THE WAY (Term 1 Week 10 - 30 March 2020)
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A message for staff from Dr Sally Towns
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Proclaim Lismore Student Discipleship - Incitāre
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Education Continuity Plans Update
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Professional Learning School Counsellors and Student Support Workers - ‘Supporting Your School Community’
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Be You Resources
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PSSA Sport Cancelled in Terms One & Two, 2020
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School Sport Programs update
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Access Employment Assistance Program
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Assistance for Parents & Families
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Renewing Working with Children Checks promptly
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Working with Children Checks - New Identification Requirements
Early in the month of March the annual Incitāre retreats for Year 6 students were held in five venues across the Diocese. Over 300 students attended these retreats which make up an element of the Proclaim Lismore Student Discipleship Continuum. The students came together in a safe and supportive environment where they could talk about their relationship with Jesus with their peers and youth ministry leaders. Small groups were led by youth ministry students from a variety of secondary colleges who help support the program. The youth ministry students also share their faith regarding the themes of the day such as demonstrating with courage that we are Christian. “I enjoyed learning a bit more about my faith and going in-depth in sharing about who you are and what you believe in. I also enjoyed collaborating with friends and kids from different schools in groups learning and role-playing about our faith.” (Year 6 Student)
Parish school staff are an integral part of the Incitare experience. Pope Francis explains that the “art of accompaniment” allows us to “make present the fragrance of Christ’s closeness and his personal gaze” (EG 169). Thank you to all the teachers who accompanied their students on the day and who continue to check in with them during the year. And thank you to the teachers who continue to step up in offering their services as the dynamic facilitators of these days in their roles as Convenor. The Student Discipleship Continuum has been able to grow and offer more opportunities for our students as a result of this leadership.
Significant communication has been provided to school leadership teams to ensure support and guidance for our educators as we continue to transition to a blended learning mode of curriculum and pedagogy in providing our students with a continuity of learning. I realise that this poses significant challenges for staff, students and families.
I am encouraged that the platforms used to support blended learning are already in use in our schools and that as a diocese we can support each other in developing resources and in the use of the available tools.
Each school is continuing to work on their Educational Continuity Plan in line with CSO guidelines. These plans will need to continue to be fine-tuned to enhance their effectiveness as time goes on.
This move to blended learning will take time for all schools to adjust to and we all acknowledge this. I encourage you to work with your peers to support each other through this transition period.
The following communication has been provided to school leadership teams over the last week in the following areas:
- Continuity of Learning Guidelines,
- Blended Learning - Pedagogy K-12 guide,
- Guidelines for Teacher Assistants and IEWs,
- Work Placement / TVET / SBAT information,
- Professional Learning using - Zoom, Google Classroom, Screen Casting and Seesaw,
- ‘Learning from Home’ A Catholic Schools Office site providing support and resources for teachers on blended learning, learning plans, wellbeing and professional learning.
For further information regarding online professional learning please see the attached memo.
Be You has developed a resource (attached) that focuses on how to look after your own and your students’ mental health during the coronavirus outbreak.
For information click here.
The New South Wales Primary Schools Sports Association (NSWPSSA) advises that due to the COVID-19 outbreak and ‘social distancing strategy’, all programs for Terms 1 and 2 are now cancelled.
The NSWPSSA advises that sports championships and state-wide knockouts competitions are cancelled.
This situation will be regularly reviewed and updates provided.
This includes:
- 12 Years & Under Boys and Girls Australian Football - Adelaide, SA - 1-8 August
- 14 Years & Under Boys and Girls Australian Football - Darwin, NT - 8-15 August
- Combined (12 Years & Under and 18 Years & Under) Boys and Girls Basketball - Bendigo, VIC - 15-21 August
- 12 Years & Under Boys and Girls Cricket - Bendigo, VIC - 7-14 November
- 10 to 19 Years Boys and Girls Cross Country - Adelaide, SA - 21-24 August
- 10 to 19 Boys and Girls Years Diving - Brisbane, QLD - 21-27 November
- 12 Years & Under Boys and Girls Football - Darwin, NT - 13-18 September
- 16 Years & Under Boys / 18 Years & Under Girls Football - Sydney, NSW - 13-18 September
- 12 Years & Under Boys and Girls Golf - Canberra, ACT - 8-12 November
- 18 Years & Under Boys and Girls Golf - Bellarine Peninsula, VIC - 23-28 August
- 12 Years & Under Boys and Girls Hockey - Canberra, ACT - 16-21 August
- 16 Years & Under Boys and Girls Hockey - Hobart, TAS - 1-8 August
- 12 Years & Under Netball - Sydney, NSW - 13-19 September
- 15 Years & Under Girls Netball - Canberra, ACT - 18 to 24 July
- 12 Years & Under Rugby League - Perth, WA - 9 to 16 May
- 12 Years & Under Boys and Girls Softball - Melbourne, VIC - 22-27 November
- 13 to 19 Years Boys and Girls Swimming - Brisbane, QLD - 5-9 August
- 10 to 12 Years Boys and Girls Swimming - Brisbane, QLD - 8-12 August
- 12 Years & Under Boys and Girls Tennis - Canberra, ACT - 17-24 October
- Combined (12 Years & Under and 15 Years & Under) Boys and Girls Touch Football - Wagga Wagga, NSW - 1-6 November
- 10 to 12 Years Boys and Girls Track & Field - Cairns, QLD - 20-24 November
- 15 Years & Under Boys and Girls Volleyball - Brisbane, QLD - 15-21 August
Staff are reminded of the Catholic Schools Office Access Employment Assistance Program. This program provides free anonymous counselling services for all our employees and their family's. Should you or your loved one's be struggling with this current COVID-19 crisis or any other reasons please call 1800 818 728.
Please find attached an information sheets from Catholic Schools NSW outlining sources of support for families, households, income and small business.
If you have a Working with Children Check that expires sometime in the next three months, it’s time to renew your WWC Check. By now you should have received an email from the Office of the Children’s Guardian reminding you.
The first step is to renew your application online here kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/check. You then need to take your application number and identity documents to a Service NSW centre.
In response to COVID-19 Service NSW have improved cleaning, and are providing hand sanitiser and single-use pens at all centres. There are some centres with reduced staffing and operating hours, so check the website for updated centre information before you go service.nsw.gov.au.
Employees and volunteers applying for or renewing a Working With Children Check will need to meet new proof-of-identity requirements. These have been enforced by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission to reduce the risk of identity theft and to further protect the safety of children.