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Dear parents, friends, staff and students,
This weekend’s readings use the common theme of God providing the bread that people need for survival. From the Old Testament story of manner from Heaven given by God as the chosen people wandered through the desert, to Jesus' message that He is the ‘bread of life’. The theme of bread is a reflection that, as humans, we require nourishment to continue to live and a most basic form of getting this in many cultures is through bread. This theme however takes this much further. The Moses story emphasises that the bread came from God. In the Gospel (John 6:24-35), it parallels this concept that Jesus also comes from God but that the only way that we can get to God is through Him. The bread that Jesus gives provides eternal nourishment. As we consider this theme, it may be an opportunity to also consider how hungry we are for the ‘bread of life’ and how readily we accept Jesus in providing our eternal nourishment.
Earlier this week I had the privilege of travelling to the Marist School’s Australia biennial conference. This conference brings together school leaders and staff from across Australia to meet and focus on issues or directions common to us as educators in the Marist tradition. This year we were encouraged to take a few extra staff who work with our students in a pastoral or mission role. The conference named the fact that as educators, we often concentrate on the head and hands (how we think and what we do) but as Catholic educators, we are encouraged to also consider the soul. This is much more focussed on the why of what we do, and the way that our being is aimed at something far greater than the what or the how. In the Marist tradition, we explicitly state this why as our desire to get to know Jesus because our ‘soul’ or purpose is to bring about the kingdom of God - to make the world a better place and lead to eternal life.
As part of this conference, we visited Standley Chasm and a small Marist school at Santa Theresa (coincidentally named after St Therese of Lisieux). The chasm is the one pictured in our theme document for 2024 - first light - and the school is a small aboriginal community that Marists have been associated with for over 50 years. The conference was reinforcing in that we are well placed within a community that shares values and practices that lead to improvement. We are extremely proud of the work that our staff and students do, day in and day out and the support of our parents. At the end of the conference, Ms Nguyen was invited to reflect on her experience and she gave a moving account of the impact that Mount Carmel has on its community. Following this, she was personally congratulated by a number of principals and a bishop, which all shows the nature of our family spirit at Mount Carmel.Earlier today I sent out a letter through Compass outlining the diocesan decision that Mount Carmel will increase our Year 7 intake from next year to 8 streams. This is a wonderful way to support students who seek a catholic education in the Macarthur and to enhance further the facilities at the College.
Today we say farewell to Ms Nadine Lee who has tendered her resignation. Mrs Lee is currently on parental leave but has worked at Mount Carmel as an English, and RE teacher as well as a House and Year Coordinator. We hope that Mrs Lee will continue to work at Mount Carmel on a casual and temporary basis and we may be able to lure her back in the future. On Monday we also welcome Ms Eloise Sgroi, who joins us in the English faculty. Ms Sgroi brings with her enthusiasm and passion and will be a wonderful addition to our staff.
In week 5, Tuesday Aug 20, we will be holding our Term 3 Parents & Friends meeting. As always, all parents are invited to attend this meeting and if time permits, we will visit our latest refurbished buildings. The meeting, as always, will start in I3 at 7pm.
Ite in Veritate
Mr Steve Lo Cascio
As we get back into the routine of our third term of learning, the past week has seen a number of activities take place that enhance the learning and wellbeing of our students. Tuesday saw session 2 of the “Youth Aware of Mental Health” (YAM) program for year nine, conducted by staff from the Catholic Education Office of Wollongong. Thanks to our presenters, to Mr Sullivan for organising the event and for the participation, engagement and cooperation of our student body. Yesterday saw our Bill Turner Cup Girls Football side play their next round match. Unfortunately they lost a closely fought game in extra time to finish their involvement, which saw them reach the top 32 teams in the country. Congratulations to Ms Heath and the team for their efforts throughout the competition. Today saw over 60 students from Mount Carmel compete in the Diocesan Athletics carnival at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. Mr Webb will provide a report in his Sport section in due course, but I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Webb and the staff who assisted with the participating students and to all competitors who represented the College and also to the students who participated in the carnival.
Next week will see our Year 12 students commence the HSC Trials next week, Year 9 will complete their final session of the YAM program and Year 11 2025 Subject selection interviews will be conducted on Wednesday evening. Thanks to all staff who have been involved in the preparation and planning of these initiatives and best wishes to all students involved.
Could I please remind all families of the expectations regarding the wearing of sports uniforms to school. Students are only to wear sports uniform on Tuesdays (our designated sports day) and days that they have PDHPE (Years 7-10 Compulsory), Physical Activity and Sports Studies (Year 9 and 10 Elective) or Sport Lifestyle and Recreation Studies (Year 11 & 12 Elective). Should there be a situation that requires your son or daughter to wear sports uniform on a day other than this, could parents and carers please ensure that they provide a note of explanation in the Student Diary or by email to their respective Pastoral Advisor or Year Coordinator. Students in sports uniform who are also involved in Year 7 & 8 Technology Mandatory, or Stages 5 & 6 Technology classes that require WHS approved footwear (non-athletic footwear) are required to bring the appropriate footwear with them.
As always, thank you for your support and cooperation with your child’s learning and wellbeing. Please contact the Front Office or your respective Year Coordinator, Pastoral Advisor or Classroom teacher.
Mr Simon Huntly
Year 12 Trial Examinations begin this week
The College wishes Year 12 all the best as they commence their final school based assessments.
The examinations will take place on Monday 5th August - Monday 19 August. Year 12 will resume regular lessons on Wednesday 21 August, following their Retreat Reconnector Day on Tuesday 20 August.
Students are reminded to arrive 30 minutes prior to the start time of their exams. If students have morning and afternoon examinations they are not permitted to leave the College between examinations. Students are welcome to stay after an examination to study in the Library or arrive earlier in the day to study before an afternoon examination. In these instances students will be required to sign in at the Library and remain in this space to study. On days students do not have a scheduled examination they are also welcome to attend the Library to study. A reminder that they can only sign in and out of the Library once during the school day.
To also assist students with their preparations and study, the College Library will be open on additional evenings (3:30-6:30pm) during Week 3 and 4. A schedule of these times has been shared with Year 12 students. Please note that the additional evenings are only for Year 12 students. Yr 10 and 11 students continue to be welcome to attend Senior Study on Tuesdays.
If, for any reason, students are ill or cannot attend the examination because of an accident or misadventure, you must contact the College to inform Mrs Harpley, Mr Lozelle, Ms Miller and Mr Teuma as soon as possible. The general rule is that the student is to attend the examination if possible, unless there is significant medical advice not to do so. If a student does miss an examination, they must follow the College Illness/Misadventure process. Mr Teuma or Ms Miller will be in contact with students to make arrangements for missed examinations.
Year 11 2025 Course Selection
Course Selection Interviews
The next phase is the Course Selection Interviews on 7 August. Students and parents/guardians will meet with a KLA Coordinator or Year Coordinator who will discuss the selections students wish to make and will ensure that their pattern of study is suitable for their intended pathway beyond school. Bookings can be made via Compass. If you are unable to attend interviews on this date, please contact Ms Millerl to make an alternate arrangement for a time and date, before 7 August.
Stage 5 2025 Elective Course Selection
This week we have begun the process of Elective Subject Selection for Year 9 and Year 10 2025. All information regarding elective selection will be communicated to students via the Stage 5 Electives Selections Google Classroom. All students currently in Yr 8 and 9 should ensure that they have joined this Google Classroom.
The following are key dates for the Stage 5 Electives Selection process:
- 14 August 2024: Elective Handbook Distributed
Students will receive the Stage 5 2023 Elective Selection Handbook via Google Classroom, explaining the electives on offer and the options available. Students are encouraged to seek advice from KLA Coordinators and subject specialists if they have any questions regarding any of the electives.
- 21 August 2024: Stage 5 2025 Information Night
From 6:30pm, KLA Coordinators and specialist teachers will be available to answer questions regarding the electives that they have on offer. At 7:00pm, members of the College Leadership Team will present information regarding the process of selecting electives for 2025. For students who are currently in Year 8, attendance at the Information Night is fundamental to ensuring that an informed decision is made when nominating their elective selections for 2025. Students in Year 9 are encouraged to attend however given their familiarity with the process (having completed it in Year 8 2023), attendance is not required. Students are expected to attend the information night in their full College winter uniform.
- 22 August 2024: Elective Form Opens
At approximately 4:00pm, students will be emailed a link and instructions on how to make their selections. A video will also be released explaining this process.
- 2 September 2024: Selections close at 9:00am
If you have any questions regarding any of the above dates or events, please contact the College via an email to info@mcccdow.catholic.edu.au or a phone call to (02) 9603 3000.
