THE WAY (Term 3 Week 4 - 7 August 2023)
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Live from St James' Primary School, Yamba
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FOR ACTION
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Rollout of CrowdStrike Antivirus Software
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HSC Showcase 2023 Cohort
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HSC Marking Support - First time Markers and Itinerant Markers
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Intranet User Survey
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FOR INFORMATION
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Announcements
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ACEL NSW Individual Leadership Award Recipient Michele McDonald
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World Youth Day 2023
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New Podcast Station - Conversations across the Diocese of Lismore
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HSC Showcase 2022
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Curriculum Reform Timeline and Subjects for Consultation Released
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MyLearning
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Positions Vacant
For the past 12 years, each week, at 11 am, three Stage 3 students from St James’ Primary School, Yamba, have shared their learning with their whole community through a 1-hour scripted radio program at the iconic Yamba replica lighthouse on Pilot Hill. (23 June 2023)
It was 11 am at Yamba community radio station TLC FM 93.5FM as Year 6 students Marlie, Henry and Eamon opened the St James Primary, Yamba, 1-hour radio program.
Today the phone buzzed with excitement as parents, staff, ex-staff, relatives, and community members eagerly waited to ring in and request a song. Guided by experienced radio presenter Anne-Marie Wardrop the students answered the phone and made changes to the script based on the requests and amount of time they had to work with. Displaying calm and flexibility that you would expect from older students.
‘I really like writing the scripts. It is fun to go to each of the classes and ask what they have been doing. The students are always keen to share what they have been learning and request songs,’ said Marlie.
For the past 12 years, each week, three Stage 3 students have taken the lead in researching, scripting and delivering the radio program from the iconic replica lighthouse on Pilot Hill.
During the week, the students develop their script, and this week they shared with the listeners that Kinder students have been learning about weight, Stage 1 have been learning about how life looked in the past, Stage 2 have been busy writing speeches, and Stage 3 have been working on an integrated English and Science task. They also are required to check the lyrics of the requested songs before sharing their final script with Assistant Principal - Mission Renee Howland.
Back at school, it is a lunch break, and the students listen to the program while they eat and play. There is laughing and dancing as students actively listen to the song choices and the announcements, such as the birthdays for the month, sporting success and how the school choir won the Lower Clarence Eisteddfod.
Pride in their school and community spirit is evident throughout not only the delivery of the radio program but how they captured all of the events that occurred during the week.
‘It is a wonderful opportunity for our students to express themselves in a different forum. The students absolutely love going to the radio station, and with each experience, you can see their confidence grow’, said AP Mission Renee Howland.
You can turn in every Friday at 11 am to the students at St James through the TLC FM 93.5FM Apple app, Google Play or listen through your device.
In line with our continuing efforts to bolster cybersecurity, we will be rolling out CrowdStrike Antivirus Software to all Managed Windows staff laptops. CrowdStrike is a cutting-edge security solution that will significantly enhance our defences against cyber threats, safeguarding our sensitive data and systems from potential risks. Its advanced features include real-time threat detection, proactive threat hunting, and immediate response capabilities.
The implementation process will be staged throughout term three. During the installation, you may be presented with a popup requesting permission to install Crowdstrike. Please press “Yes” to allow the software to be installed.
The Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Office HSC Showcase celebrates HSC students' works and aims to inspire younger students. In 2024 we will showcase works from the 2023 HSC cohort in the following:
- Dance
- Design and Technology
- Industrial Technology
- Music
- Society and Culture
- Textiles Technology
- Visual Arts
We hope Leaders of Learning will liaise with class teachers to select and submit works by Friday, 20 October. Please refer to the attached document for further information. Thank you for supporting this initiative to celebrate and share exceptional work from across our diocese.
HSC marking is a valuable professional development activity and allows teachers to gain knowledge, skills and understanding of the marking process. Staff in the Diocese of Lismore who have been appointed as first-time HSC markers and who meet the criteria will be financially supported.
Staff who have been appointed as HSC Itinerant Markers may apply for up to $500 to support the cost of return flights for the marking period.
Applications for reimbursement for HSC Marking Support should be emailed to Amanda Falvey - Lead, Learning and Teaching (Secondary), and will be assessed on an individual basis.
Please refer to the attached HSC Marking Support 2023 document for the Guidelines for Financial Support and further details.
The current CSO intranet was launched in August 2020. We are seeking feedback on how you have used and navigated the intranet to support your work over the years in order to better improve your experience in the future.
