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Scholaris newsletter 30/6/2026

Priority 

Don’t Miss Your Opportunity to Register for the Online 2026 K–12 Curriculum Reform Conference (Ref: 139/26)

The real opportunity this year is the incredible access our online streaming format on Monday 20 July, created for schools to register their whole staff for a full day of quality professional learning with their wider Catholic community.

Can’t make the Livestreaming?

Register and you will have 6 months exclusive access to all the Conference recordings, presentations and resources. They are presented in an accessible and engaging interactive format: we find the research and resources presenters reference, we locate any media articles, embed videos and websites – making it easy for you to collaborate with your colleagues and have important professional learning conversations. 

A reminder of just some of the great speakers we have lined up
  • Dallas McInerney, CEO, CSNSW
  • Most Rev. Bishop Mark Edwards
  • Dylan Wiliam, Emeritus Professor of Educational Assessment at University College London
  • Professor Miriam Tanti, Associate Dean at La Trobe University, a leader in teacher education and AI in schools
  • Professor Rebecca Winthrop, Co-Director of the Center for Universal Education, Brookings Institution and adjunct professor at Georgetown University, USA
  • Alex Dore, founder of Gradeo
  • Sharon Cooke, Senior Manager, Aboriginal Education CSNSW
  • Jenni Wenzel, CEO, Aboriginal Education NESA
  • Clarrie Hoskins, Manager, Aboriginal Education, NESA
  • Nathan Smith, Senior Manager Wellbeing & CVE, CSNSW
  • Mary-Clare Turnbull, Senior Manager, Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Dr Paul Chaill, Executive Director, Curriculum, NESA
Explore the full programme

 

Conference Details

Date: Monday, 20 July 2026
Time: 9:00am – 4:15pm AEST
Format: Online (live streamed to schools and individuals) 
Audience: Teachers, school leaders and system leaders

“It’s inspirational, and it really gives teachers hope for what is possible!”
2025 Participant

Ticketing Information

Option 1 – Group Booking: Whole of school ticket allowing full staff participation

Option 2 – Individual Booking: Educators not in schools register individually 

All registrations will have six months of access to the conference content and recordings post event. 

For further details and to secure your ticket, click here.

 

NESA updates – 29 June 2026 (Ref: 137/26)

By subscribing to NESA News you will receive the latest updates and information as soon as it becomes available.

Subscribe to NESA News here

NESA Official Notices

NESA Official Notices can be accessed here

NESA Timetable of action for secondary schools

Timetable of action for secondary schools can be accessed here

Official Notices

New HSC Drama prescriptions 2028–2031

2026 HSC Rules and Procedures update for students missing an exam

Teaching Grammar Professional Learning 

The Teaching Grammar professional learning course supports teachers to unpack the grammar content in the K–10 English Syllabus. 

It is also a great professional learning opportunity for teachers of all subjects as the reformed curriculum in 7–10 includes:

  • systematic development of expectations for creating written texts which align with the English K–10 Syllabus (2022)
  • explicit writing content to support students to become confident writers and to deepen their understanding of the subject area
  • opportunities for students to practise the process of creating written texts to develop and communicate knowledge, understanding and ideas
  • a focus on developing word consciousness and precise use of subject-specific terminology.

The self-paced course contributes up to 5 hours of professional development (PD). Teachers can choose their own learning pathway based on the stages they teach, prior knowledge, confidence and skills. Partial completion of the course can still contribute to PD hours.

Classroom ready grammar posters are also available to help explain components of grammar to students.

Click to register for this and other professional learning courses.

Implementing Music 7–10 

There are a range of resources to support implementation of the new Music 7–10 (2024) Syllabus, including:

The Music 7–10 Syllabus (2003) will be removed from the NSW Curriculum website at the end of 2027.

New 7–12 curriculum support materials

New resources are now available to support teachers delivering the following reformed syllabuses:

  • Years 7–10: Communication Technology, Design Innovation Technology, History Elective, Food Technology, Photography, Film and Digital Media, Visual and Motion Design and Work Education
  • Years 11–12: Ancient History, Dance, Drama and Modern History

Resources include Aboriginal Education resources, Life Skills outcomes worksheets, sample scope and sequences, sample formal assessment tasks, sample units, and advice on numeracy documents.

