August Newsletter
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President's Message
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Woods Furniture - Platinum Partner
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CaSPA's Hope For The Future
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The School Photographer - Platinum Partner
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Principal Profiles
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PSW - Platinum Partner
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CaSPA Latest News
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NGS Super - Platinum Partner
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2022 CaSPA Awards & Scholarships - Applications Open
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Rory's - Gold Partner
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CaSPA Board Update
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CaSPA Social Action
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CCI - Silver Partner
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FujiFilm - Silver Partner
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Education Horizons Group - Silver Partner
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INSTALLING THE SZAPP
Dear Colleagues
My heartfelt gratitude and thanks to all the Principals and school staff for their care of families and students during the current challenging times around Australia. Your ongoing essential and loving work needs to be acknowledged and celebrated.
Since the last Board Meeting in earlier in July, CaSPA research has commenced discussions with the Australian Catholic University and PIVOT Research to investigate what CaSPA can do as a professional association to support Principals generally but also specifically in Rural and Remote areas.
It is with great excitement and pleasure that I announce the launching of the new CaSPA Newsletter format. My sincere thanks to Athas Concepts for their wonderful work in rebranding CaSPA’s communications.
It is also a great pleasure to announce the launching of the 2022 CaSPA Awards and Scholarships. Please see the link later in this newsletter or on the CaSPA website for further details.
Another key focus of the recent Board meeting was the important messages of hope related to NAIDOC Week and Plenary Council from Fr Frank Brennan and Bishop Vincent Long. Please take some time to read the reflections of hope referenced in this newsletter. CaSPA joins with and unequivocally supports Fr Frank Brennan in his “Healing Country” message. CaSPA also looks forward to meeting with Lana Turvey Collins (Plenary Council Facilitator) in August to discuss the Plenary Council processes and possible outcomes.
In closing, I would also express concern over the recent article published by Paul Kelly in “The Australian” on July 24th. Standardised testing such as NAPLAN, PISA and TIMMS only measure a very narrow spectrum of what schools do. We applaud the work of ACARA, AITSL and the newly formed Education Research Institute. There is much to be gained through the innovative work of these agencies and the ongoing collaboration DESE engages in with National Associations. Funding and investment in education is an investment in a productive economy – this is well documented and researched – innovation and enterprise are keys to our future. We need to strongly promote and collaborate to increase the status of teaching, not the reverse as suggested in the article! Covid has been a great example of the competence and standards of teachers, and school leadership, with their ability to steer the educational story through waves of challenge!
Blessings to all
Ann Rebgetz
CaSPA President
Healing Country:
CaSPA joins with and unequivocally supports Fr Frank Brennan in his “Healing Country” message recently:
‘Today our world is in need of healing – environmentally, spiritually and socially. We must all come together as a global community to fight the injustices of inequality, racism and environmental damage.’
Please read Fr Brennan’s full homily via this link: https://jesuit.org.au/fr-frank-brennan-sj-homily-for-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-sunday/
Plenary Council 2020
CaSPA senses a spirit of great hope and optimism in the 2021 Helda Camara Lecture delivered by Bishop Vincent Long in which he outlined his hopes for the future Catholic Church in Australia.
“The model of the Church based on clerical hegemony has run its course. Insofar as it is deeply embedded in patriarchal and monarchical structures, it is incapable of helping us to meet the needs of the world and culture in which we live. We have long moved out of the Ancien Régime and the age of absolute monarchs. We are on this side of the secular state and the rise of democracy. Yet it seems that the deeply entrenched patriarchal and monarchical structures of the Church have failed to correspond with our lived experience.
For the Church to flourish, it is crucial that we come to terms with the flaws of clericalism and move beyond its patriarchal and monarchical matrix. What is urgent is that we need to find fresh ways of being Church and fresh ways of ministry and service for both men and women disciples. New wine into new wineskins! The new wine of God’s unconditional love, radical inclusivity and equality needs to be poured into new wineskins of humility, mutuality, compassion and powerlessness. The old wineskins of triumphalism, authoritarianism and supremacy, abetted by clerical power, superiority, and rigidity are breaking.”
The full transcript: https://catholicoutlook.org/bishop-vincent-my-hope-for-the-plenary-council/
In addition, there is a statement from Fr Frank Brennan in relation to the 2021 Helda Camara Lecture message about the future Catholic Church expressed by Bishop Long.
“Bishop Vincent Long fled his homeland on a fishing boat after the Vietnam War. He ended up settling in Australia as a refugee. He’s been copping quite a deal of flak lately – the sort of flak reserved for outsiders who don’t quite belong in the royal sanctuary, the national temple. Recently he delivered the Helder Camara Lecture at Newman College. While others who lead our Church are urging that there is little need for change, and that in fact, change is antipathetic to the Roman tradition, Long declared:
Unless we genuinely repent of institutional failures and unless we convert to the radical vision of Christ and let it imbue our attitudes, actions and pastoral practices, we will not be able to restore confidence and trust in the Church.
“Until we have the courage to admit the old ways of being Church, which is steeped in a culture of clerical power, dominance and privilege, we cannot rise to a Christ-like way of humility, inclusivity, compassion and powerlessness.”
The full transcript: https://catholicoutlook.org/fr-franks-homily-11-july-2021/
Name: Joe Corbo
Current School: Gleeson College
Previous Position: Deputy Principal (Gleeson College)
First Year as a Principal: 2020
Year of Birth: 1961
My big picture for my current school is: A journey of the heart, an expedition of the mind.
The Joy of Principalship is: Taking care of those you are responsible for.
Favourite Book: “Dealing with meetings you can’t stand.” (Dr. R Brinkman)
Favourite Food: Mum’s Lasagna
Interests / Hobbies: Music, fishing and my Abarth 124 spider
My Favourite Well-Being Strategy: Top-down driving in the Adelaide hills and playing a musical instrument.
