Dear Parents, Students and Friends

With the return to normal classes now routine again, our attention is focused on our Annual Improvement Plan strategies and the ambitious goals we have for student achievement and improvement. We are committed to improving a culture that promotes learning. How is this achieved you may ask? Three goals are directing our improvement plan this year - each one student-centred, measureable and targeted at empowering student voice and self-efficacy.

OUR LEARNING AGENDA

Goal 1: Increase student achievement through enhancing quality instruction informed by student data.

Goal 2: Students can articulate their learning for each lesson.

Goal 3: Students receive regular and effective feedback to improve their own learning.

Our 2019 School Improvement Survey Results reflect growth across all domains. Mission, Performance and Service are the three domains that are most important to us when we assess progress. These are outlined below.

Mission                 An explicitly Catholic identity and culture

Performance       An explicit improvement agenda
                                Analysis and discussion of data
                                An expert teaching team
                                Systematic curriculum delivery
                                Differentiated teaching and learning
                                Effective pedagogical practices

Service                  A culture that promotes learning
                                Targeted use of school resources
                                School-community partnerships

Each year, parents, staff and students provide feedback via the School Improvement Survey. This data then assists in determining priority areas for future development. The College continues to move in positive directions through the ongoing support of families and the commitment of staff to implement high-impact practices. The journey is an exciting one!

Congratulations – Patricia Ellis, Aboriginal Elder and Language Teacher at Carroll College
'Congratulations to Trish who was recently appointed to the inaugural NSW Aboriginal Languages Trust Board. Trish is one of nine members of this board and will be representing people in our area.'

https://www.aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au/news/nsw-steps-forward-with-first-aboriginal-languages-trust-board-and-act-proclamation

The Dhurga Dictionary and Learner’s Grammar publication is hot off the press! I Congratulate Trish and her siblings, Kerry Boyenga and Waine Donovan on this wonderful achievement. Congratulations from all at Carroll College!

We move into Week 7 next week, which is quite remarkable. Thank you for your assistance in supporting your children with their return to school. It has been more challenging for some students than others. Please know we are supporting all children as they readjust to the rigour of College expectations. Please be in contact if you have concerns or require support from the College.

Year 11 Academic Reports have been finalised and can be accessed via the Parent Portal in Sentral today. I have had the privilege of reading reports and would like to congratulate Year 11 students on their efforts in their first semester of Year 11. Well done!

Enjoy a lovely long weekend ahead.

Jacqueline Heffernan
Principal