Click to explore the new 7-12 resources.

ARTEXPRESS exhibits to visit these holidays

ARTEXPRESS is still open during the winter school holidays. Check out these exhibitions before they close:

Port Macquarie

Broken Hill

Wagga Wagga

If you can’t make it in-person, ARTEXPRESS Virtual is now live. Take a virtual walkthrough of the outstanding bodies of work selected for this year’s virtual exhibition.

Click to plan your visit to ArtExpress.

2025 Brother John Taylor Memorial Prize recipients announced

Last week we celebrated the recipients of the 2025 Brother John Taylor Memorial Prize at an event held at NSW Parliament House. 

The Prize recognises a student or students who excelled in the HSC despite facing significant hardship or disadvantage.

Congratulations to the following HSC graduates who were recognised for their outstanding achievements:

  • Oliver Begg from Knox Grammar School
  • Heidi Bromley from Naremburn School and Sydney Distance Education High School
  • Jett Thompson from Mosman High School

Nominations for the 2026 Prize will open in Term 3 2026 and will close at the end of February 2027, to give schools more time to submit nominations.

Click to learn more about the Brother John Taylor Memorial Prize. 

Key Dates

30 June: Non-government school annual reports due

3 July: Last day to enter students into HSC minimum standards tests for Term 2 test window & Reminder to upload HSC student photos in Schools Online

 

Professional Learning

Your Learning, Your Way: CSNSW Professional Learning to strengthen your teaching next term (138/26)

Before you close the classroom, door or put up your out-of-office reply for a well-deserved break, have a look at some of the high-quality professional learning specifically tailored for our Catholic sector, for the rest of 2026:

  • 2026 K–12 Curriculum Reform Conference: Learning with Grace – expert practice at the heart: Monday 20 July (Online)
  • Boys Education – Webinar Series: Monday 7 September – Thursday 10 September (Online)
  • High Potential Gifted Education Symposium: Monday 19 October 

Fip through the PL Catalogue below to view the online and on-demand courses, resources and learning items available of the CSNSW PL platform through your NETiD account. These include:

Curriculum K–12 2026 New Syllabus Familiarisation Series
  • Familiarising Teachers with the K–6 Science and Technology Syllabus
  • Familiarising Teachers with the K–6 PDHPE Course
  • Familiarising Teachers with the K–6 Creative Arts Syllabus: Key Components and Implementation
  • Familiarising Teachers with the 2026 Mathematics Standard 11–12 Syllabus
  • Familiarising Teachers with the 2026 Mathematics Advanced 11–12 Syllabus
  • Familiarising Teachers with the 2026 English Standard 11–12 Syllabus
  • Familiarising Teachers with the 2026 English Advanced 11–12 Syllabus
Wellbeing
  • School Safety Webinar with Peter Moroney
  • Exploring the NSW Anti-Bullying Framework with Emeritus Professor Donna Cross
  • Trauma Informed Practice Webinar & Module
  • CRRE Curriculum Support Resources
  • Choicez Media Teacher Formation Resources
  • CVE: Understanding, identifying and responding module 
Diverse Learning 
  • CSNSW High Potential and Gifted Education Kit
  • Implementing High-Impact Strategies with Dr Shiralee Poed
  • Research Briefs: Supporting Students with Disability written 
Resources: Spirit on Country Conference
  • Interactive map of NSW with examples of the wonderful work being undertaken across our schools

 

Save the date: 2027 Spiritus International Leaders Conference (Ref: 120/26) 

Join international delegates, education leaders, and practitioners at the Spiritus International Leaders Conference, taking place at St Mary's Cathedral College, Sydney, from 16–18 May 2027, for two or three days of formation, discernment, collaboration, and shared mission.

