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Available Now: HSC Showcase Hub (Ref: 226/24)
The HSC Showcase Hub is now available, with information and resources across all six showcases: ENCORE, OnSTAGE, ARTEXPRESS, CALLBACK, Young Writers, and SHAPE.
The Hub also includes information about nominations and selections to help students and schools better understand the process. Discover NESA’s HSC Masterclass series featuring students from past showcases and explore virtual exhibitions across SHAPE, ARTEXPRESS and OnSTAGE.
Find everything you need to know for the HSC Showcase Season on the Hub here.
Over the next three months, students across NSW will find out if they are nominated for an HSC showcase. Being nominated for a showcase is an outstanding achievement; behind each one is the passion, hard work and effort of NSW HSC students. A nomination means that an exemplary HSC project, submitted work or performance reflects the syllabus outcomes, content, and meets all HSC exam requirements.
Celebrate your nominated students! Download the Nomination Celebration kit from the HSC Showcase Hub here.
Release of Years 7 & 8 Mastery in Mathematics Resources (Ref: 223/24)
The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) and Ochre Education have developed a full year’s worth of teaching resources for Years 7 and 8 mathematics teachers in Catholic schools.
Aligned to the Australian Curriculum V9.0, the NSW Syllabus and the Victorian Curriculum V2.0, the resources include curriculum mapping, lesson plans, assessments, and support intervention for students with foundational numeracy gaps.
Additionally, the NCEC has approved an extension of the MiM project to develop Year 9 mathematics teaching resources, following the significant interest and positive feedback from teachers accessing the Year 7 and 8 resources.
Access the latest resources at the Ochre Education website here.
Free Resources to Help School Leaders Manage Classroom Behaviour (Ref: 222/24)
The Federal Government has released free resources to implement whole-school approaches to managing classroom behaviour. Evidence shows the effectiveness of a consistent whole-of-school approach towards classroom management.
The first set of AERO’s ‘Engaged Classroom’ resources was released in December, with a third set to be released in early 2025.
The new resources, which include a whole-school approach facilitation guide and professional learning resources, are available at AERO’s website here.
Together for Humanity – Social Cohesion Webinars (Ref: 215/24)
Together For Humanity is an inclusive, not-for-profit educational organisation that works with school communities to combat prejudice and advance belonging and inclusion.
To register or find more information on the upcoming webinars, click here.
Topic: Culturally responsive strategies to foster belonging in the classroom
- Date: 27th August 2024, 5:30pm-6:30pm AEST
Topic: Effectively responding to racism and hurtful language
- Date: 3rd September 6-7pm AEST
Topic: Understanding extremism in young people
- Date: 10th September 2024 5:30pm-6:30pm AEST
Topic: Effectively Engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families
- Date: 16th September 3:30pm-4:30pm AEST
Topic: Culturally Responsive Strategies to support Muslim students
- Date: 14th October 2024 5:30pm-6:30pm AEST
To learn more about Together For Humanity, click here.
Reminder: Clarified ACE Rules apply from October 2024 (Ref: 224/24)
NESA has noted the following.
The clarified ACE rules will apply to students commencing HSC courses from October 2024, students sitting for HSC exams in 2025, and students receiving the RoSA from October 2024.
Access the clarified ACE rules here.
NESA has published the rules one year ahead, so schools have time to prepare.
The current ACE Online Rules remain in place until October 2024. Schools must not implement the clarified rules before 14 October 2024.
Access the current ACE rules here.
Clarified ACE Rules are on the NSW Curriculum website
The NSW Curriculum website is the single source of truth for the clarified ACE Rules. This website makes it easier for schools to navigate the rules and better understand their obligations.
NESA welcomes feedback on the functionality of the NSW Curriculum website, so we can make it easier for schools to understand the clarified rules.
Clarifications to ACE Rules
NESA has clarified ACE Rules to make it easier for schools to understand their obligations. The clarifications include:
- removing ambiguous, outdated or duplicated material
- strengthening the enforceability of a rule (eg, using ‘must’ versus ‘may’ to distinguish between enforceable content and discretionary powers)
- framing rules around the roles and responsibilities of schools and NESA
- moving most non-enforceable, advisory content to NESA’s website, and providing links to other ACE Rules and webpages.
