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Dear Parents, Students and Friends
In preparing to write the newsletter this week, I have found myself engrossed in reading the book Learning For Life, The Story of Carroll College. Author, Noel Cook was instrumental in the development of Carroll College. He was Director of Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn for 17 years and Senior Lecturer in Education in Ballarat for 11 years. From initial planning that began in 1989 of establishing the first Catholic Secondary College on the South Coast, to the College opening in 1995, a dream was realised. Those of us involved in the College today and those who will come in the future are indebted to the vision of Fr Henry Byrne and Noel Cook. We are certainly blessed to have such a beautiful Catholic College in Broulee, and together we will continue to shape a rich learning community that lives Jesus’ spirit well into the future.
Did you know…
- Mrs Karen Lyttle was a foundation staff member. She began teaching at Carroll College in 1995.
- Miss Louisa Bonner, Mrs Belle Barling and Mrs Anna Smart began as Year 7 students in 1995 and were among the first year group to graduate Year 12 in 2000.
- Mrs Emma Kenna, Mrs Hailee Nugent, Miss Rebecca Douglas and Mr Simon Blue are all members of the teaching team that are past students of the College.
We are very fortunate that they all chose Carroll College to pursue their career paths! - We have had a number of families that have two generations enrol in Year 7 and graduate in their final years.
Meet Mr Szkwarek
I moved to the coast in 2019 from Victoria where I held the position of VCAL Learning Leader and Trades Skills Centre Manager at Lavalla Catholic College.
As a lifelong learner, my broad skill set has been shaped by my educational and vocational experiences. I have passion for design, fishing and the outdoors and as a young teenager, I aspired to become a Fisheries Officer.
After leaving school I joined the Australian Defence Force and served for 8 years as a Combat Engineer and obtained my Carpentry and Joinery Trade Certificate working on Military and Civilian construction sites. Upon leaving the Defence Force, I studied Certificate IV in Information Technology and whilst I received excellent grades, construction was what I enjoyed most.
I spent a few years in the building trade, enjoying mentoring and working with apprentices. I then decided to take on an Industry Supervisor/Teaching position at TAFE, which had me based in a Correctional Facility where I upgraded my qualifications with a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. This was a challenging environment which taught me a lot about dealing with people from diverse backgrounds.
A few years later, I was presented with the opportunity to teach in a Senior Secondary College which meant committing to University studies at the age of 36 obtaining my Graduate Diploma in Technology Education.
Teaching allows me to engage in a diverse range of activities that allow my creative and critical skill set to shine. I’m passionate about fostering the art of learning and developing independent learners and I’m a strong advocate for Inquiry Based Learning and Project Based Learning pedagogy.
Now, as a teacher for 13 years I have finally found my ultimate career.
Technical and Applied Studies Teacher
I look forward to Term 3. I wish all families a safe and enjoyable winter break - coming shortly!
Jacqueline Heffernan
Principal
Assistant Principal Pastoral Care Report
It is nearly the end of what seems to be a very long term. The impact of the bushfires, floods and Covid-19 has left everyone feeling overwhelmed and tired. It will be very important these school holidays for families, students and staff to look after their mental health and wellbeing by having a break.
Headspace
Headspace is increasing its services in the local area. I recently communicated about this and the positive impact that Headspace will have on the wellbeing and support of young people and their families in our local area.
More than 75% of mental health issues develop before a person turns 25. (Source https://headspace.org.au/about-us/who-we-are/). For many people, finding health care professionals for mental health support can be difficult. Services such as Headspace, can make an enormous difference.
Headspace was started as a support service for young people aged 12-25 with a focus on early intervention and support. Each centre provides services which are tailored for individuals, providing support for mental health and wellbeing.
Initially, Headspace Batemans Bay will provide online services and this will gradually increase to face-to-face support services. Referrals for support can be sourced through www.headspace.org.au/batemansbay or phoning 1800 718 383. The service is free and bulk billed through Medicare.
As students are continuing to manage their workload with their return to school, it is important that families have a discussion about reasonable and manageable expectations regarding school work and study load. It is important for students to regularly communicate with their teachers if they require support.
If any student needs additional assistance, please make contact with the appropriate Pastoral Leader. They will be more than happy to accommodate student needs.
Uniform and haircut
Just a reminder that all students should be in full winter uniform at this stage of the term. The College Blazer, woollen jumper, rugby jersey or black jacket are the only approved items that should be worn.
