Dear Parents, Students and Friends

College Musical

Have you bought your tickets? This year’s musical, We Will Rock You: School Edition by Queen and Ben Elton is a show stopper! I strongly encourage all families to attend. We truly appreciate your support of college events and this is one way we can all give back by showing our appreciation to staff and students who have worked tirelessly to bring this production to life. Tickets are selling well, so please ensure you do not miss out! Follow the link below to secure your seats!

https://bpav.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/147478

This link can also be found on our college Facebook page.

 
Celebrating Mrs Ros Maher… 30 Years as Musical Director of our Carroll College Musicals

For the past 30 years, Mrs Ros Maher has been the heart and soul of our college musicals, serving as our dedicated and inspiring Musical Director. Her unwavering commitment, extraordinary talent, and boundless enthusiasm have brought countless productions to life, leaving an indelible mark on our school community. Mrs Maher’s guidance has nurtured the musical talents of generations of students, fostering confidence, creativity, and a love for the performing arts. Her tireless efforts and passion have created memories that will resonate through our college for years to come. We are deeply grateful for her exceptional service and the profound impact she has made on our community. Thank you, Mrs Maher, for your 30 years of remarkable dedication! We Will Rock You is the college’s fourteenth musical production.

Get an Un-Real Job! Introducing CCB Podcasts… with Erica Drewsen

Ever dreamed of being an astronaut, a video game designer, or a wildlife photographer? Get an Un-Real Job! is the podcast that proves no dream is too big and no job is truly “unreal.” Each episode features inspiring conversations with students from Carroll College as they share their “un-real” dream jobs, followed by interviews with real-life professionals who are living those dreams. Packed with stories, advice, and a healthy dose of motivation, this podcast is here to show young people in our local community that the extraordinary is within reach. Whether you’re a dreamer, a doer, or just curious, tune in to discover how un-real jobs can become real jobs—and how they can be yours too! Stay tuned…

NAPLAN Results Summary

Our recent NAPLAN results for Years 7 and 9 show improving performance across all domains, which is a pleasing outcome for our school community.

This is a wonderful achievement for Carroll that reflects the collective effort of our dedicated staff, the high expectations we set for our students, and our ongoing commitment to effective teaching and learning. Whether through classroom instruction, pastoral care, academic support, or leadership, each member of our team shares a vision for achieving improved outcomes for students and has contributed to this success. Our persistent efforts to ensure Catalyst initiatives are embedded is paying off!

Year 7 Results

Year 9 Results

Artificial Intelligence

Did you know Carroll College is at the forefront of using artificial intelligence to enhance student learning; a vision brought to life through the groundbreaking work led by our own staff in partnership with CEnet in developing innovative AI tools and classroom practices? 

At Carroll College, we continue to embrace the promise of innovation while remaining firmly grounded in our Catholic values, which guide all aspects of our teaching and learning. Our AI Advocate and Leader, Jason Szkwarek, previously shared our commitment to advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy in our college newsletter. I’m writing to provide an update on how our teachers are actively embedding AI into their practice, demonstrating ethical, responsible, and effective use of these tools to benefit our students.

Teachers at the Forefront of AI Integration

Just as AI is becoming an integral part of workplaces worldwide, our staff are thoughtfully embedding these tools into their own professional practices. Teachers at Carroll College use AI to enhance lesson planning, differentiate resources for diverse learners, and create opportunities for deeper student engagement. By doing so, they model responsible AI use for our students, demonstrating how such tools can support meaningful work without taking shortcuts or compromising integrity.

Being Mindful of Cognitive Offloading

One key lesson we emphasise with students is the importance of avoiding "cognitive offloading". Cognitive offloading occurs when we rely too heavily on technology, such as AI, to handle complex thinking, which can limit the development of our critical and creative skills. For example, while AI can draft an essay or suggest ideas for a project, it is our responsibility as learners to refine, personalise, and evaluate that work. This ensures the final product reflects our own understanding, creativity, and effort.

Students are encouraged to think critically about when and how to use AI tools. For instance:

• Example 1: Using AI to brainstorm ideas for a speech is helpful, but students should still write and refine the speech in their own voice.
• Example 2: Using AI to summarise notes can save time, but students are reminded that reading and summarising independently helps deepen their comprehension.

By explicitly discussing these examples in class, our staff are helping students strike the right balance between leveraging technology and cultivating their own abilities.

Building Skills for the Future

This approach reflects our commitment to future readiness. In workplaces across industries, professionals are harnessing AI to enhance productivity without compromising ethical standards or the quality of their contributions. At Carroll College, we are preparing students to do the same, ensuring they have the digital literacy, moral discernment, and critical thinking skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven world.

A Partnership with Families

We invite you to continue these conversations at home. As parents and caregivers, you play a vital role in helping your children reflect on their use of technology. Discussing when and how they use AI for schoolwork, and encouraging them to take ownership of their learning, can strengthen the values we promote at Carroll College.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership as we navigate these exciting developments in education together. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please feel free to contact the College or email AI Lead, Mr Jason Szkwarek at E: Jason.szkwarek@cg.catholic.edu.au

With respect and encouragement to you.

Mrs Jacqueline Heffernan
Principal

“The Holy Spirit reminds us first and foremost that we are children loved by God –
                                        everyone equal in God’s love, and everyone different.”     (Pope Francis)

Year 6 Sacramental Retreat Day

On Thursday 12 June, Year 6 students from St Bernard’s and St Mary’s took part in a deeply meaningful Sacramental Retreat Day in preparation for their upcoming Confirmation. The day was thoughtfully led by our passionate Youth Ministry students, who modelled faith, leadership, and joy as they guided the younger students through a range of engaging and reflective activities.

