Term 1 Week 2 / 29 January - 2 February (PeB 259)

From the Executive’s Desk

Colleagues

The first week of school has commenced I hope the year has started well.  Our thoughts are currently with the schools of our southern deanery as they await the crossing of Cyclone Kirrily and the uncertainty that such an event brings.

Our thoughts are also with the staff of St Augustine’s at Mossman as after a mammoth effort to get the school safe and usable after Cyclone Jasper, they are nearly ready to welcome students on Monday. 

As we commence a new school year, I share a reflection that continues to challenge my work:

I dream a Catholic School with new and better ways of learning and teaching and where each person’s needs will be met.

I dream a Catholic School that is child-centered, community orientated and enriched by parents and culture.

I dream a Catholic School where all differences will be accepted and where each person will be valued and challenged to be who they are.

I dream a Catholic School where children have equal access to the teacher’s time, the class resources and the vast opportunities that life provides.

I dream a Catholic School especially to enrich the poor, the disabled, the lonely, those with problems and who struggle to learn.

I dream a Catholic School where education is for all, with enough discipline, enough freedom and enough pragmatism to make it work.

I dream a Catholic School where children are recognised as thinkers, feelers and doers and the ‘whole’ person is educated.

I dream a Catholic School where each member will read and write, compute and pray, growing each day in faith and hope with love and respect for each other.

I dream a Catholic School where each one of us will give to God first place, in all we have and do, where everyone will use their talents for others.

I dream a Catholic School that is freed from injustices and open to the future that God is coming to us.

Lord, help me to dream a school. 
Where the uniqueness of each person is celebrated. 
Help us to be risk takers in our discernment. 
When the challenges seem overwhelming and we are unsure, 
Help us to listen to each other with the “ear of the heart.

Amen

God Bless

Ian Davis
Deputy Executive Director

ACTION

Learning and Teaching – Primary Numeracy

Primary Principals, to support your 2024 planning, please review the details provided in this memo, outlining the primary mathematics professional learning plan. 

I shared this information with you by email on Monday 22 January 2024. This is a reminder of the action needed by 02 February 2024:

1. Discuss with LLTs possible teacher(s) to include in the project. 
2. Complete the survey to identify your teacher(s) (change agent(s)

Belinda Emmi
Executive Manager Learning and Teaching 

Learning and Teaching – Year 12 Outcomes

This week, we emailed a request to the Senior Leaders of Curriculum asking for access to your school’s Year 12 data. This request is outlined below: 

As part of our consistent approach to reflecting on and reporting data, we collect the Year 12 data from across our schools and colleges.  A Year 12 report is compiled annually and presented to leadership and the board. 

Our BI system does not contain the complete story of our Year 12 data. Therefore, we ask for your support in providing us with additional data.   

Action required: 

Please provide us with your Year 12 data for the year 2023. Attached you will find a spreadsheet. Kindly support the completion of the required fields and return the document via reply email.  

Where possible, we ask that you copy and paste the ATARs of all your consenting students from your QCAA supplied data into column D, starting at row 15. 

I would greatly appreciate your efforts to supply me with this information by Friday, 10 February 2024.   

Thank you for your cooperation. 

If you have any further questions, please contact me.

Belinda Emmi  
Executive Manager Learning and Teaching

COMPLIANCE

Compliance with policies and procedures is essential in ensuring that we are meeting our legal and regulatory obligations as well as promoting consistency in our operations to minimise potential risks for the overall safety and wellbeing of our students, families and staff.  

Legislated changes to tuck-shops

A new food safety standard (3.2.2A) was introduced into Australia on 8 December 2023. This standard will affect all of our tuck-shops/canteens, although many of our schools were already meeting the new requirements.

Please ensure tuck-shop conveners, volunteers and all other relevant persons are made aware of, and follow the guidance in the fact sheet here.

David Kemp 
WHS Manager  

INFORMATION

Timetabler Training for Support Staff

In Term 1 there will be series of training days for Staff who support School Timetablers.

Topics covered:

• Individual and bulk import student data into Student Option Module
• Exporting of students information for other programs i.e. Atomi, Education Perfect etc.
• Adding classes to the grid
• Using the find and replace function
• Edit code character function
• Using the same rule
• Bulk importing students into classes
• Importing teachers and rooms from timetable development module to student option file
• Rolling up a student option file to the next year
• Overview of timetable error messages

Training Dates:

• Thursday - 8 February 2024
• Thursday - 22 February 2024
• Thursday - 7 March 2024
• Thursday - 21 March 2024

Training Times: 8:30am - 3:00pm 
Training Location: 130 Lake Street, Cairns 
Training Cost: Free 
Register via iCat: CNS04750 

Andrea O'Brien 
Timetabler Support Officer, School Information Systems

Telstra Mobile Accounts – New Telstra Partner Engagement with IMEI

Please refer to the attached memo for information on a new Telstra Partner agreement for mobile phone accounts. This is relevant for Principals Business Managers and other staff who support Telstra accounts.

