Dear Parents, Students and Friends,

I hope you have enjoyed a pleasant week.

Mrs Heffernan has been attending the Southern Region Principals’ Meeting in Bega this week, so it is my pleasure to begin this fortnight's newsletter in her absence.

In the coming weeks, the Sacred Heart Parish of Moruya will farewell Parish Priest, Fr George Azhakath. Fr George is moving to Narooma as Parish Priest. I take this opportunity to thank Fr George for his work within our community and wish him well in his ministry at Narooma.

Carroll College and the Broulee community are part of the Sacred Heart Parish so we too will be welcoming a new Parish Priest to the college. Fr Josh Scott commences on 4 July and is very much looking forward to working with our students and staff. 

Introducting Fr Josh – A Journey of Faith and Service:

Fr Josh comes from the country town of Young, NSW, where he grew up as the eldest of three siblings. A true country boy at heart, he’s known for his down-to-earth nature, his approachable personality, and his genuine love for people. He is passionate about helping others explore life’s big questions, and discover a sense of purpose and meaning.

Unlike many priests, Fr Josh didn’t grow up in a religious household. His family lived as atheists or agnostics, and faith wasn’t part of daily life. However, as a teenager, he found himself searching for something more—asking questions about existence, truth, and what it all means. This journey led him to explore Christianity, and in 2005, he made the personal decision to become Catholic.

After his conversion, Fr Josh became active in his local parish, serving at Mass, visiting the sick, and helping out with projects in his local community. In recognition of his service, he was named Young Citizen of the Year for his hometown in 2007.

Before becoming a priest, Fr Josh worked with students with special needs, and later in worked in tourism, public  economic development. Still, he sensed God calling him to serve in a deeper way. In 2010, he entered the Seminary of the Good Shepherd in Sydney to study for the priesthood, preparing to serve in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.

During his formation, Fr Josh ministered in a variety of settings—working with young people and in aged care, with migrant and indigenous communities, the homeless, and the dying. He was ordained a priest in 2017 and has since served in schools and parishes across the ACT and NSW.

One of the most profound chapters of his ministry came during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he served as Senior Chaplain at Calvary Hospital in Canberra. As one of the only priests allowed in hospitals at the time, he supported patients, families, and exhausted healthcare workers with prayer, a listening ear and mentos.

Fr Josh also spent seven years as Archdiocesan Youth Chaplain, working closely with teens and young adults through retreats, events and one-on-one ministry. Most recently, he served as Interim Administrator of St Christopher’s Cathedral in Canberra.

Outside of ministry, Fr Josh enjoys rugby league (especially the Sydney Roosters), Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, music, philosophy and politics.

Fr Josh brings heart, honesty, and a strong sense of mission to everything he does. He is excited to serve the community of Sacred Heart Parish in Moruya and looks forward to journeying together in faith, service and friendship.

Police Talks

Keeping our students safe in the online environment is very important. Last week we invited our Police Youth Engagement Officers Senior Constables Donna Clarke and Sinead Linton to speak with Year 9 and 10 students. During their presentation students were reminded about correct online behaviour, consequences for poor behaviour and what to do if they have any concerns. All parents are encouraged to continue to monitor how their children are using their phones and devices. The e- safety Commission website offers a wide range of support materials and a place to report problems and concerns. Issues can also be reported to the local police.  Students in Years 7 and 8 will have their opportunity to attend this police talk on 3 June.

Parent Support

Parenting is a very rewarding experience but at times it can be challenging. Parent Line NSW is a free counselling service for parents and carers of children aged between 0-18 years. Parent Line link below provides confidential and non-judgemental advice, and support for parents and carers seven days a week. The service can be useful if you are needing support, or if you just want to talk through a parenting issue.

https://www.parentline.org.au/

Urban Challenge 2025 meeting

An important information meeting for all parents and carers of our Year 10 students will be held on Wednesday 4 June 2025 in the HUB starting at 6.00 pm

Paul from Urban Challenge will be providing details about the experience our students will have and answer any questions from families. A huge part of the Urban Challenge experience for students are the surprises along the way. To facilitate this, we ask that students from the college not attend the evening.  They will have opportunities throughout the year to find out more and begin to prepare for their adventure.