ACE Rules for the 2023 and 2024 HSC
The current ACE Rules on ACE Online remain in place until 14 October 2024. This means schools must comply with ACE Online rules for the HSC in 2023 and 2024. Access ACE Online here.
When the clarified rules are mandated in October 2024, ACE Online will be decommissioned and the mandated ACE Rules will continue to be hosted on the NSW Curriculum website avaliable here.
NESA contacts for ACE Rules
Schools should visit the NSW Curriculum website for the clarified rules and information on key changes — this is the single source of truth.
NESA contacts for specific rules are available on the ACE Rules contact page on the NSW Curriculum website available here.
NESA Liaison Officers are also available to answer questions schools may have.
ACAN Supplier Webinar 9 October - Cleaning and Security Services (Ref: 225/24)
Current and prospective suppliers to Catholic organisations are invited to attend a free 40-minute webinar on 9 October 2024 from 12:20 – 1:00 PM.
The webinar will outline the:
- mission and values of Catholic organisations
- modern slavery context in Australia and risks to workers
- modern slavery legislation impact
- Catholic customer/buyer expectations of suppliers to manage risks
- how to meet requirements for the ACAN Supplier Prequalification Register
Click here to register.
Privacy, Complaints and Conducting Risk Assessments Webinar (Ref: 212/24)
Join us for a webinar on Privacy, complaints and risk assessments. Who should have access to employee records, and what information must be retained, and for how long? How do you effectively manage records across various formats?
Gain insights into privacy and confidentiality laws related to handling complaints. This webinar will provide an overview of records required to be kept and how personal information of employees may be used or disclosed.
📆 Wednesday 25 September 2024
🕗 10:30 – 11:30 am
🖥️ Online webinar
Register now here.
Online Education Centre Enrolments Now Open - 2025 Preliminary HSC Students (Ref: 221/24)
The Diocese of Lismore Online Education Centre (OEC) is now taking enrolments for 2025 Preliminary HSC Students in the following 2 Unit subjects.
- Aboriginal Studies
- Economics
- Enterprise Computing
- Engineering Studies
- Japanese Beginners
- Multimedia Technology
- Software Engineering
To learn more about the OEC, click here.
If you have any students who may be interested and would benefit from studying one of these subjects via our online school, please follow the link to the 2025 OEC Enrolment Form here.
If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us here.
Please note: All courses are run subject to minimum enrolment numbers.
Colouring Competition - Win a School Visit from PAW Patrol and your Local Fire Station! (Ref: 214/24)
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) alongside Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol, is excited to announce a fun and educational colouring competition for Kindergarten and Year One students! The lucky winner will receive an unforgettable school visit from their local Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters and the PAW Patrol pups.
Educating and protecting children from the dangers and trauma of fires is crucial. Through participating in the competition, students will not only have the chance to win a fantastic prize but also gain valuable knowledge about fire safety.
How to Participate:
- Head to the BrigadeKids website here to download the colouring sheet and instructions.
- Once completed, upload your 5 best entries here and tell us in 25 words or less why you would like to have a Fire Safety demonstration with Fire and Rescue NSW and PAW Patrol characters visiting your school.
Entries close Friday 27 September 2024.
FRNSW is proud to partner with Nickelodeon and the beloved characters of PAW Patrol to share vital fire safety information in a memorable and fun way. As part of this collaboration, the PAW Patrol pups can be found helping our firefighters with Community Service announcements on Nickelodeon on channels 13 and 10 Play, fire safety tips for young children, and within the pages of our educational activity book. In addition, FRNSW offers a wealth of age-appropriate Fire Education resources available on the Brigade Kids website here. These resources include educator kits, lesson plans, and the option to book an in-person session with local firefighters.
We’d love for your school to get involved in this competition and explore our educational resources. Happy colouring!
CCSP Part-Time Administrative Operational Assistant (Ref: 211/24)
The Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT is seeking a part-time experienced and proactive Administrative Operational Assistant to deliver high quality administrative support that is necessary to the operations and management of the Secretariat team and Council.
About the Role
CCSP is looking for a mature minded, calm person with experience as a Personal Assistant/Administrative Operational Assistant and strong office management, administrative and computer skills to join our small team 2 days per week. In addition, you will be required to work one Thursday and Friday each term to support Council and Committee meetings.
