Dear Parents, Students and Friends

Welcome to Term 2. I hope the holiday period provided some time for relaxation with family and friends.

We have enjoyed a productive start to the term and initiated some important changes as we review practices and procedures in preparation for our School Registration and School Improvement Review.
 

CARROLL DAY
For our community, Carroll Day is one of our most celebrated days of the year. Archbishop Francis Carroll passed away in March aged 93 and today we paid tribute to the wonderful vision he had to establish a Catholic college in Broulee. We certainly accept the challenge to embrace the qualities personified in his life and work. A tremendous role model for us all.

EARLY CAREER TEACHER COMMISSIONING
It was an honour to join our first-year early career teachers yesterday in Canberra as they were commissioned as beginning teachers in our Archdiocese. Congratulations to Alicia Reid, Emily Parrish and Montana Price on their recent appointments to Carroll College. We are blessed to have such high quality and passionate educators beginning their careers at the college. Their level of professionalism is well beyond their years.

Catholic Education closely supports Early Career Teachers (ECT) in their first two years of employment as they transition confidently into their roles. Professional development is prioristised and mentoring is an essential component of their program as they work towards proficiency. Mr Tim Hodges is our ECT mentor and meets regularly with our first and second year early career teachers to guide and support their growth in the profession. Mr Michael Thane is now in his second year of teaching and is part of the CECG program as well. A great team of young professionals impacting our learning and teaching environment at Carroll College! We are very fortunate.

SCHOOL REGISTRATION

Much of our focus for the first half of the term will be preparing for Registration. This will take place on Wednesday 5 June. This is a compliance review essentially, so it is very important that all our policies and procedures align with college practice. We are currently reviewing documentation to reflect the requirements for Registration and Accreditation of NSW Non-government schools. It is a fruitful exercise so best practice is achieved across several domains.

 “An explicit behaviour curriculum will be introduced in all Australian schools…”
(Education Review, April 2024)

I’m sure you’ve heard recent headlines like the one above. The introduction of a behaviour curriculum is a hot topic in the media at present, along with explicit instruction to improve student learning outcomes. It comes as the OECD recently found Australian classrooms have a disciplinary climate that is among the “least favourable” in the world, ranked 33 out of 37 countries.

I’m very proud to say that Carroll College, along with St Bernard’s Batemans Bay and St Mary’s Moruya are leading the way in both explicit instruction pedagogies and a behaviour curriculum that is changing the way students present to class.

CLASSROOM MASTERY – NEW ROUTINES FOR TERM 2
An additional two behaviour routines have been introduced. This will increase our routines from three to five:

• Cue to Start
• Student Entry Routine
• Student Exit Routine
• Student Movement
• Voices

STAFFING UPDATE
Thank you to Mrs Anna Voysey-McManus who has been an active member of the executive team for the past two terms. I thank Mrs McManus for sharing her wisdom. Her level of discernment and proactive approach has been highly valued. Mrs Kym Millikin now joins the executive for Terms 2 and 3 to gain experience as part of the Catholic Education leadership course she is currently undertaking.

Ms Sonia Pope is returning to full-time again from Term 2. Mrs Hailee Nugent was teaching Ms Pope’s classes one-day p/fortnight. Mrs Nugent will be teaching on this day in a different capacity.

Ms Julie Davis will be moving back into Inclusive Education four days p/week, a position she previously held before a reallocation of staffing positions was necessary in the front office.

Mrs Deb Mason is moving to 5 days p/week in Inclusive Education and Mrs Victoria Urbanik will be working casually as a Classroom Support Assistant.

Mrs Rita Graziani is moving to 5 days and will continue to support Mrs Erin Blackman in her leadership of Inclusive Education in Mr Foster’s absence. Mrs Graziani will also be assisting with Events and Office Administration.

We will welcome Mrs Emma Kenna back from Maternity Leave in Week 6. Mrs Kenna will be working 3 days p/week (Tuesday – Thursday), initially in a casual relief capacity. Mrs Kenna is excited to be returning and we look forward to welcoming her back.

OPEN NIGHT
I look forward to welcoming all prospective families to our Open Night next Monday evening as our Year 7, 2025 enrolment period formally commences. I encourage all families to submit their child’s enrolment details as soon as possible. Please refer to the flyer further on in this newsletter for more information.

NEW EXECUTIVE MEMBERS SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL
I am pleased to announce that Mrs Jennifer Hornby and Mrs Maree Turnbull will be joining the executive of our School Community Council. The next meeting of the Council is scheduled for Tuesday 28 May.

MOTHER’S DAY PRAYER
Lord God, we lift up all mothers to You. Grant them the strength to face the daily challenges with courage and the wisdom to guide their children towards a life of faith and service. Encourage them when they are weary and inspire them when they feel overwhelmed. Bless them with Your peace and love, now and forever.

Wishing all our Carroll mums, grandmother’s and special female figures in our lives a very special Mother’s Day this Sunday.