This week we have had the pleasure of welcoming back the entire school community including most if not all Catholic school boarding students.

This is the first time in many months that some boarding school students have been able to return to face to face learning and to enjoy their regular routines and social interaction.

It is also encouraging to see the return of many regular school events and sporting and cultural activities able to be carried out within the health guidelines.

As we adapt to a new normal we know there will still be challenges ahead and, as the Victorian situation has shown, lockdown restrictions could easily return to parts or all of our state and we will need to be ready to adapt.

We look forward to a busy, engaging and productive Term 3 for everyone. 

Although we have now moved to Stage 3 easing of restrictions, health advice continues to be that there is a need to apply physical distancing in the workplace.

Due to space restrictions within the secretariat QCEC will continue to hold all of its committee and network meetings via Zoom, as we have done very successfully throughout term two. 

The QCEC Leadership Team are regularly monitoring any changes to health advice and when we can safely revert to the pre-COVID-19 meeting arrangements we will do so. 

My thanks to all those from the Secretariat and Catholic School Authorities who have worked on the lengthy and complex EB9 process which is now in its closing stages. 

The vote on the proposed Agreements held at the end of June led to more than 90 per cent of those who voted endorsing the proposed Agreements for diocesan and RI/PJP schools.  

The proposed Enterprise Agreements have now been submitted to the Fair Work Commission for approval which may take some time owing to the complexities of the Agreements.

We have had a wonderful response to this year’s Spirit of Catholic Education Awards with more than 210 nominations (including thirteen teams) received from Catholic school communities across the State, recognising the important work being undertaken by staff, parents, carers and volunteers.  

Nominees, including 13 teams, are to be recognised across a number of categories for excellence in their work through leadership, service, showing initiative and creating positive change. 

A full list of this year’s nominees will shortly be circulated and uploaded to the Catholic Education Week website.

Judging panels will meet during Term 3 to select the 2020 recipients. 

My congratulations to everyone within our Catholic education communities who has been nominated and thank you to all those who took the time, in this particularly busy year, to submit nominations for the awards.

Congratulations to Samantha Jensen who has been appointed the new Principal of Mount Alvernia College, Kedron, from 2021. 

Samantha brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role based on her many years of experience as a successful educator and school leader. 

Later in the year we will formally farewell Dr Kerrie Tuite who will conclude as Principal of Mt Alvernia at the end of 2020. 

We look forward to welcoming Samantha to her new position.  

Congratulations to Queensland Catholic School staff who have received recognition in the Australian Council for Educational Leaders Queensland (ACELQ) Annual Branch Awards. 

The awards recognise outstanding leaders who have made a difference and contributed to educational excellence. 

Well done to all Queensland Catholic School awardees: 

Excellence in Educational Leadership 
Michael Newman, Principal of St Mary’s College, Toowoomba,  

Fellowships 
Dale Morrow, Principal of St Rita’s College, Clayfield,  

Emerging Educational Leadership Award – Pivotal People 
Angela Martlew, Middle leader at Mater Dei Primary School, Toowoomba  

Emerging Educational Leadership Award – School Leader 
Polly Crawford, Principal of Sacred Heart Primary School, Cunnamulla 

Jennifer Smeed, Deputy Principal of St Saviour’s College, Toowoomba 

Emerging Leadership Award – Indigenous Leader 
Townsville Catholic Education Indigenous team: Tammi Webber, Krista O’Connor and Janelle Knack.

For more information about the awards click here.  

Queensland Catholic schools have featured strongly in the annual Australian Education Awards with six schools named as finalists across four of 23 categories. 

This is a wonderful achievement for our schools who have been judged alongside Australia’s top performing schools, principals, teachers and department heads. 

Well done to the following finalists: 

Best Professional Learning Program 
Brigidine College, Indooroopilly 
Stuartholme College, Toowong 

Best STEM Program 
St Martin’s Catholic Primary School, Carina 
St Patrick’s College, Townsville 

Boarding School of the Year 
St Ursula’s College, Toowoomba 

Regional School of the Year 
St Patrick’s College, Townsville 

Mt Alvernia College student Zoe Knight, has been announced as the winner of a statewide competition that will see her artwork featured on the cover of the QTAC Guide to Further Study.  

The annual QTAC Guide cover competition is open to senior secondary students with a passion for art and design.

Well done and congratulations Zoe.

Photo source: Mt Alvernia College Facebook page

The Catholic Education Office Northern Territory has launched its annual recruitment campaign to attract teachers interested in working in the Territory’s remote Aboriginal communities.

Details on how to apply are available here.

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

2020 Circulars

062     NCEC Representative Positions for ACARA Reference Groups

063     Non-Government Schools Census

064     Teacher Suspensions and Cancellations

065     Government Response to the National School Resourcing Board’s Reviews

066     Annual Fee Concession Data Collection and Support Data Collection

067     Position Vacant: Manager – Capital Programs