STAFFING UPDATE – TERM 3
As we approach the final few weeks of Term 3, regular staffing has remained quite steady, except for our general dreaded winter illnesses. With the finalisation of electives courses for next year and the development of the 2019 timetable well under way, the College staffing requirements will become more evident. The Year 12 classes due for completion will see some staff take long service leave at the beginning of Term 4, when this occurs their replacements and change of teacher will be made available.
TERM 3 – DEPUTY CONFERENCE
Not often do we get the opportunity to promote St Dominic’s College to other EREA network schools. At the beginning of the term I was fortunate enough to visit St Lawrence’s in Brisbane to do just that – promote St Dominic’s College and obviously compare with other interstate EREA schools.
Deputy Principals from across our schools, Associates and New Zealand partners gathered in Brisbane this week for their annual conference. The theme of this year’s gathering was based on the Christian Brothers’ motto “To Do and To Teach”, which honours the 150 years EREA has delivered a Liberating Education, based on a Gospel Spirituality, within an Inclusive Community committed to Justice & Solidarity.
Highlights across the three days were:
> Reimaging our schools’ tradition of “To Do and To Teach” in the 21st Century through exploring the essence of teaching and learning into the future
> A variety of prayer, ritual and community building experiences led by our Facilitator, Br Damien Price
> Keynote Address – Exploring International Educational Testing Programs and their Implications for our Schools – with Professor Bob Lingard (School of Education, University of Queensland)
> An interactive experience of wellbeing and mindfulness – with Nicola Bone, Urban Bliss
> Keynote Address – Beyond Events Management to Visionary Leadership through Self-Reflective and Sustainable Leadership – with Dr Neil Carrington (CEO Act for Kids)
> Being welcomed by students and staff from five Edmund Rice schools in Queensland – St Patricks, Shorncliffe, St Laurence’s, South Brisbane, Indooroopilly Montessori Children’s House, St Joseph’s Nudgee and Deception Bay Flexible Learning Centre
> A ‘Hands-On” writing workshop that explored how to help young people and educators get excited and more creative at writing – with Dr Ian Hunter (Founder, Write that Essay)
> Welcome music from students of Ambrose Treacy College at the Museum of Modern Art
> A reflection on the core of Christian Mission and its implications for us as Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice Tradition – with Dr Wayne Tinsey (Executive Director, EREA)
> Li Cunxin (Mao’s Last Dancer) sharing his inspirational life story and what is at the heart of achievement through adversity
> Celebrating St Mary of the Cross, Feast Day at St Stephen’s Cathedral
> Keynote Address: “The New Work Order” and its implications for Young Australians – with Jan Owen (CEO, Foundation for Young Australians)
> Listening to two recent old boys from St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace, sharing how their school helped them become people with a thirst to build a better world as the founders of Orange Sky Laundry https://orangesky.org.au/
> Liberating Education – from what and for who? Reflecting on the strategic intent of EREA around learning – with Ray Paxton (EREA National Director, Identity and Liberating Education
> Opportunities to network, reflect with and build community among colleagues facing similar experiences, challenges and opportunities
> The opportunity to visit St Patrick’s College Shorncliffe, enabled us to envisage how a college-wide student mentoring process has been implemented and improved their student learning, engagement and use of analytical data was extremely useful and something that we would benefit from here at St Dominic’s.
Mr B. Walsh
Deputy Principal
