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Dear parents, friends, staff and students,
This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is traditionally a time of preparation and planning for the celebrations and reflection that comes with the Christmas season. Advent is an opportunity to stop and reflect on the gift of Jesus Christ and how His birth impacts and changes our approach to life and to those around us. As a community, we have been reflecting on the dual charisms upon which the College is built and how they might be incorporated into what we do and why we do it. One of the common themes between the Marist and Carmelite charisms and the current functioning of the College is with regard to the approach we take. Many people comment on the calmness that they feel when they enter onto the site. This calmness (whilst certainly not always evident) is apparent during breaks and in the general movement of students and staff. Marists have presence and simplicity as a basis and Carmelites refer to contemplation and silence. When we practice these in our day to day living, it enables us time to think and allow the Holy Spirit into our lives. In terms of the Advent season, this time of stopping and reflecting does allow preparation for Christmas. I encourage all in our community to try to take some time to stop and reflect on the meaning of Christmas before the season gets away from us.
Next Friday, we have invited our Year 12 students back to the College for a small celebration and farewell. These group of students were not able to attend a graduation or the farewell assembly that would normally occur each year. The College will be providing a pizza and ice cream lunch and will have some opportunity for the students to gather as a group. This will be followed by the formal at Campbelltown Catholic club a few days later. Once again, I congratulate these students on completing the HSC and thank them for their flexibility in a difficult time.
Year 7 – 10 reports are currently being written by staff. These reports form a valuable piece of feedback to both students and parents on the student’s progress and can form the basis of discussions around effort and achievement. I thank the staff for their input and encourage students to be considering how they might improve and develop prior to the end of the year. It can also form the basis of how they might launch into the start of 2022.
As you would be aware, following the distribution of each end of semester report, we give the opportunity for parents and students to meet with staff to discuss progress. These Year 7 – 11 Parent/Teacher/Student meetings are again to be held in the last week of school this term and present an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and opportunities for growth. Whilst the preference for these meetings is for them to be held face to face, this will not be possible this year. The restrictions around physical distancing in inside spaces and requirements for only vaccinated adults to be on site would restrict these meetings greatly. For this year, these meetings will again be held via zoom and parents will be able to book a timeslot either on the evening of Tuesday December 14 or the morning of Wednesday December 15. More details on how to book these meetings will be available in the next week.
As always, a very big thank you to the staff, students and parents for your flexibility and ongoing support during the year.
Ite in VeritateMr Steve Lo Cascio
Principal
As we approach the final weeks of term, I take the opportunity to inform parents and families of our current intentions with regards to our end of year formalities and celebrations. I note at the outset that these plans are at the mercy of COVID directives and for that reason, are subject to change.
At this point in time, the last day of school for students in Years 7-11 is Tuesday 14 December. If permitted, the day will begin with a celebration of the Eucharist in the morning, which will be followed by our regular College awards ceremonies, the nature of which will be determined by the directives that are in place at the time. It would be our hope that we are in a position to extend an invitation to parents for these celebrations if the health directives at the time permit us to do so. We will confirm such plans as soon as we are able to do so.
In taking the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our students throughout this most challenging year, we are still actively seeking an opportunity to acknowledge our incoming Year 12 cohort who have recently completed their Preliminary Course. Due to the restrictions that are in place on gathering sizes, this too is a celebration that we look forward to hosting as soon as we are able.
As is the case each year, we will once again offer two opportunities for Parent, Teacher, Student interviews in the last week of term. The first session will be held from 4pm-8pm on the evening of Tuesday 14 December, whilst a day session will also be held on Wednesday 15 December from 9am-12pm. Booking processes for these interviews will be circulated in the coming days.
Finally, I once again take the opportunity to remind families to please continue following our COVID recording procedures that have been in place for most of the pandemic, which include:
- 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 attending the College site for any reason.
With thanks for your continued support,
David Cloran
Assistant Principal
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C
Two important elements in December - the colour of the Church changes to purple and we now move to Year C and the Gospel of Luke is used.
First Reading Jeremiah 33:14 - 16
The day is coming when the Lord will fulfil his promises.
Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 3:12 - 4:2
Conduct yourself in a way pleasing to God.
Gospel Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Be ready for the second coming.
Who is Luke?
Luke was a companion of Paul, and the focus of his writings was to minimise the differences between the early Christians and promote harmony within the Church. His work is used throughout Year C.
Are you traveling to Bethlehem?
Figuratively not actually. As we travel in this Advent time, we are setting out to contemplate God’s love put on display in a manager.
Did you know?
