Catholic Education in the Diocese of Wagga Wagga
The Diocese of Wagga Wagga is in rural NSW, located in the Riverina and south western district of New South Wales. The Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers are significant geographical features of our area – the diocese – and on our eastern border lie the mountainous regions of the Great Dividing Range. The area has large and small towns and some of Australia’s richest and most picturesque countryside.
The Diocese of Wagga Wagga has a rich faith tradition; our faith communities are nourished and sustained by the sacramental life of the church administered and accessed through 31 parishes.
Our Bishop is Gerard Hanna.
The Catholic Schools Office
The Catholic Schools Office (CSO) is accountable to the Bishop and is led by the Director of Schools, Mr Alan Bowyer. There are 27 primary schools and 5 secondary schools that educate in excess of 8,500 students through the dedication and work of approximately 1,000 staff.
Henschke Primary School, Wagga Wagga
Henschke Primary School is the largest co-education Primary school in Wagga Wagga, located ‘on top of the hill’ in Bourke Street. We are proud of our strong traditions and foundations as the Saint Maria Goretti School founded by the Presentation Sisters in 1952. We have grown from modest beginnings to our current enrolment of 566, and have many plans for the future development and growth of our school.
Our school motto is: “To Serve One Another in Love”, and we promote this throughout the school community. We aim to instil Catholic ethos and values into all aspects of our student’s learning, and look to nurture each individual’s talents and skills through our range of curriculum experiences and extra-curricular opportunities. Our school’s Vision Statement is very much at the heart of all we do…
Educational Priorities for Henschke Primary School, Wagga Wagga 2016
- Continuing to provide strong Pastoral Care for all members of our community.
- To continue to improve student achievement in all areas of contemporary learning.
- Continue providing for collegial planning and collaborative practices.
- Building on our whole school improvement framework.
- 21st Century learning – Information and Communication Technology.
School Priorities
- Embed purposeful pedagogy and build teacher capacity to improve student learning outcomes.
- Further develop elements of a professional learning community.
- Use the Inquiry for Continual Improvement process to improve student learning in Numeracy.
- Target professional learning to suit the needs of teachers and students
- Strengthen Catholic identity and empower teachers in classroom practice of Religious Education.
February 2016 Census: 566
Further Information
Additional information can be viewed on:
- The Catholic Schools website located at: http://www.csoww.catholic.edu.au/
- Henschke Primary School website located at: http://web.hpww.catholic.edu.au/
Position Overview
Position Title: Assistant Principal
Reports to: Principal
Assistant Principal Role Statement
Vision
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.”
John 10:14
The Children of Henschke Primary will know that they are always loved by God and they will return that love in word and deed as they follow Jesus throughout their lives.
The Assistant Principal as a member of the school executive supports the Principal in the ministry of leadership. The Assistant Principal acts for the Principal in their absence and deputises if necessary. They will share with the Principal’s responsibility for the school as a living Christian Community, as well as the key responsibilities outlined below. The Assistant Principal’s role may include additional duties as directed by the Principal from time to time.
Assistant Principal’s Responsibilities
Religious leadership
Religious leadership at Henschke Primary School focuses on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Those in leadership have a special responsibility to live and share the Catholic faith with the intention of influencing and enriching the lives of our students, staff and other members of the school community.
Religious leadership facilitates spiritual formation through a dynamic process leading to growth in the understanding and practice of our catholic tradition.
Guided by faith, hope and love leaders support community life and worship through which to recognise, accept and to cooperate with the mysterious action of God in our lives.
Educative Leadership
Educational leadership promotes a collaborative learning culture placing teaching and learning at the centre of decision-making. Educative leaders engage teachers, developing in them the capacity to maximise learning growth for all students.
Professional dialogue about teaching and learning enables best practice and encourages individual innovation.
Educative leadership involves an inspiring vision of a preferred future which forges relationships between local practice and wider educational thinking.
Staff Leadership
It is imperative at Henschke Primary School that staff leadership is focused on Christian service. Those in leadership positions should always be aware that they are to be a sign to all of Christ who came to serve not to be served. It fosters a community in which distributive leadership, mutual accountability, inclusive processes, professional learning, team work, succession planning, staff selection, induction, review and goal setting are integral.
