An essential element of education is assessment for, as and of learning. All students at Carroll College complete a range of assessment task types. The staff recently underwent Professional Learning delivered by Shane Chapman from NESA about effective assessment. This session gave staff the opportunity to analyse our own assessment tasks and practices and consider ways we can be more consistent in our assessment writing and procedures.

As a result of this professional learning, each Department has been allocated time this term to review and improve their assessment tasks. A highly successful meeting has already been held with members of the English Department where tasks for Term 1, 2023 across Years 8, 9 and 10 were revised and re-written to ensure that they meet best practice standards. Meetings will continue across the term with the goal being to have a uniform format for formal assessment tasks across all KLAs for Term 1.

It is essential that all assessment tasks include the necessary information and that tasks are written in a way that ensures students are clear about the requirements of the task and how they can succeed. Writing student-centred Marking Guidelines is a part of this process as these are vital documents that provide students with an indication of what they need to do to achieve at each Grade level.

This process is excellent professional development that is directly related to improving student outcomes. We are fortunate to have this time and I expect that students and parents will very much benefit from these changes and improvements to assessment tasks.

Erica Drewsen
Assistant Principal, Learning and Innovation

The College will be once again supporting the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. Social Justice Captains, Heidi Manning, Claire Mass and Autumn Rankin will be working with the SLT to lead this initiative. The launch of the Vinnies Christmas Appeal is on 2 November and the Social Justice Captains have a wide range of wonderful activities planned in order to make our Appeal a great success so we can help as many families as possible in our local area.

This year, Vinnies is asking for donations of non-perishable Christmas foods, gifts, and cash. More information will be provided to students in Homeroom about donations. Below is a guide from Vinnies about what to donate. Cash donations via Qkr! will be gratefully accepted.

Erica Drewsen

Assistant Principal, Learning and Innovation
RE Coordinator

October is Mental Health awareness month. During this month we all are encouraged to take time to refocus our attention on self-care and to acknowledge the importance of mental health. Our mental health is equally as important as our physical health and together they promote holistic well-being. If we ignore our mental well-being we place ourselves at greater risk of depression and other serious health issues.

Our lives regardless of age are complicated. We all face daily stressors which can create a strong sense of the unknown. For our children, social and family relationships, academic expectations, and part-time work can be a source of stress, combine this with a world that they hear is not at peace and we have a challenging environment.

We know that mental health issues should always be taken seriously. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength. Our world thank goodness is dismantling the previously held stigma associated with acknowledging mental health issues. Here at the college when students ask for help or we see someone who is struggling the students are supported and not judged. Often the students' experience of the support that is on offer empowers others to also reach out which is a true sign of the compassionate and open relationships that we strive to build.

During the remainder of October and moving forward everyone is encouraged to prioritise their mental health.

• Take care of your body: get enough sleep, eat right, and stay active.  
• Connect with others: talk to trusted people in your life about how you are feeling. 
• Take time to unwind: don’t forget to do things you enjoy like reading a book, doing yoga, or other forms of self-care.

Our College Counsellor, Naomi Bee has drawn together some ideas and resources focused on healthy eating and mental well-being for families to consider.

Healthy Eating for a Healthy Mind

Healthy eating is a well-known component of physical health but is not always considered in relation to mental health and well-being. We know that physical and mental health are linked, but research tells us that the food we consume also has a significant impact on our mood and mental well-being. Healthy eating, therefore, is an important habit that we should be practicing, and teaching to young people in order to see them thrive.

Foods for a good mood

Most of us have heard the saying “we are what we eat”, and it is widely known that a poor diet can leave you feeling sluggish and unwell. More recently, research has shown that healthy diets can actually improve mental health and may reduce symptoms associated with mental health disorders. For more information on such studies, follow this link https://foodandmoodcentre.com.au/2016/07/diet-and-mental-health/ 

A healthy diet consists of a wide variety of nutritious foods including vegetables, legumes, fruits, meat and fish (or high protein/iron alternatives for vegetarians/vegans), plenty of water, and dairy (or alternatives for vegetarians/vegans). Foods to eat in moderation include highly processed foods and foods high in sugar and fat. The following link provides recommendations for foods to eat for optimal health and well-being https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines/australian-guide-healthy-eating

For teens and children, in particular, foods to avoid in high amounts are caffeinated drinks (coffee, energy drinks, pre-workouts), refined sugar lollies and soft drinks, and high-fat junk food such as fast food. When eaten in excess these items can cause irritable and anxious moods, mood swings, and mood crashes.

