On Thursday, the world recognised Remembrance Day. Remembrance Day is certainly not a celebration of war or simply a symbol of the past. It is a way of acknowledging the sacrifice that all people have made for beliefs and values that they hold as basic and essential to their way of life. This particular day obviously focuses on the sacrifices made during times of war. These times impact all peoples and whilst this impact may vary greatly in severity or longevity, the impact is nonetheless difficult. In our Christian faith, we are often faced with the seemingly difficult decisions of when to stand up for what is right and when to ‘turn the other cheek’. The decision should always be based on what values we follow, how these fit with the teachings of Jesus Christ and what course of action we take to support them. Since the return of students to face to face learning, we have had most come back with an energy and eagerness that has enabled them to grasp the opportunities presented at Mount Carmel. A small number have struggled with return to routine. This morning I spoke with two Year Groups about stepping up to their friends in an appropriate way when they saw injustices occurring. This does not mean fighting or being nasty to others, but it may mean something as simple as telling their friends when their behaviour is inappropriate or unacceptable. I spoke of the Mount Carmel way and the standards that apply throughout our community. Whilst this is not the purpose of something as important as Remembrance Day, the underlying concept of standing up for things that are important, is. In our community, I encourage students to uphold our values in themselves and their friends in an appropriate manner. 

This week our HSC students began their final examinations. These started with the first English paper on Monday where after an extended five-week Stuvac and almost 20 weeks offsite, our students arrived as a group to complete their last requirements for the HSC. The students were nervous but all very prepared for these final tests. As I have said on a number of previous occasions, we recognise this group has missed many opportunities and we are extremely disappointed for them. They have approached the HSC with maturity and courage and we will be holding a special pizza and ice cream lunch with them on the last day of their HSC exam in early December. Please keep these students in your prayers as they participate in their final examinations.

Last Tuesday we held via zoom our final Parents and Friends’ meeting for the year. Once again we had a small but dedicated group of parents who attended to hear what is happening around the College and the latest news regarding the building program and events leading to the end of the year. I took the opportunity to thank the P&F executive for their support during a difficult year and thank the parents who attended for their valuable contributions and comments that assist in the various decisions made around the College.

As always, a very big thank you to the staff, students and parents for your flexibility and ongoing support during this year.