Centred on the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit, the retreat invited students to explore how these sacred gifts; wisdom, understanding, right judgement, courage, knowledge, reverence, and wonder and awe, can guide their choices. Through games, group discussions, and creative activities, the Year 6 students were encouraged to reflect on how these gifts are already at work in their lives and how they can continue to grow in them.

The retreat struck a beautiful balance between fun and reflection. Students enthusiastically took part in team-based challenges and creative tasks, before entering into moments of quiet prayer and stillness, where they were invited to think deeply about their relationship with God and the significance of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

It was particularly heartening to see the leadership of our Youth Ministry students shine. Their energy, kindness, and spiritual guidance helped create a welcoming environment where Year 6 students could express themselves freely, ask questions, and feel supported as they prepared for this important step in their faith journey.

Youth Ministry

At Carroll College, we are proud to witness the growing spirit of service, leadership, and faith among our Youth Ministry Team. These dedicated students play an integral role in the spiritual life of our community, generously giving their time and energy to lead initiatives that make a lasting impact.

Throughout the year, the Youth Ministry Team has been at the forefront of many key events. From planning and leading our Pathways Retreat Days with St Bernard’s and St Mary’s, to running powerful Easter liturgies that bring the entire school together in prayer and reflection, their commitment is both inspiring and deeply appreciated.

Beyond the prayer and liturgy space, this team is also a driving force behind our social justice outreach. Whether it's through active participation in the annual Winter Sleepout, fundraising for those experiencing homelessness, or supporting various Catholic charities, the Youth Ministry Team lives out the Gospel call to “love your neighbour” in tangible and meaningful ways.

These students are not only a credit to our College, but they are also the future leaders of our Church and community. Their example reminds us that leadership grounded in compassion, faith, and service has the power to transform lives. We thank our Youth Ministry Team for their enthusiasm, humility, and commitment, and we look forward to seeing the continued fruits of their work across the College.

Mrs Anna Smart
Religious Education Coordinator

Assistant Principals' Retreat

This week I was fortunate to be able to join with colleagues from across the Archdiocese for the 2025 Assistant Principals' Retreat at Galong. The theme of the retreat was Anchored in Truth; Leading with Wisdom and Integrity. Over the next three year cycle this spiritual formation experience will invite us to encounter the mystery of God through the lens of the transcendentals – Truth, Beauty, Goodness and Unity with this year's focus on Truth as God’s enduring presence in the world. Through prayer, theological reflection and communal dialogue we had the opportunity to deepen our understanding of divine truth, discern its presence in a complex world, and explore how to lead with integrity, peace and justice from this foundation.

Our sessions covered:

• The Transcendental: God’s Footprint on the World
• What is Truth? - Objective and subjective truth
• The Heart of Truth – Encountering the Divine Truth in Our Lives: ‘My Truth’ to God’s Truth – Discerning God’s Truth in a Complex World
• Embodying Truth – Leading from Truth; a pathway to peace, justice and authentic relationships

Our constant reference throughout the retreat was from John 14:1-14 where Jesus said, “ I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me, ”God IS truth – Truth unites the mind with reality.                                 

God IS beauty- Beauty unites the heart with wonder

God IS goodness – unites the soul with virtue

God IS unity- draws all things into harmony under God

“The world, in all its diversity, is eager to be guided towards the great values of humankind; truth, good and beauty; now more than ever…. Teaching means to accompany young people in their search for truth and beauty, for what is right and good.” Educating Today and Tomorrow: A Renewing Passion, 2014.

As leaders in catholic schools, we are encouraged to teach and bear witness to our faith, discover God in the every day and inspire unity.

Child safety

Carroll College is guided by the NSW Child Safety Standards. Each term, time is dedicated to providing professional development for our staff. This week, Mrs Brenda Foley, Senior Officer from the Schools and Family Services team from CECG was invited to address the staff meeting. Brenda’s focus centred around the very important topic of Duty of Care with particular focus on excursions and overnight and overseas experiences and the legal expectations on supervising staff.

Another aspect of the Child Safety standards covers student voice. What opportunities and avenues do students of the college have to be heard on matters that impact them? On Monday, during the college assembly, our new Student Representative Council were commissioned by Mrs Heffernan with the assistance of the current Student Leadership Team. These students have taken on their leadership role, to listen to the needs of their peers and represent them. We thank them for taking on this responsibility and we know they will do an outstanding job.

Year 12 Save the Date

Our Year 12 students and families are encouraged to add the following dates to their calendars.

A change for our College Counsellors

At Carroll College, we are very fortunate to offer our students access to the counselling service 5 days per week.

Naomi Bee (Naomi.Bee@mccg.org.au) will be working Week 1 Wed-Thurs and Week 2 (Wed-Fri)

Faith Costigan (Faith.costigan@mccg.org.au) will be working Week 1 Mon-Tues and Friday and Week 2 Mon, Tues.

Parenting Tips

Friendship and Social Skills

Positive friendships are an important part of life for children and adults alike. Having a good friendship can make a huge difference to a person’s experience of the world. Friendship is not only important for social and emotional development but also for supporting and promoting good mental health and wellbeing. Children who have friends generally do better socially and academically, are more self-confident and happier. It is important, however, to remember that having friends and being popular is not the same thing. Being friendly with everyone and having one or two good friends is perfectly ok.

