Message from the Director of Schools

Dear Colleagues,

Catholic Schools Week ‘Our Hope-Filled Future’

Next week, we celebrate Catholic Schools Week with the theme ‘Our Hope-Filled Future’. It is an opportunity to celebrate and give thanks for the gift of Catholic education in our lives. This week holds special significance as we embark on an inspiring new chapter with our new strategic plan. Under our new five-year strategic plan, "Our Hope-Filled Future," we celebrate our growth as a system of 24 schools, now including our first K-12 community at Holy Trinity. This week is a testament to our shared commitment to a Christ-centered, inclusive learning community. Inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s call to "draw new maps of hope," we move forward with a clear vision to support our over 6,000 students to realise a hope-filled future.

I look forward to celebrating with you at the many events planned for this week, including the Deanery Masses in Tamworth, Armidale and Moree. It will be great to join with our Armidale Cluster of schools to launch Catholic Schools Week on Monday, 25th May, at the inaugural Armidale Cluster Professional Development Day. The week finishes with the Gary McSweeney Cup on Friday in Tamworth. 

Congratulations - Sophie Tobler

Congratulations to Sophie Tobler from the ACS Inclusion Team who has successfully completed Module 1 for her Highly Accomplished Teacher Submission.

The feedback said that Sophie’s module showed evidence of her capacity to work collaboratively to improve her own practice and the practice of colleagues. Her module also demonstrated that Sophie works with colleagues to plan, evaluate and modify teaching programs to improve student learning and highlighted her in-depth knowledge and skills which she uses to deliver effective learning experiences and share this with colleagues. Sophie will now plan her site visit for later this year. 

Congratulations Sophie! This is a true reflection of the impact you have on your colleagues and on student learning outcomes.

Congratulations - Angela East

Congratulations to Angela East from Holy Trinity Inverell, who has successfully completed her Highly Accomplished Accreditation site visit, meeting all six descriptors.

Angela’s feedback highlighted her leadership style, particularly the strong and approachable relationships she has built with her colleagues. The assessor noted that Angela walks “beside” her peers in their professional journey, modelling a collaborative and supportive approach to leadership. The assessor also recognised how Angela’s role as Leader of Student Care enables her to model the school’s non-negotiables for student wellbeing and safety, supporting colleagues to maintain these high standards across the school.

Jilly’s principal interview with the assessor was excellent and reflected her ongoing commitment to the school’s improvement focus, as well as her collaborative partnership with Angela throughout the process.

A sincere thank you to Jilly for supporting Angela and to Millie for her ongoing guidance. Angela now moves on to completing Module 2.

Congratulations, Angela!

Strengthening the relationship between school and parents

Pope Leo XIV, in his Apostolic Letter “Drawing New Maps of Hope”, says: 

‘Christian education is a collective endeavour: no one educates alone. The educational community is a “we” where teachers, students, families, administrative and service staff, pastors and civil society converge to generate life’

Catholic Schools NSW in partnership with the Council of Catholic School Parents (CCSP) have developed an excellent resource which really embodies the ‘we’ and the relationships between schools and families.  This  new resource aims to strengthen the partnership and protocols between home and school, parents and teachers.

This short video clip highlights the need for respect and collaboration between home and school interactions as a basis for a fostering relationship.