THE WAY (Term 4 Week 5 - 1 November 2021)
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Message from the Director
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MacKillop College, Port Macquarie, Places First at the Tournament of the Minds International Final
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FOR ACTION
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EOI - Student Discipleship Formation Program Convenors 2022
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SeaToSource Student Poster and Video Competition
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Australian Catholics Education Hub
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Attendance
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FOR INFORMATION
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SHINE Unplugged 2021 Program - 'Called to Connection'
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Digital Inclusion - ‘How to’ Professional Development (PD) Series
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Big Library Read
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Positions Vacant
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My Learning
Let us thank all those who teach in Catholic schools. Educating is an act of love: it is like giving life. (Pope Francis)
Tomorrow, Australia celebrates World Teachers’ Day. As adults, we know the impact that a teacher can have on the life of a child and we can all recall those teachers that played an instrumental part in our own growth and development. Catholic educators have a particular commitment to their role as educators. For them, teaching is a vocation; it is a calling from God.
After 18 months into the pandemic, I extend my deepest gratitude for the way that all our teachers across the diocese, and those that support them in their vocation, have navigated the circumstances in which we have been placed. It has been a particularly difficult period in time but your unwavering commitment to educate and care for all students is commendable.
Happy World Teachers’ Day to you all.
MacKillop College Port Macquarie Tournament of Minds STEM team are Regional, State and now International Champions. (16 October 2021)
Recently, a team of students from MacKillop College, Port Macquarie, won the secondary Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) discipline of the Tournament of Minds (TOM) International Final.
Tournament of the Minds is a team-based problem-solving program designed to enhance a diverse range of skills within a challenging and competitive environment.
Students formed a team at the beginning of Term 3, working tirelessly through multiple lockdowns, during and after school hours and over many lunchtimes to complete all challenges to an exceptional standard.
The team progressed through the competition, winning the Mid North Coast and Tablelands Regional Championships and State Championships.
Like many events this year, the competition was affected by COVID-19. One week after coming out of a regional lockdown, the competition started on 16 October, with the competition held online over Zoom rather than in person. The students found competing over Zoom to be challenging but believe this helped them to become more flexible and adaptive in their thinking.
The organisers of the event gave high praise to the MacKillop team for their standard of work throughout all levels of the competition.
'This was a wonderful achievement for the College, a journey from Regional to State to International level with a beautiful group of hardworking and talented students who showed true grit and determination,' said Enrichment and High Potential Learning Coordinator, Mandy Palin.
This competition is not just about intellectual excellence and creativity but also about learning to work in teams. To be successful the students need to learn teamwork, leadership skills, organisational skills, the importance of valuing diversity and respect.
'I loved participating! I had the most awesome teammates, and Mrs Palin was incredible! We all brought different strengths to the team that really helped us. It was really different practising and competing on Zoom but this probably helped us to be more flexible and to adapt our thinking and to think outside the box,' said Georgia.
'Doing TOM with this group of people has been an amazing experience. I joined TOM to have fun and experience something different. Our team worked so well together and were able to bring energy and fun into trying times.' said Elliot.
The MacKillop team acknowledged the excitement of winning a world-renowned academic competition and the important part that their mentor Mrs Palin played in their success.
Are you passionate about sharing the love of Jesus with students? Are you keen for a new 'teaching' experience? Then this could be for YOU! An invitation is extended to teachers to express an interest in becoming a Student Discipleship Formation Program Convenors for 2022.
The programs are written and all resources are supplied. You will deliver the specific student discipleship program at one of five venues across the Diocese. This opportunity will assist in the development of leadership capacity and empower more staff in student discipleship formation throughout parish schools. Appropriate relief will accompany this role. Staff who would like to pursue a Student Discipleship Formation Program Convenor position in 2022 should complete this Google Form or, for further details or information, contact Kate Nestor, School Evangelisation Education Officer.
One of the organisations working with the Lismore Diocese at the Annual Year 11 Street Retreat is Conservation Volunteers Australia. This competition is open to students of all ages and closes on 3 December. See attachment for details.
The Australian Catholic Magazine has been in publication and distributed to schools since 2009. The Diocese of Lismore has an online subscription, which provides school communities (students, staff and parents) access to all of the Australian Catholics Education Hub online material. This includes over 1000 articles (searchable by curriculum topic, age group, common theme and resource type) as well as classroom activities, prayer and liturgy resources, teachers calendar, blog, videos, directories, a Teachers Forum and access to exclusive webinars.
All content goes through a Diocesan censor and comes with the Imprimatur. There is a short video tour with guidance on site usage available and all users with an @lism.catholic.edu.au email address can register and create their own login at this link.
The latest information from CSNSW in regards to Attendance, use of Attendance Codes and the requirements for Medical Certificates is detailed in the attached memo.
All resources for the SHINE - Called to Connection program were emailed to leaders last week. They can also be found in the resource folder located on the intranet.
'How to use the Talk and Type Function - Read and Write toolbar'
Cameron McKee - Secondary English Teacher, St Joseph's Regional College, Port Macquarie
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.
A New York Times bestselling young adult title will be available during the Big Library Read, the world’s largest digital book club from 1-15 November. See attached flyer for more information.
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
SCHOOLS
- Assistant Principal - Mount St John Primary School, Dorrigo
- Acting Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching - St Patrick’s Primary School, Macksville (internal advertisement open to employees of the Diocese of Lismore only)
- Teacher and Leader of School Evangelisation - St Brigid's Primary School, Kyogle
- Leader of Pedagogy / Teacher - Xavier Catholic College, Ballina
- Literacy and Numeracy Instructional Leader K-2 - St Mary's Primary School, Bellingen
- Coordinator of Gifted/High Potential Learning - St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour
- Literacy and Numeracy Instructional Leader K-2 - St Joseph's Primary School, South Grafton
OTHER DIOCESES
- Primary Principal - Sacred Heart School, Corryong
- Principal - St Patrick’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Port Kembla
- Assistant Principal - St Benedict’s Catholic College, Oran Park
- Education Officer Secondary - Catholic Life, Education and Mission - Catholic Education Office, Wollongong
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.
7-12 Mathematics Collaborative Network 2021 21CSO-71MCN2
This learning is for Leaders of Learning Mathematics and one other Mathematics teacher. It is designed to support the ongoing professional learning and development of the Mathematics Leaders in our schools through sharing and collaboration.
EMU Specialist Teacher OPL Day 2 2021 21CSO-ESTOD2
This course is Ongoing Professional Learning (OPL) for qualified EMU Specialist Teachers. Ongoing professional learning for Specialist Teachers is required to ensure continual improvement of skills and knowledge and to maintain currency. This will be online via Zoom.
7-12 Registration and Accreditation - LOCs KLA Handbooks 21CSO-71RAAL
The LOC meeting on Tuesday 16 November will enable LOCs to review Languages and Creative Arts KLA Handbooks for R and A. The meeting will also include a session on KLA Handbooks for the 2022-2026 R and A cycle.
- 16 November - Coffs Harbour Annexe or via Zoom Meeting