Positive social skills help children to make and keep friends. Some ways you can assist your child to develop these social skills include:

• Positive role modelling. Teach your child through your own actions the social skills that are important in building and maintaining relationships. This includes asking questions, listening, turn-taking and negotiating, expressing feelings appropriately, sharing, resolving conflict and helping others. Work on one skill at a time and role play scenarios that give your child opportunities to practice these skills.
• Providing children opportunities to develop skills. This might include encouraging time with friends or joining a local sports team. These are also opportunities for children to meet others with similar interests, expand the group of children they are interacting with and for you to get to know their friends.
• Don’t rush in to solve their problems. Teach your child how to problem-solve and resolve conflicts. This is an important learning that helps children to negotiate difficulties in friendships while also helping them to build resilience.
• If you are concerned about your child’s social skills or friendships, start by talking to them about it and asking them what could be done (if anything needs to be). If your concerns persist you could speak with their Pastoral Coordinator or look at resources like the ones listed below. You may also like talking to the school counsellor if these concerns don’t resolve over a longer period of time.

Electronic Resources:

https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/communicating-relationships/friends-peers/teen-friendships

https://www.generationnext.com.au/2020/09/helping-young-people-make-and-keep-friends-through-primary-middle-high-school-and-beyond-by-building-a-confident-mindset-and-social-emotional-intelligence/?srsltid=AfmBOoq2wx1jfE7FLEnDKqAaW3_dL781EraLh8_lokrzMdhmGdA_Mi4E

Academic Care

This week in our Academic Care period a range of wellbeing and academic topics were covered.  Parents are encouraged to continue these conversations with their children.

Year 7 – Peer Support activities with Year 11

Year 8 - Wellio Lesson - Peer Pressure Survival Guide

Year 9 - Wellio lesson - Harmful Stereotypes

Year 10 – Work Experience and Year 11 Subject Selection follow-up 

Year 11- Peer Support activities with Year 7

Year 12 - Wellio lesson - Embracing Challenges & Discomfort

Eurobodalla Winter Event

Winter has definitely arrived in the last two weeks. Tonight, our Eurobodalla Youth Committee members would like to advertise an opportunity to have some fun and ‘feed your soul as we light up the darkest night of the year ‘ the Winter Soulstice.  Check out how to get tickets for this free event with dinner provided for people aged 12 -24 years.

Please remember to reach out to the Pastoral Team as we work together to support your child. 

Kind regards 

Mrs Louise Ibbett
Assistant Principal Pastoral Care

Dear Families,

We recently concluded our Subject Selection Evenings at Carroll College, and it was a meaningful opportunity for students to chart their academic journey for the upcoming year. These evenings provided valuable insights into subjects available and allowed students to make informed decisions that aligned with both their interests and academic strengths.

Choosing subjects can sometimes feel like navigating a maze, but it is crucial for each student to select courses that resonate with their passions and capabilities. Whether you are drawn to the sciences, arts, languages, or humanities, there's a pathway waiting to be explored that suits your pattern of study.

We would like to extend our thanks to all the parents, staff and guardians who attended these evenings. Your support and guidance are invaluable in helping students make well-informed decisions about their academic futures. Your presence and involvement truly make a difference in their journey through education.

As we move forward, we encourage every student to reflect on their aspirations and strengths. If you have any further questions or need additional guidance regarding subject choices, please don't hesitate to reach out to our Career’s Advisor, Mrs Dalgleish or myself. Finally, Students will receive their elective selections early Term 3.

This week’s learning and teaching article focuses on helping students develop effective study skills (Top 10 Tips for Parents).

1. HOME STUDY ENVIRONMENT

· Ensure your student has a well-set up and organised space to work in.

· Consider if their chair and the lighting in their room need to be upgraded.

· Provide storage space and a noticeboard.

· You may like to have the Internet capable computer in the main part of the house,

· students can collect their research onto a memory stick and then use this to work on assignments on a cheap notebook computer (not connected to the Internet) in their room.

2. ORGANISATION AND FILING

· Discuss with your student whether they use exercise books or folders and how well this is working for them. How do they manage loose sheets of paper?

· It is a great idea to set up a folder for each subject that stays at home – somewhere to file away past tests, assignments, completed topics and to keep everything together.

3. TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS

· Clarify with your student the concept that in secondary school students are expected to do a set amount of schoolwork each night (as opposed to just getting the homework done as quickly as possible).

· Juniors should be spending around 1 hour per night on schoolwork, seniors from 1.5 up to 3hours per night.

· Students should work on homework first, then assignments or test preparation. After this students need to look for other things they can do to enhance their understanding of their subjects, such as making study notes, doing extra questions, revising earlier topics.

· It is best to either have a timetable with slots allocated to schoolwork or else have students do a certain number of half hour blocks each night.

4. MANAGING WORKLOAD

· Students should have a term planner visible in their room that shows due dates for tests and assignments.

· Check that students are using their diary as a planner by breaking down larger pieces of work and scheduling when they will do each step (this can be done in pencil so can be changed as needed).

· Some students may need help in chunking down tasks and putting together a plan to complete each step.

· Check how students keep track of the work they have completed and check that uncompleted work is moved forward in the diary to the current day.

· If students are feeling overwhelmed, help them list everything they need to do and prioritise the tasks.

