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Term 3 is the most important term for Year 12 students. 13 years of schooling is about to conclude and preparations for their upcoming HSC exams are well underway. Study habits of students should be well embedded by this stage and areas for improvement will be evident after their HSC trials which are being sat this week. It is pleasing to see students utilising the HUB for study during the afternoon, break times and the gaps between exams.
Vale Jim Ryan
The College Community was saddened to hear the passing of Jim Ryan who served as the Religious Education Coordinator for many years at the College. Paul Cullen has penned a tribute to Jim in this week's newsletter which I am told fits the man that Jim was. Please remember Jim and his family in your prayers, particularly his wife Janet who works at St Mary’s.
New Buildings works update
The final touches are being put onto the new D Block building this week with data being connected to the building and the final inspections due to take place shortly. The fencing has been put up around the staff centre and E Block in preparation for work to begin as soon as the transition is complete from E Block to D Block. The new classrooms are well lit, environmentally efficient, equipped with updated technology and areas for students to breakout into to improve their learning and group work. Daryl and Glyn have been busy creating the new landscaped seating area for students on the oval side of the building during the last week which will allow the College to add more picnic tables for students to use during break times.
Thank you again to all the students and staff who have put up with the first two stages of building works taking place, it can be disruptive to all but all students will benefit from the upgrading of College resources.
CEC Visit
During next week the College will host some guests from the Catholic Education Commission who are conducting a tour of the South Coast next Tuesday from 1.00pm until 2.30pm. The group are visiting schools to see the fantastic work that takes place in our Catholic Schools, be sure to say hello to the group if they visit your class.
Parental Engagement
As I have written previously, this year a key focus of the College is Parental Engagement. Thank you to all those who have suggested ways that we can improve the engagement of parents with the College. I again encourage anyone to contact me direct with positive suggestions on how the College can continue to improve, please email nathan.mansfield@cg.catholic.edu.au or call the College and I will make contact with you to discuss.
Nathan Mansfield
Principal
- Dylan Golden (Year 8) on the passing of his Grandfather
- Lachlan (Year 12) and Ruby (Year 9) Harrington on the passing of their Grandfather
Father's Day Breakfast - SAVE THE DATE
The Carroll College community would like to warmly invite all fathers, guardians and grandfathers to attend our annual Fathers’ Day breakfast on Thursday 30th August from 7.30am to 8.30am.
Come and join us for egg and bacon rolls, tea and coffee in the BBQ area behind the kitchen.
We hope to see you there.
Assistant Principal Pastoral Care report
Dear Parents,
Last week the Pastoral Team participated in ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) a two day workshop facilitated by Living Works Australia. In ASIST, people learn to apply a suicide intervention model. It helps caregivers recognise when someone may be at risk of suicide. It then explores how to connect with them in ways that understand and clarify that risk, increase their immediate safety and link them with further help. We found the workshop extremely valuable and it will certainly help inform us of best practice when working with at risk students.
In recent years, working with young people on daily basis, it has become increasingly apparent that mental health is an essential part of well being. As a college we work tirelessly through our Pastoral Care Programmes and daily interactions to assist our students and promote well being.
Mental health is a way of describing social and emotional wellbeing. Your child needs good mental health to develop in a healthy way, build strong relationships, adapt to change and deal with life’s challenges.
Teenagers who have good mental health often:
- feel happy and positive about themselves and enjoy life
- have healthy relationships with family and friends
- do physical activity and eat a healthy diet
- get involved in activities
- have a sense of achievement
- can relax and get a good night’s sleep
- feel like they belong to their communities http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/mental_health_teenagers.html
Adolescence is certainly a tricky period. Our young people are undergoing many changes and challenges in a very short time whilst their brains are still maturing. Your love and support will help ensure a strong relationship with your child enabling them to grow in confidence and build resilience. Furthermore, good physical health, regular exercise, healthy eating and lots of sleep go a long way towards maintaining good mental health.
If you are concerned about your child’s mental health, there are many avenues of support available. Often the first stop is your GP where you can request a mental health check. There are also a number of confidential helplines geared specifically for young people such as the Kids Helpline for Teens: 1800 551 800. Alternatively, Reachout, Beyond Blue and Headspace can provide a confidential counselling service for your child.
