Filter Content
- Principal's Report
- From the Assistant Principal
- Learning & Teaching at the College
- Year 12 Graduating Celebrations
- Literacy Links
- From the Pastoral Care & Wellbeing Coordinator
- College Sport
- Eva Grados - Netflix TV Series
- Class of 1992 Reunion
- menAlive Growing Good Men
- Ranier School Wear
- P&F Clothing Pool
- Canteen Update
This week’s Gospel (Luke 16:19-31) tells us the story of a man who lived in a fine house and each day passed by a homeless man who lay at his doorstep. After they had both died, the wealthy man begged for water from the poor one to quench his thirst, but this was not possible. The simple message is that we have all been told of the expectation to look after those around us and if we ignore this responsibility, the consequences are on us. As I refer further into this newsletter, in the speech that the College Captains gave at their Graduation evening, they picked up wonderfully on this theme. Our lives must consider those around us and how we might positively impact their lives. A statement that is often attributed to St Teresa of Avila; “Christ has no hands-on earth but yours”. Our actions will not only help others but will also have implications for our own lives as well.
As many of you would be aware, this week we farewelled our Year 12 class of 2022. These students celebrated with a pizza and ice-cream picnic on Tuesday afternoon followed by breakfast on Wednesday morning and the Farewell Mass and their Graduation and Awards on Wednesday evening. The Awards ceremony was attended by guests from Catholic Education, Wollongong, Campbelltown City Council, Campbelltown Catholic Club and our own Parents and Friends’ Association. It was a proud moment for our community to witness the final events for these young women and men and was energising to once again be able to share this with parents and friends being allowed onsite after an almost two-year hiatus. The students were formally piped into the ceremony by Tiam-Li Mackenzie (Year 11) and were treated to a performance by our Polynesian students. Both special treats were met with excitement and appreciation from the rest of the College. Our major award winners were announced and for the first time, the Grad Mass and Awards were live streamed to those family members who were unable to be present on the night. Thank you to the many staff who were involved in these events for year 12. Their efforts, experience and desire for a memorable farewell were evident. The students now move into their final Higher School Certificate exams at the start of next term, and they finish completely with their Formal in mid-November. We wish them all the best for their upcoming exams.
At the Awards evening, The College Captains, Gabriel and Eseta, spoke of the joy that life brings through encounter with others. Gabriel spoke of the way encounter reveals others but also creates ourselves. He reminded us that the Gospels are an invitation to community, tolerance and compassion and he suggested that we should all be committed to ‘walk in truth’. Eseta acknowledged that every person is an instrument to each other’s growth. She spoke of involvement in the rich diversity and culture of the College and encouraged ‘encounter’ as we grow. Eseta also reminded us that a good leader doesn’t look up or forward, they look around. The depth and authenticity of the farewell speech was evident and was a clear indication of the high quality of students that are graduating from the College. Thank you to our student leaders.
A number of our Year 12 students will be coming in during the holidays to work with their teachers in preparation for the HSC exams. Thank you in advance to the staff who have given up their holidays to give the students that extra little bit of support.
Finally, as this is the last newsletter for term 3, I wish all our community a safe and relaxing break and trust that you will return with energy and a positive outlook.
Ite in Veritate
Mr Steve Lo Cascio
As the term comes to a close, I take the opportunity to thank all members of our College community for their support throughout the past term. As we have continued our move towards normality, it has been wonderful to be able to invite parents to more face-to-face events which we have not been able to run for the past couple of years. I look forward with great anticipation to further opportunities for community gatherings in the coming term and most certainly during our end of year celebrations.
I remind the parents of students in Year 11 that today marks the end of the Preliminary Course and, consequently, the HSC course will begin early in Term 4. For this reason, we will be holding the 2023 HSC Information Evening on Monday 10th October in the Champagnat Centre for all parents and students, commencing at 7pm.
I also remind parents and students that we return next term in our summer uniform and encourage students to familiarise themselves with the College uniform and grooming expectations which are laid out in the College diary. Your support in this area ensures that the focus for both teachers and students can remain on learning as the new term gets underway.
A reminder this week of the COVID directives that will govern our return to school from the beginning of Term 4, which state that staff, students and visitors who test positive to COVID must:
- Complete 5 days of isolation from the date they tested positive;
- Be symptom-free before returning to school (if symptoms remain after day 5, they must continue self-isolating and follow NSW Health guidelines);
- Receive a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) result before attending school after their isolation period is complete (the result does NOT need to be provided to the school);
- Wear a mask on days 6 and 7 when attending school (for all staff and for students aged 12 years and older).
Wishing you all the best for the school holiday period ahead.
Year 12 Graduation
This week we celebrated the graduation of the HSC Class of 2022. At the Graduation Ceremony, we acknowledged all Yr 12 graduates and the achievement of completing their secondary education. We also recognised several students for excellence in a variety of aspects of College Life. Congratulations to the following students on receiving these awards.
| The Principal’s Award for Leadership | Gabriel Garcia & Eseta Malaesilia |
| Highly Commended in a TVET/SBAT Course | Sarah Russell |
| The Amanda Butcher Sportspersons of the Year Award | Blake Waugh & Paula Zaballero |
| The College Service Award | Tanya Devi |
| The Cultural Achievement Award | Matilda Tamasese-Faasoa |
| Contribution to the Religious Life of the College |
Sarah Russell |
| The ADF Long Tan Leadership & Teamwork Award | Paula Zaballero |
| The Brother Clarence Award | Gabriel Garcia & Eseta Malaesilia |
|
First, Second & Third in the HSC Cohort |
1st: Gabriel Garcia 2nd: Jeremiah Myatt-Kane 3rd: Parham Zamani Sadeh |
| Course | First | Second | Third |
| Studies of Religion 1 | Eseta Malaesilia |
Llewellyn Govender |
Parham Zamani Sadeh |
| Studies of Religion 2 |
Gabriel Garcia |
Jeremiah Myatt-Kane |
Tahlia Bell |
|
Studies in Catholic Thought |
Caitlin Lo |
Taylor Faasoa |
Breeana Firth |
|
English Advanced |
Gabriel Garcia |
Jeremiah Myatt-Kane |
Eseta Malaesilia |
|
English Standard |
Hunter Stewart-Hall |
Rosa Powell |
Abbey Carter |
|
English Studies |
Joel Bowden |
Liam Cosandey |
Blake Whitehead |
|
English Extension 1 |
Gabriel Garcia |
|
|
|
Mathematics Advanced |
Parham Zamani Sadeh |
Llewellyn Govender |
Emma Nader |
|
Mathematics Standard 2 |
Abbey Smith |
Hunter Stewart-Hall |
Jeremiah Myatt-Kane |
|
Mathematics Standard 1 |
Kieran Walker |
Abbey Carter |
Adanah-Tinai Cheer Chum-on Triggs |
|
Mathematics Extension 1 |
Jack Miller |
Parham Zamani Sadeh |
Don Thevan Thewarapperuma |
|
Mathematics Extension 2 |
Jack Miller |
|
|
|
Ancient History |
Gabriel Garcia |
Sara Bhambak |
Shania Menezes |
|
Business Studies |
Hunter Stewart-Hall |
Joshua Frost |
Llewellyn Govender Emma Nader |
|
Legal Studies |
Jasmine King |
Hunter Stewart-Hall |
Flowpatier Jakoub |
|
Modern History |
Gabriel Garcia |
Paige Durnin |
Ben Langham |
|
Work Studies |
Joel Bowden |
Adanah-Tinai Cheer Chum-On Triggs |
Matthew Roach |
|
History Extension |
Gabriel Garcia |
Sara Bhambak |
Shania Menezes |
|
Biology |
Joshua Frost |
Hunter Stewart-Hall |
Tahlia Bell |
|
Chemistry |
Youstina Jakoub |
Russell Jordan Madangeng |
Christian Bagadiong |
|
Physics |
Jack Miller |
Parham Zamani Sadeh |
Eseta Malaesilia |
|
Investigating Science |
Russell Jordan Madangeng |
Joshua Frost |
Ranya Rawal |
|
PDHPE |
Eseta Malaesilia |
Parham Zamani Sadeh |
Abbey Smith |
|
Community & Family Studies |
Gelya Boccaro |
Abbey Smith |
Dimitra Tupou |
|
Sport, Lifestyle & Recreation |
Matthew Galvin |
Marlee Hampton |
Elisha Fry |
|
Design and Technology |
Jeremiah Myatt-Kane |
Jack Miller |
Parham Zamani Sadeh |
|
Food Technology |
Blake Whitehead |
Gelya Boccaro & Emma Nader |
|
|
Industrial Technology: Timber |
James Smith |
Lawrence-Andrew Vergara |
Matthew Roach |
|
Music |
Matilda Tamasese-Faasoa |
Taylor Faasoa |
Abbey Carter |
|
Drama |
Jack Miller |
Gabrielle Forbes |
Kieran Walker |
|
Visual Arts |
Jeremiah Myatt-Kane |
Abbey Carter |
Daniela Miletic |
|
Construction |
Kaila Zachan |
Matthew Galvin |
Joel Bowden |
|
Hospitality (Food & Beverage) |
Paula Zabellero |
Gia Singh & Breanna Fullarton |
|
Year 7 -10 Tracking Reports
On Friday 23 September the Year 7-10 Tracking reports will be released via Compass, after 3:30pm. This report will capture a snapshot of how students have progressed so far in the second semester of the year. These reports are designed to provide feedback to assist students with monitoring how they are progressing with their academic achievement and academic effort learning goals in each subject.
Year 12 2023 Information Evening Reminder
Date: Monday 10 October (first day of Term 4)
Time: 7pm
Location: Champagnat Centre
The purpose of this evening is to provide students and parents/carers with information on the structure of the HSC, Assessment Policies and Procedures, NESA requirements, the use of technology as well as strategies for HSC success.
HSC Spring Holiday Classes
During the upcoming holiday break, a number of subjects will be holding study and revision sessions. There will also be a number of sessions of “Exam Experience” where Year 12 students will be able to sit a past paper in examination conditions. The schedule for these learning opportunities has been distributed to students via email and the HSC Class of 2022 google classroom.
HSC Exams
The HSC Examinations will take place between Wednesday 12 October - Friday 4 November. Students have been issued with individualised schedules via their NESA Students Online portal. A schedule of examination times and examination room locations has also been issued to students via the HSC Class of 2022 google classroom.
The College wishes Yr 12 students all the best in their final preparations for the HSC exams.
TERM 4
Week 1
12/10/2022: HSC Exams Commence
Date TBC: Year 10 Child Studies Task
Date TBC: Year 10 Mathematics 5.3 Task
Date TBC: Year 10 Mathematics 5.2 Task
Date TBC: Year 10 Mathematics 5.1 Task
Date TBC: Year 9 Commerce Task
Week 2
20/10/2022: Year 10 English Task
17/10/2022: Year 10 Child Studies Task
17/10/2022: Year 9 Child Studies Task
Ms Chardy Miller & Mrs Alison Kripal
Leader of Learning - Curriculum Pedagogy & Leader of Learning - Curriculum Administration
American Poet Laureate, Billy Collins, asserts that ‘High schools are places where poetry goes to die.’ This is not the case at Mount Carmel. Last Saturday, Year 12 students enjoyed a six-hour Poetry Workshop at the Mount Carmel Retreat Centre where they explored the works of T.S. Eliot as part of their HSC English Advanced course. Throughout the day, students recited poetry near the dam, wrote creatively in the chapel and read a series of critical works in the Writing Club room which overlooks the picturesque property. Three journal entries are captured below.
Journal entry 1
I remember Jane Hirshfield saying that entering a good poem allows a reader to feel, taste, hear, think, and see in altered ways. This is true of my encounter with the poetry of twentieth century Modernist poet T.S. Eliot. In fact, my engagement with Eliot’s body of work saw me thoroughly transformed by its presence and mysterious ways. This is particularly evident with his earlier poems published in the 1917 anthology Prufrock and Other Observations where he powerfully captures the sense of inadequacy, abjection and meaninglessness of modern existence. The paralysis of Prufrock in the dramatic monologue ‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock’; the squalor and dislocation of urban existence in ‘Preludes’; and the ‘twisted’ and ‘fatalistic’ encounters in ‘Rhapsody on a Windy Night’ all communicate a sense of human misery, alienation and disillusionment. Eliot’s enduring poetry gives voice to the twenty-first century’s malaise also. The question ‘Do I dare / Disturb the universe?’ reverberates in our complex world today.
Journal entry 2
Mary Oliver once said that a reader beginning a poem is like someone stepping into a rowboat with a stranger at the oars. Just as crucially, reading an Eliot poem lets us discover and rediscover our own depth and yearnings. Our consciousness is augmented as we explore Eliot’s movement towards meaning and purpose apparent in his body of work. A glimpse of this transcendent aspiration is clear in ‘The Hollow Men’. Published in 1925, this poem seems to function as a liminal space in Eliot’s creative progression. The text resonates with the paralysis of the earlier poems and yet points to the search for something of a spiritual nature beyond the confines of the physical.
Journal entry 3
In the poem ‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock’, the speaker’s desperate search for some sense of connection and agency is depicted in ‘I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker’ and ‘I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. / I do not think they will sing to me.’ This sentiment seems to resonate in Prelude IV with the plaintive cry of ‘some infinitely gentle / Infinitely suffering thing’, only to be emphatically silenced by the ending of ‘Rhapsody …’ in ‘The last twist of the knife’. The universality of this modern predicament is conveyed effectively with the utilisation of synecdoche in ‘the eyes that fix you in a formulated phrase’, ‘muddy feet that press/To early coffee stands’, and ‘female smells in shuttered rooms.’ Time is a central preoccupation in each of Eliot’s early poems with the very Shakespearean notion of appearance versus reality captured in ‘There will be time, there will be time / To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet.’ This recognition of the interplay between the true and the false self is particularly Eliotic. ‘Winter evening’, ‘morning comes to consciousness’ and ‘Twelve o’clock’ all situate the speakers and the audience in the relentless movement of time, further emphasising the dehumanising lack of meaning and human connection. All that ‘memory’ provides to counter this ‘fatalistic’ beating of time’s drum are ‘twisted’, ‘broken’ and ‘crooked’ things which urge the speaker and the audience to ‘Put your shoes at the door, sleep, prepare for life.’ This indeed is ‘The last twist of the knife’.
Ms Clare Murphy
English Coordinator & Literacy Instructional Coach
The focus of our past week has undoubtedly been farewelling our graduating class of 2022, something that we have not been able to do as well as we would have liked over the previous 2 years because of the Pandemic. Tuesday and Wednesday saw the culmination of 13 years of formal classes for our graduating class of 2022 and we were able to provide a range of activities and ceremonies to ensure that they finished in fine style. This included a Pizza and Ice-cream lunch on Tuesday afternoon for Year 12 and staff, a cooked breakfast and whole school Farewell Mass on Wednesday morning and the Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday night. Thanks to all staff and the Year 11 Hospitality students for their support in organising and catering for the events over the past couple of days.
At both our Farewell Mass and Graduation Ceremony, College Captains Eseta and Gabriel spoke passionately about the Mount Carmel Community and the role that families, peers and staff have played in their journey throughout the past 6 years. They, along with the other members of the Student Representative Council and their fellow HSC classmates, have ensured that the conclusion to what has been a difficult couple of years was done so in a very respectful and mature fashion. We congratulate Eseta and Gabriel on their presentation and thank them for their insights into what it means to be a student of Mount Carmel Catholic College and how their actions have reflected these words as role models for our college.
On behalf of each of the respective Pastoral Care teams, a huge thanks to all parents and carers for your support throughout what has again been an exciting and at times, challenging term. We hope that all families enjoy the break and that students take the opportunity to relax and refresh as we set ourselves for Term 4.
Stop Press:
Important message from Catholic Schools NSW and NSW Police
|
CSNSW has issued an update regarding Gel Guns and the potential penalties that may apply if a student is found to be in possession of one (see below). |
Mr Simon Huntly
Paula Zaballero has made the All-Schools Australian Team for softball, as well as receiving the major award for Outstanding Sportsmanship. Only 3 major awards were awarded. In addition to this, Paula has been selected for the U18's National Aussie Squad for softball and was also successful in securing a position in the Under 23's NSW, and Open Womens NSW squads. With team selections being announced this week Paula is only 1 of 3 young representatives selected into the Opens Squad. A big congratulations on behalf of the Mount Carmel community.
Congratulations to the NSW women’s school team, which Paula Captains, for winning the National Championships against Queensland 1-0. Commiserations in the NSW men’s school team that Harrison Doris was a part of, losing to Queensland 8-7.
AFL Senior Girls MISA Champions
A brilliant effort by all members of this team. Each girl fought hard for themselves, and for the team. Brilliantly coached/captained by Hailey Meurant, and a well deserved win for everyone. Well done girls!
By Coach Mrs Melissa Christian
Rising Softball Star
Parker Cameron in year 8 is preparing for the Under 14 National Squad camp.
Parker plays and represents Macarthur in Softball. He has just played the Under 16 state championships where they were undefeated. Parker also played representing in the Under 14 state championships.
He had been selected to attend the National Squad Camp after he competed in the National regional championships in Canberra earlier this year.
Indoor Cricket Champ
Kieran Cosgrove in Year 8 represented NSW for indoor cricket during the last school holidays. There were 7 teams competing from various states around Australia. They played 8 games and won 5. They were defeated by the Vic blue team in their semi final and finished in third place on the table.
MISA Teams Term 4
Please note students who have not made the MISA Oztag teams for Team 4, you can trial for another team. Students do not need to register however please ensure that the coach writes your name down.
| Sport | Division |
Gender |
| Indoor Cricket | Years 7-9 | Male |
| Softball | Years 7-9 | Female |
| AFL | Years 7-9 | Male & Female |
| OzTag | Years 7-9 | Male & Female |
| Ultimate Frisbee | Years 10/11 | Mixed |
| Volleyball | Years 10/11 | Male & Female |
Upcoming Events
| Date | Sport | Division | Gender |
| 14 October | AFL |
Years 7-9 Under 14's |
Female Male |
| 17 October | Basketball |
Senior Years 10-11 Junior Years 7-9 |
Male Male & Female |
Communication regarding sport
Students are reminded to continue checking the Compass dashboard for key information relating to sport during the year. Key information will also be communicated to parents via the College Newsletter and notes sent home. Information will also be provided to staff who will communicate key messages with students during Pastoral Care in the morning.
We would love to hear if your child or someone part of our school community, past or present, experiences any sporting success. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any sporting success so we can recognise those achievements in our community.
Representative Pathways
MISA Website https://www.misaonline.org.au/
Diocesan Sport News
Updates and news on Wollongong Diocese sport events and trials can be viewed here Nominations for Term 1 Diocesan sports are now open via google form on Compass.
NSWCCC/CSNSW Sport News
Higher level CCC trials and events status can be monitored here. Information on NSWCCC events for 2022 available via Compass. See Mrs Turnbull for nomination procedure.
SCHOOL SPORT AUSTRALIA SPORT NEWS
More School Sport Australia information can be found here
Ms Sue Turnbull
Acting Sports Co-ordinator
Gymnastics Academy: A Second Chance began streaming on Netflix on Friday 16th September. It has already reached Number 1 in Australia and France, which is amazing.
Eva has worked extremely hard for the 4 months working 12 hour days and keeping up with school work, returning home 2 days before Christmas. Eva has been involved in a couple of projects that are airing this month; one for the Right Start Foundation in Camden for an educational video for schools about Down Syndrome and another a music video/short film which will air September 27th.
Below are links to her promo interview and video links to the episodes, she has some great story lines as you get further into the series.
Gymnastics Academy: A Second Chance
http://www.netflix.com/au/title/81422413
Right Start Foundation
Monday: 8.00am - 12.00pm
Wednesday: 12.30pm - 4.30pm
For online purchases, please visit shop.ranier.com.au or call 0493 122 101. Alternatively you can email @ mtcarmel@ranier.com.au
In addition to the dates below, the P&F Clothing Pool will be open Monday 10 October 2.30pm to 4.00pm
Mount Carmel P&F Clothing Pool sells pre-owned College uniforms at less than half the cost of new uniforms.
You can bring your child's uniforms to the shop when they no longer fit or you no longer need them (Uniforms must be clean and in good condition. Blazers must be dry cleaned). The Second-hand Uniform shop will sell the uniforms on your behalf, and after they sell the P & F Committee will transfer the money to your nominated bank account. The P&F will keep 10% of all sales. You are also able to donate the uniforms and then the P&F will benefit from 100% of the sales.
The uniform shop is open from 2.30-4pm on the days listed below. Usually the first Monday of each month. The shop will next be open on Monday 7 November 2022. The shop is run by parent volunteers to raise money for the P&F Committee and to help families of the school with low-cost uniforms.
If any parent wishes to volunteer in the Second-hand Uniform Shop please contact the school office.
Term 4 2022
Monday 7 November
Monday 5 December
Cash only - no EFTPOS facilities
Thank you to the wonderful volunteers who have offered their time to assist our Canteen staff. The College is now able to open the canteen two days per week. Commencing Monday 1 August, please see the following changes:
| Week Days | Operation | Payment Facilities |
| Mon/Tues/Wed | Lunch Orders ONLY | Cash ONLY |
| Thurs/Fri | Recess & Lunch | Cash & EFTPOS |