5. DEALING WITH DISTRACTIONS

· The best way to deal with distractions is to work in half hour blocks with no distractions during this time. This means during the half hour blocks allocated to schoolwork, no Facebook, TV etc – not for the whole night, just for those half hour blocks.

· The general rule with music is that if students are doing easy work it is ok, but for anything that requires concentration, particularly if there is memorisation involved, students should either switch off the music or have baroque classical music playing softly.

· Many families have an Internet capable computer in the main living area where students can research and save information onto a zip drive, and small cheap notebooks not connected to the Internet for students to use in their room.

6. IMPROVING CLASSROOM SKILLS

· Check with teachers at parent/teacher night who your student sits with in class and how well they work together. If it is not an effective partnership, request they be moved to a different seat for future lessons.

· Have students keep a list of questions they need to ask their teacher about and encourage them to ask about these in class or else make an appointment to see their teacher outside of lesson time.

7. SUMMARISING

· One of the biggest mistakes students make is leaving their study notes until just before their exams. One of the best habits students can get into is doing their study notes throughout the year – at the end of each topic is a good time to do this. Whenever students don’t have much homework, they should be working on study notes.

· Another mistake is writing too much and not breaking the content down into short key points in their own words. Have a look at the sorts of notes your students make and see if you can provide suggestions for improvement.

· Suggest your student takes any study notes they make to school and asks their teacher to have a quick look to check they are on track and see if there is any way they could improve the notes they are making.

· Students with handwriting issues may like to visit www.ringpen.com to find out about a pen that could be useful!

8. ACTIVE STUDYING

· When studying, students should be using a wide range of study techniques.

· One of the biggest mistakes students make is just to read their notes over and over and hope it sticks in their head instead of testing themselves on the content like they should be doing.

· In addition to retaining the content, students need to practise applying the skills of the subject, doing as many revision questions and past exam papers as possible.

· You may like to look at purchasing an additional textbook in a different brand so that students have more questions to use as revision.

· If students struggle in an exam situation, they need to do more practise under exam conditions (i.e. under time limits and not looking at any notes or answers as they do the practise exam).

9. LIFESTYLE AND BALANCE

· The best students are those with a healthy lifestyle and good balance in their lives.

· Think about the types of food your student eats, whether they drink enough water, if they exercise regularly and most importantly if they are getting enough sleep (amount needed varies but the average is around 8 hours).

· It is also important that students have time to do the things they enjoy, spend time with family and friends and also have ‘down time’ just to relax.

10. PERSONAL BEST

· Rather than having students competing with others, stress the concept of ‘personal best’, the idea that while not everyone can be at the top of the class, everyone is able to work towards achieving the best results they are capable of.

· A great read for all parents: 'How to Motivate Your Child for school and beyond' by Andrew Martin.

Yours sincerely

Mr Andrew Kenneally
Assistant Principal Curriculum, Learning and Innovation

Student Absences

As we approach the end of the term, I would like to remind parents about completing their child's absence reasons. Years 7 to 10 reports will be distributed at the end of Term 2 and explained absences ensures your child’s attendance records are accurate and reported correctly.

To complete your child's absence reports:

1. Log in to your Sentral Parent Portal.
2. Navigate to the Absences section.
3. Review your unexplained absences and provide a brief explanation for each.

Parents can review their child’s attendance records by selecting their child's profile and navigating to Attendance.

Year 12 Trial HSC Examinations

The Year 12 Trial HSC Examinations will be held from Thursday 7 August to Tuesday 19 August. A copy of the updated examination timetable is provided below.

Students are encouraged to begin their preparation now by revising coursework, seeking feedback, and working through past HSC papers. Early and consistent preparation will support their success in these important exams.

Wishing all Year 12 students the very best with their studies and preparations.

Parent-Teacher-Student Evenings – Save the Date

Following the release of Semester 1 reports, the College will be holding Parent-Teacher-Student Evenings on:

• Tuesday 29 July, 3:30pm – 7:00pm
• Tuesday 5 August, 3:30pm – 7:00pm

Both sessions will take place at the College. Bookings will be available through the online Sentral portal, which will open later this term. We encourage all families to attend to discuss student progress and next steps for learning.

This week’s reminders …

• The Year 11 Biology Field trip will be held on Monday 23 June from 11.00am to 3.00pm.
• The Musical cast and crew are rehearsing at Bay Pavilions on Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 June.
• Year 11 students are involved in the yLead program on Tuesday 24 June.
• The College Musical, “We Will Rock You”, matinee and evening performances will be held on Wednesday 25 June. A second evening performance will be held on Thursday 26 June.
• Good luck to the senior AFL team competing at the South Coast Final on Thursday 26 June.
• The Eurobodalla Youth Committee meeting will take place on Thursday 26 June.
• On Friday 27 June, all year 9 students will be involved in their Pastoral Day.
• The Mountain Biking excursion will be held on Tuesday 1 July.
• On Tuesday 1 July, the Year 10 Early Commencement Construction workshop will be held at the College.
• Term 2, last day for students is Thursday 3 July.
• Friday 4 July is a Pupil Free Day.