Last year the Urban Challenge was a wonderful experience for the students and staff. We are very pleased to be able to offer it again in 2025. See you at the meeting.

https://www.theurbanchallenge.com.au/

Teddy Bears' Picnic

The Student Representative Council, (which is made up of students from Years 7-12), and Vice Captain, Archie Cockram, assisted with the running of the 2025 Teddy Bears' Picnic for St Bernard’s and St Mary’s students. Our students were engaged all day, running fun activities for the students.  Thank you very much to Ms Boller for her organisation which was ably supported by Mrs Marge Croese.

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea

In our community we have many individuals and families who have been touched by cancer. We know that scientists here and around the world are constantly seeking treatments and cures.

To support this vital work and to help raise funds for the Cancer Council we recognized Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea on Tuesday 20 May. Thank you to Mrs Deanne Armaya for her wonderful coordination of this fundraising event supported by our barista, Mrs Dalgliesh, Ms Boller, the SLT and our staff.

Eurobodalla Youth Committee

Our Youth Committee members have been out and about this week supported by Mrs Croese. The focus of the meeting will be the planning of the very popular Winter Solstice event held at the end of June along with some other exciting activities for our local community. We look forward to hearing the details.

Academic Care Lessons in Week 4

This week our students from Years 7 to 12 completed the following topics during their Academic Care Lesson. Parents are encouraged to have a conversation with their child about these topics.

Year 7- Wellio Lesson on communication styles

Year 8 - Library Lesson - SORA/World Book online – Thank you to Mrs Karen Mahony

Year 9 - Wellio Lesson  on informed drug and alcohol choices

Year 10- Presentation on assessment and NESA confirmation of entry checking followed by Minimum Standards Test practice

Year 11- Wellio Lesson -Ethical dilemmas and moral reasoning /NESA confirmation of entry checking

Year 12 –Study Skills Handbook Lesson – ‘Live Your Best Life’ and NESA Confirmation of entry checking.

Reminders

• Uniform

All students are reminded that everyone needs to be wearing their winter uniform starting from the beginning of Week 5, Monday 26 May.  The weather has turned quite chilly. All students are reminded that the winter uniform includes warm options such as long pants, tights, woollen jumpers, tracksuits, jackets and blazers. Hoodies and long sleeve skivvies under shirts are not part of the college uniform.

For your convenience the  College Uniform Policy for Yrs 7-12 is below.

• The College DOOF will be held on Wednesday 28 May in the college hall from 6.00 to 9.00 pm
• Year 10 will be having their Pastoral Day on Friday 30 May.

Inauguration of Pope Leo XIV
As we welcome Pope Leo as the 267^th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, we pray that he be strengthened in his ministry. May he continue building bridges that connect us to one another. May he be an example of faith, hope and love. Amen.

This fortnight our featured Staff in the Spotlight is Mrs Dalys Whipp, the college's Business Manager!

Thank you for the ongoing support from our families.

Kind regards

Mrs Louise Ibbett
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care

This week, we join the global Catholic community in celebrating the historic election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, who brings with him a renewed spirit of hope, mission and inclusivity. Pope Leo’s early words and actions have already echoed deeply with our own college’s values and the Catholic Education theme for 2025: 'Pilgrims of Hope'. His emphasis on outreach, dialogue and pastoral mission inspires us to continue building bridges between faiths and cultures, and to model a Church that welcomes all.

This vision was powerfully embodied in the recent Year 11 and Year 12 Religious Education excursions to Sydney, which provided our senior students with rich opportunities to engage firsthand with the lived experience of world religions. Over two days, students visited St Mary’s Cathedral, where they reflected on the beauty and tradition of Catholic liturgy, as well as the Church’s enduring role in contemporary Australia. At The Great Synagogue, students learned about the enduring significance of Judaism and were warmly welcomed by members of the Jewish community who shared their insights into ritual, history and faith.

At the Auburn Gallipoli Mosque, students were struck by the hospitality of the Muslim community, and the sense of peace and reverence found within the sacred space. The visit to the Islamic Sciences and Research Academy (ISRA) provided further insight into Islamic theology and the shared values of compassion, justice and respect that unites the Abrahamic faiths.

