Dear Colleagues,

FLOOD EVENT

This week began with chaotic scenes across the Diocese, as many communities experienced significant impacts of the widespread weather event and resultant flooding. Our schools, Early Education Centres and OOSH services were hardest hit in the Manning Region and Dungog, where closures were enacted. I acknowledge the care, compassion and professionalism of all staff in these communities. I am grateful for the leadership of principals and centre directors, as well as the involvement of our Diocesan Shared Service personnel, who provided advice, guidance, direction, and a coordinated response during this difficult and uncertain time.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with all those deeply affected by the devastating storms and mass flooding along the east coast, especially those who have experienced isolation, displacement, loss of property and livestock, impacts to livelihood, and tragically, loss of life. As a Catholic community, we are reminded of the outreach to one another in times of need and are grateful for the courage and expertise of services and agencies who are called to respond.

In times of crisis and anxiety, may we remain ever faithful, trusting and hopeful.

ACSP CONFERENCE 2025

This biannual conference of principals from Catholic Schools across NSW was hosted by the Diocese of Maitland- Newcastle and held in the Hunter Valley. Despite the challenging weather conditions, 350 delegates prioritised this event, coming together to explore the theme, Living Waters: Leading with hope, Inspiring faith communities.

The conference officially opened with the Acknowledgement of Country, expertly led by St Catherine’s College Singleton students under the care of teacher Lisa Hall.

I was delighted to set the scene for the conference, extending a very warm welcome to esteemed leaders, educators, and those in the privileged role of principal in Catholic schools across the state, as well as our Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

I share excerpts of my Welcome Address below.

Leadership is a privilege and an honour, but it also carries immense responsibility. The weight of decisions, the expectations of others, the pace at which we must adapt—all of it demands more than most will ever fully understand. Leadership, by its very nature, demands resilience. It asks us to carry weighty responsibilities, navigate complexities, and inspire our staff, our teams, and our communities.

In your unique role as principals, you are tasked with solving problems before they arise, anticipating needs before they are expressed, and guiding those around you, even when you feel depleted.

It is vitally important that we gather this morning not as visionaries and decision-makers, problem-solvers and hand-holders, or strategists and change agents…but as individuals seeking to reconnect with ourselves, with one another, and with the fundamental purpose and mission that brought us to educational leadership in the context of Catholic Education. Today, in this space, we set aside the urgency of doing… and embrace the necessity of being.

Over the next few days, in this beautiful setting, I invite you to reach out to others and strengthen connections with your colleagues and counterparts within and across diocesan boundaries. Authentic connection is the foundation of effective leadership, celebrated in moments of shared understanding, dialogue, trust, and vulnerability.

I encourage you to lean into rest, not as a sign of weakness but as a strategy for sustained impact. This is the space where creativity is born, perspective is refreshed, and strength is restored.

Just as nature embraces seasons of change, I urge you to use this time of renewal to return to your purpose with fresh energy, refined clarity, and a more profound commitment to leading and inspiring your faith communities.

This conference offers a rare moment to pause, reflect, and reignite our passion for leadership. Let us seek opportunities for connection, embrace the rest we deserve, and welcome the renewal that awaits us as people of hope.

The Opening Liturgy was a reflective experience in which the conference theme was beautifully explored. I acknowledge the involvement of our musicians and the ASPIRE dance troupe, under the direction of Lauren Harvey, whose participation was joy-filled.

I recognise the extraordinary contribution of the Liturgy Team, expertly led by Ryan Gato and our CDMN RE&S team. Reflective opportunities over three days called us to engage deeply with the conference themes with relentless optimism in this Jubilee Year of Hope.

“Ours is a hope that has strong roots, which no storm of life can uproot”. “Hope does not disappoint”, Pope Francis.

Keynotes and Masterclasses throughout the conference featured renowned national and international speakers and educational experts. They covered topics including Wellbeing, Leadership, Educational Transformation, opportunities in an age of AI, and the impacts of change. Of note were contributions from Yong Zhao, Derek Wenmoth, Lea Waters, Austen Ivereigh, Simon Breakspear, and Daniela Felecki.

I appreciated the opportunity to dialogue, deeply listen, and walk alongside colleagues in partnership. I wanted to share the joys, complexities, and responsibilities we carry as leaders in the context of Catholic education and transform hearts and minds.

Across our days together, All Saints College Maitland students captured the insights and reflections of principals and leaders. Later in the conference, Bishop Michael joined the delegation to celebrate Mass, a highlight of our gathering.

