THE WAY (Term 4 Week 3 - 23 October 2023)
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Message from the Director of Catholic Schools
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Building Strong Relationships at Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Skennars Head, Camp Out with Dad
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FOR ACTION
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NORPA On-Demand Workshops
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FOR INFORMATION
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Announcements
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Data Security - Google Third Party Software, Applications and Extensions
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World Youth Day Highlights
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Family Arts Opportunity
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The Voice Referendum NATSICC Statement
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Review of the Assessment & Intervention Framework - Primary Staff
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Positive Partnerships Workshop Series
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Building Leadership in Aboriginal Education across Catholic Schools in NSW/ACT
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Strategies for Addressing School Refusal – Online Webinar
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Podcast: Conversations Across the Diocese - The Learning Collaborative.
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Stage 6 English, Mathematics, Ancient History and Modern History Inform Sessions
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NESA Update on Draft 7-8 Technology Syllabus
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HSC Data Analysis Seminar
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Positions Vacant
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MyLearning
Dear Colleagues,
As the nation navigates this difficult and emotional time post the recent 'voice to parliament referendum,' as members of the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools family, we come together with open hearts and a deep sense of solidarity. While the outcome of the referendum may not have reflected the hopes and aspirations of many in our communities, please know that our commitment to understanding and respecting the diverse voices of our nation remains unwavering.
In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge the unique cultural heritage and wisdom that Indigenous communities bring to our shared Australian identity, and we pay a deep level of respect to the Indigenous communities in the Diocese of Lismore and, in particular, our Indigenous staff, students and their families. The journey towards a more inclusive and just society is one that requires collective effort, and we are steadfast in our dedication to walking this path hand in hand with you.
In times of challenge, it is the strength of unity that paves the way for positive change. As we navigate the complexities of our shared history, let us foster a space where dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect can flourish. Our Catholic values compel us to stand aside one another, advocating for a future where the rich tapestry of Australia’s Indigenous cultures is acknowledged and celebrated.
May this message serve as a reminder to all Indigenous members of our community that you are not alone on this journey. Together, let us continue to build bridges of understanding, cultivate compassion, and work towards a future where every voice is heard, valued, and cherished.
May the Holy Spirit watch over us and guide us on our journey to reconciliation and unity.
Adam Spencer
A heartwarming celebration of Fathers and Father figures was held at the Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Skennars Head, biannual Father’s Day Campout with Dad. (9 - 10 September 2023)
Fun and laughter echoed throughout the night as the Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Skennars Head, school community held its biannual Father’s Day Campout with Dad, a fantastic celebration of fathers and father figures open to all Holy Family students and their dads.
Over 560 dads and their children poured into the school oval, the largest campout yet, bringing their tents and eagerly anticipating a weekend full of fun activities to strengthen positive and supportive relationships.
Dad’s competed throughout the weekend for the prized Dad’s Championship Cup, along with many other events such as Dad’s Dungeons. The smell of amazing food filled the air with woodfire pizzas, delicious burgers and much more provided by staff, food vendors and volunteers from the local Rotary Club.
'The highlight of the camp for me was the huge game of 'Dad's Dungeons' with dads versus kids and when we played spotlight and spending time with my dad,' said Year 5 student Harvey.
One of the many special moments during the camp was a candlelight prayer under the stars that was led by the students. The night concluded with tasty roasted marshmallows around the campfires and happy chatter.
'The Campout With Dads was a time of the year for all of the students and their dads to play games, eat great food and enjoy roasted marshmallows around the campfires,' said Year 5 student Billy.
This year's Father's Day Campout with Dads was an unforgettable experience. The camaraderie between staff, dads and their children was evident through all participant's engagement, positive feedback and genuine appreciation. Congratulations to the staff, students and dads on making this an event to remember.
Check out these videos from the event.
The NORPA and Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools partnership aims to provide students with access to high-quality performance workshops to enhance the curriculum and teacher professional learning. NORPA has On-Demand Workshops that are available to both Primary and Secondary schools in Term 4 2023. All workshops can be held as an incursion at your school, and workshop dates, times and numbers are flexible.