Term 3 important dates

• Monday 21 July – Pupil Free Day
• Tuesday 22 July – Students return
• Wednesday 23 July – Yuin Banaan
• Tuesday 29 July – College awards assembly
• Friday 1 August – College NAIDOC service
• Tuesday 19 August – Year 10 Formation Day
• Thursday 21 August – CECG Athletics in Canberra
• Tuesday 26 August – Year 7 and 10 catch up immunisation day
• Wednesday 27 August – College assembly
• Friday 29 August – Year 8 Pastoral Day
• Week 7 – Year 7 to 10 PAT Spelling test week
• Thursday 4 September – Father’s Day Breakfast
• Saturday 6 September – 30^th Anniversary Celebration at Oaks Ranch
• Monday 8 September – SLT 2026 Commissioning assembly
• Week 8 and 9 – Year 11 Exams
• Friday 19 September – Year 9 Pastoral Day
• Monday 22 September – Year 12 Breakfast
• Tuesday 23 September – Year 12 Graduation Mass and Assembly at St Bernard’s Church
• Wednesday 24 September – Year 12 Farewell assembly and lunch
• Thursday 25 September – Term 3 ends
• Friday 26 September – Pupil Free Day

Mrs Sandra Harris
Administration Coordinator

What a Semester for our Ag Students!

This semester has been an exciting and productive time for our Agriculture students, who have worked incredibly hard to bring several new projects to life on the school farm. Their dedication and teamwork have resulted in the creation of a brand-new agricultural farm area that includes wicking beds, a well-organised shed, and a chicken run.

The wicking beds are a fantastic addition, designed to conserve water while providing optimal growing conditions for plants. These self-watering beds will help students learn sustainable gardening techniques and improve crop yields.

In addition to the beds, the students took on the challenge of organising the farm shed. Their efforts have transformed it into a tidy, efficient workspace where tools and materials are easy to find and maintain, enhancing the overall functionality of the farm.

Perhaps one of the most exciting projects is the new chicken run. This safe and spacious area will allow students to care for chickens, gaining hands-on experience in animal husbandry and farm management.

The hard work and enthusiasm shown by our Ag students this semester have truly paid off, creating a vibrant and educational farm environment that will benefit the school community for years to come. We look forward to seeing what they accomplish next! 

Mrs Emma Mullins
TAS Coordinator

2025 South Coast & Illawarra Region VET Student of the Year

Beau Mullins has been awarded the prestigious 2025 South Coast & Illawarra VET Student of the Year. This award recognises outstanding achievement in vocational education and training (VET). 

Specialising in Hospitality and Construction, Beau has demonstrated not only technical excellence but also a strong work ethic and a genuine passion for his future career. His journey through VET has been marked by hands-on learning, real-world experience, and a drive to make a difference in his community. 

The award was presented at the NSW Training Awards – South Coast & Illawarra Region last Friday night. The awards celebrate the achievements of students, trainers, and employers who are making a positive impact through vocational education.

Beau now progresses to the State interviews and finals next term. Congratulations to Beau and his trainers on this well-deserved recognition!

Hospitality Immersion Program at the Novotel Wollongong

Year 11 and Year 12 Hospitality visited Novotel in Wollongong for the Student Hospitality Experience (SHE) program. The students spent the day connecting with industry professionals and learning about working in the hospitality industry. They also enjoyed Mocktail & Pastry master classes in the working areas of the hotel. The back of house tour was an eye opener, seeing different sections of the hotel including maintenance, housekeeping and function catering. 

Thanks to Novotel Wollongong Northbeach for their generosity and informative program.

Celebrating Progress in VET Construction at Carroll College

Building Skills for the Future: VET Construction Certificate II

At Carroll College, we are proud to celebrate the incredible achievements of our students enrolled in the VET Construction program. This hands-on course provides students with real-world skills, industry insights, and the opportunity to work on meaningful projects that exemplify the connection between theory and practice.

Project-Based Learning: The Oil Stone Box

One of the key learning experiences for students in the VET Construction Certificate program has been Project 1: The Oil Stone Box. Designed as an introductory task, this project focuses on developing students’ foundational skills in the use of hand tools and machinery. By working to precise tolerances, students are learning the importance of accuracy, attention to detail, and high-quality craftsmanship—essential attributes for success in the construction industry.

Embracing AI: "Construction Buddy" for Effective Learning

A unique and innovative addition to our program has been the use of Mr Szkwarek’s Construction Buddy, an AI-powered assistant integrated into our daily review sessions. This tool helps students commit key construction concepts to long-term memory by guiding them through structured recall and revision exercises.

For example, students might use Construction Buddy to:

• Review the steps for setting up a mitre saw safely.
• Recall key safety regulations for working on a site.
• Test their understanding of measuring and cutting materials to precise specifications.

This use of AI not only mirrors the tools being adopted in modern workplaces but also helps students build confidence in their knowledge while reinforcing the importance of responsible technology use in learning and practice.

"Live Learning" in Action: Observing the TAS Building Construction

Another exciting dimension of our VET Construction program this year has been the opportunity to learn within a “live” environment. Students have been able to observe and interact with the construction of our new TAS building, a major project that is reshaping our campus. Witnessing this large-scale construction project first-hand has offered students invaluable insight into professional workflows, the roles of tradespeople, and the application of construction techniques on a larger scale. These experiences have further enriched their understanding of the industry and inspired them to strive for excellence in their own projects.

Practical Experience: Work Placement Success

We are also thrilled to share that several of our VET Construction students have recently completed work placements with local employers. Feedback from these placements has been overwhelmingly positive, with employers commending our students for their professionalism, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn. These experiences continue to build strong connections between Carroll College and the wider community, while also providing students with a clear pathway into the workforce.

Committed to Excellence

The VET Construction Certificate program is a shining example of how Carroll College is preparing students for the future. Through a combination of project-based learning, cutting-edge AI tools, and real-world experiences, we are equipping our students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to succeed in their chosen fields.

