Pleasing news from Catholic Schools NSW about the positive enrolment trends in Catholic schools. Providing equity, inclusion, and opportunity in an environment of faith and excellence is important. catholicweekly.com.au/nsw-catholic...

How the ‘science of reading’ is reshaping literacy education. news.stanford.edu/stories/2026...

This is a good read for school educators. Drawing on research, it thoughtfully reframes persistence and resilience as shaped by classroom design and teacher response, offering practical insights for strengthening student learning. www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articl...

Swedish schools said they didn’t need books. Pupils proved them wrong. www.thetimes.com/uk/get-brita...

A strong article on explicit instruction that challenges common misconceptions. High-quality explicit teaching doesn’t limit independence - it builds it. Well worth a read for educators focused on evidence-informed practice and improved student outcomes. blog.aare.edu.au/three-concer...

Great to welcome Prof Alex Frino, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Notre Dame Australia, today. Valuable discussions were held about potential future collaboration and there was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our campus and student learning in action.

Strong reminder that teacher–student relationships matter for teachers too. This research shows positive relationships support teacher wellbeing, engagement and longevity. Relational work isn’t a “nice to have” in schools - it’s essential. lens.monash.edu/connection-c...

The Human-Centered Leadership Skill Set Of The Future www.forbes.com/councils/for...

This morning, the College was pleased to host Monica O’Brien, Head of Curriculum and Assessment at CSNSW. Monica shared an insightful presentation with our staff on “The Essence of the New K–12 Curriculum: Knowledge Illuminated by Faith.”

Drawing on St Thomas Aquinas and St John Bosco, this article reminds us that Catholic schooling is about forming the whole person through faith, reason, and loving relationships, which is at the heart of authentic Christian discipleship. madisoncatholicherald.org/ss-thomas-aq...

Great to gather at Rosehill for our Leadership Team Symposium - sharing ideas and planning for the year ahead. Grateful to Dr Paul Kidson (ACU) for his insights on Courageous Leadership for Transformational Change in Catholic Schools.

Timely reading for system and school leaders navigating rapid change. A reminder that leadership is also about how people experience uncertainty, along with the importance of leading the “now and the next” with clarity, empathy and trust. www.weforum.org/stories/2026...

Pope embraces youth of Rome, tells them setting world ablaze requires a burning heart www.ncronline.org/vatican/pope...

What is adaptive teaching? www.tes.com/magazine/tes...

A sharp read for all educators. It challenges the idea that “engagement” equals activity, showing how busy classrooms can mask shallow learning. It highlights that real engagement comes from cognitive challenge, success and strong teacher guidance. www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

A timely reflection for school leaders: we may need proficiency across many domains, but no one can be a complete expert in all. Strong schools are built on shared leadership and collective expertise - not the “hero head” myth schoolsweek.co.uk/we-dont-need...

Insightful piece on the science of attention. Professor Nilli Lavie explains why students’ attention habits are shifting and offers practical, evidence-based strategies to boost focus and engagement in class. A worthwhile read for all educators. www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

How AI Is Reshaping Classroom Learning, Not Replacing It www.forbes.com/sites/garydr...

Pope Leo XIV reminds us that Christian identity is the core of education — with Christ as our compass. A timely call for Catholic educators to keep our mission clear and centred. www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news...

A strong read on Australia’s ongoing teacher shortage. Even with more university enrolments and better retention, the issue remains pressing. School and system leaders are working hard to shift the dial, but real change will take time. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

National push to improve how teachers teach www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/nat...

It is wonderful to attend The Teachers’ Guild of NSW Annual Dinner and Presentation of Awards this evening. The event is a great opportunity to celebrate excellence in education and to catch up with colleagues and friends from across the teaching profession.

It was a pleasure to welcome Dr. Michael Bezzina to St John XXIII Catholic College today. We had the opportunity to engage in a rich discussion about contemporary learning and innovation, and to explore some exciting opportunities for collaboration in 2026.

Pope Leo’s new letter Disegnare Nuove Mappe Di Speranza calls for a renewal of Catholic education—uniting faith and life, guiding youth in the digital age, and fostering peace and hope. A powerful read for all Catholic school leaders and educators. www.usccb.org/news/2025/ch...

