Assistant to the Principal Religious Education (APRE) / Classroom Teacher

Transcription

1 LEADERSHIP POSITION Assistant to the Principal Religious Education (APRE) / Classroom Teacher Commencement Date: Term 1, 2013 Applications Close: Friday 15 June, 2012 Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced Catholic School leaders for this Leadership position within the Cairns Diocese for The successful applicant will be a committed, practising Catholic with exemplary leadership and teaching skills, sound curriculum knowledge, appropriate tertiary qualifications, excellent communication skills and a commitment to the practice of Catholic Education. Applicants for teaching positions must be registered or be eligible to register with Queensland College of Teachers.

2 How to Apply 1. Application Form Complete the attached Application for Employment Form. 2. Documentation Attach copies of required documentation to Application for Employment Form. Qualifications (If Applicable) Birth Certificate or photo identification (eg drivers licence, passport) Proof of name change (if applicable) - Marriage Certificate or Decree Nisi For non residents - Passport and current Visa must be supplied Details of any criminal convictions (if applicable) Student Protection Training Certificate (if applicable) Queensland College of Teachers registration Statement of Service from previous employers - if applicable Referee Assessment Form Church Representative Report Reflective Essay on: Your personal vision of the Catholic Church; Your vision of Leadership in Catholic Education; Your prior experiences as a Leader. 3. Covering Letter Provide a covering letter outlining your experience and reason for applying for this position. 4. Resume Provide a Resume which includes: Education (Tertiary studies and Qualifications) Professional Development (any other courses you have completed or are currently enrolled in) Professional memberships Employment History (Position, School/organisation, Dates) 5. Referees Provide each of the first three referees (employer and professional) that you have listed in the Application for Employment Form with the Referee Covering Letter and Referee Assessment Form. Provide your fourth referee (Church) with the Church Representative/ Religious or Clergy Report. All documentation is available within the Application Pack) Please ensure your Referees return their forms to the Employee Services Office at Catholic Education Services by the application close date. 6. Submit Application Submit your application comprising: Application for Employment Form Applicable certified copies of documentation Covering letter Resume You will receive confirmation of receipt of your application. To: Manpreet Sendhar Employee Services Officer Catholic Education Services PO Box 5296 Cairns QLD 4870 Phone: (07) Fax: (07) msendhar@cns.catholic.edu.au

3 Role of the Principal Role of Assistant to the Principal Religious Education (APRE) The position of APRE acknowledges the important and distinctive place of Religious Education (R.E.) and faith development within Catholic schools. It is to assist with this particular aspect of the Principal s leadership role that the role of APRE has been created. Therefore, the role of APRE is not an abrogation of this aspect of the Principal s role but a means to assist the Principal with his/her exercise of leadership in R.E. and faith development. Scope of the APRE role So, whilst the Principal is ultimately responsible for the Catholic ethos, curriculum and good management of the school, the APRE as a member of the Administrative Team, has a role of leadership and management in the school community. In the Catholic Primary school, the role of APRE does not involve using the allocated APRE release-time for meeting general administrative or curricular responsibilities in support of the Principal. Other roles, strategies or time releases would need to be adopted for these areas of Principal support. APRE Duty Statement At the school level, the generic role statement would provide the basis for a more detailed duty statement to reflect local circumstances. This duty statement would be the culmination of a process of consultation between the APRE, the Principal, and the Parish Priest/College Chaplain. Ideally, the staff would also be involved in the consultation. The APRE Duty Statement would need to be reviewed on a regular basis and especially on the occasion of a new appointment to the role. However, the Duty Statement would need to be carried out within the APRE release-time allocation for that particular year. As outlined below, the APRE Role Statement is structured into four sections. However, it is recommended that, proportionately, one third of the release-time is allocated to R.E. Curriculum and Faith Development support; one third to support with liturgy and prayer; one sixth to Pastoral Care/behaviour management support; and one sixth to administration support. Obviously, this ideal structure would pertain over an extended period and the reality of school life would necessitate one or other of the four above aspects of the role taking precedence in the immediate term. Major Role Components 1. Religious Education (RE) Curriculum and Faith Development 1.1 In the Catholic Primary School, supporting the Pastor as the leader of the parish s faith community 1.2 Supporting the Principal in her/his spiritual leadership role in the school 1.3 Supporting teachers with the implementation of the RE Guidelines mandated by the Bishop 1.4 Supervising and supporting planning by the R.E. teachers