When in Sports uniform, white socks must be worn. Black socks are not permitted. Footwear must be athletic shoes such as runners. Skate type shoes are not acceptable for sporting activities.
Jewellery must be kept to a minimum including single stud earrings for each ear and those with long hair must have it tied back. Mullet hairstylyes are not part of school policy.
For further information on uniform requirements, please refer to the uniform policy found on the College website.
Nathan Mansfield
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care
As we approach the mid-year break, it is pleasing to note that students have well and truly settled back to the normal routine of school. I think that the timing of the break is almost perfect as everyone appears to be running out of steam after the upheavals of the past 6 months. Hopefully, everyone will be able to relax and recharge over the holidays.
Next term, we will be finalising subject selections for 2021 for our Year 10 into 11 students and the electives choices for next year's Year 9 and Year 10 students. As part of this process, we run a Curriculum Expo evening to highlight the subjects we will be offering for students in 2021. The evening will provide an opportunity to visit curriculum stalls, discuss NSW Education Standards (NESA) requirements, investigate Vocational Education and Training opportunities and find out about possible Distance Education courses. Each family will also receive a Curriculum Handbook that provides a wealth of details about each course on offer in 2021.
The evening will be held on July 28 from 6 pm.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Expo will only be open to Year 10 students and one parent per family. We will take our Year 8 students to the Expo the following morning so they can learn about the Elective choices that are available to them for 2021. Year 9 students have already undergone this process, so we will meet with them separately to discuss their choices and run through the process. Any new students to the College are more than welcome to join us at the Expo.
After the Expo, students will be sent a link to submit their choices to an online subject selection portal. These will be due at the end of Week 3. From the students' choices, the College uses a computer program to prioritise the subjects that accomodate most student preferences and then formulate the timetable lines for 2021. It is important that students select their most preferred subjects. The way the computer program works is that it looks at the order of preference for each subject selected by all students and then generates the list of subjects that will suit the majority of students. We offer more subjects than we can actually offer, so it is the students' choices that determine the final timetable. This means that some students may not receive all their preferences and will then need to re-select from the final list.
Year 12 students should ensure they use the holiday break to continue their preparation for their Trial HSC exams in Weeks 5 & 6 of Term 3. These exams carry significant weightings for the students' overall School Assessment Mark, so any improvement in their performance, will be very beneficial. See the link to the Trial Exam timetable in this newsletter.
John O’Neill
Assistant Principal
Curriculum and Achievement
Please find below the link for 2020 HSC Trial dates.
College Photo Day
School photos will be held on Monday 27 July. Students will need to be dressed in their full winter uniform for their year group and individual photo. Students will need to bring their photo envelopes to school on photo day. If you returned your photo envelope in Term 1, they will be handed out to students on the day. There are spare photo envelopes at the front office for any families requiring one. Family photo envelopes can be collected from the front office.
Period 1 |
Year 7 |
Period 2 |
Year 12 SLT, Year photo & fun photo |
AM |
Family Photos |
Period 3 |
Year 8 |
Period 4 |
Year 11 |
Period 5 |
Year 9 |
Period 6 |
Year 10 |
Uniform Changes for students who have PDHPE practical lessons
Students in classes 10.3 (Mr Brady) and 10.4 (Mr Fogarty) can wear their PE uniform to school. They will need to bring their winter uniform to school and change at AM break.
Year 9 and 10 students in PASS 1 class (Mr Fogarty) can wear their PE uniform to school. They will need to bring their winter uniform to school and change at PM break.
Students in classes 8.3 (Mr Fogarty) and 8.4 (Mrs Nugent) are to wear their winter uniform to school. They will need to bring their PE uniform to school and change at PM break.
Students in classes 7.1 (Mr Brady) and 7.2 (Mrs Nugent) are to wear their winter uniform to school. They will need to bring their PE uniform to school and change at AM break.
Please keep the following families in your prayers, Liam (Yr 7) and Taylah (Yr 8) Hopman on the passing of their Grandfather and Hugh Wignell (Yr 7) on the passing of his Grandfather.
