Dear Parents, Students and Friends

An exciting week for our Year 12 students as the HSC exams concluded today! The exam period is certainly a long haul that requires determination, sheer commitment, and a capacity to remain focused. The hard work is over for now and Year 12 can celebrate their efforts and look forward to their Graduation Dinner and formal celebrations next Wednesday evening at Bay Pavilions. A beautiful evening is planned that will leave lasting memories of their time at Carroll College. I take this opportunity to congratulate Year 12 parents on raising such personable and compassionate children who are a credit to their families. They are now young adults preparing to take on their next challenge! I believe Carroll College has served them well for what is to come. They have the necessary values, skills, and knowledge to make a positive difference in the world with the integrity to thrive.

STAFFING NEWS

I am pleased to announce that Mr Ryan Bissell has been successful in gaining the Pastoral Assistant (Acting) position for 2025. Mr Bissell will replace Mrs Danielle Ciuffetelli next year while she is on Maternity Leave. Mrs Ciuffetelli and her husband are expecting their second child in February.

Mr Bissell has had extensive experience in Pastoral Care. He has been teaching in high school and specialist settings as both a classroom teacher and executive teacher since 2007. During this time, he has worked in and across multiple faculties as a classroom teacher and has also led several teams as an Executive Teacher. Mr Bissell’s experience in both high school Student Services faculties, and within a more specialised setting in the Canberra Hospital has given him a broad range of experiences working with students with complex needs. At Canberra Hospital, Mr Bissell led a team of teaching staff, working closely with ACT Health to support student transitions between school and hospital. Before that, Mr Bissell was an Executive Teacher at Harrison School where he led the Student Wellbeing team for four years which included Year Coordinators, youth workers, psychologists, allied health nurses and community engagement staff. I congratulate Mr Bissell on this appointment and wish him well in this role.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

It is an exciting time of growth for the college, and we stand committed to ongoing improvements, including facility upgrades, new opportunities for student engagement, and continued implementation of high-impact teaching practices. Mrs Erica Drewsen will work alongside Mr Andrew Kenneally, Assistant Principal for Curriculum, Learning and Innovation next year in her new role as Leader of Pedagogy, with our experienced faculty leaders and teachers to deliver the best learning and teaching programs for students in line with best educational practice. I can say with confidence that our Catholic schools on the Coast and across the Archdiocese are leading the way in curriculum implementation. The rigorous professional learning undertaken over the past four years has placed Carroll College as one of the leading secondary colleges in our Archdiocese, and beyond.

Our next cohort of teachers to be trained by Teach Well (Wave 5) will be announced shortly. We are hoping to include 7-8 participants in the 2025 program. I have included information below on Cognitive Load Theory that explains the basis of why we are delivering the curriculum in a particular way. It is really interesting research that is informing our classroom practice and delivering notable results.
 

CONGRATULATIONS

Mrs Kym Millikin has been part of the Emerging Leaders Program with Catholic Education this year. Today, she is presenting her project to colleagues in Canberra on the final day of the program. Mrs Millikin’s project focused on the implementation of Classroom Mastery. I congratulate her on her selection and successful completion of this leaders’ course. The program has been highly beneficial in building the capacity of our System leaders, many of whom have been appointed to formal leadership positions from 2025, including Mrs Millikin as our new Mathematics Coordinator! 

We are proud of the direction Carroll College is moving. Our momentum is strong and every teacher is on the journey to improve student outcomes through the implementation of evidence-based practices.

Best wishes to Years 7 – 10 students throughout their exam period.

With respect and encouragement to you.

Mrs Jacqueline Heffernan
Principal

 ‘Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the
light of life’     (John 8:12)

Save the date - Year 10 Summer Soiree

Each year, the students in Year 10 have the opportunity to gather together and enjoy an evening of fun and celebration at the Year 10 Summer Soiree. This year, the Summer Soiree will be held on Thursday 5 December 2024 from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm at Moruya Golf Club. An invitation will be sent via Paperless Post soon and the permission and payment can be made via Compass.

Please save the date on the calendar!

Academic Care Program Planning for 2025

The Pastoral Team had a planning day this week to focus on the range of programs and events that will be offered to our students in 2025. Not only will we focus on the Academic Care program but also the celebration of House days, year-level Pastoral Days and special events. Each event and program is aimed at enhancing the protective and connective role Carroll College plays in the lives of our students. Thank you very much to Mr Greg McAteer, Mrs Karen Lyttle, Mrs Corrinne Dell, Ms Elle Boller, Mrs Danielle Ciuffetelli and Mr Ryan Bissell for their contribution.

This week in Academic Care:

Years 7 and 11 - participated in the annual Peer Support Interhouse Battle.

