Welcome to the final edition of ParentTalk for 2022. It has been a difficult year for many families and my sincere wish is that you experience the peace and joy of the Advent season as we draw closer to the end of the year.

As I reflect over the past few months I am humbled by the resilience of so many of our families. Their commitment and passion for Catholic Education and their willingness to help out as best they can in their local communities is inspirational.

I do wonder from time to time about the best way we can offer support to the many families who choose a Catholic Education for their children. As a society that seems to be so connected via social media, I sometimes wonder if we are truly that connected where it really counts. Do we spend time speaking, genuinely listening and feeling empathy for each other’s stories? What are the issues that truly matter to our families? Do we let the media decide and then tell us what issues are important?  

In early 2023 you will receive an email with a quick survey it is through this feedback we here at CCSP can identify what it is YOU want to learn about, your views and input and that helps us shape our work to better support you and your family.

Please note this newsletter can be translated into over 130 different languages, by selecting the language of your choice from the drop down menu at the top of the newsletter. 

Recently I had the great pleasure of travelling to the Diocese of Bathurst to be present for the Catholic Education Inaugural Parent Reference Group meeting. What a pleasure to meet parents and carers from across the wider Bathurst diocese and witness their passion and enthusiasm for Catholic Education. I learnt a great deal about our parents and carers and thank them for their generosity, giving their time and sharing their stories.

To all our families connected in any way to the Catholic community, we wish you a restful and peaceful Christmas season. It is our hope that as we celebrate the birth of the infant Jesus, you are renewed and enjoy time with those you love.

Stay safe my friends,

Catherine Garrett-Jones

Executive Director

Merindah Wilson, Aboriginal Education Support Officer, Catholic Education,Wilcannia-Forbes lighting the CCSP candle during prayer at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee meeting.  

On November 17 and 18 the final CCSP meetings for 2022 were conducted in person and over zoom. Dioceses across NSW and ACT were represented at four meetings; the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee Meeting, the Diocesan Executive Officers Meeting, the Term 4 CCSP Council Meeting and 28th CCSP Annual General Meeting (AGM). 

Parents and carers from across NSW and the ACT from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee joined together to share ideas and discuss future plans, goals and the development of educational and inclusive opportunities for families in 2023.

The Committee thanked the outgoing Co-Chairs, Aunty Mary Atkinson and Selina Walker and unanimously elected Jason Allan, Diocese of Amidale as Chair for 2023.  

On Thursday 17 November the Diocesan Executive Officers met and shared best practices and strategies in Parent Engagement from their Dioceses.

Left to Right, Wayne Davie, CCSP Chair, Prue Car, Deputy Opposition Leader, Shadow Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Member for Londonderry, who addressed the CCSP Term 4 meeting, Aunty Mary Atkinson and Cath Garrett-Jones.

On Friday 18 November Wayne Davie, welcomed those who were attending their first Council meeting. Thanking all for the work they do for CCSP and the support they give to their Catholic Communities. He reported that CCSP is represented on numerous panels, round-tables, and working parties, giving voice to families who choose to send their children to NSW/ACT Catholic Schools. During the CCSP AGM Councillors unanimously voted for Wayne Davie to continue as CCSP Chair in 2023.

CCSP Councillors unanimously re-elected Christine Morrison, Diocese of Lismore, as Deputy Chair for 2023. Christine is pictured with Kirsty Liston, Parent Representative, Diocese of Broken Bay. Anne Fehon, Kirsty Liston, Paul Penberthy, Mel Sullivan, Christine Morrison and Wayne Davie are the new CCSP Management Committee.  

 

Wayne Davie acknowleged and thanked outgoing Management Committee member Cheryl Murphy for her valued contribution to CCSP. He noted that CCSP will continue to benefit from Cheryl's knowledge in her capacity as Chair of the CCSP Election Working Party, Chair of the CCSP Additional Needs Working Party and for her representation of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

He also thanked retiring Councillors Brigid Taylor, Archdiocese of Sydney and Angela Cook, Diocese of Wagga Wagga for their contribution to CCSP during 2021 and 2022.

The next Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Meeting will be held on Thursday 9 March 2023 and CCSP Council Meeting Friday 10 March 2023. If you have matters you wish to raise please contact your diocesan parent representative. A list of Diocesan Parent Representatives  is here. You can contact them by emailing here, the office will forward the email to them.   

"One chance at childhood" commented Ms Prue Car, MP during the Term 4 CCSP Council Meeting. 

Prue Car, Deputy Opposition Leader, Shadow Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Member for Londonderry addressed the CCSP Term 4 meeting. She listened to parents and carers, welcomed their insights and answered their questions.

Wayne Davie, Chair CCSP, reiterated the need for Government to protect parents' freedom of choice in their selection of an appropriate school setting for their child's education by ensuring there is adequate funding allocated to the Catholic Education sector. 

The Diocese of Bathurst recently held their Inaugural Parent Reference Group meeting.

