Today we celebrated our annual feast of Champagnat Day. Unfortunately, our normal festivities were subdued by the restrictions around COVID. In a normal year, our community would come together to celebrate mass, recognise special milestones and the students would then be treated to a carnival atmosphere where we would have rides and stalls topped off by a student concert. With the inability to join as one this year, we lost some of the community spirit that would normally accompany this day. It did however give us the opportunity to highlight the importance of our Marist characteristics. These five characteristics; Simplicity, Presence, In the way of Mary, Love of work and Family Spirit are lived day in and day out throughout our community. This morning the students watched a video prepared by Br Tony Leon which showed the history of Marists and the way that they share their gifts around the world today. St Marcellin believed that Christ’s mission needed to be lived out and that people needed to stretch out the hand of help to those in need. This is particularly hard within our current pandemic but we might show this care and concern more for those closer to us. Today is a reminder that each of the characteristics can still be basic to what we do even though our own circumstances might be restricted. 

I continue to be lifted by the smiles and the happy greetings of the students I pass throughout the day. Many are still very happy and grateful to be back at school but it is obvious that they are also keen to get back to their full routines. Please continue to encourage your children to maintain good social distancing and hygiene practices. We will continue to review our expectations in line with health warnings and advice from the Catholic Education Office. As restrictions ease, we will also begin to allow more activities on the College site. Students and parents are asked to please keep up to date with expectations and assist us in upholding these.

Over the past week, a number of the College leadership team have been in the parent carpark before and after school. With far greater numbers of parents choosing to transport their children to school, there is greater congestion on Spitfire Dr and in the carparks at the College. Parents and students are reminded to take care on Spitfire Dr and observe all road rules. Please be mindful that there are in excess of 1,130 students attending Mount Carmel and a further 110 staff. This means large foot traffic and cars and buses converging on the site for short periods of time. Please be mindful and courteous of others. You are also reminded that parents are to use the parent carpark when dropping off or collecting your children. Only parents with permits issued by the College should be driving past the parent carpark. This is especially for the safety of all children on site. I have also noted that by 3:35 pm, the parent carpark is virtually empty and there is little to no traffic on Spitfire Dr. There is still supervision at this time so perhaps delay your pickup for 10 minutes.

Earlier this week, The Director and I sent a join letter to all parents advising how fee concessions could be applied for. If you require this, please feel free to apply through the Catholic Education Office. As previously advised, we are currently working out which excursions etc have been cancelled and will credit these costs back to parents. These will be included in future fee statements. Some of these will not be finalised until the current lockdowns are lifted as the timing of this will impact future cancellations.

Whilst public masses have been resumed over the last few days, they have restricted numbers. Bishop Brian Mascord has continued the YouTube channel where the faithful can watch him celebrate mass with us, and on our behalf. The link to this mass is here. Please log into this site each weekend and join Bishop Brian online for the celebration of the Eucharist.

Mr Steve Lo Cascio