Dear parents, friends, staff and students,

On Thursday we held our SRC, 2024 induction day. This is an opportunity to bring together our student leaders to educate them on the values of leadership and the processes required for them to work as a team. In contemplating this week’s first reading (Romans 12:1-2) I am drawn back to part of the focus of our SRC day. The reading says; “Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind”. Our leaders were reminded of our MCCC Graduate statement that articulates that we hope each graduating student will, amongst other things, be a person of integrity. This is a person who lives what they believe, and we hope their beliefs are based on our focus as a Christ-centred community. The students were encouraged to look into themselves and to consider how they might become the ‘bearer of Christ’ to others. At the end of the day, each student spoke to a panel of our staff leadership team regarding their own thoughts and expectations around student leadership. From this, our College Captains and portfolio holders will be determined and we will announce these early next week. Congratulations to all the students for the high standard they contributed. This day augers well for student leadership in 2024.

On Tuesday evening we hosted the Major Works evening at the College. This is the night each year where our students display their major projects that they have submitted as part of the Higher School Certificate. This year, the major works were provided by students in Visual Arts, Industrial Technology (Timber), Society and Culture (PIP) and Extension English. We had a large number of parents and students go through the rooms and there were many comments on the high quality of projects and the time it would have taken for them to be completed. It was lovely to see guests discussing the projects and reading the PIPs and essays. Congratulations to all the students who submitted works and thank you to the staff who assisted them in these.

On Friday we finally had the opportunity of recognising our Mount Carmel Day award winner, Mrs Melina Trimarchi. This award usually occurs on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, however this year, Mrs Trimarchi was on leave. We are fortunate to have a member of our community such as Mrs Trimarchi who goes well beyond expectations in support of our staff and students. She is often working outside of her paid hours to ensure that staff are fed at evening meetings, hospitality is provided at Graduations and information nights and students are looked after when they are a little down. Congratulations to Mrs Trimarchi who is a worthy recipient of the Mount Carmel Community Award for 2023.

On Wednesday Sept 6, we will be holding the final Parent/Teacher/Student meetings for our current Year 12 students. This is the last opportunity for parents to gather feedback on their children for areas of improvement prior to their HSC examinations. I encourage all Year 12 parents to attend to gain valuable information or simply to say thank you to the staff who have assisted your children so ably in their final year of secondary studies.

At our last P&F meeting, the P&F decided to change the format of a lucky draw that occurs at the end of each year. For families who have paid their P&F contribution, you will go into a draw to win $200 worth of vouchers for Christmas. There will be $200 won in each year group (ie 6 x $200 draws) and this will occur at the final P&F meeting on November 7. If you have made your contribution to the P&F by the start of that week, you will automatically be in the draws.

As I advertised in last week’s newsletter, we recently became aware that one of our families lost all of their possessions in a fire. The P&F have requested that I include the link to a GoFundMe page where community members might make a donation. Please find the link here should you wish to support this family as they try to recover from this tragedy.

A reminder that next Monday, September 4, we will hold a small Father’s Day breakfast similar to the gathering we held for Mother’s Day. This will be before school on the Monday to avoid any possible clashes with our local primary schools. Please RSVP to the College if you would like to attend and I wish a very Happy Father’s Day to all our deserving dads.

Ite in Veritate

Mr Steve Lo Cascio