Please follow the link here to complete the survey.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE
William Withers has been appointed to the position of Manager, Payroll with the Catholic Schools Office, commencing Monday, 7 August 2023.
William is a HR Systems & Payroll Manager with vast experience in Change Management, Process Improvement, Reporting and Analytics, Legislation and Law impacting HR Systems & Payroll across Australia and New Zealand and consulting capacity across the Asia Pacific Region.
William’s previous roles include:
- Payroll Manager, Palm Lake Group Southport;
- National Payroll Manager, Tollgroup Sydney;
- HR Systems and Payroll Manager, HCF Sydney and
- HR Technology and Payroll Manager Asia Pacific, Campbell Arnotts Sydney.
Ebony-Rae Devine has been appointed to the position of Regional Executive Coordinator (Tweed) in the Directorate portfolio commencing 4 September 2023. Ebony-Rae joins us from SL Conveyancing, where she was a Licensed Conveyancer who managed the legal process of property transactions, contract preparation, and settlements.
We welcome William and Ebony-Rae and wish them the best in their roles.
Michele McDonald, Assistant Director, Learning Services, on being recognised in the 2023 Australian Council for Educational Leadership (ACEL) NSW Leadership Awards. ACEL will celebrate the wonderful leaders and educators in New South Wales in a ceremony on Friday, 4 August 2023. Michele’s citation reads…Michele McDonald is currently the Assistant Director of Learning and Teaching in the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools’ Office. She also serves on the Academic Advisory Board in the Faculty of Education at Southern Cross University. Michele’s significant leadership in regional and remote education includes fostering professional learning communities, bridging networks of teachers and leaders across four regions, implementing evidence-based pedagogy to enhance student numeracy and literacy, and exhibiting exceptional leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and Lismore flood crisis. Michele’s meaningful contribution to education in NSW makes her a worthy recipient of the ACEL NSW Leadership Award.
A podcast station has been developed to share the great things that are happening across the Diocese of Lismore in learning and teaching. Episodes will explore the rich tapestry of experiences, insights and innovative practices that shape our learning environments. Each episode will feature inspiring conversations with passionate educators and leaders who share a commitment to nurturing students to the fullness of life.
In the first episode, Amanda Falvey - Lead, Learning and Teaching (Secondary) and Kerrin Cronin - Lead, Learning and Teaching (Primary), discuss the new Lismore Curriculum Implementation Journey Maps, which have been developed to support schools with suggested activities for effective curriculum implementation. The podcast station can be accessed via the following link.
The Diocese of Lismore HSC Showcase celebrates and captures the talents of our 2022 HSC students, reflecting their creativity, innovation, technical skills and conceptual development. These projects represent the culmination of months of diligence and commitment by students, planning and designing, developing their skills and applying them to the task of creating inspirational and engaging works.
Spotlight On …
St Joseph’s Regional College, Port Macquarie (Industrial Technology)
Student: Erasmus Grey
Title: Bathroom Vanity
Statement: The vanity derived inspiration from a number of sources resulting in a unique solid timber vanity. The vanity is constructed from solid Spotted Gum, and the timber sink is shaped from Grey Ironbark. The highlights of this project are the Computer Numerically Controlled routed sink coated in an epoxy resin, 2K waterproof benchtop finish, and high-end joinery.
Please refer to the attachment for details on the draft syllabuses NESA has released for consultation.
Inclusion Leaders Collaborative Network Day - Primary Schools
Primary School Inclusion Leaders and one additional Leader/Teacher are invited to the Inclusion Leaders Collaborative Network on 21 August 2023. Up to 2 release days are allocated per school. The day provides 2 hours of NESA Accredited PD and 3 hours of NESA Elective PD.
Please register for either North (Invercauld House, Goonellabah) or South (Macksville Ex-Services Club) by following this link.
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
- Acting Regional Service Leader (Tweed)
SCHOOLS
- Acting Principal - St Ambrose Catholic Primary School, Pottsville
- Principal - Mount St Patrick College, Murwillumbah
- Assistant Principal: Mission - St Francis Xavier Primary School, Woolgoolga
- Assistant Principal: Learning & Teaching - St Patrick’s Primary School, Macksville
- Assistant Principal - St Mary’s Primary School, Bellingen
- Leader of Pastoral Care - McAuley Catholic College, Grafton