Stages 1-3
This NORPA workshop supports students to develop skills and knowledge in making theatre collaboratively and learn performance techniques. They support students to take on different roles, learn about play building, and create short performances shaped by the elements of drama.
Stages 4-5
This NORPA workshop introduces students to devising and theatre-making by using physical approaches to character development, scene work, improvisation, and ensemble training. This skills training workshop will give students access to exercises, techniques, and vocabulary that have been used to develop NORPA's original works.
To express your interest in On-Demand Workshops, please email samantha.lynch@lism.catholic.edu.au by Thursday, 26 October 2023.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE
Nick Houghton has been appointed to the position of Data Literacy Officer in the Learning Services portfolio commencing 22 January 2024. Nick has been employed with the Diocese since 2008, holding titles such as Leader of Pedagogy, Leader of Learning, and most recently as Education Officer (Primary).
We congratulate and welcome Nick’s experience and commitment to the role, and wish him the best with his new appointment.
It has come to the attention of the Catholic Schools Office that as of October 2023, Google has substantially altered its security protocols related to third-party applications used by schools. Google will block all third-party applications, macros and extensions that authenticate using <Name>@lism.catholic.edu.au accounts. These measures are being taken by Google to make the organisation, in this case DLCSL, accountable for the approval processes.
Accordingly, new processes are being developed to ensure the integrity and security of data held by schools and the CSO. These new processes will involve a restriction on the use of any third-party software, application or extension and being subject to a range of criteria to ensure data security before being approved for use.
In the interim, until formal procedures are put in place, all third-party software, applications or extensions will need to be approved by the CSO Technology Services Team.
All enquiries about seeking approval for an application will require a helpdesk ticket to start the process.
The stories of transformation continue to be told as the pilgrims of the Diocese of Lismore settle back into their communities following an unforgettable World Youth Day experience. Share in the spiritual odyssey of this vibrant community of pilgrims as they journeyed through Spain and on to World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon. Experience the fervour, unity, and profound moments of faith as our dedicated pilgrims share their encounters, reflections, and blessings throughout this transformative portrayal of devotion and inspiration. We are most grateful to Daniel Pereira, Mission Assistant at Trinity Catholic College, Lismore for filming and editing this video as a gift to his fellow pilgrims and us, the wider community of the Diocese of Lismore.
NORPA invites you and your family to Flow, created and performed by Mitch King and Blake Rhodes. Flow is a yarn about Yaegl country and its neighbouring nations, told through dance, poetry, video projection and rap. It is inspired by the first native title claim on a body of water, a tale of one man’s search to discover more about his story and our region’s shared history. This is a free outdoor community event celebrating kinship, culture and connection and is open to all. Tickets can be booked here.
As a result of the recent Voice referendum, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council have released a statement outlining the need for healing at this time. View the full statement here.
Please keep the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in your community in your prayers.
As part of the planned annual review of the Assessment and Intervention framework, feedback has been gathered from across schools. Thank you to all those staff who contributed to the responses that have now been analysed, themed and responded to as part of the review.
Please see the attached memo for further information.
Positive Partnerships is running its newest National Online Professional Learning workshop series again this term. This is a free, three-session interactive workshop series where participants will learn about the components of an online planning tool designed to help support the needs of autistic students.
See the attached flyer for further information on these sessions.
Please note that participants are required to commit to attending all three sessions. They must also have the capacity to have two screens/split screen options or a second device. This Professional Learning is for classroom teachers and/or school leadership staff.
Interested staff can email Rachael Dillon at rdillon@positivepartnerships.com.au for further information and the registration link.
Senior system and school leaders are encouraged to register for a symposium designed to support educators in leading initiatives to deepen an understanding of and respect for the histories, cultures and languages of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Participants can expect to learn ways in which they can facilitate greater learning outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and can expect to leave with an increased awareness of ways in which they can create culturally safe learning environments for their students.
The symposium will be held from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm on 2 November at the Raddison Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney.
