Mount Carmel Catholic College Varroville eNewsletter

Dear Parents, Friends, Staff and Students of Mount Carmel,

The Gospel last Sunday tells the story where Jesus was approached by a woman with the request to heal her daughter. Initially Jesus refuses however, after a discussion between the two Jesus eventually says;

“Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted”. Matthew 15:28

Throughout our lives, we generally struggle with events and issues and there are times when we ask for Jesus’ help but our requests might seem to go unanswered. As a people who have a faith based on hope in God’s loving care, we are encouraged to keep asking and praying for the things we need. It is important that these prayers are based on what is right and we are willing to accept what is best for all involved. In the end, it is vital for us to remember the importance of having ‘great faith’.

At the moment, our Year 12 students are completing their trial HSC examinations. Whilst much of what is happening in the world at the moment is unique, the exams have been progressing in the same way that they have in the past. These exams will give the students a very good indication of what they will experience at the final HSC exams in a few months. Whilst the exams are ‘testing’ in many ways, the students have been prepared well and are gaining valuable insights from the exam period. I wish them continued success and am sure those who have worked well over the past year will be rewarded for their effort.

Earlier this week you will have received a joint letter from the Director of Catholic Education in Wollongong and myself regarding new restrictions related to health during the current pandemic. As a result of these restrictions, we have taken the difficult decision to change the format of a number of planned events. Our Year 11 Leadership Day and Senior retreat will now be onsite and some further events have been cancelled. As these decisions are made, the students will be informed and further fee credits will be made to school fees.

Our Year 9 2021 Elective Subject Selection process has now commenced. As with the Year 11 process, this will now be fully online and information has been sent in digital form to the students this week. I encourage parents to speak with these students about their subjects for next year and to discuss with them their thoughts. Please contact the College should you have any questions around this.

Last Thursday each parent was emailed a letter from the Catholic Education Office regarding my upcoming appraisal. This appraisal occurs for each principal in our diocese every three or four years and is aimed at gaining feedback on their performance in leading their school. I encourage parents to complete the survey and thank you in anticipation of providing this valuable and welcome feedback. You are able to access the survey through the link HERE.

Over the past few months, Bishop Brian had been celebrating Sunday Mass and livestreaming it. This stopped a few weeks ago, however, Bishop Brian has decided to reintroduce these online masses. These will be returning from August 30 and can be accessed here.

Mr Steve Lo Cascio

Principal

As parents would be aware, the NSW government made a number of statements earlier this week regarding a new round of limitations that were being introduced into NSW schools in an attempt to further reduce the chance of a local outbreak of COVID-19. Following advice from Catholic Schools NSW and the Catholic Education Office Diocese of Wollongong, Mr Lo Cascio communicated a range of health and safety measures to our student, staff and parent bodies earlier this week. This new/revised restrictions will remain in place for the remainder of Term 3 and include:

Following sickness with flu-like symptoms, students and staff are required to be free of symptoms AND present a negative COVID-19 test, which must be sighted by the school, before they can return to school.
Students will now stay within their relevant cohort for all learning activities.
Schools cannot travel outside of their geographic region, including for all inter-school activities.
Student activities at offsite locations are no longer allowed, except in very limited circumstances (i.e. inter-school activities within our region and day field trips to outdoor locations within walking distance of the school).
Participants in attendance at inter-school sport and physical activities must be limited to 100 people per venue, including staff.
Singing, chanting and use of wind instruments in group settings is not permitted.
Assemblies are limited to year groups and cannot run for longer than 15 minutes.
Only incursions/external providers essential to curriculum delivery are permitted.
Community groups using school facilities must now have a COVID-19 Safety Plan.
P & F meetings must be held online and P & F social events are not permitted.
Parent/teacher meetings must be held online, except in very limited circumstances.
School formals, dances, graduation and other social events are not permitted.
All professional development undertaken by staff will be online, except where compliance depends on a face-to-face component, and there will be no mixing of staff from different schools.