As the Church in Sydney prepares for the 54th International Eucharistic Congress in 2028, this gathering offers a unique opportunity to renew and strengthen your leadership in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Click here for Save the Date flyer and more information. Brochures and registration details will be made available in early August 2026.

Spiritus flyer

 

Student Resources 

Prime Minister's Spelling Bee 2026 (Ref: 135/26)

The 2026 Prime Minister's Spelling Bee, is set to be the biggest yet, with more students than ever progressing to the next stage of the national competition.

Following a record 82,712 student registrations in 2025, the competition will more than double the number of students advancing to the State and Territory Finals. From 2026, the top 500 students in each competition category from every state and territory will progress to Round Two, up from the previous 200.

Celebrating its sixth year, the Bee is open to students in Years 3–8 and provides a fun and engaging way to build spelling, vocabulary and literacy skills.

Key Dates

School Round: 20 July – 21 August 2026

State and Territory Finals: 31 August – 4 September 2026

National Final: 9 – 10 September 2026

Registrations open on Monday, 20 July 2026, with several new features introduced to make participation even easier for schools. These include a parent consent form template and enhanced administration tools to help teachers manage entries more efficiently.

Schools are encouraged to take part in this exciting national competition and help students develop confidence, literacy skills and a love of words.

For further information, click here. 

 

School Updates & Newsletters

CCSP 2026 Conferences for Parents (Ref: 136/26)

Supporting Families: Working Together in a Modern World

This year the Council of Catholic School Parents (CCSP) is hosting not one but two conferences for parents! The first is in collaboration with Sydney Catholic Schools and will be held at Rydges World Square Hotel on 22 August. The second conference will be at Twin Towns Service Club in Tweed Heads on 24 October, supported by Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools. Find out more on the CCSP conference website page, and keep an eye on their social media channels.

Sydney conference tickets are now on sale!

Date: Saturday 22 August 2026

Time: 9:00am – 3:30pm

Venue: Rydges World Square Hotel 389 Pitt Street Sydney

The day will kick off with a presentation by Danielle Cronin, Executive Director of Sydney Catholic Schools, with a discussion about how families and schools can partner successfully. Other expert speakers include Daniel Principe and Genevieve Muir, talking about topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersafety, dealing with kids’ anxiety, managing big feelings and building character in kids.

It’s going to be a great day of relaxing and eating with other parents, listening and learning, connection and empowerment – all for only $30 per ticket.

Book your tickets here: https://ccspsydneyconference2026.eventbrite.com.au/

 

Employment Opportunities 

Catholic Employment Relations (CER) is recruiting the position of Senior Counsel – Employment (Ref: 122/26)

The Senior Counsel – Employment & Industrial Relations provides expert legal advice and strategic leadership across a broad range of complex employment workplace and industrial relations matters. Acting as a trusted advisor to Catholic organisations, the role supports organisational decision-making by delivering high-quality, risk-based legal guidance on employment law, industrial relations, and workplace compliance.

This is a full‑time permanent role based primarily in our Sydney CBD office. Salary will reflect the candidate's experience.

Applications close 5pm, Tuesday 7 July 2026.

If you are interested in this position or know someone who may be, please share details or click on the link below to view full position description and information on how to apply.

Senior Counsel - Employment Job in Sydney NSW - SEEK

 

Catholic Employment Relations (CER) is recruiting the position of Workplace Industrial Relations Specialist (Ref: 123/26)

The Workplace/Industrial Relations Specialist delivers high-quality advice and support to Catholic organisations on a wide range of workplace and compliance issues. This includes matters such as employee conduct and performance management, disciplinary processes, grievances and complaints, workplace conflict, bullying and harassment, discrimination, termination and redundancy, and compliance with modern awards and enterprise agreements.

This is a full‑time permanent role based primarily in our Sydney CBD office. Salary will reflect the candidate's experience.

Applications close 5pm, Tuesday 7 July 2026.

If you are interested in this position or know someone who may be, please share details or click on the link below to view full position description and information on how to apply.

Workplace Industrial Relations Specialist Job in Sydney NSW - SEEK

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