Recently two of our staff trained to deliver the Season’s for Growth Program. Through community sponsorship the College is now resourced and ready to offer this program for our students. Seasons for Growth is an innovative grief and loss program that uses the imagery of the seasons to illustrate the experience of grief. The aim of the program is, not to provide counselling and therapy, but to strengthen the social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people (aged 6-18) who are dealing with significant life changes by exploring the impact of the change and loss on everyday life and learning new ways to respond to these changes. 

In life many factors can cause change such as:

• Friends can come and go
• Loss of someone or something you love
• Parents and families separate
• Moving to a new place
• Impact of illness
• Family work-life changes

Seasons for Growth is a small group program that combines psychology and education with peer support, within a person centred learning approach. The Program is run over 8 sessions with small groups of 4-7 participants and is facilitated by trained adult “Companions”.  The participants are provided with a safe space to learn, share and reflect and are supported by richly illustrated participant journals. Seasons for Growth has been evaluated extensively over the last 15 years.  The most recent evaluation conducted by Southern Cross University concluded that the Seasons for Growth Program: builds understanding and skills, improves participants’ emotional wellbeing, enables participants to express their views, thoughts and feelings and strengthens participants’ social and support networks.

We suggest that anyone affected by bereavement wait 6-12 months before participating in a Seasons for Growth program. If you would like your son or daughter to participate in this valuable program please email me on louise.ibbett@cg.catholic.edu.au or by phone at the College or email your child’s Pastoral Coordinator. Once we have sufficient numbers we will make contact with participants to finalise the arrangements.

Once again the RYDA (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness) program was found to be an invaluable experience for our Yr 11 and Yr 12 students. During the day students spent time with the Police exploring scenarios, safety and consequences which were all supported with data.  The personal experiences of accident survivors or the relatives of victims brought home the reality of the road toll whilst the practical demonstrations of speed and stopping distances was a true wake up call. Everyone who attended has been changed by the experience of the RYDA program.  Thank you goes to all the volunteer Rotary people and the Police for inviting us to such a worthwhile experience and Mr Szkwarek for attending. We truly know the meaning of the phrase drive safe!

Last week we hosted our Yr 7 Information evening for students looking to begin at the College in 2022. This year we presented a Pastoral Care stall offering details of how we care for the students at the College and some fun experiences such as the Yr 7 Camp. On the night the Pastoral team were kept busy with enquiries about the exciting options Carroll College has to offer.  Thank you to the Pastoral Coordinators for being present on the night to answer lots of questions.

Last Thursday Fr Martins and Seminarian Mark visited the College and dropped in to say hello in the Pastoral Office. Both our visitors were very welcome and pleased to be shown through the changes that have been made to the Pastoral Care space. Already we have students that are making use of the space to play games during the student breaks and meet to work on projects like the Senior Leadership team who were finalizing the school project to collect plastic lids to contribute to making prosthetic limbs for people in need.

We are now in Term 2 and the expectation is that all students are now wearing their winter uniform. All students are encouraged to ensure that they clearly label their clothing in case it goes astray. Can all parents please assist the College staff in ensuring that students comply with not only the length of uniforms which adds to warmth but also regulations to do with hair length and styles and jewellery expectations. For your information please see the uniform policy.

SAVE THE DATE!

On Monday 24 May 2021 we will be hosting a K-12 Cyber safety evening here at the College. We strongly recommend that parents attend this evening so they can receive updates and be supported in how to safely advise their child through the social media world they live in. We will hear from Senior Constable Donna Clarke and other recognized members of the NSW Police.

We have also been contacted by Eurobodalla Council informing us of the Eurobodalla Volunteer Expo which is just over a week away. The Expo is a result of Council’s youth recovery forums in 2020, where volunteering was identified as a priority for young people.

The Expo will be showcasing to the youth and wider members of our community the different services and organisations who offer volunteering opportunities across the Shire. It will be held at Moruya’s Riverside Park, alongside the Moruya Country Market, on Saturday 22 May from 10am.

Please check out the poster and details so you can find ways to get involved with our local community.

As always if you have any concerns or would like to speak to a member of the pastoral team please feel free to contact the College on 44 715600.

Louise Ibbett

Assistant Principal Pastoral Care