Mr David Cloran

Assistant Principal

Catholic world

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading Is 22:19-22 The Lord appoints Eliakim over the house of Judah

Second Reading Rom 11:33-36 Who knows the mind of God?

Gospel Mt 16:13-20 Who do people say I am?

REFLECTION by Fr Michael Tate

A pagan woman approaches a Jewish man and she begs Jesus to heal her daughter.

Jesus gives a dismissive answer to the woman: ‘It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the house dogs.’ The children are obviously the Jewish people.

This remarkable pagan woman stands her ground and engages in a verbal joust with Jesus! She argues: ‘Yes, Lord, but even the house dogs get the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.’

Jesus recognises her faith and the daughter was healed. This story was put in the Gospels to show how Jesus extended his saving mission to non-Jews in Pagan territory.

That is Good News for billions of non-Jewish people over the course of history since then and into the future. That is why we are truly ‘Catholic’, which, as you know, is the Greek for ‘world-wide’.

We could pause for a moment to celebrate this Canaanite woman as the first ‘Catholic’!

Mrs Christine Meharg

REC Coordinator

HSC TRIAL EXAMINATIONS

If any student is unwell they must not attend examinations, and they must follow Illness/Misadventure procedures.

HSC STUDY NIGHTS – The College is once again offering supervised study nights in the Library to support Year 12 students during the HSC Trial Examinations. These study nights will continue through till Thursday 27 August. Students have received information regarding this and will continue to receive updated information via email throughout the Examination period.

YEAR 12 PTS INTERVIEWS

Yr 12 PTS Interviews are scheduled for Wednesday 9 September. Due to current restrictions, Interviews will occur via ZOOM or phone call. Bookings will be made through COMPASS. Details regarding how / when to book will be made available to parents next week.

YEAR 9/10 2021 SUBJECT SELECTION

Selections to be submitted online by August 28.

YEAR 11 EXAMINATIONS

All Year 11 students will receive information, including the Examination Timetable, on Tuesday 25 August regarding the Year 11 Examination period. Please ensure your son/daughter is aware of the processes and expectations regarding such.

HSC

Key dates and deadlines listed on the NESA website are subject to change due to the COVID-19 outbreak. NESA will continue to update you with exceptions and changes to relevant deadlines. https://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/covid-19/coronavirus-advice/hsc

TERM 3

17 August - HSC TRIAL exams commence
31 August - HSC TRIAL exams finish
2 September - Security period CSSA Trial exams
16 September - FINAL HSC marks to CC (changed)
23 September - FINAL HSC marks to NESA (changed)

TERM 4

20 October - HSC Exams commence
11 November - HSC exams finish
18 December - HSC results released (ATAR release date TBC)

HSC Examination Timetable available on NESA website

https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/key-dates-exam-timetables

GOODLUCK to Year 12 Language students completing their HSC Oral examinations this week.

Ms Judith Tolomeo

Curriculum Coordinator

Good afternoon everyone,

Both Mr Lo Cascio and Mr Cloran have made reference to the latest changes to COVID-19 restrictions released earlier this week. Appreciating that these changes are fairly fluid and can change again at short notice, on a day to basis across the College site the fundamentals of Social Distancing and Hand Hygiene should be at the forefront of our COVID-19 safe behaviours. I would ask that parents and carers please support the College in these objectives through reminding their sons/daughters of the importance of maintaining these habits.

Some students have made the choice to wear face masks whilst at school to provide another level of protection. The College supports these students in their choice to wear masks, but ask that they do so in a manner that does not cause a disruption to the day to day learning or wellbeing of other students. It is recommended that masks be a single colour and not contain extravagant or offensive designs that cause comment.

Last week I made reference to the College expectations regarding mobile phones. In the event that phones are confiscated from students because they are being used at the wrong time or in an inappropriate manner, they will be placed in a locked area at the College Office as a means of providing a secure area for the devices. In most cases students will be able to collect the device at the end of the day at the discretion of the appropriate Year Coordinator or the Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Coordinator. Repeat offences will require parents or carers to personally collect devices from the College.

