CELEBRATING CARROLL DAY!

Proud to be part of the Carroll College community…

Dear Parents, Students and Friends     

We have enjoyed a very special Carroll Day today! We have carried this tradition since the College’s opening in 1995 and it’s a day all students look forward to with great enthusiasm. Our Year 11 students take the lead in organising the day’s activities and each year there’s much anticipation for what lay in store for the rest of the College! From prayer and reflection to laughter and music – there is something for every student to enjoy!

Importantly, we acknowledge our patron Fr Francis Carroll. A man of great wisdom and humility, Fr Francis now aged 91, continues to empower a generation to Be More.

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 shines through…”

+Francis P. Carroll (1998)

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK   

Catholic Schools Week will launch on 3 May. The theme this year is 'Faith and Hope in the Future'.

The theme highlights the faith-based nature of our System schools while emphasising our hope for the future.

During Catholic Schools’ Week, our students will be involved in the following:

· Years 5 & 6 students from our feeder Catholic schools attended Carroll Day celebrations today.

· Year 7 2022 Information Evening – Monday 3 May in the College Hall commencing at 4.30pm. Information Session presented by College leaders begins 5.30pm – 6.00pm.

· Year 9 students will attend the ‘Kinder Teddy Bears’ Picnic’ at St Mary’s on Wednesday 5 May.

Did you know?

The first Catholic school in Australia opened in Parramatta in October 1820 and was founded by Irish Catholic priest, Father John Therry. St Bede’s Primary School, Braidwood, was the first school established in the Canberra Goulburn Archdiocese by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan and has continuously educated students since it opened its doors in 1859.

30 Years of Dedicated Service  

After many years of teaching service and membership of the Independent Education Union, our Classroom Support Teacher, Mrs Cheryle King was presented with her 30 years of membership certificate and badge at a Chapter meeting yesterday. We congratulate Cheryle on her dedication to the teaching profession and her many years of supporting her colleagues.

INTENSIVE LEARNING SUPPORT PROGRAM

Canberra Goulburn Archdiocese has funds available to be expended on an Intensive Learning Support program across 18 of our Archdiocesan NSW schools. Carroll College has been identified for the program. Schools have been selected by the number/proportion of disadvantaged students in Socio-Educational Advantage Level 1 (ICSEA) as determined by the NSW Department of Education (DoE).

Catholic Education is proposing the Catalyst Bold Goal 1: that every student is a competent reader provide the focus of learning support. The evidence collected on the importance of reading competence to a young learner’s ability to access curriculum knowledge and therefore to their wellbeing is well known.

RESOURCES FOR THE INTERVENTION

The intervention resources will be sourced from the MultiLit suite programs:

• Tier 2 Intervention:
o MacqLit - Years 3 - 10

• Tier 3 intervention:
o Reading Tutor Program Years 2 - 10

Each intervention session is recommended to take up to one hour.

DELIVERY OF INTERVENTION

The program will be delivered by small group tuition (approx. 2-5 students at a time) in an intensive learning mode, conducted over three sessions per week. Mrs Jodie Colbourne, Mrs Julie Wiggins, Mrs Catriona Colalillo and Mrs Cheryle King will undertake the training. Two will be trained in MacqLit and two in the Reading Tutor Program. This is a unique and exciting opportunity for the whole system to be working together. Increased competency levels in reading will ensure all students are more fully engaged in their learning. Parents will be contacted if their child is identified as being best supported through this intervention.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Mrs Cassie Johnston and her husband, Hugh on the safe arrival of their baby girl Josie Johnston born yesterday morning at 8.35am, weighing in at 3.6 kilos. Wonderful news!

We have enjoyed a very positive start to Term 2. I look forward our formal enrolment period for 2022 commencing next week with our Parent Information session on Monday evening (flyer included in this newsletter). Please pass on this information to family and friends wishing to enrol their child in Year 7 for the 2022 academic year.

Best wishes for the coming term. Please always know that the staff and I have your children at the forefront of our considerations as we continue to improve our offerings at Carroll College. There are great teaching and learning initiatives underway and exciting plans for facility upgrades.

Blessings on your family this Carroll Day.

Jacqueline Heffernan
Principal