The importance of balance

Healthy eating can be a challenge with the array of highly processed foods available, and many can feel the pressure to make healthy choices every day and may even punish themselves for the occasional treat. The key to a healthy diet is balance. It is unrealistic to expect yourself and young people to always eat healthily; life happens and it’s okay to have a treat occasionally. If your everyday diet is consistently healthy and varied, treats should be an enjoyable part of life as well. Enforcing strict eating habits onto young people may cause body image issues and/or disordered eating behaviours, so it’s just as important to encourage balance and acceptance as it is to teach them about healthy eating.

Ways to improve eating habits

Here are some tips to improve eating habits in your household:

- Eating a healthy breakfast is a great way to kick off the day – some ideas could be a bowl of porridge with honey or fruit, avocado on toast (full of lots of good fat), or eggs (great for protein). Making these healthy choices early in your day has been shown to set you up to consume other healthy foods as the day progresses.

- Skipping meals is NOT the answer - our bodies need food for us to function properly. Going to school or work on an empty stomach, or not eating regularly throughout the day, can decrease energy and increase bad moods.

- Mix it up – adding variety to meals each week is not only healthy but can make healthy eating interesting and fun.

- Make a plan and prep – it can be really tough with busy household schedules to cook healthy meals, so it’s a good idea to pick a day to plan healthy meals for the week, shop for them and prep them. That way, during the week after a long day the work is done for you, and you have a healthy option ready to go.

Resources

For more information and healthy eating ideas, follow these links: https://foodandmoodcentre.com.au/2021/04/looking-through-the-lens-at-how-food-can-improve-our-mood/  

https://au.reachout.com/articles/how-to-make-healthy-food-choices  

https://heas.health.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/pick-mix-lunchbox-poster.pdf 

Ride with Me Project

The students of Year 11 Studies in Catholic Thought classes have joined forces with Banksia Village, Broulee and The Faculty of Health at the University of Canberra to participate in a Pilot Program using the intergenerational approach to assist the aged care sector in increasing physical activity and social connectedness and could potentially lead to reducing the stigma of living in residential aged care.

Associate Professor Stephen Isbel visited Carroll College at the end of Term 3 to propose the joint adventure. Our students have attended Banksia Village Lodge twice so far. Right from the first day students returned to school buzzing about the experiences they had meeting their project buddy from Banksia Lodge. Some comments from students include;

• “My visit was amazing”.
• “It was a great experience and I would recommend we do it again”.
• “It was really good to talk to my person. She is 91 years old and told me lots about her childhood, WWII and that her grandfather invented the carburetor – an interesting talk”.
• “It was a pleasure to watch the students engage fully with each visit. The conversation between the residents and the students was dynamic, animated, and informative. The residents very obviously enjoyed being able to talk to young people who really listened. The students were interested and asked questions to understand the person and their life experiences. The best part of each visit was the student conversations after the visits. They clearly enjoyed the experience and openly said they couldn’t wait to go back. A positive and fruitful experience all around".

Positive relationships have already been formed and we hope they can continue after the project is finished. The staff from the University of Canberra and Banksia Lodge were glowing in their praise of our students from the outset noting their maturity, cooperation, manners and great participation. A huge thank you to Mrs Cheryle King and Mr Paul Hamer for their organisation and support of this program.

PCYC Safe Driver Program

Last week 10 of our Year 10 and Year 11 students participated in this program which was funded by a Bushfire Recovery Grant. All of the students were fully engaged with Module 1 delivered here at the college and then went on to complete Module 2 on Saturday in Batemans Bay. Everyone agreed that the course was very worthwhile and we would like to thank the presenters, Charmaine Brereton and Rodney Eade. We are hoping to organise another opportunity to offer this course in the new year.

Year 10 Spring Soiree

Our social event for Year 10 was a great success this week. Thankfully the weather was fine so students could enjoy the beach as a backdrop for their photos before arriving at school to a beautifully decorated hall. We were treated to a two-course meal prepared by our own Hospitality chefs and table service from our staff. Thank you to DJ Matt Brown for the dance music and Mr Wayne LeCompte from Loud Designs for the photographs that will be available soon.

Our students get to enjoy wonderful nights like this as a result of the hard work and dedication of our staff. Behind the scenes we had staff arranging flowers, working with students to create the photo backdrop, maintenance set up, and packing up the hall. Thank you to the finance team for arranging permission notes and payments, our wonderful Hospitality teachers and students for their food preparation and service, and our staff for their attendance, service and supervision. Driving all of this was the Pastoral team, in particular, Mrs Corrinne Dell and Mr Greg MacAteer. A wonderful team effort!

Uniform

Thank you to the families who have taken the time to focus on the presentation of their children in their college uniform. Parents and carers ensuring that their child leaves home in the correct uniform that complies with the uniform policy is a wonderful support of the college. In the last two weeks, we have seen an overall improvement. Uniforms will continue to be closely monitored so this improvement is sustained.

Thank you for your ongoing support. 

Mrs Louise Ibbett
Assistant Principal- Pastoral care

Year 7 – 10 Exam Timetable

Year 7 to 10 students will be completing their exams in Week 4 and 5. A copy of the exam schedule for each year group is available below. Following the exams the students will be completing their online Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) for Reading and Mathematics.

PAT assessments provide objective, norm-referenced information to teachers about their students’ skills and understandings in a range of key areas. Each PAT has its own proficiency scale with descriptors outlining the content and skills students are consolidating at any given point on that scale. Each PAT assessment provides data on student performance, making PAT ideal for understanding students’ current strengths and weaknesses, informing teaching and learning, and monitoring progress over the year. The tests are online, multiple choice and each test will take approximately 40 minutes. I encourage all students to do their best during these tests as the data will be used by their class teachers.

During Week 5, Year 10 students will complete the HSC: All My Own Work module. All My Own Work is a program designed to help HSC students follow the principles and practices of good scholarship. This includes understanding, valuing, and using ethical practices when locating and using information as part of their HSC studies. It is about completing tasks honestly. Students who have completed the program will also know about penalties for cheating and how to avoid malpractice when preparing their work for assessment. To be eligible for the HSC, students must complete HSC: All My Own Work before they submit any work for Preliminary (Year 11).

This week’s reminders…

• HSC exams continue week 3 and 4.
• Year 10 exams and Year 9 elective exams will be held in Week 4.
• HSC VA marking will take place on Tuesday 1 November from 11.00am.

Sandra Harris

Assistant Principal Learning and Improvement

Music and Drama Excursion to Moulin Rouge

Our overnight excursion to Sydney was extremely successful and the experience was enjoyed by all students. It is easy to underestimate the value of an experience like this. At least one of the students had never been to Sydney before and many had never attended a professional, live show. Also, for the majority of 9/10 students, this was the first overnight trip since their Year 7 Camp. So, there was much excitement among the students.

The performance of Moulin Rouge was spectacular and the students were spellbound! This was obviously the highlight of the trip. The students also had the opportunity to attend two tours/workshops/information sessions on this trip. On Wednesday afternoon, the students had a choice between the Sydney Theatre Company Wharves or the Conservatorium of Music. Both sessions were interesting and informative for the students, providing valuable insights into the opportunities available after leaving school. The students who attended Sydney Theatre Company were able to watch a rehearsal for ‘The Tempest’, while students at the Conservatorium learned valuable strategies for lyric writing, and in particular, how to write a successful chorus, which was presented by Keppie Coutts. The students who went to the Con were also captivated by a jazz ensemble with a stunning vocalist before boarding the bus. On Thursday morning, Drama students participated in an awesome workshop with the incredible Matilda Ridgway, who managed to bring all students out of their comfort zone through improvisation activities. The rest of the students went to JMC Academy where they were given a tour of the amazing facilities and received information about the courses on offer. Several of our students are extremely interested in some of the courses offered at JMC.

I would like to acknowledge Teagan Lomax for organising the drama activities for this excursion and for making the time to attend this excursion. It is difficult to be able to leave your young family at home to attend an overnight excursion. I would also like to thank Matt King and Matt O’Brien for their support and fantastic company on this trip. All staff worked as a team to provide the best opportunities and supervision of students on this excursion. The students were impeccably behaved and enjoyed the Sydney experience.

Ros Maher
CAPA Coordinator

Budding young Carroll College writer, Emma Penberthy (Year 10), was recently acknowledged in the Eurobodalla Mayoral Writing Competition, being awarded overall second place in the Year 9/10 category. Her short story narrative, Tales of Irony, cleverly explores urban themes through the perspective of a jaded bartender.

Emma’s story is included below for your reading pleasure.

