As parents of students in Year 12 are aware, this coming Wednesday night will see the final opportunity for Parent/Teacher/Student meetings before the HSC commences in just a few weeks’ time. Significantly, these discussions will be heavily informed by the students' Trial HSC results and teachers will be able to provide practical strategies with regards to how students can most effectively focus their attention on these upcoming exams. I encourage parents and students to make yourselves available for these interviews - the last of their journey here at Mount Carmel.

I also wish our Year 11 cohort the best as they commence their final week of classes in their Preliminary Course. Year 11/Preliminary Exams commence Monday 12th September and extend until Tuesday 20th September. Given the significance of this examination period, students are only required at school when they have a timetabled examination on and are encouraged to use times outside of this to prepare for future tasks. Normal classes will resume from Wednesday 21 September until the end of term, and Year 12 coursework will begin from the start of Term 4.

You may be aware that COVID isolation protocols for the general NSW population are due to change from Friday this coming week. Please note that we are yet to receive confirmation regarding how these changes translate into school settings, however, as soon as this information becomes available, we will communicate it soon after.

With that being said, I remind everyone of our ongoing COVID-safe reporting measures for Term 3. These stipulate that whilst household close contacts who have no symptoms may continue to attend school, they must adhere to the following requirements:

• The school is notified that they are intending to return as a close household contact
• They must wear a mask indoors except when eating or exercising
• Once positive cases have completed their 7-day isolation period, they should wear a mask for an additional 3 days (for days 8 to 10)

Please note that students who test positive for COVID-19, or who are unwell or showing COVID-19 symptoms, must continue to isolate at home.

All the best for the week ahead,