4 1.5 Monitoring the classroom teaching of R.E. 1.6 Informing staff of, and where applicable facilitating, professional development opportunities pertaining to accreditation requirements 1.7 Managing the RE budget and RE teaching resources 1.8 Providing sources of advice to teachers on moral issues arising in the school curriculum 1.9 Promoting parental understanding of, and appropriate involvement in the RE programme 1.10 Liaising with the Priest, or nominated person, regarding the support which the school is giving to the sacramental preparation programme 2. Liturgical Celebrations 2.1 Coordinating opportunities for liturgical and prayer celebrations 2.2 Encouraging communication between the priest and teachers regarding class liturgies 2.3 Encouraging parental participation in the prayer and liturgical life of the school 2.4 Skilling and enabling teachers to plan and lead class and school liturgies 3. Pastoral Care 3.1 Assisting in the Pastoral Care of children and staff 4. Administration and Policy 4.1 Serving as a member of the School/College Administration Team and assisting the Principal with policy development and implementation (see 5.4 below) 4.2 Being the key contact person with the Diocesan Religious Education Coordinator 5. The APRE in a Deputising role for the Principal (if applicable) 5.1 The Deputising Person in a Catholic Primary school is appointed by the Executive Director, having consulted with the Principal and Parish Priest prior to his/her decision 5.2 The Deputising Person fulfils this role whenever the Principal is absent from the school 5.3 In the Primary school, the Deputising Person is ordinarily the APRE; however, as noted in the first point above, the Executive Director may appoint a person other than the APRE to this position. In this case, the appointment will be made by the Executive Director on a year-to-year basis 5.4 If also fulfilling the position of Deputising Person in the Primary school, the APRE assists the Principal with the execution of agreed administrative tasks in the school (within the time constraints of the extra time release provided: approximately 1 hour per week)

5 APPLICATION FORM Leadership Employment in Cairns Diocese Schools and Colleges Please use blue or black ink and write clearly for photocopying purposes. Please complete all sections of this application. Position applied for: Assistant to the Principal Religious Education / Classroom Teacher - St Anthony s PERSONAL DETAILS Title Mrs Miss Ms Mr Dr Sr Br Fr Surname... Given Names.. Preferred Name... Previous Surname N/A Yes.... (Please attach a certified copy) Date of Birth / /... Religion... Residential Address Postal Address.. Postcode... Phone (B/H). Mobile/Alternate Emergency Contact..Ph Relationship.. Have you ever been convicted in a court of law other than for a traffic offence? No RESIDENCY DETAILS Yes (please attach details in an envelope marked Confidential ) RESIDENCY DETAILS Australian/New Zealand Resident Visa holder Details of Visa type and number.... (Please attach a certified copy) Non Australian Resident or Visa holder OTHER INFORMATION How did you find out about this employment opportunity with Catholic Education? Newspaper (please specify) Cairns Post Tablelander Tablelands Advertiser Catholic Leader Other.... Internet (please specify which site) Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns Teachers on the Net CathNews e-newsletter Church Resources Other.... School (please specify)... Other (please specify)....

6 EQUITY AND DIVERSITY The essence of Catholic philosophy is that every person is made in the image of God and should be treated with respect and dignity. Discrimination of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin or age is also prohibited by various laws. Answering the following related questions is optional. This information is kept Strictly Confidential and will not be used as part of the assessment of your application. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Prefer not to answer No Yes Person from a non English speaking background Prefer not to answer No Yes (please indicate) Person with a disability Prefer not to answer No Yes (type of disability). Do you have a medical condition which your employer should be aware of in assessing your ability to satisfy the inherent requirements of the position applied for or in assessing workplace adjustments that would be required for your employment? Prefer not to answer No Yes (please indicate)... RESUME AND SELECTION CRITERIA A Resume and Response to Selection Criteria is to accompany this form (refer to How to Apply). REFEREES In order to make an informed decision on your suitability for the position, Catholic Education will require to speak to referees that you nominate. A referee is a person that can provide us with detail in respect to your work ethic, experience and competency. Please list at least four referees, including your last/current line manager and another recent employer, a professional and Church referee. We reserve the right to request an additional referee if we believe a person has not been fully forthcoming. Referee 1 (Last/Current Line Manager) Name... Position.. Organisation... Phone number... Mobile/Alternate.. Referee 2 (Employer) Name... Position.. Organisation... Phone number... Mobile/Alternate.. Referee 3 (Professional) Name... Position.. Organisation... Phone number... Mobile/Alternate.. Referee 4 (Church representative/religious or Clergy) Name... Position.. Organisation... Phone number... Mobile/Alternate..

7 EMPLOYMENT COLLECTION NOTICE In applying for this position and submitting your application for employment you will be providing Catholic Education Services Diocese of Cairns with personal information, for example your name, address and information contained in your resume. We will collect and record this information in order to assess your application. If you believe that any of your personal information held by us is incomplete or inaccurate you have the right, in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Legislation, to notify us and make any updates or corrections. Where you have provided us with the name and address of a person in connection with your application (e.g. referee) you should inform the person that you have done so and the reason for it. You should also inform them that the information is to be used solely in connection with your application for employment. In submitting this application for employment you agree that you will not seek access to references provided by third parties or to confidential notes or reports made by us relating to your application for employment. We seek your agreement in this regard to ensure that referees are not inhibited from providing complete and accurate references as to your suitability for the position. Access to feedback on the selection process is available. WORKING IN THE DIOCESE OF CAIRNS The Catholic school system is an integral part of the Church. The Catholic Diocese of Cairns extends from Cardwell in the south, west to the Northern Territory border including the Atherton Tablelands, and north to gulf country, Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Straight Islands. With the exception of Catholic Education s Thursday Island school, all schools and colleges are within two hours driving time from Cairns. Catholic Education Services is the Diocesan education office. Leadership and strategic management of the system of schools is the responsibility of the Executive Director of Catholic Education Services, who is the employer of all Catholic Education staff in the Diocese. Conditions of employment, including Salary, Leave Entitlements, and Notice, are in accordance with the Single Enterprise Collective Agreement Diocesan Schools Salary level will be in accordance with Schedule 1, including calculations from statements of service provided. Employment is conditional upon the acceptance of the Statement of Principles for Employment in Catholic Education and the Code of Conduct for Employees of Catholic Education, Diocese of Cairns, and attainment of Accreditation to Teach Religion in a Catholic School. Further information about Catholic Education in the Diocese of Cairns is available from the website: and the following pages in particular: About Us Cairns Catholic Education Pastoral Framework Vision and Mission Core Documents Privacy Governance Catholic Education Services Stewardship Role and Responsibilities Organisational Structure Employment Employment forms Statement of Principles Code of Conduct Accreditation to Teach Accreditation to Teach Religion Pre-employment Documents Agreements, Schedules & Awards Single Enterprise Agreement

8 PRIVACY POLICY To view Catholic Education s Privacy Policy, visit and click on About Us/Privacy. DECLARATIONS If submitting electronically, selecting yes denotes supplying your signature. I agree to the conditions of the Employment Collection Notice. I understand that I have a duty to disclose sufficient information to enable a prospective employer to make a properly informed decision about my employment. Yes Date / / I declare that the information I have provided in this application is true and correct at the time of submission. Yes Date / / I have read, understand accept that the Code of Conduct and Statement of Principles referred to above are contractual obligations underpinning employment with Catholic Education - Diocese of Cairns. Yes Date / / I understand that the position applied for is a leadership position within the Catholic Church and requires that a lifestyle is maintained within and outside the workplace that is consistent with the doctrine, teaching and values of the Roman Catholic Church. Yes Date / / Signed (if not submitting electronically). Date / /

9 WS: jr August 2011 Dear Referee Re: Confidential Reference: Selection of POSITION at SCHOOL Thank you for agreeing to provide a reference for the applicant. In doing so, you are carrying out a significant and important task. I have provided you with some background information to assist you in completing your assessment of the applicant. The style and format of the Referee Assessment form has been designed in order to make the task more streamlined and also more meaningful to you and to applicants. In completing the attached form, it is important to be conscious of the role you are assuming in undertaking this task. Your role as a referee is not an advocacy role, but rather the role of one representing the employer, carrying out a professional assessment. It is hoped that you would be able to speak with the applicant in terms of your assessment of his/her potential/readiness for the position at this stage of their career development. Interviewing panels rely heavily on the confidential responses made by Principals/Consultants/Senior Officers who have the task of giving some input to the process in this significant way. The assessment contained in your reference is one of the most critical pieces of information utilised by panels in both short-listing and reaching a final decision. Research tells us that the present and recent past performance of an applicant indicates future success. Applicants have been advised to ring their referees the day before applications close to check whether the Referee Assessment Forms have been returned to Catholic Education Services. In this whole area of referee support, it is quite clear that both the applicant and referee need to set up an honest dialogue for this part of the process to be credible and effective. The applicant has granted permission that the information you provide will remain confidential between the employer and yourself and may not be disclosed to the applicant. With my best wishes and appreciation. Yours sincerely DR W F SULTMANN Executive Director

10 Church Representative/Religious or Clergy Report Position: (To be completed by a Nominated Referee) Thank you for agreeing to act as referee for: Name of Applicant: Position Applying For: Your input, from the perspective of the church is a significant consideration for leadership positions in Catholic Education. Name of Referee: Current Position: In what capacity do you know the applicant? How many years have you known the applicant professionally? What knowledge do you have of the applicant s religious practice? Religious Leadership: Applicants capacity to ensure the primacy of faith formation of students in an authentic Catholic Community: Strengths and weaknesses.