We are incredibly proud of the hard work and progress our students have made this term and look forward to sharing more of their achievements with you in the coming months.

If you would like to learn more about the VET Construction program or discuss pathways for your child, please feel free to contact the College.

Yours in partnership,

 
Jason Szkwarek
TAS, VET Construction Teacher / AI Advocate
 

CAREERS

University of Wollongong 

UOW Early Entry

UOW are visiting the college for a drop-in session for Early Entry info. 

It's a great session to find out what UOW are looking for and tips and tricks for application writing. 

Tuesday 17th June (Tuesday after ACARE)

AM Break in E3.

Applications Open: Monday 16 June 

Close: 8 August 2025

https://www.uow.edu.au/early-admission/?authuser=0#d.en.374221

HSC Subject Support Series 

The Year 11 & 12 Subject Support Sessions are designed to help students improve their knowledge and understanding of key subject content and discover what HSC exam markers are looking for. Experienced HSC teachers/markers and UOW staff will be running subject revision programs across May, June and July for current Year 11 and Year 12 students. 

Register for the below sessions here: https://future-students-events.uow.edu.au/Year11-12subjectsupport     

University of Canberra

University Canberra Early Entry

If you’re a current Year 12 student applying to UC for undergraduate study next year, you could receive an early admission offer under the Early Offer Scheme using criteria other than your ATAR.

 Applications for Early Offers will open on 19 May 2025.

 Important dates:

• 19 May 2025: Applications open
• 17 August 2025: Applications close
• 31 August 2025: Early Offer document deadline
• 15 September 2025: Offers released

 What do I need to apply?

• Your official Year 11 NESA (NSW) report
• A 300-word personal statement about which course you are interested in studying, and why you have chosen to apply for these courses at the University of Canberra.

To find out more and to start your application, click here University Capitals Careers in Sports.

Do you have students interested in jobs in the sporting realm? UC Capitals Executive General Manager, Christy Collier-Hill, is running school-based workshops to help students explore what a career in sport might look like.

This hands-on opportunity gives students a behind-the-scenes look into the sports industry and a unique chance to connect with UC Capitals players and staff, hearing firsthand about the dedication, pathways, and experiences involved in both playing and working in professional sport.

The workshops are designed to inspire and inform students, offering guidance on what subjects, skills, and experiences are most valuable for building a future in the sporting world—whether on the court or behind the scenes.

To book this in for your school or to find out more, you can email Griffin Armitage [Griffin.Armitage@canberra.edu.au].  

Need Application Help?

Do you have questions about applying to university? Not sure where to start with your Early Offer applications? We are here to help! If you want to someone from UC, you can book in a personalised consultation with one of our advisors to answer questions about anything university - differences between courses, pathways into ranked courses, how to apply and everything in between! 

Aspire Open Day Camp
Do you live in rural/regional NSW and are thinking about coming to Open Day? Our Aspire Open Day Camp will help get you there! This is a fully funded opportunity for Year 11 and 12 rural/regional students and their parents/guardians to attend the University of Canberra Open Day on Saturday 20th September, including: 

• One nights accommodation
• A personalised Open Day experience, including a meet and greet with a Student Success Coach
• Petrol Voucher, to assist your travel to and from Canberra.
• Follow up support to assist with your application and enrolment process.

To apply, write a 250 word description of what your future plans are once you finish high school and why this experience would help you achieve them.

Simply send your entry on the supplementary form and email it through to aspireuc@canberra.edu.au by Friday 18 July.

Holiday Tech Days: This School Holidays

Do you have a burning passion for IT? Want to experience what studying IT at university is like? Or just extend your skills in Cyber Security, AI, Python and more? Our Holiday Tech Days are for you! They are school holiday programs that don't just entertain but empower the next generation of tech innovators.

This school holidays we have two programs running, designed for students in Years 9-12:

Tuesday 8 July 9.30am-4.30pm - Phython Essentials

Dive into the world of coding in an immersive, hands-on one day workshop. Students will have the opportunity to explore Python – widely recognised as one of the most popular, versatile, and in-demand programming languages in the world today. Whether you're taking your first steps into coding or already have some programming experience under your belt, our instructors will guide you through the fundamentals of Python programming. You'll learn crucial concepts and practical techniques that will empower you to transform your creative ideas into working projects!

Monday 14 July 9.30am-4.30pm: Level Up - Unity Game Dev Workshop.

Step into the world of game development and learn how to bring ideas to life using Unity! Unity is a versatile cross-platform game engine that enables developers of all skill levels to create interactive games and experiences using a visual editor, C# programming, and powerful built-in tools for graphics, physics, and animation. No prior coding skills required!

All workshops are run in UC's Innovation Central Lab with lunch and snacks included.

To find out more and register for these workshops, click here.

UC Capitals Holiday Camp

Lace up your sneakers, grab your friends, and join us for an epic day of basketball led by the UC Capitals' very own Nicole Munger and Nyadiew Puoch! Our UC Caps Holiday Camp offers young basketball enthusiasts the chance to enhance their skills alongside UC Caps players and coaches in a fun and supportive environment.  

What’s Included:

• Expert Coaching: Each session will be led by UC Caps coaches and players.
• UC Capitals Tickets: Every participant will receive an access code for a ticket to attend a UC Capitals home game during the 2025/26 WNBL season!
• Snacks: Breaks will be held during the session with complimentary snacks like snow cones and popcorn!

