Filter Content
Dear parents, friends, staff and students,
In this week’s Gospel (Mark 10:35-45) we read the phrase; “Anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant”. As part of the Christian tradition, servant leadership is a well-known concept. It does not mean that decisions are avoided or delegated, but that decisions are made with the interests of others, rather than our own, at the centre of our thinking. It also means that our actions should be directed at caring for all. Our new SRC takes over their roles of leadership from the start of this week. Our Year 11 students also move into the role of leadership of the student body. This Gospel encourages us to consider how we act and behave but also what we expect of those in leadership. Constant review of our style and decisions is important and forms the basis of how we act.
As stated in the last few newsletters in Term 3, we will now only be publishing our newsletter each fortnight. We hope to be increasing our presence on social media with regular posts being uploaded on Facebook and Instagram. I encourage anyone interested in our community to follow our pages to get regular updates of what is occurring at the College.
At the start of this term, we took possession of our new Covered Outdoor Learning Area (COLA) at the front of the College. This COLA has already been widely utilised by students during break times and as an assembly point for buses at the end of each day. This has opened the centre of the College to light and space and will become a valuable gathering point moving forward. We have also taken possession of our refurbished A block which will be used as a Religious Education general classroom space. We hope to have access to our lower J block within the next few days as final painting and furniture relocation occurs.
Our HSC students have begun their final exams and to this point the feedback has been quite positive. The process has been smooth, and I thank our departing Year 12 students for their cooperation and for the hard work that they have contributed in the lead up to the exams. As our first result of note, Liam Tannoury has had his English Extension major work nominated for possible inclusion into the Young Writers Showcase 24. This is a major achievement and a recognition of a very high standard of quality work submitted for this year’s HSC. Congratulations to Liam and to Mrs Murphy, who assisted Liam in the development of his project.
This weekend and the start of next week, two of our student leaders will be travelling to Mittagong for the Marist Student Leader’s gathering. They will be joined by student leaders from Marist schools across the state and will be discussing what leadership means in a Marist setting. We wish our representatives all the best for this meeting.
At the start of this term, we welcomed Ms Samantha Giles as our substantive Assistant Principal. Ms Giles joins us from St Mary’s Star of the Sea and brings with her a wealth of experience and passion. We also welcome back the return of Ms Jemma Rodoreda and Ms Alex Hanna who return from Parental Leave. At the same time, we have two staff, Ms Clare Murphy and Mr Clinton Rodoreda who will be taking time off during term 4. We wish them a profitable break. We also would like to congratulate Miss Rebecca Toogood on her new appointment as the Education Officer - Improvement, Learning and Wellbeing working in the Wellbeing and Support team at CEODoW commencing Monday 21 October 2024. You will be missed by the MCCC team.
Ite in Veritate
Mr Steve Lo Cascio
It has been lovely to see the eager return of all students and staff to Mount Carmel College this past fortnight. I have had the pleasure of meeting numerous students this past week and want to thank everyone for their warm welcome to the college.
With the commencement of the term, it is an excellent opportunity for our students to embrace and the meet challenge to RESET for Term 4:
- RELATIONSHIPS – to choose kindness and continue to build respectful relationships with both staff and peers.
- EXPECTATIONS – to willingly meet the uniform and grooming guidelines of the College as well as to prioritize punctuality to classes and school.
- SAFETY – to continue to adhere to College procedures for being in the right place at the right time and respecting our hand off policy.
- ENGAGEMENT – to not waste today, and not waste tomorrow! Take up every opportunity available in lessons, sport, clubs, community days, performance, mass, liturgy.
- THOUGHTS – to focus on a positive mindset. New term. New opportunities. New chances. SAME dreams. Fresh starts.
Our staff are committed to supporting each student on their journey to towards the end of year for whatever the term may bring.
Stay safe, keep well, go gently.
