Dear Members,

The work of ACPPA since our last Topics has centered around our relationships with the Federal Minister, the Catholic Stakeholder Forum (NCEC, Catholic Parents, Catholic Secondary Principals and ACPPA), and our business partners.

The meeting last week between representatives from ACPPA and CaSPA and the Federal Minister, Jason Clare, was specifically about building a shared relationship and discussing the key government agendas of Early Learning, the new National School Reform Agreement, and the work in the tertiary education sector that will all play out through 2024. It was heartening to hear the Minister speak about and ask the group how to continue to place principal wellbeing clearly within the reform agenda. We look forward to this ongoing discussion from a national perspective as we move into 2024.

As we close out another school year, I wish to congratulate each and every one of the approximately 1500 Catholic Primary school principals and Heads of Primary that make up ACPPA.

The complexity of the role continues to bring with it many challenges, often exacerbated by numerous forces beyond your control. Yet, you lead with compassion, dignity, and fairness in the day-to-day running of your school environments. As Catholic leaders in your communities, you show the face of Jesus in daily interactions with students, staff, and parents. You often navigate difficulties with relationships and expectations of numerous individuals with a sense of calm and graciousness. This is often difficult and can have a collateral impact on your own health and wellbeing. So, during the upcoming period between school years, please find time for yourselves. Time to refresh and recharge. Time for you and your families. Time away from work.

To those of you finishing your time in principalship, thank you for everything you have done. I hope the next stage of your life journey brings you great joy and fulfillment.

To everyone in our ACPPA community, I wish you a most joyous and, hopefully, relaxing Christmas.

Peter Cutrona

PRESIDENT

Equip yourself with the latest knowledge with the new book from MRU Press, Effective Instruction in Reading and Spelling.

Co-edited by Emeritus Professor Kevin Wheldall AM, Dr Robyn Wheldall and Dr Jennifer Buckingham OAM, it is an accessible, up-to-date guide to evidence-informed practices in teaching reading and spelling, grounded firmly in the Science of Reading and its application in classrooms.

The book covers theories of reading, the scientific evidence base on how children learn to read, the Five Big Ideas of reading, reading-related skills, intervention and assessment, with chapters written by respected Australian and international experts.

Use the ACPPA special discount code of ACPPA2023 by 31 December 2023 to receive a 10% discount on your purchase.

ACPPA and CaSPA Meet with The Hon Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education

The Presidents, Executive Officers and some representatives from both ACPPA and CaSPA recently met with The Hon Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education.

Topics discussed included school funding, principal wellbeing and the upcoming release of some reports that are being undertaken by different working parties.

Three reports discussed during the meeting were:
1. The Expert Panel to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System report being led by Lisa O’Brien
2. Universities and Higher Education Accord
3. Early Education 0 - 5 years
https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/childhood/draft

https://www.dss.gov.au/families-and-children-programs-services/early-years-strategy

These three reports need to work together like ‘three carriages on the one train’. Some of the recommendations will require legislative changes to adopt the reforms.

Minister Clare highlighted the importance of our two associations continuing to work with parent bodies, the NCEC and government bodies to advocate for Catholic school leadership.

This meeting was an important element of the work of ACPPA to advocate for members at the national level.

A word from our valued partner: MSP Photography

MSP Photography are passionate about providing quality, photographic memories for students and families. Discover the many options available and explore the MSP difference.

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Catholic Education Stakeholders Forum Meeting

The Catholic Education Stakeholders Forum is held four times per year. This group is formed by combining the Executive Officers and Presidents of the Australian Catholic Priamry Principals' Association (ACPPA), Catholic Secondary Principals Australia (CaSPA), Catholic School Parents Australia (CSPA) and the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC).

Recently, this meeting took place face to face in Sydney. The group was joined by NCEC Executive Director, Jacinta Collins, who highlighted topics of importance to our work in supporting principals in their schools.

Principal Wellbeing continues to be a topic of utmost importance and both ACPPA and CaSPA will continue to work with the Australian Catholic University Institute of Positive Psychology and Education to promote the recommendations from the Australian Principal Occupational, Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey.

VACPSP 2024 Conference - Lorne 19-22 March 2024

Think. Engage. Lead. WITH STRENGTH.

Building on the previous conference themes of Courage and Hope, we introduce the theme of Strength. The Strength of our Faith and the teachings of Jesus and our own saint, Mary McKillop, the Strength of leading differently and justly, Strength in the face of the challenges of today's society, including a focus on the Strength of our indigenous story and spirituality, and our own inner conviction. A Strength that enables us to lead as we do.

This conference journey will inspire, inform and equip you to make a long-term, sustainable and measurable impact on young people and school communities. The conference is underpinned by “the story of our faith ... treasures handed to us. Whether Catholic or not, practicing or not, we are custodians or keepers of these stories because we work in Catholic schools." (200 Years Catholic Education).

