CaSPA News

This is the last and final call for all women currently working in the schools sector to express their interest in the final end-of-year scholarship funding that is available.

The fee support opportunity provides women with funding of between $1,000 and $1,500 to undertake a range of leadership development programs commencing in early 2019.

NESLI, Women & Leadership Australia, industry stakeholders and partners want to take this opportunity to thank all of those for their previous support.

To ensure equitable access to the remaining scholarship funds, the window for registering an initial Expression of Interest has been extended until December 14. It is important to note that it is uncertain when these grants will be available again; more information is available here: www.nesli.org/funding

We encourage you to inform CaSPA ACT members and contacts of the final opportunity to register, and below is some wording that is appropriate in support of the project. If required, I can also provide you with an image or logo for your message upon request.

As we draw to the end of the Year of Women in School Leadership, we are pleased to announce that interest in this important developmental initiative is already strong, and we again thank you for your vital support and involvement.

Kind regards,


Alistair Young
National Excellence in School Leadership Initiative (NESLI)

Tel: (03) 9270 9032
Mob: 0450 809 829
Email: ayoung@asam.edu.au
Fax: 1300 451 031

www.nesli.org

Suggested message to your members/staff/networks:

FINAL CALL: UP TO $7,000 AVAILABLE FOR WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Women currently working in schools across Australia have a final opportunity to register their interest in a scholarship worth up to $7,000 to support participation in a leadership development program.

Funding must be apportioned by the end of 2018 and it is unsure when these grants will be available again. Find out more and register your interest by completing the Expression of Interest form here prior to the extended deadline of December 14: www.nesli.org/funding

Marcellin Technical College is now a campus of Cardijn College

Cardijn College is pleased to announce that Marcellin Technical College has merged with Cardijn College and will be known as Marcellin Technical, a campus of Cardijn College. Marcellin Technical will continue to specialise in trade, vocational and technical education.
Since 2016, Cardijn College and Marcellin Technical College have worked in partnership to provide the best Catholic education to students of the southern suburbs, whatever career pathway they choose.
Over the past 18 months, many of the core support functions of Marcellin have been centralised at Cardijn. A combined board assumed the governance of both schools which facilitated a streamlined approach to services such as finance, marketing and communications, maintenance and ICT.
Marcellin Technical offers trade, vocational and technical training to students who wish to undertake an Australian School-based Apprenticeship (ASbA) concurrent to completing their SACE.
Cardijn College, in collaboration with southern region Catholic Primary Schools, will continue to strengthen partnerships to enable students and their families to be consistently supported throughout their transition from primary to secondary education.
This model of education ensures the continuity of pastoral care and student development from early learning, primary and middle schooling, into senior school and beyond.
For our students who commence an ASbA at Marcellin and then transition to a full apprenticeship, we offer a unique model of pastoral care. This model fosters an ongoing relationship with apprentices through our onsite RTO, MTC Training, once they have completed Year 12.
There are exciting plans for the future of Marcellin with the introduction of new courses to students from 2019 including Hairdressing, Cosmetics, Early Childhood Education and Individual Support (Ageing) and the establishment of a STEM laboratory.
Cardijn College will also undergo an expansion as we welcome our first intake of Year 7 students in 2019.
It is an exciting time for Catholic education in the southern suburbs. Families can be confident that their child's individual needs will be catered for, no matter where their skills and ambitions lead them and that a high-quality Catholic education is accessible and achievable for every student.

While our name suggests that we cater for Secondary Students, CaSPA schools in fact embrace a far broader range of educational offerings.

The 2018 Government Census of schools reveals the following about our range of schools:

• Just on 66% provide "mainstream" education with secondary classes only
• Another 25% have classes for both secondary and primary
• The final 10% of schools offer specialised schooling for students with a broad range of special needs
  • 13 schools cater for students with a disability
  • 21 schools provide education for "at risk" students - many of the these belong to the EREA Flexi Learning Centre group
  • 16 schools are classified as containing a majority of Indigenous Students - with many of these being the only schooling for these students in very remote areas

As with the data on the location of our schools, this data set reveals that CaSPA do far more than just cater for those in high socio-economic areas and/or the more able students. We should take pride in the fact that our CaSPA schools are actively promoting the Gospel message in a very real sense.

