Over the past few weeks, staff at Mount Carmel have been meeting with families who have applied to join our College as members of our Year 7 2022 cohort. These meetings are very affirming experiences as families discuss the reasons why they want their child to attend Mt Carmel, often drawing on the reputation that the College has in the broader community.

Further to this, I take the opportunity to thank and acknowledge a significant number of students who continue to work towards building this reputation in our broader community. In the past week, we have received a number of emails from members of the public who had noticed Mt Carmel students living the values that we espouse in their local community. One of these emails was for a simple act of chivalry where a young man politely offered his spot on the train to an adult traveller who was so taken back by his manners that she felt the need to contact the College. Another report came after a student in Year 9 had taken it upon himself to pick up rubbish that had been scattered across the Leumeah skatepark, just as employed council workers had arrived to complete the same job. A third case was brought to our attention that acknowledged a student who has single handedly raised thousands of dollars for a local McDonald’s House charity. I congratulate and sincerely thank these students, and the many whose efforts go unnoticed, for all that you do in support of the reputation that the College enjoys in our local area.

Finally, and particularly given the events of the past week, a reminder regarding our ongoing COVID19 recording procedures for all families, which include:

• Keeping your child home when they are unwell, even with very mild symptoms.
• Informing the school immediately if your child is self-isolating or undergoing.
• testing, and informing us of the result as soon as possible.
• Following sickness with flu-like symptoms, ensuring your child is free of symptoms and can present a negative COVID-19 test, before they return to school.

All the best for the week ahead,

David Cloran