Staff Development Day, Term 1 2026 - Day 1: Tuesday 27th January
Staff Development Day, Term 1 2026 - Day 1: Tuesday 27th January
Embedded Files
Session 1: Welcome Back & Housekeeping
Session 1: Welcome Back & Housekeeping
Time: 9 - 9 .15am
Duration: 15 minutes
Venue: MPC
Presenters / Facilitators: DPs Simone Hope / Tracey Macmillan / Lisa Wark
Rationale: This short briefing provides us with the opportunity to welcome and introduce new staff members to our team as well as communicate key housekeeping information for Week 1
Agenda Items:
Principal Welcome and Introductions: Meet and welcome our new colleagues joining the CGHS team.
General Briefing: Suellen and the Deputy Principals will share key updates, expectations, and focus areas for the year ahead.
Housekeeping for Week 1: Essential information to ensure a smooth and organised start to the term.
Session 2: The School Excellence Plan - 2026 Update
Session 2: The School Excellence Plan - 2026 Update
Time: 9:15 - 9:45am
Duration: 30 minutes
Activity Type: School Determined
Venue: MPC
Presenters / Facilitators: Suellen Lawrence - Principal
Rationale: In this session, staff will be briefed on their role in our final year of the current 2022 - 2026 School Excellence Plan (SEP), including collaborative participation in situational analysis, evaluation of practice, and identification of evidence aligned to the Strategic Directions of Student Growth and Attainment and Experts in Pedagogy, in readiness for External Validation later in the year.
Agenda Items:
Current School Excellence Plan (final year – 2026)
Staff roles in situational analysis and evaluation of impact
Evidence collection and annotation for External Validation
Shared expectations and focus for 2026
This collective process will be shaped by staff voice, with professional insight and experience informing both External Validation preparation and future planning for our next SEP cycle (2027 - 2030).
Session 2: Year 7 Year Advisor Team Briefing
Session 2: Year 7 Year Advisor Team Briefing
Time: 9:45 - 10:30am
Duration: 45 minutes
Activity Type: School Determined
Venue: MPC
Presenters / Facilitators: Frankie Leung, Josh Attard & Amanda Illinovska
Rationale: This session provides classroom teachers with key information to support a smooth and positive transition for our incoming Year 7 students. The briefing draws on valuable insights gathered through our transition processes, including information from primary school partners, parents and our internal transition team.
The session is designed to support teachers in getting to know their students early, with a focus on learning, wellbeing and identified learning support needs that may inform your classroom practice. By establishing a shared understanding of the Year 7 cohort, this session supports consistent, informed and responsive teaching from the beginning of the school year.
Session 3: PBL 2026 Update
Session 3: PBL 2026 Update
Time: 10.30am - 11am
Duration: 30 minutes
Activity Type: School Determined
Venue: MPC
Presenters / Facilitators: Paul Wilson, Shaun Smith, Helena Choi & Dean Rhoden
Rationale: This session provides staff with a refresher on Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) and an update on its implementation across the school in 2026. The session will revisit the core principles of effective PBL practice, clarify shared expectations, and highlight examples of current practice.
The session will also outline how PBL will be linked to the school’s house points merit system in 2026, recognising student engagement, collaboration, quality learning outcomes and sports participation. This update is designed to support consistency of practice and reinforce PBL as an approach that promotes authentic learning and student voice.
Recess in Faculties - BYO (11 - 11.20am)
Recess in Faculties - BYO (11 - 11.20am)
Session 4: N Award: Compliance, Processes & Documentation
Session 4: N Award: Compliance, Processes & Documentation
Time: 11.20 - 11.45am
Duration: 1 hour
Activity Type: School Determined
Venue: MPC
Facilitator: Kirsty Lovett, Angela Inman & Dean Rhoden
Rationale: This session provides staff with a clear and practical overview of N-Awards and the process for issuing N-Award warning letters. It is designed to address common questions and misconceptions, and to ensure a shared understanding of both NESA requirements and our school-based procedures.
The session will include an overview of what an N-Award is and what an N-Award warning letter means for students, followed by guidance on how classroom teachers work with their Head Teacher when concerns arise. Staff will also be walked through the evidence required prior to issuing a warning letter, what follow-up and monitoring looks like once a letter has been issued, and how the process is managed through Sentral.
By the end of the session, staff will have a clearer understanding of their role, the support available, and the consistent processes in place to ensure students are appropriately supported and informed.
Session 5: Annual Competency Check - Mandatory Training (School Determined)
Session 5: Annual Competency Check - Mandatory Training (School Determined)
Time: 11.45 - 12.45pm
Duration: 1 hour
Activity Type: School Determined
Venue: Faculty Staffrooms
Format: Self-Guided
Rationale: This session provides staff with dedicated time to complete the Department of Education’s new Annual Competency Check, ensuring compliance and alignment with departmental requirements for 2026.
Overview:
Accessing the Annual Competency Check: Staff will log in to MyPL to access and complete the new competency check independently - staff should allow 1 hour to complete this. More information relating to the ACC can be found using the link below:
https://education.nsw.gov.au/noticeboard/2025/09/get-ready-for-the-acc2026-we-listened-we-delivered?utm_source=sfmcSelf-Guided Completion: Staff will work through the module at their own pace during the allocated time.
Support: Faculty colleagues are encouraged to assist each other with any questions or technical issues. Please bear in mind that this is a new system and there could be some teething issues.
Session 6: Faculty Planning & Organisation (Teacher Determined)
Session 6: Faculty Planning & Organisation (Teacher Determined)
Time: 12:45am - 2.55pm
Activity Type: School Determined
Venue: Faculty Staffrooms
Rationale: The Faculty Planning & Organisation session provides staff with time to engage in teacher-directed activities, either individually or collaboratively within their faculty. This includes professional learning (PL), planning for the 2026 school year, and organising teaching resources. Time has been allocated across the week to support faculty-based preparation and professional learning, allowing teachers the flexibility to choose how they best approach their planning and preparation for the year ahead.
Examples of teacher determined activities may include but are not limited to the following:
Preparing teaching and learning resources
Individual professional learning
Preparing teaching and learning programs, either individually or collaboratively
Preparing resources for student learning
Opportunities for informal teacher collaboration
Analysing student data to inform planning teaching and learning activities
Consulting with staff in other schools towards strengthening transition
Collaborating with staff from your community of practice on a joint initiative
Lunch in Faculties - BYO (1.20 - 2pm)
Lunch in Faculties - BYO (1.20 - 2pm)
Session 7: New Staff Orientation & Initial Induction Meeting
Session 7: New Staff Orientation & Initial Induction Meeting
Time: 2.30pm - 2.55pm
Activity Type: School Determined
Venue: Staff Common Room
Facilitator: Paul Wilson (HT T&L) & Suellen Lawrence (Principal)
Rationale: This short session provides an introductory orientation for new staff joining the school and serves as the first step in our broader induction process. The session will offer a welcome to the school community and an overview of key information to support a positive start.
The focus will be on essential information, key contacts and immediate next steps, with further induction sessions and ongoing support planned throughout Term 1. This approach is designed to ensure new staff feel supported, informed and connected as they settle into their roles.
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