Good afternoon everyone,

As we enter the midpoint of Term One, our Pastoral Care teams have been very active in terms of providing a range of initiatives and presentations aimed at promoting a safe learning environment. Year assemblies last Friday were primarily centred around the issue of Vaping, particularly with respect to the laws relating to it and the negative impacts on our health. Today at our Staff Development Day, the focus centred around Sexualised Behaviour and the associated legislation and mandatory reporting that is in place at schools, Positive Behaviour for Learning and the use of data for wellbeing and learning. Each of these presentations provided opportunities for staff to work collaboratively in gaining knowledge, understanding and necessary skills in each of the areas, each of which are directed at ensuring that we are doing all that we can for all members of our community to be safe learners.

Next week Elevate Education will be conducting “Study Skills - Kick Start” sessions for all of Year Eight. These will take place during Lesson 1 on Friday March 5. Students will be doing the presentations in Pastoral Classes and each class will have an Elevate presenter leading the session. We look forward to this presentation to our Year Eights, a first for Mount Carmel, and recognise the importance that Study Skills and organisation have in providing students with the necessary tools to navigate their way through each day of learning and as a means of reducing some of the stress and anxiety associated with the challenges of day to day secondary education.

Uniform reminders:

• Only College caps to be worn to, from and at school.
• School shoes should be polished, plain black leather lace up (with a slightly raised heel). Variations of leather, canvas or athletic type shoes are not part of the uniform.
• Only MCCC school or sports socks are to be worn.
• Sports jackets to be worn on Tuesday for sport, or designated practical days for PDHPE or PASS only. Refer to pages 17-20 of the student diary for further information regarding uniform expectations.

Mr Simon Huntly

Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Coordinator