Congratulations to the organising committee. Your efforts contributed to the success of this fabulous event and are greatly appreciated.

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK

National Reconciliation Week is observed from May 27 to June 3, commemorating two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey: the successful 1967 referendum and the High Court's Mabo decision. The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2025, "Bridging Now to Next," signifies the ongoing connection between the past, present, and future.

Click here to find out more about NRW.

PODCAST: CELEBRATING GIFTED AWARENESS WEEK

This Saturday, May 24, signifies the commencement of Gifted Awareness Week 2025. To commemorate this significant week, I had the opportunity to converse with Maree Karaka, the Leader of High Potential and Gifted. We discussed this year's theme, Policy to Practice. We outlined how our Catholic Schools identify gifted and talented students while providing the necessary support to enable them to achieve their full potential.

Click here to listen to our conversation on Spotify. 

TENNIS

Tennis NSW, in partnership with the local Catholic Schools Diocese of Maitland Newcastle, has launched a chance for students to engage in tennis as part of their weekly Friday secondary school sports program. This thrilling new secondary competition features modified equipment, numeric scoring, and mixed-gender teams.

Pat Landy and Talor Hamilton met with the Leader of Sport, Bernadette Duggan, to pilot this weekly Interschool League designed to offer students the chance to improve their tennis skills in a supportive and competitive atmosphere. The focus is not solely on identifying the top players but also on encouraging participation from those interested, ensuring a positive tennis experience, fostering friendships, and allowing students to represent their school within a team context.

Every week, schools submit their ‘League Points’ scores for each team, which are then compiled into the Competition Leaderboard, accessible via a live link on the Diocesan sports website for everyone to view the results.

https://csnsw.sport/maitland-newcastle/secondary/sport/tennis

With my best wishes,

Jacqui

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, Mission & Evangelisation are offering two unique local aMeN caMiNo pilgrimage experiences. One over 2 days and the other over 5 days.

To learn more, attend our physical Walk & Talk Information Session on Saturday, 14 June.  To register: https://forms.office.com/r/XFXfcBJ927

Find out more about the aMeN caMiNo via our website: aMeN caMiNo - Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Dear Principals and Assistant Principals,

Please see updates regarding Diocesan school sporting events for next week. We kindly ask that you share this update with your school communities as soon as possible to ensure all families and participants are informed of the changes.

Primary Sports

The Diocesan Cross-Country event, scheduled for next Tuesday 27 May has had to be rescheduled.

The new date for the event is Friday 30 May.

At the moment, existing arrangements remain the same, except that showground parking is unavailable. Any further updated information regarding transport and scheduling will be provided next week.

Dio Primary Rugby selection trials have also been postponed.

The date is now the back-up date on Thursday 5 June.

Secondary Sports

NSWCCC Football, Basketball and Netball events next week are all going ahead as planned.  

Dio Tennis has been postponed to Thursday 12 June.

Staff, parents and carers should put safety first when making travel decisions to attend. For up-to-date information, please visit www.ses.nsw.gov.au.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Please join us in congratulating Erin Jordan on achieving Highly Accomplished Teacher status! This prestigious recognition is a testament to her outstanding dedication, expertise, and impact in the classroom and beyond. 

Highly Accomplished Teachers are recognised for demonstrating high-quality, evidence-based teaching that improves student learning. They are leaders among their peers, continually reflecting on and refining their practice, and supporting the growth of fellow educators. 

Whilst completing her Highly Accomplished application Erin was the Leader of Learning of Mathematics. She led the implementation of the Maths in Trade program for students in Stage 5 which has brought real-world relevance and engagement to mathematics learning. By connecting mathematical concepts with practical trade applications, Erin has not only deepened student understanding but also inspired learners to see the value of maths in everyday careers and life. 

Erin's passion for teaching, commitment to professional growth, and unwavering support for students have made a lasting impression at Catherine McAuley Catholic College Medowie. This achievement is incredibly well-deserved, and we couldn’t be prouder. She exemplifies the qualities of a Highly Accomplished Teacher: reflective, collaborative, and committed to student success. This recognition is a testament to her dedication, creativity, and ongoing contribution to educational excellence 

Let’s all take a moment to celebrate this milestone and thank Erin Jordan for the incredible work she does every day. 

We are trialling Xref, a digital platform designed to streamline the collection of reference checks, including Parish Priest references.

As part of this trial, Xref will be used exclusively for Principal and Assistant Principal recruitment for 2025.

What’s changing?