Tales of Irony 

I’ve heard it all. The drunken tales of breakups, tragedies, sports bets, health issues and all kinds of other stories. I’ve become quite accustomed to these usual tales being told at the bar. As I poured out another shot and slid it across to one of the regulars, I surveyed the room. The usual group of loud punters at the back of the room hollered at a mate who lost his bet on his horse. I glanced across to a group of youths challenging each other to a drinking competition while the others film the young male downing cocktails. 

I grabbed a glass and polished it swiftly, taking advantage of the lack of customers while time allowed me to. Ducking my head down, I delicately placed the glass below the bench. When I popped my head up, a man in his forties stood directly in front of me. A serious, reclusive expression adorned his face as he placidly sat down. He demanded a scotch in a low, hoarse sounding voice. As I passed it to him, I eyed him discreetly. Something about him struck me as different from the average customer for some unknown reason. Then the tale begins. This one seemed fairly typical: the man was late to work in the morning and therefore was given an arduous task by his boss as punishment. Once he finished his rant, he simply downed his scotch, sharply arose from his stool and marched out of the establishment. I was unable to slide a single word into the tirade as a means of being polite which left me in a state of befuddlement from the momentary meeting and rudeness experienced from the strange man. 

The day that ensued began like every other: a routine gym session and lunch with my partner. As I departed the café, I felt completely at ease, until an expeditious glimpse of my watch changed this feeling. I was going to be late to work. I was never late. I felt stress gradually bubbling to the surface as I dashed to my car. Every second taken to open the car door, click my seatbelt in and ease my foot off the clutch appeared to be the longest seconds of my life. I powered through the streets, praying for all of the traffic lights to be green. Sadly, these prayers were not answered with every light turning red before I reached them. Anxiety tore me away from the state of relaxation experienced minutes before as every agonising second spent waiting at lights threatened to pull me into a state of utter panic. 

Pulling into the car park behind my workplace, I sprinted through the back doors. As I pushed them open, my hopeful heart sank. My boss stood there, arms folded with a disappointed stare to match his body language. He merely gestured to the clock and then to the crates of alcohol that sat by the back door and left without a word. I sighed and began the laborious job of shifting the new stock into the storage room. My muscles screamed from the exertion, worsened by the weight lifting this morning. My arms felt like jelly when I finally completed the vigorous task. 

I was soon back to being a bartender, observing the punters, young, old and down-and-out. When the doors swung open, the strange man appeared, sauntering directly towards me. A smile crept across my face as I offered a polite greeting, only to be met with a demand for a scotch. As I filled the glass, he proceeded to divulge a new tale. This one had a depressing tone to it. His shoulders slumped, he monotonously recounted his partner leaving him when he walked through the door of his house after finishing a long day at work. He closed his eyes and spoke of the pain of witnessing the love of his life pick up her suitcases and march out the door. His face, which was beyond his years, was contorted with affliction. Seconds after, his eyes opened and he downed his scotch, shuffling out the door without another word. Once again, I was left in a state of confusion over his behaviour. 

I slowly drove home, my body twisted with mental and physical exhaustion from the day’s punishment. I ambled up to the front door, keys jiggling as I lethargically unlocked the door. I nudged the door open and there stood my partner Amber in all of her beauty and grace. My face fell as I became aware of the pile of suitcases sitting next to her. The blood drained from my face as I locked eyes with her angry, hurt gaze. My heart felt as if someone was squeezing it far too tight as she complained about the lack of commitment and the insufficient time spent with her. 

I felt utterly shattered as I helplessly watched her accelerate down the driveway. I sank to my knees in devastation. The image of the strange man from the bar returned to me as I felt the magic that the love of my life gave me slowly fade away. The uncanny similarities of the tales from the strange man dealt a cruel hand into the game of my life. 

I slump into the bar, the weight of yesterday’s events sitting heavily on my shoulders. I feel destroyed, as if life no longer matters to me after losing the one thing that brought me happiness. I yearn to give Amber a tight embrace, for her to tell me that this was all a mistake and that she still loves me. 

I take a seat and watch as my colleague makes his way towards me. I request a scotch without any greeting. Putting my hands to my head, I sigh deeply and ignore my co-worker’s questions about my depressive state. I hear a stool being dragged out beside me and as I turn my head, I am face-to-face with the strange man in his forties.

Emma Penberthy (Year 10)

Year 11 participated in a day of Outdoor Recreation activities as part of their unit of study in the Preliminary PDHPE Course. First, they hiked the trail to Mount Bushwalker and the lookout at Florence Head in the Budawangs, followed by some indoor rock climbing at the Dunn and Lewis Centre in Ulladulla.

Charlton Fogarty
Classroom Teacher