Find out more and register here. (You will need to log in to GO1 to access).
Children and young people are sometimes reluctant to attend school, and the reasons will be different for each child or young person. School refusal can happen at any age but is more likely to occur during times of transition (such as starting primary or secondary school) or major family events (such as separation or family bereavement).
Join us from 3:30 – 4:30 pm on Wednesday, 1 November 2023, as we discuss some early intervention strategies for school refusal and proactive strategies to support positive attendance.
Register using the link here.
Access the resource here.
In this episode, Amanda Falvey (Lead Learning and Teaching - Secondary) discusses the work of the Learning Collaborative with Murray Deeps, Principal of Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Skennars Head, Kurt Challinor, Principal of St Joseph’s Primary School, Alstonville, Emma McFadden, Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching of Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Skennars Head, and Kristie Coster, Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching of St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballina.
All current Podcasts can be located on the CSO Intranet under New Curriculum.
NESA has determined that curriculum reform in Term 4 in NSW will focus on Stage 6 syllabuses, and in 2023, the draft English Mathematics, Ancient and Modern syllabuses with the associated Life Skills syllabuses are up for consultation and will have a two-week information period. NESA has summarised changes to the syllabuses in video presentations that have been uploaded to the CSNSW Curriculum Reform Hub and can be accessed via this link.
Further inquiries can be made by contacting Joanne Hack at joanne.hack@csnsw.catholic.edu.au.
NESA will be providing Stage 4 Technology leaders and teachers with an update on the Draft Technology 7-8 Syllabus on Monday, 23 October, 4-5 pm.
The purpose of this meeting is to share refinements on the Draft Technology 7-8 syllabus after the recent ‘Have your say’ consultation.
This meeting will take place online over a Microsoft Webinar.
The Microsoft Webinar information for the meeting is below, where you will be asked to register for this Webinar.
https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/590a93de-b930-46a9-8123-bf147b0e7c1a@ce7ea3f2-3d76-459a-b733-e55eec732b0b
Further inquiries can be directed to Joanne Hack at joanne.hack@csnsw.catholic.edu.au.
Teachers, school leaders, and system officers are invited to attend a series of seminars presented by Dr John DeCourcy, discussing the intricacies and importance of understanding and analysing the 2023 HSC Data.
The Seminar Programme spans four seminars, some with multiple times, and each with a particular audience in mind. Those thinking of registering are reminded to ensure they have a functioning NetID login and that they can access both the HSC Data Analysis Users portal and an online Tutorial within that portal designed to support intending participants.
More information about the tutorial, prerequisites, and the entire programme can be found here: Seminars-2024-outline.
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
- Regional Ministry Assistant
- Assistant to the Executive Officer
- Human Resources Business Partner (Corporate)
- Systems Administrator
- Systems Engineer
- Officer Applications
- Education Officer (Primary) - Tweed
- Education Officer (Primary) - Clarence
SCHOOLS
- Principal - St Mary’s Primary School, Bowraville
- EOI: Acting Principal - Mount St John Primary School, Dorrigo
7-12 KLA Collaborative Network - Technology
In this course, participants will engage with facilitators and peers to develop a deeper understanding of content and strategies to improve learning and teaching practice. The course is designed to support Leaders to keep abreast of syllabus developments and contemporary pedagogical and assessment practices.
Follow the link here to register.
Dates: 7 & 8 November 2023 - Catholic Schools Office - Clarence, Coffs Harbour
EMU Specialist Teacher: Ongoing Professional Learning - Day 2, 2023
Extending Mathematical Understanding (EMU), Specialist Teachers engage in professional learning twice a year to continue to deepen their understanding of the learning and teaching of Numbers, improve their pedagogical practice and lead learning in their school. Ongoing professional learning is required to ensure continual improvement of skills and knowledge and to maintain the currency of the EMU Specialist Teacher accreditation.
The professional learning is scheduled on Thursday, 23 November, in the North at Invercauld House, Goonellabah and in the South at the Slim Dusty Centre, Kempsey.
Please follow this link and register for the appropriate schedule.