Congratulations and Thankyou Students and Staff
Congratulations to our students who have been so enthusiastically participating in the extra-curricular opportunities in the areas of culture and sport that have been occurring this term. We have had our College choirs, bands, ensembles, art club, football, touch, netball, rugby league and many others all enjoying the benefits of these extracurricular activities. The way that the students have been demonstrating the College values of respect, compassion, dignity and endeavor in participating, competing and challenging themselves individually and as a team to improve has been commendable. Well done to all involved.
To the students, staff and community members who participated, coached and supported the students in the QISS Netball and Confraternity Rugby League Mini Carnivals over the weekend in Roma, I thank you for your efforts. These extended events are always a challenge both physically and mentally and we are proud of your efforts and very grateful for the generosity of the staff and parents.
I would also like to highlight that I have received numerous emails and phone calls congratulating our QISSN team, who won the competition, on the outstanding manner in which they participated and carried themselves. Congratulations ladies for being such wonderful ambassadors of our College.
St Joseph’s College Strategic Plan 2021 – 2024 Process
As I stated in a previous newsletter, we have been preparing for engaging with the process of the creation of a four-year strategic plan for St Joseph’s College. This process is now underway, and at our next P&F meeting and College Board meeting I will be outlining the details of the process and providing an opportunity for our community to provide ideas and suggestions and we would love to hear from you.
Each of these discussions and information sharing sessions will be focussed on the following;
- Examine our context – Why does St Joseph’s College exist and why is it important?
- Evaluate our effectiveness as a College to provide students with access to an outstanding Catholic Education.
- Outlining our areas of strategic focus and providing opportunities for the community to have input into the strategic intents which will allow us to continue our improvement journey.
In addition to the P&F Meeting and College Board Meeting I am also making myself available to meet with parents during the listed times below. If you would like to attend one of these meetings please contact Mrs Christine Cleary at ccleary@sjc.qld.edu.au or phone the College and speak to Christine.
- Monday and Tuesday Week 8, 9 and 10 – 5.00 – 6.00pm in the College library.
If you are unable to attend and would like to provide feedback to the College on the three areas outlined above, please email this information to Christine and she will ensure that it is passed on.
I thank you for your continued support of St Joseph’s College and I very much look forward to working with the community to develop a rigorous and dynamic strategic plan, ensuring that St Joseph’s College continually strives for improvement in all areas.
Summative Principal Review
Early next term, I will be engaging in a Principal summative performance appraisal in line with Toowoomba Catholic School’s (TCS) focus on professional acknowledgement and development. A Principal’s summative performance appraisal normally occurs in the final year of their contract and is based on outcomes of their annual performance reviews and school-based data. In my situation, this year would have been the final year of my first contract as the Principal of Assumption College in Warwick and I would have been undertaking my review. In discussion with the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office I have been asked to still undertake this review despite being in the first year of my contract at St Joseph’s College and I have agreed as I see this as a wonderful opportunity to be provided with feedback on my strengths and areas for development.
The appraisal will be conducted by a Panel consisting of the TCS Senior Education Leader, a peer principal and the TCS Director: Teaching and Learning. It will consist of a self-review, a 360-degree survey completed by school staff and parents along with individual or focus group interviews including discussion with the local parish/school priest. Based on the outcomes of these review tools, the Panel will produce a written report outlining their findings and providing feedback to the Principal for continued and future professional learning. These outcomes will also be communicated with the school community.
To assist with my appraisal, staff and parents are invited to participate in the 360-degree survey. This survey is an externally validated perception survey that will be compiled to allow for feedback around the leadership dimensions of religion, education, organisational skills, strategic planning, staff and community engagement and general leadership capabilities. Interviews/focus groups with staff, Board and P&F representatives and myself will also occur as part of the appraisal. Requested interviewees will be contacted via email over the coming weeks to confirm their availability. If you would like to be part of this process, please email Mrs Christine Cleary at ccleary@sjc.qld.edu.au.
I look forward to engaging in this process with you all, an opportunity for review and reflection to acknowledge and improve what I bring to our school.
Have a great week.
Kort Goodman – Principal