Principal's Letter
A Student's Prayer for a New School Year
Lord Jesus, I ask for Your help as I begin this new school year.
Allow me to experience Your presence in the many blessings You put before me.
Open my eyes to the new challenges and exciting opportunities that this new school year brings.
Open my heart and mind to new friends and new teachers.
Give me a generous spirit to be enthusiastic with my studies and courage me
to accept new opportunities.
Help me to be attentive to my teachers and let me experience Your presence in my new friends.
Jesus, inspire me to do my best this year!
Amen
Welcome to Term 1
2021 College Theme:
Dear Parents, Students, and Friends
Welcome to the new school year! I hope you feel relaxed after the holiday period and have enjoyed a much-needed break with family and friends.
It is great to be heading into a new school year having navigated such a difficult year last year. 2021 will bring some challenges, no doubt. Let’s hope we have the freedom and flexibility to move forward with plans. There is so much for our students to look forward to that will complement their learning this year.
WELCOME
It is my pleasure to welcome our new members of staff, Louise Ibbett (Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care), Naomi Gill (VET Coordinator), Kerryn Hopkins (English/HSIE/HUMS), Izabela Rudol (Science/Religion), Louise Spry (Maths – Term 1 replacing Rob Wales), Liarna Miller (Youth Minister), Matt O’Brien (Classroom Support Assistant), Louise Hicks (VET Assistant) and Tayah Hancock (Trainee). A very warm welcome from the Carroll College community!
STAFFING
Jane Garland will be team teaching Hospitality with Emma Kenna 1 day p/week in addition to her regular role.
Carol Young is returning to teach for Terms 1-3 (VET – Business Services), Nicole Montgomery (Science/Maths), Amy Dalgleish (TAS/Religion), Erin Smith (PE/HSIE/English – Term 1), Catherine Davis (HUMS), and Lauren Herbert (Science/Maths). I congratulate all colleagues on their contracts for 2021. Congratulations again to Lauren Herbert on her permanent appointment at the College.
It has been lovely to welcome back a number of colleagues who have been on leave. Katrina Kerkham returns to her teaching role in TAS. Mel Price has returned 1 day p/week from Maternity Leave (job-sharing with Charlton Fogarty), Teagan Lomax has returned 3 days p/week from Maternity leave (Drama/Music) and Cheryle King is working 4 days p/week as Classroom Support Teacher (job-sharing with Rita Cremerius).
John O’Neill will be taking Wednesdays off this year, moving to four days p/week for twelve months. Erica Drewsen will be Assistant Principal – Curriculum & Achievement, working closely with Mr O’Neill in a job-share arrangement 1 day p/week, and maintaining her current position as Religious Education Coordinator.
BATEMANS BAY YOUTH FOUNDATION GRANTS PRESENTATION DINNER
Congratulations to our Batemans Bay Youth Foundation recipients. Former Carroll College graduates, Jack Gallen, Tom Gaffey, Jade Briggs, and Teagan Moses were presented with $3500 scholarships towards their university studies at the Awards Dinner last night. We congratulate these students on their successful applications. They are studying the following courses this year:
- Jack Gallen - Contemporary Music, University of Sydney (Conservatorium)
- Tom Gaffey – Engineering, University of Wollongong
- Jade Briggs – Engineering, University of Wollongong
- Teagan Moses - Arts/Law, Australian National University, Canberra
We wish all our students every success this year!
OPENING COLLEGE ASSEMBLY
Our College Captains and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) capably lead our Assembly on Monday to welcome Years 7-12 Students and Staff to the 2021 academic year. This was the first whole school assembly since 2019 – quite incredible to believe this to be true!
The song ‘This Is Me’ from The Greatest Showman Ensemble, featured as a highlight of the Assembly. Our College band professionally recorded this song in 2019. Due to copyright laws, we are unable to share this on social media. We have however uploaded this to our secure Sentral portal so families can enjoy the musical talent of our Carroll College students. Instructions will be emailed to families to provide access in the coming days.