These experiences allowed our students to broaden their spiritual and intellectual horizons, developing a deeper understanding of the beliefs, practices and contributions of other world religions. More importantly, they provided a space for students to reflect on what it means to live out authentic Catholic values in a pluralistic world, values that Pope Leo is already championing.

We are proud of the way our students approached this experience: with open hearts, thoughtful questions and a genuine desire to grow in understanding. As we move forward under the guidance of Pope Leo’s papacy, we remain committed to cultivating a community rooted in hope, inclusivity, and courageous mission; values that have always been at the heart of Carroll College.

Mrs Anna Smart
Religious Education Coordinator

NSW School Vaccination Program

The Year 7 vaccine date is rapidly approaching. NSW Health will be at the college to administer vaccinations to Year 7 students on Wednesday, 28 May 2025.

Parents/carers will need to consent to their child's vaccination online or complete the paper consent form if they want their child to receive the immunisation.

Students receiving the vaccination can wear their sports uniform on the day.

If you have questions regarding the school immunisation program, please contact the Public Health Unit.

Year 10 Minimum Standards Tests

The HSC Minimum Standard Test is a way of supporting and ensuring students have a functional level of literacy and numeracy. To achieve an HSC, students must sit the HSC Minimum Standards Online Tests in reading, writing and numeracy. Each of the three tests are of 45 minutes duration.

Year 10 students downloaded the required lockdown browser and completed the practice numeracy test during Maths classes last week. Practice tests for the HSC minimum standard in Numeracy are valuable because they help students familiarise themselves with the test format and content, allowing them to identify areas where they need to improve. Students developed an understanding for how long to spend on each question, so they don’t run out of time when completing the test in June.

Students who did not get Level 3 or 4 in the practice test are encouraged to attend Tuesday Tutorials at AM break in B3 for extra support. Students are also encouraged to do a little bit of revision each day, especially on the areas they need to revise. For example: interpreting graphs/tables, fractions, percentages and ratios, units of measurement and basic algebraic skills.

Year 10 students will complete the Minimum Standards Test in Term 2, Week 6.

Wednesday 4 June – Reading

Thursday 5 June – Numeracy

Friday 6 June – Writing

Year 11 Student Absences

As we approach the end of Semester 1 for Year 11, I would like to remind parents/carers about completing your child's absence reasons. Year 11 reports will be distributed at the end of Week 6 and explained absences ensure 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'.

Next week’s reminders …

· On Monday 26 May we will have an extended homeroom for Reconciliation Week.

· Good luck to our AFL teams competing on Tuesday 27 May and Tuesday 3 June.

· ADF is visiting the college on Wednesday 28 May.

· The College Doof will take place on Wednesday 28 May from 6.00pm – 9.00pm in the college hall.

· Year 7 Vaccination Day is Wednesday 28 May.

· On Friday 30 May the Year 10 Pastoral Day is being held at the college.

· Year 8 students will participate in their Formation Day on Friday 30 May.

· The Hospitality students are attending the Novotel SHE Program on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 June.

· We welcome Year 10 parents to the Urban Challenge information night on Wednesday 4 June at 6.00pm in the College Hub.

· Year 10 Minimum Standards Tests begin on Wednesday 4 June.

· The SLT presents World Environment Day in the Hub on Thursday 5 June at AM break.

Mrs Sandra Harris
Administration Coordinator

• For events over $100 we offer a payment plan option on Compass. 
• The payment plan is set up with set amounts and dates that will be debited from your credit card. 
• If you opt into a payment plan after the first instalment date, then your first instalment will be a combination of all the payment dates you have missed.
• For example: If your payment plan was as per below, and you opted in via Compass on the 14 May, your first instalment would be $193.50 and then your next instalment would be as per the plan dates/amounts:

• The Carroll Kudos boxes will be in the Pastoral Office - and don't worry, the Pastoral Office is never empty! If you need any help with nominations or want more details on a student to nominate, just ask a member of the Pastoral team.
• Nomination slips will be located in the Pastoral Office and in the HUB near Mrs Mahony's desk.

• Every Friday during Homeroom, either the House Captains or House Leaders will randomly draw a name from their box.
• Winners will be announced over the speaker, and they will receive a $5 Canteen Voucher + 10 Sentral points.

• On the Pastoral bulletin board
• In the fortnightly newsletter.