The Religious Education curriculum is currently undergoing some exciting change and transition. Catholic Education, Canberra is soon to submit an application to the National Education Standards Authority (NESA) for a new Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10) course to be used in 2021. The new modules of study come from the Archdiocese of Brisbane’s Religious Education curriculum which are based on four strands: Sacred Texts, Beliefs, Church and Christian Life. The modules will be adopted across the NSW secondary schools and will invigorate and enliven our RE classes. Once NESA accreditation is approved, teachers in the RE Department will begin working with the new modules and developing units of study. The Brisbane’s Religious Education curriculum is also being used to develop new units of study in Stage 4 (Years 7 and 8) RE classes. It is always exciting to be engaging with new ideas and pedagogy and to be considering how learning can be most productive.
Another significant change to curriculum will be to Senior RE. We currently offer the non-ATAR course, Catholic Studies. This Board endorsed course is being replaced in 2021 by a new course called, Studies in Catholic Thought. Students currently in the Year 11 Catholic Studies class will continue their course through to Year 12. The new unit will be offered to students entering Year 11 in 2021 and beyond. Studies in Catholic Thought is structured around the study of two themes central to the Catholic tradition; “Who is a human person?” and “The Good Life”. It is through the exploration of these themes that students come to a deeper understanding of the richness of Catholic belief, thinking and tradition. We hope, and trust, that students of the new course will find it challenging, engaging and revealing.
The College is very happy to be commencing with religious celebrations and faith formation events in Semester Two. Term Three should see us return to holding Faith Formation days for Year 7 and Year 8, as well as our annual Carroll Day Mass and the Year 12 Graduation Mass. We have also begun planning and preparation for the Senior Retreat which is being held in Term 4 from 4-6 November. Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare for these important occasions in the life of the Carroll College community.
Erica Drewsen
RE Coordinator
“For where your treasure is…”
There is a great deal to be said about setting goals. The old joke that “I plan to be spontaneous next Tuesday” speaks to the two vital aspects of the human psyche- the need to act in the moment but also the requirement to think about the future.
There is an expression “treading water”. It refers to just doing enough to get out of trouble. Over my long teaching career, I have noticed that some students do the bare minimum, enough to get a C grade and achieve satisfactory learning outcomes. However, education is going beyond the mandated work to something that challenges and provokes curiosity. That is where teachers enter the process. How much advice does your child seek from their teacher? Does he/she know how to improve grades in the next assessment task? Do they care enough to ask?
Storing up treasures means preparing the ground for future meeting of personal goals. I know how important education is for children who live in poorer countries. I have seen firsthand, children in wretched poverty doing homework in semi-darkness in the hope of something better. Recent studies show that 25% of disengaged young people do not complete school, with some variation nationally from primary to secondary school. This should be concerning.
Of the 25% who did not complete school in 2013-14, one in four students indicated that they did not like school, with some indicating that their disinterest was because of not doing well.
Of concern is the quietly disengaged student, who sometimes goes unnoticed because they are usually compliant, but not as productive as they could be.
Short-term goals - is one that can be completed quickly. It could be a goal to be achieved in the next 5 minutes, next day or week. An example of a short-term goal is to go for a run today or to read a page of my biology book.
Medium-term goals - is one that takes a bit longer. It could be a goal to be achieved in the next 2 weeks, a month or perhaps 6 months. A medium term goal might be to run 10km. The only way to run 10km is to achieve several short-term goals of running a shorter distance.
Long-term goals -This one that takes quite a bit longer. It could be a goal to be achieved in the next 6 months, a year or perhaps 5, 10 or 20 years. A long- term goal might be to run a marathon. The only way to run a marathon is to achieve several medium term goals such as running 10km, 15km, a half marathon, 30km and finally a full marathon. A long-term study goal might be to gain TAFE or university entry or to achieve a degree or diploma.
I urge all our students to undertake the same preparation in their studies as is done for sports or other activities. Prepare the ground for success and by success, I mean the quality of the attempt. Reports are due to be sent home and surely, THE most significant grade is the one that reflects effort and application. Diligence and commitment to any task while at school is great preparation for life.
Paul Cullen
paul.cullen@cg.catholic.edu.au
Please see the recipe attached so you can have a go yourself! On our College Facebook page, there is also a video of Alex Castrisios learning how to Flambe'.
