A focus on improving the literacy and learning outcomes of secondary school students across the diocese of Ballarat continued today with professional development led by project partner the University of Melbourne Faculty of Education. Initiated in late 2020, the Improving Literacy in the Secondary Years (ILSY) Strategy and professional learning program is designed to guide teachers and school leaders to explicitly and systematically lead school improvement using a disciplinary literacy approach. Professor Larissa McLean Davies, Deputy Dean – Faculty of Education, says the project is founded on the premise that literacy is fundamental to all learning. ‘We know that improved literacy skills lead to better learning outcomes across all disciplines,…

Huge congratulations to St Patrick’s, Port Fairy on receiving Sustainability Victoria’s ResourceSmart Schools award for “Community Leadership School of the Year,” alongside Tecoma Primary School. St Patrick’s Principal, Olga Lyons said the award was wonderful recognition of the outstanding work of staff and students over the past several years. “Our school community has always been aware of the beautiful natural environment we have here at Port Fairy, and our deep responsibility to care for it. ‘Such is the enthusiasm for sustainability, 82 students across all year levels this year volunteered to join the student action team to plan and help deliver the programs and activities across the school,’ she said.…

More than 60 grandparents visited St Patrick’s Primary School, Ballarat today to share their stories as part of a school-wide focus on ‘story’ and recognition of the school’s centenary on its Drummond St site. ‘Today has been incredibly heartwarming and enriching for students, grandparents and staff alike,’ Principal Ben Shields said. ‘Throughout the morning rooms were filled with laughter, nostalgia, and the sharing of cherished memories. ‘Grandparents recounted tales of their childhood, adventures, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. ‘These narratives enrich our students’ understanding of history, culture, and the power of storytelling, as well as instilling a sense of community and belonging and bridging the gap between…

St Columba’s Primary School, Ballarat is one of the first schools in Victoria to better support student engagement with the Digital Technologies curriculum by utilising a range of learning tools available for borrowing from the Computer Science Education Research Group (CSER), based at the University of Adelaide. The CSER National Lending Library program, supported by the Australian Government Department of Education, provides schools with access to the latest equipment for the classroom. In Term 1, St Columba’s worked with the ‘Kai’s Clan Kits’, a collaborative, all-in-one coding platform that encompasses several technologies including robotics, augmented reality, virtual reality and artificial intelligence. Melissa Wood, Digital Education Leader and STEM Teacher at St Columba’s,…

National Reconciliation Week 2024 – Now More Than Ever Catholic school communities across the diocese of Ballarat will next week join all Australians in marking National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June) and recommitting to learning more about shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and how we can all contribute to achieving reconciliation with First Nations peoples in Australia. The Diocese of Ballarat stretches across land on which children have been educated for tens of thousands of years, and today, our 63 Catholic schools educate 520 (309 primary and 211 secondary) First Nations students. Catholic Education Ballarat Acting Executive Director Matthew Byrne says Catholic education in the diocese has an…

This week leadership team members from schools across the diocese are participating in Child Safe Standards Workshops delivered by expert consultant in the field, Sarah Morgante. The full-day workshop, delivered in each of the four diocesan school zones, is tailored for the education sector, covering all aspects of professional standards and legislative requirements to ensure the safety of students in schools. DOBCEL Manager Child Safety, Jacinta Cook, said the commitment of the DOBCEL diocesan system and its schools to best practice in child safety, is unwavering. ‘It is vital all our staff continually grow their knowledge and practice in child safety, and ongoing professional development is key to this. ‘Sarah…

Internationally recognised mathematics teaching practitioner Michael Ymer has this week led professional learning for teachers from across the Diocese. Michael explored the challenges of mathematics classrooms, managing a range of abilities, and modelled practical ways to support teachers and students to enjoy the teaching of mathematics through engaging learning experiences. Special thanks to St James’, Sebastopol, and St Patrick’s Koroit for hosting these events. Our teachers said: Another BRILLIANT day of Professional Development presented by Michael. There are always things to take away immediately and use in the classroom as well as ideas around teaching practices and considerations for students with diverse learning needs. Very engaging, informative, and practical professional…

The Allan Labor Government has excluded the vast majority of Catholic school families from the $400 School Savings Bonus announced in today’s State Budget in a move described by Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education as blatantly unfair. Executive Director Tom Sexton says it is deeply disappointing that 87% of families across its 63 Catholic schools with 18,500 (1 in 5) students will miss out on the much-needed support, while 100% of government school families will benefit from the program. ‘Our Catholic school families are feeling cost-of-living pressures too, yet only those who are healthcare card holders (around 13%) are eligible for the program. ‘Like government schools, the vast majority of…

To mark the 150th anniversary of the Diocese of Ballarat, and in recognition of, and sensitivity to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sisters and brothers, four Message Sticks will simultaneously journey to each Catholic school across the four education zones of the Diocese. A Mother Stick will remain in the central Catholic Education Ballarat (CEB) Office to which the four travelling Message Sticks are indelibly linked. The Message Sticks were crafted by Trevor Clark and Vicki Clark OAM, a DOBCEL Board Director and founder of The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry of Victoria (ACMV). They were blessed by Fr Marcello Colasante and presented to representatives of the four diocesan education zones during…

Outstanding contributors to Catholic education in the Diocese of Ballarat were recognised with Spirit of Catholic Education Awards and 30 Year Service Awards at a Catholic Education Week Mass and dinner in Ballarat on Friday (3 May). Three outstanding educators received the Spirit of Catholic Education Award, chosen from 17 wonderful nominees from across the diocese. They are: Tony Haintz – Damascus College, Ballarat for Building Inclusive Catholic Learning Communities. Cynthia Maiden – St Joseph’s Primary School, Hopetoun for Enhancing Family Engagement, Governance and Stewardship. Cathy Prunty – Damascus College, Ballarat for Empowering all to Flourish. Executive Director, Tom Sexton, said the Diocese is blessed to have teachers and leaders of the calibre of Tony,…