Contents
Updated COVID-19 Advice from NESA (Ref: 094/20)
NESA has updated their COVID-19 advice. To view the full details of the most up to date information from NESA click here.
Send Us Your Good News Stories! (Ref: 092/20)
Whether it is teachers going above and beyond to support families and students, or the community rallying behind schools at this time, Catholic Schools New South Wales would like to hear about it. Please direct any good news stories to [email protected].
COVID-19 – Latest Updates and Resources (Ref: 060/20)
For the latest updates and helpful resources and advice regarding COVID-19 and it’s impacts on the Catholic Education sector please refer to the COVID-19 Section on the Catholic Schools New South Wales Website. Diocesan Directors and Principals are encouraged to access the COVID-19 Response Portal for relevant resources and information.
Schools invited to apply for a school crossing supervisor (Ref: 076/20)
Schools across NSW are encouraged to apply for a school crossing supervisor in a new round of the Government’s crossing supervisor program.
The NSW Government is currently rolling out 300 additional school crossing supervisors at NSW schools by 2021, as part of a three year $18.5 million initiative to improve road safety for school children.
To apply for a school crossing supervisor, please click here.
Online Professional Learning for Teachers: Professional Associations (Ref: 089/20)
Many professional associations have moved their professional learning programs online in response to COVID-19.
The Professional Teachers Council website provides direct links to member associations and their professional learning programs.
Professional Associations currently provide a range of online courses which include:
- Science Teachers’ Association of NSW – Meet the Markers 2020 series http://stansw.asn.au/default.aspx?article_id=2312
- Mathematical Association of NSW – Assignments and Investigations in Secondary Mathematics ; Differentiation with Challenging Tasks in K-6 Mathematics Classrooms https://www.mansw.nsw.edu.au/events/category/online-learning
- Australian Council for Physical Education, Health and Recreation – Various webinars to support the implementation of the K-10 PDHPE syllabus https://www.achpernsw.com.au/online-learning/
- Engish Teachers Association – HSC 2020 Online – English Studies https://www.englishteacher.com.au/events/event/webinar-series-literacy-activities-adaptable-for-online-teaching-2
- Geography Teachers’ Association of NSW – June Webinar series including STEM, and K-6 Geography https://www.gtansw.org.au/professional-learning/
Participation in teacher professional learning aligns with Standard 6 of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST), in particular 6.2.2. In addition, individual events address other specific standard descriptors of the APST.
Meet the Markers Online Sessions (Ref: 088/20)
Meet the Markers was filled to capacity earlier this year so the presenters have volunteered to present their workshops again online. Register for MTM online at http://www.stansw.asn.au/default.aspx?article_id=2312
Dates for the sessions are below:
May 11 – Meet the Markers Chemistry – Exam Analysis – 3:30 – 5:30pm
May 13 – Meet the Markers – Earth Sciences – Exam Analysis – 3:30 – 5:30pm
May 18 – Meet the Markers – Investigating Sciences – Exam Analysis – 3:30 – 5:30pm
May 20 – Meet the Markers – Extension Science – Exam Analysis – 3:30 – 5:30pm
May 25 – Meet the Markers – Physics Exam Analysis – 3:30 – 5:30pm
May 27 – Meet the Markers – Biology Exam Analysis 3:30 – 5:30pm
June 1 – Meet the Markers – Depth Studies – Exam Analysis – 3:30 – 5:30pm
LawSense School Counsellors Law Update Webinar (Ref: 087/20)
LawSense School Counsellors Law Update Webinar will be held live online on 7 May 2020 from 12.00pm-1.30pm live online.
To register please click here.
Topics include:
LawSense School Counsellors Law Update: Navigating & Documenting Informed Consent and Confidentiality to Ensure You Comply and Making Adjustments to Minimise Legal Exposure from COVID-19 Impacts
Informed consent – key legal considerations & challenges
- Examining the key elements of informed consent. What level of information is required to make it “informed”?
- How is age considered in assessing consent in different circumstances?
- How does age affect considerations of consent where the student is between 12 and 14
- Addressing challenges with consent:
- what are your obligations to the student where the parent does not consent to counselling, but you believe the student needs it?
- what are your options where only one parent consents, but the other objects to counselling and the child is under 12?
- how is consent affected by family law proceedings?
- can a parent get access to records where a child does not consent?