2024-24-01 Memo Telstra Mobile Accounts - New Partner Agreement.pdf   

Michael Norman
Manager Information Technology    

CATHOLIC ED. ANNOUNCEMENTS ALL SCHOOL/CES STAFF

Engagement Wellbeing & Learning - School Allocations

Please refer to this link from Veritas for information regarding your allocated Engagement, Wellbeing & Learning support staff.

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me or the relevant team manager.

Brooke DanielsDirector
Engagement, Wellbeing & Learning

First Nations Education

Kapu Kayn Wath Ngitha Mulps Mura a Ngurpay Kuikoeymay 
(Happy New Year and a great start to the school year)

The team has been working hard in the background to prepare for 2024 and look forward to working with you this year.

The 2024 team is: 
Director: Kylie Agale 
Consultant: First Nations Education: Lillian Millar 
Consultant First Nations Education: Myree Sam 
Consultant First Nations Education: Jennifer King 
Administration Officer: Gez Ugali

Lil and Myree will focus on School Improvement covering topics such as First Nations Education Plans, curriculum, Learning and Teaching in First Nations Education. Jen will focus on school-community partnerships covering topics such as Indigenous Liaison Officers, Parents as Learning Partners, Student Agency, and Transition. 

The Directorate has an ambitious vision to nurture and grow the genius of First Nations students as well as nurture and grow Culturally Responsive Leaders (Principals, teachers, support staff). To find out more about the team, check out About the Team.

School Support 2024 
We have changed the way we support schools in 2024 with the removal of school allocations.  This enables the team to provide support across the Diocese and respond to the needs of the schools.  This support will be highlighted through the development of First Nations Education plans aligned to SAIPs.  We will liaise with School Leadership and DSEs in the coming weeks.  If you have any queries, please contact us via the Directorate email.

Professional Learning: O Week 
An abundance of gratitude to Narelle Hunt, Principal Mount St Bernard, and Kerry Manders, St Mary’s College for hosting the team on Friday, January 19 for a professional learning experience: My Name, My Identity.  The feedback from staff was very positive and we look forward to debriefing with the School Leadership teams.

If you are seeking a professional learning experience, aligned with the work of the Directorate, please contact us via the Directorate email.

Details of our work can be found on the First Nations page.

Resource recommendation: Speaking to Country
Have you seen the new resource on the Veritas? This is a highly recommended, must-experience resource that you can complete by yourself, or you may want to reach out to the Directorate: First Nations Education and experience Speaking to Country as part of a facilitated PLC/PL experience. If you have any queries, please contact the Directorate email.

Nulung Kayn Kasi 
A huge thank you to all schools who have responded to our communication and to the schools who have provided names of First Nations student leaders in 2024.  We acknowledge student leaders have been celebrated at a school level and we are looking forward to acknowledging First Nations student leaders as a Diocese.

Feedback from parents and community members has been extremely positive.  We look forward to celebrating the inaugural Nulung Kayn Kasi event on Tuesday, January 30.

Mina Koey Eso, Lak (Lark) Kay (Kai)

Kylie Agale  
Director - First Nations Education  

Identity & Outreach Directorate Update - Term 1 Week 1

This week's I&O Bulletin is replete with valuable insights on Accreditation, Upcoming Events, and Resources - 2024 Encounter Formation Experiences Booklet.

Rachel McLean 
Director Identity and Outreach

Responsible use of Digital Devices Webinar

Click here for additional information about Susan McLean and to complete your registration.

Bill Dixon 
Executive Director

Welcome to our New and Returning Staff

I'm sure you have been asked to start thinking about the professional goals you want to achieve in 2024. As part of your goal setting it is important to also focus on your personal goals and prioritise your physical and mental health. 

Attached is an article from our EAP provider Assure with some tips about how to incorporate rest into your routine, as well as a Health and Wellbeing Calendar for 2024.

Wishing everyone all the best for the 2024 school year.

Deborah Crotty
Manager Human Resource Administration

Deborah Crotty
Manager Human Resource Administration

STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Find your next career change with the Cairns Diocese. 

To explore opportunities in other Dioceses go to Catholic Education Announcements, on the Staff Portal.   

QCEC UPDATES

Click here for the latest QCEC Communiques, Circulars and Education Updates.

Catholic News

 CathNews

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES!

CES offers professional learning workshops, retreats and networks along with tools and resources to support your growth and development as an educator.   

iCat is our online Professional Learning catalogue. It is available now for you to browse professional learning opportunities.

This short 3 minute ‘how to’ video will help you use iCat.

How to enrol in a course
1. Click on the copy icon beside the ilearn code
2. Click on the link to go to “ilearn” and log in
3. Paste the course code into the search box
4. Open course details then click on enrol

We welcome any feedback or observations as you engage with iCat, especially during this initial period to Tammy Angel tangel@cns.catholic.edu.au

So we can meet your dietary needs watch this short video to show you how to add them to ilearn.

AP/DP Agenda

The agenda for our first network day is now available. 