If you do have concerns about your child’s mental health and feel its impacting on their schooling, please do not hesitate to contact either myself or your child’s Pastoral Leader to discuss your concerns.
Veronica Harrold-Carter
Assistant Principal Pastoral Care
On Monday 6 August, the Year 10 CSYMA (Youth Ministry) class along with some Year 11 CSYMA students travelled to Canberra to participate in The Shine student gathering. Here 450 students from across the Canberra & Goulburn Archdiocese came together to be formed and equipped in faith and Ministry. Liarna Miller, a year 10 CSYMA wrote…
Shine is youth coming together and sharing their gifts and talents in their community; while learning about God, themselves, each other and the spectrum of the Church. In the words of the Canberra-Goulburn Catholic Archdiocese, the purpose of youth ministry is to "Empower young people to encounter Christ, live a life in the spirit and participate in the mission of the Church," (www.cgyouthministry.org.au).
The day was centred on the theme "shine", which focused on letting God's light into our lives. Throughout the day there was engaging sessions filled with testimonies, dramas, icebreakers, panels, prayer, music and discussions about faith. Each student got the opportunity to pick two sessions for the day that they thought they would benefit from. I choose to participate in the activities Testimony and Leadership. I gained a knowledge of how to share my own story and how to be a leader within my community. I thank everybody who was involved and organised the retreat, especially the youth ministers. Each and every one of them shared a piece of knowledge with me that will forever impact my life.
Carroll College year 10 CSYMA students had a really positive response to the day. Here are some of their reflections:
"It was a great chance to be introduced to or reconnected with the Catholic faith" - Teagan Moses
"The experience was one you won’t find anywhere else and was worth every second of the trip and day." - Ethan Mass
"Shine was a great opportunity to explore my faith in an environment where I didn’t have to feel judged or not included." - Holli Cockram
Overall, Monday was a day of new experiences, learning about someone else's life or reconnecting with faith. The CSYMA students put in their best effort to make the day amazing and a memorable experience. I hope that Carroll College continues with these youth ministry retreat days because they are very beneficial to everyone involved.
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)
By Liarna Miller, Year 10.
Friday 3 August the College community celebrated our NAIDOC ceremony “Because of Her, We Can”, thank you to Father Martins and Father Dominic who celebrated with us.
Please continue to keep our Year 12 students in your prayers as they sit their Trial examinations.
Fr. Francis Carroll … Pray for Us
Live Jesus in our Hearts … Forever
Mrs. Charlotte Nicoletti
Coordinator of Religious Education and Faith Formation
PARISH CONNECT
St Bernard’s Parish, Batehaven
St Bernard’s Parish warmly invites the community to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Parish, coinciding with the Feast Day of St Bernard on Sunday 19, 2018. Celebrations begin with Mass at 10.30am, with a BBQ lunch to follow at 12 Midday. Please ensure you R.S.V.P through the Parish’s.
First Eucharist Commitment Mass will be held at St Bernard’s Parish, Batehaven this coming weekend, 18 – 19 August. Mass times are: Saturday Vigil 6pm and Sunday 10.30am.
Sacred Heart, Moruya
Sunday 2 September Father’s Day Mass @ 10am followed by morning tea
Sunday 16 September First Holy Communion @10am Mass followed by Morning Tea
- Riley O'Shannessy (Carroll College, Broulee) will be representing NSW All Schools Basketball team at the School Sport Australia Championships in Darwin (NT) 11th - 17th August. STOP PRESS: Update received Wednesday: The NSW All Schools team are through to the Gold Medal playoff on Thursday against VIC after a 115-54 win against QLD in the semi final.
- Shayne Hargraves (Carroll College, Broulee) will be representing NSW All Schools at the School Sport Australia Cross Country Championships at the Gold Coast (QLD) 24th -27th August
A former colleague of ours at Carroll College passed away last week and we mourn the loss of such an esteemed educator and gentleman. Jim Ryan was an outstanding human being and his rich legacy can be seen in the fortunate students who have passed through his classroom over the years and the many, many friends he garnered in a long professional career. No, for Jim, teaching was a vocation.
I was fortunate enough to be a part of various senior retreats teams with him a number of occasions. He is in my dream team of outstanding retreat personnel because of not only his deep faith but because of the unique way this entertainer had of capturing often-cynical adolescent attention. Jim had a box in which he kept a collection of costumes and other accoutrements. He would dress as a gold-spangled clown complete with red nose and an outrageous wig then proceed to regale the students with mesmerising stories of people and places. All of this had a deep spiritual point and left us with new insights and perspectives.
