Dear Parents, Students and Friends

A warm welcome to the 2025 school year. I hope you all enjoyed a fabulous break and were able to
spend quality time with family and friends.

Term One has started very positively for all students. Year 7 have settled quickly into their classes and are embracing high school and the new opportunities presented to them. It is a pleasure to listen to their stories during the breaks and to see them adapting to the routines and expectations of the secondary setting. Well done to all!

This year we are celebrating 30 years since the establishment of Carroll College which marks a significant milestone in our story as a Catholic college. This is certainly reason to celebrate and give thanks for the incredible foresight of those who shared a vision of establishing a Catholic College on the South Coast. We will launch our celebrations with Patron’s Day on 26 February. This year, Patron’s Day is combining all House days into one – Chisholm, MacKillop and Xavier. We have a
fantastic day planned. More details to follow in the coming week.

“All schools have a fundamental place in society. To educate the young is always a privileged and even sacred task. That importance and sacredness take on the added dimension of Christian faith when the task is undertaken in a Catholic school. “Learning for Life” is an appropriate motto for any school. Its particular relevance for Carroll College becomes clear in light of the faith vision
which has inspired the College, and which shines through…” 

+Francis P. Carroll
Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn 1998

There is quite a lot to communicate as we begin the new school year so I hope you find the following information helpful and informative.

JUBILEE YEAR PILGRIMAGE 2025
Every 25 years, the Church proclaims a Holy Year, a special gift of grace and mercy for all God’s people. The Jubilee Year Pilgrimage is an invitation to leaders and emerging leaders across the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn to step into this grace and join with the faithful from around the world. On a pilgrimage inspired by many holy men and women of Italy, participants will encounter the pathways of some of the Church’s greatest saints, from St Francis and St Clare of Assisi to St Peter and Paul in Rome, where they will cross the threshold of the Holy Door in St Peter’s Basilica and receive the Jubilee blessing
                                                                                                 Harvest Journeys

I congratulate Mr Andrew Kenneally and Mrs Kym Millikin on being selected to be part of this experience. They will depart on Monday 7 July for 12 days and be accompanied by Archbishop Christopher Prowse and colleagues from across the Archdiocese. Full details follow for your perusal. 

CONGRATULATIONS
Mrs Cassie Johnston had quite a different holiday break to the rest of us! Congratulations to Mrs Johnston and her husband, Hugh on the safe arrival of their second daughter, Billie. Wonderful news! Congratulations from the Carroll College community. 

STAFFING
Each year it is exciting to see new opportunities arise that support leadership growth from within our team. This year, we have several colleagues moving into higher duties and/or into new roles. Congratulations to…

· Mrs Anna Smart – Religious Education Coordinator

· Mrs Erica Drewsen – Leader of Pedagogy

· Mrs Kym Millikin – Mathematics Coordinator

· Mrs Erin Blackman – Leader of Inclusive Education

· Mrs Amy Dalgleish – VET Coordinator

· Mrs Belle Barling - Humanities Coordinator (Year 7)

· Mr Ryan Bissell - Pastoral Assistant (Acting)

· Mrs Anna Voysey-McManus – English Coordinator job-sharing with Mr Stephen Knight

· Mrs Miriam Shilling – CAPA Coordinator job-sharing with Mrs Ros Maher

· Mrs Janette Soper – Science Coordinator job-sharing (continuing) with Tim Hodges 

Congratulations also to colleagues who have moved into permanent teaching roles this year. Their contributions to the college have been highly valued since their commencement at Carroll.

· Miss Montana Price

· Mr Luke Fuller

· Miss Kate Blackmore

It is my pleasure to welcome the following new staff to Carroll this year. Welcome to Miss Tiffany Johnston, Mrs Nicole Jamieson, Mrs Simone Eagan, Mrs Michelle Zutt, Miss Samantha Ellis, Mrs Brooke Irving, and Mr Riley Nolan.

Also, to Mr Damien Hughes, Mr Stuart Clarke, Mrs Judy Smith and Ms Elise Paull who are taking on new roles from last year. Ms Paull has held the VET Administration role for 14 years. As Ms Paull moves into a different role this year, I thank her sincerely for her commitment to VET and the guidance and support shown to our students. Our Pathways offerings have positively impacted so many of our students and Ms Paull has been a huge advocate in this space.

We also welcome Mr Wayne Foster back from leave. 

TASTE OF TASMANIA TOUR
We are thrilled to be offering the Carroll College Taste of Tasmania Tour this year with students in Years 9 and 10. A big shout out to Ms Sonia Pope and Ms Lizette Richards for proposing this experience! With two attempted overseas trips cancelled in recent years for reasons beyond our control (Cambodia and New Caledonia), we are now looking to explore options within Australia and alternate student experiences nationally and internationally. The Tour is planned for Week 8 - Term 4, Monday 1 December - Saturday 6 December 2025. Our tour company is G.E.T. Travel who specialise in Educational Tours. The Tasmanian Tour is a cultural journey where students will experience a taste of Tasmania and its history. The itinerary includes visits to cultural institutions, a safari bus tour, art experiences, hiking through a national park and exploration of the historical Port Arthur, including a lantern-lit ghost tour. Teachers accompanying students to Tasmania include Ms Sonia Pope, Ms Lizette Richards, Mrs Sandra Harris and Mr Tim Hodges.

COLLEGE MUSICAL
This year’s college musical is Ben Elton's acclaimed We Will Rock You. The music of Queen features and will appeal to a wide audience. The musical this year will be held at Bay Pavilions across three performance dates, with a fourth performance date available depending upon the demand for ticket sales. The dates are as follows:

Wednesday 25 June

- Matinee Performance - 11.00am

- Evening Performance - 6.30pm

Thursday 26 June

- Evening Performance - 6.30pm

Friday 27 June- Date available on demand. 

Bay Pavilions has been confirmed as our venue for this event as the construction of our new TAS facility will be underway. There will be limited parking and unknown restrictions - we are yet to discover! Special thanks to our Director, Mrs Teagan Russell, Musical Director, Mrs Ros Maher, Producer, Mrs Belle Barling, and Costume Manager, Mrs Anna Voysey-McManus.  

COLLEGE IMPROVEMENTS

As you would appreciate, the Christmas break offers an opportunity to get a number of jobs done when students and staff are offsite. 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. Significant work is occurring in C5 to better utilise this space. This room has been converted into two rooms to cater for our needs with intervention programs and break out spaces for students requiring small group/individual support. Some office changes have also occurred to accommodate role changes.

Mrs Erica Drewsen has moved into the VET office. Some work will be occurring in this office space to provide visibility into the Hub. Mrs Drewsen will be introducing podcasts and interviewing students, staff and alumni for various purposes. A glass window will be added on the wall where there are currently desktop computers. This will allow students to observe an interview in progress before it is uploaded to our website and College Facebook pages. 

The Canteen has also undergone a refurbishment which was long overdue with new flooring and island bench. The last of the lockers have been installed. Years 7-10 now complete. A new PA system and speakers have been installed, along with a new switch board in the Art room. It’s been a very busy time! This is all over and above the usual maintenance… and the grass just keeps growing! We’ve had an incredible amount of rain so everywhere is looking beautiful and green. A huge thank you to our team!