 To find out more or get your tickets, click here.

DiscoverFAD: Register Now!

The University of Canberra's Faculty of Arts and Design (FAD) would like to invite Year 10 - 12 students to attend our DiscoverFAD short courses these winter school holidays. These short courses are designed to give your students a taste of practical learning from our creative degrees. Delivered by University of Canberra lecturers, DiscoverFAD is an exciting and affordable opportunity for high school students to get a glimpse of their future careers and understand the study pathways to get there. Our short courses are facilitated by our talented academics and are a great way for high school students to experience what life is like at University and start planning for the future.

When: July School Holidays

Where: UC, Bruce Campus

Price: $0-$59 

You can also enter the work you create in a DiscoverFAD short course to the UC Creative Competition for your chance to win big! 

To find out more or to register for workshops, click here.

FOR PARENTS AND CARERS

Parents and Carers Webinar

Interested in applying to UC but need a little more information? Come and join us at one of our upcoming webinars! With a range of topics touching on admissions procedures and pathways, student life and support, and how to balance your time, finances and study load, we have a webinar for everyone! 

We recommend that both students and/or parents and guardians join us online for these informative webinars to help you make an informed choice about your study options beyond Year 12. Link to https://www.canberra.edu.au/campaign/future-students-webinars?mkt_tok=MjI4LUJLQi0wODgAAAGa92ZokofNl_wNbBLImkrsz4BfAKURYegPfiLTZ5mKPQUJ1_9cjh6PnJlDbGoUcqEoVvFASjUVh6tlt5W3doYRW7VgddqFR-9_SWaaN_v79yedsUI&_cldee=DzaBXheMmC66jxJosMFz6j_huuGUuoH-bsIsBRm8DQZXbDyUmjURq3b0JZ8FuBwILEUWbwmsT2LQ6WCwZVpJLA&recipientid=contact-1a694299170fee118f6d6045bd3d3209-54ce7175ba694cbd8c8c61a6e592cab3&esid=fc3e7213-ce41-f011-8779-000d3a6b3447https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://link.canberra.edu.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__;!!Ax-PnKpllFIIgPxB!iq82O1_4NEuV0mjDmVrZ9O-EfOsLhjdJ8mq3cAu6I0-1E51WPX8vAK-Ay2HQEK3Rlc6yqigAPmoJkkqoQN1Sl53GhNvymrCvIfMWnHEulHADKho$ 

Mrs Amy Dalgleish
VET and Careers Coordinator

The latter half of Term Two has been another busy time for sport at CCB. Coming up we have Archdiocesan Soccer, junior boys AFL and our athletics carnival. We have had some great results in a variety of sports as outlined below.

Boys Rugby League  

On Wednesday 4 June our Under 15 and Open Boys Rugby League teams travelled to Ulladulla for the Southern NSW Country Cup Championships.

This is the second round of the competition bringing together the top teams from the five Southern NSW Region.

The day is always strongly contested with a wealth of talent on show.

Our Open boys lost their opening game to Edmund Rice and then had a huge turnaround win against Karabar High School to claim second place in the Opens Division.

Our U15s were very competitive all day, with narrow losses to Kiama High School and St John The Evangelist Catholic High School, Nowra and a convincing win over Karabah High to take out third place in their divisions.

These are tremendous results for both teams and testament to their skill levels and determined attitudes.

Thanks to Mr Brady, Mr Harding and Ms Large for their efforts in training and managing the teams. 

State Cup Touch Football 

In Week 7, our junior touch football teams participated in the Touch Football NSW South Coast All Schools Championships. We had a highly enjoyable and successful day with six teams participating in four age divisions against Batemans Bay High School, Moruya High School, Ulladulla High School, Lumen Christi Pambula and Trinity Goulburn. We had amazing results today with our teams winning three of the four divisions thanks to our 7/8 Girls, 7/8 Boys A and 9/10 Boys A all winning their grand final. Our 9/10 Girls were also third overall. A special mention goes to our 7/8 Boys and 9/10 Boys B teams. We were the only school to field multiple teams, as such they played all day against the best team from each competing school. Our teams played with exemplary sportsmanship their behaviour throughout the day was impeccable. Our three winning teams will contest the state final in Sydney in September. 

Team Reports: 

7/8 Girls

The Year 7/8 girls came up against three competitive schools including Ulladulla High, Lumen Christi and Trinity. The girls played their first game against Ulladulla, whilst still cold from the morning dew they displayed great sportsmanship and defence running out winners 2-0. The girls then took on Lumen Christi holding the opposition to 0, winning the game 3-0. In the next two games the girls took on Trinity with a close match up in both games and won both games 3-2 and then 3-1. The final game was against Lumen Christi in the grand final winning 4-2. The girls displayed impeccable manners, team spirit and positive attitudes throughout the day.

7/8 Boys 

There were two 7/8 boys teams entered in this year's South Coast State Cup. 

Our boys B team played five pool games during the day. Unfortunately, they lost their first 4 games against some quality opposition. Their teamwork steadily improved as the day progressed and they saved their best game until Round 5 where they defeated Batemans Bay High 5 tries to 2. Well done to all the boys who demonstrated a high level of effort and participation in each and every game.  