1.     Honda Foundation Grants
The Honda Foundation aims to inspire goodwill by donating much needed funds to worthy causes nationwide. It acts as a charitable trust, providing financial assistance to charities and organisations working across a range of social and environmental issues. Applications close 8 February 2019. https://www.thehondafoundation.com.au/

2.     Grassroots Football, Cricket, and Netball Facility Program (SA)
The Grassroots Football, Cricket, and Netball Facility Program is aimed at increasing participation and improving gender equity in Australian Rules Football, Cricket and Netball to support healthier, happier, and safer communities. The program will assist eligible organisations to develop core infrastructure that directly impacts participation through rational development of good quality, well designed and utilised facilities. Applications close 12 noon, 27 February 2019. http://ors.sa.gov.au/funding/apply_for_funding/gfcnfp

Scholarships - regional and remote

1.     Winchester Foundation Scholarship Program
The Winchester Foundation is a Scholarship Program to assist needy regional children and young adults with their further education and to help them with additional costs, which of course are incurred by all country students. Applications close 15 January 2019. https://winchesterfoundation.org/the-winchester-foundation/

2.     Pioneer Seeds Australia Scholarship
The Pioneer Seeds Scholarship is open to students starting graduate study in 2019. As well as $5,000 for up to three years, the scholarship includes two weeks paid placement with Pioneer brand products each year. The applicant's residential address must be either regional or remote as defined by the Department of Home Affairs Applications close 31 January 2019. http://www.careerharvest.com.au/scholarship/pioneer-seeds-australia-scholarship/

3.     CSU Foundation Rural Relief Scholarships
The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Foundation Rural Relief Scholarships aim to provide financial assistance to members of farming families or communities whose ability to attend or complete university is being impacted by current drought conditions. Applications close 11:59pm, 3 February 2019.
http://futurestudents.csu.edu.au/help-with-costs/fees-and-costs/help-with-costs/scholarships/foundation/any-year/csu-foundation-rural-relief-scholarship

4.     Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Foundation's (RASF) VET Scholarship (NSW)
VET (Vocational Education and Training) Scholarships are available to support individuals in NSW who demonstrate a passion for rural life and commitment for any career that will ensure the future success of rural and regional NSW. Scholarships of up to $6,000 for full-time study or up to $3,000 for part-time study are available. Applications close midnight AEDT, 10 February 2019. http://www.rasnsw.com.au/foundation/scholarships-and-grants/

"Learn to Change the World"

Professional Renewal Report from Harvard University

After many years as a secondary school principal in two school settings, Sydney Catholic Schools offered me the opportunity to take Professional Renewal Leave. During the planning phase a colleague suggested I look at the programs offered by Harvard University. Upon investigation, I found a range of excellent professional development programs through the Principal's Centre at Harvard. After my initial contact, I was offered a vast range of courses and I narrowed down my selection based on my areas of interest. However, my budget did not stretch that far, but after hearing Frank FitzGerald speak at our Principal's meeting I made contact with CaSPA and submitted an application for a scholarship, which was successful.

In June 2018, I flew to Boston with great excitement and anticipation. I met some wonderful people and educators, one in particular being Associate Professor Kay Merseth (Attached is a link to one of her speeches - the first 9 minutes is Gold). Kay was in charge of the program at
Harvard and in attendance every day, she is an inspirational educator who touched our hearts as "We Learn to Change the World". My focus was on the key factors that can drive school improvement and how to use these to improve the learning outcomes for the children in our schools today and for tomorrow.
The course I attended was called "Turnaround School Leaders" . This program was developed to assist school systems, superintendents, principals and teachers to deepen their understanding of the key principles required to turnaround schools that needed immediate intervention. I chose this course after reading about the program and developing an appreciation that these principles are also central to any self improving school community. In fact, the key elements of the program are applicable in any setting.
Key Factors to Drive School Improvement:

•     Learning how to approach the Turnaround Process from an organizational and cultural perspective
•     Understanding the role of Strategy , the importance of a clear and targeted Change Process and a well articulated Theory of Change/Action
•     Exploring the Leadership qualities required to lead successful turnaround a school, including the development of high functioning teams
•     Understanding how to use Data effectively to ground decisions and to determine strategies, track progress and engage all stakeholders
•     Exploring tools to drive high quality Instructional Practices throughout the school
•     Learning how to leverage the Engagement of Families to improve student outcomes

These six factors are all high yield strategies that have consistently improved student success over many years and across different types of schools. The major learning for me as a Principal is to focus, with precision, on the strategies that will drive improvement and to develop a shared and committed approach to implementing these strategies across the whole school.
The network I developed with the teaching staff at Harvard, along with other professionals from all over the world, has been invaluable. It was an amazing opportunity to simply be a student!

For the opportunity to get up each day and go to "Uni" and immerse myself in a high quality program of study I am indebted to CaSPA. I sincerely thank CaSPA for supporting my program of study and Sydney Catholic Schools for assisting and supporting my professional renewal leave.

Yours Sincerely,

Daniel Delmage Principal

Trinity Catholic College 

Auburn/Regents Park