When a candidate applies, they will receive an Xref request. Through the platform, they will be prompted to enter the details of two professional referees and their Parish Priest referee. Xref will then automatically send the reference requests, allowing referees to complete them quickly and securely from their phone or laptop—no need for printing, scanning, or uploading.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Sarah O’Leary.

ASPIRE Scriptwriters Final

Date: Monday 2^nd June 2025

Time:⏰ 6 pm

Tickets available https://civictheatrenewcastle.com.au/what-s-on/all-shows/secondary-scriptwriting-final

ASPIRE Presents DioDrama

Date: Wednesday 4^th June 2025

Time:⏰ 6 pm

Tickets available https://civictheatrenewcastle.com.au/what-s-on/all-shows/diodrama-double-bill-e0bc0f24aff65b07bd01264512d1a589

DioSounds 2025 “One Call One Mission”

Date: Thursday 5^th June 2025

Time: ⏰ 6:30 pm

Tickets available https://civictheatrenewcastle.com.au/what-s-on/all-shows/one-call-one-mission

ASPIRE VoiceWorx Presents Celebrate! Choirs at the Civic

Date: Tuesday 10^th June 2025 (Concert 1) & Wednesday 11^th June 2025 (Concert 2)

Time: ⏰ 6 pm

Tickets available https://civictheatrenewcastle.com.au/what-s-on/all-shows/celebrate!-choirs-at-the-civic-7eafe8fd47c6e97acc3560d2597771e2

ASPIRE Presents Battle of the Bands 2025

Date: Wednesday 2^nd July 2025

Time: ⏰ 6 pm

Details: https://events.humanitix.com/aspire-battle-of-the-bands-2025-secondary-schools

RECONCILATION WEEK IDEAS 

2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future.

Some activities you may like to share at your school. 

• Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal friends create a book on Friendship using photo’s they take around school of children playing together and supporting each other
• Read books by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors

https://childrensground.org.au/books-by-first-nations-authors/

• Learn about local Aboriginal languages - Language Learning Games – Language Bingo
• Explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art – local artists
• Create a Reconciliation Tree: Use a tree display as a way for the class to reflect on actions they can take to support reconciliation. Consider a Reconcili-ACTION Tree Challenge by Riley Callie Resources https://www.rileycallieresources.com.au/.
• Watch documentaries or films
• Create a mural
• Build a model of the local area – cultural site (where appropriate) i.e. Nobbys Head or Baiame Cave 
• Have students create a time capsule: Have students create a time capsule that includes items that represent their understandings of Reconciliation Week and their ideas for the future of reconciliation.
• Interactive Cultural Games

https://www.teaching.com.au/product/indigenous-games-set-1

• Virtual excursions: https://australian.museum/learn/teachers/first-nations-learning-resources/
• https://aiatsis.gov.au/collections
• Liturgy
• Local storytellers
• On Country experience
• A student BLOG of the weeks activities

Danielle Barry - Education Officer

Celebrating Gifted Awareness Week | 24 May – 1 June 2025

Founded by the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented (AAEGT), Gifted Awareness Week shines a light on the needs of gifted children and the incredible educators who support them.

This year’s theme, ‘Policy to Practice’, highlights the importance of moving beyond policy documents to implement real, impactful strategies in classrooms.

Research consistently tells us that gifted learners require qualitatively different learning opportunities. Yet many still experience under-stimulation, disconnection, and challenges with wellbeing. It’s our shared responsibility to change that narrative.

Special Podcast Episode Now Live

We’re excited to share a powerful podcast conversation between Jacqui Wilkinson, Director of Catholic Schools, and Maree Karaka, Leader of HPGE.

They explore how our HPGE Strategy is being implemented across the Diocese—highlighting the Virtual Academy as a model of personalised, creative, and challenging learning.

The Podcast is accessible via this link – Celebrating Gifted Awareness Week

Virtual Academy Events – Term 2 Events

Time 2 Discover – Week 9: Tuesday 24^th June. For students in the Virtual Academy Time and Discovery Units.

The Virtual Academy is excited to present Time 2 Discover—an intellectually enriching event designed for students in the Time and Discovery programs to share their inquiries with like-minded peers across various stages of their learning journey. Set to take place at the University of Newcastle’s Callaghan Campus in the cutting-edge, 360-degree ‘Sim Cave’, this immersive event will provide students with the opportunity to enhance their technological literacy, collaborate with others, and present their projects in a dynamic and innovative environment. Students will refine their presentation skills and showcase their strategic problem-solving abilities as they engage in deep thinking and authentic learning. We look forward to celebrating their creativity, curiosity, and high potential.