Executive Director of Schools, Christina Trimble, Pauline Walkom, Education Officer, School Improvement and Strategic Projects, Leanne Bovington, Aboriginal Cultural Liaison Officer, Parent representatives, Mel Sullivan and Angela Duncan during the Inaugrual Parent Reference Group meeting.

Cath Garrett-Jones who travelled to Bathurst to meet with Christina Trimble, Pauline Walkom, Leanne Bovington, Mel Sullivan and Angela Duncan commented 

"I am grateful to parent representatives from all parts of the diocese that I met on Zoom.

What a wonderful bunch of parents and carers who generously shared a little of themselves and sought to learn about how together, they can build inclusive communities."

Whilst in the Bathurst Diocese Cath was warmly welcomed into three schools by their principals. In Bathurst, Camille da Silva Tavares, Cathedral Catholic Primary School and Jaydem Hadson, St Philomena’s Catholic Primary School and Orange St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, by Principal Gayle Stratton.

Cath Garrett-Jones continued 

 I also wanted to give a big thank you to the welcoming staff in all these schools.

The staff at St Philomena’s met me with moustaches proudly worn as they recognise Movember – supporting awareness of men’s health.

Thank you Kathleen, Laura and Sheree for the cheery greeting, the coffee and the laughs!

Congratulations to the school community of St Mary's Primary School, Grafton, in the the Diocese of Lismore, for their Family Faith and Fun Night initiative.

They have been awarded Second Place in the 2022 Roger O'Sullivan Award for Family School and Community Partnerships for Learning by the independent panel of judges.

On the afternoon of September 20, Christine Morrison, Deputy Chair, CCSP, Parent Assembly Cluster Coordinator, Diocese of Lismore, Janita Thomson, Lead, Family Partnership, Diocese of Lismore and CCSP Executive Director, Catherine Garrett-Jones, presented the award and prizemoney to the community of St Mary's Primary School, Grafton.

Christine Morrison, Catherine Garrett-Jones, School Leaders, Max Lobsey, Wyn Brown, Mabel Mula, Stella Skeels, Jackie Moore, Principal and parent representative Allison Perdikaris.

Many families are unaware of the potential harms of inhaling unregulated vapes.

“Some of the key figures behind Australia’s world renowned national campaign against tobacco say they are alarmed by the rapid rise in people vaping and the ballooning black market.”

Wrote Remy Varga, Reporter, The Weekend Australian November 26 2022.

CCSP is aware of this growing issue and has been providing support for families. The 2021 Term 3 edition of Parent Talk has a link to a podcast where Paul Dillon, Drug and Alcohol Research Training Australia (DATA) discusses Drugs, Alcohol and Vaping with Jennifer Coen, Senior Manager Wellbeing Catholic Schools NSW. Parent Talk Issue 4 Term 2 2022 provides additional information about Vaping with links to support services to help your child quit vaping. On November 17 CCSP, in collaboration with the Diocese of Maitland- Newcastle Federation of P&F Associations, we welcomed Paul Dillon to present a webinar Vaping – “short and sweet”. Paul Dillon provided attendees with up-to-date and accurate information on the use of e-cigarettes and vaping, including the potential harms associated with the use of these devices. You can access an information sheet e-cigarettes and vaping from the DATA website here.

Fast Facts

• There are many different types of e-cigarettes, or vapes.
• Disposable vapes appear to be the devices preferred by Australian young people.
• These are usually brightly coloured and are available in a wide range of flavours.
• They are also small and easy to conceal, making them appealing to those young people who wish to vape without detection.
• Black market vapes and e-cigarettes, most of which contain nicotine and are made in China, continue to be sold at tobacconists and convenience stores. 
• 18 million devices are shipped weekly from Shenzhen China where there is little or no regulation.
• In Australia, it is illegal to buy, process or use liquid nicotine for vaping without a medical prescription

Remy Varga'sarticle in The Australia continued 

Some of the key figures behind Australia’s world renowned national campaign against tobacco say they are alarmed by the rapid rise in people vaping and the ballooning black market. 

Former federal health minister Michael Wooldridge – who served between 1996 and 2001 under then prime minister John Howard – unified state and territory bodies as well as the different anti-smoking groups behind the campaign. 

Mr Wooldridge told The Weekend Australian the rising use of vapes and e-cigarettes was a disaster that risked unwinding 40-years of tobacco control in Australia. 

“I would say with vaping there is a degree of urgency,” he said. 

“We now have a million people vaping and in 12 months time we might have two million.”

Mr Wooldridge said the solution was in controlling, not prohibiting, vaping and that while he agreed with the current medical model the regulations needed to be enforced by both federal and state authorities. 

If you have concerns regarding your children vaping speak with them and then seek professional assistance. 

headspace National are hosting free online education sessions for parents and carers across NSW who are supporting young people during school holidays.