• If a student is selected three weeks in a row, they could become a 'Kudos Leader' for the week.

• The Pastoral Team will be monitoring positive entries on Sentral. If a student receives 5 positive entries in one week, their name will be added for a Kudos nomination.
• Even if a student doesn't win the Kudos for their house, they will still receive the Sentral points for their nomination!

Careers

SES Moruya Workshop Inspires Future Emergency Service Volunteers

On Friday, students interested in emergency services took part in an interactive workshop with SES Moruya. They engaged in teamwork activities like vertical rescues, learned about driver safety and toured the SES unit to see emergency equipment.

The workshop also covered useful skills like first aid and using communication signals and equipment. A simulated crash scene gave students a firsthand look at emergency response in action.

This hands-on experience offered valuable insight into volunteering or working in emergency services, inspiring many to consider a future in this vital field.

Explore UC Open Day: A Hands-On University Experience for Senior Students

Our senior students were invited to discover university life at 'Explore UC', an exciting open day designed to give them a real taste of studying at the University of Canberra. This interactive event allows students to build their own itinerary, choosing from a variety of faculty workshops and campus activities.

'Explore UC' offers a unique chance to tour the campus and experience firsthand what it’s like to be a UC student. It was the perfect way for students to get a feel for university life and make informed decisions about their future studies.

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 19th 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 Canberra: The Aunty Agnes Shea Early Childhood Education Scholarships

Do you have an interest in Early Childhood Education and Care?

Do you want to see our Booris thrive in the world?

The 'Aunty Agnes Shea Early Childhood Scholarships' are available to Aboriginal people in the ACT seeking to start or progress their careers in the Early Education and Care Sector. 

On offer:

• Cert III or Diploma in Early Child Education and Care, or Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (birth to 5 years).
• Ongoing support from the scholarship team and broader Yerrabi team to help you succeed in your studies.

To find out more, click here.

University Canberra: Snow Scholarship

'Snow Scholarships' have been co-created by Snow Foundation and UC. Snow Foundation believes in the power of education to change lives and open doors – helping students realise their potential and grow into confident, purposeful leaders. In partnership with the University of Canberra, they’ve committed $20 million to back students who have big dreams and just need the support to get there. The 'Snow Scholarships' are designed to support students in Canberra and regional or rural NSW who face barriers to higher education.

Scholars receive:

• up to $30,000 per year to support living costs, travel, and accommodation
• wrap-around academic, personal and leadership growth
• a welcoming, diverse community of peers and mentors.

UOW Year 10 Subject Selection Webinar

UOW will be offering a webinar for students, parents, carers & teachers focusing on providing students and their families accurate and informed knowledge on UOW degrees and their HSC subject assumed and recommended subject requirements. This webinar will be a valuable opportunity to ask questions and get quality insights into how students should be structuring their course selection decisions for 2026. 

Students and families can register via this link:

Register here: https://www.uow.edu.au/study/events/

ADF Careers Presentation at the College

The ADF Careers Team are visiting the college on Wednesday 28th May to give a presentation to students that are interested in the ADF Pathway. The talk is open to students in years 10-12 that would like to learn about a career in the defence.
Information will be offered on all the services (Army, Navy and Airforce), the Gap Year Program and entry requirements. Defence members will be giving a presentation followed by Q & A.This is an excellent opportunity to gain insight to the defence and get first hand knowledge from ADF personnel. 

Defence personnel will be visiting between 9am and 9.45am on Wednesday 28th May (during period 1). Students can express their interest to attend at the Careers Office or email Mrs Dalgleish.

Year 9-12 Students & Parents/Carers whose children are considering a career in Medicine.

The Future Doctors Australia program offers a unique opportunity for school students (ages 14-18) aspiring to pursue a career in Medicine. Four days of high impact, engaging sessions led by experienced medical specialists, practical learning activities, and insights into the admission process, the program aims to inspire and equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in their medical journey.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to gain valuable insights and guidance from medical professionals who are passionate about shaping the future of healthcare.

Program Details | Fees | Enrolment Form

Photo gallery of previous programs

List of Medical Specialists & Clinical Staff Guest Speakers and Presenters

Mrs Amy Dalgleish
VET and Careers Coordinator