Strategic Leadership
At Henschke Primary School strategic leadership is directed towards the development, alignment and attainment and review of the school vision, mission and the strategic goals for the school as set out in the Schools Improvement Plan.
Such leadership ensures that the beliefs, values and educational philosophy of the school programs gives direction to the work of the staff, the participation of parents and partnerships in the community.
Strategic leaders give local context to the diocesan vision statement. They ensure school improvement plans engage and align with the diocesan strategic renewal framework.
Organisational Leadership
Organisational Leadership focuses on operational processes and resource management. It relies on active collaboration with key parish and community groups. It is an expression of Christian stewardship and commitment to common good
Commencement
It is anticipated that successful applicant will be able to commence for the start of the 2017 school year.
Location
Henschke Primary School is located ‘on top of the hill’ at 105 Fernleigh Road, Wagga Wagga NSW.
Conditions of Employment
- Salary and Conditions: Enterprise Agreement 2015 NSW and ACT Catholic Systemic Schools, plus an allowance of $29,235.00 pa (school size 401-600 students)
- Superannuation of 9.5% paid in addition to the above salary.
- Salary Packaging: employees may elect to take their remuneration as a combination of cash salary and benefits as outlined in the Diocese of Wagga Wagga Salary Packaging Employee Information Guide.
- Applicants who are successful in gaining an interview will receive an interview travel allowance. Relocation allowance will be provided for the successful applicant.
- The successful applicant will undertake a New Working with Children Check and a National Police Checking Service (Crimtrac) prior to appointment.
Selection Criteria:
- Religious Leadership qualification recognised in the Wagga Wagga Diocese and a commitment to the Catholic Faith.
- Ability to demonstrate Educative Leadership in a primary school.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team situation and demonstrate staff leadership in the Henschke community.
- Ability to demonstrate vision and management of the strategic improvement of the school.
- Demonstrates highly effective skills in Organisational Leadership.
Are You Interested in this Opportunity?
If you are interested in this role, there are two options for you to proceed:
- If interested, but have questions requiring a response before deciding whether to progress, then either (a) telephone our Director John Chesher (0417 068 220) or (b) email our office via mail@traksearch.com or from this page of our website with your questions.
- If and when you have enough information to start this process, then simply email us at mail@traksearch.com or from this page of our website stating your interest in Henschke Primary School; also providing a brief resume and contact telephone number.
At this stage we do NOT ask for you to labour over selection criteria or provide any application document – just a one-line email to Trak Search to indicate your interest in ‘Henschke Primary Assistant Principal TS1341’ and providing your resume and contact telephone number. All emails and applications are acknowledged within 48 hours.
The Selection Process
The Catholic Schools Office (CSO) has appointed Trak Search to assist in this selection process.
Key dates are as follows:
Date of advertising | Friday 5th Aug/Sat 6th Aug |
Trak Search discussions commence | From Monday 15th Aug |
Latest anticipated date for applications | Wed 24th Aug |
Initial reference checking by Trak Search | From week commencing Monday 5th Sept |
CSO review meeting & short listing | Week commencing Monday 12th Sept |
Anticipated date for CSO interviews | Week commence Monday 19th or 26th Sept |
Trak Search has been instructed to provide a process that is welcoming for people interested in this role. Significant aspects include:
- Throughout the process, Trak Search is available for confidential discussions and to provide information to allow you to explore this opportunity and determine your interest in the role.
- A range of additional information will be provided to you as we progress through this process.
- At the outset you will not be required to provide: an application form; a lengthy, comprehensive document to address the selection criteria; or any referee details. However, you will be invited to supply us with additional information (verbally and in writing) as you progress through the process.
- A late application could be accepted, providing it does not adversely impact other applications or the schedule. Please be aware however that any application received after close of business on the date noted above is more likely to be returned to you.
- At the appropriate time (refer above) we will seek written consent to speak with referees – listing referees on your resume does not signify consent.
- We expect to contact one work related referee prior to short listing, with additional references (including with a Priest referee) completed later in the process. You should always expect that prior to reaching the final stage of the project, we will ask to speak with at least one person who has: directly managed you; recently; and for a significant time period.
- All information provided to Trak Search will be made available prior to short listing, in confidence, to the CSO Executive unless you instruct Trak Search otherwise.
You are also encouraged to view our Collection Statement which provides details on the manner in which we collect and use information obtained from you during your engagement with Trak Search.