Ms Samantha Giles
|
|
|
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B First Reading Isaiah 53:10-11 Through suffering, the Lord offers his life. Second Reading Hebrews 4:14-16 Jesus faced the same temptations as us. Gospel Mark 10:35-45 Whoever aspires to greatness must serve the rest. |
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B First Reading Jeremiah 31:7-9 The Lord declares himself a father to Israel. Second Reading Hebrews 5:1-6 The Lord himself calls those who are to serve. Gospel Mark 10:46-52 Jesus gives sight to Bartimaeus. |
Catholic Studies - Curriculum Update
Years 7 - 10 will progress to the final unit of work for the term. Below is an overview of what each unit is.
| Year 7 |
Ways of Praying |
Prayer is an essential means through which individuals and the Christian community deepen their relationship with God. In this unit students will explore a range of prayer forms (personal, communal and liturgical) and experience its different expressions, vocal prayer, meditation and contemplative prayer. Students will also become familiar with the pattern of the Church’s liturgical year and appreciate the significance of liturgy as public worship. |
| Year 8 |
Disciples & Martyrs: Witnesses of Faith |
In this unit students will examine the life of the early Christian communities, which began with the disciples emboldened by the Spirit at the first Pentecost. Students come to an understanding of the key events and people whose influence shaped Christianity, including Paul's role as the 'Apostle to the Gentiles', and they will examine the men and women who were martyred and persecuted as witnesses to the faith. Students will be challenged to reflect upon the role of the Spirit in their life and the enduring challenges for all Christians |
| Year 9 | Living the Commandments & Beatitudes |
This unit addresses foundational concepts in the study of Christian Morality. Students will examine the Ten Commandments as the basis of the covenant or agreement between God and God’s people and as the foundation of Christian moral teaching. The Ten Commandments express the fundamental duties of an individual towards God and neighbour and are the basis of our present day law. Students will also explore the Beatitudes as they present a vision for life that is radically different from the vision held by many people, both in Jesus’ time and today. |
| Year 10 |
Sacraments of Service |
It is the universal call of all the baptised faithful to contribute their gifts to the life of the Church through their particular vocation. In this unit students will explore how baptised persons are called to use their individual gifts in the service of God and God’s people through the Sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders. Students will be encouraged to develop an appreciation of the various ways in which married and ordained persons minister to the Church, witnessing Christ's love for her. |
|
Stage 6 All the students in Year 11 will commence their HSC units. |
||
| Studies on Catholic Thought |
Vice, Virtue & Salvation |
Students investigate the challenge of evil and suffering in the world. Students consider where God is in both ‘the good’ and ‘the evil’. Students explore the works of St Paul and other theologians and encyclicals, which developed a Christian framework for understanding what is good, how to be good and the gift of grace |
| Studies of Religion 1 & 2 Unit |
Religion & Belief Systems in Australia Post 45 |
This is core content for 1U and 2U, and is examined in Section 1 of the Higher School Certificate Studies of Religion examination. The focus of this study is religious expression in Australia’s multicultural and multi-faith society since 1945. The study includes an appreciation of Aboriginal spiritualities and their contribution to an understanding of religious beliefs and religious expression in Australia today. |
Year 8 Religious Literacy Test - RLA
The Religious Literacy Assessment is an annual event in our Diocesan schools. The RLA willl be administered on Monday 4 November during the student's lesson.
The assessment will be completed by Year 8 students during their Catholic Studies class during week 4. The purpose of collecting system-wide information is to inform schools about religious literacy and assists in refining pedagogical and curriculum practices.
The test is one hour in duration and will be completed online, it will be a multiple choice based and completed in class time. The assessment is wide-ranging focusing on Stage 4 - Years 7 and Year 8 Religious Education curriculum.
There is a spread of questions that test our schools’ ability:
- knowledge of the Catholic tradition (knowledge and understanding outcomes);
- working with the Catholic tradition (reasoning skills) and applying Catholic tradition (practical and social skills).
Students will be instructed to complete the test in regular class time, using their devices in a Google form, multiple choice format.
If you have any questions please contact your child Catholic Studies teacher, or myself.