The middle of the term often correlates with increased assessment demands, tiredness, frustration and in 2020, the obvious challenges presented by COVID-19. Please contact the College or the appropriate Year Coordinator if you are concerned about your son/daughter’s learning or wellbeing as we enter this phase of our term.

Thanks again for your ongoing support.

Mr Simon Huntly

Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Coordinator

As you may be aware there has been a clear increase in restrictions from the NSW Government and this has resulted in additional directives from CEDoW. These directives were communicated to parents via a letter that was sent earlier in the week.

Sport practices and protocols during that reflect the new directives

Contact sports remain suspended.

Students will continue engaging skill-based drills and small-sided modified games for all contact sports.

Students must remain within their relevant cohort (class, year group, or stage) to limit the mixing of students between cohort groups.

Students will remain within year groups for all recreational sports
MISA sporting groups have been split into stages
Some MISA groups have been collapsed and these students will return to their recreational groups (this includes Year 10 AFL students, Years 10 - 12 Softball and Years 10 - 12 Cricket).

External providers essential to the delivery of the sport or physical activity are permitted.

External providers such as fitness instructors and coaches will continue to be utilised to enhance the sporting program of the College
External providers have provided a COVID-safe plan
All visitors have read and signed the CEDoW COVID paperwork.

The use of local external venues and facilities (including external sporting grounds, pools, recreational facilities and community facilities) where the school has exclusive use are permitted in line with venue protocols and COVID safety plans.

The vast majority of students will remain on-site. The exception to this is MISA Soccer, MISA AFL and power walking groups who will use Kooringa Reserve.
The paddocks behind the College (Cross Country track) will be utilised in coming weeks.

In addition to the requirements above, sporting equipment continues to regularly be cleaned before and after Tuesday activities. Students are encouraged to continue utilising the hand-sanitiser stations found around the College both before and after activity. Students are to continue respecting social distancing between themselves and adults (teachers / instructors that support the College’s sport program).

Recreational Sport

Week 6 marks the mid-term rotations for many sport groups for students in Years 8 - 10. Year 7 will remain in their current sport groups. Leading into the Preliminary exam period most Year 11 students will move to study on a Tuesday for both periods. The sport schedule is pinned to the Compass dashboard each week in which students and staff have access to. Students are asked to view the sports schedule carefully as our mid-term rotations come into effect. Please note that some groups will not be rotating to the sport or activity that they initially selected. Adjustments have had to occur as we are not yet using buses to travel off-site for sport.

MISA Skill-Development Term 3

MISA Teams will continue refining their skills through small-sided games and skill-based drills within a competitive environment. The new directive that “students must remain with their relevant cohort (class, year group or stage) to limit the mixing of students between cohort groups” has resulted in the following changes to MISA groups:

Sport	Years	Directions
Indoor Cricket	Years 10-12 Boys	Due to low numbers/cross stage, students will return to their recreational group.
Softball	Years 10-12	Due to low numbers/cross stage, students will return to their recreational group.
AFL	Years 10-12 Males Years 10-12 Females	Year 10 will return to their recreational sport groups. Year 11 - 12 will complete training / study.

Netball	Years 7/8 Years 9/10	Each team will train on half a netball court eac.

Soccer	Years 7/8 Males Years 9/10 Males Years 7-9 Females	Training to go ahead as normal. Year 9 Girls will join Years 9 / 10 Males with Mr King. Training to go ahead with only Years 7 and 8 girls.

Rugby League	Under 15’s Div 1	Group to be split into two groups Group 1 - Year 9/10 Group 2 Year 7/8.

Sports Detention and Non-Participation

If a student is unable to participate in sport on a Tuesday they must provide a note to the Sports Coordinator at recess on the day that they cannot participate. This will provide the opportunity for discussion and for an alternative plan to be put into place for the afternoon. In most cases, students will attend either their group or another group as decided upon by the Sports Coordinator and will adopt another role such as scoring, timekeeping or refereeing. This is of course dependent on the reason for non-participation.

Changing Sport Groups

If a student would like to negotiate changing sport groups they must email Ms Bowen prior to Tuesday stating their name, current sport group, the group they are seeking to change into and a reason for needing to change. This is not guaranteed but will be negotiated on a case by case basis.

Below are some general policies that the College enforces in regards to sport.

Leave from venue notes: A reminder that if students wish to leave a venue they need to supply the Sport Coordinator with a note that is signed prior to departing for sport. A sample note is included below:

Date

To Whom it May Concern,

I (parent / guardian name) give permission for my son / daughter (child’s name) to not return to the College at the conclusion of sport this afternoon.

Kind Regards,

(Parent / Guardian signature)

(Contact Number)

Any other notes on Tuesdays: If you are sick, injured or cannot participate on a Tuesday you must have a signed note from your parent/guardian detailing the reason for non-participation. You must bring this note to Ms Bowen so an alternate plan can be arranged for you during sport time. Students who are unable to participate in their sport due to injury are asked, where possible to still attend the event with their group and to assume another role as instructed by the teacher such as timing, scoring or umpiring.

DIOCESAN SPORT NEWS

Updates and news on Wollongong Diocese sport events and trials can be viewed at https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/sport/diocesan-sport-news/?ref=quicklinks

Please note that all Term 3 Diocesan events have been cancelled.

Updates on specific events secondary events can be viewed at https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/sport/events-secondary/

Higher level MacKillop and CCC trials and events status can be monitored at https://csnsw.sport/news/events-suspended

In each case a COVID-19 safety plan will be developed inline with normal risk assessment procedures. These events will be subject to existing NSW government restrictions and advice along with CEDoW leadership input.

Please note: all Term 3 Diocesan sporting events have been cancelled.

NSWCCC / CSNSW SPORT NEWS

Each Diocese has their own process for actioning refunds. Please be patient as we work through these. Any questions should be directed to the contact details found on the top of your invoice. Students who have been selected in a Polding / MacKillop / NSWCCC team will be contacted directly to organise refunds and discuss uniform options. The CSNSW Sport store has been closed, for now no merchandise can be purchased until further notice.

Please continue to monitor the CSNSW sport website for updates and the most current information regarding cancelled events. Information can be found at Welcome to Catholic Schools Sports Services | CSNSW Sport Portal.

SCHOOL SPORT AUSTRALIA SPORT NEWS

Understandably, this decision will likely have a flow on effect for all sporting events (Diocesan, CCC etc) moving forward in 2020. Information will be communicated as the situation continues to develop and unfold.

More School Sport Australia information can be found at School Sport Australia - Education through school sport.

Miss Sarah Bowen

(Acting College Sport Coordinator - bowens01@dow.catholic.edu.au)

Last Friday, 14 August, a number of students became 2020 Champagnat Award recipients, engaging in a modified and COVID-19 safe award ceremony in the College library. Contrary to the usual whole-school award ceremonies, recipients received their certificates in front of their fellow award recipients in the absence of parents and the rest of the college. Whilst the traditional handshake was not appropriate for the circumstances, each student held their certificate up with pride with wide smiles across their faces. Although our parents could not be there, a photograph was captured of each student receiving their award from Mr Lo Cascio to remember and highlight the occasion. It was a relaxed atmosphere, with the worry of tripping up the stairs to the college stage far from the minds of students for once.

It was great to see so many recipients this year, especially as each recipient was required to fit a specific criteria based on the values of Marcellin Champagnat. Over a hundred students across all grades fit the criteria this year and it was outstanding to see multiple students receive an award for the second, third or even fourth year in a row. Regardless of the unprecedented times which have fallen upon us, we were grateful to have been recognised for our efforts as well as for the opportunity to take part in the awards ceremony. While there was a limited audience, every person in the room was supportive of each other and a sense of pride ran through each and every face.