Alex Castrisios, Nancy Carver & Charlize Cramer
Cross Country Results 2020
Age Champions –
Age |
Sex |
Winner |
Runner up |
12 |
M |
Jeremy Scicluna |
Keanu Craig |
12 |
F |
Isabella Jay |
Piper McCarthy |
13 |
M |
Riley Beby |
Fox McGeachy |
13 |
F |
Erin Drewson |
Kira Pendlebury |
14 |
M |
Luke Gallen |
Harry Barrington |
14 |
F |
Sarah Tuckwell |
Sophie Epplestun |
15 |
M |
Ryan Smith |
Mark Tuckwell |
15 |
F |
Raphaella Herford |
Grace Ralston |
16 |
M |
Ryle Schuchmann |
Chris Usher |
16 |
F |
Ruby-Tuesday Jacobs |
Bonnie Brewer |
17+ |
M |
Rhys Flood |
Cooper Brady |
17+ |
F |
Gemma Ferguson |
Sarah Penberthy |
House results –
House |
Chisholm - 1st |
Xavier - 2nd
|
Mackillop - 3rd |
Points |
611 |
547 |
457
|
Private Music Lessons and Creative Kids Vouchers
Have you applied for the Creative Kids Voucher for your child yet? This exciting initiative gives parents $100 per child to spend towards music or other creative lessons or activities. This may be the perfect time for your son or daughter to begin private music lessons with one of our tutors that teach during school time. Most of our tutors are Creative Kids Providers so that you can use your voucher to pay for $100 of lessons.
Creative Kids Vouchers can be applied for at https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-creative-kids-voucher
You will receive your Creative Kids Voucher by email. Once you have received it, you can forward it to the teacher of your choice for payment. You will need to ensure that the teacher is a Creative Kids Provider before you do this.
Available Now
College Beanies and Scarves are now available to purchase via Qkr or from the College canteen for $10 each.
Term 2 fee statements were emailed on Friday 22nd May with a due date of Friday 3rd July (end of this term).
If you have completed a Concession Application this is currently underway. Please note that although we have experienced delays with reviewing Fee Concessions this year as a result of the Bushfires, Covid-19 and Catholic Education guidelines – the Fee’s Committee will be meeting shortly to review Concession applications. The outcome is advised to applicants as soon as this meeting takes place and this will occur during Week 8 (19 June) this term. The Fee Committee convenes once a term to review all concession applications. If you have provided a concession application to the College, you may sometimes be asked to supply additional supporting information. All information is treated and maintained confidentially.
If your family has been impacted by COVID-19 through the loss of the primary source of income or livelihood through redundancy, stand down, reduction in hours, carer’s responsibilities, health issues, business closure and/or reduced turnover or other related impact - please contact Rhonda Forner, Business Manager by email at Rhonda.Forner@cg.catholic.edu.au to request a COVID-19 Fee Assistance Request Form.
If you require financial assistance due to any other hardship (e.g. low income, health or other hardship) not related to COVID-19 including Bushfires, please contact Rhonda Forner, Business Manager by email at Rhonda.Forner@cg.catholic.edu.au
COVID 19 Financial Survival Guide
Please be aware that you are not alone and there are resources available to assist you and your family at this time. Listed below are some of those resources for information.
https://ndh.org.au/debt-problems/covid19/
Financial Institution Support during Covid19
Financial Institutions are also offering a range of assistance to account holders, homeowners and businesses. Please enquire with your financial institution to access financial support such as:
- Suspending payments on credit cards and personal loans
- Reduce interest rates on home loans/suspending or deferring home loan repayments/loan variations/reducing loan interest rates
- Loans and support for small business
- Loan extensions and other options.
Westpac
https://www.westpac.com.au/help/disaster-relief/coronavirus/?pid=iwc:sr:support_2003:covid:
NAB
https://www.nab.com.au/personal/customer-support/covid19-help?own_cid=MH20012
St George
ME Bank
https://www.mebank.com.au/support/coronavirus-information/
ANZ
https://www.anz.com.au/promo/covid-19/
Commonwealth Bank
https://www.commbank.com.au/latest/support-for-home-loan-customers.html?ei=pers_HL
Teachers Mutual Bank
https://www.tmbank.com.au/about/member-news/2020/coronavirus?icn=corona2020&icd=hpnews2
Scams during Coronavirus
Please be aware that there are some financial scams relating to Coronavirus. These may be in the form of text messages, emails or phone calls. The best approach is to not provide any of your financial information. If you suspect you have been contacted as part of a scam, you can report it to scamwatch – scamwatch.com.au/report-a-scam and the police.
For additional support, other services available include:
Beyond Blue
Life Line
Qkr Functionality Update for users not able to Connect to Server
For Qkr App Users
Reinstall the App to apply the current changes. You may need to reset your password.