To learn more about the VACPSP Conference, go to their website https://vacpsp.org.au/2024conference/

To book :

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1087056

The ACPConnect Podcast, ‘Principal Talks’ has dropped new episodes for you to listen to. Broken into two episodes, we hear from current and former principals and ACPPA Board members about their pilgrimage journeys. Hosted by ACPConnect’s Josephine Brennan, and ACPPA Executive Officer, Gez Mulvahil the discussions are an open and honest account of the pilgrimage journeys.

In Part One, we talk to retired Victorian Principal (and ACP's Thoughts and Prayers with Helen) Helen Healy, and current Western Australian Principal, Annette Quirk as they discuss enrichment leave, pilgrimage and God moments. Sometimes God pops up unexpectedly, and sometimes finding a God moment is hard to do...even in the holiest of places!

In Part Two we talk to two current Principals, Gavin Rick (Queensland) and Leon Colla (Victoria) as they relive their experiences in the Holy Land. Their stories made us laugh, and made us cry, and their 'God moment' stories left us with goosebumps.

If you have a story to share, contact hello@acpconnect.com.au

Listen on Spotify Principal Talks Podcast

 

Media Release The Hon Jason Clare MP:

Helping teachers manage classrooms

The Albanese Government is investing $3.5 million to help teachers manage classrooms through a range of free, evidence-based resources released today.

One in three teachers report losing teaching time due to disruptive behaviour, significantly impacting students’ ability to learn.

Supporting teachers to minimise classroom disruption will result in a boost to student learning and teacher retention.

The ‘Engaged Classrooms’ resources were developed by the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) in consultation with teachers and classroom management expert Dr Tim McDonald.

The free resources released today will help teachers starting out, those working in new environments, and experienced teachers who want to refine or refresh their classroom management practice.

A further two sets of classroom management resources for teachers will be released next year.

The first suite of professional learning resources includes easily accessible evidence explainers and adaptable best practice guides. Future resources will include video demonstrations, mentoring guides and support for school leaders.

The first set of resources are available at: https://www.edresearch.edu.au/classroom-management

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“A lot of teachers tell me that when they leave university and jump into the classroom for the first time they don't feel as prepared as they should to manage a classroom full of students.

“By providing these resources to teachers we can help them to manage the classroom which is good for them and good for their students.

“When students are fully engaged in the classroom, they learn at their best and teachers have more time to teach.”

Quotes attributable to AERO CEO Dr Jenny Donovan:

“Students thrive in classrooms where they are engaged in learning without distractions; where they feel safe; and where they know what is expected of them.

“These resources offer evidence-based guidance to teachers about explicitly teaching students the expected behaviours so that all classrooms are conducive to learning.

“By refining their classroom management, teachers will see increased student focus on learning and fewer disruptions, which will subsequently enable teachers to focus more on teaching, leading to improved outcomes for all students.”

Source: https://ministers.education.gov.au/clare/helping-teachers-manage-classrooms

CaSPA National Conference 2024 – register now

Registrations for the 2024 CaSPA Conference are now open. 

Visit https://eecw.eventsair.com/caspa2024/ to register.

CaSPA 2024 National Conference – Planning well underway

The CaSPA board met last week in Perth and had the opportunity to experience first-hand the world class luxury facilities on offer at Crown Perth, the venue for our 2024 national conference to be held 14 – 16 July 2024.

As we head into the final weeks before the festive season, here are some updates on the planning for next year’s event. Be sure to express your interest to attend the conference via the conference website here

Conference theme and logo

Dreaming the future of Catholic Education will provide an opportunity to reconnect, imagine and dream the future of Catholic Education as we gather on the lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Boodja (country).

We recognise and acknowledge that as leaders of our schools we are already on the journey to shaping the future of catholic education. Grounded in our faith, the conference will take us on a deeper journey of innovation, imagination, and collaboration.

Together, we will delve into visionary ideas and innovative strategies that will shape the future of Catholic education, ensuring it remains a beacon of hope and wisdom for generations to come.

Our conference logo has been designed using CaSPA’s commissioned artwork piece from Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmer Baumann titled Unity. Further information on this piece and the essence of the painting can be found here

Program Outline

The two-day program includes keynote speakers, student panels and abstract presentations and workshops. The themes will range from innovation and adaption, inclusivity and diversity, faith integration and community engagement. You will have a choice of school visits where you will be hosted by the principal and have a chance to see how we work in Western Australia.

Call for Abstracts Now Open

While you are taking some time out over the festive season to rest, rejuvenate and reflect – consider how you could possibly make a contribution to the 2024 conference program by submitting an abstract for consideration.

As we face the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, we must collectively dream, envision, and act to ensure that we continue to lead Catholic education to transform lives and serve society.

