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- Welcoming Our New Teachers
- Celebrating International Women's Day
- National Day of Action Against Bullying: 16th March
- St Vincent's Sound Bell for Peace
- Hennessy Student Wins Best Actress
- Merici College Announces International Baccalaureate at Awards
- In the Hot Seat with Principal Trazel Scott
- Hard Work Pays Off for HALT
- Languages Students Set National Standards
- Inspired Education Leaders Envision Future
- St Clare's College NASA Experience
We met our 56 newest, enthusiastic and engaged Early Career Teachers across the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn at a professional learning event held at the Catholic Education Office last month. Everyone agreed - it's been challenging, but great start to the year. Here's what some of our new teachers had to say:
Nicki Althaus | St Gregory’s Primary School, Queanbeyan, NSW
“I want to have a positive impact on my students learning and lives.”
University: ACU
Teaching: Year 3
Why Catholic Education? There is an enriching sense of community and belonging.
Dillon Beltrame | Sacred Heart Primary School, Pearce, Canberra
“I’m excited to see how my kids grow over the course of the year as they realise their potential.”
University: University of Wollongong
Teaching: Year 1/2
What area of teaching would you like to specialise in? STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
Sarah O’Brien | Trinity Catholic Primary School, Murrumburrah, NSW
“I want to inspire students, and help them to reach their goals.”
University: ACU
Teaching: Year 3/4 within a Year 5/6 collaborative space
What are you most excited about? Being able to teach in my own classroom after four years of study.
Campbell Sloane | Holy Trinity Primary School, Curtin, Canberra
“It’s information overload, but I’m coping well. There’s a great support network within Catholic Schools.”
University: ACU
Teaching: Year 3/4
What’s your favourite subject to teach? Science and mathematics, using Inquiry Based Learning.
In the lead up to International Women's Day we had the honour of interviewing our remarkable young women in Catholic schools living life to the full who are planning to make a difference in the world.
“One thing adults can do better for young women is just listen – listen to their ideas, listen to the opportunities they want to have, give back and communicate.” – Sophie Highmore, Mary Mackillop College
“For me being a woman is about expressing yourself and not being afraid to push boundaries, doing what you love, and being yourself,” – Natasha Silver, Merici College
“My teachers and peers have always told me ‘yes, you can – there’s nothing stopping you,’ so when I get into the real world and someone says ‘you can’t do that’, I won’t take it.” – Analise Greenhalgh, St Clare’s College
“Being a woman in 2018 is one of the most amazing things, but we still have a long way to go in terms of equal rights.” – Mateja Kostrica, St Francis Xavier College
“I’m fully capable of reaching my dream one day and many girls should feel the same.” – Cecilija Matic, St John Paul II College
View the entire video series with individual interviews here.
St Joseph’s Primary School Boorowa are standing together to say "bullying, no way!" for National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA) on the 16th of March. The students are celebrating NDA by creating a school creed based on reflection of their school's values and core beliefs.
Year 5/6 student leaders will challenge each other to reverse bullying by illustrating and highlighting what it looks, sounds and feels like. The School will then craft a bunting display that will be hung on the school gates to provide a visual reminder of their new creed.
What's your school doing to say 'no!' to bulling on the National Day of Action?
Read LessThere was a resounding message of peace and unity at the official opening of the Canberra Rotary World Peace Bell on February 23 as the voices of St Vincent’s Primary School Aranda choir echoed out over Lake Burley Griffin.
Principal Lina Vigliotta stood proud as two St Vincent’s students read an uplifting poem and rang the bell for peace that the School had compassionately raised money for in support of the project.
The symbolic World Peace Bell is one of twenty-four around the globe, cast from the coins of the United Nations, serving as a constant reminder that war and violence is never the answer.
There is no doubt that the bell will become an iconic part of Lennox Gardens, as peace continues to ring out across Canberra.
Year 10 Hennessy Catholic College student Jayda Hall couldn’t believe her luck when she won best actress at the world’s largest short film festival, Tropfest Junior.
