THE WAY (Term 2 Week 9 - 19 June 2023)
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Harmonious Voices from St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour, triumph at Regional Eisteddfod
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FOR ACTION
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NESA Elective PD
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FOR INFORMATION
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Accreditation at Proficient
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Moving from the National School Improvement Tool (NSIT) to the School Improvement Tool (SIT) in 2024
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Do this for NAIDOC Week!
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Our Journey Together NATSICC Website
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Empowering Learning through AI and the Latest Technology - A Networking Opportunity
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday resources
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Literacy Coaches Term 3 Meeting - Date Change
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Science and HSIE Collaborative Network Meetings
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2023 NAPLAN Results
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Positions Vacant
Students from St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour, dazzle crowds with their amazing voices at Coffs Harbour and District Eisteddfod Society. (31 May 2023)
Congratulations to St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour, choir for winning first place for the third year in a row at the Coffs Harbour and District Eisteddfod Society Secondary School Choir Competition.
Coffs Harbour and District Eisteddfod Society is a non-profit organisation that promotes Piano, Speech & Drama, Vocal, Instrumental and Dance competitions for students on the beautiful Coffs Coast.
From small beginnings in 1972, the society has grown now to over 3000 entrants annually, offering local youth the opportunity to perform on stage.
There was a wonderful range of different choirs with mixed ages and abilities filling the hall with an enthusiastic cacophony of sound, a very special celebration of music and singing.
‘So exciting to see many different people with different abilities performing,’ said Year 10 student Ebony.
The animated St John Paul College choir returned to dominate this year’s competition displaying their inspiring musical talent to hundreds of parents and fellow students with a soulful performance of Bruno Mars’ ‘Talking to the Moon.’
‘It’s really great to put all our hard work in rehearsals onto a big stage and to inspire other schools,’ said Year 10 student Charlotte.
Congratulations to the choir and their Conductor Mr Jon Baldwin who represented their college with great warmth and humility.
From Monday, 17 July 2023, teachers maintaining accreditation will no longer need to log Elective professional development (PD) in eTAMS. NESA has advised that 'teachers will keep a personal log of the Elective PD they’ve done that only captures essential information (date, title, Standard Descriptor addressed, duration). Teachers will need to retain this log for up to 12 months after their maintenance period ends as part of the quality assurance processes.'
For some time, NESA will continue to provide the option for teachers to log Elective PD online. NESA will advise teachers when this function will be removed. Teachers will still be able to view Elective PD previously logged in eTAMS. Some teachers may prefer to continue logging PL in eTAMS until they have completed 50 hrs of NESA Elective PD or until the function is removed.
In the Diocese of Lismore, the Whole School Learning Plan, which identifies NESA Elective PL for all teachers, complemented by MyLearning records, should negate the need for a personal record for most teachers. We thank school leaders who will continue to model the type of NESA PD undertaken at school for teachers as it is completed.
This is an administrative change only. Maintenance of Accreditation requirements have not changed, and teachers will still need to complete 100 hours of PD, including the minimum NESA Accredited PD requirements.
Congratulations to the following teachers on becoming accredited as Proficient teachers.
- Ella Helps (Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Skennars Head),
- Che McDougall (St Mary's Catholic College, Casino),
- Garth Rafferty (Xavier Catholic College, Ballina),
- Charlotte Sweet (St Augustine's Primary School, Coffs Harbour),
- Madeleine Batey (St Augustine's Primary School, Coffs Harbour),
- Giorgia Cox (St Augustine's Primary School, Coffs Harbour),
- Zackary Bennett (MacKillop College, Port Macquarie),
- Mitchell Buchtmann (MacKillop College, Port Macquarie) and
- Taylee Eames (St Joseph's Regional College, Port Macquarie).
We acknowledge their great work and that of their Mentors, and the broader support of their school community in this process.
