Member Update 8 March 2024 | Term 1, Week 5

Acknowledgement of Country

The VACPSP acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the many lands that encompass our Catholic primary schools across Victoria – Dioceses of Ballarat, Sale, Sandhurst and the Archdiocese of Melbourne. The VACPSP recognises the Traditional Custodians' culture and the continuing spiritual connection to land, sea and waters.

The VACPSP pays our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who live, work, teach and learn within Catholic education in Victoria.

We commit to working together to create culturally safe schools for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to learn and thrive. We commit to working together for reconciliation, justice and treaty.

From the President

Yesterday was one of those surprising days that sticks with you. One of those 'sliding doors' days and when you can see how two different versions of the same day would have played out and what you would have missed in each. I was in Melbourne in the morning meeting with Senior MACS staff to connect with their system strategic enrolment strategy. This work was in response to the VACPSP’s 2023 Poistion Paper regarding ‘School Viability.’ The work was engaging, valuable and critical in sharing knowledge, perspective and voice on successful Catholic primary schooling and leadership. On the way home to Warrnambool, however, trains had been cancelled due to Friday’s strike, and buses were called to ensure all travellers, workers, and community could get home last night and to work today. With such a long commute between cities, hearing the phrase "buses replacing trains" instantly instills stress and uncertainty. In fact it took me four hours to get home. In this moment I had a choice; to get stressed, overwhelmed and overstimulated at this obstacle or see this experience as an opportunity. 

On my trip home, I was fortunate to sit with an incredibly humble, vibrant 82-year-old grandmother and a lifetime dairy farmer. I leaned into the opportunity to engage with her. She had been in Melbourne attending to her business and financial tasks. We discussed many things as we crawled home over the Westgate Bridge in peak-hour traffic. We laughed together at the situation and shared our initial stress; her primary frustration that she missed her two beers at the Mail Exchange pub before the train trip home!

After getting her permission I share her insight on living life. She was chuffed to think I would share her insights with Primary school leaders. When she gets up in the morning, I would summarise her mindset as, “Today is good, and I’ll make it great!” Then, she shared her pearl of wisdom, which I wrote down in my iPhone notes, the importance of “putting your energy into what really counts.” 

So as we go into the (very hot) long weekend, no doubt facing our own personal and professional challenges I leave you with this; don’t worry about what's not important; enjoy your day and be thankful for what you have. And sometimes, with the right perspective, we can make good out of every experience. Who knows what we might learn along the way.

Also in this newsletter:

• VACPSP Conference is less than two weeks away: See the official Booklet!
• NAPLAN information for parents and carers brochure: This information from ACARA may help you push out information on the upcoming NAPLAN testing.
  
• Zoos Victorian Professional Learning: Organise your next PD at one of Victoria's Zoos. Workshops are facilitated onsite across the zoo properties and have been designed for teachers who want to include real-world content with a focus on conservation in their Science, STEM and Geography lessons.
• Free Webinar: Education Insights: Reducing admin burden for MACS Primary Schools, Wednesday 13 March at 11:30am.
  

2024 VACPSP Conference, Lorne

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).

NAPLAN information for parents and carers brochure

The following information is available as a downloadable NAPLAN information for parents and carers brochure (PDF 108 KB) and a Simple English NAPLAN information brochure for parents and carers (PDF 1 MB).

Translated PDFs are available at the bottom of the page also.

Zoos Victorian Professional Learning: 2024 Teacher PD Program

2024 Teacher PD Program
These professional development workshops are facilitated onsite across our zoo properties and have been designed for teachers who want to include real-world content with a focus on conservation in their Science, STEM and Geography lessons. 

You will grow your knowledge, teaching skills and confidence: 

 - Gain ideas for sparking student interest and curiosity 
- Learn up-to-date information and real-world examples 
- Discover real ways to consolidate student learning 
- Access lesson plans and resources that you can use right away 
- Connect with Zoo Teachers and other classroom teachers and educators 

What's included 

- A certificate for 5 hours of professional development
- Workshop materials 
- Entry into the zoo for the day 
- Catered morning tea and lunch
- Access to Zoos Victoria educators 

Pricing
Teacher Members: $135 (10% discount) 

Non-members: $150 

We require a minimum of 18 people per workshop to go ahead. Cancellation of the event will be made 7 days prior if the minimum is not met. 

Free Webinar: Education Insights: Reducing admin burden for MACS Primary Schools

Edstart is Australia’s leading technology and financial services company, providing payment services exclusively for education. We're currently supporting fee payments at over 700+ schools Australia-wide, including a growing number of Catholic Primary schools.

Our Edstart Plus solution is all about reducing administration for schools and supporting families through unmatched fee-payment flexibility and pastoral care, at no cost to families.

In the words of one of our MACS Primary School Partners: "Edstart makes school fees less burdensome for your admin team and you can feel confident and trust that parents’ payment plans are set up in line with what they can afford as a family" - Natalie Kenny, Principal at St Dominic's Primary School, Camberwell East

About the webinar:

We’ll take a closer look at the MACS Primary School landscape as it relates to fee administration and trends around fee collection practices. Learn about the common debtor challenges faced by Catholic Primary Schools and how Edstart is partnering with MACS Primary Schools to save their admin teams 600+ hours each year.

Date & Time: Wednesday 13 March @ 11.30 am

Webinar title: Education Insights: Reducing admin burden for MACS Primary Schools.

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/851267834007?aff=oddtdtcreator

Prayer

Loving and generous God, awaken us to your presence as we continue to discern what is life-giving, empowering and sustainable for the good of all Catholic primary Principals, the school communities we support and the students we serve.

May our inspiration and commitment deepen as we reflect on and respond to the needs of Principals according to the vision of the Gospel and the voice of the Spirit.

Pour out your abundant blessings upon all involved in Principalship, a ministry of witness and leadership in Catholic education.

Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Help of Christians, pray for us.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Patron of Catholic Education in Australia, pray for us.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this newsletter update and a snapshot of the actions, connections and programs that the Association supports, leads or engages with on your behalf.

I am proud to represent the Victorian Catholic Primary Principal voice statewide and nationally and lead this professional, influential and trusted collegial body. By being a Member, your perspective, experience and knowledge of the school context joins the wealth of knowledge we take to key stakeholders to inform discussions.

As always, I not only welcome but encourage active communication between myself and members and look forward to engaging with you in person, phone or by email. Please share your insight with me at any time, be it through your Principal Council Representative or directly by emailing president@vacpsp.org.au or booking a call with me here. 

Thank you to our Business Partners