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Dear parents, friends, staff and students,
Next Monday is the Feast of the Annunciation (April 8). This would normally have occurred last week but has been moved this year due to Easter. The Feast of the Annunciation is the moment when the angel appeared before Mary to ask her if she would agree to be the mother of Jesus. Many people do not think deeply on this moment as they assume that it was God’s decision or simply some type of fate. The truth is that Mary had every opportunity and freedom to refuse this request. In the story of the annunciation, it is not automatic that Mary will accept. She considers the implications of being a young unmarried mother to be, in a time where this would normally result in her becoming an outcast. Mary simply says “yes” but this is far more important and significant than many would realise. Her acceptance of God’s offer results in the greatest gift given to humankind. She freely accepted her responsibility and this response resulted in her being given the title ‘Theokotos’ (bearer of God). Each of us is asked in all of our interactions and behaviours to be Theokotos – the bearer of Christ to others. The Annunciation is our opportunity to reflect on how we might do this in our everyday interactions.
We have been informed that the new STEM building is very close to completion and we will be allowed to occupy this within the first few weeks of next term. Two of the buildings at the front of the College will then be demolished. This may begin as soon as the middle of these holidays. In anticipation of this, we will be relocating some of our classes between various buildings. These changes will be explained to students as they occur. The main change that will affect parents and students will be temporary changes to the bus drop off and pick up places. Please follow directions in the first few weeks to ensure safety for all. It is anticipated that these renovations will conclude by mid term 3.
In the newsletter last week, I acknowledged our high achievers who received certificates from Campbelltown City Council. Today we have the photo to attach. Congratulations again to these students.
Last week I also mentioned that there would be a number of surveys over the coming months to assist in improving how we do things as a college and diocese. The first of these is the CEDoW Mental Health Support Services Review. This is an important initiative, aiming to enhance the wellbeing services we provide. With the collaboration of Altum Counselling and Consulting Pty Ltd, we are conducting a thorough evaluation of our current services and support systems. This short survey, which takes only 8-15 minutes to complete, will be conducted with the utmost respect for your time and privacy. Your anonymous contributions will play a crucial role in improving the support systems within our schools, which will have lasting benefits for both students and staff. We thank you for your active participation. Together, we will strengthen the foundations of support and wellbeing within the CEDoW community. Parents are asked to complete this survey by 16 April. The survey can be accessed here.
Mr Huntly will be taking some deserved leave over the next few weeks and will be replaced by Mrs Christine Meharg who will fulfill the role of Acting Assistant Principal until his return in week 4 of next term. Mrs Kristina Borg will step into the Acting REC role. Please continue to contact the College in the normal way but be aware that Mr Huntly will be unavailable. I thank Mrs Meharg and Mrs Borg for agreeing to step into these roles.
A reminder that we are now accepting enrolment applications for Year 7, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to ensure all documentation is included with the application prior to it being lodged. The due date for applications is 2pm on April 12 (Next Friday).
Mr Steve Lo Cascio
Earlier today our Community, including a large number of parents and carers, gathered to formally recognise our Year 10 and 11 House Captains, Youth Ministry and Carmelite Captains for 2024. A total of 33 students were presented with their leadership badges and publicly pledged their aims for 2024. I thank each of those students who have assumed the mantle of leadership in these various capacities, congratulate them on their efforts throughout the past term to reinvigorate our community and wish them every success for the remainder of the year. I would also like to thank Miss Toogood and Ms Nguyen for their work in coordinating each of these leadership teams. The Assembly also provided an opportunity for us to hear from our College captains, an overview of our sporting success throughout the term and the outstanding efforts of our fundraising for Catholic Missions during Lent. I would like to commend our Year 12 SRC team who ran today’s assembly - it was truly a student centred presentation and an opportunity to celebrate the talents of our students.
As we head into the final week of term, please be reminded that our Annual Cross Country event will be held next Friday. Students are required to wear their full, correct sports uniform to and from school. They will be allowed to change into an appropriate House coloured shirt on the day. The only exception will be for Year 12, who have permission to wear appropriate novelty clothing. The day will commence at 8.45am as normal. Year 12 students will be permitted to leave no earlier than 2pm and Years 7-11 will be allowed to leave at 2.30pm. Supervision will be provided during the afternoon for those students needing to remain on site to catch buses at the usual times.
