Leading Catholic Identity

Leadership Standard

Principals work collaboratively with the school community to establish, strengthen and actively promote Catholic identity as central to the Vision and Mission of the school.

They create a positive culture to develop the personal, religious and faith formation of all staff and students.

Principals ensure excellent religious education teaching and learning occurs in a faith-centred and inclusive school community.

Principals ensure that all students and staff experience Catholic faith, liturgy, culture and traditions in meaningful and authentic ways.

Crossways Implementation

Crossways Implementation

As I have now been appointed Acting APRIM at St Raphael’s School Parkside, one of my new strategic goals for the school commencing next year is leading staff in developing a Crossways Curriculum scope and sequence.

After attending Crossways Implementation Professional Learning Days, I believe I have a plan to lead and support staff in co-constructing a scope and sequence for the RE curriculum R-6 that suits our school context.

I intend to develop this together as a whole staff so that there is buy in and accountability for all. The challenge is that there the content may be new to many the teaching methodology and planning proforma’s may not have been used before. I have thought about possible ways in which I can engage the staff with the document and support them in implementing it in their year levels.

As a type seven Enneagram personality, I must take the time to meet people where they are at, allow them time to process and contribute and not let my excitability, eagerness and pace get in the way. I intend to use one of the beginning of the year professional days to provide teachers (as they will then know their 2021 year level) an opportunity to look closely at the Essential Understandings, Wisdom strand and skills and dispositions to see how they best work with their year level, school context and liturgical events. I will provide support materials and unit planner examples to assist in the process. This will be a continual focus and journey for us as a school. We will start small by focussing on the content and planner first, look at Term 1 so that it is manageable and progress from there.

Religious Leadership

Catholic Identity And Religious Education Initiatives At Star Of The Sea School And Henley Beach Parish

During my time at Star of the Sea School and as an active member of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Henley Beach I have been responsible for and led many religious experiences and initiatives.

  • Religious Education Co-ordinator
  • Member of Parish Evangelisation Team
  • Leader of Alpha Program
  • Leader and Coordinator of Parish and School Sacramental Program
  • Eucharistic Minister
  • Sunday morning mass commentator
  • Introduced ‘HEART MOMENTS’ when all students and staff gather on a Friday morning for two minutes of silent personal prayer. Students hold a heart as a focal point and use this time to pray/meditate silently about something important to them or a stimuli the teacher has presented. It is usually done in the classrooms however we have gathered as a whole school for a collective heart moment experience.
  • Staff formation: leading staff through curriculum, liturgical events, retreat days
  • Implemented in conjunction with Parish priest – YEAR LEVEL PARISH MASSES. This occurs for each year level once a year where the children and families are invited to lead and host the Sunday morning mass. Children and their parents participate in the ministries of the Mass and host a morning tea for parishioners.
  • Development of school charism in alignment with our Parish msc priests (Missionaries of the Sacred Heart) with a real focus on heart spirituality.
  • Help lead the school motto ‘OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS’.
  • In conjunction with Principal, organised an annual opportunity for staff formation experience at St Mary’s Retreat Centre Douglas Park – home of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart priest. We offer a week long experience where staff get to explore their faith and deepen their understanding of heart spirituality.
  • Plan, lead and organise Mass, liturgies and liturgical events
  • Lead Mission week and other social justice initiatives
  • Support staff in RE curriculum / MITIOG planning
  • Continuous make links between school and parish
  • Leading staff prayer and offering opportunities for others to lead and engage in prayer.