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Dear Parents, Students and Friends
As you know, last week I attended the Principals’ Retreat in Bowral. The focus of the retreat centred on the theme of Hope. When we enter into the season of Lent and prepare for Easter, Hope is essentially the gift afforded to us as Christians. We reflect on what it really means to be human, how this transfers to our day-to-day lives and our relationships with others. Retreat facilitator, Brother David Hall shared this beautiful quote,
“We are not human beings on a spiritual journey
but spiritual beings on a human journey” (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin).
I am often asked why a Catholic school is different from other schools. Brother David offered incredible insight into this question. He explained that schools across the world must develop humanity. Catholic schools offer a way. We offer a common set of values, and of course, these are Gospel values, lived out in the culture of Catholic schooling. Being a Catholic school defines how we understand each other. It is profound and wide-reaching. Knowledge of Christ is not enough until it transforms into relationships. This is the reason why I place such importance on connecting with students and families. Unless there is trust in our organisation, we are likely to underperform and be slow to innovate. Trust plays to the core of humanity. Our call in Catholic schools is to be a beacon of hope and take the compassionate God into the world.
The College has been incredibly fortunate with the support we have received following the devastation of the bush fires. In this week’s newsletter edition, I take the opportunity to thank the organisations and school communities who have contributed significantly to our community’s recovery.
Hands Across the Water is a charity organisation that supports change and provides lifesaving necessities for kids and communities in Thailand. It supports families in outreach programs and funds orphanages for kids who have no known family to care for them, kids who do not have family able to care for them or kids who have been removed from families for their safety. Their mission is to create a life of choice for kids, rather than one of chance. It provides 100% of donations directly to the kids and communities that it supports. In Australia, business donations are made through the National Australian Retailers Association and organisations such as Betta Electrical. BSR Australia (Betta) has been a supporter of Hands Across the Water for the last 10 years.
This Thailand Orphanage, supported by Hands Across the Water has fundraised as a result of learning of our bushfire plight and has made an extremely generous donation to our College of $6,540. This donation will go towards establishing an outdoor classroom for the College situated in the Agricultural area. Hands Across the Water hopes that the College and its students will be able to foster a long term relationship with the Thailand Orphanage. This orphanage is home to very young children through to high school age students.
An official handover of the cheque will occur at the RFS Thank You Event on 28 March from 4pm – 7pm at Corrigans Reserve, Batehaven. Betta Electrical Batemans Bay advises there will be many raffles at the event with all proceeds going to the RFS. Please refer to the flyer in this newsletter for more information.
I particularly thank Geoff Hatton and Dominic McClelland from Betta Electrical and Jenny Tuntevski from the Hands Group for supporting Carroll College at this time. We truly appreciate their support.
To learn more about Hands Across the Water follow the link: https://www.handsacrossthewater.org.au/what-we-do
Thank you also to a number of schools for their outreach and concern during this period. I thank Holy Spirit Primary School, Nicholls under the leadership of Principal, Mr Brad Gaynor for the generous donation of gift cards and vouchers to the value of $1000 that we are able to distribute to families in need. Also to Principal, Mr Greg Walker of St Anthony’s Parish Primary School, Wanniassa who so generously supported the coordination of back-packs and stationery and personally delivered these to our schools along the Coast. These gestures of support have been gratefully received and will go a long way to supporting our community this year.
On 27 March, Brigidine College, St Ives will be visiting Carroll College. Brigidine College students have been fundraising for us and would like to present a cheque to our student leaders at Assembly. Their efforts will support the redevelopment of our agricultural area. Similarly, during Week 10, on Friday 3 April we will have two more Sydney College leadership teams visiting. Mr Peter Buxton, Principal of De La Salle Catholic College, Caringbah has been in contact with me over the past few weeks to coordinate a visit. De La Salle College and Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College, Burraneer under the leadership of Principal, Ms Ann Freeman will accompany student leaders to the Coast to present the College with a cheque following the fundraising efforts they have been involved with in support of our school. We are most grateful to their communities and look forward to welcoming the students and staff to Broulee.
I also acknowledge the tremendous support of the Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn. The support for families, staff and students has been extensive and ongoing. In a time of great need, it has been very reassuring to have Catholic Education working to meet the needs of the College.