A reminder that Term 2 commences on Monday April 29. Because of the 11 week term in Term One, the first day back at school will be Day Six (Week B) on the timetable. This is reflected on Compass. All students are required to be in Full Winter uniform, including Blazers and ties from the commencement of the term.
Immunisations will commence early next term, commencing on Thursday May 9 (Week 2 Term 2) with Year 10 and Yrs 8/11 catch ups from 2023. Year 7 will have their immunisations on Wednesday August 14 (Week 4 Term 3). Final catch up immunisations for Yrs 7, 8, 10 & 11 will be held on Tuesday Nov 26 (Week 7 Term 4). As was the case in 2023, registration for Immunisations occurs through the Services NSW website or App. Please click on the following link for instructions on how to complete this process - Parent information for Immunisations. If you don’t have access to register your son or daughter digitally, forms are available from the Front Office.
As always, thanks to all parents and carers for your ongoing support with the faith, learning and wellbeing of all students. Please do not hesitate to contact your son or daughter’s respective Year Coordinator or Pastoral Advisor should you have any questions or require support.
Mr Simon Huntly
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SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR B |
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| First Reading | Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35 |
Early believers share whay they have. |
| Second Reading | 1 John 5:1-6 |
Love God by keeping the commandments. |
| Gospel |
John 20:19-31 |
Doubting Thomas. |
Glimmering gold represents glory and triumph, specifically Jesus' resurrection and triumph over death, which is celebrated during the Easter season.
Gold is often used with white in Easter services displayed on vestments and church decorations.
YEAR 12 Parent/Teacher/Student INTERVIEWS
Wednesday 10 April
Year 12 Parents and Guardians are encouraged to book interviews with your child’s teachers to discuss their progress and determine strategies to prepare for their final six months of secondary education. Interviews for Year 12 2024 are being held on Wednesday April 10 between 4pm and 8pm in the Champagnat Centre. Bookings can be made via the Compass Parent Portal and will be open from 4pm on Monday 18th March. A guide on how to make a booking can be seen here. If you are experiencing any issues with logging into Compass or making any appointments, please contact Mrs Rina Domingo via an email to domingor01@dow.catholic.edu.au or call the College on 9603 3000. Bookings will close at 3pm on Tuesday 9 April.
Year 12 HSC Holiday Classes
During the upcoming break, Year 12 teachers will be facilitating workshops for many of the HSC courses. While attendance is not mandatory, this is an opportunity that we provide for supported revision and consolidation of HSC course content. The schedule of holiday classes has been shared with Year 12 students and sessions will appear on student’s schedules on Compass.
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TERM 1 |
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| Week 11 |
Year 11 08/04/2024: 11 ITT (NEW DATE) 08/04/2024: 11 Ancient History 11/04/2024: 11 Society and Culture Year 12 09/04/2024: 12 IPT
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TERM 2 |
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| Week 1 |
Year 11 29/04/2024: 11 Ceramics 03/05/2024: 11 Visual Design |
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Leader of Learning - Curriculum Pedagogy & Leader of Learning - Curriculum Administration
College Assembly - Badging of our Captains
Celebrating our exemplary leaders in Youth Ministry, Carmelite Captains, and House Captains for 2024 have been proudly badged. These individuals epitomise dedication, integrity, and compassion, embodying the values at the core of our college community. With their guidance, we look forward to a year filled with service, unity, and positive change. Let us commend their commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion and excellence. Congratulations to our newly badged leaders – may your leadership inspire and uplift all those around you.
Congratulations to:
| Youth Ministry Leaders | |
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Mateo Andrews Rebecca Biju Sophie Connolly Solange Hidalgo Onyx Holmes |
Angelina Miletic Azura Pereira Bernice Sailago Stephanie Tungcab Laylah Tupou |
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Carmelite Captains |
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Hannah Casey Dominic Luamanu Sienna Pavoncelli Chase Reyes |
Seirasa Smith Bea Sualibios Leizara Tanuvasa |
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House Captains |
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Avila |
Jilliane Castrodes, Maria Cassandra Tuyor, Patrick Arthur, & Lauren Lo |
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Howard |
Adrian Rivadeneira, Veronique Ferriere, Beth Martin, & Jack Ashcroft |
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MacKillop |
Chelsea Sirec, Keith Monzon, Monte Sauvao, & Mia Rezo |
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Murray |
Zoë Bruce, Chukie Okonkwo, Katiana Gramelis,& Lovinia Camasosa |
Interim Reports
As we near the conclusion of the first term of learning, we anticipate the distribution of Interim Reports for Years 7-11 and Semester One Reports for Year 12, encapsulating students' progress and performance thus far. These reports encapsulate not only academic achievements but also each student's dedication and approach to learning.
