Dear Parents, Students and Friends

It is so hard to believe that only three and a half weeks are remaining of the school year. Liturgically, this is the last week in Ordinary time Year B, and we will soon be in Advent and the beginning of the new Liturgical Cycle C. That cycle will guide us through Luke’s Gospel. Our K-12 Pathway student leaders will be meeting in Week 10 to determine our new school/college theme for 2025. This process is always enlightening as the students discern a theme that inspires and sustains us for the year.

CONGRATULATIONS
Senior and emerging leaders have been invited from across the Archdiocese to be part of a Pilgrimage to Rome next year for the Jubilee Year. I am thrilled to announce that Mrs Kym Millikin and Mr Andrew Kenneally have been selected to be part of this experience.

We have entered an extremely busy and complex time with timetabling for 2025 taking priority. Mr Kenneally, Mrs Harris and Mrs Millikin form the timetabling team. This process takes many weeks of preparation before they come together with our consultant from Melbourne to construct the timetable. The team met with the consultant over four days this week. Yesterday I was briefed on the timetable development, and I commend the team on their work in ensuring the best outcome for our students. Our priority is to allocate classes appropriately to ensure the expertise of our teaching team is maximised.

The following teachers have started leave or are about to commence a period of leave.

• Mrs Miriam Shilling - Out of the college from 20 – 29 Nov.
• Mrs Belle Barling - Out of the college from 18 Nov – 6 Dec (Mrs Erica Drewsen relieving for Mrs Barling)
• Mrs Karen Lyttle & Mr Tim Lyttle - Out of the college from 25 Nov – 9 Dec

Mrs Danielle Ciuffetelli will be stepping into the role of Xavier Pastoral Coordinator in Mrs Lyttle’s absence.

It was Mrs Cassie Johnston’s final day at work today as she prepares for the birth of her second child. Mr Luke Fuller and Mr Brendan Ashby will be teaching Mrs Johnston's classes. On behalf of the Carroll College community, I wish Mrs Johnston and her husband, Hugh all the very best for the safe arrival of their baby. Exciting times ahead! 

Flexible Work Arrangements 2025
Three of our senior Curriculum Coordinators will be working 4 days p/week in 2025. They will be supported by outstanding colleagues in a job-share arrangement.

Science Coordinator job-share – Mr Tim Hodges (0.8FTE) / Mrs Janette Soper (0.2FTE)

CaPA Coordinator job-share – Mrs Ros Maher (0.8FTE) / Mrs Miriam Shilling (0.2FTE)

English Coordinator job-share – Mr Stephen Knight (0.8FTE) / Mrs Anna Voysey-McManus (0.2FTE)

I congratulate Coordinators on their appointments who are sharing these roles in 2025. I also thank Ms Lizette Richards for her leadership in CaPA this year in her job-share capacity with Mrs Maher, and Mr Jason Szkwarek for his leadership in the job-share role of VET Coordinator with Mrs Fryer and Mrs Dalgleish.

LEARNING AND TEACHING
As part of Mrs Millikin’s recent project presentation in Canberra on the implementation of Classroom Mastery, I am happy to share the data overview on student mobile phone confiscation to illustrate the trends across the year. I am sure you will agree, a positive snapshot of the changing behaviour of students with their mobile phone usage! Thank you also to Mrs Karen Mahony for her collation of data and leadership in this area.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Miss Kate Blackmore who is the recipient of the 2024 CMA Award for Excellence in Mathematics Education (Secondary). It is presented by the Canberra Mathematical Association to a student who displays high academic achievement in mathematics studies. This was awarded for excellence in studies of the Mathematics Pedagogical Content Knowledge unit that Kate studied last semester which encompassed her mathematics professional experience at Carroll College. We are thrilled that Kate will be joining the Carroll team as a permanent member of the teaching staff next year. Congratulations Kate!

Enjoy a lovely weekend. The weather forecast is looking good! 

With respect and encouragement to you.

Mrs Jacqueline Heffernan
Principal

‘Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’               (John 8:12)