These sessions aim to:

• Identify challenges and opportunities of the school holiday period
• Offer practical ideas
• Provide informationn about additional support services
• Highlight the importance of self-care

Sessions will be held at  

Mon,Dec 12  12.00pm 

Tue, Dec 13,   6.00pm 

Wed,Dec 14, 12.00pm

Mon,Dec 19,   6.00pm

Tue,Dec 20,    6.00pm  

To register scan this QR code 

or click on this link

For upcomingwebinarss visit CCSP website Upcomingwebinarss

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) is pleased to inform you that new syllabuses have been released as the next milestone of the NSW Curriculum Reform.

CCSP have been part of cross sectorial consultations. NESA values  the experience and expertise and the feedback that was provided to inform the development of the final syllabuses.

The syllabuses and information about implementation are available on the Digital Curriculum:

• Computing Technology 7–10
• Enterprise Computing 11–12
• Software Engineering 11–12
• Computing Technology Life Skills 11–12
• Geography 11–12
• Geography Life Skills 11–12
• Modern Languages K–10
• Classical Languages K–10

Students will sit online HSC exams for Enterprise Computing and Software Engineering from 2025. Geography 11–12 will be examined in the HSC for the first time in 2025.

The Engagement Reports document the feedback received from consultation and the actions taken by NESA in response to feedback.

You can view them through the links below:

• Computing Technology 7–10 Engagement Report
• Software Engineering 11–12 Engagement Report
• Enterprise Computing and Computing Technology Life Skills 11–12 Engagement Report
• Geography and Geography Life Skills 11–12 Engagement Report
• Modern Languages K–10 Engagement Report
• Classical Languages K–10 Engagement Report

For more information on the NSW Curriculum Reform please visit the NSW Curriculum Reform website. The NSW Curriculum Reform timeline is available on the NESA website.

If you have any questions about the implementation of the new syllabuses in your child's school please contact the Principal. 

Catholic School Parents Australia has developed a Parent Engagement Toolkit to assist parents and carers to support their children throughout their schooling journey. 

If your child is starting school 

Nurturing your child through transitions

This downloadable "Transition to Kindergarten" document from Kids Matter- an Australian government mental health and well-being initiave for early education and primary school children-has tips on the different skill sets and other things to think about with your child starting school. 

If your child is entering secondary school

Catholic Schools NSW has launched ‘Phase Two’ of the Early Years Foundations for Learning digital resource. The resources have been produced to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with young children. 

A Focus on Family Engagement in Learning

The Early Years Foundations for Learning resource focuses on the essential partnership between school and home in children’s learning and development. The project responds to more than 50 years of research and practice which tells us that families play a critical role in the development of children’s literacy and numeracy skills in the early years; laying the foundations upon which children develop as happy, successful and confident learners.

Early years consultants and teachers across Catholic schools and early learning centres collaborated with Catholic Schools NSW to develop the resources that are linked to the new K-2 English and Mathematics syllabuses. Catholic Schools NSW particularly thank the staff, students and families of St Ignatius’ Parish School Bourke and St Patrick’s Primary School Brewarrina for their collaboration. 

The digital resource is linked to the new K-2 English and Mathematics syllabuses and covers the following topics:

• Belonging-click here
• Oral language-click here
• Number sense-click here
• Phonics-click here
• Successful transitions-click here

 Explore the digital Early Years Foundations for Learning resource here.

Congratulations William Hack recipient of the 2022 CCSP Pre-Service Teacher Award Australian Catholic University.

"Through my Catholic upbringing, I have developed a strong passion for education and community engagement. I believe it is essential that students, their families, the school and the community work collaboratively to enhance the social, emotional, spiritual and academic outcomes for all students."

We asked William about himself and his journey to becoming a teacher he continued

"I studied a Bachelor of Science (Medical Science) at The University of Sydney for my undergraduate degree. I chose to study this degree because it gave me a broad range of career paths. Towards the end of my undergraduate studies, I enrolled in the Master of Teaching (Secondary) at the Australian Catholic University because it aligned most closely with my values and career aspirations. I chose education because I believe it will enable me to make a meaningful difference in the lives of many young people.

I believe that teachers are extremely privileged to work with students at such a critical time in their development, in which their impact can help students to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life. I hope to foster a growth mindset in all my students and empower them with the belief in their own ability to achieve mastery in whatever they choose to pursue.

As I progress in my career I aspire to complete further study and move into leadership positions to foster positive changes aimed at enhancing the engagement and overall wellbeing of all students.

Partnerships between parents/carers and a school can help improve student wellbeing and safety by enabling a better understanding of each students’ individual needs. In order to facilitate such relationships, at the beginning of each year as a classroom teacher, I will call the parents/carers of all my students to discuss the learning needs of their child as well as their child’s interests. This will enable me to better understand each student and effectively differentiate learning activities to maximise their social, emotional, spiritual and academic development.

Establishing positive parent-teacher relationships at the beginning of the school year will also enable me to engage parents in their child’s learning progress throughout the year and to be able to communicate openly about any problems that may arise throughout the school year.

I will seek to actively engage parents in their child’s learning."

We congratulate William, and look forward to him inspiring students. 

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