Year 8 - Wellio: Managing emotions.

Year 9 – Wellio: Growing Positivity and Optimism.

Year 10 – A presentation from the Director of Urban Challenge who shared important information and an opportunity to work in their teams.

Love Bites 

On Thursday 31 October, Year 11 students attended Love Bites delivered by Sam and her team from the South Coast Women’s Domestic Violence and Court Advocacy Service. This is a Respectful Relationships Education Program for young people aged 15-17 years, which involves an interactive presentation followed by creative workshops and community campaigns.

The aim of Love Bites is to provide young people with a safe environment to examine, discuss and explore respectful relationships.

The overall aim of the program is to equip young people with the knowledge needed to have respectful relationships, encourage and develop their skills in critical thinking and assist them in being able to problem-solve and communicate effectively.

We hope that through their participation the students have gained more knowledge and understanding so they make the right choices for themselves and their relationships now and in the future are free from violence and abuse. Thank you to Mrs Kenna and Mrs Dwyer for supervising, and to Mrs Dell and Mr McAteer for their support.

General Reminders

Uniform

Students in Years 7-10 have designated days on their timetable where they are allowed to wear their Sports uniform so they can participate in their practical classes. On all other days, students are to wear their formal college uniform. We have a number of students who are not following this expectation. For your convenience, I have attached below a timetable outlining the day(s) your child can wear their Sports uniform. We ask that haircuts, jewellery, lengths of dresses, shorts, make-up
(including acrylic nails and false eyelashes), shoes and socks are also part of this uniform check. The correct presentation of our students in the community and at school is an important part of our college identity and we all have a role to play to ensure we are well presented.

Senior Drivers

We have a number of senior students who are gaining their driver's licences. Before driving to school students need to come to the Front Office to collect the relevant driving forms, including passenger permission notes. These forms need to be completed by students, signed by parents and then returned to the college for final approval before the privilege begins. Our current Year 11 students are expected to remain at school for the full day until the end of Term 4. Supervised study is part of their current timetable. Early leave privileges do not begin until next year.

Parents are encouraged to contact the Pastoral Team if they have any concerns about their child or would like to check on their well-being and progress at school.

Mrs Louise Ibbett
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care

Dear Carroll Community,

2025 HSC Assessment Booklet and Schedules are now available on the Assessment@Carroll website under the "Year 12" tab.

Can I please encourage students and families to download both documents and get familiar with your child's pattern of study for the upcoming HSC year. 2025 HSC Assessment booklet and schedules include:

· Student Information Guide to the HSC Assessment

· Carroll College pattern of study

· HSC assessment guidelines

· Assessment procedures for students

· Malpractice

· Non-completion (N-Awards)

· Appeals process

· VET Assessment and NESA

· Assessment Plans (Religious Education, English, Creative Arts, HSIE, Mathematics, PDHPE, Science and TAS)

· HSC Assessment Schedule for 2025

Please take the time to unpack all the key information in this document and note key dates and tasks in your personal calendars.

I wish you every success as you enter your final year of schooling.

This fortnight I would like to share an article on “Overcoming Roadblocks to Study Success”. I hope you get some useful suggestions to share with your child/children.

Overcoming Roadblocks to Study Success

1. Find Your “Why”: Search for a meaningful reason to aim higher than the minimum. Whether it’s getting into your dream course, pursuing a career you’re passionate about, building your neural capacity as a learner, or just proving to yourself that you can succeed—use that as motivation to stop making excuses and invest extra effort.

2. Tame Your Distractions: Distractions are everywhere—social media, friends, pets, hobbies can all pull you away from your studies. Implement strategies like turning off notifications, setting specific “study hours”, or using apps designed to limit screen time so you can focus and allocate enough time to your schoolwork. A distraction-free environment helps you stay on track and makes study sessions more effective.

3. Turn Mistakes into Momentum: Don’t let mistakes discourage you; instead, see them as stepping stones to growth. Each error or setback is a chance to identify what you can improve. Reflect on what went wrong, adjust your approach, and focus on learning from your experiences. Mistakes are often the best teachers and can launch you toward greater achievements if you use them wisely.

4. Set Small, Achievable Goals: Break down big tasks into smaller, manageable goals. Rather than thinking about an entire semester’s worth of material, focus on mastering one chapter or concept at a time. This makes studying less overwhelming and gives you a sense of accomplishment with each small win, motivating you to keep going.

5. Create a Supportive Study Environment: Surround yourself with people who encourage your success—whether it’s classmates, friends, or family members who support your study efforts. Consider forming or joining a study group to share resources, discuss topics, and keep each other accountable. A positive support system can keep you motivated and make studying feel like a team effort rather than a solo challenge.