G20 Summit - Week 9: Thursday 26^th June. For students in the Virtual Academy Perspective Unit.

We are thrilled to announce the culminating event for students in the Perspective Unit—the G20 Summit 2025. This intellectually rich diplomatic simulation will see students from across the Diocese step into the shoes of world leaders to tackle some of the most pressing global challenges of our time. Held in the Boardroom at the Catholic Schools Office, the summit will involve high-level discussions and negotiations on critical issues such as climate change, global health, and food and water security. This immersive experience is designed to sharpen students’ diplomatic thinking, cross-cultural awareness, and collaborative problem-solving as they engage in meaningful dialogue and propose innovative solutions to real-world problems. The G20 Summit promises to be a powerful demonstration of student voice, leadership, and global citizenship.

Empower – Week 10: Monday 30^th June. For students in the Virtual Academy Agency Unit.

The Virtual Academy is excited to present the upcoming Empower Exhibition 2025, the culminating event for students engaged in the Agency Unit. Held at the University of Newcastle’s NUspace, Empower is a celebration of student voice, individuality, and the power of agency. Students will showcase original compositions inspired by their passions and evolving sense of self. Through digital creations, artwork, games, and more, students will express what matters most to them in thoughtful and creative ways. Families and guests are warmly invited to attend the exhibition and engage with students and their displays. Empower promises to be an inspiring celebration of student-driven inquiry and authentic expression.

Elevate – Week 10: Tuesday 1^st July. For students in the Virtual Academy Enterprise Unit.

The Virtual Academy’s Enterprise Unit is proud to present Elevate—a dynamic event designed to showcase the innovative business proposals developed by students throughout the semester. Students participating in the Enterprise unit will pitch their carefully crafted ideas to the Virtual Academy Investor Panel, demonstrating their understanding of core entrepreneurial skills such as financial planning, social responsibility, digital literacy, and problem-solving. Taking place in small group sessions via Microsoft Teams, each student will have a 10-minute time slot to present their business pitch. Families will receive their child’s scheduled presentation time and a secure link to view the live pitch as the event approaches. Elevate celebrates the creativity, confidence, and collaborative thinking of our young entrepreneurs, offering a platform for student-led presentations, peer feedback, and authentic learning experiences that address real-world challenges. It’s a powerful opportunity to witness high potential in action.

Competitions to Challenge and Inspire

WRITEON 2025

Open to NSW students in Years 1–6, this creative writing competition challenges students to craft an imaginative text based on a stimulus image.

Entries close: Friday 20 June 2025

Submit via WriteOn competition | NSW Government

Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards

One of Australia’s longest-running poetry competitions with the 2025 theme: “All the Beautiful Things.”

Submissions close: Monday 30 June 2025

Winners announced: Friday 5 September 2025

More info here Entry information - Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards

Design Challenge: “Energy of the Future”

Hunter iF invites Primary students to design the official T-shirt for the 2025 Hunter Innovation Festival!

Think: solar, hydrogen, wind, sustainability, and the future of energy.

Loads of cash prizes and art supplies to be won!

Entries close: 30 June 2025

Register at: art@hunterIF.com.au

CogAT Administration – Years 2, 4 & 7

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is currently being administered across the diocese to all students in years 2, 4, and 7.

Thank you to all schools who have completed the CogAT assessments. Please confirm completion with Maree Karaka via email once all students in the targeted cohorts have been captured. We will then schedule a Leadership Meeting with your school to analyse results and discuss next steps.

HPGE Student Personal Plans – School Portal

To support consistent tracking and planning for High Potential and Gifted students, a HPGE Student Personal Plans folder is available under your school’s Gifted Education Tile.

Who needs a Personal Plan?

• All Virtual Academy students
• Students with psychometric testing identifying “giftedness”
• Students scoring Stanine 9 in any CogAT battery

We encourage GEMs to begin with a manageable cohort and one that has the most recent data, and to work collaboratively with staff when developing plans. Upload finalised plans to the year-based subfolders.

Thank you for your continued commitment to identifying and nurturing high potential in all learners. Please reach out for any further support or clarification.

For questions, contact:

Email: maree.karaka@mn.catholic.edu.au

Mobile: 0428 120 620

Let’s keep lifting the lid on potential!

This year the Catholic Network Australia (CNA) STEMMAD 2025 National Showcase will be held in Adelaide.

What is STEM MAD?

STEM MAD is national competition designed to acknowledge and promote STEM learning initiatives that address real-world problems and demonstrate how students in Catholic schools take action that matters.

