Filter Content
- Message from the Director
- Going Deeper
- Announcements
- Catholic School Leadership Development
- Student Attendance System (STATS) Data Submission Requirements
- Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) Assessments (ACER)
- NAPLAN Student Reports
- WHS in Focus - Slips, Trips and Falls
- Sporting Schools Program
- Kindergarten Orientation Road Safety Library Bag
- Reminder: Aboriginal Family Faith Retreat
- My Learning
Welcome back to Term 4. I hope that you have all had a restful and safe break and are feeling rejuvenated for the final quarter of 2019.
During the holiday period, World Teachers’ Day was celebrated – 5 October. Held annually in over 100 countries since 1994, World Teachers’ Day was established by UNESCO to recognise the role of teachers in society. The 2019 theme is Young teachers: The future of the profession.
On behalf of everyone connected to Catholic education, thank you to all the teachers across the Diocese in creating opportunities for students and empowering the minds of young people. Thank you also to all who support teachers and schools to do this most privileged work.
With every blessing for Term 4,
Sally Towns
Director of Catholic Schools
This week we explore in more depth the way in which a Catholic school can look different to the other educational options that surround it.
The documents state ‘It is true to say that in recent years there has been an increased interest and a greater sensitivity on the part of public opinion, international organisations and governments with regards to schooling and education. There has also been a noticeable tendency to reduce education to its purely technical and practical aspects…there is a tendency to forget that education always presupposes and involves a definite concept of the human person and of life’. (The Catholic School on the threshold of the Third Millennium, 10)
An authentic catholic school in principle and practice is a value laden community that is built upon the foundation of what it means to be human and the nature of God.
To learn more please click here.
FAREWELL
Catholic Schools Office - Recruitment Coordinator
Glenda Graham has resigned from her position as Recruitment Coordinator at the Catholic Schools Office to take on a Recruitment role in the Bellingen area. Trish Wooldridge will be in the Acting Recruitment Coordinator position for Term 4 2019. HR can be contacted for advertising of positions and also your internal coordinator roles by email recruitment@lism.catholic.edu.au.
We thank Glenda for her contribution during the past 12 months and wish her all the best in her next position.
RESIGNATION
St Mary's Primary School, Casino
Chris Simpson has resigned from his Assistant Principal position effective 11 October 2019 and will remain at the school in his teaching position. Chris has been the Assistant Principal since 2016.
APPOINTMENT
St Mary's Primary School, Casino
Sam Irvine has been appointed in the Acting Assistant Principal position commencing Term 4 and the 2020 school year.
Catholic School Leadership Development
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES in DAILY LIFE OPPORTUNITY 2020
Catholic school leadership relies on what is in a leader's 'heart'. The 'heart' is a symbol for all that is at the center of a person's life. The Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life is a privileged opportunity for those wishing to deepen their loving friendship with Jesus Christ, engage in the Scriptures and clarify where they are called to service.
The Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life program involves daily prayer, reflection, and spiritual direction that is conducted in the course of one's ordinary responsibilities. This has become the most common way of making a retreat based on the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises.
Any Principal, Assistant Principal, Leader of Catechesis, Leader of School Evangelisation, Leader of Pedagogy, or Catholic Schools Office staff (in consultation with the appropriate Assistant Director) who would like to deepen their friendship with Jesus Christ through participation in Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life, in 2020 is asked to complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) via this google form link.
EOI closes 25 October 2019. Any further enquiries please contact Helen Hunter.
Student Attendance System (STATS) Data Submission Requirements
Schools are reminded that they should submit their attendance data for Term 3 by 18 October.
At completion of the reporting period, the Department forwards attendance rate data to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) who reports the information publicly on the My School website. Each school’s attendance rate is reported and disaggregated by Indigeneity for:
- Students in Years 1-10; and
- The proportion of students at the school in Years 1 to 10 whose attendance rate was equal to or greater than 90 per cent.
Attendance rate data is also publicly reported in the ACARA National Report on Schooling in Australia and the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services.
Files need to be uploaded by each school as a csv file by the due dates to the SchoolHUB site. If the person responsible for this has not accessed SchoolHUB prior to this, they will need to register and request access.
Those schools using Schoolworx can access the relevant csv file NGS Student Attendance Report located under the tab Other-Additional Searches, Reports and Listings-Attendance.
