Dear Parents, Friends, Staff and Students of Mount Carmel, 

Yesterday we celebrated the feast day of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. As founder of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart she dedicated her life to the elimination of barriers that restricted the education of young people, especially those on the margins of society. To this day, the Josephites continue her legacy with prominent establishments throughout Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Peru, East Timor, Scotland and Brazil. On the day of her passing on  8 August 1909, the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Moran famously stated “I consider this day to have assisted at the deathbed of a saint”. His claim was realised on 17 October 2010 when she was canonised by Pope Benedict XVI, making her Australia’s first saint.  

Compassionate and Loving God, 

We praise you for all you do in the lives of saints. 

You inspired Saint Mary MacKillop

To listen to your whisperings within her heart,

To trust in your providence,

To reach out to the most needy,

To forgive even when it was difficult.

As we journey through life

We trust that your Spirit will guide our hearts

Making us more like Saint Mary MacKillop

In thought, word and action. 

We make our prayer through Jesus

Who showed compassion to all in need. 

Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us. 

Amen.

Earlier this week, our Year 12 students commenced their Trial HSC Examinations. As most would be aware, this examination period is the final, and most significant examination period before the Higher School Certificate exams in October. Our students have overwhelmingly demonstrated an impressive level of focus, determination and commitment in the preparation and execution of these exams and I encourage this approach to continue for the duration of this assessment period. 

This coming Wednesday and Thursday, our Year 11 cohort will be participating in a two-day leadership program that is designed to help discern and elect the Mount Carmel Student Representative Council for 2020. All students will be taken off site to Teen Ranch on Wednesday before returning on Thursday for a full day program aimed at preparing them for this significant process. I thank the teachers who have been responsible for preparing this opportunity for the students and look forward to the results that it produces over the coming weeks. 

A reminder that all students in Year 7 will be receiving the second round of their immunisations this coming Thursday. To assist with the process, we are asking all students to wear their sports uniform on the day and to make sure they have a suitable breakfast on the morning of the injections. 

Our August P&F Meeting will be held this coming Tuesday, commencing in I3 at 7pm. In continuing our recent strategy of having various staff members from the College address our parents, I have invited the College Curriculum Coordinator, Ms Judith Tolomeo, to present on the variety of strategies that we adopt as a College to promote student learning, with a particular focus on students in Years 7-10. 

As you would be aware, our College Principal, Mr Steve Lo Cascio, has been absent for the first few weeks of Term 3 as he continues his recovery from surgery last term. I am pleased to inform you that his progress in recent weeks has meant that he will be commencing his gradual return to the College as of next week. We look forward to welcoming him back to Mount Carmel following his extended absence and I thank Mr Simon Huntly and Miss Breanna Donnellan who have fulfilled the roles of Acting Assistant Principal and Acting Year 7 Coordinator respectively in Mr Lo Cascio’s absence.

Acting Principal