Included this week:-
- Mrs Bulter's travels
- School Closure Day
- School concert
- Book Week Parade
- Change to Assembly Date
- Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)
- PSG Meetings
Dear Parents and Friends
It is great to be back! (perhaps not for the weather though)
It has been a real blessing to be able to spend the last 8 weeks travelling through the Holy Lands in the footsteps of Jesus, as well as time on the island of Iona on a silent retreat and then in Ireland learning more about our patron saint Columba.
This time was not a holiday as such, but a ‘pilgrimage’. Whereas a holiday focuses on an ‘external’ journey - the places and sights visited, a pilgrimage includes an ‘internal’ journey as well. This time away was a chance for me to spend a lot of time in reflection and prayer and I have definitely returned feeling enriched from the experience.
Though I am really keen to share my experience with you all, it is really difficult to sum it up in only a few words. In time I will organise my photos (and thoughts!) and offer an evening for parents and friends interested in hearing more about my journey. I will also be spending time sharing my experience with the students and the staff over the coming months.
While I have been on leave, Shaun Mohr has taken on the role of Principal and has done a fantastic job of leading the school. I thank Shaun, and the rest of the leadership team (Julie Cooper, Susan Vowles and Torie Waight) for their willingness to take on extra responsibility while I was away.
I have included below some photos of my last few weeks in the north of Ireland. The majority of my time was spent around the city of Derry, on the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This was the city where Columba built a monastery and from which Columba departed with his companions to travel to Iona. Columba is called the ‘founding father of Derry’ and there is a wonderful Heritage Centre in the town sharing his story. Not far from Derry is Lough (Lake) Gartan. Columba was born near here in the year 521 and a high cross and engraved rock mark the spot. I have also included some photos of Northern Ireland’s amazing coastline.
It is great to be back! (perhaps not for the weather though)
It has been a real blessing to be able to spend the last 8 weeks travelling through the Holy Lands in the footsteps of Jesus, as well as time on the island of Iona on a silent retreat and then in Ireland learning more about our patron saint Columba.
This time was not a holiday as such, but a ‘pilgrimage’. Whereas a holiday focuses on an ‘external’ journey - the places and sights visited, a pilgrimage includes an ‘internal’ journey as well. This time away was a chance for me to spend a lot of time in reflection and prayer and I have definitely returned feeling enriched from the experience.
Though I am really keen to share my experience with you all, it is really difficult to sum it up in only a few words. In time I will organise my photos (and thoughts!) and offer an evening for parents and friends interested in hearing more about my journey. I will also be spending time sharing my experience with the students and the staff over the coming months.
While I have been on leave, Shaun Mohr has taken on the role of Principal and has done a fantastic job of leading the school. I thank Shaun, and the rest of the leadership team (Julie Cooper, Susan Vowles and Torie Waight) for their willingness to take on extra responsibility while I was away.
I have included below some photos of my last few weeks in the north of Ireland. The majority of my time was spent around the city of Derry, on the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This was the city where Columba built a monastery and from which Columba departed with his companions to travel to Iona. Columba is called the ‘founding father of Derry’ and there is a wonderful Heritage Centre in the town sharing his story. Not far from Derry is Lough (Lake) Gartan. Columba was born near here in the year 521 and a high cross and engraved rock mark the spot. I have also included some photos of Northern Ireland’s amazing coastline.
School Closure Day
A reminder that the school will be closed to students next Monday 14th August. The staff will be working with our Educational Consultant, Tony Perkins, in readiness for our School Review in October. We will be working through a process to determine our focus and goals for school improvement over the next 5 years.
School Concert
We are all very excited about the Concert next Wednesday. The children (and staff) have been practising hard and are looking forward to sharing their talents with you next week. Please make sure that you read the information later in the newsletter for all the details you’ll need.
Book Week Parade
Book Week is celebrated from 18th to 25th August. We will be holding a Book Week Parade on Monday 21st August from 9.00-10.20. Children are invited to come to school dressed as a character from a book. During Book Week the children will be involved in a variety of different activities.
Change to Assembly Date
Please note that there will be NO Assembly this Friday 11th August. This assembly has been postponed due to the Dress Rehearsal all day Friday. The next assembly will be held in Week 6, Friday 25th August.
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) on Students with Disability
All Education Ministers from Commonwealth, state and territory governments have endorsed the implementation of a nationally consistent collection of data on school students with disability in all Australian Schools (government, independent and Catholic).
The nationally consistent approach to data collection provides all Australian schools, education authorities and the community with a clear picture of the number of students receiving adjustments because of disability in schools, and the adjustments they are provided to enable them to participate in education on the same basis as other students.