Congratulations to all Champagnat Award recipients!

Tahlia Bell and Eseta Malaesilia

(Year 10 Murray Leaders)

A case of head lice has been reported at the College. Please read the NSW Department of Health Head Lice Fact Sheet

Young People need to aim high and to know that their community support them. Our children are our most valuable resource and, all too often, their academic achievements can be neglected. We want to encourage learning and to reward as many students as possible.

To this end, I am asking for donations towards the Year 12 Academic Medallions. The cost of each medallion is $40.00 or three for $100.00. If you wish to donate towards a particular subject, please contact Trish Mooney on 9603 3000 or email info@mcccdow.catholic.edu.au.

The Second Hand Uniform Shop is open from 2.30pm - 4pm on the following days.

Term 3

7 September

Term 4

12 October
2 November
7 December

Cash only - no EFTPOS facilities.

Location

The Mount Carmel Uniform Shop is located at the top end of the School, past the Champagnat Centre.

Please note the following COVID-19 procedures

Ranier requests ordering online prior to collecting from store.

If you are unsure of the size required, purchase your best estimate online. Can be exchanged for free if required (unworn items only).

For online ordering please visit ranier.com.au

For first time users

Registration requires the student name, number and the College password (mtcar2566).

Email custservice@ranier.com.au for any problems with registration.

For your safety and ours

Please observe social distancing advice (at least 1m apart)

Only 1 family is permitted within the shop at a time

Please expect longer waiting times

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

______________________________________________________________

Opening Hours (During School Term)

Mon: 8:00am – 12:00pm

Wed: 12:30pm – 4:30pm

Contact:

Ranier Customer Service ranier.com.au/contact 8337 7200

YEAR 12 HSC TUESDAY EVENING STUDY SESSION 3PM TO 6PM

The College provides a Tuesday evening HSC study session for Year 12. The session runs each Tuesday from 3pm to 6pm.

This opportunity is supervised by 2 HSC staff each Tuesday. We also have extra staff who make themselves available each week to assist with student requests.

We highly recommend that your child attend and make the most of this opportunity to help them reach their HSC goals.

Kevin Harpley

Year 12 Senior Pastoral Care Coordinator

HERMITAGE GIFT SHOP

The Hermitage has a wide range of Religious items, crucifixes, spiritual books, journals, cards and many gift ideas. You can view what we have available on our website by clicking on the shop icon (www.thehermitage.org.au) . You can order and pay on line.

PRIVATE RETREATS

Our facilities are available for those seeking some time out for reflection & prayer. We have cottages & Villas available plus accompaniment for those seeking this. Bookings can be made via the booking form on our website. You have the options of self-catered or catered for meals.

BRUNCH & MORNING TEA: NEW!

In August we are offering a Brunch & Morning tea on the weekends of August 22 & 23 and August 29 & 30 9am – 2pm. Booking is essential to ensure a place is available. Ring our office on 4872 1911 during business hours 9am – 4pm to reserve a place.

ENJOY A WEEKEND IN THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS!

The Hermitage has two comfortable cottages set in a peaceful, relaxing and scenic environment. The Hermitage is located in the Southern Highlands, 75 minutes south of Sydney. These self-contained cottages are ideal for a family get away. If you are considering a weekend away why not stay in one of our cottages at the Hermitage? The weekend rate of $340 (2 people) includes all linen. To make a booking complete a booking enquiry form on the Hermitage web site. We look forward to welcoming you to the Southern Highlands!

CatholicCare_COUNSELLING_Flyer_2020.pdf

21 Nov	Year 11 U-Turn the Wheel All day

27 Nov	Year 7 2025 Parent Information Night 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

29 Nov	Year 7 2025 Orientation Day All day

17 Dec	Students Final School Day All day

17 Dec	End of Year Mass and Awards All day

20 Dec	Term 4 Concludes All day

Year	Total
2023	$244.40
2024	$207.30