6. Develop a Routine That Works for You: Consistency is key to successful studying. Establish a study routine that fits your lifestyle and energy levels. Whether it’s studying early in the morning, after school, or late at night, find a time that you can consistently dedicate to your work. A consistent routine helps your brain recognise study time, making it easier to focus and be productive.

7. Reward Your Progress: Motivation is easier to maintain when you celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Set rewards for yourself when you complete a study session, finish a chapter, or achieve a good result. It could be something simple like a snack, time with friends, or a short break doing something you enjoy. Rewarding progress helps reinforce positive habits and keeps you motivated to keep pushing forward.

You and your child can learn more about how to study effectively at Assessment @ Carroll Website, under the Study Skills Link.

Finally, a big congratulations to our 2024 Year 12 cohort who have completed their final HSC examinations this week. The students are to be commended on their outstanding application to the exams over the past month. I wish our Year 12 cohort the very best for the future, and I am looking forward to celebrating with both students and parents at our Year 12 Graduation Dinner next week.

EFFORT = SUCCESS

Warm regards 

Mr Kenneally
Assistant Principal - Curriculum, Learning and Innovation

This week, our school has acknowledged two significant feasts in the Catholic tradition: All Saints' Day (1 November) and the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, commonly known as All Souls' Day (2 November). These observances celebrate and honour the lives of the saints, those recognised for their profound closeness to God, as well as the memory of all those who have passed away. November is dedicated to remembering the deceased, often marked by a list of names displayed in the church for communal remembrance in prayer.

At Carroll College, daily prayer is a central practice, and we particularly seek the intercession of St. Francis Xavier and St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop to guide us. All Saints' Day offers a special opportunity to reflect on the virtues exemplified by saints and to consider ways we might embody these virtues in our lives. Although St. Francis Xavier and St. Mary MacKillop led distinct lives across different eras and cultures, their shared devotion to Christ and commitment to spreading His message serve as inspiration. Their resilience in faith and commitment to making Christ known are qualities we aspire to cultivate among our students and staff, who look to these saints for inspiration and guidance in their own journeys.

We are fortunate to belong to a community that values daily prayer, providing a few moments each day to pause, centre ourselves, and recognise God’s presence in our lives. This time of reflection encourages compassion and reminds us of our connection to others, inspiring us to approach the world with empathy and openness.

Mrs Anna Smart
Religious Education Coordinator

Please keep the following student and her family in your prayers. Indiana Turnbull (Year 7) on the passing of her Grandmother.

Admin Updates

Stay Connected with Sentral and Compass

At Carroll College, we use two important student management systems to keep communication and administration smooth: Sentral and Compass. Here’s a quick reminder of how each one helps you stay informed and up to date.

Sentral is our main system, used for:

· Attendance explanations

· Parent-teacher interview bookings

· Accessing student reports, timetables, and daily notices.

For everything related to student progress and daily updates, Sentral is your go-to tool.

Meanwhile, Compass is used specifically for:

· Excursion permission and payments

Both Sentral and Compass can be downloaded from the App Store. If you need assistance with resetting your passwords or accessing the systems, feel free to contact me at the College via email.

Stay connected and engaged with our school community through Sentral and Compass!

Years 7 – 10 Exams

The Years 7 – 10 Examinations continue in Weeks 5 and 6. Students should prepare for their examinations by revising the year/semester’s work and other study material set by their class teacher. If students have questions regarding their exams, they are encouraged to talk to their class teachers.

Please see below for a copy of the Examination Timetable.

School Immunisation Program Catch-up Clinic

We are reaching the final phase of our school immunisation program, and we have scheduled a catch-up clinic for Wednesday, 27 November. This clinic is specifically for students in Years 7 and 10 who could not attend the initial immunisation session. However, parents can still provide consent for their child in Years 7 and 10 to receive the immunisation. Parents will need to complete the online consent if they are interested.

This week's reminders…

· Years 9 and 10 exams continue to take place during Weeks 5 and 6

· The Year 12 Graduation Dinner and formal celebrations will be held on Wednesday 13 November at Bay Pavilions, starting at 6.00 pm.

· The Cootamundra Touch Football competition will take place on Friday 15 November. Good luck to all teams!

· On Tuesday 19 November, Year 9 students will take part in their Formation Day, Catch the Wave, at Broulee Surf Club.

· The Year 10 Urban Challenge is taking place in Sydney from Wednesday 20 November to Friday 22 November.

· On Friday 22 November we will be holding the annual Year 8 French Film Festival at Bay Pavilions.

Mrs Sandra Harris
Administration Coordinator