Registrations NEARLY FULL: Early Years Symposium (Ref: 31/23)
Event registrations are nearly full! Limited places available.
You are invited to the inaugural ‘Early Years Symposium’.
It will be held from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on Friday 28 April 2023 in the Sydney Masonic Centre.
This FREE event is for ALL those who educate and support early learners in our schools, pre-schools and learning centres.
A one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore pedagogy, build skill acquisition, collaborate with each other to enhance the educational outcomes of our students.
We are excited to be welcoming New Zealand Neuroscience Educator, Nathan Wallis, as keynote speaker, who will be joined by the following experts in their field:
- Professor Pamela Snow: Professor of Cognitive Psychology, La Trobe University.
- Professor Tricia Eadie: Professor, Early Childhood Education, Melbourne Univeristy
- Sue Larkey: Leading author and popular presenter on autism spectrum disorders
To register use the QR code:
or visit here: Overview | Catholic Schools NSW (csnsw.cloud)
For further information, please contact Mary Ryan at [email protected]
(02) 9287 1528
Catholic Schools NSW - CSSA, Disability & Behaviour Network Symposium (Ref: 56/23)
Catholic Schools NSW – CSSA, Disability & Behaviour Network Symposium
Embracing multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) and positive behaviour for enhanced student learning.
Join us with Catholic leaders and teachers from across the State for this exciting professional opportunity to learn about making positive educational change.
This event aims to enhance staff capacity to:
- implement positive approaches to behaviour management & student engagement,
- drive continuous improvement and alignment of interventions in a range of settings (K-12),
- better recognise, respond & support vulnerable students and emerging issues,
- promote cross-team collaboration and evidence-based practices, and
- significantly improve student learning outcomes across Catholic schools K-12
Symposium Details
When: Friday, 5 May 2023
Time: 8.30am – 4.00pm
Where: Hilton Sydney
Who should attend: School Leadership, Diocesan Representatives, Leaders of Student Wellbeing and/or Academic Care & School and/or diocesan Leaders of disability
Cost: Free
Confirmed Speakers
- Dr Shiralee Poed, Associate Professor, School of Education, University of Queensland
- Illustrations of Practice including
- Diocese of Wollongong, Positive Behaviour for Learning in Secondary Schools
- Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta, St Luke’s Catholic College, Marsden Park – Life Design Program
- Diocese of Wagga, Wagga, Kildare College, 2022 NSW Premier Respect Award and the associated school-based program
*Participants will also have the option of engaging in an intensive Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) moderation workshop
Further workshops to be announced soon!
Registration
Registration is now open (Note: attendee numbers are limited). Register now to avoid missing out. Register HERE and click BOOK NOW (blue button) on the right.
After registering via the Catholic Schools NSW Professional Learning Portal, you will receive a confirmation email within 48-72 hours.
If you are visiting the Catholic Schools New South Wales Professional Learning Portal for the first time, you may need to visit the dashboard first by clicking here (hyperlink).
For further information contact either:
- Kerryn Barnett ([email protected])
- Jennifer Coen ([email protected]) or
- Monica O’Brien ([email protected])
Register today: Positive Schools Conferences for All Primary and Secondary Educators (Ref: 60/23)
Positive Schools is getting ready to present the 15th year of Positive Schools conferences around Australia, and they are excited to be back in Sydney!
Catholic school educators across NSW are invited to attend the conference which will be held from 14-16 June 2023 at the Sydney Masonic Centre.
This year’s event theme is Wellbeing In Action, and will offer presentations and workshops to help school communities be trauma sensitive and inclusive.
All Catholic school educators who register are welcome to use the discount code CATHED23 which will provide a 10% discount on the registration fee.
Please note that this offer can only be used once per person and will last until 30 April, 2023.
Find more information and register here: Positive Schools 2023 LR
Register Now: Dr Justin Coulson Webinar: School Sucks! (Ref: 64/23)
School non-attendance is an increasing concern across all education sectors in Australia. Evidence suggests that the causes of non-attendance can be divided into three subcategories: students who dislike coming to school; those with psychosocial issues and those experiencing difficulties at home.
Wellbeing staff, chaplains, school counsellors, student attendance officers and teachers are invited to join Justin Coulson on 3 May at 10.00am for the School Sucks! webinar.
Justin will discuss some of the psychosocial issues around non-attendance and practical strategies staff can use to recognise, respond and support vulnerable students.
Register for the webinar HERE.
Managing suicidality and self harm - Black Dog Webinar (Ref: 65/23)
In response to increasing numbers of students presenting with complex mental health issues, Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) partnered with The Black Dog Institute in 2022 to develop guidelines for school counsellors to manage suicidality and self-harm.
In this 60 minute webinar, Dr Kris Kafer from The Black Dog Institute will discuss clinical issues around suicidality and self harm and familiarise staff with the CSNSW guidelines.
The webinar will take place on Tuesday 2 May and will commence at 3.30pm.
This webinar is aimed at principals, assistant principals, school leaders, school counsellors and wellbeing staff, however, anyone interested in increasing their understanding of the process around managing student mental health in a school setting is welcome to attend.
Register HERE!
2023 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations – Key Dates Reminder (Ref: 62/23)
A reminder that schools have less than two weeks to complete their online orders for the 2023 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations.
