Having completed our first six weeks of the year we are now well and truly back into a routine of providing a range of activities that promote opportunities for students to engage and excel. This week alone an extensive range of initiatives took place that are designed to support learning and extend students beyond the classroom.

On Monday, Year 8 students participated in gender specific presentations by Yourchoicez titled “Connections that Count”. The presentations allow students to gain insight into how their online choices can affect their friendships and current or future relationships. If you would like to investigate a little more of what Yourchoicez is about, feel free to click on the link yourchoicez.com.au.

Year 11 tracking reports are now being finalised and prepared for distribution over the coming weeks which will provide a snapshot of student learning over the first part of the year. Year 12 Hospitality students took part in excursions on Wednesday and Thursday to support the attainment of competencies for their VET accreditation. On Thursday, our Years 10, 11 and 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students attend a Diocesan cultural and careers day at Kiama. Thursday saw 33 boys attend the Diocesan Touch selection trials in Wollongong and earlier today our College Swimming team took part in the Diocesan Carnival at Corrimal.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of our week was the Year 7 2024 Information Night on Wednesday which Mr Lo Cascio has referred to. Over 50 of our students assisted with tours and presentations throughout the evening, along with the contribution from our staff who worked in their KLA teams to set up displays to provide prospective students and families a snapshot of what life at Mount Carmel entails. A huge thanks goes out to all staff and students for their participation, enthusiasm and cooperation with the past week, which has certainly resembled what school looked like prior to the Pandemic.

Speaking of the Pandemic, RAT kits were distributed to all students who requested one over the past couple of weeks. The school still has a supply available, should any family require an additional kit, please contact the Front Office. Whilst Covid-19 is still certainly no longer a news headline, NSW is still averaging over 1000 new cases a day and the College still has a role to play in supporting those who may be at risk.

Mr Simon Huntly

You may notice hazelnuts.

We took the prayer from Julian of Norwich - when gazing at the hazelnut, we are encouraged to remember that they are God Made God Loved and God Kept.

Mrs Christine Meharg

At the end of last year, I took five weeks’ Long Service Leave with one main goal – to write. As an English teacher I know the importance of being a competent and confident writer. I write alongside my students often and understand the value of modelling the craft and being prepared to take risks in the process. I am also aware of the research which suggests that the best teachers of writing are those who write – and write often.

The notion of risk taking is critical in the learning process. I was called upon to take risks repeatedly during those five weeks of leave. In admitting to my family and friends that writing was the purpose of my leave, I had created expectations in the minds of others and felt the pressure of staying true to my mission. In sharing this intention with my senior students, I knew that I had to persevere and practise what I preached.

Knowing the importance of routine and habit, I would begin my writing each morning at 7am whether I felt like it or not. Some mornings I would look forward to the challenge, while other mornings were a real struggle. I used pen and paper most of the time in the early stages and found myself using my laptop more often once a rhythm was established. I had a very real sense of thinking differently when I used each of these tools – but that’s for another article!

Over the weeks I composed eight poems which I have shared with family, friends, and students. I even showed Mr Lo Cascio. We have regular conversations about the nature and value of poetry. I love the form and Mr Lo Cascio doesn’t. Having said that, he did respond in a very positive way and was most encouraging. That’s the interesting thing about creating something and sharing it with others. Initially I was hesitant and apprehensive about people’s reactions. As I dared to take more risks and started to enjoy the challenge, the feedback was a necessary part of the learning. And I so wanted to learn. Learning the craft was the motivation that encouraged me to keep the 7am appointment each day and to persist. And what I created was not necessarily the most valuable part of that experience.

Clare Murphy

English Coordinator and Literacy Instructional Coach

The PDHPE curriculum provides various opportunities for students to explore further their understanding of the content they are learning in class through different experiences such as excursions and incursions we offer at the College.

Last Thursday, 2 March, Year 9 participated in a Smashed incursion presented by Gibber, who created a performance designed to reinforce key learning objectives visually and acknowledge teenagers' risky behaviour online and the consequences of underage drinking. Students were completely engaged throughout the presentation and were able to take a lot away from it, including the risks involved in underage drinking and drug use.

“Tackling underage drinking with positive thinking

When the world inevitably throws out choices

Be ready to make an informed one”

"Smashed empowers young people to explore the themes raised through a natural fascination with the characters and their choices. What attitudes drove them to do what they did? How do they feel now? What could they do differently to get a better outcome?”

Other Excursions coming up this year as part of the PDHPE programs include:

• Year 11 PDHPE - UoW Anatomy and Biomechanics Labs - Term 2
• Year 11 PDHPE - Senior First Aid Course - Term 3
• Year 10 PDHPE - Bstreetsmart Road Safety Excursion in Homebush - Term 3
• Year 9 Pass - Wheelchair Basketball - Term 3
• Year 7 PDHPE - Swim Safety and First Aid - Term 4

 There are a variety of units that we cover in order to reach our outcomes in PDHPE. These units provide students with lifelong skills and knowledge around physical development and health. The content covers important life topics around relationships, nutrition, drug and alcohol use, puberty and the body systems, just to name a few. Here are the topics studied this Term in Years 7-12:

Our students have been working hard all term in both theory and practical lessons. Here are some photos of our students in action!

It is important that parents and carers are aware of the healthy guidelines recommended for children. It is suggested that your child follows these to ensure they are staying fit and healthy and meeting the recommended amount of physical activity per day.