Over the last couple of days we have received updates from NSW Health and Catholic Schools NSW regarding the COVID 19 directives that will be in place at the College from Week 6 onwards. These have been communicated in a separate letter to parents from Mr Lo Cascio and the Director of Schools, Mr Peter Hill. These new directives will allow us to put a number of plans in place for the remainder of the year, particularly around events that would typically be held at the end of each year. Final decisions will of course be communicated as these plans are confirmed. 

Over the course of the past week, the College has hosted a number of incursions that have been designed to  support the pastoral care and wellbeing programs that are in operation here at Mount Carmel. Earlier this week, students in Year 9 were separated into male and female groups to participate in our Gender Agenda Day. Expert presenters David and Katie Kobler led students through a range of topics that were thought provoking, interesting and pertinent to their developmental stage. Earlier today, Year 9 also completed the final session of the Youth Adolescent Mental Health program which again, has received some very positive feedback from the students. I take the opportunity to congratulate all Year 9 students on the way in which they have engaged with these valuable opportunities. 

Earlier today, we hosted former Socceroos Captain Paul Wade who addressed our new Year 12 cohort on the benefits of goal setting, commitment and perseverance through the lens of someone who has demonstrated such qualities at an elite sporting level. Again, I congratulate our new seniors for the way in which they engaged with this presentation and hope that it spurs them on as they progress further into their HSC year. 

A reminder that this coming Friday (13th November) is the Term 4 Staff Development Day. I thank the parents who are organising alternative supervision arrangements so that this day can occur. 

Mr David Cloran