THE WAY (Term 3 Week 10 - 19 September 2022)
St Joseph’s Primary School, Coraki, has won the Roger O'Sullivan Memorial Award for Family, School and Community Partnerships for learning, which includes a grant of $4000. (25 August 2022)
Congratulations to St Joseph's Primary School, Coraki, for receiving a prestigious award from the NSW/ACT Council of Catholic Parents. The Roger O'Sullivan Memorial Award is an exciting opportunity for a school community to undertake a project to strengthen partnerships between home and school.
The award has seen the St Joseph’s school being recognised for their vision to enhance the aesthetics of the school environment in an exciting collaboration between the school, family and wider community.
The prize money of $4,000 will allow the school community to continue with their project to update their garden rainforest area to include a garden path with pavers engraved with the names of families both past and present.
‘It is a fantastic achievement for our school and the community,’ said teacher assistant Dom Howard.
The funds will allow the school to complete their Yarning Circle to provide the students, staff and families with a special place to increase belonging and connection through listening and storytelling.
The rich history and culture of the school community will be represented in artwork created by local indigenous artists in partnership with students and families.
‘The grant will help bring the community together to celebrate our rich culture and history,’ said Indigenous Education Worker Len Moran.
The importance of partnerships in the Diocese of Lismore has been demonstrated by our schools being recognised in both first and second place. St Mary’s Primary School, Grafton, is to be congratulated for taking second place. They were acknowledged for their submission about their Family, Faith and Fun night.
‘It is wonderful to be acknowledged for the interaction and engagement we have with our parent Community,’ said Principal of St Mary’s Jacki Moore.
These are two outstanding examples of how Community Matters in the Diocese of Lismore.
Please note there are interim changes for Semester Two, 2022, to system data expectations as we transition to a revised universal assessment data collection and timeline in 2023.
PM Benchmarks and PROBE
Required: Schools will need to continue to monitor reading progress in Term 4, 2022. Schools may choose to continue to use PM Benchmarks, PROBE or another reading assessment as an interim tool to monitor reading progress next term. While we transition from one assessment tool to another, schools will have flexibility on what this looks like for each school in Term 4, 2022.
Not required: In Term 4, 2022, schools are not required to record/upload reading PM Benchmark/PROBE data to the Student Data Site.
PAT - Maths and Reading
Required: Schools are required to undertake Pat R and Pat M in Weeks 1- 4, Term 4. While Pat R will be an optional assessment tool in 2023, using PAT R in 2022 is an important part of tracking and monitoring reading data.
Assistant Principal: Mission - St Ambrose Catholic Primary School, Pottsville
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Sue Falcke to the position of Assistant Principal: Mission of St Ambrose Catholic Primary School, Pottsville, commencing 27 January 2023. Sue is an experienced educationalist with over 12 years of experience in schools within the Lismore Diocese. Sue currently holds the position of Leader of Evangelisation & Catechesis at both St Ambrose Catholic Primary School, Pottsville, and St Anthony’s Primary School, Kingscliff.
Principal St Francis Xavier Primary School, Woolgoolga
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Caroline Lewis to the position of Principal of St Francis Xavier Primary School, Woolgoolga, commencing 27 January 2023. Caroline has worked across primary and secondary schools and held leadership roles in the United Kingdom and Queensland. Caroline currently holds the position of Assistant Principal Religious Education (APRE) at St Kieran’s Primary School, Brighton, Queensland.
Congratulations to the following teachers on becoming accredited as Proficient teachers.
- Tegan Paton-Kelly (Xavier Catholic College, Ballina)
- Jordan Aylward (St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour)
- Dean Coggan (McAuley Catholic College, Grafton)
- Crystal Jackson (Newman Senior Technical College, Port Macquarie)
- Kathryn Sheridan (St Mary's Primary School, Bowraville)
- Aleasha Bunton (St Patrick's Primary School, Macksville)
- Sandra Guinea (St Joseph's Primary School, South Murwillumbah)
- Samuel Martin (Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Skennars Head)
- Elke Jansen (Our Lady Help of Christian's Primary School, South Lismore).
We acknowledge their great work and that of their Mentors, and the broader support of their school community in this process.
SHINE 2022 was a powerful experience for both staff and students. Check out this amazing wrap video to catch a few of the highlights from SHINE.
The Digital Technologies team has supported schools this year to participate in the National STEM MAD competition as well as hosting eSports events across the diocese in Mario Kart, Just Dance 2021 and next term Rocket League. Both of these initiatives enable students, staff and schools to collaborate and share experiences that help develop the skills for the future. Check out our latest Newsletter for more information.
St Ambrose Catholic Primary, Pottsville, along with St Joseph’s Primary, Laurieton and St Joseph’s Primary, Port Macquarie, were chosen to send student teams to showcase their STEM MAD projects in Melbourne. Students and staff found the opportunity worthwhile with connections created as the students worked on their presentation skills, explaining their projects to the delegates, teachers and other students.
Blown away by this amazing opportunity and I hope it inspires children to future careers in STEM.
- Mrs Eloise Wilson - St Joseph’s Primary, Port Macquarie
I love that it was fun. I have enjoyed the whole experience from doing the project, coming to Melbourne and sharing our project with everybody.
- Amelie, Year 6 Student, St Joseph’s Primary, Port Macquarie
Want to be part of STEM MAD 2023?
Planning is underway for the Diocesan STEM MAD 2023, and we encourage all schools to consider if they want to be involved. Schools can register their interest for 2023 using the following form.
Register Expression of Interest here.
Want to be part of eSports 2023?
We plan for the diocese eSports events in 2023 and encourage all schools to consider if they would like to be involved. Schools can register their interest for 2023 using the following form.
CSNSW is hosting a Zoom Webinar, presented by Emina McLean, that will take place on 20 September, from 3.45 pm-4.45 pm.
Emina McLean is a researcher, lecturer, primary school English and Literacy leader, and doctoral student researching the reading and writing skills of university students. She will be presenting on Maximising literacy success through aligned assessment, curriculum, and instruction.
Emina also works as a professional learning provider, consultant, and coach in schools across Australia.
Emina’s background is in speech-language pathology, education, child and adolescent psychiatry, and public health.
Emina’s interests are evidence-based practice in education, language and literacy instruction, cognition, mental health, pedagogy, professional learning, and the speech pathology-teaching interface in schools. She is passionate about working with teachers to develop rigorous assessment and instruction practices in English and literacy domains.
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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 People & Safety > Recruitment > Positions vacant – internal site.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE
- Technology Assistant (replacing John Feros)
- Lead, Learning & Teaching - Secondary (replacing Kurt Challinor).
SCHOOL
- Assistant Principal: Learning & Teaching - Newman Senior Technical College, Port Macquarie
- Assistant Principal: Mission - Pastoral Care - Wellbeing - Newman Senior Technical College, Port Macquarie
- Assistant Principal: Learning & Teaching - St Patrick’s Primary School, Macksville
- Assistant Principal: Learning & Teaching - St Anthony’s Primary School, Kingscliff
- Assistant Principal: Mission - St Anthony’s Primary School, Kingscliff
- Assistant Principal: St Joseph’s Primary School, Maclean
- Assistant Principal: Learning & Teaching - St Finbarr’s Primary School, Byron Bay
- Assistant Principal: Learning & Teaching - St Joseph’s Regional College, Port Macquarie
- Assistant Principal: Mission - St Joseph’s Regional College, Port Macquarie
- Assistant Principal: Learning & Teaching - St James’ Primary School, Yamba.