THE WAY (Term 4 Week 11 - 13 December 2021)
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him – John 1:9-10
Lockdown, super-spreader, freedom, mandatory vaccine, fever clinic, fomite, and rapid antigen tests are some of the most frequently used terms heard throughout 2021. I was recently reflecting on the last twelve months and recalled that at the conclusion of 2020 there existed a sense of anticipation that the new year would bring about a return to normalcy. In hindsight, 2020 was only a dress rehearsal for 2021. For many, the pandemic provided the stimulus for each of us to reconsider what is important in our own lives and in each of our communities. We look towards 2022 with a renewed sense of hope and perhaps more tempered expectation about what the new year will bring.
Despite the difficult circumstances in which we lived and worked throughout this year, I would like to express my ongoing gratitude to all staff for your dedication to your students, families and colleagues and to your continued professionalism, optimism and sense of humour.
During the months of the pandemic, Pope Francis reminded us about the importance of fraternity during troubled times. Particularly, he called for solidarity aimed at 'people who are the most fragile, the sick and all who at this period find themselves without work or in grave difficulty due to the economic consequences of the pandemic and to women who have been subjected to domestic violence'.
As we turn towards Christmas, we remember that God gave us Jesus because God’s love is unconditional. That Jesus was born in the humblest of circumstances, in an animal shelter, should not be lost on us. God gave Jesus to us this way to make it clear that no place and no person was beneath His dignity. The first Christmas story is one of humility, a story without royal robes, and a story without a proper bed. Jesus' presence brings joy to the world. Christmas is about finding God in the unexpected places of our world – in the faces of the homeless and refugees, the lonely and the persecuted.
Peace and blessings to you and your families this Christmas season.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE APPOINTMENTS
Kylie Parsons has been appointed to the position of VET Administration Officer. Kylie is currently employed as a Teacher at Newman Senior Technical College in Port Macquarie.
Joanne Hall, Education Officer - Mathematics with the Catholic Schools Office, will assume the position of Inclusion Consultant for the 2022 school year while Danny Rankin undertakes the Acting Principal position at St Joseph's Primary School, South Grafton.
SCHOOL APPOINTMENT
Lauren Magnus has been appointed to the position Acting Assistant Principal – Learning and Teaching at St Finbarr's Catholic Primary School, Byron Bay commencing in January 2022. Lauren is currently employed as the Leader of Pedagogy at St Anthony's Primary School, Kingscliff.
We congratulate Kylie, Joanne and Lauren on their appointments and we wish them all the best in their new roles.
CSNSW will again offer a suite of training to assist schools analyse their HSC results. Please note that this is school-funded. Individual Course Registration links below. If you have not visited CSNSW PL before you may need to visit the dashboard first by clicking Initial Profile.
Diocesan Officers’ Overview
For Diocesan & RI/MPJP System Level Officers, this seminar will provide a walk-through of how you use the system-level reports in conjunction with school reports to support schools. New developments in the 2021 HSC Analysis and 2022 seminar programme, including opportunities for cross-system sharing and key features of the 2021 HSC.
Introduction to the Analysis
Teachers, KLA coordinators and others who have not previously attended an HSC seminar, and for those who have but who want to ‘brush up’ on the main ideas behind the Analysis. It’s very handy if two or more people from the same school can enrol for the same seminar.
A detailed reading of your Analysis
Target group: Experienced users – any teacher, coordinator, AP or Principal who has previously attended at least one HSC Analysis Seminar including 2022. Applicants will be asked to nominate the year in which they satisfied the prerequisite.
Leading your school in the Analysis
Target group: Principals, APs, Leaders of Curriculum or Pedagogy: those who have a whole-school focus rather than a one-KLA or year group. If you are the person within the school to whom the principal delegates the overview of the HSC Analysis, this is the seminar for you. If you are newly appointed into such a role, you need to be at this seminar.
The above dates are based on current NESA advice in relation to the release of HSC results.
For further information contact Gary Molloy: Gary.Molloy@csnsw.catholic.edu.au
In past years, Payroll has been pleased to provide letters to employees identified as receiving pro-rata holiday pay during the Christmas Holidays.
Regrettably, due to exceptional circumstances, we will not be able to provide individual letters this year.
If you would like to know more about Pro-Rata Holiday Pay, please see the 'Pro-rata holiday pay factsheet' on the Payroll information page.
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
- Manager, Human Resources
- Youth Ministry Development Officer (Digital)
OTHER DIOCESE
- Education Officer – Specialist Support (K-12), Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong