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- Action Research Showcase at the Canberra Convention Centre
- Action Research – Vibrant Learning Spaces
- 2017 in rear view – by Brad Gaynor
- Class in the great outdoors at St Benedict’s, Narrabundah
- Achievements at St Francis Xavier College, Florey
- VEX Robotics Scrimmage at St Clare’s College
- Teen Wellbeing
- Lumen Christi Pambula is in Fashion
- St Bernard’s teacher nominated for Prime Minister’s Prize for Science
- Tune in to TV News from St Clare of Assisi, Conder
- Hennessy in Young celebrates its eclectic talents
- St Anthony’s leading young inventor to blast off to NASA
- St Mary’s Young, Mission Day
- A Life of Service – A tribute to Sr Frances Fitzpatrick
The Collaborating on Student Achievement and School Improvement showcase brought together more than 50 schools from across the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn to share ideas and innovations.
TRANSFORMING classrooms into less teacher-centred, more collegiate learning centres is the latest innovative teaching approach as Catholic schools continue to exceed the challenges posed by modern learning needs.
Year 6 teacher Emma Young, at Holy Family Primary School at Gowrie, is leading the school project to transform classrooms into vibrant learning spaces that ditch the traditional model of desk-bound students focussing on the teacher.
Emma’s Action Research is one of dozens presented at the Catholic Schools Action research and School Improvement and School Improvement Showcase at the Canberra Convention Centre.
After research into the theories of international educators pioneering new ways to stimulate young minds, Ms Young concluded that the teaching environment should no longer be about ‘pouring content into heads’, but ‘considering spaces where students can discover content for themselves.’
She states in her action Research Project Report Transitioning from a Classroom to a Learning Space: ‘The space set up needs to match the style of teaching and plays a large role in inhibiting or enabling learning to occur’.
Drawing on the research of US educational theorist Diane Oblinger, Ms Young concluded: ‘Stereotypical 1900 style classrooms with each child sitting at a desk, in rows, no longer matches this updated research. As well as the above principles, comfortability plays a large part with students needing to feel comfortable and safe.
‘Not overwhelming them with large amounts of colour, work examples and resources ensure they are not over-stimulated, and in a sensory zone of comfort.’
At the start of the 2017 school year, Ms Young turned her classroom for 24 year 6 students into ten desks plus 18 other working spaces using a couch, futon, beanbags, coffee table and lap desks.
She limited wall displays and chose colours to create a calm and non-overwhelming atmosphere.
Ms Young sought and received continuing feedback from parents and fellow teachers during the year, which was encouraging. Her Report recommends that flexible learning spaces become a prominent feature of Holy Family’s future pedagogy. It also concludes that while initial costs could be substantial, benefits would be seen through higher student engagement and collaboration across all year groups.
All Showcase presentations will be made available online and via the next edition of Celebrate.
“ACPPA fought hard for a parent's right to choose Catholic education”
Brad Gaynor, President of the Australian Catholic Primary Principals' Association (ACPPA), and Principal of Holy Spirit Nicholls shares his reflections on 2017 and thoughts on the year ahead.
I will remember this year for… the wonderful things happening in Catholic schools across Australia. I will also remember this year for the school funding debate and its impact on Catholic education. ACPPA is extremely proud of the way we worked closely with the NCEC, CaSPA and CSPA to advocate for Catholic education. We fought hard for a parent’s right to choose a Catholic school and to retain our low fee Catholic primary schools.
Our proudest achievement this year has been… continuing to grow and expand the ACPPA. In 2017 ACPPA employed an executive officer, Paul Colyer, to deepen and strengthen our role nationally and become a more dynamic and relevant association in the future. ACPPA is committed to our advocacy and representative work to influence the development and implementation of national education priorities and structures.
The biggest issue in the sector for 2018 will be… recommendations that will result from the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools. ACPPA has been advocating the need for the resources necessary for every child to reach his or her potential. We believe it is important to have time to embed effective evidence-based practices, not constant new initiatives and ‘one off’ programs. Increased support to teach and develop the general capabilities aspects of the curriculum is also vital. The removal of student NAPLAN results from My School, and include only sample testing is also a key ACPPA message to the government.
This story appeared in the December 2017 edition of Australian Teacher Magazine.
Anyone who has seen the impact that learning and playing outdoors has on children knows how powerful such experiences can be.
St Benedict’s first Outdoor Classroom Day this term was a huge success. Students gardened, developed oral storytelling skills, conducted Science investigations, got creative with outdoor art, undertook a treasure hunt and competed in our own St Benedict’s Ninja Warriors.
Learning outdoors creates lasting memories, helps build a greater awareness of the environment, provides more opportunities to think independently, and gets children feeling challenged and excited by learning. They are more active when they play outdoors which is essential for their healthy development and enjoyment of childhood. Together, children and teachers are already planning their next Outdoor Day!
Winning image captures lifetime of love
Paris Yves Zorzit has topped off a stunning final year of College with a photographic award for an image very close to her heart. Paris won the ACT Life’s Reflections Photographic Competition – Secondary Students Award in celebration of 2017 Grandparents Day. Inspired by the love between her grandparents, her simple image evokes much emotion and meaning. Paris said the love between her grandparents is their secret to healthy and positive ageing. She aspires to follow in their footsteps.
The Life’s Reflections Photographic Competition is an initiative of the ACT Office for Veterans and Seniors and contributes to the promotion of positive ageing, healthy and active lifestyles, and intergenerational relationships through photography.
Construction Champs
Dylan Jones from St Francis Xavier College won 1st place in Landscapes Construction at the Worldskills Competition Canberra Region 2017. Dylan, a school-based apprenticeship student, outshone second and third-year apprentices. As did runner up Matt Cummins also from SFX.
The SFX construction champs will be off to Sydney next year to compete in the Nationals.
STEM Sistas
Senator Michaelia Cash was impressed by St Francis Xavier’s amazing science students Carlee-Ann Tonkin and Josephine Graham who were hand-picked to participate in the first national pilot of the STEM Sista Program run by STEMNATION and supported by Questacon. The aim of the program is to develop young women to realise they can be more and do more and ultimately achieve the goals they set for themselves in STEM related careers. St Francis Xavier has a strong science focus and its passionate teachers go to extraordinary lengths to extend emerging talents in this area.
St Clare's College in Griffith a hosted its first a regional VEX Robotics scrimmage in term 4 attracting teams from Canberra, Goulburn and Moss Vale. Prior to the event students had been practicing their set up of fields and running the Tournament Manager software required to control the autonomous section of the competition and the driver controlled robots.
The VEX IQ is aimed at primary to middle school students and requires them to make a robot, primarily from plastic components, and drive it by remote control. VEX EDR is for high school students to design and build a robot with metal components that will solve a particular game. Both systems require students to use engineering and design concepts to brainstorm, build, test and drive their robot to solve the game. The great aspect about the competition is the mentoring and collaboration required. Each game requires two teams working in an alliance to gain a maximum score. Teams cannot win alone.
Students from St Clare's College placed first in alliance for the VEX IQ Challenge and the Senior team took out the Design Award for their robot.
Successful events like this would not be possible without the enthusiasm and preparation of the students and the support of College staff to host the event.
ABC Canberra presenter Dan Bourchier has been raising awareness about the staggering prevalence of mental health concerns amongst young people. Principal of Merici College Loretta Wholley joined this critically important conversation advocating for a community-wide commitment to increasing the support available to teens and their families. Click here to view the video
Year 12 Lumen Christi Textiles and Design students travelled to Melbourne to attend a unique exhibition celebrating 70 years of splendour by iconic fashion designer ‘Christian Dior’ on display at the National Gallery of Victoria.
The exhibition was the perfect opportunity for HSC design students see firsthand the spectacular work of a globally revered designer. They spoke with tailors and the ‘workers’ behind the iconic fashion label, who work on a single garment for more than three months before a collection is released.
Students then visited other high-end designer stores and scouted through vintage and retro fashion shops looking for iconic fashion pieces. They toured Melbourne’s distinctive street art, and attended a Cirque Soleil – Torak performance at the Rod Lava Arena. Students gained an understanding and appreciation of the importance of character design and development when working on a production from a textiles/costume angles. Immersion experiences are an intense and invaluable learning experience for students preparing to make important decisions about their future.
Sallyann Burtenshaw from St Bernard’s Bateman’s Bay was nominated for the Prime Minister’s Prize in Science Teaching Primary School and joined an impressive stable of science minds at a black-tie dinner with the PM.
The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are Australia’s most prestigious and highly regarded awards for outstanding achievements in scientific research, research-based innovation and excellence in science teaching.
Sallyann Burtenshaw Pictured centre
The awards for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools and Secondary Schools are presented to individual teachers who, through the impact of their inspirational teaching and the sharing of their methods and results with the science teaching profession, have made an outstanding contribution to science education.
Sallyann was nominated for the STEAM program she created and manages at St Bernard's. She said the night was the most magnificent night of her professional life. Never before has she been in a room filled with such good will. “It was electrifying with everyone there united in the goal of making the world a better place,” she said.
“The prize winners had remarkable stories to share and every person in the room was gracious with their time including the Prime Minister and Mikala Cash who both chatted with me.”
Sallyann took the opportunity thank Jackie Randals from Inspiring Australia for providing the Government Makerspace B Grant which continues to keep St Bernard’s steaming along a very exciting STEM road.
“I have come back absolutely buzzing and confident that what I am doing in the classroom to inspire students to take up STEM careers is going to make a difference to our world. The passion that flowed from the Scientists at the awards dinner was contagious so I am happily spreading it back here at St Bernard's.”
VOTE for OUR UNSUNG HERO
Sallyann has been shortlisted in the Top 5 finalists in a technology competition by Education HQ called Unsung Heroes. Let’s help her to be recognised for her amazing work which could win her a ticket to the Future Schools Conference 2018. Sallyann hopes that people who read her nomination brief will be inspired to adopt the ideas being implemented at St Bernard’s at Bateman’s Bay.
Vote for Sallyann here: https://au.educationhq.com/news/44242/vote-for-australias-unsung-hero-technology/
Year 6 students at St Clare of Assisi have taken the school motto, Be the Light, into the modern era. Each week they use the marvels of technology, and the light spectrum, to record the school’s very own, online, news report.
Parents tune in each week to view the YouTube telecast to see what is happening in their vibrant school. Student, parent and teacher interviews regularly feature, as do excursions and school events. Students script, interview, film and edit the entire news bulletin. An interview in the Green Screen Room with the Director of Catholic Education, Mr Ross Fox, recently featured in the school news. Click to see this news bulletin:
Debating champs
The Year 9 Hennessy Catholic College debating team has been crowned State Champions after talking their way to top of the Catholic Schools Debating competition, defeating St Scholastica’s College, Glebe, in a nail-biting final. The team, Bridie Minehan, Myka Davis and Annabelle Richens, was supported by talented teachers Mrs Tyrell and Mrs Duff. Debating has always been a strong suit at Hennessy and we congratulate our students and staff on a fine achievement.
Young Pilots Aim High
Hennessy College students Brock Davis and Jonathan Thompson have scored best in the state for a regional paper plane flight test. Brock's design and execution won the ‘time of flight category’ in the Regional High Flyers Challenge and Jonathan was of the Winner of the Regional State Paper Plane ‘distance’ categories. Hennessy encourages all students to spread their wings to pursue their interests and dreams.
Busking flair
Hennessy Catholic College student Harrison Cleverdon has busked his way onto the national stage winning the 2017 Under 18 Australian Busking Championships. The contest attracted a strong field of country and contemporary musicians but the judges were 'awed by his talent' - his instrumental and vocal skills.
St Anthony’s student Bella Winfield has won a national young inventors' competition and a trip to NASA, with an idea to make toys that are kinder on the environment.
Bella, 11, who attends St Anthony's Parish Primary School in Wanniassa, entered the fourth year of Origin's Little Big Ideas competition, which encourages children to think creatively about solutions to real world problems.
Bella's sugarcane plastic toys idea was chosen as the winner of the Grade 5-6 category from more than 1000 entries.
Her idea was inspired by a delivery of sugarcane (pulp) bio-plastic water bottles delivered to her school.
Bella said she loved inventing, designing and thinking about better and different ways of doing things.
Principal Greg Walker said the recognition has provided a great boost to the STEM focus at St Anthony’s and will inspire students to think big.
Bella’s vision is for more sustainable and recyclable toys and to reduce the emissions created in producing polyethylene toys. (Bella’s video submission can be viewed here)
St Mary’s Primary School Young celebrated its Presentation Sisters heritage this term. The guest of honour was Sister Philomena Sewell, the last remaining Presentation Sister in Young. Much loved by our community, Sr Phil embodies the Nano Nagle spirit, and staff and students were honoured to celebrate this special day with our patron.
