OUR LADY OF SION COLLEGE

ABOUT OUR COLLEGE

Our Lady of Sion College has a long and proud history of educating young women in the Box Hill and surrounding areas. The College was established in 1928 by the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion and faithful to their vision and mission, the Biblical values of compassion, justice, reconciliation, peace and love are guiding principles that underpin all that we do. As a school of approximately 930 students and over 100 members of staff, we aspire to be a community where each student is named and known, valued and nurtured, encouraged and supported through the personal relationships we foster. 

Our Lady of Sion College Mission statement calls us to always ‘speak the truth in love’ and compels us to act in the pursuit of ‘justice’. Consistent with our mission as a Catholic school, the Our Lady of Sion College community is committed to a culture of child safety and a zero tolerance for child abuse. All staff are expected to uphold the primacy of the safety and wellbeing of our students. All staff must comply with the Our Lady of Sion Child Safe Code of Conduct and Child Safe policies. Our recruitment processes are strictly adhered to during the application and interview process. Applicants should be aware that the College undertakes VIT and referee checks as part of our employment practices. Applicants will also be required to submit certified copies of VIT registration and qualifications.

OUR MISSION

Our Lady of Sion College is a Catholic College where young women are encouraged to live in fidelity to the Word of God known in the Scriptures and the life of Jesus. These young women inherit the tradition of the Church and the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, which calls them to actively seek to transform the world.

This tradition calls them to be:

creative and contemplative, passionate and compassionate, concerned always for justice, truth, reconciliation and peace, and people who build bridges with others and remain open to change.

These young women will be offered opportunities that will enable them to become individuals filled with hope, who speak to the divine within themselves and beyond their imagining. They will become young women who will always strive to:

discover the presence of God, discern, have the courage to speak the truth, and the energy to act for change, and bring the gifts of healing and nurturing in places of discord.

Our Lady of Sion College imbues in our young women,

a sense of belonging to a tradition, a hunger for achieving what is right, and calls them in all things, to speak the truth in love.

OUR VISION

Sowing the seeds of hope, uncovering excellence within

and inspiring a commitment to justice.

The Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing assumes a significant senior leadership position, working collaboratively with the College Leadership Team and supporting the Principal to provide visionary leadership to the College community.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The following criteria will be used to inform the selection process. Applicants are advised that a maximum of four pages should be used to respond to the criteria.

1. Understanding of and commitment to the philosophy and ethos of the Catholic school, and an understanding of and willingness to embrace the charism of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion

2. Exemplary educational leadership in the areas of Student Wellbeing and Pastoral Care within a Catholic secondary school setting

3. Exemplary leadership and understanding of the issues specific to girls’ education and a vision for wellbeing within an all-girls secondary school setting

4. A demonstrated understanding of and commitment to legal and moral obligations relating to child safety

5. A demonstrated ability to successfully implement pro-active programs that meet the learning and wellbeing needs of girls

6. Ability to establish, maintain and continuously improve a flourishing holistic learning environment which is dynamic, engaging and challenging, and which seeks to foster student wellbeing

7. Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, including demonstrated discernment and ability to work collaboratively with all members of the College community

8. Exemplary organisational and administrative skills

9. Proven record of success as a secondary teacher with an excellent knowledge of current educational theory and practice

10. Appropriate post graduate qualifications in Student Wellbeing/Pastoral Care and/or Educational Leadership

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications must include:

A letter of introduction

A completed Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing Application Form

A response to the Selection Criteria (no more than four pages in length)

A current Curriculum Vitae

Certified copies of VIT registration, under-graduate and post-graduate qualifications

Applicants are asked to forward all application documents as indicated above to the Principal via email: principal@sion.catholic.edu.au.

PROPOSED TIMELINE

Applications close: Monday, 1 August 2016 at 4:00pm

Interviews: Tuesday, 9 August 2016

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL – STUDENT WELLBEING

The role of the Deputy Principal – Student Wellbeing is to work with the Principal and Leadership Team in exercising leadership, management and responsibility for the College. The Deputy Principal – Student Wellbeing has the key role in promoting and celebrating the Catholic ethos and Sionian Charism in the life of the College community.

The Deputy Principal – Student Wellbeing will possess postgraduate qualifications in education and have significant experience and proven knowledge of educational issues and development. This leader will be an outstanding teacher with a demonstrated ability in leadership roles in Catholic education, excellent communication and organizational skills and ability to lead and work collaboratively with others.

The Deputy Principal – Student Wellbeing has two specific areas of focus. The first of these is a clear responsibility to the Leadership Team with direct accountability to the Principal. This involves working collaboratively with the team to develop and implement the goals of the College. Secondly, the Deputy Principal – Student Wellbeing is responsible for providing strategic leadership for the College’s overall pastoral care and wellbeing program.

As a member of the Leadership Team:

In conjunction with the College Leadership Team, promote the Catholic ethos and Sionian Charism in the life of the College community

Be supportive of the Leadership of the College and publicly exhibit this support

Work in an honest, open, flexible, creative manner that contributes positively to the operations of the Team

Work actively in the College community to implement directions and decisions of the College Leadership Team

Provide opportunities for staff input into the College Leadership’s considerations and provide appropriate and comprehensive feedback

Represent the College leadership in forums external to the College, maintaining a consistent representation

Liaise effectively and consistently with the Principal in regard to issues relating to leadership of the College

Act upon directions from the Principal in regard to the leadership of the College

Model a leadership style and approach which reflects and supports the vision of leadership articulated by the Principal and Leadership of the College

Attend evening functions and meetings of a general nature concerning the College as negotiated with the Principal and Leadership Team

Responsibilities as the Deputy Principal – Student Wellbeing:

Provide students with a child-safe environment Be familiar with and comply with the Our Lady of Sion Child Safe Policy, Code of Conduct and

other policies and procedures relating to child safety Proactively monitor and support student wellbeing Exercise pastoral care in a manner which reflects College values Implement strategies which promote a healthy and positive learning environment

Development and Implementation of the Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Programs

Promote awareness of wellbeing, pastoral care and student management amongst all members of the College community.

