OVERVIEW The Presentation Sisters established Star of the Sea College in 1883. The College has a rich tradition of educating women to take on the world, work for justice and make a difference. Since 2014, Star of the Sea College has been a member school of Kildare Ministries. The College s Educational Charter, developed in collaboration with teachers, students and parents, provides the framework for this role description. All staff members are expected to support the College s mission to empower young women to engage in critical reflection leading to positive action for our world. The College community s success is shaped by their energy, skills, talents and shared sense of mission. In addition, the expectation is that all staff support the Catholic Ethos of the College, work with the Leadership Team in ways respectful of the Catholic and Presentation spirit of the College, support the College s Mission statement and assist in the implementation of the Strategic Plan and College Improvement Plan. As a member of the College Leadership Team, the Head of Mission and Identity plays a key role in proclaiming the Gospel and, animated by the Presentation charism, ensures Star s Mission and Guiding Principles come alive in the lived experience of the community. The Head of Mission and Identity plays a pre-eminent role in shaping Star as a mission-centred faith community in the Presentation tradition. The role is highly visible and deeply influential in the experience that students, staff and the broader community have of Star as a Catholic faith community. The Head of Mission and Identity is a standard-bearer for Star s child safe environment. MAJOR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY: The major areas of responsibility for the Head of Mission and Identity are: Exercise oversight of Star of the Sea s culture, environment and activity to best reflect its Presentation essence within the Catholic tradition. Develop and implement a comprehensive and strategic program ensuring that the spirituality and faith development of all students and staff enhances their development as well-balanced and critically-aware members of the College community, their families, society, the Church and wider world. Lead and manage the Ministry Team and provide professional support to team members. Collaborate with members of the Leadership Team in communicating professional expectations and providing opportunities for appropriate professional learning within a Catholic context. Sound administration skills Page 1
DUTY STATEMENT The following duties are aligned to the major areas of responsibility: 1. Presentation Charism, Mission Integration & Catholic Identity The Head of Mission and Identity exercises oversight of the Star s culture, environment and activity to best reflect its Presentation essence within the Catholic tradition. This involves: narrating and animating a deep understanding of the Presentation spirit and story within a contemporary educational, social and ecclesial context maintaining links with Presentation sisters and Presentation schools across Australia and internationally, keeping abreast of Presentation priorities and projects facilitating the Leadership Team s discernment process toward selection of the annual College theme fostering creative appropriation of the annual theme within College life and culture participating in the Nagle Education Alliance and working in constant appropriation and animation of Presentation charism and values crafting creative celebrations of Presentation charism and story and leading teams to present at important College occasions and events that have an overt spiritual or liturgical focus such as Foundation Day, assemblies, launches, openings, etc devising a comprehensive and engaging annual Presentation Formation Program contributing to strategic planning, school improvement processes and committee work to ensure the integration of Star s Mission and Guiding Principles underpin improvement and success collaborating with the Principal on a range of inclusive formation strategies that ensure all staff and student leaders are immersed in the Presentation story and mission inviting a broad and inclusive College response to the initiatives of Kildare Ministries and Nagle Education Alliance Australia ensuring that the religious and faith dimension of the College are reflected in appropriate: use and placement of symbols around the College noticeboards dedicated to various dimensions of the faith life of the College displays and input at College events Page 2
2. Spirituality & Faith Development The Head of Mission and Identity develops and implements a comprehensive and strategic program ensuring that the spirituality and faith development of all students and staff enhances their development as well-balanced and critically-aware members of the College community, their families, society, the Church and wider world. This involves: Liturgy preparing and leading liturgies that are relevant to the particular needs of the students, focussed on appropriate themes and aligned to the liturgical year and reflective of the College s Mission and Guiding Principles ensuring that student involvement in the conduct of all liturgies promoted and fostered and that student participation is maximised supporting staff in liturgical preparations associated with major events in their own lives of faith (e.g. weddings, funerals etc) sourcing or providing liturgical formation for RE staff, pastoral staff and music staff that will enhance their own leadership of the College s prayer and liturgical life maintaining the Chapel as a contemporary worship space for an ecclesial community Retreats & Reflection Days overseeing the development and delivery of the College s retreat and reflection day program to ensure its sound pastoral and spiritual basis co-ordinating responsibility for program leadership between pastoral and religious education staff encouraging the participation of student leaders, past pupils and a range of staff in retreat programs and reflection days providing formation opportunities for Star staff charged with leading these experiences working with the Deputy Principal Students with the formation of Student Leaders organising appropriate student exchanges with Presentation inspired and Kildare Ministries schools supporting all student leaders as their understanding of Christian leadership, liturgical leadership, leadership for justice and leadership in a Kildare Ministries school develops supervising, mentoring and supporting the House Liturgy Captains, Lantern Leaders and House Social Justice Captains Page 3
