As I have noted many times during 2020, the pandemic situation is a constantly changing and swiftly moving one. 

Yesterday we saw the spot closure of St Edmund’s College, Ipswich, following a positive test on a Year 11 student.

Our thoughts are with the St Edmund’s community as they work through the necessary procedures to be able to re-open. 

We have also seen this week, a broadening of border exemptions, which will allow most of our boarding school students from NSW and the ACT to be able to go home for the holidays and return to school without the need for quarantine. 

QCEC continues to advocate with the Chief Health Officer and other government officials to ensure schools can operate as effectively as possible through the pandemic.   

On Monday I attended the launch of the Bishops of Queensland Election Statement The Common Good in a COVID World. 

This is the first time the bishops have made a joint statement about some of the key issues facing Queenslanders as they head to the polls.  

The launch was led by Archbishop Coleridge, Bishop McGuckin and Bishop Harris. A range of government, opposition and cross-bench members were present in the Cathedral for the launch. 

Archbishop Coleridge said the statement was aimed at creating a new kind of dialogue and new partnerships between church and state. 

A key element of the statement is the call for solidarity to deal with the pandemic and the challenges it poses to the most vulnerable in our community. 

Launch video 

In this final sitting week of the current parliament, MPs are giving consideration to changes to child protection laws recommended by the Royal Commission. 

Unfortunately, the proposed legislation does not address the recommendation for the introduction of Position of Authority offences that prohibit relationships between students and school staff even where they are consensual. 

QCEC has written to the Attorney-General several times about this issue advocating for inclusion of these offences in the bill and News Corp media outlets this week provided some coverage of the issue.  

An opinion article published on the QCEC website explains in more detail why we believe legislation needs to be enacted and we will continue to advocate for it with all political parties. 

Read the article here. 

Congratulations to the following eight recipients of this year’s Spirit of Catholic Education Awards, including the Aunty Joan Hendriks Reconciliation Award:  

Paul Barrett  
Teacher, St Augustine’s Parish Primary School, Currumbin Waters, Archdiocese of Brisbane  

Madonna Lawrence  
Teacher, St Joseph’s School, Atherton, Diocese of Cairns  

Tony Polga  
School Board Chair, Burdekin Catholic High School, Ayr, Diocese of Townsville  

Pauline Merefield  
Teacher, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Bundaberg, Diocese of Rockhampton  

Jacinta Jensen  
Counsellor, Good Samaritan College, Toowoomba, Diocese of Toowoomba  

Tracy Nioa  
Head of Faculty – Learning Support, St Patrick’s College, Townsville   

Aunty Joan Hendriks Reconciliation Awards  

Antoinette Cole  
Leader Formation – First Nations, Catholic Education Services, Cairns  

Indigenous Education Team, Catholic Education Office – Diocese of Rockhampton    

Phillippa Johnson – Indigenous Education Support Officer  
Brad Jarro – Indigenous Education Coordinator   
Shelley Major – Indigenous Career and Transition Pathways Officer  

A summary of the work for which the recipients are being recognised is available on the  Catholic Education Week website awards page.   

The recipients, along with all those nominated for this year’s awards, are representative of the wonderful work being done to support students and the mission of Catholic education in Queensland, particularly during these challenging times.  

As we are unable to come together to host a statewide celebration of our recipients this year, we have compiled a short video which you may wish to share with your school communities. 

As we recognise Queensland Child Protection Week (QCPW) this week with its theme of Putting Children First, I would like to congratulate the Professional Standards and Student Protection Team at Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) who have been commended for their dedication to ensuring safe and inclusive school environments for all students. 

BCE received the Youth Participation Award for their Student Voice Initiative at the QCPW annual awards ceremony at Parliament House recently. 

The initiative gives students a voice, builds confidence and ensures safe and engaging learning communities into the future. 

This year marks 30 years of Child Protection Week celebrations.

Photo source: BCE Facebook page

Congratulations to all the regional finalists in the Queensland Training Awards.

Catholic schools have a number of finalists and we wish them all well when the regional winners are announced on Friday.

Congratulations also to St James College, Fortitude Valley, which has been named as a state finalist in the Small Training Provider category.

Catholic school regional finalists are:

• Ngaire Trigg, St Benedict’s Catholic School, Shaw
• Elisabeth Matters, St Margaret Mary’s College, Townsville (2 categories)
• William Shepherdson, Marist College, Emerald
• Sophie James, Marist College, Emerald
• Shauna Fisher, St John’s Catholic School, Roma
• Daniel Schmaling, Downlands College, Toowoomba
• Sara Briers, St Columban’s College, Caboolture
• Rabeca Deng, St Columban’s College, Caboolture
• Axel Dushime, St James College, Fortitude Valley
• Louise Pope, St James College, Fortitude Valley

World Teachers' Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and thank Queensland teachers for the important role they play across our state - inside our classrooms and out in the community. 

Preparations are well underway for schools to celebrate the theme of The Many Faces of Teaching this year and resources including certificates, thank you cards and bunting will shortly be available on the World Teachers’ Day website.  

Ribbons are also being packaged up for distribution to schools early in Term 4. #thankqldteachers 

The National Catholic Education Commission has advised the National Mass celebrating 200 years of Catholic education in Australia will take place on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, Monday, 24 May, 2021. 

This will be an exciting opportunity for Catholic school students, staff and families to celebrate 200 years of Catholic education.

Further details will be provided closer to the event.

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

2020 Circulars 

087     School Plus Grants 2020 Open Round 

088     DMI Scores and Coverage Rates for 2018 and 2019 

089     Teacher Suspensions and Cancellations 

090     Accountability Requirements for Choice and Affordability Fund 

091     Spirit of Catholic Education Awards Recipients 

092     Student Protection Strategy – State Department of Education