BRISBANE archdiocese’s Catholic Education Council has launched a new Learning and Teaching Policy for Brisbane Catholic Education schools.
The policy is designed to empower all learners in school communities to understand, shape and enrich the changing world by living the Gospel of Jesus.
Chair of the Catholic Education Council Good Samaritan Sister Mary McDonald launched the policy at the O’Shea Centre on September 17.
The policy is significant for Brisbane Catholic Education in providing an overarching framework for learning and teaching in Catholic schools into the future.
Director of BCE’s religious education and curriculum services Damien Brennan led a working party that developed the document.
He said the working party demonstrated dedication and commitment to the important task during the evolution of the policy which began with the working party’s first meeting in August, 2006.
“Members worked constructively and kept before them the Catholic Education Council processes for the drafting of policy and the issues identified by council for the development of this policy,” he said.
At the launch, acting executive director of BCE Vicky Tanzer said the policy would be a key resource to assist Catholic school communities to measure their effectiveness and assist them to identify areas for further development to improve the learning and teaching outcomes for students.
She thanked the Catholic Education Council for its leadership and Mr Brennan and his working party for their “excellent work” in developing the policy.
In a foreword to the policy, Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane said the policy statement reflected the ongoing commitment of Brisbane Catholic Education in furthering the commitment of the archdiocesan vision “Jesus, Communion, Mission” through the education ministry of the Church.
The archbishop said it provided a clear reminder that “we value learning and teaching because of their transformative, purposeful, holistic, creative and engaging power”.
“Quality learning and teaching leads our students to hope in God and to offer committed service to others,” he said.
Copies of the policy will be distributed to schools and will also be accessible from the public website at www.bce.catholic.edu.au
