Next week our 309 Queensland Catholic schools will join school communities across the state to #ThankQldTeachers in celebration of World Teachers’ Day (WTD) 2021.

World Teachers’ Day is a wonderful opportunity each year for us to celebrate and thank the more than 12,000 Queensland Catholic school teachers who support more than 155,000 students across the state.

Teachers make a difference every day, educating and inspiring young people through their words and through their actions. In partnership with families and other school staff, they play a vital role in a young person’s development and help them achieve their goals. 

I would like to thank all schools who contributed to this year’s WTD cross-sector campaign. School communities can find resources to assist with their promotion of the event on the World Teachers’ Day website here.

The Department of Education has produced a WTD podcast series which features Ambrose Treacy College Senior Religion teacher Sara Condon and past student Patrick Robinson. Listen to the podcast here.

QCEC has also produced the video message below to thank Queensland Catholic school teachers for the vital role they play in our schools. We hope you will share it with your school community when it is launched on our social media sites next week. 

The Commission held its penultimate meeting for the year yesterday. 

Commission members received a presentation on the 2021 NAPLAN outcomes as well as an update on the latest developments in the pandemic as they affect Catholic schools. 

There were also updates on a number of key focus areas for QCEC including the certification of Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers and the 2022 work plan for the Non-Government Reform Support Fund.

Commission members also continued their oversight of a range of financial matters.

Last week the National Catholic Education Commission held its October meeting and focused particularly on the key areas for advocacy as the next Federal election draws closer. 

Last week, Catholic schools in the Cairns diocese were the first in the state to take part in a school-based COVID-19 vaccination program.

The program is being rolled out in association with the Pharmacy Guild.

On Monday evening I took part in a teleconference with representatives of all sectors and Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace to discuss further options for improving vaccination rates among eligible students.

It was an informative discussion and Minister Grace has indicated the Queensland Government is likely to make further announcements in relation to vaccinations at school.  

Last Friday, along with QCEC Senior Policy Officer Patrick MacDermott, I appeared before the Queensland Parliament’s Community Support and Services Committee to support the QCEC submission on the Child Protection Reform and Other Legislation Amendment Bill.  

The bill covers many areas but the changes to Blue Card arrangements proposed in the legislation are the ones that most affect schools.  

Blue Cards are an important check in ensuring the safety of young people in schools and I was pleased to support the proposed changes that will give authorities access to a wider range of information to consider in determining whether an individual should be granted a Blue Card.  

It is critical that we have in place every process we can to screen the people who come into schools and have privileged access to young people.  Read the QCEC submission here. 

Applications are now open for the 2022 TJ Ryan Memorial Medal and Scholarship.

Queensland Catholic secondary schools are encouraged to nominate one of their high academic achievers from 2021 who has demonstrated leadership excellence.

This Department of Education scholarship program is open for any tertiary study across Australian higher education institutions.

Online applications close Friday, 10 December 2021. For more information click here.

Congratulations to Christina Poletto who has been appointed as Principal of St Joseph’s Primary School, Childers, commencing Term 1 2022. 
 
Christina’s leadership experience includes Acting APRE Southern Cross Catholic College, Scarborough; Acting APRE All Saints Parish School, Albany Creek and Acting Principal at Star of the Sea Primary School, Hervey Bay.

Image: Christina Poletto (source: Linked In) 

The Occupational Violence and Aggression Prevention Strategy is the Queensland Government’s commitment to keeping workplaces safe for staff in Queensland state schools, and regional and corporate offices.

The Strategy was recently raised in Parliament with the final Strategy document and the Occupational Violence Prevention Action Plan 2021-22 now available on the Department of Education’s website. 

This information may also assist Catholic School Authorities in dealing with and responding to forms of violence and aggression that could potentially be directed at staff, including online abuse and cyber-bullying. 

Congratulations to St John’s School, Roma, which was one of three winners to take out the School Award in the Get Ready Queensland Resilient Australia Awards.

St John’s School was recognised for its resilience project which assists the mental health of the school community faced with the devastating impact of drought in southwest Queensland.

I would also like to congratulate Mary MacKillop College, Highfields, which has been named the winner of the Get Ready Queensland Schools Competition which focused on preparing for natural disasters.

Congratulations as well to two primary students from Catholic schools who will have their artwork included in the 2022 Farm Safety Calendar.

Year 3 student Jacob Traves from St Therese’s School, Bentley Park, (Cairns) has depicted tractor and machinery safety when carrying passengers in his artwork while Year 5 student Zara Jamison from St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School, Runaway Bay, had her drawing reflecting water safety in a flood included in the calendar.

Applications for the Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS) will remain open until 31 October.  This round provides financial assistance for families transporting students to non-state schools in Queensland throughout Semester 2. To find out more about eligibility requirements click here.