Dear Parents, Students and Friends

Welcome to Term 4! It is quite unbelievable that we are nearing the end of 2020. We have endured a year of ongoing challenges that have shaped a new way of living and envisaging how we go about our daily lives. So what learning can we take from this year? How has it made us stronger? Why does it matter? …All big questions that will undoubtedly continue in our conversations for many months, possibly years to come. Despite the catastrophic nature of 2020, the key is to stay positive and be optimistic for the future.

2021 National Youth Science Forum – Inspiring Australia’s Young Scientists

Congratulations to Declan Holmes who has been selected by Rotary to attend the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) in 2021. 

The NYSF Year 12 Program is a 10-day residential program designed to give students a broader understanding of the diverse study and career options available in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and to encourage continued studies in these fields. The NYSF Year 12 Program runs in January each year and participants will:

- visit science and technology related laboratories and facilities
- go on site tours
- listen to lectures
- take part in workshops
- go to social events, and
- participate in group activities that improve communication and presentation skills.

Declan’s commitment and passion for Science has been celebrated in his selection into this program. An outstanding achievement!

The Little Sellers Art Prize 2020
The Little sellers Art Prize 2020 recently concluded and I am pleased to report that Raphaella Herford, Courtni Whittaker, Caleb Sparks, Amelie Murphy, Kody Jeffery, Catalina Gomez, Madeline Mitchell and Makadde Ethell are all finalists. All works will be exhibited in an online gallery in the Bas exhibition centre website at www.thebas.com.au from 29 October at 10am. The announcement of the winners will also be available on the website at this time. Congratulations to all our finalists on their creative works!

Open Community Council Meeting – Via Zoom!
On Monday 2 November, the College will hold a virtual information session for parents at 5.00pm. The focus will be on Student Data and the Maths Pathways program introduced in Year 7 this year. Sandra Harris, Stacey Donoghue and Jeni McCarthy will lead discussions and provide insight into our approach to analysing student data, its importance, and how this translates to student learning.

Have you ever wondered… Why schools collect data? What type of student data is collected? How is it used? What has data got to do with Maths Pathways? What is this program all about?
Join us for the zoom and learn more! A Zoom link will be sent out to all parents via email next week.

Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn Learning Agenda – known as CATALYST

In Term 2, CE presented the Learning Agenda for 2021. Since then, it has been developed further to provide more detail on system directions. There are four focus areas:

1. High Impact Teaching Practice
2. Instructional Leadership
3. K-2 Literacy
4. Curriculum – Mathematics K-6

All schools across the Archdiocese will be asked to focus on two areas that align with their 2021 Annual Improvement Plan (AIP). We are fortunate to be already working in the area of Instructional Leadership. Our second area will focus on High Impact Teaching Practices.

School assessment data and satisfaction survey results will also assist in forming goals for our AIP. Details will be shared with the community as the term progresses.

Meet Mr Michael Nicoletti
Xavier Pastoral Coordinator

Growing up in the inner west of Sydney and going to Catholic Schools, I spent my youth playing a range of sports both inside and outside of school including rugby, cricket, touch football, basketball, swimming, and tennis. Ongoing training and being selected for representative teams was a tricky balance trying to keep up with sport and academics at school.  After school, I went to University where I completed a Bachelor of Industrial Design whilst working casually in 3 jobs in a sports store, the local butcher and a technician on dental equipment.

After completing my bachelor’s degree, I worked in the Finance Industry where I worked my way into projects as a Process Analyst and Quality Conformance Coach. As a nominated “Change Champion” lead, I used my skills to help build a positive culture amongst the staff, improving processes, analysing data and making changes to streamline responsibilities across the product area with staff. I also used this time to create a staff newsletter that was light reading, generating interest and helping staff to get to know one another through articles. To continue my own professional development, I completed studies in a Masters of Engineering (Project) Management at night time. Between work, the extra studies and playing social sport it was a very busy time. In 2009, I thought my passion for design and project management could be best spent elsewhere, so I decided to take a different direction in life and took time off Finance to complete a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education and a Certificate in Religious Education.