Mrs Christine Meharg
HSC Examinations - Tuesday 15 October - Fri 8 November
The College wishes Year 12 students all the best as they now commenced their HSC examinations. Students are reminded to ensure that they are familiar with their personal exam timetable and are prepared with all the required equipment for each exam. Students are required to be at the College 30 mins prior to the commencement time of each examination.
Year 11 Academic Reports and End of Course Awards Assembly
Year 11 will receive their Academic Reports via Compass on Friday 1 November. At the next College Assembly on the 8 November, we will celebrate the academic, sporting and cultural achievements of Year 11.
HSC 2025 Commencement Evening - Wednesday 6 Nov - 7pm
Information regarding the commencement of the 2025 HSC will be presented in the Champagnat Centre on the evening of Wednesday 6 November at 7pm. The purpose of this evening is to provide students and their parents with information on the structure of the HSC, Assessment Policies and Procedures, NESA requirements, as well as strategies for HSC success. Year 11 students are expected to attend in their College uniform with a parent/guardian.TERM 4 |
||
| Week 2 |
Year 9 9 Commerce - See assessment notification for specific date |
|
| Week 3 |
Year 8 Science - See assessment notification for specific date Year 7 Catholic Studies - See assessment notification for specific date Science - See assessment notification for specific date
|
|
| Week 4 |
Year 9 Geography - See assessment notification for specific date Music - See assessment notification for specific date ITT - See assessment notification for specific date Year 7 Geography - See assessment notification for specific date
|
|
| Week 5 |
Year 10 11/11/2024 - 10 Mathematics (5.1,5.2,5.3) Year 9 Computing Technology - See assessment notification for specific date Visual Arts - See assessment notification for specific date Year 7 7 PDHPE - See assessment notification for specific date
|
|
| Week 6 |
Year 9 Mathematics Core and Paths - See assessment notification for specific date Year 8 Visual Arts - See assessment notification for specific date Year 7 Music - See assessment notification for specific date |
|
Leader of Learning - Curriculum Pedagogy & Leader of Learning - Curriculum Administration
Pastoral Care & Wellbeing
We are excited to welcome our students back for the final term of the 2024 academic year. It’s wonderful to see the majority of students arriving in their correct summer uniforms and demonstrating such impeccable grooming standards. We thank parents/carers for the continued support of these policies and for maintaining that their child is compliant with the standards. This positive approach sets a great tone for the term ahead and reinforces the high expectations we hold for all of our students at the college.
HSC Examinations underway
A special mention goes out to our Year 12 students who have started their HSC examinations. This is a crucial time for them, and we wish them all the very best as they apply the knowledge and skills they've gained over their years of study. We are confident that their dedication will shine through in their results, and we are immensely proud of their efforts.
Pastoral Care and Wellbeing initiatives
This term, our Pastoral Team has several exciting and impactful initiatives planned. The focus will be on fostering positive and healthy relationships, encouraging leadership skills, promoting Mental Health awareness, and hosting engaging presentations from external speakers. These activities are designed to support the holistic development of our students, ensuring they leave school not only academically prepared but also emotionally and socially equipped to navigate the future.
Maintaining momentum as we approach the end of the year
As we near the end of this academic year, we encourage all students to maintain the drive and commitment they’ve demonstrated so far. Term 4 is an opportunity to consolidate their learning, reflect on their achievements, and continue striving towards their personal and academic goals. We look forward to celebrating these successes at our end-of-year assembly and in various events that will mark the close of the school year.
Thank You for your continued support
Once again, we extend our gratitude to you, our parents and carers, for your unwavering support and involvement in the school community. Your partnership with the school is invaluable, and together we can make this term a rewarding and memorable one for all students. We are excited about what lies ahead and look forward to working alongside you to ensure a successful conclusion to the year.
eSafety Commission: Free Webinars for Parents and Carers
eSafety 101: How eSafety can help
- Thursday 24 October, 12.30 pm AEDT
- Wednesday 4 December, 12.30 pm AEDT
-
-
Mr Simon Huntly & Mrs Theresa Moore
Pastoral Care & Wellbeing Coordinators
Around the Grounds
Welcome back to sport for Term 4!
