am
- Wednesday 27 October, 1.00-1.30pm
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
- Education Officer – Primary
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
- Principal – St John’s Primary School, Mullumbimby
- Coordinator 2 Leader of Pedagogy – St Mary’s Primary School, Bellingen
- Coordinator of Gifted/ High Potential Learning – St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour
- Instructional Leader / Leader of Pedagogy – St Joseph’s Primary School, Coraki
- Instruction Leader / Additional Needs Teacher – St Mary’s Primary School, Bowraville
- Literacy and Numeracy Instructional Leader K-2 – St Joseph’s Primary School, South Grafton
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.
Best Start Literacy Training 2021-2022 - 21CSO-BSLT22
This training is for 2022 Kindergarten teachers who are new to the diocese or new to teaching Kindergarten and have no experience with Best Start Literacy. A second session is offered in January for Kindergarten teachers that may be appointed over the student vacation. Please note that the responsibility for the training of how to implement the Kindergarten EMU Assessment sits with the school.
- Term 4 2021 - 29 November via Zoom meeting
- Term 1 2022 - 18 January via Zoom meeting
7-12 Technology Collaborative Network - 21CSO-71TCN
The Technology Collaborative Network will provide Technology LOLs the opportunity to discuss emerging trends in Technology and Curriculum development.
- 9 November 2021 via Zoom meeting
Using Texthelp to Support English Language Learners - 21CSO-UTTSEL
Texthelp provides access for teachers and students to a wide range of tools to support and enhance curriculum access and participation. This session will focus on particular tools that would further support English language learners in the classroom.
- 4 November 2021: Online