In the USA, 20% of people born since 2000, state that they identify as “none”, that is no religion or religious practice.
How does that look in our community? How are we working towards spreading the Gospel through our actions and deeds?
REC Coordinator
Good afternoon everyone,
Earlier today our Pastoral teams conducted year based assemblies. Years Seven to Ten agenda items included:
- Advent prayer
- CEDoW Student Vaping presentation
- Positive Behaviour for Learning reminders
- Preparations for the end of year Homegroup Christmas Door decorating.
Year 11, who are in the middle of their first formal assessment tasks for the 2022 HSC were provided time during this Assembly lesson to prepare for upcoming tasks. Thank you to all members of the respective year teams who assisted in the preparation and delivery of these important initiatives.
The student vaping resource prepared by CEDoW staff has now been shown to all students in Years Seven to Ten. The PDHPE faculty have allocated time and resources for follow-up lessons over the coming fortnight to discuss in more detail some of the implications with respect to effects, responsibilities, decision making and legal ramifications. Last week I shared the Staff and Parent resource. Click here CEDoW Student Vaping Resource or CEDoW Vaping resource for parents if you would like to view either of these videos.
2022 House Captaincy
Year Coordinators and Assistant Year Coordinators have been busy over the past week or so interviewing prospective House Captains for 2022. Students currently in Year Nine are eligible for these positions, which are an important leadership opportunity for our Year 10 students in 2022, as well as being an opportunity for those who may have an aim of being on the College Student Representative Council in their HSC year in 2024. This process will culminate next week with the presentation of videoed speeches and Voting during next week’s Friday Pastoral Assembly. Thanks to all students in
Important Safety reminder for cyclists
Students who ride bicycles to school are to wear a helmet to and from our property. The carrying of passengers is not permitted on College grounds.
As usual, thank you to all parents and carers for your ongoing support as we enter the final few weeks of the year.
Regards
Mr Simon Huntly
Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Coordinator
The College continues to keep Year 12 in their prayers as they prepare for the last of the HSC Exams. Students are reminded to check their HSC timetable and know the location of their exams, have all of the required equipment for each exam and to follow the NESA Covid Safe Exam Protocol especially in regards to wearing a face mask both inside and outside of the exam room, social distancing and hand sanitisation. Year 12 are also reminded to return any borrowed resources to the College as part of their sign out process.
Year 11 (Year 12 2022) have begun their first HSC school based assessments. Students are reminded to ensure that they follow the College Assessment Policies and Procedures. If students are absent due to illness or misadventure they are reminded that they need to notify their teacher and follow the illness/misadventure procedures.
Year 10 are encouraged in their final weeks of Stage 5 to focus on working with their class teachers to ensure that they are continuing the development of their skills that will be carried into Stage 6. Students who have not yet met Minimum Standards for writing, reading and numeracy, will have the opportunity to sit these tests over week 9 and 10.
Students in Years 7-9 are also encouraged to maximise their opportunities over the coming weeks to ensure that they are prepared for the next year or stage of their learning in 2022.
Ms Chardy Miller
Acting Curriculum Coordinator
As I commence Long Service Leave today, this will be my final Literacy Links segment for 2021. I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy and Holy Christmas and a wonderful New Year. In keeping with the Mount Carmel Literacy mantra ‘Words Matter’, I pray that Jesus, the incarnate Word of God, bless and inspire us all to respect the words we use, and teach us to speak words of love, peace and forgiveness in 2022.
This year has been such an unusual one. Whilst I hesitate to include the much-used word ‘unprecedented’, the expression does seem to capture the strange and unsettling COVID-19 world we have experienced. My hope for students over the holiday period is that they take the time to sit with a good book and in doing so, encounter other ideas, other people and other situations which will expand their worldview as well as their understanding of self. Stillness and quiet are so important in our busy, noisy and distracted world.
I will finish with my recommendations for holiday reading, for students as well as parents and staff, and once more remind us of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s message: ‘The limits of my language are the limits of my world.’
Years 7 and 8
Once by Morris Gleitzman
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Animal Farm – George Orwell
Years 9 and 10
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden
So Much to Tell You by John Marsden
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Years 11 and 12
The Turning by Tim Winton
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Stranger by Albert Camus
Dubliners by James Joyce
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Parents and Teachers
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton
The Invention of Solitude by Paul Auster
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
Everyman by Philip Roth
The Orchard by Drusilla Modjeska
Middlemarch by George Eliot
A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor
Mrs Clare Murphy
English Coordinator and Literacy Instructional Coach