The CSSA, a division of Catholic Schools NSW, creates premium CSSA Trial HSC Examinations by education experts. Our contributors have syllabus expertise and extensive teaching experience to create Trial HSC Examinations.
The CSSA has posted a Letter to the Principal containing essential information regarding the 2023 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations. If a Principal requires technological assistance with sign-in to their registered school account in the CSSA website, please email [email protected] There is a CSNSW verification process in place to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of each Principal and their registered school account with the CSSA.
Key Dates to assist schools:
- The 2023 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations Timetable is from Monday 31st July to Monday 14th August with a security period up to and including 8am, Thursday 17 August
- 2023 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations online ordering is available as of 9am, Monday 13 February and until 5pm, Thursday 6 April (Week 11, Term 1)
- Schools must contact the CSSA regarding CSSA Trial HSC Examinations Disability Provisions by 9am, Friday 31st March (Week 10, Term 1)
- The 2023 Draft CSSA Trial HSC Examination Timetable will be provided in the Principal Information Package and then made available on the CSSA website
- The 2023 Final CSSA Trial HSC Examination Timetable will be emailed to Principals in Week 1, Term 2 and then made available on the CSSA website
CSSA website and individual School Accounts:
School data in School Accounts with the CSSA must be kept up-to-date by individual schools via the CSSA website | Account Settings.
Relevant personnel in CSSA registered schools should ensure that school data available and fields of information on the CSSA website is checked, updated and completed as necessary. This will ensure that your School’s address, phone number, email address and contact details are correct – this information is critical for communication with schools and the secure delivery of CSSA Trial HSC Examinations. Remember to click on the “SAVE” button at the end of the process.
STUDENT WELLBEING BOOST: update following Commonwealth Government Announcement (Ref: 61/23)
On 2 February 2023, the Commonwealth Minister for Education, The Hon. Jason Clare MP, announced that the Government will invest $203.7 million to help young people in every school across the country through the Student Wellbeing Boost (media release).
Under the Boost, each school will receive up to $20,000 (depending on its need, size, and location) to support their students’ mental health and wellbeing.
Important points to note:
- The Student Wellbeing Boost is a separate initiative to the National Student Wellbeing Program (formerly known as the National School Chaplaincy Program).
- Under the Boost, schools will receive up to $20,000 after applying the prescribed funding criteria.
However, before schools can receive funding under the Boost, the Commonwealth Government must sign bilateral agreements with the states and territories.
The NSW Government did not sign their bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth before the NSW caretaker conventions took effect at the beginning of March 2023. Therefore, until a new government is formed following the state election on 25 March 2023, the NSW Department of Education cannot provide CSNSW with further details on the Boost.
As soon as these details are available, CSNSW will update the sector accordingly.
NOW OPEN: Schools Reconciliation Challenge (Ref: 57/23)
The 2023 Schools Reconciliation Challenge has now been launched.
The theme for this year is:
What Stories will You Dream?
Stories are how we understand the world around us. They inform what we know and shape how we act. The Australia we live in today is built upon the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Throughout the long history of what is now known as Australia, the world’s oldest living cultures have told and shared stories of culture and Dreaming; stories of hurt and devastation; stories of strength and resilience; stories of change; and stories still unwritten.
In an Australia where racism still exists and health and educational outcomes are significantly poorer for First Nations peoples, this year’s theme asks teachers and students to consider how we can advance the work of those who came before us in creating a fair and equitable society.
What story will you dream for reconciliation?
How will you contribute to making it a reality?
Schools can register now to take part in the challenge, with entries closing Friday 1 September (Term 3, Week 7). There are many links to lessons and activities online to support teachers and schools in participating in the challenge. By registering for the challenge, schools are also eligible to access free and exclusive Schools Reconciliation Challenge webinars.
REGISTER NOW: Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT Anxiety and Resilience Webinar (Ref: 46/23)
The Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT has arranged for Dr Justin Coulson PhD to present a FREE webinar on the important topic of Anxiety and Resilience.
The webinar for parents, carers, and staff in NSW and ACT Catholic schools will be held on Wednesday 29 March at 7.00 pm.
You can register using the QR code below or ccsp.catholic.edu.au/upcoming-webinars.
Find resources to promote this FREE webinar to your school community and network here.
NEXT WEEK: Vegetable Week and The Big Vegie Crunch (Ref: 38/23)
Only 5% of NSW children eat enough vegetables. We’re on a mission to change that stat, by increasing children’s knowledge, exposure, and positive attitudes towards vegetables.
Vegetable Week starts at the end of Term 1 – from Monday 27 to Friday 31 March 2023 – with The Big Vegie Crunch on Thursday 30 March at 10:00 am. If you can’t crunch at that time, choose an alternative time over Vegetable Week.
Schools that register receive ready-to-go resources to help you:
- plan and prepare for the event,
- teach your students about vegetables,
- encourage students and their families to eat more vegetables, and
- promote your Big Vegie Crunch activities to parents, carers and the wider school community.
Plus, registered schools will receive hardcopy ‘I CRUNCHED’ stickers and can apply for $75 grants to help purchase vegetables for the Big Vegie Crunch. Schools are also eligible to enter this year’s competition and win big prizes.
For more details and to register, visit the Vegetable Week & The Big Vegie Crunch webpage.