11 July 2022

As students and teachers return to classrooms following the mid-year school holidays, there is much to look forward to during the new school term.

A major highlight is the National Catholic Education Conference in September at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. With the theme ‘the future is listening’, the conference is the first national gathering for Catholic educators since 2016, and features speakers from across Australia and around the world. The full program can be found on the NCEC 2022 website and the early bird registration discount is available until 17 July.

‘Glass: more than meets the eye’ is the schools’ theme for National Science Week. A resource book is available for teachers to begin planning lessons and activities. Students with an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) will have a chance to showcase their projects at STEM MAD, with successful teams continuing on to STEM MAD National as part of NCEC 2022.

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) will hold its annual Book Week celebrations in August. With the theme ‘Dreaming with eyes open’, the week honours the new books nominated for Book of the Year, as well as encouraging schools to foster a love of reading and writing in their students.

Schools are invited to share their news with us for inclusion on the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) website. For more information, please email publications@macs.vic.edu.au. A number of upcoming events include:

• 24 July: World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
• 30 July: World Day against Trafficking in Persons
• 4 August: STEM MAD
• 8 August: Solemnity of St Mary of the Cross (MacKillop)
• 13 August: National Science Week (until 21 August)
• 15 August: Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• 20 August: CBCA Book Week (until 26 August)
• 28 August: Social Justice Sunday
• 1 September: World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
• 4 September: Father’s Day
• 4 September: National Catholic Education Conference 2022 (until 7 September)
• 4 September: NAPCAN National Child Protection Week (until 10 September).