TERM 3 |
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| Week 3 |
Year 12 Trial Exams commence Year 11 14/08/2024: 11 Food Technology |
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| Week 4 |
Year 12 Trial Exams continue Year 11 14/08/2024: 11 Food Technology Year 10 14/08/24: Catholic Studies
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| Week 5 |
Year 12 Monday - Year 12 Trial Exams conclude 20/8/24: 12 Work Studies Year 10 19/8/2024: 10 Drama 21/8/2024: 10 D&T 100hr Year 9 D&T - See assessment notification for specific date Year 7 Catholic Studies - See assessment notification for specific date |
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Leader of Learning - Curriculum Pedagogy & Leader of Learning - Curriculum Administration
Upcoming Pastoral Events
YAM Year 9 Tuesday 6 August
This week saw the second session of Youth Awareness for Mental Health with Year 9. This program supports our Year 9 students. YAM is a program aimed at addressing the mental health needs of young people. YAM involves discussion and role play. It aims to get young people involved and talking about mental health. By doing this young people will learn problem solving skills and gain knowledge about mental health. The final session of YAM will take place in week 3 for Year 9.
Year 11 Leadership Days 8-9 August
Will give all Year 11 students an opportunity to consider their personal leadership style as they move into Year 12 and become a leader personally in their own right. The days also assist students in considering if they have the skills and desire to formally lead the College community.
Year 10 Campbelltown Youth Forum - 31 July
On a joyful Wednesday, the Year 10 House Captains of Mount Carmel went to the Campbelltown Action Youth Forum on a riveting day-long excursion to generate ideas to improve the LGA and develop a wide range of leadership skills. The day started with a keynote address by Jahin Tanvir, the CEO of the Australian School of Entrepreneurship, who spoke about how his Western Sydney upbringing shaped his public speaking career, alongside engaging explanations of life skills and public speaking tips.
From there, we were divided into small groups with the other schools present, and with a whiteboard, butcher's paper, marker and our innovative ideas, each group developed ways in which they would improve the Macarthur LGA. Ideas varied from a ‘United Nations’ of Campbelltown, a youth magazine, voluntary speeches from years 5-12 as well as an increase in councillors.
The forum was a rich, worthwhile experience, where lessons were learnt on how to improve local communities, and the collaboration with other schools gave us new perspectives and, of course, lots of laughs.
By: Patrick Arthur, Jilliane Castrodes, Katiana Gramelis and Cassandra Tuyor
Helping Your Teen through Stressful Study
Torrens University has put together some insightful suggestions for supporting teens as they move into assessment and exam times for term 3 (inclusive of next week’s Trial HSC).
- Create a study timetable ...
- Reduce household chores ...
- Encourage healthy eating habits ...
- Be a study buddy ...
- Promote regular exercise ...
- Provide emotional support ...
- Be pro-break ...
- Keep an eye on mental health.
View the article for more insight into these ideas. Additionally, junior students will have limited access to the library whilst trial exams are taking place. Please encourage them to be more organised to avoid concerns with charging laptops and printing over the next 2 weeks. Good luck to our Year 12s in their trials.
Mrs Theresa Moore Miss Rebecca Toogood
Acting Pastoral Care & Wellbeing Coordinator
Over the recent holiday period, I managed to read two very different, yet wonderful books. The first is a nonfiction text called Wifedom by Australian author Anna Funder. The second, written by American psychologist and author, Jonathan Haidt, is entitled The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. Both books are compelling and convey powerful messages worthy of thought and deep reflection.
Published in 2023, Wifedom presents the reader with an intimate and confronting view of the marriage between writers Eileen O’Shaughnessy and George Orwell. Using newly discovered letters from Eileen to her best friend, and to Orwell himself, Funder follows the marriage through the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War in London. This life writing text is at times a very uncomfortable recount of one of the most significant literary marriages of the twentieth century. Having read, enjoyed, and taught two of Orwell’s most famous books – Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four – the revelation of his clever and compassionate ‘invisible’ wife, left me with a distinct sense of unease. Whilst always admiring Orwell’s skill as a storyteller, his passion for freedom and his warning against the abuse of power, the story of his gifted, supportive, and ‘forgotten’ wife is indeed a revelation.
Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation is a powerful exploration of some of the serious issues which characterise our young people’s world today. Described as a ‘modern-day prophet’, Haidt names issues such as sleep deprivation, social disconnection, cognitive fragmentation, and addiction, while at the same time citing psychological and biological research, and pointing the way forward to a brighter, stronger future for society generally. Published earlier this year, the text makes a convincing argument that the loss of a play-based childhood and its replacement with a phone-based childhood is the source of increased mental distress among teenagers.
I will be exploring Haidt’s text The Anxious Generation in the weeks ahead as it speaks powerfully to many current concerns in education and mental health circles. In reflecting on my reading in the holidays, I’m reminded of a statement made by Robert Scholes: ‘Texts are places where power and weakness become visible and discussable, where learning and ignorance manifest themselves, and where structures that enable and constrain our thoughts and actions become palpable.’