- exploring circumstances where it can be claimed consent was obtained because of undue pressure or duress
Consent, privacy & confidentiality & assessing risk of harm exceptions with remote counselling
- Reviewing approaches to obtaining consent and updating consent forms to properly deal with remote contact given COVID-19
- Evaluating different aspects that may affect obtaining valid consent in the current environment
- Disclosing confidential information due to risk of harm – dealing with challenges in remote settings in assessing risk and judging when you should act and disclose
Documenting consent & decisions to disclose confidential information
- Best practice in documenting consent and decisions to disclose confidential information
- Learning from examples and scenarios
Speakers / Panelists
- Session Chair: Cheryl Sewell, Head of Counselling/ House Psychologist, Sydney Grammar School; Secretary and Past Convenor, AIS NSW School Counsellors Professional Development Committee and the Independent School Counsellor Network
- Session Presenter: Alex Kohn, Partner, Makinson d’Apice Lawyers. Alex is an expert education lawyer with over 30 years experience advising schools
National Conference for teachers of German (Ref: 90/20)
Join the Goethe Institut for their biennial National Conference for Teachers of German in Melbourne from 4-5 September 2020 to explore the latest teaching programs and trends in research and language policies. Call for Papers and registration are now open.
For more information please click here.
Learn German Online with the Goethe Institute (Ref:075/20)
Everyone interested in learning German in Australia can now do so online! Goethe Institute now offer online German courses. There is no need to be based in Melbourne or Sydney. You can learn German from wherever you are in Australia.
Click here to find out more.
Support for Bushfire-Affected School Students and Families in NSW (Ref:017/20)
Please refer to the Catholic Schools New South Wales website for a range of resources and information to support bushfire-affected schools, students and families.
Information includes:
– Financial support for families
– Community support
– Mental health support
– How Catholic schools communities and parishes can help
Please note all this information has previously been provided to diocesan directors and school principals via memo over the last few weeks.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer: Schools Essential for Health (Ref: 093/20):
In support of the accelerated return to school, Dr Nick Coatsworth (Australia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer) has written an article on the importance of face-to-face teaching and the impact of school closures. To read the article click here.
Return to In-Class Teaching (Ref: 091/20):
The NSW Government, continues to signal its intention to accelerate the return of students back to the classroom. Over the weekend the NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet went on the record to explicitly push the returning of students to face-to-face learning as a top priority for the NSW Government. Please click here to read the article.
NSW Government Letter Re NCIRS Study on COVID-19 in Schools (Ref:083/20)
The NSW Government has sent a letter to Principals sharing the research prepared by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) into the transmission of COVID-19 in NSW schools.
To view the letter please click here.
Government Releases five new studies on Impact of Remote Learning (Ref:081/20)
The Australian Government commissioned five pieces of research to examine the potential impact of remote learning from home on educational outcomes for vulnerable cohorts of children, including barriers to access and evidence-based actions to respond.
For more information please click here.
Animal Research Authority 2020 (Ref: 078/20)
The use of animals in schools for educational purposes is governed by the Animal Research Act (1985) NSW. Catholic Schools NSW meets a requirement of this Act by issuing an Animal Research Authority to each school annually.
Accompanying this advice is the annual Animal Research Authority for the Principal and teachers who use animals to complete and retain within the school. Both pages of the Authority need to be completed. The names of teachers approved by the Principal to handle animals should be listed on the second page of the Authority, along with each teacher’s signature.
The Animal Welfare Liaison Officer, appointed by the Principal, must also be identified. The Principal is the Animal Welfare Liaison Officer in Schools for Specific Purposes, primary and infants schools. In central and secondary schools, it is generally the teacher most qualified to supervise the use of animals for teaching and research purposes. A full description of the role of the Animal Welfare Liaison Officer can be found at Animals in schools>Compliance>Responsibilities accessed at http://nswschoolanimals.com/compliance/responsibilities/.
The information on page two of the Animal Research Authority must be updated when changes in personnel occur at the school. The Animal Research Authority must be retained at the school and made available to appropriately authorised people including officers of the NSW Department of Education, inspectors from the NSW Department of Primary Industries Animal Welfare Unit and officers involved with, and members of, the Schools Animal Care and Ethics Committee.
If you require further information about the Animal Research Authority, please contact Gerard Delany, State Manager – Education Policy by email [email protected]
Further information can be obtained via the link below:
2020 Animal Research Authority Catholic Schools New South Wales v1
2020 NSW Fire and Rescue Open Week Online! (Ref:079/20)
Due to Social Distancing restrictions, this year’s Fire and Rescue Open Day has become an Online Open Week. The 2020 FRNSW Open Day (week) will be hosted online from 16-22 May 2020. NSW Fire and Rescue are aiming to help young people experience something different this year and bring their home (fire stations) to the student’s homes and show them what it’s like to be a fire fighter and provide life lessons about being safe in emergencies.
The key messages for young people this year include:
Get down low and go, go, go
If you see smoke or fire, tell an adult
Get out, stay out. Never go back inside
In an emergency call 000
Have and practice, your home fire escape plan
Stop, drop, cover and roll
Never play with fire
Information concerning the online open week will be hosted here once it becomes available.