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- Message from the Director
- Going Deeper
- St Joseph’s Regional College Indigenous Education Trainee Nominated for Award
- Christmas Celebrations From Around the Diocese
- Announcements
- NESA Proficiency Applications
- NESA Fee Payment
- Rewarding Northern Family Retreat Experiences for our Families
- Scheduled Internet and Telephony Outage
- Working with Children Check Renewals
- Safer Internet Day: Tuesday, 11 February 2020
In everything give thanks (1 Thess. 5:18)
As the 2019 school year draws to a close it is timely to stop and reflect on the year and to give thanks to all that we have received throughout the year. Pope Francis reminds us that ‘Joy springs from a grateful heart. Truly we have received much, so many graces, so many blessings, and we rejoice in this. It will do us good to think back on our lives with grace of remembrance’.
With this in mind, I would like to thank each of you for your commitment to Catholic education in the Diocese and dedication to ensuring the very best outcomes for student wellbeing and learning throughout 2019. On a more personal note, I am extremely grateful for the warm welcome that I have received in all 45 schools visited across the Diocese since commencing this role in Term 3.
Peace and blessings to you and your families this Christmas season.
Welcome to the second week of our Going Deeper Advent series. This week we explore the way in which the humility of Advent offers us important ways to think about what God might be trying to tell us.
Under the triumphant league of Angels, God entered human life as a defenceless child born in a cattle stall. Here was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords seeking out the lowest place, and choosing to be shamed, beaten and rejected. The entire trajectory of world history changed by His example; but the humility of Jesus and the Father who sent Him, began long before Calvary.
It begins with the choice of a humble and obscured teenage girl in Nazareth …May we all have the Grace to be humble as He is humble, may the Holy Spirit continue to guide us as we prepare for the Season of Advent.
To learn more please click here.
St Joseph’s Regional College Indigenous Education Trainee Nominated for Award
Joshua Wright, Indigenous Education Trainee at St Joseph’s Regional College, Port Macquarie has been nominated for a TAFENSW Excellence Award in the category of Health Wellbeing and Community Services Student of the Year, Trainee of the Year and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award. These nominations are for recognition to his outstanding achievement in his TAFENSW studies in 2019. Joshua completed his Certificate III in Community Services traineeship as an Indigenous Education Assistant at St Joseph’s Regional College. His traineeship has been part of his gap year experience before commencing at the University of Newcastle in 2020 to study a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours).
Joshua's teacher, Rebecca Miles, was extremely impressed with his dedication and commitment to his studies and commented ‘that he was a young man that will make a real difference in people’s lives, particularly within Aboriginal communities’. Throughout his traineeship studies, Rebecca witnessed professional and personal growth and insight, highlighting ‘that his capacity to face challenges and overcome them was always in a positive manner in developing his skills and knowledge for the community service industry’. Joshua was recently awarded a TAFENSW Community Services Commitment Award for his ongoing excellent participation to his studies in 2019. We look forward to hearing in March 2020 the result of his nomination for the Excellence in TAFENSW awards. We wish Joshua all the best for his move to Newcastle and university studies.
FAREWELL
Nic Constable has accepted a Principal position at St Joseph’s Primary School, North Ipswich commencing 2020. Nic began in the Diocese in 2013 working in the Catholic Schools Office as an Educator and then moved into his current position of Assistant Principal at St Ambrose Catholic Primary School, Pottsville.
We wish Nic and his family all the best.
SCHOOL APPOINTMENT
Chelsea Fisher will move into the Acting Assistant Principal position for Term 1, 2020 at St Ambrose Catholic Primary School, Pottsville during which time the position of Assistant Principal will be advertised.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE APPOINTMENT
Rebecca Tibbey has been appointed to the position of Inclusion Officer Tweed commencing January 2020. Rebecca is currently on staff at St John's College, Lismore as the Inclusion Coordinator.
The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has released new Proficient Teacher accreditation functions in eTAMS. Staff who are seeking proficiency can now apply via your NESA online account.
The offline process will still be available until the end of Term 2, 2020. After that date, all teachers need to finalise their Proficient Teacher accreditation online in eTAMS. Teachers working in the Lismore Diocese who wish to utilise the offline process are advised that they need to submit by 1 June 2020 in order to allow time for revisions that may be needed.
Once a candidate has submitted using the online process, the principal is asked to action these as soon as notification occurs as there is a 28 day regulated process by NESA before an application begins.
Read LessPayment is due on the 29 January 2020.
If you are yet to do so please access your eTAMS account and finalise your payment for NESA fees.
Any leave of absence with NESA will need to be taken by 29 January 2020 (if you do not with to incur the yearly fee).
Rewarding Northern Family Retreat Experiences for our Families
In the picturesque surrounds of Tyalgum Ridge Retreat over 40 families recently gathered to share a weekend devoted to faith, family and fun. Both parents and children explored the theme “Build Your Lives on Firm Foundations” through scripture, prayer and service and enjoyed a wide variety of prayer experiences, reflection and fun activities.
The secondary students who attended, appreciated the engaging way Hogan Rogers of Unleashing Personal Potential brought faith to life and encouraged our young people to accompany one another on the journey of faith. The retreat also provided families with time to connect with one another and unleash their inner adventurer on the high ropes, flying fox, archery and canoeing course.
“Thank you for this retreat. I loved the sessions with our facilitators. I really gained a lot about how to meditate and contemplate scripture. It was practical and really helpful to learn how to pray for my family.” -Adult participant
“It was fantastic. I’m going to come next year (if my mum will let me). This place is beautiful.” -Child participant
Read LessScheduled Internet and Telephony Outage
Thursday 2 January to Monday 6 January 2020
An internet outage affecting all CEnet member Diocesan offices and schools is scheduled for 2-6 January 2020. This includes all schools and CSO offices in the Diocese of Lismore.
The following services will not be available during this outage:
- Access to the internet from within the school/office network.
- Access to any diocesan websites.
- MiTel VOiP phone services including inbound and outbound calls
- Access to printing from within the school/office network.
- Access to school/office wireless (WiFi) network.
- Authenticatication to any diocesan onsite or web services.
Please note staff and students will be able to access their Diocesan Google account (outside the school/office network) by browsing to the site http://mail.lism.catholic.edu.au/local
Read LessWorking with Children Check Renewals
Staff are reminded of the need to advise the Catholic Schools Office (CSO) through the jotform link https://form.jotform.co/80798498515879 with the renewal details of their Working with Children Check prior to their current expiry date. The renewal process can be actioned up to three months prior to a current expiry date.
Please don’t wait until the last month. If your expiry date is in December, January or February take action early. Visit the Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) to begin the process. The OCG will be closed over the Christmas–New Year period.
You must provide these details to the CSO prior to the start of 2020 school year.
Read LessSafer Internet Day: Tuesday, 11 February 2020
Schools can register for Safer Internet Day at www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/events/safer-internet-day-2020/educators.
The campaign’s slogan is, “Together for a better internet”. Your school can use eSafety’s ideas and resources to help improve the online safety of your students and your community, not just on Safer Internet Day but every day of the year. There are ideas on how to promote the day, lessons and how to involve parents.
There are free webinars for parents that will explore the latest research and expert advice for using technology safely.
- ‘Helping Kids Thrive Online’ is suitable for parents and carers of young people aged 5-12 years old.
- Tech, teens and time online is suitable for parents and carers of young people aged 12-18 years old.
Parents can register at www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/events/safer-internet-day-2020/families
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