The role of Administrative Operational Assistant is responsible for providing a varied and comprehensive range of high-level support functions for the Executive Director and the Secretariat. Drawing from your previous experience, you will be adept at coordinating a wide range of office procedures, providing executive support while ensuring administrative expectations are met in an efficient and professional manner.
Click here for more information on the position.
What We Offer
- Inner city Sydney location
- Salary range $85,488 pa – $94,327 pa pro rata plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading based on skills and experience.
- 4 weeks annual leave pro rata per year of service
- Great supportive team environment, with a constant learning focus
- Purposeful, challenging and value-driven work
How to Apply
Your application must include:
- Your resume
- A cover letter outlining your motivation to apply for this opportunity
- A statement addressing the Required Knowledge and Attributes listed below:
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND ATTRIBUTES
- Advanced computer and desktop publishing skills (all Microsoft Office programs).
- Ability to organise workload, meet deadlines and work unsupervised, setting priorities planning and organising one’s own work and that of others to meet team objectives.
- Proven skills in organising and maintaining relevant documentation for meetings with experience in providing executive support to committees including the ability to draft documentation for senior executives.
- Ability to develop, implement and monitor office systems, schedules, procedures and methods, adapt processes and techniques as required, to facilitate efficient team operations in line with CCSP standards, policies and procedures.
- Strong understanding of and ability to create and maintain all CCSP social media platforms.
Please upload your cover letter and response to the requested knowledge and attributes as one PDF document not exceeding 4 pages (2000 words).
For specific position enquiries, please contact Cath Garrett-Jones on 0414186428 or via email here.
Closing date: 3 October 2024 at 11.59pm AEDT
Sun Protection at Your School (Ref: 213/24)
In Australia, up to 95% of melanomas are attributable to overexposure to UV radiation from the sun. If we protect our skin when the UV index is 3 or above, we reduce our risk. Schools can protect students and staff from skin cancer by:
- providing shaded learning and play areas
- influencing sun protection attitudes and behaviours
- acknowledging that UV protection is a duty of care issue and a WHS requirement
In addition to providing sun safe environments for children, it is important that all teachers and staff are aware of their own occupational UV exposure and protect themselves by using a combination of sun protection measures.
Please contact SunSmart NSW here if you would like more information or assistance.
They can offer:
- A meeting to help navigate our websites
- Assistance with shade or clothing questions
- Conversations about advocacy
- A webinar for interested schools or parent groups
Shade
Improving access to shade at school is one of the easiest ways to protect students and staff from overexposure to UV radiation. Good-quality shade can reduce UV exposure by up to 75%.
- Cancer Institute NSW has a range of info and tools available here.
- To learn more about planning shade in schools, click here.
- ‘Sun and UV at school’ videos found here.
- ‘Shade audit tool’ can be accessed here.
- ‘Guidelines to Shade’ can be accessed here.
- ‘Shade advocacy toolkit’ can be accessed here.
ShadeSmart Winners
In 2024, two school facilities projects won an Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) NSW ShadeSmart Award. In 2022, AILA launched the inaugural ShadeSmart Award in collaboration with the Cancer Institute NSW and the Cancer Council NSW as an initiative of the ShadeSmart program. To learn more about the program click here.
The winners demonstrated best practice in shade planning and design for UV protection effectiveness and thermal comfort. To learn more about the 2024 winners, click here.
Sun Safe Clothing
Students should wear uniforms that provide adequate coverage for sun protection at school and during sport. Research (found here) indicates that even small changes to school uniforms, such as slightly longer sleeves, dresses or shorts, may help reduce melanoma risk, especially in high-risk populations.
Cancer Council NSW’s SunSmart program’s policy guidance states that SunSmart clothing includes wearing:
- Loose fitting shirts and dresses with sleeves and collars or covered neckline.
- Longer style skirts, shorts, and trousers.
Midriff, crop, or singlet tops do not provide enough sun protection and therefore are not recommended. View the guide here.
No hat, play in the shade
In addition, a sun smart hat is a simple, effective way to protect the face, head, neck and ears from UV radiation. The ears, temples, lips and nose are among the most common parts of the body for skin cancers to develop. Learn more here.
For more information: