Dear parents, friends, staff and students,

In the second reading this week (Galatians 5:1, 13-18), St Paul gives us the simple phrase; “the whole of the law is summarised in a Single command: Love your neighbour as yourself”. This command has two clear components. The first implication is that we must love ourselves. This does not mean that we should think ourselves better than others or fill ourselves with false pride. It is about valuing and caring for ourselves in a way that recognises our life as a gift from God. If we value ourselves, we take care of ourselves and don’t take unnecessary risks. In the same way, we should care for others. Their lives are also a gift from God and when we care for them and treat them with respect and value, we are fulfilling God’s command to love others as ourselves.

On Wednesday we held our Stage 6 elective information evening with parents and students of our Year 10 group. This followed subject information sessions where students were given an indication of various subject details. It was energising to have parents back onsite after an almost two-year absence. I appreciated the feedback given by parents and would like to thank the staff who gave of their time to assist students in choosing subjects. This process will continue into term three with individual guidance interviews occurring in week 3.

Yesterday afternoon, our Year 12 Hospitality students had an opportunity to be assessed on their Food and Beverage competencies by hosting a Canape afternoon for staff. During this session, a number of music students took the opportunity to provide entertainment and practice their performance skills. This was a fantastic afternoon and showcased the talents of our students. Hopefully we will have opportunities later in the year for parents to also experience these student’s talents.

In terms of talents, I had the pleasure of being in the audience for our MISA Dance students’ performance on Tuesday. These students have developed and practiced their routines since the start of this year and they represented us with passion and pride. It was exciting to see their energy and to be able to attend the event.

Earlier today, parents were sent a letter regarding the Thursday protected industrial action which will be held next Thursday. As stated in the letter, whilst the College will be open for supervision of students, no classes will be held on Thursday. One of our Year 7 – 10 Parent/Teacher/Student meeting sessions was also scheduled to be held on Thursday evening. Unfortunately, this has also had to be cancelled as I cannot guarantee which teachers will be available. Parents are encouraged to make bookings to see teachers at one of the other sessions on Monday evening or Friday morning.

At the end of this term, we farewell three of our permanent staff. Ms Karen Gutierrez Madrid has worked in our science department as a laboratory assistant for the past few years. Ms Gutierrez Madrid will be moving overseas in the next few weeks. Mr Michael Pilottos has taught in HSIE and has been our Legal Studies specialist. Mr Pilottos will be taking up a new role in a school closer to his home. Ms Mikayla Bow has worked in the Mathematics department and has been an Assistant Year Coordinator, Assistant Maths Coordinator and our Numeracy Instructional Coach. Ms Bow is also moving to a position closer to home. We thank each of these staff for their contributions to Mount Carmel and wish them well in their future endeavours. We will welcome our new staff at the start of next term.

At the end of the first week back next term (Friday July 22), we will be celebrating the OLMC Feast Day Mass at the College. This will mark the first time in over two years that we will come together as a complete community. To mark this occasion, I would like to invite parents to attend this Mass. Given the size of our hall and the size of the community, we will be restricted to around 50 parents maximum. If you would like to attend this Mass, please contact the College office and register your attendance. A reminder will be sent out at the start of term.

Given the PTS meetings next Friday and the Industrial action next Thursday, this will be the final newsletter for this term. Should any parents have any concerns or questions before the end of term, I would as always encourage you to contact the College. A reminder that we will start Term 3 for the whole College on Monday July 18.

I wish all parents, students and staff a safe and relaxing break.

Ite in Veritate

Mr Steve Lo Cascio

With the release of today’s academic reports, I urge all parents to encourage their children to reflect on the feedback that is given in these documents and to start a conversation about setting goals for the second half of the year. Particularly where common feedback is received across multiple subjects, students are encouraged to respond to this from the start of next term. Of course, the vast majority of students should be very pleased, and proud, of their progress to this point in the school year. 

As was communicated earlier this week, the College has had to take the position of cancelling the Year 7-10 PTS interviews this coming Thursday. In addition to this, we have liaised with NSW Health in recent days to reschedule the planned Year 10 Immunisation Day which will now take place on Tuesday 30th August. Students are asked to hold onto their immunisation forms until then. Further information regarding the administering of these immunisations will be provided closer to the date. 

Yesterday was our official College Photo Day for 2022. If there were any students who were away and did not have their photo taken, a reminder that this coming Monday (27th June) is the catch-up day. Students are asked to be in their full winter uniform and to bring their personalised photo envelope to present to the photographers, regardless of whether they are purchasing their photos or not. 

Earlier today we distributed the latest allocation of Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits to all students. We would obviously anticipate that this will be the last distribution for the term and will keep you updated as further supplies are delivered, most likely in the new school term. 

Finally this week, I remind everyone of our COVID-safe guidelines for Term 2 which 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 they 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,

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

First Reading 1 Kgs 19:16. 19-21; Elijah anoints Elisha to succeed him.

Second Reading Gal 5:1. 13-18; Be guided by the Spirit.

Gospel Lk 9:51-62; You cannot look back with your hand to the plough. 

Important people and days

Sunday 26th International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

Monday 27th St Cyril of Alexandria

Tuesday 28th St Irenaeus

Wednesday 29th St Peter and St Paul

Thursday 30th First Martyrs of Rome and World Social Media Day

Ideas for World Social media Day - get involved in some group chats, share some tweets from great people, explore a new social media platform!

We would encourage you to have a chat in your family about the ethical use of social media.

Over the Holidays.

The College takes its name and a lot of its inspiration from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish.

The feast day for  Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast Day is fast approaching on Sunday 17 July!

The day involves morning mass with Bishop Brian, followed by a procession with the statue of Our Lady, a free multicultural lunch feast, and a free concert.

I encourage you and your family to come along and support this Parish.

Christine Meharg

Macarthur Catholic schools rally together to support Tongan Disaster Appeal

Many thanks to all the staff, students and Mount Carmel Catholic College community for supporting the appeal with their generous donations and prayers for the people of Tonga. Thank you for allowing the College to be involved and advertising the appeal.

It was truly a community effort that touched the hearts of schools, parish and the wider community.

The shipping date, unfortunately, has (again) been delayed but we are hoping to have a small blessing ceremony at the site on Saturday, July 2 to farewell the donations and pray for a safe voyage to Tonga.

Please click the link to view the full article

Australian academic, Roslyn Arnold, asserts that education for the best and fullest human consciousness requires that we understand and respect the inner worlds of individuals, in which thought and feeling are complementary processes. She also contends that it is equally important to understand how individuals interact with each other, and how they derive significance from such interactions. This rich world of interpersonal life between people and the equally rich inner life enjoyed by those of a reflective nature, are the foundations for deep and meaningful learning.

The act of writing, being a medium for thinking and making sense of experience, is an ideal vehicle to promote the development of a rich interpersonal life and a reflective disposition. When we write, we write our way into meaning, discovering new ideas and generating insights that would otherwise remain unrealised or hidden. Thinking and understanding are activated by writing creatively and analytically.

American writer, Terry Tempest Williams, effectively captures the essence and the power of writing in the following extract:

‘I write to make peace with the things I cannot control. I write to create red in a world that often appears black and white. I write to discover. I write to uncover. I write to meet my ghosts. I write to begin a dialogue. I write to imagine things differently and in imagining things differently perhaps the world will change. I write to honour beauty. I write to correspond with my friends. I write as a daily act of improvisation. I write because it creates my composure. I write against power and for democracy. I write myself out of my nightmares and into my dreams. I write in a solitude born out of community. I write to the questions that shatter my sleep. I write to the answers that keep me complacent. I write to remember. I write to forget….

I write because you can play on the page like a child left alone in sand. I write because it belongs to the force of the moon: high tide, low tide. I write because it is the way I take long walks. I write as a bow to wilderness. I write because I believe it can create a path in darkness. I write out of my inconsistencies. I write because then I do not have to speak. I write with the colours of memory. I write as a witness to what I have seen. I write as a witness to what I imagine. I write because it is dangerous, a bloody risk, like love, to form the words, to say the words, to touch the source, to be touched, to reveal how vulnerable we are, how transient we are. I write as though I am whispering in the ear of the one I love.’

Mrs Clare Murphy

English Coordinator & Literacy Instructional Coach

Good afternoon everyone,

As we end our first semester of learning for the year, it is important that we continue to address some of the Pastoral and Wellbeing issues that often impact on the learning and wellbeing of our students. In today’s Pastoral time, the following activities took place:

Year 7 - Encounter Day

Year 8 - Pastoral class based “Walking Assembly”

Year 9 - Gender specific House-based presentations

Year 10 - Subject selection follow-up presentation

Year 11 - HSC survival guide presentation by Year 12 SRC

Year 12 - Goal setting and preparing for the HSC Trials Assembly

Thanks to all staff and students who organised and participated in these presentations. 

An ongoing area of concern for all students, particularly in light of the potential implications for our recent and current COVID situation, is related to Technology, E-Safety and screen time. Our experience over the past couple of years has provided circumstances and opportunities for all of us to engage more in Streaming Services (such as Netflix), a broader range of Social Media apps (Zoom, House Party etc) and an increased reliance on our digital devices to maintain contact with our work or school colleagues and friends. 

The ever changing landscape of technology and social media brings with it newer and unique challenges, many of which do not come with a simple users manual. The Federal Government E-Safety Commissioner’s website is a reliable point of call for any student or family member who may require some information regarding many of the questions that are often raised, a courtesy of new technologies and services. Questions such as:

• How much screen time should my son or daughter have each day?
• How do I provide a safe and secure Social Media environment for my child?
• What sorts of apps are out there and what do they do?
• What are the laws regarding age of consent for using Social Media apps?

The following links to the esafety Comissioner’s site may assist with being able to investigate and find answers to some of the issues that may confront families from time to time relating to cyber safety. 

esafety guide to games, apps and social media

esafety parents tips

esafety online safety basics

Also, as we head into a well earned break after a term of classroom learning, assessment tasks, reports and again a challenging COVID environment, sometimes the resilience of our children can be tested. If you have concerns over the wellbeing of your son or daughter, please do not hesitate to contact the College for support. Alternatively, if a concern arises external to the school setting, the following agencies are recommended by our Catholic Care Counselling team for assistance. Click on the images to access the sites.