The goals of STEM MAD are to:

• CELEBRATE students taking action that makes a difference
• SHOWCASE deep learning
• ENGAGE schools in effective STEM based multidisciplinary inquires
• PROMOTE high quality STEM education for future focused learning
• CONTEXTUALISE STEM discipline conceptual understandings in the core curriculum
• ENACT SOCIAL JUSTICE for the common good, with a particular focus on Laudato Si

Students are invited to design a product, service or innovation to Make A Difference (MAD) to others or the environment and submit a video. We are encouraging primary and secondary schools in Maitland-Newcastle Diocese to get involved.

For more details and to register your interest, please access the  STEM MAD 2025 page.

Working in the domain of curriculum and pedagogy is an ever-evolving space for teachers, leaders, and those who are educators at heart. As teachers, we navigate rapid changes in education and respond energetically to the needs of students.

Over the next two years, I have the privilege of working in the area of Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy, alongside Julie Mulhearn, who is focusing on Primary Schools. This work will continue to evolve, and I am looking forward to visiting each of our secondary schools in the coming weeks to meet the many wonderful teachers contributing to the realisation of student potential.

Research opportunity with the Australian Catholic University – Stage 6 Industrial Technology. 

Target Audience: Secondary Principals, Secondary Assistant Principals - Curriculum, Leaders of Learning Technological and Applied Sciences.

The Australian Research Council (ARC) project that is seeking ways to improve the literacy for learning competencies of Years 11 and 12 students in Industrial Technology subjects.

The project is conducted under the auspices of the Australian Research Council (ARC) for the Australian Government and is scheduled to commence in 2025.  The project is led by Associate Professor Yaegan Doran and Professor Len Unsworth from the Australian Catholic University in collaboration with Professor Jim Martin from the University of Sydney.

The need for the project centres around the discrepancy between the usually high levels of competence students demonstrate in constructing their major projects and the incommensurately lower achievement they manage for their folios and examination responses.  We would like to work with teachers to collaboratively explore how we might bring students’ achievement in these two spheres of their Industrial Technology studies into closer alignment.

I would encourage schools who are interested in this important area of research to contact Liz Stokes liz.stokes@mn.catholic.edu.au at Catholic Schools for further information.

It's Not Too Late to Join the 2025 PP&D Document Trial & Receive Implementation Support

Dear Principals and School Leadership teams,

If your school has not yet commenced the formal PP&D process for 2025, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to trial the updated PP&D documents.

With 46% of schools now involved in the 2025 trial of the proposed updated and streamlined PP&D process, participating offers a unique chance to:

• Preview: Gain immediate access to the updated suite of PP&D documents currently under trial.
• Receive Dedicated Support: Lauren and Alicia are ready to provide direct assistance to your leadership team, ensuring the effective implementation of the PP&D process with your staff using these trial materials. This support is designed to align your PP&D with your Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP) for continuous school improvement throughout 2025.
• Provide Critical Feedback: As a ‘critical friend’, your input will be invaluable in refining the documents and ensuring a consistent and impactful PP&D process across all schools, as we focus on developing an online PP&D Platform through mnPeople.

Don't miss this chance to familiarise yourself with the proposed updates and receive tailored support to implement a holistic PP&D process directly related to your SIP.

To view the trial documents and discuss how we can support your effective PP&D implementation for continuous school improvement in 2025, please get in touch with Lauren at lauren.carlson@mn.catholic.edu.au at your earliest convenience.

We look forward to partnering with you.

Best regards,

Lauren Carlson and Alicia Dibben

School Improvement and Learning Team

Early Stage 1 Teacher Professional Learning:

New Offering: Early Learning Networking Days (opt-in)

Purpose: Support and connect Kindergarten teachers through:

• School visits and environment tours
• Facilitated discussion and planning
• Strengthening links with prior-to-school services (Term 3 or 4 focus)

Locations: Host schools within each region

Dates: Regional Networking Days - Term 2 (you may attend a different region if needed)

Norths: Monday 26 May (Week 5) – Corpus Christi, Waratah

Central: Thursday 5 June (Week 6) – St Columba’s, Adamstown

Lower Hunter: Friday 6 June (Week 6) – St John the Baptist, Maitland

Upper Hunter: Friday 13 June (Week 7) – St Catherine’s, Singleton

Lakes: Friday 20 June (Week 8) – St Joseph’s, Charlestown

Manning: Thursday 26 June (Week 9) – Holy Name, Forster

Casual Release: 1 x day per Kindergarten class

Code: 399-2305-02

Register via mnPeople - Click here.  Once approved, return to mnPeople to sign up for the regional session.