Pastoral Care

Catholic schools provide an incalculable service to the common good. The Catholic school is a witness to the truth that genuine education seeks to do more than simply impart knowledge or train people to perform an economically productive task. All education worthy of the name seeks to bring forth as it were a full person, a person in whom moral excellence is no less developed than are the theoretical and productive abilities.” (Pope John Paul II, Address to English Bishops in 1992)

Thomas Carr College was founded on Christian values and beliefs and as a College community we are committed to creating relationships that reflect the integrity and worth of each person. Pastoral care and the well being of our students is our number one priority and we are constantly seeking to find ways to ascertain needs and respond in creative and supportive ways.

We know from current research that there is a link between academic progress and pastoral care so we have in place structures to support both learning and wellbeing. Each student is placed in a Homeroom on arrival at the College and each year level is overseen by a Year Level Co-ordinator and Assistant to share the pastoral care.

Alongside the additional personnel to do much of the administration of the year level, we have in place a behaviour management policy which clearly spells out student rights and responsibilities and the consequences when these are overstepped. Our aim is to encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour rather than to mete out punishment, the former being consistent with the concept of education as transformation.; that is, we believe that young people need to be challenged to make good decisions and our behaviour policy provides a framework of values that we consider critical to caring social relationships.

Throughout the course of each year, each year level has opportunities for growth as a whole person. We have a range of lunchtime activities such as chess and beading, national literacy, writing and numeracy challenges, ACS and inter-school sporting competitions, leadership camps and programs, public speaking  and choral performances, fundraising and social justice activities, international travel opportunities. Our vision is that all students will be able to develop to the best of their ability here at Thomas Carr College.

At the academic level, a number of teaching staff remain after school on a regular basis to have additional classes for students, mentor them in sport, chess, Tournament of Minds. Students find this support welcome and it goes a long way to building the confidence required to take risks with learning. It also develops warm relationships between staff and students and a sense of belonging to the College.