3. Ministry Team The Head of Mission and Identity leads and manages the Ministry team and provide professional support to team members. This involves: modelling and encouraging head, heart and hands: Star s integrated approach to religious literacy, faith development and spirituality oversight and professional support of the Religious Education Coordinator, the Social Justice Co-ordinator and College Chaplain ensuring that creative and cutting edge professional learning opportunities are available to them ensuring the Religious Education Co-ordinator is resourced, supported and equipped to lead staff to deliver a comprehensive, engaging and appropriate Religious Education curriculum communicating regularly with the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching and the Religious Education Leader to ensure all activities and initiatives meet the needs of curriculum and those of the College s Vision and Mission Statements liaising with the Chaplain, staff and the relevant groups regarding the needs of the local community liaising with local parishes regarding youth involvement verifying and enhancing the currency of the College Website in regard to Mission modelling contemporary and innovative pedagogies in line with the College s Education Charter and priorities whether in a curricular, cocurricular or liturgical context collaborating with the Ministry team members to review and evaluate the College s liturgical life, retreats, reflection days and social justice program in a meaningful and inclusive way on a cyclical basis supporting and collaborating with the Social Justice Co-ordinator in: preparing whole staff professional learning experiences selecting staff to attend appropriate social justice activities and conferences, etc. evaluating and reviewing Star s social justice, outreach and fundraising programs to ensure they are underpinned by Gospel values and the tenets of Catholic social teaching, reflect the priorities of the Presentation Sisters, respect Archdiocesan social justice policy and the fulfil the College s mission exploring possible partnerships between the College and local justice services, agencies and initiatives Page 4
collaborating with the Principal and members of the Leadership Team to ensure that staff of the highest calibre are appointed to RE teaching positions and positions in the Ministry team 4. Professional Expectations & Professional Learning Key areas of collaboration and communication require the Head of Mission and Identity to: support the Principal to ensure that all staff are fully aware of and responsive to the expectations of the College - its Catholic ethos and Presentation heritage collaborate with the Deputy Principal Staff to ensure all staff: - are effectively inducted into Star s Mission, Catholic ethos and Presentation heritage - participate annually in the Presentation Formation Program - are appropriately supervised, supported and have access to professional learning in the area of religious education, faith development and spiritual wellbeing at least once per year - have opportunities to participate in programs and professional learning that caters for CECV Accreditation contribute to College publications highlighting and promoting Star s commitment to a better world through the success of its integration and appropriation of our Mission and Guiding Principles and Presentation charism 5. Administration Key areas of administration require the Head of Mission and Identity to: Develop, implement and evaluate policy as it relates to their area of responsibility Maintain and monitor all resources and equipment Ensure effective communication in all matters Maintain the currency of student involvement records within the College and celebrate their achievements Compile and oversee the annual budget assigned, ensuring it keeps within budgetary constraints. Verify and enhance the currency of the College Website. Organise copyright procedures when appropriate. Page 5
CRITERIA FOR EFFECTIVENESS IN THE ROLE The effective performance of the Head of Mission and Identity will be due to their capabilities across a broad range of the following: Attributes & Dispositions passion for education in the Presentation tradition as exemplified in the identity, Mission and Guiding Principles of Star of the Sea College readiness to actively contribute to teamwork and lead teams in that influence the faith life of the College and its mission outcomes a tenacious and resourceful capacity for hard work approachability as an active listener, negotiator and advocate perseverance, discretion, courage and patience in the face of complexities and competing priorities loyalty, authenticity, trustworthiness and reliability optimism, confidence and enthusiasm in leadership determination to keep to timelines and manage deadlines Knowledge & Understandings thorough knowledge of Catholic teaching and how Gospel values and contemporary Catholic social teaching are applied in the educational context knowledge and appreciation of the role that charism and founding story play in mission integration and liturgical experience knowledge of the appropriate avenues and resources for seeking information, support and clarification in relation to the role as Head of Mission and Identity understanding of Diocesan and College policies and procedures that impact on mission integration and liturgical life understanding the need for timely communication and accountability as a member of the Leadership Team Skills & Capabilities demonstrated success in shaping powerful, relevant, contemporary liturgical experiences a proven track record as an exemplary teacher, powerful communicator and team builder the capacity to multi-task and pay close attention to detail Page 6
the ability to keep to timelines and manage multiple deadlines the ability to contribute to the Leadership Team s broad vision, to challenge and to be the conscience of the team when necessary the capacity to maintain professional relationships with organisations on behalf of the College where necessary NOTES It is expected that the Head of Mission and Identity undertakes regular professional learning in order to maintain a high level of awareness of current and best practice in the major areas of responsibility associated with the role. The Head of Mission and Identity is expected to comply with legislated occupational health and safety practices and participate in consultative processes to ensure workplace safety for staff and students. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT Direct Report Principal Date Qualifications Salary POL & Time Release Appropriate tertiary qualifications, with further study in Theology CECV Accreditation to Teach RE in a Catholic School VIT Registration First Aid Qualifications Entitlements under the Victorian Catholic Schools Multi Employer Agreement (2013) POL 4 with 30 period allocation Approved By Principal Version 1 Amendments Page 7