Updates

CEDoW Length of Service Awards

Length of Service Awards for CEDoW staff achieving milestones of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 40 years of service is in progress. Principals will contact staff to verify the years of service information provided.

For any queries regarding length of service, please contact Sharon Anderson, Administrative Officer – Leadership and Professional Growth, at andersons04@dow.catholic.edu.au.

Opportunity for Early Career Teachers: Mentoring and Coaching Development Program

As part of CEDoW’s partnership with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), we are inviting Early Career Teachers (ECTs) in their 2nd to 5th year of teaching to take part in a unique research program: The Impact of Online Mentoring and Coaching Training on Retention of Early Career Teachers in Australian Schools.

This is a free, online program designed to provide you with personalised support from an expert coach while contributing to research that will shape the future of teacher retention in Australia.

We are seeking to recruit 15–20 ECTs in their 2nd to 5th year of teaching and currently employed with CEDoW, with priority given to teachers in regional schools.

Why get involved?

• Personalised support: Receive coaching from a trained mentor to strengthen your professional practice.
• Flexible and accessible: Online and manageable alongside your teaching role. 
• Part of something bigger: Your participation will help address Australia’s teacher retention challenge.
• Regional focus: Priority will be given to ECTs in regional schools, and ideally those in their 2nd–5th year of teaching.
  

How to Apply

Expressions of interest should be submitted as soon as possible and will close on Friday 26 September (Term 3, Week 10). Submit here: Expression of Interest Form.

For more information, please see the flyer or contact Vanessa Taylor, Professional Officer – Early Career Teacher Support at vanessa.taylor@dow.catholic.edu.au.  

Phonics Screening – Improving Foundational Literacy

We are pleased to announce that the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check Reports are now ready to be explored on Yellowfin. This valuable resource provides an overview of students’ phonics skills and offers insight to support targeted teaching and intervention. Schools using the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check have been provided with a 'how to' guide for unpacking their data.

We encourage all Year 1 teachers, principals and instructional coaches to review these reports, or their own school phonics assessments, to inform instruction and ensure every student builds a strong foundation in literacy.

The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check assesses how well students can blend sounds together to read words. It is designed to be administered towards the end of Year 1, allowing students sufficient time to develop foundational phonics knowledge. Importantly, it is timed so that any gaps identified can still be addressed with timely interventions and targeted teaching strategies.

This screening complements the existing practices schools use to monitor students’ progress in developing key literacy skills. This year’s reports provide an overview of phonics proficiency, helping teachers better understand student outcomes and plan next steps. School leaders are encouraged to look for correlations between their Year 1 phonics data and Year 3 NAPLAN results in the domain of 'spelling' as well as consider elements of growth within cohorts. 

Special thanks to Joanne Treffone and Alexandra Hingston for their work in developing the CEDoW Phonics Screener. 

Numeracy Toolbox Updates

Mathematics Term 4 Sample Units of Work

In an effort to support the core work of teachers, CEDoW sample Mathematics units of work have been developed to align with the sample scope and sequences of learning developed by Dr Christine Mae, currently in use in a number of schools.

The sample units of work serve as a scaffold to support teachers in programming clear sequences of learning aligned to the syllabus. Teachers are encouraged to use these sample units alongside the teaching advice and examples provided in the NSW K-10 Mathematics Syllabus to contextualise the learning for their students. These units of work can also be directly accessed here.

Adjustments to Term Four Sample Units

Following reflection and feedback from schools, and building upon the revisions made to the Term Three Mathematics units, further refinements have been implemented for the Term Four sample units of work. These adjustments include:

• Clear Learning Intentions and Success Criteria: The learning intention and differentiated success criteria for each learning sequence drive the teaching and learning within the sequence. The success criteria can be contextualised for different cohorts to ensure that students are both challenged and able to demonstrate success regardless of their starting point.
  
  
• Embedded Formative Assessment opportunities: ‘Check for understanding’ guides teachers to engage in ongoing formative assessment, reflecting on how well students are able to demonstrate success in relation to the success criteria.
  
  
• Suggested Activities: These are examples of ‘what’ teachers can plan in order for students to demonstrate their understanding. The teacher will utilise High Impact Strategies to ensure consideration of the essential elements Agency, Environment, Equity, Relevance and Rigour when contextualising the learning sequences for the needs of their class.
  
