4 April 2018
Newsletter Articles
- Jesus Does Not Give up on Anyone, Pope Tells Prisoners
- Vatican Youth Meeting Notes That Some Want Changes to Catholic Teachings
- New Body for Catholic Independent Schools In NSW And ACT
- Higher Pathways
- Catholic Schools’ Middle Leadership Program (MLP)
- Recognising the ‘Next Big Thing’
- Building Resilience: Bounce, Bend, Stretch or Break?
- No More Harm Conference ACSP Special Offer
- CaSPA Conference 2018 Cairns
Jesus Does Not Give up on Anyone, Pope Tells Prisoners
Before washing the feet of 12 prisoners, Pope Francis told them and hundreds of inmates to remember that Jesus constantly stands before them with love, ready to cleanse their sins and forgive them. "Jesus takes a risk on each of us. Know this: Jesus is called Jesus, not Pontius Pilate. Jesus does not know how to wash his hands of us; he only knows how to take a risk on us," the pope said March 29 during his homily at Rome's Regina Coeli prison. Pope Francis celebrated the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper at the prison and washed the feet of a dozen inmates. Four were Italian; two were from the Philippines; two from Morocco; and one each from Moldova, Colombia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, the Vatican press office said. Eight of the 12 were Catholic; two were Muslim; one was Orthodox; and one was Buddhist. READ MORE
Vatican Youth Meeting Notes That Some Want Changes to Catholic Teachings
A Vatican-hosted conference of some 300 young people meant to advise Catholic bishops on the needs of youth today has acknowledged that some in their generation want the church to change its teachings on so-called "polemical issues" such as same-sex marriage and use of contraception. In a final document issued after a weeklong meeting in Rome, the young people also called on the Catholic Church to better include them at all levels of its global community and noted women are "not given an equal place" in church leadership. "The Church must involve young people in its decision-making processes and offer them more leadership roles," the youth say in their document, issued March 24 after six days of encounter intended to help prelates who will gather in Rome in October for a Synod of Bishops focused on the needs of the rising generation. "These positions need to be on a parish, diocesan, national and international level, even on a commission to the Vatican," state the youth. "We strongly feel that we are ready to be leaders." READ ON
New Body for Catholic Independent Schools In NSW And ACT
A new body was established yesterday evening to represent the proprietors of the 45 independently operated Catholic schools in NSW and the ACT, and their almost 42,000 students. The full name of the new organisation is the Federation of Religious Institute and Public Juridic Person Catholic School Authorities in NSW and ACT Ltd.
“This Federation will represent the interests of the 17 Religious Institutes and Ministerial Public Juridic Persons who between them operate 45 Catholic schools in an increasingly complex and dynamic Australian educational system,” said the Federation’s chair, Brother Paul Oakley. See Press release below
New Federation Members
Left to right: Sue Fabian, Br Paul Oakley, Kitty Guerin, David de Carvalho (NESA), Sr Judith Lawson OP, Frank Malloy, Craig Laundy (MP for Reid)
Higher Pathways
Higher Pathways is a free enterprise learning program that prepares year 12s and gives them exclusive access to the Australian Government's new Higher Apprenticeships pathway leading to employment in rewarding careers in in-demand sectors.
Higher Apprenticeships mean you can work full time and qualify people at diploma, advanced diploma and associate degree levels for roles in areas such as STEM, commerce, and advanced manufacturing. There is a particular focus on upskilling young women in these new positions but the program is open to all.
For more information about Higher Pathways and higher apprenticeships, check out the Higher Pathways website. You can express your interest for the program here and there is a 1-page summary attached below.
We're also holding a Higher Pathways launch and free professional development event on April 10 with the Foundation for Young Australians' CEO Jan Owen. Please register here if you're interested or pass it on to any interested careers advisors, year 12 advisors or teachers. An event invitation is attached.
Catholic Schools’ Middle Leadership Program (MLP)
The National Excellence in School Leadership Initiative (NESLI) is currently delivering a learning experience for Catholic school staff who are aspiring towards or already working in middle leadership roles. The Catholic Schools’ Middle Leadership Program (MLP) is a six month part-time learning experience linking self, school and the Catholic education system. The program was developed with Catholic Education South Australia and enables middle leaders to contribute meaningfully to school operations, student learning and the broader aims of the Catholic education system. Participant impact and efficacy to date has been extremely positive. For more information:
http://www.nesli.org/mlp-about.html
Recognising the ‘Next Big Thing’
The many influences on schools that may result in changes to policies include curriculum, accountability, staffing, as well as political, economic, social, research and technological trends:
- Recognise patterns in the messages from both sides of parliament. Political solutions may differ, but the issue will be the same. Watch for an influential government minister who has travelled overseas and returned with a strong message about overseas education. Monitor how Australian students compare with other countries.
- Take note of concerns about a slowing or narrowing economy, increased competition from overseas, emerging economic trends, employer concerns and unemployment rates.
- Be aware of social issues with traction in the media, such as issues relating to values, crime, suicide, marginalised groups etc.
- Recognise significant growth in research and knowledge about brain processing, teaching and learning strategies, curriculum, disability etc.
- Understand technological developments that are impacting access to information, communication, teaching and learning, assessment processes etc.
Building Resilience: Bounce, Bend, Stretch or Break?
Developing resilience is an active, lifelong process of doing, reflecting and redoing. Resilient school leaders can role model and explicitly discuss their own development, such as what skills individuals need to build resilience and how to develop these skills.
How people develop resilience will be unique depending on individual differences such as culture, physical wellbeing, and past experiences. Individuals respond in their own way
to a potentially stressful situation, and their response may be different on any given day, depending on what else is happening for them. What may be a manageable situation one day, may be the cause of stress on another. An idiom that illustrates this is ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back.’ It is important to understand how that final straw came to be placed on an already overloaded back, and recognise that straw as part of a much bigger picture.
No More Harm Conference ACSP Special Offer
Does your school have a Bullying Prevention Policy?
Do you want to STOP bullying at your school?
Do you want to better understand the most current methods that are being used to reduce the number of bullying and discriminating incidents?
Do you want to learn new approaches you can implement in your school?
If you answer is YES - lock in the dates to your calendar and attend the 2018 No More Harm National Conference held 12-13 April at Pullman Melbourne on the Park.
Enter code ACSP2018 to save $200 of your registration fee!
For more information and to register visit: nomoreharm.com.au
CaSPA Conference 2018 Cairns
This Conference is open to both Primary and Secondary Leaders. The Cairns Conference committee continues to work very hard to prepare for us a wonderful national gathering. The 2018 CaSPA Conference "Tropical and Topical - Leading in Diverse Times" will be held from July 15 17 in Cairns. I certainly encourage everyone to consider attending our national conference to engage in great professional learning and enjoy the collegiality of Catholic Secondary Principals from around Australia. All information relating to the national conference can be found on the CaSPA website.
Schoolzine
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