Clare Murphy
English Coordinator and Literacy Instructional Coach
This past week was packed with excitement and competition across various sports events, with standout performances from our students in MISA Round 1, the Bill Turner Trophy, and the Diocesan Athletics Carnival.
Bill Turner Trophy
Our girls' team showed tremendous resilience and skill, taking the lead three times against Rouse Hill Anglican. Unfortunately, they lost in extra time with a final score of 4-3. Despite the heartbreaking result, the girls should be incredibly proud of their efforts over the last two terms, managing to rank in the top 32 teams across NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and ACT. Well done, girls!
MISA Round 1
The first week of MISA presented tough challenges, with several of our teams facing defeats. As we move into week 3, we are determined to improve our results and come back stronger.
NSWCCC Swimming Championships
Our students shone brightly at the NSWCCC Swimming Championships, with Nathan Williams and Ava Antala delivering outstanding performances.
Nathan Williams had an exceptional week at the School Sports Australia Games Swimming Championships:
- 2nd place (Silver Medal) in the 17-19 yrs boys 400 IM.
- 4th place in the 17-19 yrs boys 400m Free.
- 7th place in the 17-19 yrs boys 200m Free.
Ava Antala also competed admirably at the School Sport Australia Swimming Championships on the Gold Coast:
- Reached the finals in both the 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly, placing 8th in both events.
MISA
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Sport |
Result |
MVP | Short Report |
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Indoor Cricket Years 10-12 Boys OCOB |
vs JTCC Loss 46-18 |
Cameron Taylor |
The boys started on the back foot only being able to field six players rather then the full eight, however they did not let this demotivate them. The boys went into bat and struggled early getting used to the pace of the game posting a total of 18 runs. JTCC batted well and consistently against some excellent bowling from Cameron Taylor. A tough start to the season but there is plenty more time and room for improvement for future matches. |
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AFL Years 10-12 Boys MARP |
vs MAS Loss 52-1 |
Jerome Taateo |
We came up against some tough competition for the first game of the season with most of the boys in our team having little experience with AFL. Our opponents are undefeated in the last two years, many of them playing AFL on the weekends. There were some moments of brilliance with excellent marks taken by the Taateo twins. Constantly giving away free kicks for holding onto the ball, and tackling without the ball that really punished us. Despite being outmatched, the team stayed competitive throughout, with extended passages of play where no points were scored. The team is looking forward to improving next game against Magdalene. |
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AFL Years 10-12 Girls ABRN |
vs MAS Loss 19-6 |
Isabella Ashcroft | The girls came away with their first loss of the season, the result of having limited subs. A big shout out to the girls who played and gave everything they had. With new recruits next week and the cobwebs dusted away, we will be back with a vengeance against St Pats, who will be a tough team to play. Congratulations to Mia A for her energy and enthusiasm and scoring our only goal. Another shout out goes to Gemma O for her efforts in the midfield. Our MVP for the game was Isabella A who was relentless in the mids. Great work ladies! |
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Rugby League U15's Boys HARK |
VS JTCC Loss |
Bhlane Doyle | The boys came out strong but couldn't hold their line against a strong side. John Therrry managed to keep the ball and complete their sets giving Mount Carmel hardly any possession making it difficult to put pressure on their opponent. We look to improve in our defensive efforts against a winnable game against Magdalene. |
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Netball Years 7-8 Girls PONT |
vs WAC Loss |
Georgia Meteikingi | A hard start to the season with a loss against a strong outfit. The girls tried hard until the end but the opposition was just too strong and clinical in the final third. We move on to round 2. |
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Netball Years 9-10 Girls BELT |
vs WAC Loss 30-4 |
Kyla Greenwood | In our first game together, our team faced many challenges and unfortunately lost 30-4. Despite the tough outcome and an injury to one of our players, we showed great teamwork and determination. Even with the loss, one standout performance was from Kyla Greenwood, who demonstrated remarkable resilience and skill on the court, defending every ball and showing her unwavering commitment. The girls played with great effort and sportsmanship, learning valuable lessons that will help us improve. We’ll use this experience to improve and come back stronger in our next game. |
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Softball Years 10-12 Girls HOBR
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VS WCCS Win 7-3 |
Jaimee Miles | The MISA Senior Girls Softball team started their season with great enthusiasm for their first game. They displayed solid softball skills and effective communication throughout. Jaimee Miles was named MVP after hitting a home run that brought in two more runs. The team’s morale is high as they look forward to their next game. |
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Football Years 7-9 Girls HEAS |
VS MAS Win 1-0 |
Ruby Grant | The girls had a great first game, displaying solid passing patterns and defensive efforts to hold off their opposition and win the game 1-0. Looking forward to the game next week. |
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Football Years 9-10 Boys BERB |
vs BAC |
Brayden Croke |
Despite the wind playing a large role in the game, for the most part the boys played well being their first round together for the majority. It took a little while for them to get going and settle into the match, but they absolutely dominated in the second half with plenty of opportunities inside the penalty area, we were just a bit unlucky not to convert our chances and come away with the win. The boys need to take the positives from the second half and build on this confidence next week. I have no doubts in the ability of this team that we can get the job done next week. |
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BYE Football Years 7-8 Boys |
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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 |
Theme: Species Survival – More Than Just Sustainability
Date: 12-16 August (Week 4)
National Science Week is almost here and the Science team at MCCC are gearing up to celebrate Australia's annual festival of science and technology! This year's theme, "Species Survival – More Than Just Sustainability," focuses on the importance of preserving our diverse species. Our state-of-the-art new Science building will be the hub of all the thrilling activities and competitions lined up for Science Week.