The relevance of this performance is to highlight the aspirations we have for all our students at the College. I want every child to know and understand that they can fulfil their dreams and career goals in a supportive and caring learning environment. High expectations for all is our commitment to students to ensure they are reaching their full potential.
In my address to students, I focused on the words…
“I can because of You”
Nothing is more important to me as Principal than knowing that our students are at the forefront of everything we undertake at the College. From individualised support, Pastoral and Academic Care – our students and families are central to all decision-making. It is my hope that students leave Carroll College at the end of Year 12 better people – empowered to make a difference in the world with an open and compassionate heart, and equipped with the necessary skills to achieve their goals.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
College Captains - Emma Tuckwell & Declan Holmes
Vice Captains - Sarah Penberthy & Cooper Brady
Indigenous Captains - Caleb Piper, Cooper Brady & Marie Slockee-Albert
House Captains
Mackillop House - Meg Phillips & Caleb Piper
Chisholm House - Bonnie Brewer & Sam Heffernan
Xavier House - Gemma Mass & Madeleine Forner
Faith Captain - Damia O’Loughlin
CATALYST
Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn Learning Agenda – known as CATALYST
Catholic Education is introducing a new Learning Agenda in 2021. There are four focus areas:
- High Impact Teaching Practice
- Instructional Leadership
- K-2 Literacy
- Curriculum – Mathematics K-6
All schools across the Archdiocese have been 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.
Catalyst aligns to the CECG vision of Jesus Christ, our greatest teacher, calls us to share and witness to our Catholic Faith and Tradition, build inclusive communities and deliver contemporary quality learning opportunities for every person.
Catalyst does this by:
- Nurturing our teachers, leaders, and principals to transform students’ lives through learning
- Elevating the impact we have on student learning outcomes through quality professional learning and high quality curriculum resources
- Improving the equity of the education we provide by implementing teaching practices that benefit all
As part of Catalyst, a research project led by the Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) Lab at La Trobe University will be undertaken. This research project will be investigating teacher understanding of language and literacy, prior to implementing HITP and reading instruction in 2021.
K-12 THEME 2021
At the end of last year, our K-12 Student Leadership Teams for 2021 met virtually to decide on a theme for the year. After much discussion and reflection on what it means to be part of a Catholic school community, and in light of 2020, the students decided on the theme highlighted above. I think it is optimistic and forward-thinking. A new year awaits!
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
We have revisited our College guiding principles with students this week. These encompass our aspirations for each and every child. It is essential that students at Carroll College know what we stand for as a Catholic community and why our actions and attitudes matter.
BRoulee ABC
At Carroll College, we use our BRoulee ABC to guide, shape, and affirm positive behaviours and actions at the College.
To be a strong, cohesive, and caring learning community, we aim to:
BE CHRIST-LIKE
Christ taught us compassion, justice, hope, and joy. In our interactions with each other and the wider community, as a College we, too, ask members of our learning community to show compassion, to act justly, and to be people of hope and joy.
RESPECT ALL
Students are asked to show respect through their thoughts, words, and actions.
AIM HIGH
In all facets of school life - academic, pastoral, and extra-curricular - students are asked to give their best.
BE PROUD
We ask students to be proud of who they are and what they stand for, to have pride in themselves and in their school.
CELEBRATE SUCCESS
As a community, we take every opportunity to affirm, encourage, and celebrate successes.
CONGRATULATIONS…
Congratulations to Mr Sean Mulally and his wife Yasmin who were married during the holidays. On behalf of the College community, I wish them every happiness for their future together.
We have much to look forward to as we move into the term. Please know the staff and I are available to assist in any way we can. We faced many challenges last year. It is my hope that we can enjoy 2021 with renewed energy, whilst maintaining a spirit of peacefulness in our daily work.
With respect and encouragement to you,
Jacqueline Heffernan
Principal
