THE WAY (Term 4 Week 7 - 20 November 2023)
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Lismore Diocese Schools Excel at National STEM MAD Competition
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FOR ACTION
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Managing Student Anxiety with Dr Justin Coulson
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EOI Student Discipleship Formation Program Convenors 2024
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Working with Children Checks expiring during January February 2024
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One Talk at a Time
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Leading from Within
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Full-time Pre-2004 Teachers & Finalising Maintenance
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FOR INFORMATION
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Announcement
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Tweed Regional Office Blessing
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DLCSL and Southern Cross University Education Partnership
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Staff Leave and Teacher Accreditation
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New Support Materials now available for Secondary Syllabuses
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7-12 Collaborative Network Leader Science - Expression Of Interest 2024
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International Day of People with Disability - Information Kit for Schools
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An Introduction to RAP and the Standards for Teachers
Lismore Diocese students compete to design new and interesting products and services to make a difference for others and their environment. (9 November 2023)
A passion for making a positive difference in the world has led two Diocese of Lismore school STEM teams to win major awards in the 2023 STEM MAD National Competition.
STEM MAD is a National competition that encourages students in Catholic Schools around Australia to address real-world problems through the lens of Catholic stewardship, solidarity, common good, citizenship, humanity and wellbeing.
Throughout the year, teams from primary and secondary schools compete to design a product, service or innovation that makes a difference (MAD) to others or the environment.
‘It has been a valuable experience for these girls to step beyond their local community and see the possibilities of STEM,’ said St Joseph’s Primary School, Laurieton, Teacher Alfina Jackson.
In the Online Stem MAD 2023 awards, the St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour, team won the Best Integration of Technology - Secondary and came second place in the Wellbeing - Secondary and STEM is Future - Secondary awards for their innovative project, the ‘Calm Cap.’ A product that detects overstimulation, stress and other irregularities using brain wave frequencies and then, with an app, produces a suggestion that aims to counter these - subtle in public situations, portable and accessible.
St Ambrose Catholic Primary School, Pottsville, team received the STEM Judges Award - Primary and came runner-up in the Best Innovation in Health Award - Primary for their project, the ‘Allipen,’ a device that detects allergenic proteins within food.
Our three teams who won the Diocesean level competition from St John Paul College, St Ambrose Catholic Primary School and Joseph’s Primary School, Laurieton, travelled down to the Melbourne Showcase to represent our Diocese proudly. Demonstrating their spectacular projects to teachers and students from other Catholic Diocese schools around Australia. Touring Google’s Melbourne Office and participating in STEM activities with Lego, aviation challenge and Mindflight VR.
Congratulations to all the students and staff who participated this year. Year 8 student Mannat from St John Paul College provided the following advice to other students, ’I think that if anyone was ever contemplating doing STEM MAD, they should definitely go for it. This is an experience that I think I will remember for a lot of my life.’
You can watch the student presentations below.
- Year 6 students - Chase Mathewson, Jarrah O'Brien, Mia Collier and Evie Gray
St Ambrose Catholic Primary School, Pottsville
Firefly - Year 6 students - Husker, Jack, May & Ruby
St Ambrose Catholic Primary School, Pottsville
Allipen - Year 5 students - Leah Hayward, Tanvika Hari, Eadie Whatson and Daya Jones
St Joseph's Primary, Laurieton.
What's on my Mind? - Year 6 students - Gemma Cooper and Marielle Obeid
St Joseph's Primary School, Port Macquarie
Save our Koalas Resource Bag - Year 5 students - Charlotte Pascua, Adrienne Arce, Mayraih Spicer and Anable Shijo
St Joseph's Primary School, Port Macquarie
My Friend Stanley - Year 8 students - Anna Matthews and Mannat Dhariwal
St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour
Calm Cap
Dr Justin Coulson will present practical strategies to help support vulnerable students, as well as discuss ways of managing the burden that often accompanies a diagnosis of anxiety.
Schools have seen increased rates of Generalised Anxiety Disorder diagnosis among students. This is also true for a range of other mental health conditions. As such, educators and school leaders are looking for other ways that they can further support the young people who are in their care.
Following his popular webinar School Sucks!, which was delivered earlier this year on managing school refusal, CSNSW is pleased to welcome back Dr Justin Coulson, who is an expert in this field. Justin will share his thoughts on how schools can support young people, but he will also challenge schools to consider their own context and how they are best placed to support students.
WHEN: Wednesday 22 November
TIME: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
WHERE: Online, via Teams (link to be emailed closer to the date).
To register for this popular webinar, simply click on the following link here.
Are you passionate about sharing the love of Jesus with students? Are you keen for a new 'teaching' experience? Then this could be for YOU! An invitation is extended to teachers to express an interest in becoming a Student Discipleship Formation Program Convenor for 2024.
The programs are written, and all resources are supplied. You will deliver the specific Student Discipleship program at one of five venues across the Diocese. This opportunity will assist in the development of leadership capacity and empower more staff in Student Discipleship formation throughout parish schools. Appropriate relief will accompany this role. Staff who would like to pursue a Student Discipleship Formation Program Convenor position in 2024 should complete this Google Form, or for further details or information, contact Kate Nestor. Please note that the closing date is Friday, 8 December, 2023 (Term 4, Week 9).
Staff with WWC checks expiring December – February are currently being contacted by email. Please remind your staff of the notification process via the Jotform link (provided in the email and also available on the intranet). Verifications must be completed prior to the expiry date or the commencement of work next year.
STAFF VERIFICATION PROCESS - Update this JotForm with your renewal details.
