Welcome back to Term 2 – a school term we can be sure will be like no other we have ever known.

I hope you managed to find some time during the holidays to refresh and recharge in readiness for the many challenges that will face us all in the coming weeks and to celebrate, perhaps in quite different ways, the joy of the Easter season.

It has been inspiring to see our Catholic schools and School Authorities in action over recent weeks as they geared up for the prospect of learning at home.

Our school communities have witnessed the dedication of staff and families to work together to make it possible for our young people to stay engaged in their learning.

QCEC will continue to communicate with Catholic School Authorities on a regular basis through our Pandemic Planning Group as well as our network of committees to ensure schools are kept up to date with developments.

There will be challenges as we move forward and the plans for the second half of the term are yet to be announced by the Queensland Government but we will continue to work together and at the heart of all we do will be the wellbeing of the young people in our care.

We have included a gallery which paints a picture of how school staff and students are adapting to the new learning changes. See below..

Photo source: Facebook

Unfortunately due to the ongoing community restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the Commission has decided to cancel Catholic Education Week (CEW) celebrations for 2020. 

While this is regrettable, the Commission recognised that schools are under great pressure at this time and that celebrating CEW would be an added pressure on school communities.

Fortunately, the Spirit of Catholic Education Awards will continue to run independently of CEW, as a stand-alone event for 2020.

The deadline for the online submission of nominations has been extended to the end of Term 2 (Friday 26 June 2020).

We hope that in extending the time for nominations our school communities will be able to highlight some of the innovative work being done as they navigate the pandemic situation.  

The awards will be presented during Term 4.

The planned 2020 CEW theme A Spirited Tomorrow will be carried forward to celebrate Catholic Education Week in 2021.

Please refer to the Catholic Education Week website for further updates.

QCEC has notified the Australian Government that QCEC and Queensland Catholic School Authorities may be unable to deliver all planned activities as reflected in the approved 2020 NGRSF workplans and may potentially seek approval to carry over funds for future delivery of agreed activities.

The Australian Government has acknowledged the impact of COVID-19 on planned activities and will provide advice in the future as to the implications for reporting and acquittal processes.

QCEC will provide this advice once it is available.

The scheduled NCCD cross-school moderation sessions have moved to an online platform.

NCCD moderation is an essential activity that assures students with disability are in the right category of disability and level of adjustment.

Participants can register for a session that best suits their own schedules. Registrations are open for April and May via Eventbrite.

Congratulations to Michael Newman on his appointment as Head of Marist College, Ashgrove, from January 2021.

Michael is currently Executive Principal of St Mary’s College, Toowoomba, and has a range of experience as a successful Catholic educator and leader.

He has also served communities and schools in the Burdekin, Sydney and Lismore.

While we will formally farewell current Head Peter McLoughlin closer to the end of the year, I take this opportunity to thank Peter for his wonderful contribution to Marist College and to Catholic education more broadly. 

He will be greatly missed.

Long-serving vice-chancellor of the Australian Catholic University (ACU) Greg Craven will retire as of January next year.

Greg was appointed as vice-chancellor in 2008 and since then ACU’s enrolments have grown exponentially.

I thank Greg for his dedication to Catholic education and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.