Read LessProgressive Achievement Tests (PAT) Assessments (ACER)
In addition to the existing supporting documents and information available through your school's ACER account, please be advised that the following PAT online assessments now include NSW Syllabus metadata relevant to Group and Individual Reports within ACER’s Online Assessment and Reporting System (OARS).
PAT Reading 5th Edition
PAT Maths 4th Edition
This includes information linking each question on the assessment to Australian Curriculum references from ACARA, as well as the outcomes from our own NESA Syllabus documents.
Please find more detailed information, as well as upcoming resources linked to the PAT assessments under the heading, Important Information, on the ACER/OARS intranet site.
A reminder that the testing window for PAT Reading and PAT Maths is the first four weeks of Term 4.
Read LessNESA has now sent schools copies of the students’ NAPLAN reports for families and school records.
The key dates are listed below:
From Wednesday 25 September reports sent - please email the NAPLAN team if these were not received.
By Friday 27 September - schools distribute reports to families.
By Friday 25 October - schools report and errors to the NAPLAN team.
WHS in Focus - Slips, Trips and Falls
Across NSW Catholic Schools, Slips, Trips and Falls equate to around 40% of all injuries.
In an effort to combat this, any injury caused by a slip, trip or fall will require any remedial action to be completed in the investigation area on MySafety.
Staff are reminded that they are responsible for their own safety and the safety of others.
Please remember to:
- Report all trip hazards.
- Don't scroll and stroll - put your phone away.
- Try not to carry too much between classes that impedes your vision of the ground in front of you.
- Stairs can be dangerous - 3 points of contact please, ie hold the handrail.
- Watch where you are walking.
- Consider your footwear.
Sport Australia is Australia’s primary national sports administration and advisory agency and aims to help schools increase children's participation and opportunities in sport.
They offer primary school and secondary school grants.
Primary school grants are for delivering Sporting Schools programs before, during or after school hours using one of their NSO partners.
Sporting Schools has developed a targeted program for secondary schools that provides access to tailored resources and support for students in Years 7 and 8, particularly girls, to address the barriers that prevent teenagers from participating in sport.
Term 1, 2020 grant applications will be accepted from Monday 11 November, 2019 until Friday 22 November, 2019. For further information and resources go to https://www.sportaus.gov.au/schools/schools
Kindergarten Orientation Road Safety Library Bag
The Kindergarten Orientation Road Safety Library Bag is provided free of charge to NSW primary schools for use as part of their Kindergarten Orientation Day activities. It provides a range of road safety resources and information for families with children starting primary school. The library bag is designed for children to use at school and to help promote the key road safety message of “Hold a grown-up’s hand when you cross the road.”
To order this resource for your school please click the link below.
Reminder: Aboriginal Family Faith Retreat
26 – 27 October, 2019
The Aboriginal Family Faith Retreat is fast approaching, please remind all interested families to register via the following link: https://form.jotform.co/csol_jotform/aboriginal-family-retreat-2019.
If families do not have access to the online form, please print off the form for them and have them return the completed form to you, so you can complete the online form on their behalf.
Please contact Doreen Flanders on 0419 986 940 for further information.
Mathematics Collaborative Network 7-12, 2019 - MACN71201
This collaborative network meeting is for Leaders of Learning Mathematics 7-12 and one other Mathematics teacher. It is designed to support the ongoing professional learning and development of the Mathematics leaders in our schools.
- 19 & 20 November 2019 - BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort, Coffs Harbour
Primary Library Network Meeting Term 4 2019 - PLNMT4203
The Diocesan Library Network will be holding a professional development workshop for those working in libraries in primary schools to gather new insights and explore the role of the library in the primary school context. Teacher librarian/teacher assistants working in the library are encouraged to attend this workshop.
- North: 5 November - St Joseph’s Primary School, Alstonville
- South: 12 November - Invercauld House, Goonellabah
Secondary Library Network Meeting Term 4 2019 - SLNMT4203
This workshop is an opportunity for Teacher Librarians in Secondary Colleges to workshop and support each other with particular reference to Stage 6 English and Science Syllabi, which have both undergone significant change. Libraries are key for the resourcing of and teaching the skills required for research in these two key learning areas.
- 7 November - St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour