BCE Leuven Project
e-Update - Term 3, 2016
Welcome to Term Three
Welcome to the third edition of the Leuven Project e-Update for 2016.
In this edition there a number of important items regarding Catholic identity and the Leuven Project that we would like to share with you. Some of these include:
2016 Leuven Project Theology and Practice Workshop date claimer
Reflection of the 2016 Leuven Theological Intensive
- Update on the Relationships and Sexuality Education project
- 2016 Master Class Series and associated resources
- New resources to support Catholic school identity
For further information about these key initiatives please read on in this e-Update.
If you would like more information on any of these areas please contact The Professional Learning, Formation and Leadership Team on 3033 7620 or FormationLeadership@bne.catholic.edu.au .
2016 BCE Leuven Schools Project
The 2016 cohort of Leuven schools have finished their research period. We would like to thank and congratulate all the schools for their efforts in engaging their whole communities in this research. The next step for these schools is a time of waiting while their data is collected and collated and developed into a report for each school. We anticipate that these reports will be available in Term 4 2016.
DATE CLAIMER
For all schools engaged in the 2016 survey research the next workshop will be held on Tuesday November 8th. This workshop will introduce schools to the theology and theory of the Leuven Project and will allow schools to begin to unpack the data presented in their report. We ask that each school send at least 3 representatives to this workshop.
For any enquiries regarding this workshop please contact Simon Mahaffy on 3033 7378 or smahaffy@bne.catholic.edu.au.
Theology and Practice of the BCE Leuven Project
This workshop is for our 2016 cohort of schools to begin to explore the theology and theory underpinning the BCE Leuven Project. Participants will also begin to develop data literacy skills so that they can interpret and make sense of the various graphs that will be presented in their individual school report.
We ask each school to send 3 participants to this day in November. Registration for this event is via iLearn (course code: BCE05124). Please ensure you have enrolled by the 24th October, 2016.
If you have special dietary requirements please contact Elizabeth McConnell or Enza Maloney on 3033 7620 or FormationLeadership@bne.catholic.edu.au .
Tuesday, Nov 8, 2016, 08:30 AM
Mercy Place, Simpsons Road, Bardon, Queensland, Australia
Catholic Identity Masterclass Series
In 2016 we are pleased to host a Masterclass series focusing on Catholic school identity. Three internationally renowned speakers will be travelling to Brisbane to share their wisdom and insight on Catholic Education and identity. We have already held two of these Masterclasses and have received very positive feedback about these days. The next Masterclass will be facilitated by Professor Trevor Cooling. All of the Masterclasses will be held at the O’Shea Centre, Wilston
Enrolment for the MasterClasses is via iLearn.
Masterclass Three
Trevor Cooling Monday 25 July (for school staff) & Tuesday 26 July (BCEO staff)
A Professor of Christian Education at Canterbury Christ Church University in the United Kingdom, Trevor Cooling has a particular interest in Christian pedagogy, in particular:
(a) the place of distinctively Christian education in a religiously diverse context
(b) the development of a distinctively Christian approach to teaching and learning.
For those who may not be able to attend the day at O'Shea, we are looking at live streaming Trevor's Masterclass on Monday 25th July. If you would like to attend either at O'Shea or via Video Conference please enrol via iLearn.
Masterclass Resources
This year we have organised for the three Masterclasses to be videoed so that colleagues who were unable to attend the day can access and view any of the Masterclasses. These videos are being added to the Masterclass SharePoint site which can be accessed via the link below or by clicking here. Also on this site will be the PowerPoints that the presenters used on the day.
We are also in the process of breaking these recordings up into short 20-30min segments that could be used for professional learning with staff. These segments could be shown during staff / team meetings. To assist with this we are also developing some online professional learning packages that will utilise these videos as a resource. This will enable you to access a pre-prepared professional learning package that could be delivered at your school or office location. These will be developed during Term 3 and will be shared via email once they are completed.
Leuven Theological Intensive
From the 23rd May till the 3rd June twelve participants from the Archdiocese of Brisbane joined with a number of colleagues from Rockhampton, Cairns and Townsville to engage in a two week study course at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. School and office personnel as well as a number of priests from across the dioceses came together to deepen their understanding of the Leuven Project and the underlying theology. This supported our understanding of the BCE Strengthening Catholic Identity strategy and enabled the participants to listen to lectures from world renowned theologians on a variety of topics such as Vatican Two, children's spirituality, scripture interpretation, interreligious dialogue and of course the methodology of the Leuven Research Project.
While it certainly was an intensive course with very full days of lectures and assessment tasks, it also gave us the opportunity to have a conversation about how this theory and theology can be applied to Catholic education into the future. A number of the travellers have shared some of their experience below.
" I was encouraged through the unveiling of the survey results throughout the course, that our own school is well placed to be an authentic Dialogue School. My realisation though is not be complacent about our current position and that consistent work needs to be done to ensure
sustainability into the future" (Catherine Thompson: Trinity College, Beenleigh)
"The highlight of this trip was to be able to spend valuable time with the authors of ECSIP themselves and get from them, firsthand, the back story, the theory and theology needed for us to guide our schools towards a Dialogical School" (Michael O'Brien: Padua College, Kedron)
"For me there was an ‘ah-ha’ moment, when it hit me that we have to change the way we’re doing things or recontextualise the way we’re doing it so that we remain authentic in what we do." (Chris Bathersby: Sacred Heart, Sandgate)
"This Project helps our schools to adapt and respond to religious diversity and secularisation and is worth taking seriously" (Fr Tim Harris: Surfers Paradise Parish)
"The intensive has given me a greater understanding of the way in which I perceive the Catholic identity of our school and importantly, how others might perceive this" (Catherine Thompson: Trinity College, Beenleigh)
"I have clearer understanding of how to go forward with the project post survey." (Michael O'Brien, Padua College)
If you would like any information or have any questions about this study intensive please contact Simon Mahaffy or the Professional Learning, Formation and Leadership Team.
Recontextualising Art
Some of you may have come across a sculpture by the artist Timothy Schmalz titled 'Homeless Jesus'. The sculpture is a great example of recontextualisation as it meets the three key criteria:
1) it is authentically Catholic
2) it is presented in a contemporary way for a contemporary audience
3) it invites discussion and interpretation from multiple points of view.
A number of parishes around the world have copies of this sculpture, including here in Queensland. Townsville Catholic Education office commissioned this sculpture for the Mercy conference in 2016. See below for an image of this sculpture and click on the video below to listen to the explanation from the artist about his creation.
Strengthening Catholic Identity Position Statement
Earlier this year the Strengthening Catholic Identity Position Statement was launched to all schools and BCEO. This position statement clearly articulates BCE's position regarding Catholic identity as well as outlines our future directions in this area. This statement is strongly underpinned by the Leuven Project theology but is designed so that all schools can continue to nurture and grow the Catholic identity of their communities in an authentic and contemporary way.
To read the position statement please click on the link below.
STRENGTHENING CATHOLIC IDENTITY POSITION STATEMENT
One of the key elements of this statement is the Strengthening Catholic Identity Model. This model identifies the four key priority areas that were originally named in the 2015 Shape Paper. These are: Mission, Formation, Learning and Teaching and Culture. This reaffirms BCE's position that Catholic identity is about the encounter between faith, life and culture and that Catholic identity rinses through every area of our organisation in what we do and how we do it.
UNPACKING THE POSITION STATEMENT
To assist your school community to unpack and make meaning of the Strengthening Catholic Identity Position Statement you may like to engage in this simple activity with the school leadership team, staff, P &F or with the school board.
Please click on the link below to access the activity.
POSITION STATEMENT PROCESSING ACTIVITY
To further assist in the unpacking of this key document a glossary of terms has also been developed. Please click on the link below to access this glossary.
If you would like to talk to someone about the Position Statement please contact the Professional Learning, Formation and Leadership Team on 3033 7620.
Leading Relationships and Sexuality Education
Last term at the O’Shea Centre we gathered to celebrate the ‘Launch of A Catholic Perspective on Relationships & Sexuality and Child Safety on BCE’s Australian Curriculum and a Catholic Perspective Online Platform. At this stage, the platform is at soft launch stage with further refinements anticipated throughout the year. Schools will be able to access the ACARA National Curriculum on the platform with the addition of possible teaching opportunities from a Catholic perspective. The initial release to pilot schools contains the new Relationships and Sexuality perspective embedded within the Health and PE Curriculum. We look forward to bringing you more news about this important project in the coming weeks.
Schools that are exploring ways to embed a Catholic perspective in curriculum areas other than R.E. would find the work being done in Relationship and Sexuality of great interest. For further information about this work please contact Kerry Bird, Kerry Rush or Monique Brennan.