Authority for the collection of information for the purposes of NCCD
The Australian Education Regulation 2013 requires the operators of all schools that receive Australian Government funding to provide information to the Australian Government Department of Education and Training (DET) for the purposes of the NCCD. This includes, in relation to each student with a disability at a school,
New in 2017
For the 2017 NCCD collection, Victorian Catholic Schools must provide their data collection via an excel spreadsheet which specifies individual student names. Student identifying information will only be provided to the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV) for the purposes of financial modelling in the transition from the Student with Disabilities funding model to the new NCCD model. The information that the CECV provides to the Department will not contain any identifying student details.
If you do not consent to your child’s name being provided to the Department, parents and carers MUST complete a consent form (available from the school office) by next Thursday 17th August. If this form is completed, schools will refer to the student in the excel spreadsheet as “Student A, B, C ….” for example.
For further information about the collection, use or disclosure of information for the NCCD please contact Megan Walton (Special Needs Coordinator) at school or swdquery@cem.edu.au
Parent Support Group (PSG) Meetings and 3 Way Conversations
Teachers recently met and discussed the positives and negatives associated with 3 Way Conversations being part of the PSG meetings for children. Whilst we understand having one meeting as opposed to 2 was helpful for families the staff felt that it was very important for our children with additional needs to have the same opportunities as their peers.
Therefore PSG meeting will not include 3 Way Conversations as part of the meeting this term. Please book in for a 3 Way Conversation and a PSG meeting. (3 Way Conversations will be held later this term)
Your child is certainly able to attend the PSG meeting to be an advocate for their own learning. If you or your child would like this to be the case please have this conversation with your child’s teacher. We would especially encourage this for our middle and senior students.
If you have any question please speak to your classroom teacher or Megan Walton.
Please note: Families that are required to have a PSG booking will receive an email from the school tomorrow with details on how to do the online booking.
A reminder that the school will be closed to students next Monday 14th August. The staff will be working with our Educational Consultant, Tony Perkins, in readiness for our School Review in October. We will be working through a process to determine our focus and goals for school improvement over the next 5 years.
School Concert
We are all very excited about the Concert next Wednesday. The children (and staff) have been practising hard and are looking forward to sharing their talents with you next week. Please make sure that you read the information later in the newsletter for all the details you’ll need.
Book Week Parade
Book Week is celebrated from 18th to 25th August. We will be holding a Book Week Parade on Monday 21st August from 9.00-10.20. Children are invited to come to school dressed as a character from a book. During Book Week the children will be involved in a variety of different activities.
Change to Assembly Date
Please note that there will be NO Assembly this Friday 11th August. This assembly has been postponed due to the Dress Rehearsal all day Friday. The next assembly will be held in Week 6, Friday 25th August.
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) on Students with Disability
All Education Ministers from Commonwealth, state and territory governments have endorsed the implementation of a nationally consistent collection of data on school students with disability in all Australian Schools (government, independent and Catholic).
The nationally consistent approach to data collection provides all Australian schools, education authorities and the community with a clear picture of the number of students receiving adjustments because of disability in schools, and the adjustments they are provided to enable them to participate in education on the same basis as other students.
Authority for the collection of information for the purposes of NCCD
The Australian Education Regulation 2013 requires the operators of all schools that receive Australian Government funding to provide information to the Australian Government Department of Education and Training (DET) for the purposes of the NCCD. This includes, in relation to each student with a disability at a school,
- The student’s level of education (primary or secondary)
- The student’s category of disability (physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional)
- The student’s level of adjustment (support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive adjustment)
New in 2017
For the 2017 NCCD collection, Victorian Catholic Schools must provide their data collection via an excel spreadsheet which specifies individual student names. Student identifying information will only be provided to the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV) for the purposes of financial modelling in the transition from the Student with Disabilities funding model to the new NCCD model. The information that the CECV provides to the Department will not contain any identifying student details.
If you do not consent to your child’s name being provided to the Department, parents and carers MUST complete a consent form (available from the school office) by next Thursday 17th August. If this form is completed, schools will refer to the student in the excel spreadsheet as “Student A, B, C ….” for example.
For further information about the collection, use or disclosure of information for the NCCD please contact Megan Walton (Special Needs Coordinator) at school or swdquery@cem.edu.au
Parent Support Group (PSG) Meetings and 3 Way Conversations
Teachers recently met and discussed the positives and negatives associated with 3 Way Conversations being part of the PSG meetings for children. Whilst we understand having one meeting as opposed to 2 was helpful for families the staff felt that it was very important for our children with additional needs to have the same opportunities as their peers.
Therefore PSG meeting will not include 3 Way Conversations as part of the meeting this term. Please book in for a 3 Way Conversation and a PSG meeting. (3 Way Conversations will be held later this term)
Your child is certainly able to attend the PSG meeting to be an advocate for their own learning. If you or your child would like this to be the case please have this conversation with your child’s teacher. We would especially encourage this for our middle and senior students.
If you have any question please speak to your classroom teacher or Megan Walton.
Please note: Families that are required to have a PSG booking will receive an email from the school tomorrow with details on how to do the online booking.
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