Parent/Teacher Interview
I encourage all parents to schedule an interview with teaching staff to discuss the progress of their child/children. It is not too late! If you missed going online to book a time for last night’s meetings, please follow the link below and secure times for next Tuesday 17 March. It is essential that we work in partnership to ensure that the best learning environment can be achieved. I look forward to seeing you. Please encourage your child to attend with you. Follow the link below: https://sentral.ccb.nsw.edu.au/portal/login
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
We continue to be guided by the State and Federal Departments of Health and other appropriate agencies as we navigate the evolving Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 issue. It is my sincere hope that our community is safe and remains settled during this challenge. The College intends to calmly do its best to keep our community safe and to progress learning. Thank you for your support and consideration at this time. The staff and I appreciate it is a time of uncertainty. I will continue to communicate openly with you all as developments occur.
Yours sincerely
Jacqueline Heffernan
Principal
Assistant Principal Pastoral Care Report
Uniform
As the end of term approaches, the weather is starting to get cooler and tiredness sets in. It is important we maintain our high standards of behaviour and uniform.
Just a reminder that if the weather is cool, students may wear the College jumper or black College jacket. This is the best way to keep warm when the weather is cool. Students are not permitted to wear long-sleeve undershirts under their shirts and blouses.
Students are permitted to wear a single stud earring in each ear only and facial piercing (nose, lip etc) are not permitted at any time.
Mobile phones
Students are permitted mobile phones at the College. Please note that these may only be used at AM and PM breaks. Mobile phones are not a BYOD device and must not be used as such. The College would prefer students do not bring phones to the school but appreciate the practical aspects of communication that comes from living in a regional community. I would ask that if parents need to pick up students or contact a student that this communication is done through the front office. The front office will always contact parents if a student needs collecting from school if they are unwell.
BeYou Program
The College is taking part in the BeYou program which has taken place of the Mindmatters for educators. The healthy families resources is a part of this program which helps families discuss issues around being healthy in body and mind. There are some outstanding resources available which support parent discussions with their children around stress, anxiety, social media, communication, drugs, alcohol and other issues facing our young people.
If you are not comfortable in discussing this with your child, the Pastoral Team can support families or have the conversation around any concerns that parents have. The link is found below.
https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/age-13
Some other useful phone numbers and websites can be found below:
Kids' Helpline 1800 55 1800
Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
E-headspace online chat: https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/
For more information:
Headspace
Beyond Blue
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
To seek counselling support you can access school counselling or visit your GP to discuss your mental health.
If any families need further assistance with access to services, please get in contact with the Pastoral Team at the College who can help put students and their families in touch with the appropriate support.
Nathan Mansfield
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care
As we approach the end of Week 7, many students are beginning to feel the pressure of meeting assessment task deadlines, completing class and homework and generally keeping on top of everything. We are aware of this and staff are engaging with their classes to ensure students are supported. Where possible, students are given considerable class time to complete assessments, due dates can be negotiated on an individual basis and out of class assistance can be sorted. If parents are concerned about how their children are coping, please make contact with their teachers so that further supports can be put in place. Please be mindful that as a school, we are bound by NESA guidelines around assessment, but usually, we can work out some sort of compromise to help the students.
NAPLAN Readiness tests will be conducted at the College for all Year 7 and Year 9 students on Monday 23 to Wednesday 25 March. These readiness tests are designed to help the students feel comfortable with the online platform of the tests and to ensure they know how to navigate the tests. No results are made available from the readiness tests, so they are a no-pressure situation. Please encourage you child to participate fully so they are more comfortable when the real tests are conducted next term.
If you wish to request any special provisions for the actual NAPLAN tests, or if you wish to withdraw your child from sitting the tests, please complete the attached paperwork and return it to the College ASAP.
Parent consent for disability provisions
Parent consent for exemption or withdrawal
Last week during our Executive Planning Day, the executive staff participated in professional learning on conducting Learning Walks. The idea of Learning Walks is to go into classrooms and ask a selection of students five focus questions on their learning. The questions we ask are;
What are you learning?
How are you doing?
How do you know?
How can you improve?
Where do you go for help?
The student responses have been very enlightening. I am pleased to be able to report that most students seemed to have a good grasp of what the lesson was about (we have done considerable work in the area of setting Lesson Objectives and Success Criteria with staff). Their responses to the next question “How are you going?” were usually in the realm of “OK” or “pretty well” etc. The next question usually stumped the students, they were unsure of how to judge their progress. Most students were able to articulate ways that they could improve their learning, and the most common answer for the last question was “ask the teacher”. Our aim with the Learning Walks, and these conversations with students, is to gain an insight into how independent our learners are. We will work with staff in the coming weeks in ways to move our students to be more independent.
John O’Neill
Assistant Principal
Curriculum and Achievement
IMPORTANT DATES FOR TERM 1
Monday 16 to Tuesday 17 March – Year 7 and 11 Peer Support Camp
Tuesday 17 March – Parent Teacher Interviews (3.20pm-7.30pm)
Thursday 19 March – Year 7 Immunisations
Tuesday 24 March to Friday 26 March – NAPLAN Readiness Tests
Thursday 9 April – Easter Service
Thursday 9 April – Term 1 ends
For more information on College events and other calendar dates please visit Sentral.
RE Matters!
Yesterday was the second Sunday of our Lenten Season. At Mass, we heard Matthew’s Gospel, which recounts the story of the Transfiguration (Mt 17: 1-9). Our students have been learning about the Transfiguration in class, but in essence, the disciples Peter, James and John accompanied Jesus up a high mountain. Whilst Jesus was transfigured (transformed into something more beautiful or elevated) a voice was heard, “this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased, listen to him.”
As we listen to this mystery what message, do we take? With so much imagery in the Gospel account, what do we understand? Perhaps, it is simply to trust in God and to follow Jesus. The invitation to “listen to him” is extended to all the baptised, especially during the Lenten Season. To stop and reflect on how God is speaking to us in our daily lives and the events of each day. This means we must be available, participate in dialogue with one another and be truly present, in order to hear Jesus.
This week, we have also entered into the second week of Project Compassion. During this time we learn about 27 year old Phany from Cambodia. Her life has been transformed since becoming part of the Caritas support programme. She has leant new skills and farming techniques in order to support her family, improve their living situation and share her knowledge with the community.
Each homeroom has a Project compassion box and students are encouraged to donate generously. St Theresa of Calcutta said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things, with great love”. Even the smallest of contributions to Project Compassion will help to change someone’s life.
You can learn more about Phany’s story at https://lent.caritas.org.au/page/week-2
Fr. Francis Carroll … Pray for Us
Live Jesus in our Hearts … Forever
Mrs Charlotte Nicoletti
Coordinator of Religious Education and Faith Formation
Aboriginal Contact Centre News
In Week 3, Marie Slockee- Albert flew to Brisbane to participate in the NRL School 2 Work Cultural Youth Summit. She spent the week on the Gold Coast meeting other Indigenous students from around Australia and New Zealand and got to experience Indigenous culture and learn about Maori culture. Marie was shown how to do the Maori Poi dance and the Indigenous war cry. She was also taken to White Water World and Dreamworld where she went to the Dreamworld Corroboree and learnt about Dreamtime stories and the history of Indigenous culture. Marie got to meet the men and women from the NRL Indigenous All-Stars teams as well as the Maori All-Stars teams. All of the students also got to go to the NRL All Stars game, which was fantastic:
‘I learnt more about my own culture and how to use this to become a positive leader in my community. It was a wonderful experience and I was lucky to have the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. I look forward to bringing back the things that I learnt and sharing them with my school.’
Marie
Personal Learning Plans (PLPs) will be conducted over the following two weeks. This will see all of our Indigenous students set learning and cultural goals for the year. We look forward to welcoming our Indigenous families to the College to take part in this process.
Our Years 7 and 11 students are off to camp next week. We hope they have a fantastic time!
How to have a conversation about gaming (and use of social media generally)
So, your child is now a teenager and now possesses an IPad. Here are some thoughts about parents assisting their children to use this technology appropriately. This article was published on-line and from Earshot's reporter Michelle Ransom-Hugh.
- Convince your child you're interested
If in the past you've mostly referred to their favourite hobby as a pointless waste of time, you may need to open with an apology.
Then, explain that you genuinely want to find out about what they're playing — and make a date with them for a conversation.
You'll need a proper amount of time. At first, get them to talk to you, not show you on the computer. I know that teenagers are not forthcoming in conversation sometimes but allow them to explain this technology to you.
- Make them the expert
For young people, one of computer gaming's major appeals is the sense of agency they have in their on-screen lives.
They get to trial an independence that's barely, if ever, present in reality. Each time they play, even the youngest child is questing, decision-making and accruing experience.
Let them bring that authority into your relationship for a while. Allow them to be the expert in this thing that matters to them, while you ask the inept questions.
There will be so much stuff you don't understand, and that they'll love explaining. Let go of your assumed knowledge; let yourself be awkward and the novice.
- Shut up and listen
Remember when they were learning to walk? Learning to play violin, ride a bike, or do that dance? You paid so much attention, your eyes could have burst. Give them a little of that again.
At first what you're hearing may be about as interesting as your uncle's account of his latest surgery, but keep listening, and keep asking questions.
And pay proper attention, because you'll get bonus points with your gamer for remembering the details and referring to them later.
- Look for the buzz
When your kid is describing something that gives them a buzz, go with it: get them to tell you the best fun they ever had in that game, the highest score, the best rank.
If something makes your child this proud and happy, you want to know about it, right? Whatever you do, try not to mock.
Listen out for what they define as achievements, and try acknowledging or praising them in the same way you would with any other hobby.
Do they play a game that's sounds completely ridiculous and nonsensical? Cool. Remember you're talking about a game, and don't ask them to justify its educational aspects.
- Don't panic
Digital natives are constantly being lectured about cyber safety, at school and elsewhere. They think they're all over it, and that you can't tell them anything, so you may as well acknowledge this situation out loud.
You might also want to remind them it's your job to help them stay safe, and see if you can't find a balance between responsible parenting and being a total killjoy.
Agree on limits around protecting privacy together. Go over your family's baseline rules for being a decent person and socialising with others. These should apply in virtual interactions as much as in real life.
Then agree to trust your gamer to manage themselves online and come to you if there's a problem. Make it clear it's your job to intervene when necessary.
For all the cautionary tales of grooming and bullying, I'm willing to bet there are many more kids making real online friends, and finding social confidence and capital they don't have in the schoolyard. But remember that face to face time is always better than virtual relationships.
And the less you panic about this stuff when you have these early conversations, the easier it is for them to come to you if things get weird.
Conversation starters
What do you play? You'll likely discover your gamer has a whole suite, or library, of games of endless variety. Start by asking them to categorise the different types, or genres, of games they play — shooters, role-playing games and so on — and then get specific within the genres.
How do you play? What are you good at? What would you like to improve?
Who do you play with? Do you play regularly with real people? Maybe in a squad, or a clan? What's it like playing against anonymous people, and bots? What sort of avatars do you have?
What do you wish I understood about gaming?
What next?
Once you've acknowledged gaming is serious fun for your young person, and can conceive of it as time spent — rather than time wasted — it becomes much easier to negotiate which games are allowed and how much time is devoted to playing them.
Put yourself right out there, and ask your gamer to teach you how to play. You may negotiate a swap: you'll spend two hours playing Bastion and they'll agree to spend time trying something you want to teach them..
For younger teenagers, you could make a grand gesture to demonstrate that you "get it" and throw a birthday or unbirthday party that includes gaming.
Look into game design workshops, summer schools, code camps, and other meet-ups that will expand on any expressed interest in game making.
There's also tremendous leverage here. You can use gaming time as a bribe, a reward ... and a connection point when other parts of life go pear-shaped.
And if you are worried about anything that comes up when you're talking with your gamer, find a third party who can help you work through the issues, there's also tremendous leverage here. You can use gaming time as a bribe, a reward ... and a connection point when other parts of life go pear-shaped.
And if you are worried about anything that comes up when you're talking with your gamer, find a third party who can help you work through the issues.
I hope this sheds some light on this important issue. Your feedback would be most welcomed for this and future contributions to the College newsletter.
Paul Cullen
paul.cullen@cg.catholic.edu.au
It was a fabulous day of rugby at the High School 7's Gala Day held at Broulee in Week 5. We had some excellent results and as always our students demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship and behaviour.
The 7/8 Girls team, composed of many first-timer players, had a really enjoyable day. They lost all three of their matches, but thoroughly enjoyed every minute and improved remarkably over the day.
The 7/8 boys had 2 teams. Both teams had a great day. The "B" team had three narrow losses and the "A" team were undefeated. Both teams showed great skill and enjoyed their day.
The 9/10 Boys team came up against some very tough opposition. They won two from three in the pools to qualify for finals. They had a strong win in the semi-final and narrowly lost the grand final against Lumen Christie. For a team mainly composed of Yr 9s they did exceptionally well.
The 9/10 Girls team were the standout team of the tournament, winning every game and never really looking like losing, finishing the day with a strong win in the Grand Final.
This means that (including our Open teams who sadly had no opposition to play) we have qualified for 4 out of 6 divisions in the ACT and Southern NSW Finals to be held in Canberra in September.
Thank you to Mr Nicoletti and Mrs Katuke for their coaching and management throughout the day and in the lead up to the event.
Jon Brady
PDHPE Coordinator
Vocational Education and Training (VET) News
VET Induction Day
On Thursday 27 February all Year 11 VET students completed an induction day. Ella from Workplace Learning came and spoke to students about work placements, expectations whilst on these placements and opportunities available to our students.
For each VET course enrolled in, students were required to complete an online module on Work Placement. Upon completion of this module a Work Placement ready Certificate was generated. Students must complete this module and give their certificate to their classroom teacher prior to undertaking any work placement.
Students were all given a Parent and Student handbook and a VET Induction and Declaration form that needs to be signed by both students and a parent and then returned to the VET office. If your child has misplaced theirs, please come and get another.
VET Uniforms
Our VET students are looking great in their VET uniforms. Sport Coaching, Construction and Hospitality students wear theirs whilst doing practical lessons. If your child has not purchased their uniform as yet, payments can be made via QKR or in person at the College.
IDT and Business Services students have a College Business Shirt to purchase for work placement. These are also available on Qkr!
Work Placements
All VET courses require students to complete mandatory work placement. Sport Coaching students have already started accruing work placement hours by assisting in the smooth running of St Bernard’s Primary, St Mary’s Moruya and the Archdiocese of Canberra Goulburn Swimming Carnivals. These placements continue to strengthen our K-12 Pathways on the coast.
Work Placement Dates for 2020
Year 12 – 16-21 March & 11-15 May
Year 11 – 11-15 May, 10-14 August, 16-20 November & 30 November – 4 December
If you or your company would be interested in supporting VET students complete their work placements please contact Karen Lyttle or Elise Paull on 44715600.
First Aid and White Card courses
A competency of most VET courses is the First Aid Certificate. This week we have run three First Aid courses for our students.
All Construction students are required to complete their White Card course prior to any work placement on a Construction site.
There can only be 20 participants in a course and we have received interest from other students who would also like to do this course. If your child would like to be notified of the next course, please come and see us in the VET office.
UAC Dates
Attached is a flyer from the 2020 UAC Guide which lists important dates and all the University open days.
TAFE and University Visitors
Deb White (Student Engagement Officer) from Moruya TAFE – will be at the College each Friday Week B. If any students would like to meet with Deb to discuss TAFE options or Career pathways, please see Mrs Lyttle or Mrs Paull in the VET office to make an appointment
University of Canberra – Ben Marks from UC attended the College to discuss university options with senior students.
Jade Andrews from University of Wollongong (UOW) will be in to speak to Year 12 students about the University Preparation Program (UPP) that they offer.
Scholarships
Tuckwell Scholarship
Applications to commence study at ANU on a Tuckwell Scholarship in 2021 opened on 4 March 2020 and close at 3pm 25 March 2020.
“The Tuckwell Scholarship Program is the most transformational undergraduate scholarship program in Australia. Every year, we offer 25 talented school-leavers the opportunity to fulfil their potential by actively participating in the very best that ANU has to offer.
Scholars are selected on the basis of intellect, character, leadership and their commitment to Australia.”
For more information on this scholarship please visit the link the below.
https://tuckwell.anu.edu.au/?mc_cid=9e00754474&mc_eid=384755a286
VET Excursions
Year 12 Hospitality students are going on an Industry emersion program to the Novotel Wollongong and Year 11 Hospitality are going to the Tilba Dairy to learn about Paddock to Plate using local produce.
Have you created a USI?
A USI - Unique Student Identifier is a reference number that creates an online record of your training and qualifications attained in Australia.
If you are a new or continuing student undertaking nationally recognised training, you need a USI in order to receive your qualification or statement of attainment.
A USI is for life! You only have to create it once. You will need a medicare card, drivers licence or passport to complete the application.
Go to www.usi.gov.au to create yours!
If you need anything else VET or Careers related please call in and see Mrs Lyttle and Mrs Paull.
Finance Update
Family Fee Statements were emailed Friday 21 February. Although there is a due date on fee statements, families have the flexibility to pay fees by the end of the term. Thank you to families who have made payments.
If you have been affected by the Bushfires please contact Jacqui Heffernan, Principal. For any other information about fee assistance, please contact Rhonda Forner, Business Manager. Please note that all information is treated confidentially.
The 2020 Fee Schedule is available from the College Website along with a Fee Calculator to assist with understanding fee payment schedules. For any other finance queries, please contact the College by phone 4471 5600 or via email finance.ccb@cg.catholic.edu.au
Handy Hints
When finalising payments on Qkr, please make sure to finalise anything that is in the cart on the top right hand corner. If the cart is not empty and you do not have a receipt the payment and consent has not been finalised.
Please choose the correct excursion for your child’s Year Group and also the correct child attending that event.
Qkr! Is our preferred payment option. If you need help using this please contact the Office.
We are currently out of sizes 12, 14 and Small in the New style shorts. These should be available again in the next few weeks. If you order on Qkr in these sizes, students will be given these once the order has arrived. Thankyou.