How do we evolve as leaders in the changing landscape of education? How do we continue to lead and innovate our teaching practices and education systems while retaining our faith and mission? How can we lead and be progressive in a fast-changing world where values drive strong communities? What will leadership look like, how will we lead?

The Themes

We are seeking abstracts that delve into the heart of Catholic education's future. We invite you to submit your innovative ideas, research findings, and practical insights that address:

· Leading Innovation and Adaptation: Explore innovative teaching approaches, technological advancements, and new methods to nurture the growth and vitality of Catholic education.

· Leading Inclusivity and Diversity: Share your perspectives on creating inclusive educational environments that embrace diversity, foster unity, and maintain Catholic values.

· Leading Faith Integration: Reflect on ways to infuse faith, ethics, and spirituality into modern curriculum and teaching practices, ensuring the enduring relevance of Catholic identity.

· Leading Community Engagement: Present strategies for strengthening the ties between Catholic educational institutions, local communities, and the global world, emphasizing service, outreach, and social justice.

Meet our Conference MC

Karen Tighe is a well-known face and voice of ABC TV and radio sport since joining the ABC in 1989.

She has co-hosted ABC Radio’s cover of the Sydney, Athens and Beijing Olympics, Kuala Lumpur and Manchester Commonwealth Games and has hosted six Paralympic Games (Lillehammer, Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, Beijing and London) with ABC TV. Karen was the Media Award Winner at the 2000 and 2001 Australian Sports Awards and in 2020 received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sports Australia Media Awards in Sydney.

Karen is married to former ABC sports commentator Glenn Mitchell and is mother of James who has recently finished school. Karen’s polished communication skills, professionalism and engaging personality have made her one of Perth’s most requested masters of ceremonies and we are delighted to have her as our MC for the 2024 National Conference.

Do you have beginnng teachers in your school? Would you like to connect them with some advice from other teachers?

AITSL have a section on their website 'My Teaching Advice'. My Teaching Advice (MTA) is a platform that matches a beginning teacher, with experienced teachers so that they can ask questions and get advice. Teachers are matched based on the relevance of their mutual interests and expertise. Teachers are able to ask questions and then look through a selection of experienced teachers who may be able to help. Once matches are found, they can select one or more ‘Advisers’. An email will then be sent to organise a mutually suitable time to engage in a real time chat, within MTA, to discuss the question(s).

For more information go to  AITSL My Teaching Advice

The Australian Dental Foundation have recently joined ACPPA as a partner.  Want to know more about ADF? Read on...

It’s apples and oranges!

Please be careful when choosing your school’s mobile dental provider: here’s some food for thought.

The Australian Dental Foundation (ADF) ‘My School Dentist’ program is a not-for-profit program, dedicated to improving oral health and expanding access to quality dental care for children and teens in Australia.

We come to you and provide dental treatment onsite at no-out-of-pocket expense to participating families and schools.

‘My School Dentist’ is now one of the largest mobile school dental programs, actively servicing hundreds of kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in metropolitan and regional Australia.

We are a multi-national award-winning team, made up of highly experienced and qualified clinicians, all of whom share a passion for good oral health and a love for working with children. We are dedicated to providing quality dental care for all children and teens to ensure they grow up smiling.

We focus on preventative dentistry, providing educational/dietary advice and dental awareness, and believe regular visits are imperative to forming good oral health habits, which will see children through to adulthood.

Why choose us?

Apart from government providers, all other mobile school dental services in Australia are corporate, for-profit providers. We are the only provider which guarantees to see all children, regardless of their financial or Medicare status.

It’s like comparing apples and oranges!

The below table explains the difference between us and them. Contact us now to arrange a visit https://www.dentalfoundation.org.au/contact/ 

Effective Mathematics Teaching Webinars

The National Catholic Education Commission has produced a series of six primary mathematics webinars focusing on Effective Mathematics Teaching.

The series is designed to be used by the leaders of primary schools to aid the improvement of mathematics teaching and learning and as a focus for professional learning.

The first webinar gives a series of tips for leaders in primary schools on how to improve mathematical understanding. In each of the next five webinars, three to five questions are examined across various stage levels.

Webinar One – Effective Mathematics Teaching
Webinar Two - A Focus on Number
Webinar Three - Focus on Fractions and Decimals
Webinar Four - Using Units of Measurement
Webinar Five - A Focus on Patterns and Algebra
Webinar Six - A Focus on Data

For more information:
https://ncec.catholic.edu.au/resource-centre/national-catholic-education-mathematics-webinars/

Some changes ahead….stay tuned!

ACPPA is excited to share that the Board has been working within a communication platform that is expected to be rolled out to our members throughout 2024.  Keep an eye out for information about this next year.

This will see changes to how we communicate with our members and State and Territory Associations.