It was great to host educator, Brett Salakas, this morning. Much conversation occurred about effective and innovative learning and teaching.

A great read on the future of leadership. This article captures why traditional leadership programs need refinement. Today’s leaders must inspire, adapt, and create psychological safety to help teams thrive. A timely and thought-provoking piece and well worth reading. www.forbes.com/sites/hvmaca...

Pope Leo XIV to name St. John Henry Newman a patron saint of Catholic education www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267317/...

This week marks the 60th anniversary of Gravissimum Educationis, Vatican II’s Declaration on Christian Education - a foundational document that continues to guide Catholic schooling in the US. This article is an interesting read and well worth checking out. thegoodnewsroom.org/vatican-ii-v...

Grateful to The Catholic Weekly for featuring the article “Teaching as Holy Work.” It’s a reminder that teaching in a Catholic school is more than a profession - it’s a vocation that allows us to share in God’s work. catholicweekly.com.au/teaching-as-...

Great to spend the last two days at the K–12 Catholic Schools NSW Curriculum Reform Conference, and to deliver the closing remarks and farewell. A strong reminder that we move forward best when we move together. Congrats to the CSNSW staff on organising a high quality Conference.

It was a pleasure to welcome Fr Anthony Casamento CSMA as keynote speaker at our Staff Spirituality Day on Living the Charism of St John XXIII. Colleagues enriched the day with sessions, and we concluded with a beautiful Mass with Fr Jolly Chacko MS & Fr Anthony.

Pope Leo reinforces the importance of synodality as an openness to listen, reflect, and discern together. His vision highlights how shared consultation and collective listening to the Gospel can guide the Church toward unity and renewal. thecatholicherald.com/article/pope...

Schools continue to face significant challenges in filling teaching positions. Although there are encouraging signs of improvement, the path to resolving this systemic challenge remains complex and ongoing. www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...

Smart Classrooms: The Rise of AI in K-12 Learning vocal.media/education/sm...

Today I had the privilege of attending the Catholic Schools NSW CSSA Symposium with the theme Excellence in P-12 Religious Education in Catholic Schools. The sessions offered valuable insights, including from Fr. Friedrich Bechina.

How teachers say they're embracing AI in the classroom abcnews.go.com/living/story...

Teachers get practical tools to lift outcomes in the classroom www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/tea...

It was a pleasure meeting with Fr. Anthony Casamento CSMA today, where we engaged in a valuable discussion on Catholic education and staff formation.

There is so much scope for discussion and discernment in this space. We need to ensure that all school education stakeholders are included in the discussion mix. www.afr.com/policy/econo...

Nice to attend the “Let’s Go Italian!” event hosted by the Canterbury Bankstown Council this evening. Good to catch up with the Italian Australian community including Luigi De Luca and Luigi Di Martino.

Thank you to the Italian Newspaper, La Fiamma (Australia), for publishing my article this week about the importance of Italian language teaching in Australia.

Bishop Barron highlights some important points for our youth to consider in his speech. Reflecting on our personal mission and not being too attached to material wealth is noteworthy. www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/265699/...

Middle leaders play a pivotal role in facilitating and achieving organisational goals. www.mckinsey.com/quarterly/th...

Honoured to receive an Honorary Fellowship for my educational leadership from the Teachers’ Guild of NSW at their Fellows and Members Dinner this evening. It was also lovely to catch up with many friends and colleagues. Congratulations to all the award winners.

Make Learning and Development a Talent Magnet www.shrm.org/enterprise-s...

What makes a great teacher? 10 traits that matter. www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion...

Informative & engaging day at the Hilton Sydney for the Catholic Schools NSW Education Law Symposium. It was a privilege to contribute to the panel discussion on Reputational Risk: Building Readiness, Responses, and Recovery.

There is great value that comes from teachers being encouraged to take on action research projects in their own schools. It empowers and develops colleagues, along with contributing to improved student outcomes. www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

Google introduces Gemini tool for students and educators: How will it transform classroom teaching? www.edexlive.com/news/2025/Ju...

I'm looking forward to joining my colleagues for a panel discussion at the upcoming Catholic Schools NSW Education Law Symposium. This is always a great event.