We have an exciting term ahead, with multiple events happening in the first few weeks. On Wednesday, the Junior Boys Mount Carmel Cricket team competed in Wollongong, which made for a fantastic day. We also wrapped up the MISA trials, and all teams have now been selected to represent the college, as we aim to secure the MISA Championship for the 3rd consecutive year.
Looking ahead, we have several upcoming events. Diocesan Basketball takes place on Monday, and the Diocesan AFL Championships have been rescheduled for the 28th of October. Good luck to all teams involved! We’re excited to see how they perform in the coming weeks.
MISA Competitions for Term 4:
|
10-11 Boys Volleyball 10-11 Girls Volleyball 9-10 MISA Debating
|
7-9 Boys Oztag 7-9 Girls Oztag 7-9 Boys AFL 7-9 Girls AFL 7-9 Boys Indoor Cricket 7-9 Girls Softball |
Diocesan Cricket Championships
The Mount Carmel Catholic College junior boys' cricket team travelled to Fairy Meadow to compete in the Super 8’s Cricket Championships. The weather was perfect for cricket, with some cloud cover and the sun emerging later in the day.The boys started strong, delivering a solid performance against John Therry and winning by 2 runs, thanks to disciplined bowling that restricted them to 59 for 4. We successfully chased the total with two balls to spare.The day became more challenging with three consecutive losses to Edmund Rice, Magdalene, and Corpus Christi. We struggled with both bat and ball, making it difficult to string together two solid innings. However, our bowlers managed to take wickets throughout the day, and the team secured 3rd place in their pool, aided by a strong wicket-to-run ratio. This result gave Mount Carmel the chance to play for 5th place against Holy Spirit Catholic College, known for their sporting excellence. The boys rose to the challenge, comfortably winning the game with a total of 79 runs. Strong bowling performances by Jevish and Ronon played a key role in the day's success, securing an improved result compared to 2023.
21 October; Diocesan Basketball
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 |
Existing Familes in our College with Instalments.
If you are currently paying by instalments there is no need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment as your request carries over from year to year unless you wish to amend the frequency of your payments eg Weekly to Fortnightly.
Existing Families in our College without Instalments
If you would like to pay school fees by instalments in 2025 and have previously not taken up this option for payment, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on the College's website or from the College's administration office. On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit at the College office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your school fee account during the process of invoicing 2025 school fees. Your school fee statement will provide a list of scheduled payments and their due date depending on the frequency you have chosen eg Fortnightly, Monthly, etc.
IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment eg Weekly, fortnightly, etc.
The train timetable will change on 20 October 2024, affecting most lines across Sydney and some regional and outer metropolitan services. Bus timetables in regional and outer metropolitan areas will also change to match the adjusted train schedule.
We are communicating the changes to your school so you can share the most up to date information with parents, students and staff, and would appreciate you distributing this via your channels.
This change is during the NSW Higher School Certificate and may also align with other important dates in the school calendar, so it would be appreciated if students familiarise yourself with what this may mean for travel to and from school before the start of Term 4 by visiting transportnsw.info.
When the train timetable changes, some of your students’ usual connections may also change. The Transport for NSW Trip Planner will be updated with the new information before the changes take effect.
We encourage you to remind your school community to plan at https://transportnsw.info/tripbefore travelling and allow extra travel time.
To provide feedback on any Transport services, please visit transportnsw.info/contact-us/feedback
It is a condition of the use of a School Opal card that students must tap on and tap off every trip at an Opal Card Reader, when they travel to and from school. Please refer to the Transport for NSW website for further details. We encourage you to talk to your child and remind them to comply with the Transport NSW requirements.
Mount Carmel Facebook and Instagram pages are now live. Please click on the photos below for the link to our pages. We encourage you to like and follow us for information and events. The newsletter will now be published on the odd weeks of term.
 |
|
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.
