Up early to pack. Due to "Mumba Weekend" Formula One and FINA World C'ships, though we were trying for three months prior to departure, we had been unable to get accommodation and had to book two hotels. Today was "moving day". Our new serviced apartment is perfect. We actually have a table on which to blog! Life doesn't get too much better.
In the morning we visited the Catholic Education Office (CEO). This is an eight-storey high-rise modern building encompassing the Irish equivalent of Archbishop's House and D.E.S. for the Catholic schools of Melbourne combined. This magnificent structure houses the "business" that is the management of Catholic Education in Melbourne. Every aspect of support, servicing and funding for 269 Primary schools and 70 Secondary schools, emanates from this building. This office has 320 employees, some of whom are based in four regional offices around Melbourne. Conjure with the titles of the lovely people who gave so generously of their time to us this morning:
- Geraldine Harbourd: Executive Assistant
- Mary Oski: Manager of Leadership and Accountability
- Paul Sedunary: Curriculum Co-ordinator
- Cailín Yeomans:Education Consultant
Next it was on to St. Monica's P.S. Moonee Ponds and its charming principal Tim Kelly who entertained us royally. Home-made sandwiches, no less. This was a school set in a middle class area with 500 pupils and 40 staff: 32 teaching, 8 non-teaching. Victorian building (as in Queen Vic.) beautifully maintained, on a dual campus, superbly resourced. And yet they still managed
to give all the staff with additional responsibilities (POLs) their own office space. Deputy Principal was walking and also had her own office. Every class had an advanced webpage where they could even access their homework, should the need arise. Outside facilities included three full-size basketball courts, two tennis courts and a state of the art adventure playground.
By contrast, St. Michael's in North Melbourne is situated in an area of high disadvantage, most of its students coming from immigrant background. They were a Mercy school up to 2001 with strong Irish connections. They were delighted to receive a copy of "Mass for God's Children" from St Mary's Mercy School in Trim. They had 180 pupils, seven mainstream class teachers
out of a staff total of twenty! This school places great store on the promotion of literacy and numeracy and given the area in which they are located, it is nothing short of remarkable that they won the National Award For Literacy and Numeracy 2006. They weren't afraid to proclaim this achievement on a large sign outside their school and who could blame them? Something of which to be truly proud.
The more attentive among you will have noted our reference to the need to cut back on the number of schools per day. Tomorrow we visit three schools: go figure!
Nath na Seachtaine:
"We're a Sun Smart School."
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