THE WAY (Term 4 Week 4 - 25 October 2021)
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St Patrick's Primary School, Macksville, students help redesign Dawkins Park
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FOR ACTION
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Spirituality Exercises Retreat in Daily Life 2021-2022
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FaCE Teacher Project
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NETid Accounts, Scout Access and DoE Superusers Information
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FOR INFORMATION
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Announcements
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Want to Teach and Support the Poor - Palms Australia
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Resources to Help Schools Commemorate Remembrance Day
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Year 5 and 6 PDHPE Teachers
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Reminders
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Positions Vacant
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My Learning
St Patrick's Primary School, Macksville, Stage 3 students were invited to participate in a collaborative community project focusing on the local Dawkins Park around climate change and the use of the park by the community. (17 September 2021)
St Patrick's Primary School, Macksville, Stage 3 students were invited to participate in a ‘real world’ collaborative project with Southern Cross University, Nambucca Shire Council, elders of the local Gumbaynggirr people and other schools in the community.
The focus of the project was on climate change and centred on Macksvilles Dawkins Park as the Council makes improvements to the park, aiming to draw more people to the space.
In Term 2, students participated in an exciting Project Based Learning unit to investigate the water quality of Dawkins Park Lake and the impact of climate change and urban development. The students enjoyed several field trips to the park to identify and collect data on the living things, and did this with the assistance of Cascade Environmental School and the Council.
The Term 3 focus shifted Geography and how spaces are used by different groups of people. On one field trip the students met with elders of the local Gumbaynggirr community and discovered what the area meant to them traditionally. The students combined their learning from Term 2 and considered the different people who may use the space to design a 3D model of the park. The students incorporated coding in their design that will provide education on climate change at key spots.
‘It was so lovely to drive past and see the children engaging in learning out in the community. It would be nice to see the space being used for learning even more,’ said one parent.
‘I feel it was such a privilege to be involved in this community project. The students solved real world problems; they realised they had many teachers, not just their class teachers; and they developed a deeper understanding of and empathy for some of the traditional Gumbaynggirr song lines relating to the area of study. This experience will contribute to the choices they make as they walk on this sacred ground,’ said one teacher.
‘The children's skills in using the Co-spaces technology is phenomenal. That they can use this type of design app at their age, to map and code a tour is wonderful and I look forward to seeing what else they can achieve using technologies,’ said the SCU Lecturer and Grant Coordinator.
The students and their families will be able to witness the park evolve and enjoy using this new and improved space in their local community.
Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the 2022 Spirituality Exercises Retreat in Daily Life will now take place in March next year. Expressions of Interest are open to Principals, Assistant Principals, Leaders of School Evangelisation, Leaders of Catechesis, Leaders of Pedagogy and Catholic Schools Office (CSO) Education Officers, Consultants and CSO staff. More information, including the Expression of Interest form, can be found in the attached PDF.
The FaCE Teacher Project was made available to staff in the south in 2021. In 2022, the project is offered to staff in the middle and north of the Diocese. This will become a feature of a Formation for Mission Framework to be developed under the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Limited (DLCSL) in 2022.
Details are in the attached FaCE Teacher Project Flyer, Information Guide and Application.
Information for all teaching staff and school DoE Account Superusers - please see the attached memo NETid Accounts, Scout Access and DoE Superusers Information.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE APPOINTMENTS
Hayley Youngberry has been appointed to the new role of Assistant Director, People and Safety for Catholic education in the Diocese of Lismore from the commencement of the 2022 school year.
Hayley is well known to everyone in Catholic education in the Diocese of Lismore in her various roles in the Catholic Schools Office. She currently holds the role of Human Services Consultant at the Catholic Schools Office.
Lee MacMaster has been appointed to the new role of Assistant Director, Improvement and Performance for Catholic education in the Diocese of Lismore from the commencement of the 2022 school year.
Lee will be known to some members of our Catholic education community, having been the Assistant Principal – Dean of Studies at Trinity Catholic College, Lismore from 1995-2006 with a secondment to the Catholic Schools Office as Secondary Education Consultant for two years in 2001-2002. He is an experienced Catholic leader and educator and has held various roles throughout the years within the NSW and QLD Catholic systems. Lee is currently the College Principal (K-12) at St Gregory's College, Campbelltown since 2019.