Year of Mercy Resources
Doors to Mercy is a new prayer resource that has been developed collaboratively by the Religious Education Services Team and the Professional Learning, Formation and Leadership Team to be used in school and office communities in the Year of Mercy. This resource explores mercy through a number of different 'doors' and I recommend this resource to you and your community.
Each school should have received copies of this resource for use in your community. A digital version of this resource is also available on the Formation and Leadership Portal Site. Please click on the link below to access this resource.
DOORS TO MERCY Digital Resource
Catholic Identity Resources
NEW VIDEOS EXPLAINING THE THREE KEY SCALES
The Catholic University of Leuven has developed three short videos that explain each of the three key scales in the Leuven Project.
1. THE POST-CRITICAL BELIEF (PCB) SCALE
2. THE MELBOURNE SCALE
3. THE VICTORIA SCALE
These short videos would be a useful resource when working with staff in developing their understanding about these three key scales. They are also helpful in refreshing your own understanding of the scales in a visual way.
You can view the videos below or by clicking on the link below.
CATHOLIC IDENTITY WEBSITE
The Catholic Identity portal site is designed to support schools who are engaging in the BCE Leuven Project. This website can be accessed by clicking on the 'Strengthen Catholic Identity' link on K-Web or via the link below. It is housed as part of the Professional Learning, Formation and Leadership team site.
On this website there are two main sections:
1) Strengthen Catholic Identity Strategy
This site will have information regarding the BCE position paper and implementation strategy. This will be updated as the strategy progresses.
2) The BCE Leuven Project
This site will house resources that will be useful to school who are engaging directly with the Leuven research. This includes resources about the project process, how to complete the surveys and how to unpack the data. There is also a resource section that contains videos, fact sheets, articles, Power Points and other key documents that will be useful to schools.
Please find a link to this site below.
3) Resource Link
Resource Link has begun to curate resources that they have which will support schools engaging in the area of Catholic identity. You will be able to search for these resources by entering the key words 'Catholic identity' or for more specific resources you can search under the four priority areas:
- Catholic Identity and Mission
- Catholic Identity and Formation
- Catholic Identity and Learning and Teaching
- Catholic Identity and Culture
Click here to access the Resource Link collection.
PROFESSIONAL READING
Paul Sharkey shares an article on the importance of building the capacity and commitment of staff in Catholic schools. This is in strong agreement with the recommendations coming from the Catholic University of Leuven, who name ongoing staff formation as one of the most pivotal strategies to support the Catholic identity of a school. Please click on the link below to access the article.
Helpful Resources
STRENGTHENING CATHOLIC IDENTITY SHAPE PAPER AND POSITION STATEMENT
An updated version of the BCE Shape Paper for the Strengthening Catholic Identity Strategy is now available for download. This document outlines the purpose, vision and scope of this key BCE strategy. Please click HERE to download a copy from K-Web.
The Position Statement is also available for download and can be accessed by clicking HERE.
THE LEUVEN SCALES FOR DUMMIES
These documents have been written by the Catholic University of Leuven to help explain the PCB Scale, Melbourne Scale and Victoria Scale. Please click HERE to access the articles.
VIDEOS OF PROFESSOR POLLEFEYT'S VISIT TO BRISBANE IN 2014
These video excerpts were taken at the 2014 Leadership Conference, where Professor Pollefeyt was the key note speaker. This series of videos give an overview of the Leuven Project and explore the PCB, Melbourne and Victoria Scales. Please click on the link below to access the videos.
LINKS TO PREVIOUS ISSUES
For access to the previous issues of the BCE Leuven Project e-Update please click on the links below.
2016
Term 1, 2016 https://www.smore.com/seg3s
Term 2, 2016 https://www.smore.com/50a0u
2015
Term 1, 2015 https://www.smore.com/qgzfv
Term 2, 2015 https://www.smore.com/v8nrp
Term 3, 2015 https://www.smore.com/fhtxe
Term 4, 2015 https://www.smore.com/3evyk
Want to Talk to Someone about the BCE Leuven Project?
Email: FormationLeadership@bne.catholic.edu.au
Website: www.bne.catholic.edu.au
Location: 243 Gladstone Road, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia
Phone: (07) 3033 7620
If you have any queries or questions about the BCE Leuven Project please direct them to Simon Mahaffy or contact the team on 3033 7620