A reminder that the Office of the Children's Guardian is closed over the Christmas/New Year break. Those with expiry dates of March will be emailed during the holiday period, so remind staff about applying for a renewal early.
Anyone with an expiry date during the January / February period must be provided before commencing work for the 2024 school year.
Principals, we ask that you print this poster and place it in the staff room as a reminder for all staff about renewing their WWCC numbers and how to notify the CSO via the jotform link in their reminder email.
The National Office for Child Safety recently launched 'One Talk at a Time,' a national awareness-raising and behavioural change campaign on child sexual abuse.
One Talk at a Time aims to protect children and young people from sexual abuse by helping adults understand that child sexual abuse is preventable and encouraging them to have ongoing, proactive, preventative conversations with children, young people and other adults in their lives.
The campaign is a key measure under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030 and fulfils a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Please share the details of the campaign with your networks, school communities and parent groups.
The Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Limited (DLCSL) has expressed a clear desire to focus on the ongoing growth and development of our current and future leaders. This is informed by the system strategic directions (2021-2025), which identifies the priority area of Forming, Informing and Nurturing our people with the aspiration to develop experienced and formed leadership to drive system and school performance.
In recognising the need to target and support middle leaders, DLCSL will offer a program entitled 'Leading from Within'. This program acknowledges the importance of identifying, supporting and developing a diverse range of leaders. 'Leading from Within' has been designed and is facilitated by Dr Stephen Brown (Director: The Brown Collective) and is targeted at supporting the ongoing growth and development of middle leaders in schools.
For more information, go to the Leadership - 'Leading from Within' page on the intranet, where you can find the following:
- Leading from Within Booklet.
- Leading from Within Submission Guidelines.
- Reflection Tool.
If you have any questions, please contact Michele McDonald, Assistant Director, Learning Services.
Full-time pre-2004 teachers need to finalise their maintenance by 31 December 2023. Pre-2004 teachers can make up any balance of the 100-hour PD requirement as NESA Elective PD. If you know that your school will be engaging in NESA Accredited PD at the end of the year, it would be best to finalise now so that these hours are accrued in the new maintenance cycle.
SCHOOLS
Chris Mason has been appointed to the position of Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching at St Joseph's College, Banora Point, commencing 29 January 2024. Chris has previously worked at a number of schools across the Diocese and has held roles including Leader of Pedagogy, Welfare Coordinator and most recently, Acting Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching at St John's College, Lismore.
We congratulate Chris on his appointment and look forward to his continued contribution to Catholic Education in the Diocese of Lismore.
On Thursday, 2 November, the Tweed Regional Office was blessed by Fr Paul McDonald and Fr Michael Brady. Tweed office staff gathered along with the Tweed Regional Principals for the service. Pictured are Fr Paul McDonald and Fr Michael Brady, with a selection of religious icons now displayed in the office.
REIMAGINING TEACHER EDUCATION (RiTE) PROJECT is the initiative between SCU and the Diocese of Lismore to research, develop and sustainably implement a new teacher education model and program that prepares tomorrow’s teachers for an exciting future in DLCSL schools and beyond.
The November update details the progress of the Project Management and Project Design Team.
Teachers who are taking leave from teaching for a period of 6 months or more need to submit a leave of absence with NESA. A leave of absence allows a teacher to pause their accreditation, giving them more time to complete accreditation requirements.
New support materials have been released and are now available for the following syllabuses:
- English 7–10
- Enterprise Computing 11–12
- Geography 11–12
- Health and Movement Science 11–12
- Health and Movement Science Life Skills 11–12
- Mathematics 7–10
- Classical Languages K–10
- Modern Languages K–10
- Dance 7–10
- Drama 7–10
The support materials include assessment resources, sample scope and sequences, sample units and parent guides.
Expressions of interest are invited from experienced Science teachers who are interested in the position of Collaborative Network Leader (CNL) for 2024. Collaborative Networks have been established in the Lismore Diocese to support Secondary Schools. Leaders are required to provide subject-specific expertise and positive leadership. Responsibilities include providing information about relevant professional learning and reading, communicating NESA updates, offering advice on curriculum and pedagogy, coordinating professional development when required, and providing the processes of the sharing of resources, programs, and learning and teaching strategies.
Expressions of interest are invited for the following CNL position:
- Science
Applicants are invited to submit a 1-page document outlining their background and why they feel this role would suit them to Georgina Robinson. The closing date for applications is 5.00pm Friday, 1 December 2023.
Full details, including how to apply, are in the attached flyer. If you have any questions, please contact Amanda Falvey (Lead, Learning & Teaching Secondary).
Every year on 3 December, people around the world take part in International Day of People With Disability (IDPwD). It is a day to celebrate the contributions and achievements of people with disability and promote awareness, understanding and acceptance in our community.
A key part of IDPwD are the events that schools, workplaces and community groups hold to mark the day. Every event helps to make positive changes to the lives of 4.4 million Australians with disability and create a more inclusive community for everyone. See the attached information kit for more information about how your school can get involved.
International Day of People with Disability - Information Kit for Schools.pdf
Specifically designed to meet the needs of teachers new to the RAP or those desiring a refresher, NESA staff will provide teachers with an understanding of key features and how to use RAP data sets to create teaching and learning goals.
Completing this course will contribute 1 hour of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Accredited PD in the priority area of the delivery and assessment of the NSW curriculum/EYLF addressing standard descriptors 5.1.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.
This course will be delivered via Teams and is suitable for participating as an individual or as a group.
Date: 15 December 2023
Time: 9:00–10:30 am
Registration