CaSPA News

Above: Lisa Rodgers met with the CaSPA Board at their 2018 May Meeting

Although only having been CEO of AITSL for a short period, Lisa Rodgers brought energy and an engaging candidacy to the role. She was a very accessible leader of AITSL and worked hard to build strong rapport with stakeholders. CaSPA Directors had a number of opportunities to work with Lisa via our Board Meetings and also as members of a number of AITSL committees. 

CaSPA wishes Lisa all the best as she takes up her new role as outlined in the following letter we received on Friday:

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to let you know that I have been appointed to the position of Director General, Department of Education in Western Australia and begin on Monday, 28 January 2019.

I am honoured to be taking on this role.

I applied for this position because education is at the heart of supporting children and young people to be the best they can be, and, like in previous roles, I wanted to have a more direct impact on the learning lives of students in WA.

It is an education system in good shape, having been led by one of Australia's most accomplished public servants and an exceptional leadership team.  There will be challenges - and many opportunities - and I'm looking forward to the work ahead.

During my time at AITSL, our organisations have worked well together.  We have built and strengthened relationships that have ultimately served the profession.

Thank you for your support and partnership.  

The AITSL team are extraordinary and will continue to support you, and the school leaders you support, without hesitation.

I remain committed to the national work that supports the profession in the pursuit of impact and outcomes for students.

Enjoy your holidays,

Lisa

Lisa Rodgers
Chief Executive Officer

Above: Marco Di Cesare with students from Caroline Chisolm College

In June, the College's principal, Marco Di Cesare, was nominated for The Educator's School Principal of the Year - Non-government award for the personal impact he has made as a coach, mentor, guide, role model and school leader.    
Two months later, the College won an Employer of Choice Award in the 2018 Australian Business Awards, which recognise organisations which have developed leading workplaces that maximise the full potential of their workforce.
Over the last five years, the College has worked hard across key areas of the organisation, including culture, leadership, faith formation, professional development and training, employee well-being, safety, performance management and recognition and remuneration.

A focus on inspiration

Di Cesare says that in the year ahead, the College will aim to build on the significant work it has already done to ensure that it remains not only an employer or choice but the best possible learning environment for its children.
"Our theme this year was 'to inspire'; inspire ourselves to be the best we are called to be and those around us," Di Cesare told The Educator.
"We certainly saw this at the start with strong VCE results from our 2017 cohort and the way students have gone about their year in general."
Di Cesare said the College has also made a conscious effort to increase awareness among students of doing their part to be more sustainable.
In 2018, the College received its first star from Sustainability Victoria and the ResourceSmart School Program, which assists schools to embed sustainability throughout their teaching and learning environments.
Di Cesare said there have been several other highlights for the College this year.
"Our impressive NAPLAN Reading results that showed our growth was double that of the state average," he said.
"These results showed our growth was double that of the state average."
Di Cesare also lauded the fact that CCCC was the only Catholic school to have received the 2018 Employer of Choice Award.
The College also performed strongly in the arts, with its student-led musical, 'The Wiz'.
"This was a real highlight for our community and showcased the level of talent from our students, both on stage and behind the scenes," Di Cesare said.
"Again, this was another way we 'inspired' each other."

'Representing the community at large'

Di Cesare said that being a finalist for the Australian Education Awards' Principal of the Year (Non-government) was "an honour and a great privilege to represent our community at large".
In 2019, Di Cesare said he intends to drive the success of the College forward by continuing its robust learning programs and personalised pathways.
"Also, we are looking to expand our family and community engagement with local primary schools, alumni and other members of community with a new role," he said.
"It's important we maintain regular and clear communications with them and that they see the role we play in our young people's education."
Di Cesare said one of the challenges most schools face - and something that isn't unique to only CCCC - is the shift in how it delivers learning and teaching programs so that students are prepared as future citizens.
"This is everything from how we deal with technology in the classroom to integrated curriculums, where students are learning about topics or areas that carry into their other subjects," he said.
"However, I'm optimistic that the opportunities we have in schools will always outweigh the challenges."

Related stories:
Principal takes mentoring to the next level
School awarded as 2018 Employer of Choice

Above: Besides moving to principalship of a new school in 2019, Stephen Kennaugh will be the incoming Director for NSW

The ACSP has informed CaSPA that there will be a new Director for NSW. Stephen Kennaugh has been nominated from ACSP to be a Director of CaSPA. Stephen is the current Principal of LS Ashfield but will be moving out of the Diocese of Sydney from the start of 2019 as he takes up leadership of St Andrew's College, MARAYONG in the Parramatta Diocese.

Stephen has been an active supporter of CaSPA and provided invaluable assistance to the Board in recent years.

The retiring Director from NSW is Amanda Wilson. Amanda indicated to ACSP that she wishes to resign from the CaSPA Board having served in the capacity since early 2018. Amanda is thanked for her contributions to the Board during that time.

Above: John Ormond Kennedy - the new Hawthorn MLA and President Emeritus of the PAVCSS

Of all the surprises to emerge from the recent Victorian State Election, the success of the ALP candidate for Hawthorn ranks at the very top. This had been a blue ribbon Liberal seat that had only once been lost to that party since elections have been held. The success of John Ormond Kennedy has confounded those on the other side of politics, the media and commentators - and even those within his own party.

Previous to this tryst with politics, John had been a long time Principal in Victorian Catholic secondary education. As the founding principal of Loyola College in Watsonia in 1980 he stayed in that role for over 25 years before his retirement in 2007. During this time, John was an active member of the PAVCSS and been a member of the Executive for many years and served in a variety of Offices including that of President.

in his customary self effacing manner, J.O.Kennedy was quoted in today's Melbourne press as follows:

"It's extremely humbling to be the new member for Hawthorn. I want to thank all my supporters who did so much to help achieve this historic result," he said.

"I wish John Pesutto [the sitting member he defeated] all the very best for the future."

While others at John's age and stage in life are considering a quiet retirement, the new member for Hawthorn will be putting in the long hours serving his constituency.  All his CaSPA colleagues wish him the best in this quest.

Above: President, Andrew Watson, at the opening of the 2018 CaSPA Conference in Cairns

At the end of 2018, Andrew Watson will complete his term as Principal of Thomas Carr College in Melbourne's outer West and take up the role as Principal Consultant for the Ballarat Catholic Education Office. 

This will close a significant chapter in Andrew's professional life where he has served with distinction in Senior Leadership Roles in a number of schools including:

• 2005-2010 Principal of Mercy Regional College, Camperdown, Victoria
• 2011-2018 Principal of Thomas Carr College, Victoria

Both schools saw significant development while Andrew was Principal.  CaSPA Directors had the opportunity to see this first hand when Thomas Carr hosted the National Board in May of this year.

On top of the demanding work as Principal, Andrew has been exceptionally generous with his time having served both the local State Association - PAVCSS - and on the CaSPA  Board:

• Four years on the CaSPA Board from 2015 to 2018
  • Held the following Offices - President, Vice President and Treasurer
• Seven years on the PAVCSS Executive from 2012 to 2018
  • Held the following Offices - Secretary and Treasurer

Andrew has been an active advocate for his fellow CaSPA principals and an enthusiastic contributor to the National Education Agenda. He leaves CaSPA with the acknowledgment and respect of his peers for his great service to our profession.