August 2020
- President's Message
- CaSPA Activities (August)
- Mental Health Foundation Invitation and AITSL Report Link (Leadership in Challenging Times)
- ACARA Update
- Experienced Principals Profiles
- The 2020 Australian Principal Health and Wellbeing Survey Link
- Exciting Offer from EduTECH 2020
- CaSPA's Valued Partners
- Installing the SZ App
President's Message
Dear Colleagues
Over the past weeks and months I have enjoyed playing along on social media to games like...
- What is something you bought in 2020 that you have not been able to use? Or...
- What is a new word that you have added to your vocabulary in 2020?
Or...
3. If 2020 could be a food what would it be?
My answers:
- A Qantas bag tag (not being used)
- Teaming/Zooming (as verbs)
- Coriander (yuk)
Keeping up our spirits and motivation has been hard at times this year. In my personal situation we have farewelled a beloved staff member and a Year 12 student who both died. Thankfully lock down in Canberra was kept to a minimum but the restrictions enforced have impacted the day to day running and life of our school.
However, on top of all these challenges I have been impressed with the resilience and efforts of my staff and students to create opportunities to have fun, celebrate and pray. I hope you too have received emails and messages of thanks from parents along with the normal governance and every day school issues.
I am encouraged and excited to hear about the great new events Catholic secondary schools, around Australia, are inventing and engaging with to make this year special for students (especially Year 12s). Many are quite amazing - so share these ideas with each other as we continue our progress through 2020 knowing that ... “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37
CaSPA Principal Profile
Name: Rita Daniels
Current School: Daramalan College, Canberra
Previous Position: Principal St Clare’s College, Canberra
First Year as a Principal: 2001
The hope for my current school is: That it continues to be a thriving school community living out the vision of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
The Joy of Principalship is: Seeing students excited about being at school, listening to staff discuss ideas and initiatives they are exploring and leading a school with a strong sense of community.
A Book I would recommend: “Great Speeches: Words that made history.”
Fun Fact about me: I know a lot more about Rugby Union now than I did prior to starting in my current role – and I enjoy watching it!
My valued Well-Being Strategy: Knowing when it is time to leave work at the end of a day, even if there are more things to be done, and making time for doing things I enjoy.
Advice for a Beginning Principal: Spend time looking and listening and do not be afraid to make changes that are clearly needed.
Inspiring Leadership Quote: “True leaders don’t create followers…they create more leaders!”
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book: “It was one of those days …”
CaSPA Principal Profile
Name: Vincent Feeney
Current School: St Francis Xavier College Berwick, Officer and Beaconsfield
Previous Position: Principal, St Joseph’s College, Ferntree Gully
First Year as a Principal: 1994
The hope for my current school is: to achieve Catholic school excellence within a culture of intimacy
The Joy of Principalship is: seeing others grow and thrive knowing you have helped
A Book I would recommend: I’d recommend an old film. Stand and Deliver. The teacher believes more in determination than post codes. That effort brings its own rewards.
Fun Fact about me: I was once cast in an opera, The Medium, in the perfect showcase for my talents. I played a deaf and mute character.....
My valued Well-Being Strategy: exercise; gym and cycling
Advice for a Beginning Principal: Build your team, build it around the vision
Inspiring Leadership Quote: when a great leader has finished their work the people say, look what we have done
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book:” Love what you do, do what you love: my fortunate career”
CaSPA Principal Profile
Name: Marie Barton
Current School: Edmund Rice College, Bindoon
Previous Position: Vice Principal, St Mary’s College Broome
First Year as a Principal: 2007
The hope for my current school is: That our students are nurtured by a collaborative staff group on their faith and learning journeys and supported in developing skills, knowledge and understandings to become responsible contributors in their communities. Also that we never forget the importance of our story and the lessons that have been learned.
The Joy of Principalship is: Seeing the growth of our young people who often come to us from challenging situations and how they flourish and develop into proud young men and women.
A Book I would recommend: Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
Fun Fact about me: I once managed the Iron Clad Hotel in Marble Bar.
My valued Well-Being Strategy: Code switching when I arrive home.
Advice for a Beginning Principal: Use the rocks in the jar analogy. Focus on the big rocks – the important things.
Inspiring Leadership Quote: Be informed, be reflective, be courageous, be real, be the change you want to see in the world.
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book: “I just want to teach” – The leader others saw in me.
CaSPA Principal Profile
Name: Dan McMahon
Previous Position: Principal – St Joseph’s College Toowoomba
First Year as a Principal: 1992 – St Brendan’s College Yeppoon
The hope for my current school is: That we provide an excellent and wholistic catholic education for young women and men.
The Joy of Principalship is: Working with young people and seeing them grow into better young adults.
A Book I would recommend: ‘Preaching to the Converted’ by Richard Leonard sj – a great resource for every Principal to have on their book shelf to assist in material for weekly Newsletters when all else fails.
Fun Fact about me: Got ‘hijacked’ to participate in a tandem sky dive on my 40th birthday – one of my most terrifying and wonderful experiences.
My valued Well-Being Strategy: Principals should use their Sabbatical and Long Service Leave wisely to increase their longevity in a performing well their very demanding roles. Don’t save it all up for a heart attack!
Advice for a Beginning Principal:
- Don’t get trapped in the office
- Walk around the school and through classrooms every day if possible
- Get to know, by name, as many students in your school as possible
- Spend time writing good Newsletters – great opportunity to form your community and most people do them really badly by being bland and mundane.
Inspiring Leadership Quote: “Management is doing things right; Leadership is doing the right things.”
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book: ‘A Fish Always Rots from the Head’ – the challenge and opportunity of being a great Principal!’
The 2020 Australian Principal Health and
Wellbeing Survey
EduTECH 2020 Invitation - 6 Free Registrations
Dear Principal
On behalf of EduTECH 2020, CaSPA is pleased to offer each Catholic Secondary Principal the opportunity to attend the Virtual Conference and invite 5 staff members from your school to also register with the same link. Please see below. This is a generous and exciting opportunity for professional learning for teachers and key staff.
Please use the link below to book tickets. I will also send an email next week with the same link, which could be forwarded to other staff as you see appropriate. The free tickets are valued at $300 each. Hence, it is great value expecially if you “bring/invite” another 5 staff as well. EduTECH2020 is offering $1800 worth of free tickets per Principal!
https://secure.terrapinn.com/V5/sponsor-guest/10196/a0A4G00001TEEpsUAH
Phil Lewis
(CaSPA Executive Officer)