Gaining the best education possible is recognised as being one of the significant pillars supporting the future success of our young people. Feeling connected to school, the feeling that school is a welcoming place a student wants to come to each day is important in the process. A school is a place where friendships are made, engaging learning happens and students receive support and guidance from a group of adults who work in partnership with their parents. Schools offer students a range of protective factors that help to build their resilience so they can manage themselves in a world that is changing and will present highs and challenging lows.

Pastoral Care office

Carroll College values the role that our entire staff play in looking after the well-being of our students and families. Having a designated structure around Pastoral care and wellbeing demonstrates this value. Our Pastoral Office is always available to our students. The House Coordinators are focused on getting to know each student so they feel connected and supported. On a daily basis, together with the staff, they are available to answer questions from students and parents either in person, by email or phone. Students visit the Pastoral office to share good news stories, seek advice, a listening ear or even a hair tie. Our spaces are used for student meetings, time out space or to play games. The Pastoral team respond to behavioural issues as well as celebrating the successes of students. We organise special events like graduations, House days and assemblies as well as the pastoral programs that build the capacity and resilience of our students. The team work to coordinate college resources to best support the needs of students and families and build partnerships.

Please feel free to contact your child’s Pastoral Coordinator to talk about issues relevant to them. Where issues are directly related to their academic progress then you are invited to contact the classroom teacher, relevant KLA Coordinator or AP Curriculum.

Our College Counsellor from Catholic care plays a very supportive role in the Pastoral team. Below are some helpful hints Naomi has gathered that outline the importance of sleep for young people.

The Importance of Sleep 

It’s a well-known fact that sleep is incredibly important for everyone. Sleep is the body’s chance to rest and reset for the next day. For young people, sleep is especially important because their bodies are going through their formative years and need recovery in order to change and develop. Despite sleep being so important for young people, good sleep patterns are often resisted due to a variety of reasons such as screens and social media, worrying/racing minds, and other distractions. So how can parents and carers support their children to have better sleep patterns? 

Maintain Routine 

It can be difficult to go to sleep at the same time every night, however maintaining some routine is important so that the brain knows when to relax and prepare for rest. It can be a good idea to have a limit to how late your child can stay up for, and they can choose to go to bed before or on that time. A pre-bed routine is also helpful for a good sleep, and can include brushing teeth, reading a chapter of a book or listening to a relaxing podcast. Every person is different, but young people should be aiming for at least 8 hours of sleep per night. A good sleep routine also includes waking up at a reasonable time each morning. Remind your child that while it may be difficult at first, their body clock will adjust, and it will get easier.  

Avoid Stimuli 

Avoiding screens is extremely important and we should not be looking at phone, television or computer screens for at least one hour before bed. This is because screens stimulate us, not relax us. Screentime reduces the quality of our sleep and does not allow us to wind-down properly.  

Other common stimuli can include caffeine and energy drinks. These should be limited and not consumed during the afternoon or night.  

Create a Good Environment 

Young people will sleep easier if they are in a comfortable, tidy environment. It is also a good idea to encourage your children not to do homework on their bed. Their bed is supposed to be a place of rest and relaxation, and it can be harder to switch off if they have spent all afternoon working on it.   

Check-in Before Bed 

Sometimes young people can struggle to sleep due to stress. There are many worries that can keep young people up at night – from social issues such as friendships and bullying, to school issues such as assignment stress. It can be helpful to check-in before bed and offer comfort or advice if they need it.  

If you are worried about your child’s sleep, check in with their GP to discuss this further. For more information, read this with your child: https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/for-young-people/get-enough-sleep/. 

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea Fundraiser

On Tuesday 31 May we recognised Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea to help raise funds for the Cancer Council. Students and staff were both involved and we raised over $400 dollars. Mrs Dalgleish and the Year 9/10 Food Technology class made a range of treats that were sold by members of the Senior Leadership Team at AM break. Mrs Kenna and the Year 11 Hospitality class, along with our Year 12 Baristas, spoilt the staff with hot drinks and platters of sweet and savoury options for sale. Our last activity involved the staff guessing competition that was organised by Mrs Enfield. Thank you to all the staff and students who contributed in a variety of ways to the success of this important cause.

Driving programs

With limited public transport options here on the coast, our young people are always keen to work towards gaining their driver’s licence. Below are the links to some courses that are available in the coming weeks.