This week I have joined Diocesan Directors for their Directors Forum regional visit to the Townsville Diocese.

As well as the regular directors’ meeting the visit provided us with the opportunity for three school visits. My thanks to the principals, staff and students at St Benedict’s, Shaw; St Clare’s, Burdell; and Ryan Catholic College, Kirwan for making us welcome. It was also delightful to share lunch with Fr Dave Lancini and the Leadership Team of Ryan Catholic College and discuss the many collaborative activities occurring between the parish and its Catholic schools.

As always, it was exciting to see the work being done in our Catholic schools and the engagement of our young people in learning.

Last week schools and diocesan education offices across the state took part in National Reconciliation Week activities.

It was wonderful to see the many and varied celebrations that took place across our school communities, reflecting local context in these commemorations.

It is an important time, not just for the 7,000 Indigenous students in our schools, but for all students and staff to come together to further our understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, spirituality and connection to land, sea and waterways.

I hope the week provided enriching experiences for all our Catholic school communities.

(Image: St Patrick's College, Townsville)

I had the pleasure of attending the Blessing and Official Opening of Good Samaritan Catholic College at Bli Bli last week.

It is always exciting to feel the energy in a new school and to see students and staff travel uncharted paths together to establish and grow a new learning community.

My thanks to Principal Greg Myers for the warm welcome to the college.

Recently Most Rev Gregory Homeming OCD, Bishop of Lismore announced that Dr Sally Towns has been appointed as Diocesan Director of Catholic Schools/Chief Executive Officer of the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Ltd, to commence on 22 July.

Sally taught in the Lismore diocesan community for more than 10 years, before moving to Hobart and becoming Principal of Mackillop Catholic College from 2009-2015. From 2015 until now she has been the Director of School Effectiveness in the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Cairns and her administrative responsibilities have included Acting Deputy Executive Director and Acting Executive Director.

On behalf of QCEC, I take this opportunity to wish Sally all the best with this new and exciting role as the diocese introduces a new catholic education governance model and approaches the many other challenges facing schools and looks to her inspired, faith-filled leadership.

On Tuesday QCEC hosted a NAPLAN Online Readiness Forum for approximately 50 RI/PJP and diocesan school staff at the ACU Leadership Centre in Brisbane.

The forum covered topics including national and state resources, school, staff and student readiness, test administration support and planning for the transition to online assessment.

My thanks to the QCEC NAPLAN Online Coordinators Liam Garvey, Jane Slattery and Edwin Choi for the preparation work and delivery of the forum.

Please note there will also be a NAPLAN Online Symposium hosted by QCEC on Tuesday 20 August 2019 and registrations for this event will open soon.

I am pleased to announce that this year 131 nominations were received from Catholic school communities across the State, recognising the exceptional work undertaken by teachers, staff, parents, carers, and volunteers.

Nominees, including five teams, have been recognised across a number of categories for excellence in their work, leadership and initiative.

The Aunty Joan Hendriks Reconciliation Award attracted 9 nominees.

Congratulations to all those nominated and thank you to everyone who took the time to submit nominations for the awards. The move to the online nomination form provided a more streamlined process this year.

Award recipients will now be selected by the relevant judging panels and will be announced prior to Catholic Education Week.

Certificates for all nominees will be provided to schools and offices in the coming weeks, in the hope that these can also be presented during Catholic Education Week.

A list of all those nominated for the 2019 Spirit of Catholic Education Awards is now available on the Catholic Education Week website.

Thank you for your ongoing support of these awards.

The Brisbane Archdiocesan Living Laudato Si’ Steering Group has released its 2018 Annual Report highlighting a number of activities undertaken throughout the year to enhance the work of parishes, schools and other Catholic agencies in working for a more sustainable future. 

Among the goals set out by the Steering Group is for every school within the Archdiocese to have developed a Living Laudato Si’ Plan by the end of 2020.

Read more about last week’s meeting in the Staff Update #4 and keep up to date with all EB9 developments via the website.

Nominations for the 2019 TEACHX Awards run by the QCT are now open. Click here for all the details.

Register your school for this year’s Day for Daniel Fun Run.

Missed a Circular? Below is a list of Circulars that have been issued recently. Use your login to access them.

047         Blue Card Legislation Changes

048        NAPLAN Online Update No 3 Connectivity Issue

049         Advice from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Network

050         Distribution of Grant Interest

051         NGRSF Middle Leaders