Moreover, he had that deep humility that all great educators possess. Jim was a learned man yet his wisdom lay in a practical yet sagely counsel. With his quiet, unassuming demeanour, Jim guided many of his students down upright moral paths. And Jim was a devoted North Melbourne Kangaroos fan when those dearest to him followed the Western Bulldogs. The Shinboners, an unpretentious team that holds loyalty to be a preeminent value.
In all the time I knew Jim, there was never a bad word to be said about anyone else. He invariably saw the good in people and this, amongst a plethora of other reasons, was why so many people respected and admired him greatly.
Jim was Religious Education Coordinator at our school in the early years and always believed in a muscular Christianity. Our senior students would spend a week in Sydney, called “The Metro Experience”. We used to stay at St. Canice’s, Kings Cross with the homeless to see firsthand the plight of the disadvantaged and marginalised. It opened our students’ eyes. Many of them still remind me of what they gained from the trip. Another Jim Ryan legacy.
Jim was a Marist Brother for thirty two years and brought that Marcellin Champagnat philosophy to his own teaching. He got to know the students by walking around the playground and had that rare skill of being an active listener. He found a loving partner in Janet, parented Caitlin and Lachlan who were students at CCB and became an integral part of the parish. So, there are established criteria for greatness as a teacher:
1) Passion for teaching. Yes, he thrived in this vocation
2) Love for the students. Undeniably, throughout his career
3) Love of their subject. RE and a number of other subjects were in his purview
4) Understanding of the role of a school in a child’s life. Jim understood people.
5) A willingness to change. Over a long professional career this was evident.
6) A work ethic that doesn’t quit. A tireless labourer in the field
7) A willingness to reflect. It was a real attribute
8) Organisation. Yes, organised and spontaneous!
9) Understanding that being a “great teacher” is a constant struggle to always improve. Like vintage wine!
10) Enough ego to survive the hard days. Deep religious faith sustained him.
11) Enough humility to remember it’s not about you. It was never about Jim.
12) A willingness to work collaboratively. People genuinely sought both his company and advice.
Jim had all these qualities…and more besides. How many teachers receive a standing ovation on retirement?
To Janet and his family, we extend our deepest sympathy. He has left a gap in our lives but he will live long in the memories of past students and colleagues who feel it is a privilege to have known him. May God grant Jim eternal rest as reward for a full, authentic and rich life.
Paul Cullen
paul.cullen@cg.catholic.edu.au
Pupil Free Day - 7th September 2018
Each year, staff working in our Catholic schools are required to participate in a Staff Spirituality Day. This year, Professor Peta Goldburg will be facilitating the day for our K-12 Pathway Schools on the Coast, St Bernard’s, Carroll College and St Mary’s. This will be held on Friday 7 September 2018 (Week 7, Term 3). This will be a PUPIL FREE DAY for all of our students across our three schools, and will replace the Pupil Free Day - Day 1 of Term 4, 2018.
On Friday 10 August students from Year 11 and 12 VET Construction undertook a concerting competency completing a slab for an upcoming agricultural project.
A big thank you to Ray Brown from Coastal Concrete & Quarry for yet again donating the concrete.
Mogo Zoo Visit by Tess Klower (Year 7)
It was a rainy day. It was a bit of a shame but we took no notice of it we were still going to go on our excursion rain, hail or shine!
First we caught the bus to the zoo. When we entered the zoo everyone was automatically drawn to the Meerkats. They were so cute and looked like soft little toys you would buy at the shops!
Then we met our tour guide, he was awesome! He took us around the zoo telling us all the facts about the animals.
My favourite animal was the otter. It was so cute and looked like a cuddly soft toy. A zoo keeper also can and gave us a talk on the silvery gibbons. She told us about how their family structure works and how the mother rules the family group.
After that we had another keeper talk about the lions. We learnt that they are hunted all over the world and how their pride works.
Everyone was hungry after the tour so we enjoyed some lunch at the café. My friends and I were sitting right near the Meerkats.
After lunch we had one more look around the zoo then it was time to go. I really enjoyed the zoo experience and learnt a lot from it.