Moving from the National School Improvement Tool (NSIT) to the School Improvement Tool (SIT) in 2024
The pioneering National School Improvement Tool (NSIT) was developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and the Queensland Department of Education just over a decade ago. Since then, it has underpinned school improvement in Australia and helped to improve teaching and learning in thousands more schools around the world. It has recently been updated to reflect the latest evidence about what leads to every student learning successfully. In the attachment, an expert Q&A with Professor Pauline Taylor-Guy – Director of School and System Improvement at ACER – talks about the new tool, its evidence base, and the role of leaders, well-being, and student voice in school improvement.
As we transition to the use of the School Improvement Tool (SIT) in 2024 for school reviews and school self-assessments, this is important reading for all staff across our Diocese.
This is a reminder that registration is open via MyLearning for the SIT Professional Learning Day. This training is open to 2024 review schools and our accredited school reviewers and will be held on Friday, 18 August 2023, at Invercauld House.
To celebrate this year's NAIDOC theme – For Our Elders – Common Ground and Learning To Ngangaanha have created an educational resource about Elders. The resource can be accessed here.
This year’s theme is about honouring, celebrating, and paying respect to our Elders and their unwavering strength. Those who we’ve lost and those who are still with us continue to advocate for justice.
The resource is designed to give students opportunities to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and community leaders from around Australia, as well as those within your local community.
The resource is free to download and can be used during NAIDOC Week or at any time of the year in 2023 and beyond.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Commission (NATSICC) has been busy creating valuable free resources.
Our Journey, Together - Link here
Australians will be asked to cast their vote in the upcoming 2023 Indigenous Voice to Parliament Referendum. For Catholics, this is a remarkable opportunity to call upon our Catholic teachers to make an informed decision.
NATSICC (with some help from Caritas, Catholic Social Services and Jesuit Social Services) have created the all-new website ‘One Journey, Together,' which provides Catholics with an array of information to help with their discernment. Included are many resources and videos that can be used in Parishes, Schools and groups to educate and inform.
HP, Intel and the Catholic Schools Office are proud to partner in this initiative to empower teachers with knowledge of the latest technology and educational resources. Education Technology is transforming the way we approach education, leveraging technology to create dynamic, interactive learning environments. In these workshops, teachers will explore current trends, gain practical tips and look at how to embed technology effectively.
Brett Salakas from HP will be presenting these after-school sessions in three locations across our diocese. These events will provide an opportunity for staff across the diocese to network, learn together and discuss AI in Education.
All staff and teachers are invited to attend networking workshops - Register here.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Commission (NATSICC) has been busy creating valuable free resources.
A new life in Christ… - Link here
NATSICC have created resources that aim to inspire and support Parishes, organisations, and schools in their celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday. These Liturgical resources are flexible and can be adapted to suit the diverse needs of groups across Australia. Schools are encouraged to incorporate Traditional symbols into their prayer rituals and liturgical events. In this watershed year for First Australians, NATISCC encourages all Catholics to come together as one.
Term 3 Literacy Coach Network Meeting change of date
The Secondary Literacy Coach Network scheduled to be held on 14 September will now be held on 13 September in conjunction with the Literacy Network Day.
The Science and HSIE Collaborative Network meetings were postponed in Term 2 due to the delay in the release of new syllabuses. In light of the revised timeline, the Science and HSIE Collaborative Network meetings have been reduced to one day and will occur in Term 4
Science - Tuesday, 24 October
HSIE - Wednesday, 25 October
Please update school Calendars to reflect the new network dates.
2023 NAPLAN results are expected to be released to schools on Thursday, 22 June, via the School and Student Summary Report (SSSR) on the AssessForm Platform. A proficiency standards report will also be available to schools through Schools Online. Please see the attached Memo for further details.
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.
SCHOOLS
- Assistant Principal: Learning & Teaching - Xavier Catholic College, Ballina
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE
- Network Engineer
- Regional Mentor Coordinator