Date: Tuesday 13 February (Week 4)
Time: 9.15am -2.15pm
Location: Resource Centre (CES Lake St) 
Register via iCat:  CNS04194

Bec Burns Consultant 
Workforce Capability

Encounter Scripture Webinar Series 2024

Topic: Baptism of Jesus

Presenter: Professor Peta Goldburg rsm 
Delivery Mode: Zoom - Participants may choose to do individuals session or the whole series. 
Accreditation: 1 hour Teach Religion in a Catholic School (per session) 
APST: 2, 3, 6, 7 
Costing: Sponsored by Identity and Outreach Directorate (CEDC) 
Session 1: Zoom - Monday 29 January 2024 [T1W2]  / 3:30pm - 4:30pm  
Register via iCat: learn Code - CNS04485 (by 25 Jan 2024) 

Rachel McLean
Director Identity and Outreach   

Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher Support

The Term 1 QCEC Introductory Sessions, In-Depth Workshops and #HATCHAT #LEADFEED session can now be accessed via the QCEC HAT and LT website landing page and also via the Key Dates tab.   

There are no new updates from QCT regarding changes to the certification process; in 2024 the certification process will remain the same.  

HAT/LEAD Network Support Session:
Date: Friday 9 February
Time: 11.00am - 3.00pm 
Venue: CES  - Resource Centre, Lake Street 
Register via iCat: CNS04021 by Friday 6 February. 

Silvia Dimarco 
Leader Workforce Capability 

Lenten Book Club with Professor Peta Goldburg

You are invited to join Professor Peta Goldburg and Consultant Formation Nadine Grant as they delve into the history and literature of the last days of Jesus' life. A bookclub structured personal formation experience based around the work of Amy Jill Levine's Entering the Passion of Jesus is an "opportunity to examine our consciences and find out how deepening our relationship with Jesus and the Bible brings us into closer relationship with others and the world."  

Over six weeks we will read, reflect and dialogue on stories of courage and failure, despair and hope, political machinations and theological inspiration. In this study we explore both the history behind the stories of Holy Week and the risks taken not only by Jesus but by his followers. Join us during Lent to think about your life alongside the life of Jesus, inviting inward transformation and then outward action.(adapted from text contained in the Introduction to Entering the Passion of Jesus, A Beginners Guide to Holy Week by Amy Jill Levine, 2018)

Nadine Grant
Consultant Identity and Outreach

O Week Culture Building Modules

During O Week, numerous schools engaged in culture-building modules, which provided staff with invaluable time and space for reflection on the influence of Emotional Intelligence in our professional lives.

These modules can be customised to your school's needs. Additionally, the Professional Conversation module is offered as a full-day Masterclass, for all employees who wish to hold conversations that are both clear and kind.

If you wish to explore these opportunities further, feel free to contact me.

I look forward to discussing how we can tailor these modules to meet the specific needs of your school.

“Your presentation was informative and engaging. I took a lot out of it personally and professionally” 
“Excellent day full of useful, usable information”

Bec Burns
Consultant - Workforce Capability 

QCT Webinars from O Week

If you missed the Transition to Full Registration web conference last week, the edited recording and
resources are provided below. 

Recording

Resources

 Guidelines for transitioning to full registration   
 Evidence Map and additional resources 
 Form K (For Early Childhood teachers)

If you missed the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers web conference last week, the edited recording and resources are provided below.  

Recording

Resources 
APST career stages  
AITSL Classroom practice continuum 
Self Assessment Tool 

Silvia Dimarco 
Leader Workforce Capability 

Register now: EAL/D Network

This term (Week 3), there is a professional learning and networking opportunity for key contact persons for multilingual learners (EAL/D). 

Date: Thursday 8 February 2024 
Time: 12:00 -3:00 pm 
Location: Training Room, 138 Spence Street, Cairns

Register via iCat: CNS04649   (Include program details)

Enrolments close on Thursday 01 February 2024. 

The agenda will be shared closer to the date. 

If you have any further queries, please contact Joe Clark – Consultant Multilingual Learners (EAL/D).

Jaedene Glasby  
Manager Diversity 

Register Now: Leaders & Teachers Diversity Professional Learning

This term, there are the following professional learning and networking opportunities for Leaders and Teachers
of Diversity.

Week 2: Leaders & Teachers Diversity Professional Learning Community Day and Induction ​ 
Date: Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Time: 9.00am – 3.00pm
Location: CEDC, Level 1, Spence Street, Cairns

For program details, please visit iCat. 

Enrolments via iLearn are now closed. 
Please email ewladmin@catholic.edu.au to register. The agenda will be shared shortly.

Week 7: Combined PLC: Leaders Learning & Teaching and Leaders/Teachers Diversity   ​ 
Date: Wednesday 6 March 2024
Time: 9.00am – 3.00pm
Location: St Joseph's Primary School, 13 Loeven St, Cairns

Register via iCat: CNS04707

For program details please visit iCat.

Enrolments close on 28 February 2024. Please contact me if you have any queries.

Jaedene Glasby
Manager Diversity

Reflection of the Week