“The simplest and most practical lesson I know… is to resolve to be good today – but better tomorrow.
Let us take one day only in our hands – at a time, merely making a resolve for tomorrow.
Thus, we may hope to get on – taking short careful steps, not great strides.”
(Catherine McAuley (Founder of the Sisters of Mercy) in a letter to Mary De Sales White, Feb 28, 1841)
In each of the classrooms around the College there is a poster that highlights the expectations that all members of the College community are required to adhere to each and every day.
These expectations can basically be narrowed down to the requirements that as an individual each one of us;
- Will ensure our behaviours and attitudes are respectful toward ourselves, other students, staff and property.
- Will place safe behaviours at the heart of all we do.
- Will come to school and lessons on time, prepared and ready to work.
These first two expectations are about providing a safe environment that is conducive to learning. The third of these expectations is about ensuring the staff and students have the tools required to participate in lessons, learn and achieve to their best academically.
If questioned I am sure that all of the students would agree that the staff and leadership of the College have consistently reminded the students of these expectations numerous times per week over the year so far. Unfortunately, despite these reminders we have had a number of students who since returning from our isolation period have engaged in behaviours that are disrespectful and unsafe. This is obviously of great concern to us as I have clearly outlined in our previous newsletters and other communication to parents that these type of behaviours will not be tolerated at St Joseph’s College and if students are going to engage in these behaviours they cannot be part of our community.
In responding to these concerns, we are hopeful that our parents can assist us by ensuring that your children are aware of the expectations and they understand the consequences of inappropriate behaviour. As we have consistently indicated we highly value the importance of working together in partnership with parents / caregivers and we understand that some students need more constant reminding and assistance in order to be meet these expectations. However, under no circumstances will unsafe behaviours be condoned or tolerated.
This week let us resolve that in working together we can take the small steps that Catherine McAuley wrote about, then hopefully we can all be better each day and as a result our community will flourish.
Congratulations Mrs Fellenberg
Earlier this year I communicated to our community that as part of the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Staff Performance and Development process, Mrs Kerrie-Anne Fellenberg this year would participate in a Summative Performance Review at the end of first five-year contract. In order to facilitate this review a panel was formed to conduct the appraisal. The panel consisted of Mr Paul Herbert (Acting Senior Education Leader Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office), Miss Kellie-Maree Ford who was the nominated person of the person being reviewed and myself as Principal of the College.
This week I would like to take the opportunity to thank the members of our community who took the time to provide feedback, affirming Mrs Fellenberg on her performance in her role and suggesting areas for future development. I would also like to, with Mrs Fellenberg’s endorsement, share some of the findings of this appraisal, which I am sure you will agree is a wonderful summary of what was a very positive review.
Commendations –
- Kerrie-Anne is to be commended on dedicating her teaching career to working in Catholic schools and her active involvement as a parishioner of St Thomas Mores.
- Kerrie-Anne has integrated hope-filled beliefs and values into the life of the school, through her modelling of the College values of Dignity, Compassion, Respect and Endeavour. This is fully supported by the comments of staff, head office and parents.
- Parent comment – I have found Mrs Fellenberg to be a delightful and caring person who is committed to carrying out key mission of the college.
- Kerrie-Anne is to be commended on her efforts to lead the College staff, students and parents through the most significant educational reform to senior schooling in Queensland in 28 years.
- Staff member comment – Her curriculum knowledge is immense, and she has ensured staff journey with her in the new QCE system. In all decisions, she prioritizes student learning and advocates for quality teaching and equal access for students.
- Staff and parents provided feedback that Kerrie-Anne has the best interests of students at the centre of all decision making. She shows genuine care to all in the community and she is transparent and solutions focussed.
- Head Office comments – Kerrie-Anne is approachable, open and honest in all of our interactions. What is best for the students is at the core of every decision she makes. Kerrie-Anne is a life-long learner, who is happy to share her knowledge and skills, as well as consider other ways of approaching things.
- Kerrie-Anne has demonstrated commitment to the two Diocesan Strategic Pillars through her development of effective pathways for students to experience academic success and paying careful attention to the place of Religious Education in the timetable to allow Jesus to be known to every student.
Head Office comments – Kerrie-Anne demonstrates an openness and positivity towards engaging in system-wide processes that are implemented with the intention of improving outcomes for colleges and schools.
Recommendations –
- Clarity around the educational focus and direction of the College should allow for Kerrie-Anne to renew her focus on pedagogical leadership, including visible learning, utilisation of data and the implementation of digital learning tools such as CANVAS.
- The transition to a more transformative leadership role is a key focus of the life of this summative review. Evidence of such an approach will be found in the release of responsibility to Middle Leaders and the development a distributive leadership approach.
- As a member of the College Leadership Team, Kerrie-Anne is encouraged to be actively involved in the development of a clearly articulated, deeply considered and shared vision, strategic plan and annual action plan to provide a holistic education which is:
- Premised on a well-developed sense of values embedded in the language and practice of daily life as well as specific
- Based on the development of strong and respectful relationships across the C
- Characterised by well-articulated and structured processes and expectations around curriculum provision.
Summary –
On behalf of the St Joseph’s College community we would like to congratulate Kerrie-Anne on the level of commitment and leadership she has demonstrated over her five years as Assistant Principal Curriculum as highlighted in the statements below.
Staff comments – Kerrie is one of the most hard-working people I have ever worked with and nothing is ever a bother to her. Her calm nature allows for staff and students, who may be feeling ‘under the pump’ by an issue, to feel at ease in her presence, allowing for beneficial discussion to resolve the said issue.
Kerrie’s professionalism in how she presents herself and interacts with the College community is exceptional. Her poise and caring nature, and sense of humbleness are obvious. She is the perfect example of our school motto “Serve Him in Others”.
Head Office Staff comment – Kerrie-Anne is a life-long learner, who is happy to share her knowledge and skills, as well as consider other ways of approaching things.
Kerrie-Anne is an integral member of the College Leadership Team and it is envisioned that she will play a significant role in the transformation of the College into a highly regarded educational institution.
Finally, we would like to thank Kerrie-Anne for the manner in which she has engaged with the summative appraisal process. We look forward to Kerrie-Anne continuing to demonstrate the qualities and skills commended in this appraisal while engaging with and actioning the recommendations for professional growth it outlines.