Come Holy Spirit of Pentecost!

Come Holy Spirit of the Great South Land! Give us the grace to see your face in one another and to recognise Jesus, our companion on the road. Give us the courage to tell our stories and to speak boldly of your truth. Give us ears to listen humbly to each other and a discerning heart to hear what you are saying. Lead your Church into a Hope filled future, that we may live the joy of the Gospel. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, bread for the journey, from age to age, Amen.

Dear Parents, Students and Friends

Last Sunday, the Catholic Church celebrated the Feast of Pentecost. Pentecost is a Christian holy day that celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit 40 days after Easter. Just as the apostles in Jesus’ time experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Sacrament of Confirmation confers the gifts of the Holy Spirit to those who wish to be confirmed. Today we call these people candidates. On 19 & 20 June, the Sacrament of Confirmation will be held for candidates in our two Catholic feeder schools. Helping these students to prepare for this Sacrament is our Year 10 CSYMA (Catholic Schools’ Youth Ministry Australia) class. They are currently preparing to facilitate a retreat day on 4 June at the College for students from St Bernard’s and St Mary’s as well as students from Public schools wishing to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They will be assisted by our Youth Minister Liarna Miller and our Faith Formation Coordinator Belle Barling. 

National Reconciliation Week

Today marks the start of National Reconciliation Week. The College celebrated National Sorry Day on Wednesday. Each member of our school community created a ‘Sorry Hand’ which outlined their individual commitment to Reconciliation in our nation. Each of the hands were planted in the ground to connect us to the country in which we learn and play.

Learning is a change in long-term memory. Unless the cognitive conditions are right, people will avoid thinking. Students who make
frequent responses during a lesson learn more than students who are passive observers. Students learn new ideas in relation to ideas they already know. Daily Review is a critical teaching strategy for moving information to long-term memory, which reduces the burden on working memory. (Teach Well, 2021)

Last week, the HITP In Action team (11 teachers) attended professional learning in Canberra. High impact teaching practices have been the focus in classrooms for these leaders. Strategies for Effective Instruction come from research by Barak Rosenshine. The 17 Principles appear logical in the teaching and learning space. However, it is the implementation of these strategies that require intentional focus to execute effectively when fully engaging the learner.

Mrs Erica Drewsen is part of our HITP In Action team. She writes:

I have found the Catalyst training to be highly motivating and engaging. Often as teachers we attend Professional Learning that we think is worthwhile but we cannot see it in action and so we can fall into our usual patterns of teaching. Catalyst, however, has provided us all with an excellent framework and specific examples of what our lessons can, and should, include in order to increase our impact in the classroom.  I have appreciated and gained enormously from the professional conversations and sharing that is stemming from the program.  I have begun to use HITP in classrooms from Year 7 to Year 12 and students have responded very positively to the practices.  I am learning new strategies and techniques that are truly effective.  It is very exciting!

‘Tell Them From Me’ School Surveys
This week, Catholic Education has launched the 'Tell Them From Me' Survey, a new school improvement survey for staff, students and parents. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process. Yesterday, all families received an invitation to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. As we highly value the role of parents and carers within our school community, we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at Carroll College.

Year 7 2022 Interviews
I am delighted that interviews have commenced with families of Year 6 children wishing to enrol at Carroll College in 2022. This is an exciting time! Please encourage family and friends to lodge their child’s application so I can meet with them shortly. It is an important decision when choosing a secondary school. I am very happy to meet with any family, even if they are undecided at this stage in the year. It is wise to make an informed decision and visit schools. Often first impressions are lasting. A positive school culture is almost tangible.

Walawaani njindiwan

We acknowledge the Walbunja people of the Yuin nation, the traditional custodians of the land, where the Aboriginal people have performed age-old ceremonies of storytelling, music, dance and celebration.

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Elders past and present, and we acknowledge those of the future, for they will hold the memories, traditions and hopes of Aboriginal Australians.

We must always remember that this land is, was and always will be traditional Aboriginal land.

Blessings on your home and family.

Jacqueline Heffernan
Principal