The feedback provided in these reports, alongside the ongoing formative feedback within classrooms and on individual assessments, plays a pivotal role in fostering a Growth Mindset—a concept deeply intertwined with enhancing learning outcomes and personal development.
Renowned psychologist Professor Carol Dweck's research illuminates the significance of differing beliefs regarding ability. Individuals embracing a growth mindset perceive intelligence and abilities as malleable qualities, shaped by effort, persistence, diverse strategies, and learning from setbacks. In Pastoral assemblies, Year Coordinators often refer to this as GRIT.
"In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view fosters a passion for learning and a resilience crucial for significant accomplishments" (Dweck, 2015).
To facilitate the cultivation of this mindset, we provide our staff and students with various resources aimed at continuous growth and development. Below is a link to resources we share within our community to support the promotion of a Growth Mindset:
Growth Mindset Vs Fixed Mindset
Student Leaders Macarthur Forum
On Tuesday the 2 of April, three of our SRC, Alex Dutfield, Isabella Inthavong and Meghann Peeters, attended the Macarthur Forum. This was a fantastic opportunity to have an audience with the Federal Member for Macarthur, Dr Mike Freelander and the Federal Minister for Education, Jason Clare.
On the day, student leaders from across the Macarthur region voiced their concerns regarding mental health, social media and the problems with vaping within their schools.
A large part of the conversation centred upon teacher shortages within schools and how the Federal government was addressing this serious issue.
The students also appreciated the opportunity to get a small taste of university life expressing surprise over the facilities available and spending some time working out how to use a lecture theatre desk.
Thank you to Mr Greg Lozelle for taking the students to this event and supporting them in their conversations with all the leaders.
Unity Gramma Interfaith Iftar Dinner
Student leaders representative of Year 12 Studies of Religion and other Catholic school students of the diocese, attended an Interfaith Iftar Dinner hosted by Unity Grammar on Wednesday evening. The Mount Carmel students were such excellent role models of our College, entering into a spirit of friendship with new peers, and speaking with integrity and upon reflection during the drive home, they expressed how they truly respected and were inspired by how confident the Muslim students were in being authentically Muslim. The students saw the benefits of being comfortable in your values as it cultivated a sense of belonging and desire for excellence at their school. These students returned feeling very energised about new connections, wanting to cultivate new experiences here at the College and continue work in both social justice and interfaith.
Catholic Education Office Mental Health Services Survey
As mentioned by Mr Lo Cascio in last week’s newsletter, the Catholic Education Office has requested that all students complete a survey reflecting on mental health and wellbeing services available within the Diocese. We will be conducting this school-wide on Thursday morning during Pastoral time. The survey link will be provided to them via Compass News on the day. The survey should take approximately 8-15 minutes for them to complete. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to current routines in Pastoral, as we understand that this is valuable time. Parents additionally have a survey to fill out in support of our Diocese’ understanding of how they can best support our Community.
Thank you for your continued support of your children and the College.
Mrs Theresa Moore Miss Rebecca Toogood
Acting Pastoral Care & Wellbeing Coordinator
One of my favourite philosophers is a French woman by the name of Simone Weil. Born in 1909 to a Jewish family in Paris, Weil became a great thinker and a political activist who influenced many of my favourite writers including Albert Camus, Iris Murdoch, and Flannery O’Connor. She died in 1943 at the age of 34. One powerful statement of Weil’s which is so pertinent to our very distracted world today is: ‘Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.’
Recent educational research, academic scholarship, and media discourses continue to highlight the need for our young people to read more, write more, and simply pay attention to the world around them. Studies are warning us about screen addiction, an inability to concentrate, and a profound loss of language needed to think creatively, critically and imaginatively. The English faculty’s mantra – taken from the writings of Ludwig Wittgenstein – supports these concerns with the assertion: ‘The limits of my language are the limits of my world’.