Advice for a Beginning Principal: Don’t start during a pandemic! …and care for those you are responsible for.
Favourite Leadership Quote: The value of a true leader is not measured by the work they do, but by the work they inspire others to do. (Simon Sinek)
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book:
“If you want to go quickly, go alone, if you want to go far, go together.”
Name: Ms Edna A Galvin
Current School: St. Monica’s College, Cairns
Previous Position: St. Patrick’s Senior College – APC, Mackay
First Year as a Principal: 2016
My big picture for my current school is: To continue to graduate strong, independent, well-educated and motivated young women
The Joy of Principalship is: Creating strong, independent, confident young people – plus running in to ex-students who are thriving
Favourite Book: The God of Small Things Arundhati Roy; Cloudstreet Tim Winton
Favourite Food: Italian
Interests / Hobbies: Reading; Drama/Theatre/Dance; Trivia; Travel (If able to again)
My Favourite Well-Being Strategy: Mindfulness; Humour; Exercise
Advice for a Beginning Principal: Have a good Companion Principal
Favourite Leadership Quote: Leadership is about service and responsibility – it is an action not a position.
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book: Dazzle - Empowering Women Through Education
Name: Catherine Gurr
Current School: St Joseph’s School, Port Lincoln
Previous Position: Principal, Emmaus Catholic School - Woodcroft
First Year as a Principal: 2014
Year of Birth: A secret!
My big picture for my current school is: “Improving learning outcomes for all students, supporting staff and students to become the best possible version of themselves, building the sense of community and improving resources and facilities to make a great school even greater!”
The Joy of Principalship is: The satisfaction of making a difference to a student, a family, a staff member, a school community.
Favourite Book: ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ or ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’
Favourite Food: Char Kway Teow
Interests / Hobbies: Running and Cooking
My Favourite Well-Being Strategy: Running or walking on the beach
Advice for a Beginning Principal: Be yourself, be honest, be humble
Favourite Leadership Quote:
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book:
Becoming…….
New Platinum Corporate Partner approved: NGS Super.
New Silver Corporate Partner approved: FujiFilm.
ACU & CaSPA Meeting: Discussion about Phil Riley Research and future post graduate courses for school leaders.
ITE Consultation with NCEC: Strategies to attract beginning teachers to Rural and remote areas.
Social Action Funding Launched & nominations due by 30 August
Finalising the organisation of Perth CaSPA Conference: 10 - 12 July 2022
Working with NCEC and ACU: re teachers in Rural & Remote regions of Australia
Leading Through Uncertainty
This short course provides a unique framework to help you manage turbulence, leverage risk and make more informed decisions. It's made up of 4 modules, each 3.5 hours in duration so there's not a lot of time away from work. The learning is practical, rich and very relevant.
Each module is delivered by experts with extensive knowledge and significant experience. Update your knowledge and skills with these modules:
o 24 August: Module 1 - Systemic Practice for Navigating Uncertainty
o 25 August: Module 2 - Psychology of Risk
o 31 August: Module 3 - Caring for Self and for Staff
o 2 September: Module 4 - Humanistic Leadership.
PROMOTIONAL CODE ‘CASPA’ to receive discounted course fee
CaSPA is very proud to announce the launching of the 2022 Scholarships and Awards. There will be two Scholarships for next year.
One will be for all principals as usual and the other will be specifically to promote women in leadership.
The scholarship can be used to do online courses or parts of a Master’s Degree with ACU, Harvard (Australia) or another university.
The scholarship could also be used to arrange school visits or courses run by organisations such as NESLI. Due date for both Scholarship applications to the CaSPA Board is 30 October 2021.
The Awards are explained in the attached documents and are also available on the CaSPA website. The nominations from each State & Territory are due to CaSPA Board by 28 February 2022.
Please remember that all awardees to be eligible are expected to attend the 2022 Conference to receive their award in person.
Nomination Forms have been sent to all State and Territory Catholic Principal Associations and can be viewed at the following link on the CaSPA website: https://caspa.schoolzineplus.com/introduction
Combined Meeting (CaSPA & State / Territory Associations) preparation: Now planned for 13 September 2021 in Adelaide.
Branding Meetings with CaSPA Partners: with Athas Concepts to enhance the partnership benefits.
Coalition of Australian Principals (CAP): Meeting regularly and focussed on Principal Wellbeing and COVID Issues
Working with NCEC and ACU: re teachers in Rural & Remote regions of Australia
Profiles of all the CaSPA Board are available on the CaSPA Website: https://caspa.schoolzineplus.com/current-and-past-board-members
CaSPA Social Action
CaSPA is pleased to announce that it will provide the opportunity for a member or an affiliated State / Territory Catholic Principals’ Association to be involved in Social Action. It is hoped that through involvement in this program the member or association will have the opportunity to engage in Social Action that may otherwise not take place. The Social Action gives witness to the tenant of the Catholic Church by supporting those who are in need or marginalised.
Pope Francis has asked many times during his Papacy to support and work with those at the margins: “Go forth and reach out to all people at the margins of society! Go there and be the Church, with the strength of the Holy Spirit.”
The rationale for the Social Action is that CaSPA and its Corporate Partners are aware of the difficulties individuals or groups face due to ethnicity, remoteness, financial hardship or gender. The project will enhance the Church’s social teaching and provide an opportunity for members to help others who are in need.
Applications need to be made to the local State or Territory Catholic Principal Associations. A national decision will then be made to award one recipient with the CaSPA Social Action Funding.
The closing date for applications: 30 August 2021. Funding for the Social Action will be funded through the funds provided by the generous CaSPA Partners.