Last week I met with RI and PJP Principals for our regular term 3 meeting.

The agenda included updates on EB9, SATE, National Teacher Certification, National Schools Resourcing Board (NSRB) reviews, and State and Federal Government funding.

Principals also received a presentation from Professor Claire Wyatt-Smith from Australian Catholic University on Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment, including information for schools and supervising teachers. More information can be found at www.graduatetpa.com.au.

On Friday Directors of Catholic Education from the Queensland Dioceses gathered in Brisbane for their regular meeting.  Thanks to Pam Betts and the team at Brisbane Catholic Education for hosting the meeting.

Like the RI/PJP Principals mentioned above, Directors had a number of key issues including EB9, NSRB reviews, SATE, teacher quality, and Government funding on the agenda. Brisbane Catholic Education will host the launch of Catholic Education Week in 2020. Pam outlined some initial planning considerations for the launch and other key events anticipated as part of celebrations marking 175 years of Catholic education which will also take place in 2020.

Last week I travelled to Canberra to attend a workshop exploring the measurement of wellbeing as it applies to children and young people. In particular the workshop focused on wellbeing as it relates to school-readiness, children at school and young people preparing to leave school.

The workshop was organised by the Commonwealth Data Strategy Group and is part of their work in supporting the development of evidence-based education policy. A major challenge in building an evidence base to support school programs in wellbeing is the lack of agreement on the definition(s) of wellbeing and engagement, the domains within wellbeing and their relative importance at different stages in a young person’s educational journey, and, importantly, possible valid and reliable data sources to measure wellbeing.

The QCEC office will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday 14 August, for the Brisbane Show holiday.  The office will re-open as usual at 8am on Thursday.

We welcome a number of new staff to the Secretariat this month.

Jeanine Gallagher, John Clarke and Emily Wilson (pictured below) have commenced as Senior Education Officers. Additionally, Dana Messer will join the Secretariat next week in this role.

Allira Wiggins has been appointed to the new role of Communications and Content Officer in the Communications and Marketing team. Allira also commences next week.

I take this opportunity to welcome Jeanine, John, Emily, Dana and Allira and trust that their time with QCEC will be personally and professionally rewarding.

In other staff news, this month we will farewell Jane Slattery and Caron Reid (pictured below).

Jane has been with the Secretariat since 2007, after a successful career as Principal at schools in New South Wales and Queensland. Jane’s wealth of knowledge, particularly in the areas of early childhood education, the Australian Curriculum and NAPLAN Online has been a great asset to QCEC and she has represented QCEC on a number of state and national committees and boards over the years. Jane’s expertise will be missed and I’m sure you will join me in thanking Jane for her work in Catholic education and wishing her every blessing in her new role with the Queensland College of Teachers.

Caron has been working in the professional support role to the Commission for over four years. She has overseen the preparation for and delivery of a huge number of Commission and committee meetings during this time, as well as the annual QCEC Student Protection Inservice Day.

I would also like to thank Caron for her dedication and support to QCEC during her time at the Secretariat and wish her well in her new role.

This week Scott Harrison will step down from the Reference Committee for the Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme after over a decade of service to the group. I would like to thank Scott for his time and know that his corporate knowledge of all things School Transport will be sorely missed.

Best wishes to all students and staff who will take part in the Queensland Colleges’ and Schools’ Music Festival (QCMF) which starts on Thursday, hosted by Villanova College, Coorparoo.

QCEC is proud to sponsor this event which has continued to grow and develop as a showcase for the musical talent in our schools. More than 15,000 students will perform over the four days of the festival.

Thanks also to the many volunteers who make this event possible.

Information Sessions for the 2020 round of Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HAT and LT) certification for teachers in Queensland Catholic schools are being run around the State in September and October.  

Interested teachers from all Catholic schools are encouraged to attend a 90 minute information session about the process for Certification. Catholic Education Office staff, principals and school leaders provide important support to teachers undertaking HAT and LT certification and are encouraged to also attend.

To register for any of these sessions please click on the links below:

Brisbane North (Friday 6 September)

Brisbane South (Thursday 12 September)

Rockhampton (Monday 16 September)

Townsville (Tuesday 17 September)

Toowoomba (Wednesday 9 October)

Congratulations to the following students who have been named as finalists in the category of school-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year:

• James Carroll – Deception Bay Flexible Learning Centre
• Jonah Moten – Marist College, Ashgrove.

Congratulations also to VET Teacher of the Year finalist, Thane Williams, from Marist College, Emerald.

The winners will be announced at the Queensland Training Awards State Gala Dinner in Brisbane on Saturday 14 September.

Many schools are well underway with their participation in this year’s Premier’s Reading Challenge.

As an additional part of the challenge, participating students are invited to take part in the world’s biggest book review about a favourite book that they have read during the challenge. Entries received by 16 August will go into the draw to win 10 Booktopia vouchers.

Watch the video to find out more. Further information including guidelines and terms and conditions can also be found on the Premier’s Reading Challenge website. #bigbookreview

Don’t forget to keep up to date with all EB9 developments via the website.

Online Assessment Symposium – 20 August – Register here

Senior Assessment Cross Authority Moderation Day – 3 September – Register here

View the highlights video from the Catholic Education Week Launch event.

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

Early Childhood Educators Day – Wednesday 4 September 2019

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

078         QSA Draft guidelines creating records relating to safety and wellbeing of children

079        Group Funding Guidelines 2020-2029

080         NAPLAN Online Update No. 5 Key Developments

081         HALT Certification

082         Teacher Suspensions and Cancellations

083         Safe Harbour Scheme Copyright Act 1968

084         Resources to support compliance with anti-cyber bullying obligations