Principal's Welcome
Dear Parents, Students and Friends
A warm welcome to the 2024 school year and our first College newsletter for Term 1. Despite the absence of sunny days during the holidays, it was great to slow the pace and relax indoors. We certainly cannot complain about the rain! I hope your summer holidays were enjoyable and the festive season was celebrated with family and friends.
WELCOME
I extend a special welcome to our new families joining the college this year. It will be wonderful to get to know you and your child/ren over the coming months and years. To our returning existing families, welcome back! A great year awaits!
It is my pleasure to welcome the following new staff to Carroll this year. Welcome to Miss Montana Price, Mrs Suzzanne Gray, Mrs Karen Mahony, Miss Claudia Hannan and Mr Malaki Moreton. Mrs Mahony’s appointment is a recent one that will be news to you. Mrs Mahony is replacing Mrs Krys Wise in the Library Hub. She comes to us from Merici College in Canberra. Most recently, Mrs Mahony has taught Humanities, Religious Education, and has been involved in administering Spelling Mastery and Dibels assessments. Mrs Mahony’s expertise across these areas will be very valuable over time. At this stage, she is very happy to be able to assist us with oversight of the Hub operations. All other abovementioned colleagues were announced last year, and I know you’ll join me in making these newly appointed staff feel very welcome.
This year, Mr Brendan Ashby will join Mr Niall McPherson as a permanent part-time relieving teacher. Aboriginal Elder and Knowledge Holder, Ms Trish Ellis is picking up an additional day working Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Miss Jade Delaney is returning as Classroom Support Assistant. Miss Hallie Wignell is moving into the role of Art Assistant one day p/week and Classroom Support Assistant the other four days. Miss Faith Costigan is returning to cover Mondays and Tuesdays as College Counsellor alongside Miss Naomi Bee who will maintain Wednesday to Friday – fantastic news on all accounts!
We welcome back Mrs Victoria Nicholson from Maternity Leave this year. Mrs Nicholson will be working casually as she moves back into work after enjoying time off with her young family. It will be lovely to have her back teaching at Carroll.
CONGRATULATIONS
In other staffing news, I congratulate Mrs Elise Paull on her current studies. Mrs Paull is well into her teaching degree undertaking a Bachelor of Educational Studies that will lead into the Master of Education (Secondary) degree. This year, Mrs Paull will be teaching one of our VET courses – Certificate III in Business Services. Mrs Paull’s initiative to begin her degree has enabled her to step into this role. Congratulations, Mrs Paull!
Mrs Anna Smart is our new Religious Education Coordinator (REC) this year while Mrs Erica Drewsen takes a break from this role. I congratulate Mrs Smart on this significant appointment. REC is an important role and is integral to the life and culture of a Catholic school. Mrs Smart attended a New Leaders Induction Day and Welcome Dinner in Canberra before school commenced. She is pictured right with one of my colleagues, Mr Michael Lee. Click on the link for full details https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/nearly-50-new-catholic-education-leaders-take-up-roles-across-the-archdiocese/2
Mrs Smart will also continue in the role of Year 7 Humanities Coordinator. I wish Mrs Smart every success in her new role.
Mrs Drewsen will maintain one day p/week working Thursdays, along with additional relief days. She will be working closely with Mr Andrew Kenneally and the Curriculum Leadership Team. She will also continue as Catalyst Lead for the college and be teaching a couple of Humanities lessons for Mrs Barling.
LEADERSHIP
Mrs Kym Millikin has been successful in being selected for the ‘Emerging Leaders Program’ this year being offered through Catholic Education. Principals were asked to nominate a team member who exhibited strong leadership capacity and has demonstrated competence across varied positions. I congratulate Mrs Millikin on this achievement as only 20 teachers have been selected for this program. The course structure will include participants undertaking the Lifestyles Inventory, an external assessment of their current leadership style, modules that address the theological and biblical foundations of leadership in a Catholic school, improving student outcomes through the lenses of personal, relational, knowledge, and managerial capabilities as well as coaching and mentoring of a specific leadership challenge and/or project that applies the learning from each session. Mrs Millikin’s first session has been held this week in Canberra. We wish her well as she undertakes this valuable development program.
THANK YOU
So much goes on behind the scenes when school closes for the Christmas break. Thank you to Mr Daryl Hanson, Mr Glyn Bromige-Avery and Mrs Dalys Whipp for their work over the past month in coordinating college upgrades. The new awnings are almost complete. A small section needed to be finished on the western side of the girls’ toilets and the large one between B and D blocks to cover the next rollout of student lockers for Year 7. These will be installed shortly. Another storage shed is in progress near the hall. This is all over and above the usual maintenance of equipment, full cleaning of carpets, desks and rooms, servicing of air conditioners, pest inspections, mowing… and more mowing! The college looks fabulous!
You may not be aware that the Carroll Staff takes care of Rose, Harley and Arthur (our pet pigs!) during the holidays. They require daily care so staff volunteer to assist on a rotating roster. The pigs will relocate to their new home once it is completed behind the maintenance sheds as our new TAS building project commences in the coming months. Special thanks to our committed team!
CLASSROOM MASTERY
As you are aware, our three K-12 Catholic schools on the Coast have been selected in the first wave of schools to participate in Classroom Mastery Professional Learning. Our three schools were chosen recognising the importance of a common approach for the K-12 Pathway.
Dr Tim McDonald has introduced us to three behaviour routines that we have focused on as a staff since we began last week. The three routines include:
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Cue to Start
- Student Entry Routine
- Student Exit Routine
Students are presenting more calmly and respectfully which is truly remarkable in such a short time. Coupled with our decision to remove mobile phones, the staff and I have experienced an obvious change in the level of student interaction. Conversations are abuzz and it’s wonderful to see greater engagement across the college. Well done to all our students!
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CATALYST
We have seven participants approved to take part this year in the Teach Well ‘In Action’ Professional Learning. Mr Charlton Fogarty, Mrs Cathy Fryer, Mrs Kym Millikin, Mr Nick Collins, Mrs Izabela Rudol, Mr Ryan Bissell and Mr Matt King will be trained this year in High Impact Teaching Practices. I wish them well for this training.
K-12 SCIENCE & STEM ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
This year we are offering all Year 6 students from St Bernard’s and St Mary’s the opportunity to be part of a Science & STEM Enrichment Program at Carroll College. Each group will run for 6 weeks with approximately 8 students in the group. The outline will be as follows:
- 5 groups of students (approx. 16 students from St Mary’s and St Bernard’s)
- 6 weeks of enrichment lessons per group with 3 Science and 3 STEM lessons
- Every Tuesday at Carroll College from 12.30pm – 1.30pm
- Odd numbered weeks – Science with Danielle Ciuffetelli
- Even numbered weeks – STEM with Andrew Kenneally
The program will begin in Week 5.
UMBARRA
Families of children in Years 8-12 (eldest child) will have received a copy of the College's 2023 Yearbook this week. Enjoy this beautiful memento of the year that's been. It has been expertly created by Mrs Sandra Harris and I thank her for her creative planning and preparation of this publication.
I wish all students a very happy and productive term. We have a full calendar of events scheduled. Please refer to Sentral regularly for information. I look forward to seeing everyone at Moruya Pool tomorrow for our Annual Carroll College Swimming Carnival. A reminder that this is a compulsory school day.
With respect and encouragement to you.
Jacqueline Heffernan
Principal
‘Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’ (John 8:12)