After praying together at the special Mission Day Liturgy, the children set up their class stalls and enjoyed a couple of hours of fun in the sun raising funds for the Binalbagan School in the Philippines. The children’s enthusiasm and generosity was outstanding and definitely in the spirit of Nano Nagle and the Presentation Sisters.
Frances Fitzpatrick was 17 when she decided her life’s work would be as an educator and nun.
Born in the small NSW country town of Cootamundra to parents she describes as ‘very gifted educators’, Frances joined the Sisters of Mercy community in 1965 and embarked on a lifelong mission to educate children.
Become a teaching sister was the answer, but she undertook much learning, soul-searching and affirming before she took her final vows 11 years after joining.
Another fifty years on, after helping shape the lives of tens of thousands of young people in a dozen-plus schools and gathering a notable clutch of higher education achievements along the way, Sister Frances is still going strong with the Religious Congregation that sustained her life’s work.
But she is shifting from an education focus – for the last decade working with teachers through Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn - to an executive support role for her religious community in their Sydney office.
Looking back on her life, Sr Frances emphasises that she was only as good as the opportunities provided by her Congregation; that the team is bigger than the individual; and her strength as an educator was because of the strong support network that binds religious women with the communities within which they work.
“This life has given me so many opportunities that I might not otherwise have had,” she says. “They were opportunities only because I belong to a group of women that carry on the work of the Sisters of Mercy.”
Sr Frances was introduced to the community that would become her other family after she shifted from a single-classroom state primary school to the Mercy-run Our Lady of Mercy College in Goulburn, NSW.
The Mercy sisters were education and humanitarian activists, and strenuous workers. In the mid-1870s in response to a clamour from Catholic parents for Catholic schooling, the Sisters started setting up schools across the Goulburn Archdiocese.
By 1962, they had impressively established eight primary and junior secondary schools in the Archdiocese. They’d also set up a string of schools in the Wagga Diocese, and miraculously found time to establish three acute-care hospitals and three refuges for at-risk young people.
In July 1962 it was a Mercy primary school in Goulburn which was the focus of Catholic demands for government funding to Catholic schools. The famous Goulburn Strike ensued with all the Goulburn Catholic schools closing their doors, and their students seeking enrolment in the government schools. Sr Frances, 14 years old and in third form, was one of the students that flooded into the state schools.
Mercy Primary School Goulburn 1962 Class Photo: Sr Frances Fitzpatrick second student top right.
By the end of the week, the then-Menzies Government spectacularly intervened and Federal funding of Catholic education was born – initially infrastructure funding, which grew into the per capita grants funding schemes.
Generations of Catholic families since should offer prayers of thanks for the actions of the committed Mercy Sisters.
From 1965 - the year Frances joined the Mercy community – the sisters started handing over their schools to the Dioceses.
The Mercy education model of ‘build and grow’ had been a stunning success, and Sr Frances was one of many in her religious community who worked tirelessly in the following decades to consolidate those efforts and hand schools to Dioceses.
During her long career Sr Frances was Principal of three co-educational secondary schools, and Deputy Principal twice. She’s always remained at the heart of the Mercy Sisters’ Australian regional centre of activity in the Canberra-Goulburn and Wagga Dioceses. The list of schools she’s led or worked in reads like a map of the area – West Wyalong, Goulburn, Cootamundra, Albury, Yass, Griffith.
“The children in the schools have been my greatest joy,” she says simply. “The ones who through whatever tiny thing you’ve done, have managed to complete their education.
“The staff at the schools realised that what I would worry about as Principal was that - of course - we cared about children who were ok, but we also focussed on children that needed extra help”.
She has nothing but praise for lay teachers who increasingly populated Diocesan schools as the number of sisters dwindled. “That also gave me the greatest joy, to leave schools in the hands of the lay people who still had that spirit of care and concern…so that no student was excluded on the basis of disadvantage.”
What kept Sr Frances ticking along, achieving and influencing the lives of so many young people and families in our region?
“The ability for things to sit lightly,” she says. “That’s connected to the virtue of hope – hoping something good will come out of everything, even in the most terrible situation”.