The film ‘Iris’, written and produced by friend and former Hennessy student Annabelle Richens, communicates the touching story of a young girl who dreams of her sexuality being accepted in her religious community, as told through the colours of the LGBT pride flag.
Jayda said she enjoyed working behind the scenes and is hoping to gain work experience within a Sydney theatre company with assistance from Principal Trazel Scott.
“I didn’t realise there was so much work involved with making a film,” she said.
“It was a great bonding experience working in a small team – especially getting to go to Sydney together to see all of the entries.”
Mrs Scott said that she’s proud of Jayda and Annabelle for trying something different, and celebrates risk taking.
“This is one of the things we try to instil in children at Hennessey – that our students can achieve anything they set their mind to and dream of doing.”
Watch the 7 minute film here:
Principal Loretta Wholley announced that Merici College is a candidate for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Years Program during an Awards Ceremony celebrating academic achievements of students who are striving to reach their full potential.
Mrs Wholley said that Merici students are independent learners who take risks and challenge themselves to try new things while enjoying the learning journey.
“These goals and attributes are the principles of powerful learning that link in perfectly with the International Baccalaureate Learner Profile,” she said.
“The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who will create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.”
Mrs Wholley said that the challenging international educational program will be beneficial to all Merici students and will involve rigorous assessment.
“The IB programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right,” she said.
“We all want you to be the best you can be by doing things that push you out of your comfort zone and having a growth mindset; standing up for the values you believe in, acting with integrity and having a strong sense of justice.”
“Take responsibility for your own actions and the consequences that accompany them because this will be a life long journey of understanding yourself and others.”
The introduction of an IB curriculum will additionally provide Holy Trinity Primary School and Early Learning Centre students with a natural pathway from their IB Primary Years program into the Diploma Years Program at Merici.
We spoke with Hennessy Catholic College Principal Trazel 'Twinkle Toes' Scott about her life in and oustide her school community:
Your nickname as a child: Twinkle Toes. My dad called me that until he passed 7 years ago. It was because I was born 12 weeks early and only weighed 2 pounds and 4 ounces (1 kilo) so my toes were really, really tiny and twinkly! According to my dad anyway!
Your favourite food: Lasagne
Favourite activity outside of school: Cycling
Best thing about being a principal: Everything!
Best thing about your school: The Staff and Students! What we have achieved academically and pastorally in terms of student pathways is so massive for a regional community.
A memorable or funny moment at School: The Melbourne cup race day extraordinaire- a truly unique Hennessy function! Staff and students dress up; there are “Horse races” and a real sense of fun on the day.
A proud moment at Hennessy: Standing up at the first opening Mass in 2017 as my first official function as Principal was a proud moment.
What you love about your community: I love that our community is small enough for us to operate like a family. We know every child, and teachers go the extra step to help students whenever they can. Rural and regional areas really demonstrate the power of community and this is a true gift.
An embarrassing moment: My most embarrassing moment ever (Not at Hennessy) was accidentally saying “ breast” instead of “Blessed” in front of 700 parents and students at a Year 12 graduation Mass.
A small group of certified Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers said participation in the process had been rigorous and time consuming but had paid off through significant gains made in their schools and classrooms.
During a conversation with Director Ross Fox and other Catholic Education leaders this week the HALT group discussed future opportunities for the Archdiocese.
These teachers have undertaken a scrupulous process based on the accredited standards that focus on student improvement and teacher development using evidence from their own practice. They agreed that involvement in HALT had led to opportunities in their own schools and continued to contribute significantly to their own growth as a teacher.
The annual National HALT network summit is hosted in Canberra next week by ACT Teacher Quality Institute with representation of teachers from the Canberra Goulburn Archdiocese. The summit brings all HALT teachers to Canberra for two days of high performance learning and collaboration.
Interested in applying?
ACT teachers: attend Mother Teresa School on Wednesday 21 March 4-5pm.
NSW teachers: contact Lyn Smith on 0419163450 for information.