In 2010, I was lucky enough to secure a full time teaching role at a large boy’s school at St Patrick’s College Strathfield in Sydney, where I was a former student, straight out of university.  I engrained myself in school life, volunteering many extra hours in coaching, camps, mentoring, masses and providing service to the wider community. I started teaching Timber, D&T, Religious Studies, VET Construction and coaching a range of sports such as rugby, touch football, basketball and cricket.

Moving to St Ignatius College Riverview in 2014, another large boy’s school, I was given plenty of opportunities to spread my wings. I taught Timber, D&T, Engineering and Religious Education, was on the Work Health and Safety Committee, was a Duty Master in boarding, and coached Cross Country, touch football and was the head coach of 2^nd XV rugby team.

In 2017, I moved down to the South Coast for a change, as I grew up and lived most of my life around Sydney and thought it would be something different, where I have been since. I continued teaching similar subjects as stated above and have enjoyed my time on the coast, joining Carroll College as the Head of Xavier House this year. I’ve been able to continue to volunteer my time in the community through coaching rugby at the Broulee Dolphins, Batemans Bay Boars and helping reinstate the South Coast Monaro Junior representative program. With my coaching, I was also selected to coach a range of representative teams at ACT Brumbies including Monaro/South Coast Seniors, Brumbies Schoolgirls and more recently the Brumbies Provincial team.

Looking back at what I have achieved in my career thus far, it hasn’t always been an easy journey. It always brings me back to a quote from my Year 12 English class by Robert Frost that sums up what I’ve achieved, “Two roads diverged in a wood… I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.” I have valued every experience, good and bad, and learnt many things along my journey.

I feel that meeting and working with a large network of people, making new friends and building relationships has been the most important thing out of my career. 

Matt O'Brien

Year Completed Carroll College: 2007

Occupation: Classroom Support Assistant, Musician, Audio Engineer, Student

What are you currently doing?

I am currently working at St Bernard’s whilst I am studying to become a Primary Teacher. I also tutor reading and writing at In2ition in Batemans Bay. I am studying at Swinburne Online, which allows me to fit in study in between working, leisure and spending time with family and friends.

What is a typical day like in your role?

A typical day in my role includes supporting students in class to the best of my ability with the challenges they face in their learning journeys. Together we work out ways to overcome and push through these learning hurdles so that they can learn as much as they can to the best of their abilities. I finish at 2.45pm of an afternoon at St Bernard’s and then race over to In2ition to start work at 3pm with students who require extra support with their reading and writing. A typical day in my role is never the same, which makes it exciting and always challenges me to work harder and learn more about this profession.

What’s the best advice you can give someone who just started their career?

Stay focused. Stay motivated. If you can’t stay motivated then be kind to yourself, your motivation will surely return. Set lots of small, achievable goals and allocate yourself plenty of time to just be you. Make lots of mistakes, ask lots of questions and laugh as much as you can. Climbing the mountain is all a part of the process/journey, it is going to be hard so don’t kid yourself and think it’ll be easy. Back yourself and work hard, manifest what it is you want. I promise when you reach the top it will have all been worth it. “And just remember folks, that life is not a rehearsal, so you’d better get on with it!” Tommy Emmanuel.

What energises you at work?

Watching the little people smile when they get it right, observing their academic growth and knowing you had a positive impact on their learning journey. My interests outside of work can be quite expensive – this also drives me to work hard!

What interests do you have outside of work?

It is and will always be anything music related - practising/performing music, 4x4/camping/outdoors, fishing, dirt bike/trail riding, water skiing, family, catching up with friends, catching sunrises/sunsets.

What is your fondest memory of Carroll College?

Friends, teachers, excursions, concerts/musicals. It’s hard to pick my fondest memory – Carroll College was always a fun and supportive environment. I was happy being a part of it!

We continue to keep our Year 12 students in our thoughts and prayers as they undertake their HSC exams.

Next week, I will be attending the Principals' System days in Canberra. Mr Nathan Mansfield will be Principal (Acting) from Wednesday - Friday.

Yours sincerely

Jacqueline Heffernan
Principal