Over the past ten weeks, my Year 9 English class has been reading George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. When I chose this text, I knew it would be a challenging read. The book’s language, the issues explored, and the length of the text are not easily accessible to students whose reading encounters have largely been simple, short, and sparse. A creative and courageous approach to teaching such a text has been needed to sustain the attention of the students and build their capacity to engage with cognitively challenging material. As a result of persistence, encouragement, and a strategic focus – along with a refusal to feed a diet of ‘bread and circuses’ – the students’ reading stamina has grown and their concentration, comprehension, and critical thinking have been enhanced. This is the counter cultural approach needed in our secondary classrooms today.
Clare Murphy
English Coordinator and Literacy Instructional Coach
A big week of MISA sports with the final rounds being played out. Both our Senior Girls basketball team and Senior boys OzTag teams competed in grand finals. Amazingly, our Senior Girls managed to clinch victory for the 3rd year in a row, securing the title of MISA Basketball champions yet again.
Looking ahead to next week, we have our college Cross Country Carnival. This whole school carnival day includes novelty games and our cross country race. Please take note of the important information regarding the earlier dismissal of students on Friday of Week 11.
Important information - Cross Country
The 2024 College Cross Country Carnival will take place on the last day of the term, Friday the April 12, 2024 (Week 11). We want to inform parents/guardians that this College carnival will end earlier than usual.
- Year 12 students will be dismissed at 2:00 pm to alleviate congestion and traffic in the student/parent parking area. They are not required to wear full sports uniforms.
- All other students (Years 7-11) will be dismissed at 2:30 pm. Students are required to arrive and depart the college in full sports uniform. However, they can wear a house-coloured shirt or accessory during the carnival.
If students are unable to make arrangements to accommodate this early finish time, staff supervision will be available at the College until normal afternoon buses arrive.
Upcoming Events
12 April: College Cross Country Carnival
2 May: Girls Opens Football Champions
3 May: Boys Opens Football Champions
6 May: Diocesan Cross Country Championships
9 May: Diocesan Football Championships
14 June: Diocesan Netball Championships
MISA Wrap Up - Finals
| Sport | Result | MVP | Final Report |
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Volleyball Years 7-9 Boys NIMM |
3rd Place Playoff VS MAS Win 3-0 |
Jeremy Melendres | In our third place play off match the boys delivered a solid and dominant performance to defeat Macarthur Anglican. The team demonstrated their overall skill and team work in the first set to showcase their digging, setting and spiking skills. They continued their dominance in the second set to comfortably run away with the win. However, the third set saw a determined Macarthur side who came away with several unanswered points but in the end Mount Carmel were too strong and managed to close out the set and therefore match 3-0. The MVP in today’s match was the most consistent showcasing his skill with several excellent hits and solid serving throughout the match. Congratulations and well done to the entire team for their dedication, stellar sportsmanship and commitment this term. |
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Volleyball Years 7-9 Girls PONT |
3rd Place Playoff VS JTCC Loss 2-0 |
Chloebeth Santos & Eric Tax | The girls had a tough task ahead of them coming up against an experienced John Therry team. There were some long rallies that showcased the girls' setting and digging skills, as well as their ability to communicate and move together as a team. After an inspirational speech from coach Sienna after the first set, the girls all “pulled their socks up” and fought hard in the second set bringing it back to 24-22. Unfortunately they just couldn’t secure those last few points and John Therry won the match 2 sets to 0. Congratulations to the entire team for their effort and commitment this term and to Sienna and the other students' helpers for dedicating their time to coach, score, umpire and call lines. An all round great team effort that really does showcase the phenomenal ‘team and family spirit’ that is evident here at Mount Carmel. |
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Indoor Cricket Years 7-9 Girls OCOB
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5th Place Playoff VS JTCC Win 63-40 |
Samantha Stewart | Such a dominant performance. With being able to bat first, the girls really set the tone for a difficult score to beat. Racking 63 runs on the scoreboard was a testament to the strength of batting on display. This was met with some really strong bowling, keeping JTCC scores to a minimum with fewer than 5 runs each over. Overall, the team has continued to display immense improvement and brilliant teamwork week after week. |
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Basketball Years 10-12 Boys HARK |