Our boys A team also played five pool games. After a slow start in game one they started to find their feet and had victories against CCB B, Batemans Bay, Trinity Goulburn and Lumen Christie Pambula. Their strongest opposition proved to be Ulladulla High who they drew with in game 2. After completing all the pool games we were again to face Ulladulla High in the grand final. The two teams were again very evenly matched and neither side could get over the line despite some valiant efforts from both teams. With a couple of minutes to go, Noah stepped his opposing player and scooted away for a fantastic individual try to put CCB up by one try. CCB managed to hold Ulladulla out until the last 10 seconds of the game until a cut out pass saw Ulladulla score in the corner just before the buzzer. This led to a drop off of 4 on 4 for the next 2 minutes to determine a winner. With both teams being tested physically it was Lucas who made a break down the sideline to score first. CCB held their nerve and defended like their life depended on it and held out Ulladulla to take the win! Congratulations to all the boys, what an effort from each and every player. They will now travel to Sydney to play in the NSW State Cup final. 

9/10 Girls

The 9/10 Girls Touch Football team opened the day with a strong win against Batemans Bay High School, demonstrating excellent teamwork and communication on the field.

They then faced a formidable opponent in Trinity College and, despite a valiant effort, were unable to secure the win. The match was a fast-paced and competitive game, with both teams displaying impressive skill.

Next up was Lumen Christi, and although the girls put in a determined performance, they were narrowly defeated. This match also saw the team suffer a number of injuries, which made it difficult to recover for the remainder of the day.

Despite the setbacks, the girls showed great resilience and spirit, bouncing back in their final match with a well-deserved victory against Moruya High.

The team played with heart and represented the College with pride throughout the day. Well done, girls!

9/10 Boys

The 9/10 Boys started the day facing off against each other. It was an exciting start to the tournament with both teams defending staunchly. The scores remained at nil all for the first half of the game until the A Team found their rhythm to score the match winners. 

This competitive game set the scene for the day. 

Our 9/10 B team were highly competitive all day. A significant feat, given they were playing the A teams from the other schools. They had a strong win over Pambula and a close loss to Trinity. In fact, a win in their last game of the pool matches against Batemans Bay would have secured them a place in the grand final. Unfortunately, they had a narrow loss. They are to be congratulated for their high standard of play and excellent team spirit. 

Our 9/10 A team were the most dominant team of the tournament. They went through the day undefeated, winning all of their games by a comfortable margin. Their standard of play and game sense was a step above the other competing teams. We look forward to seeing them in action at the State finals in September. 

Thanks to Mr Brady, Mr Fogarty, Mrs Davis, Ms Large, Ms Johnston and Mr Harding for coaching/managing the teams. 

CCC Cross Country Results 

The following students also attended the CCC X Country on 11 June. Congratulations on your efforts!

Elka Hampson 30th

Michaela Fitzpatrick 44th

Darcy Fitzpatrick 13th 

Alec Paterson 55th

Max Ivanoff 40th

Junior Boys AFL

On Tuesday 17 June our Junior Boys travelled to Ulladulla to compete in the Junior School's Cup.  

Undermanned and under-experienced, our boys fought valiantly against a strong Ulladulla High School. Unfortunately, the boys went down, however, they are to be commended on the effort and spirit displayed all day. The boys represented the school with great pride. 

Archdiocesan Football Gala Day

Tuesday 17 June Carroll College had four teams playing in the annual Archdiocesan Football Gala Day in what can only be described as ‘cold Canberra’.

The Junior Boys team enjoyed an outstanding day on Field 1 at the Annual Archdiocesan Football Gala Day. The boys gelled quickly and opened their campaign with a dominant performance against St Patrick’s Catholic High School, Cooma. A relentless attacking display saw us find the back of the net seven times, while our disciplined backline and confident goalkeeper ensured a clean sheet.

In the second game, we faced a much more competitive opponent in Hennessy Catholic College. It was a tight match, with both teams creating strong chances and showing impressive football. Our boys remained composed and worked well together, ultimately securing a hard-fought 1–0 victory.

This win earned us a place in the final against our familiar rivals, Trinity Catholic College. The match was a showcase of skill, determination, and teamwork from both sides. The boys moved the ball with accuracy, showed great defensive discipline, and played with heart. With the scores locked at 0–0 at full time, the game went straight to a penalty shootout.

In a nail-biting finish, the Carroll boys held their nerve and triumphed 5–4, claiming the championship in this division for the first time.

Congratulations to all players for their sportsmanship, teamwork, and for braving the cold Canberra conditions with determination and pride. Well done, boys!

Senior Boys

Well done to the Senior Soccer Team.

For a team that had limited time to prepare they competed well on the day.

The lads managed a 2-2 draw against Trinity and lost two very tight games 1 nil to Hennesy and Lumen Christi. 

It was a great effort from all players! 

Congratulations to our 7/8 Boys A, 9/10 Girls and 9/10 Boys A who have qualified for the ACT and Southern NSW Finals in Canberra next term.

 

 

Carroll College Athletics Carnival

A fabulous day at CCB Athletics Carnival today!

 

House results:

1st – Chisholm – 1321 points

2nd – MacKillop – 1215 points

3rd – Xavier – 1201 points

  

Records were broken by the following students:

Luke Drewsen – 16 years boys – Long jump, 400m, 200m and 100m

James Collins – 16 years boys – 800m

Jacob Borg – 15 years boys – High Jump

Felix Poole – 12 years boys – 100m

Asher Brady – 14 years boys – High Jump

 

Full results will be published in the next newsletter. Congratulations to all! 

 

 

 

Mr Charlton Fogarty
Sports Coordinator