KAHOOT Quiz Competition- Test your knowledge on ‘Species Survival’ by participating in a KAHOOT quiz challenge in our grand Science foyer during recess. Compete with your peers on a mega screen for some friendly rivalry! The top 3 winners in each KAHOOT challenge will win amazing science prizes!
Drawing Competition- Open to all grades. Draw yourself in your dream STEM career. See the poster below for details. Prizes await the winners!
Robo Rescue Race for Juniors- Happening at lunchtime. Junior students can register their teams and participate in a thrilling Robo Rescue Race to save an endangered species! Prizes for the winning team! Don’t forget to register your teams! Click the link for details and registration.
Year 8 Science Show- Year 8 students are in for a treat on Wednesday 14th August ,with the "Big Science Big Fun 2" science show. This will be presented by scientists from ‘Fizzics Education’.
Whale Snot Testing Practical Lesson( Years 7-10)- Believe it or not, you can tell the health of a whale by testing its snot! All Year 7-10 science classes will have the chance to test 'whale snot' as part of their in-class science activity.
We encourage all students to participate and make the most of this fun and educational week. Join us in S- Block with your friends and celebrate the wonders of science!
For any further information, please see or email Mrs Tran, Mr Hagan and Mrs Kumar.
We look forward to celebrating Science Week with you all!
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Now was the moment we had all been waiting for, to see the concert hall. We stepped foot into the magical hall. Beautiful blue hues shone from the lights above us, casting a soft glow on the musicians. We all found our places on the cushiony, scarlet seats. Although the musicians were just practising, their melodies already sounded like the hum of a bird.
I was amazed as I watched the pianist practising. Her fingers moved as fast as lightning and I envisioned myself in her place. My dream is to be a part of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra or to be a solo concert pianist. Watching her and the entire orchestra practice for a big performance inspired me to try even harder than I already am so that I can reach my goal as soon as possible.
All the musicians were set in their positions and the performance began with an intro that brought us into another world. The program began with a theme that is well known to everyone, the Superman theme. This song being played for the intro hooked us into the performance right away. The sound that the musicians were able to produce was astounding and made us feel like we were in a movie. It was exhilarating. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra which was being conducted by Nicholas Buc continued to play many of John Williams’ renowned themes including but not limited to: Jaws: The Shark Theme, Star Wars: Princess Leia’s Theme, Home Alone: Somewhere In My Memory, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: Hedwig’s Theme, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial: Flying Theme, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Jedi Steps & Finale.
Overall, the Year 9 and 10 music excursion to the Sydney Opera House was an unforgettable experience and has changed the way we will perceive music forever. From this excursion, we were able to see the wonders of music and how it is essential in our lives. Music takes us to different places and brings us on journeys that we will never forget. John Williams has displayed this in his repertoire of astounding compositions, and it was a great privilege being offered the opportunity to see his music performed live.
Transit Systems
Please see letter regarding School Opal Card use and the importance of tapping on and off every time.
Transit Systems school bus route timetable is available via this link. Contact phone number is 8118 7102. This timetable now in includes the Willowdale transit routes.
Wednesday 14 August 2024
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. Consent is required through Service NSW electronically prior to this date and a list will be provided on the day. Please visit this link to provide electronic consent if not already completed. It is recommended all students requring a vaccination to please be in sports uniform.
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!
Ranier School Wear
The Ranier uniform shop will only be open Wednesdays and Thursday until 2 August. Please see attahed flyer for new training times and July holiday trading days.