Support the Principal in sustaining a culture of Child Safety

Ensure that a student wellbeing, pastoral care and management perspective is provided on committees formed within the College.

Develop, manage and implement all aspects of the student expectations document and the pastoral care program throughout the College.

Oversee the counselling services and effective case management of vulnerable and ‘at risk’ students

Work with the families of students in need of particular support

Establish and develop links with external agencies

Collaborate with the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching to ensure that wellbeing, pastoral care and student management issues are delivered effectively and consistently within the academic program.

Collaborate with the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching to ensure that student engagement continues to be enhanced

Supervise events related to or emerging from the pastoral care program and other student programs.

Coordinate the Student Leadership Program and oversee the process with the Year Level Coordinators in selecting the class leaders.

Liaise effectively with external professional associations, relevant Church organisations, Deputy Principal – Wellbeing (or equivalent roles) of other schools and appropriate personnel from Catholic Education Melbourne.

Be up to date with, and implement, sector and industry policies and practices designed to support the wellbeing of students, staff and families

Develop, implement and maintain appropriate channels of communication between staff, parents, students and the local community

Ensure a just and consistent approach to all dealings with staff/students/parents/guardians by the College

Promote the wellbeing of students through availability to both students and parents/guardians

Promote harmony with staff and encouragement in the performance of their duties through communication, consultation, availability and suitable delegation of responsibility.

Promote the wellbeing and care of staff in both their professional and personal needs

Development and Supervision of Pastoral Care Team

Work collaboratively with all members of staff to ensure compassionate, just and effective implementation of the student expectations document, the Restoring Positive Relationships in the Classroom and Community Document and all other related student pastoral care policies of the College.

Regularly schedule and chair meetings of the Pastoral Care Team (Year Level Coordinators and College Counsellors), ensuring minutes of all meeting are kept and distributed to Pastoral Care Team and Leadership Team.

Meet regularly with individual members of the Pastoral Care Team to provide advice, guidance and support in their leadership role.

Assess the professional needs of both the individual and team and provide access to appropriate internal and external professional support and development.

Annually, in conjunction with other members of the Pastoral Care Team, review the outcomes and issues associated with student management and the implementation of pastoral care program and policies and establish a strategic plan for implementation in the following year.

Development of Policy

Evaluate Archdiocesan policies in the light of the Sionian Charism, advise where appropriate the Principal and Leadership Team of implementation processes and/or issues and concerns regarding the pastoral care and wellbeing of students and staff at the College.

In conjunction with the Leadership Team, Year Level Coordinators and other members of the College community, provide advice and develop effective policies and implementation processes relating to the management, pastoral care and wellbeing of students and staff.

Analyse the outcomes and impact of College policies and procedures on the pastoral care and management of all students and staff.

Pro-actively review, evaluate and renew policy and practice.

Coordination of Co-Curricular Activities

In conjunction with Year Level Coordinators and relevant College staff, oversee the co-curricular activities offered to students at each year level.

Work collaboratively with Year Level Coordinators to facilitate the development and implementation associated programs for students.

Review these activities on an annual basis with the Curriculum Team and Leadership Team.

College Administration

Oversee the updating and ordering of the Student Planner and other related student materials.

Liaise with the Uniform supplier and monitor the correct wearing of the uniform.

Liaise with the Business Manager and Canteen Manager on the student usage of the College Canteen.

Committee Membership

The Deputy Principal – Student Wellbeing will be a member of at least the following committees: Leadership Team, College Policy, Health and Wellbeing, Pastoral Care Team (chair), Risk Management, Affirmation Team, VCE/VCAL, Parents Association and Open Day.

Other Duties as Deputy Principal In conjunction with the other leaders, implement and regularly evaluate the College Affirmation Policy

and College Colours Program.

In conjunction with the other leaders, approve the final format and play an active role in all whole College events and public presentations and performances, Year Level after hours formal events, Information and Parent Evenings

Lead the planning, coordination and evaluation of all College Assemblies In conjunction with the other leaders, coordinate, support and implement the induction program for new

staff Provide ongoing support for all staff Complete administrative duties as required in the role of Deputy Principal Attend out of hours College events as a representative of College leadership. Provide advice and support to staff in professional and work-related areas Oversee teacher punctuality and professional conduct Assist the Principal in the enrolment and interviewing of new students and their families Play an active leadership role in the evaluation of the effectiveness of College programs, identify

strategies for improvement and facilitate appropriate change Undertake other duties as required by the Principal

This role description will be developed further to utilize the individual strengths and initiatives of the person appointed to the position in negotiation with the Principal.

Tenure

The position of Deputy Principal – Student Wellbeing is for an initial period of three years and following a successful performance appraisal, will be appointed for a further two years. At the conclusion of this fifth year, the position will be advertised and the incumbent will be eligible to apply.

Remuneration

The appointee’s salary is determined according to the enrolment of the school and will be at the Category B level of the Victorian Catholic Education Multi-Employer Agreement.

Further Remuneration: The Deputy Principal will also be issued with a College Mobile telephone, a city link road pass and an annual petrol allowance.

Salary Packaging: The Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing is entitled to enter into Salary Packaging under current guidelines from the Catholic Education Office of Melbourne and subject to current legislative requirements.