Deborah McLean has been appointed to the position of Risk Manager commencing 25 October 2021. Deborah joins us from the Lismore City Council where she was the Acting Risk and Improvement Coordinator.
Mary McEvilly Butler has been appointed to the position of Digital Technologies Coach commencing January 2022. Mary is currently employed as Learning Stage 3 at St Finbarr’s Primary School, Byron Bay.
Elizabeth McDonnell has been appointed to the position of Learning Designer commencing January 2022. Elizabeth is a Freelance Learning Designer Consultant and Coach.
SCHOOL APPOINTMENT
Sophie Taylor has been appointed to the position of Assistant Principal at St Joseph’s Primary School, Woodburn. Sophie is currently employed at the school as the Acting Assistant Principal – Learning & Teaching.
We congratulate Hayley, Lee, Deborah, Mary, Elizabeth and Sophie on their appointments and look forward to their commencement in their roles.
Since 1961 Palms Australia has quietly prepared and supported humble Catholic teachers for mission. This facilitates calls from remote Australian and overseas schools to bring opportunity to the poor. Sharing teacher skills with local teachers helps them to develop their schools. Improving their self-reliance, aids sustainable poverty reduction and removes dependence on foreign aid and influence. In addition, relationships within the local community will transform participant’s hearts and souls. The Catholic Schools Office offers support around leave without pay and conditions for this Mission activity. See attached flyer for more information.
Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of guns falling silent on the Western Front in the First World War: the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Our nation stands in silent reflection for one minute each year to commemorate and honour those Australians who have died or suffered in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
To assist schools, ex-service organisations and community groups plan for 11 November, the Department of Veterans' Affairs has prepared a Remembrance Day educational resources pack or 'digital kitbag' to highlight the importance of honouring Australia's veterans and servicemen and women.
A range of digital resources can be accessed on the Anzac Portal.
As the teaching of the PDHPE units on puberty and change usually occurs in Term 4, Parent Assembly recently facilitated a webinar "Talking about Puberty" with Michelle Mitchell. A recording of this webinar is available for all parents in the diocese until the end of October. Additionally, there are many helpful resources for parents regarding Child Safety and Personal Development on the Lismore Catholic Schools website. A template for a letter to parents regarding the teaching of these PDHPE units and parent resources can be accessed here and modified for school context. If you have any further queries about engaging parents during this unit of study please contact Janita Thomson or your local Parent Assembly Coordinator.
Vaccination Certificate
Please ensure you have uploaded your proof of vaccination evidence as soon as possible. Instructions are attached.
Digital Inclusion - ‘How to’ Professional Development (PD) Series
Please refer to The Way Term 4 Week 3 to view the article on using various Texthelp toolbars and functions.
Green Innovation Awards 2021 (Online) - 3 November
The 2021 Green Innovation Awards will be viewed online on 3 November, 12.30-1.30pm. Log on to watch students share their ideas for greener living. Register to watch online: www.greeninnovationawards.com.au
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
- VET Administrative Assistant
- Education Officer – Primary
SCHOOL
- Assistant Principal - Mount St John Primary School, Dorrigo
- Principal – St John’s Primary School, Mullumbimby
- Acting Assistant Principal – Learning & Teaching – St Patrick’s Primary School, Macksville
(internal to the Diocese of Lismore only) - 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 Schools, Coraki
- Instructional Leader / Additional Needs Teacher - St Mary's Primary School, Bowraville
- Literacy and Numeracy Instructional Leader K-2 - St Joseph's Primary School, South Grafton
- Literacy and Numeracy Instructional Leader K-2 - St Mary's Primary School, Bellingen
WOLLONGONG DIOCESE
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.
LNAP Instructional Leaders' Workshop Term 4 2021 21CSO-LILWT4
Instructional Leaders in the State Literacy and Numeracy Action Plan Schools and Supplementary Schools are provided with the opportunity to reflect on teaching and learning in Kindergarten - Year 2 and their role as Instructional Leaders.
Invitation to Secondary Mathematics Action Research Presentation 21CSO-71MARD1
During 2021, two of our secondary schools took up the opportunity to engage in an inquiry project: action research, to try something new to improve an area of practice in Mathematics learning and teaching. This is an invitation to Leaders of Learning Mathematics to attend the reporting day on Monday 22 November along with their Principal and/or Assistant Principal L&T to learn about their findings and implications for learning and teaching Mathematics. Please register to attend the Zoom.