11 General Character Assessment Readiness for the Position Please comment on the applicant s readiness/suitability for the position. Recommendation Please tick the appropriate box: I Recommend the applicant for this position I Do Not Recommend the applicant for this position Signature: Date: Please Return this form to: Private & Confidential Manpreet Sendhar Employee Services Officer Catholic Education Services Cairns PO Box 5296 Cairns Qld 4870 Fax: By: Friday 15 June, 2012

12 REFEREE ASSESSMENT FORM Position: (To be completed by a Nominated Referee) APPLICANT Name: Current Position: Position Applied for: REFEREE Name: Current Position: Address: Number of years I have known applicant: PLEASE TICK THE APPROPRIATE BOXES Apply the following codes: N = Not applicable/unknown 1 = Unsatisfactory 2 = Developing 3 = Well Developed 4 = Superior

13 1.0 FAITH LEADERSHIP N Sets an example of faith, hope and love 1.2 Demonstrates a commitment to the Catholic ethos of the school 1.3 Articulates the place of the school within the educational mission of the Diocese 1.4 Establishes and nurtures a school climate which is faith centred 1.5 Assists people to be actively involved in the expression of their own faith within the life of the school 1.6 Establishes practices and procedures to facilitate the experience of the Christian message by the school community Comments: 2.0 MISSION LEADERSHIP N Communicates the school s mission to the school and wider community and seeks understanding and support 2.2 Promotes a curriculum that is an authentic expression of the shared vision and values of the community 2.3 Understands and develops the relationship of vision and mission with policy and practice 2.4 Facilitates the development of policies aligned with the mission of the school 2.5 Ensures that the school s mission determines school organisational structures and operating practices 2.6 Includes, in a meaningful way, all members of the school community in the development, implementation and review of mission, policies and procedures Comments:

14 3.0 EDUCATION LEADERSHIP N In consultation with others, develops, shares and promotes a clear educational philosophy which connects faith, Catholic tradition and sound educational practices 3.2 Develops and shares an awareness of issues/events and educational trends which impinge on the operation of the school 3.3 Facilitates the establishment of suitable learning environments 3.4 Takes responsibility for the overall development, implementation and monitoring of the total curriculum 3.5 Plans with others, for the future educational needs of students Comments: 4.0 DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP N Works with teachers, individually or in groups, in a manner that obtains their commitment agreed school goals 4.2 Facilitates the (school) community s understanding of the school s vision, mission and goals 4.3 Supports and provides for the development of staff through program planning, individual goal setting, reflective practice and professional development 4.4 Has a sound overall knowledge of the strengths and needs of staff and facilitates the development of appropriate professional development programs to affirm good practice and address needs 4.5 Has sound overall knowledge of the strengths and inadequacies of programs and facilitates the development of appropriate processes to acknowledge the strengths and address the inadequacies Comments:

15 5.0 ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP N Has an overview of the necessary support systems to facilitate the effective and efficient operation of the school 5.2 Has a sound knowledge of system administrative policies and procedures and shares them in a positive way with the school community 5.3 Ensures that system initiatives are promoted in the school community 5.4 Has an awareness as to appropriate standards for the delivery of education within the local culture 5.5 Ensures that the organization of work, scheduling of routines, application of technical services, provision of supplies, equipment and information all contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of the school 5.6 Facilitates the operation of system administrative policies and procedures in the school community 5.7 Has knowledge of legal requirements concerning education in general and schools in particular and implements practices which are consistent with this 5.8 Assists with facilitation of appropriate human resource processes to address the needs of the school 5.8 Prepares, seeks approval for and manages the budget for the school Comments: 6.0 COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP N Ensures that the school is sensitive to particular characteristics of the local community 6.2 Develops mutual support, trust and collaboration among students, parents, staff, pastors and the broader educational community 6.3 Supports the development of a faith community 6.4 Uses effective decision making processes 6.5 Demonstrates an understanding of his/her responsibilities as leader of the school community towards the local and system wide community 6.6 Builds community through working effectively with staff, students and parents Comments:

16 7.0 COMMENTS You may wish to comment on the ratings which you have provided above, or on other relevant knowledge which you may have of the applicant s capacity for the position. 8.0 READINESS FOR THE POSITION Please comment on the applicant s readiness for the position. 9.0 RECOMMENDATION Please tick the appropriate box: I RECOMMEND THE APPLICANT FOR THIS POSITION I DO NOT RECOMMEND THE APPLICANT FOR THIS POSITION Signature: Date: Please Return this form to: Private & Confidential Manpreet Sendhar Employee Services Officer - Catholic Education Services Cairns PO Box 5296 Cairns QLD msendhar@cns.catholic.edu.au or Fax: By: Friday 15 June, 2012