3rd Place Playoff VS OPAC Win 35-33 |
Isaac Ramos & Adrian Capitly |
In our third place playoff we were able to come away victorious. The team played hard but were not converting on opportunities we would normally take. The boys continued to grind away and began to put some distance between us and the opposition but to their credit they did not go away hitting some big 3 point shots. The boys did not flinch and Adrian Capitly was able to hit the winning shot as time ran out to give us the win 35-33. |
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Basketball Years 10-12 Girls ABRN |
Grand Final VS JTCC Win 32-16 |
Jemma Riordan |
The girls came away with a convincing win today. Their defence was incredible and although there were a few fouls along the way, we were composed, competitive and did not give JT a break until the final buzzer. Jemma was our leading point scorer with 16 points, 7 steals and 7 rebounds. The girls were too strong in their defence and JT did not have enough stamina to keep up with the MCCC girls. Congratulations team. I am always blessed to have such amazing athletes to work with. You make coaching so easy! |
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Oztag Years 10-12 Boys KING |
Grand Final VS MAG Loss 12-5 |
Brody Taateo & Jerome Taateo |
The senior boys OzTag team faced an unfortunate defeat against a very determined Magdalene Catholic College, with a score of 12 tries to 5. Despite initially leading 2-0, the wet weather proved challenging, resulting in numerous missed tags and conceded tries. Both Brody and Jerome Taateo demonstrated exceptional performances on the field today, showcasing commendable offensive prowess. However, despite their efforts, it wasn't enough to pose a significant challenge to the opposition, who dominated the second half. I would like to extend my gratitude to the team for their dedicated training throughout the term and for reaching the grand final, which is an admirable achievement in itself. Well done, boys! |
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Oztag Years 10-12 Girls HEAS |
3rd Place Playoff VS JTC Won 7-1 |
Taylah Faiai & Liesl Hopoate | In our third place playoff we were able to come away victorious against John Terry. The girls played a fantastic game, their defence was a stand out, with only 1 try conceded. Taylah and Liesl displayed great skill and execution of plays, along with a number of tries each. Congratulations girls on a great competition and third place. |
As always, students are encouraged to sign up and trial for representative teams. Below you will find registration links for both our DIO and NSWCCC events. If you require any further information please visit the Diocese of Wollongong sports here.
Representative Pathways
| MISA Website | https:/wwwwmisaonlineeorgg.au/ |
| Diocesan Sport News | Updates and news on Wollongong Diocese sport events and trials can be viewed here |
| NSW CCC/CSNSW Sport News | Higher level CCC trials and events status can be monitored here. |
| School Sport Australia Sport News | More School Sport Australia information can be found here |
MCCC Mother's Day Breakfast
Please see the attached invitation for the Mother's Day breakfast, Monday 13 May 2024.
Campbelltown - Koshigaya Sister Cities
Students Invited to apply for the trip to Japan
In the upcoming September holiday break, Campbelltown will select 15 students aged between 14 and 18 to travel to Koshigaya, Japan for a life changing experience. Last year 5 students from Mount Carmel Catholic College were selected to attend. If any students aged 14 - 18 know are interested in applying for the upcoming trip to Japan from 29 September to 12 October, please see information below.
To be eligible to apply, students must:
- Live in the Campbelltown City Council local government area.
- Be aged 14 to 18 and still at school at the time the delegation departs Sydney.
Students don’t need to be learning Japanese to apply for and go on the trip. We look for students with a desire to travel to experience a new culture, who have an interest in Japan and a desire to be a great ambassador for Campbelltown.
The information and application form can be found at the Student Delegation to Japan 2024 link at www.cksca.org.au
Applications to join the trip close on 22 May 2024.
Mount Carmel School Bus Routes
Transit Systems (formerly Interline) school bus route timetable is available via this link. Contact phone number is 8118 7102. Please be advised that Bus Route for Willowdale is currently missing from this updated document.
Enrolments 2024 Onwards
The CEDoW has transitioned to a new online enrolment platform, called Funnel, removing the use of all paper forms. Please take note, particularly for sibling applications. The online application form is accessible from the College website.
Social Media – Facebook & Instagram
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Coming soon! Watch this space!
P&F Clothing Pool
The P&F Clothing pool will be OPEN Monday 15 April, 11am-1.00pm for uniform purchases. Following that the next open day will be 29 April from 9-11am. Please refer below for 2024 opening days and times. Please click below to view the schedule.
Rainer School Wear
Winter uniforms orders now available. Please click here.