Photo: L-R Tim Elliott, Lyn Smith, Karen Western, Maree Williams, Eugene Lehmensich, Angus Tulley, Ross Fox, Kellie Candy and Patrick Ellis.
Holy Family Gowrie, Sts Peter and Paul’s Garran and Rosary Primary School in Watson have been chosen to showcase the exemplary standards of their students’ school work for The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) Languages Work Samples Project.
The schools’ work samples displayed on the ACARA website will enable teachers from other schools to compare work samples with their own students’ work to assist when making judgements, planning for teaching, learning and understanding the scope and diversity for assessment.
Holy Family Primary School Indonesian teacher Arika Bassett and Sts Peter and Paul Primary School Japanese teacher Amanda de Jongh were fortunate to partake in the Work Samples Annotation Workshop coordinated by ACARA in Sydney with teachers from around Australia.
Mrs Bassett said that after teaching Indonesian for the past ten years it was a privilege to take part in the project which has boosted her classroom morale.
“It was a great opportunity for my professional learning, and a ‘wow’ moment to be able to annotate students work from other schools and year levels,” she said.
Amanda de Jongh volunteered Sts Peter and Paul Primary School to be a part of the Languages Work Samples project after introducing Japanese into the school curriculum last year.
“The whole experience was very rewarding and affirming for me as a Japanese teacher,” she said.
“I saw many samples that were similar to my own, which provided me with reassurance that my students, although only first-years, were able to meet the prescribed standards.”
Mrs Bassett said that through learning languages schools are able to broaden students’ horizons, and emphasise the importance of respecting other people’s differences and culture.
“Our school is lucky to have great resources, connections with the Indonesian Embassy and a partnership with a school in Jakarta to allow students to have authentic exposure to cultural experiences,” she said.
“Exposing students to languages other than English in primary school embraces students to be responsible learners who are aware of their identity as global citizens.”
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Principals and inspired leaders were told that world class achievement throughout Catholic school classrooms can be attained in the very near future.
At the inaugural Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) Breakfast Panel today (22nd February) Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn Director Ross Fox told the group of more than 70 principals that Catholic Education’s relentless focus on ‘what matters most to the learning growth of Catholic school students will create an environment for world-class achievement’.
He said there are already existing examples of international coding and robotics champions in Catholic schools in Canberra which provide a window into the possible future.
Mr Fox spoke alongside Director General of ACT Education Directorate, Natalie Howson, and Executive Director of the Association of Independent School ACT, Andrew Wrigley at the thought-provoking breakfast.
Natalie Howson reflected on her personal schooling experience to stress the mantra that every student matters and through education can be empowered with the confidence to be a learner in life.
Mrs Howson said that parents need to ‘invest early and invest well’ to provide students with the best start in life as they transition through their early years of education.
As a teaching professional, Andrew Wrigley said that schools need to remain committed to the pursuit of educational excellence which can be achieved through teachers knowing their students.
Following the panel discussion, Catholic Education Office Deputy Director and ACEL ACT Executive Member Angus Tulley invited the 71 attendees to share their thoughts.
Principals discussed a push for mentoring students both socially and academically to allow learning to come naturally, the power of the student voice and the move towards 21st Century classrooms guided by what students want and need.
ACEL ACT Branch President Michelle McLoughlin concluded the Breakfast Panel by stating the event was a great beginning for Catholic Education in the ACT to work together collaboratively and further set the bench mark for Australian education.
Five St Clare's College seniors described travelling to Houston to participate in the NASA HASSE Space School as a dream come true, transcending space and STEM, empowering the young women to travel independently, learn to adjust to new situations and develop leadership skills.
The school closely simulated astronaut training with projects, rocket building, heat shield and habitat construction, robotics, neutral buoyancy training with SCUBA gear and the common elements of sleep deprivation all into crammed into two weeks.
Highlights included seeing a plasma rocket engine up close, building a two stage rocket and launching it and meeting amazing people. The St Clare’s students came away with two of the three prizes of the school with their team mates from Canberra Girls Grammar School.
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