Member Update 6 June 2024 | Term 2, Week 8
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
The VACPSP is proud to be an informed, proactive, professional association. This means not only ensuring we meet our strategic objectives and targets for the year, but also keeping a keen eye on the future. At the Victorian level this means we have recently had formal meetings with newly commissioned Victorian authority, VCEA and discussed various items, but notably, the next EBA. The EBA preparations for 2025/2026 have already begun with the Principal Council and when we met in a couple of weeks, we will discuss their role in liaising with you in a meaningful, productive way. The Association needs your voice to be able to speak on your behalf so please engage with your zone representative knowing our role is to support the Principal class. We are better, together. The discussions you will have at a zone level will inform our executive discussions and result in the formalisation of a position paper which will be used when engaging with the VCEA and the Diocesan Directors. In these discussions we will have a solutions focused mindset so we welcome creative ideas on meeting any concerns you may have about either Principal conditions or school needs and wants.
Jelena Dokic
Jelena embodied the 2024 Conference theme of "With Strength"; she experienced the harshest of hardships yet never lost sight of the fact that she could be a person of worth. Despite being known for her incredible tennis career, it was only after it had finished, and she met Todd Woodbridge, a successful commentator and tennis colleague, that she felt true worth. After a complicated relationship with her father and coach, Jelena shared that she felt unsure of who she could be after tennis. Todd, however, gave her permission, without any motive of his own, to be free to be whatever and whoever she wanted to be. He supported her to find a career after tennis; to look beyond the past and free herself from vulnerabilities knowing you are enough. Powerfully, Jelena challenged the delegates to "Be A Todd" in their own community. To look out for those who find themselves lost and support them to be who they want to be.
As a Principal you have an opportunity to be someone (or multiple someones') Todd; you have the power to change lives and support students to be their best and truest selves. As part of our mission we foster students to not only find their gifts, but to share these with the world. You share your gift of love and compassion every day and have helped, and continue to help, hundreds of students in your care. Never forget your influence and the power of your presence in your students' lives. As we've heard before, it is not what we learnt at school that sticks with us, but how much our teachers cared.
This newsletter will be my last for a few weeks while I visit Spain and Portugal to met our youngest son, and meet his partner's family. I look forward to sharing my experiences when I return, especially the Catholic history in Portugal.
Regards Michael Gray
President
Also in this newsletter:
B2 Architecture New Website: We love sharing our passion for creating places and spaces that bring us together and bring out the best in us… So… we are very excited to have recently launched our new website. It brings to life our values, passion and purpose, showcases our latest and most loved projects across education, community, commercial and residential and provides a platform for us to share our vision and work to make good architecture more accessible and attainable so it can be enjoyed by all.
VACPSP President's Ball 2025: Nominations Open for the 2025 event at the Melbourne Town Hall. Nominate your colleague now!
VIT Employer Pack: A guide to Teacher Registration.
NCEC: Reading Instruction and Assessment.
The information contained in and/or the views and opinions expressed in content made by third party service providers and shared with VACPSP Members represents the views and opinions of the original creators of that content only and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the VACPSP. The sharing of material or content from third party service providers is done for educational purposes only and to provide information and resources that may provide benefit to some or all VACPSP Members. The sharing of this content does not constitute an endorsement by the VACPSP of such content.
The VACPSP disclaims any and all liability to any party for any direct, indirect, implied or other consequential damage or hurt caused by or arising from third party material and content, which is provided as is and without any warranties.
VACPSP President's Ball 2025: Nominations Open
Nominations are now open for the 2025 Principal Awards for Excellence! After the success of the 2023 event, the 2025 event will again be held at the Melbourne Town Hall for a formal black-tie dinner and celebration.
Bring family, friends and staff along to Celebrate The Principal.
Save the date for this stellar, sell-out event on Friday 21 March 2025.
VIT Employer Pack: A guide to Teacher Registration
NCEC Reading Instruction and Assessment
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