  
• Additional Rich Task: At the end of each of the first units K-6 a rich, open-ended task has been added. This is an example of a task that could be used as a summative assessment to support the ongoing formative assessment opportunities embedded within the daily teaching and learning. During the pupil vacation period, ALL units of work will be updated so that each unit has an example of a rich task.

A number of teachers from our diocese engaged in the process of ‘quality assurance’ prior to these units being released onto the toolbox. This is an important process to ensure that the sample units of work reflect the intent of the syllabus and align to the scope and sequence of learning.

The CEDoW K-12 Learning team would like to thank the following teachers for their role in this important process: Belinda Evans, Shirley Jancetic, Melissa Allen, Chantelle Zuza, Grace Sullivan, and Dominique Hogarth.

Progression of Mathematical Vocabulary

The toolbox has been updated to include a ‘Progression of Vocabulary’ from ES1 to Stage 3 for each focus area in the NSW K–10 Mathematics Syllabus. These documents sequence the progression of vocabulary from Early Stage 1 to Stage 3. The intent is that teachers may use these documents as a tool to support the development of carefully sequenced and differentiated teaching and learning programs.

Students should be provided with opportunities to develop confidence in using some or all of the vocabulary identified in the Teaching Advice in the Mathematics Syllabus and in these documents to communicate their mathematical thinking.

2026 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations

In support of school organisation for the 2026 school year, the 2026 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations Timetable dates have been released.

The CSSA, a division of Catholic Schools NSW, creates premium CSSA Trial HSC Examinations by education experts. Our writers and assessors have syllabus expertise and extensive teaching experience to create the CSSA Trial HSC Examinations.

Key dates to assist schools:

The 2026 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations Timetable is scheduled from Monday 3 August, to Monday 17 August 2026, with a security period up to and including 8:00 am, Thursday 20 August 2026.

Apply Now: 2026 CSSA Trial HSC Examinations – Expressions of Interest for Committee Member Roles

The Head of Curriculum and Assessment is seeking expressions of interest for the following positions:

Committee Member for the following 2026 CSSA End of Year Examinations:

• Studies in Catholic Thought I and II
• The letter regarding the Expression of Interest requirements for the Committee Member role with the CSSA and the application process is found here.

Committee Member for the following 2026 CSSA Trial HSC Examination:

• Legal Studies
• The letter regarding the Expression of Interest requirements for the Committee Member role with the CSSA and the application process is found here.

Interested applicants are asked to submit a cover letter and current curriculum vitae to Monica O’Brien, Head of Curriculum and Assessment, at cssa.exams@csnsw.catholic.edu.au by 9:00 am, Friday 19 September 2025.

NESA News: New 7–12 Curriculum Support Materials

More than 30 new resources are now available to support teachers delivering reformed syllabuses.

7–10

• Agriculture
• Aquatic Technology
• Child Studies
• Geography
• Technology and Engineering Technology
• Visual Arts

11–12

• Ancient History
• Dance and Dance Life Skills
• English Advanced
• English EAL/D
• English Extension
• English Standard
• English Studies

Resources include sample assessment schedules, sample units, parent and carer guides, outcomes worksheets, sample scope and sequences, teaching advice, Aboriginal Education support, and teaching and learning support.

Explore new K-12 resource here.

CEDoW Library 

ACEN eBook

This week’s Sora eBook edition is Open a Book for an Adventure. Use the link here to explore eBook titles for primary, secondary, and staff through the Australian Catholic Education Network (ACEN). To sign in to Sora, select ACEN as your school.

ClickView Highlight

This week’s ClickView highlight features a Physical Education theme. You can view it here.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Jim Gallagher, Library Services Manager, at gallagherj01@dow.catholic.edu.au. 

Palms Spring 2025 Update: New Beginnings and Relationship Building

Please see here the latest newsletter from Palms Australia, including information regarding international volunteering opportunities.

The Bishop’s Annual Appeal

The Bishop’s Annual Appeal will be promoted in our diocese during September.

To find out more or make a tax-deductible donation, please visit www.dow.org.au/giving, scan the QR code above, or call (02) 4222 2400 to make a donation over the phone.

“Our faith calls us to help one another through prayer and action. Offering dignified support and care for our retired clergy, who have always cared for us; and the sound and holistic formation of our Seminarians, our future priests, are my responsibilities as your Bishop. I seek your prayers and practical support to help me ensure that I can do this. Your donation to this appeal is very much appreciated.” — Bishop Brian Mascord