Last week we were able to circulate the updated Term 4 COVID19 directives for schools to all parents and carers in our Mount Carmel community. We remain grateful to all those who continue to support these directives by:

1. Keeping students home who demonstrate even the mildest of flu-like symptoms
2. Informing the College when their child is tested for COVID19
3. Informing the College once again once their test result is confirmed

Should NSW Health change or modify their directives in any way in the weeks ahead, you will be notified as a matter of priority. In the meantime, if you have any COVID19 enquiries from a schooling perspective, please do not hesitate to contact the College. 

In what has been a particularly busy and challenging year for our Year 12 cohort, I particularly acknowledge their flexibility, determination and, above all, their resilience in the way that they have navigated these challenges. It was a pleasure to see the spirit in which they entered into their first exams earlier this week, and the way in which they readily accepted and responded to the numerous COVID-safe measures that were introduced for this year's HSC exams. I have little doubt that their hard work and perseverance will pay off on December 18 when they receive their final results.  

In a sign that we are continuing our return to a new COVID-normal, we are currently in the process of finalising a number of significant year group incursions that have not been permitted for most of this year. On Wednesday 4 November, Year 9 will participate in the annual Gender Agenda Day where students will be split into gender-based groups and external facilitators will explore a range of issues around adolescents and relationships throughout the course of the day. We are also coordinating an alternate program to replace what was known as the Year 10 Gender Camp, the details of which will be communicated to parents and carers in the coming days. On Friday 6 November, Year 12 students will meet with former Socceroo Paul Wade here at the College to listen to his testimony on the benefits of hard work, perseverance and commitment. These initiatives continue to support and promote student wellbeing and mental health which, in turn, makes significant contributions towards the academic progress of each student. 

Late last week we hosted nurses from NSW Health who administered the Year 10 immunisations. If there are any students from Years 7 or 10 who missed any vaccinations from this year or if any parents would now like to have their child in Years 7 or 10 immunised, the nursing team will return to school on Friday 6 November. Consent forms are available from the College office and would need to be collected and returned prior to this date. 

Mr David Cloran