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- Principal's Report
- From The Assistant Principal
- From the REC
- Learning and Teaching at the College
- From the Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Coordinator
- College Sport at Mount Carmel
- Youth Ministry Leaders & Carmelite Mission Captains Badging Ceremony
- Senior Retreat
- School Opal Cards Expiring
- Mount Carmel Uniform Shop
- Second Hand Uniform Shop
- CatholicCare Counselling
Dear parents, friends, staff and students,
This weekend’s first reading contains a phrase which I have always considered pivotal to our mission as Catholics. The phrase, from the prophet Isiah, 45 is;
“I have called you by your name”.
Whilst this at first glance appears very basic, it gives us a self-value and a clear direction that might assist us in considering how we live our lives. The phrase helps us to grow in the knowledge that each one of us has a unique and special place in God’s creation. We are each called individually by a God that knows us individually. The quote however, begs the question; what we have been called for? As Catholics, we often talk about the Kingdom of God and as I have suggested in previous newsletters, this kingdom is not in a distant land or a faraway time, it is here and it is now. We should be living in a way that brings about God’s kingdom in Australia in 2020. Knowing that we have been specifically called to do God’s work, may help us to discern what we need to do.
On Friday, we specifically challenged a number of our Year 10 students to live this mission through their appointment as the Mount Carmel Catholic College Youth Ministry Leaders for 2021. We held a small (COVID safe) ceremony which was broadcast to the other Year 10 students where these students were acknowledged and badged. I congratulate these students on their appointment to this role and encourage them to help others know that God has ‘called them by name’.
This week our HSC students commenced their final examinations. So far, the students have responded to the challenges of the exams well, even though a few nerves have come through. I take this opportunity to state that we are very proud of what the students have achieved in a difficult year and I thank their teachers for all the hard work they have put on over the last six years whilst they attended Mount Carmel.
Next Friday (Oct 30) is World Teacher’s Day. This has been endorsed by Catholic Education in Wollongong (CEDoW) and NESA (just to name our two direct authorities) and many others. I encourage all parents and students to acknowledge our teachers for all the wonderful work they do and have done throughout the pandemic this year. We are fortunate to have very good people and congratulate them in a similar way to the congratulations we gave to our support staff earlier this year. Please feel free to send messages of congratulations or thanks to the teachers who do such valuable work with your children.
Last week I invited students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process. For those who have not yet had a chance to complete this survey, you can access it through the link; www.tellthemfromme.com/mcv20
It would be great to have as many parents feedback to us through this survey as possible. The survey closes next Friday (October 30).
An early reminder that our last Parents and Friend’s meeting for 2020 will be held via zoom on Tuesday November 10 (Week 5). The link will be included in upcoming newsletters.
Over the past few months, Bishop Brian has been celebrating Sunday Mass and livestreaming it. These Masses each Sunday and can be accessed here.
Mr Steve Lo Cascio
Principal
Last week we were able to circulate the updated Term 4 COVID19 directives for schools to all parents and carers in our Mount Carmel community. We remain grateful to all those who continue to support these directives by:
- Keeping students home who demonstrate even the mildest of flu-like symptoms
- Informing the College when their child is tested for COVID19
- Informing the College once again once their test result is confirmed
Should NSW Health change or modify their directives in any way in the weeks ahead, you will be notified as a matter of priority. In the meantime, if you have any COVID19 enquiries from a schooling perspective, please do not hesitate to contact the College.
In what has been a particularly busy and challenging year for our Year 12 cohort, I particularly acknowledge their flexibility, determination and, above all, their resilience in the way that they have navigated these challenges. It was a pleasure to see the spirit in which they entered into their first exams earlier this week, and the way in which they readily accepted and responded to the numerous COVID-safe measures that were introduced for this year's HSC exams. I have little doubt that their hard work and perseverance will pay off on December 18 when they receive their final results.
In a sign that we are continuing our return to a new COVID-normal, we are currently in the process of finalising a number of significant year group incursions that have not been permitted for most of this year. On Wednesday 4 November, Year 9 will participate in the annual Gender Agenda Day where students will be split into gender-based groups and external facilitators will explore a range of issues around adolescents and relationships throughout the course of the day. We are also coordinating an alternate program to replace what was known as the Year 10 Gender Camp, the details of which will be communicated to parents and carers in the coming days. On Friday 6 November, Year 12 students will meet with former Socceroo Paul Wade here at the College to listen to his testimony on the benefits of hard work, perseverance and commitment. These initiatives continue to support and promote student wellbeing and mental health which, in turn, makes significant contributions towards the academic progress of each student.
Late last week we hosted nurses from NSW Health who administered the Year 10 immunisations. If there are any students from Years 7 or 10 who missed any vaccinations from this year or if any parents would now like to have their child in Years 7 or 10 immunised, the nursing team will return to school on Friday 6 November. Consent forms are available from the College office and would need to be collected and returned prior to this date.
Mr David Cloran
Assistant Principal
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
First Reading: Exodus 22:20-26 Treat all people with generosity
Second Reading: 1 Thes 1:5-10 The Thessalonians have become a model for others
Gospel : Matthew 22:34-40 Jesus is asked to name the greatest commandment of the Law
Reflection:
REFLECTION FOR US ALL – by Lisa-Marie Calderone-Stewart
At the same time that young people want more freedom, more rules apply. More freedom just means fewer outside rules. That’s because more freedom means more responsibility, and more responsibility means more inside rules – rules that we make for ourselves. For example, the Ten Commandments are outside rules – they tell us exactly what to do. Jesus’ two commandments of love are inside rules – they tell us to make rules for ourselves that are motivated by love.
Actually, if we make rules for ourselves that are motivated by love, our actions will follow the Ten Commandments, even if we have never heard of the Ten Commandments.
What are some of your school rules and home rules? Are they outside rules or inside rules? If they are outside rules, summarise them with one inside rule. If any of them are inside rules, then give an outside example of how you might follow them.
Would a society work if its only laws were inside rules? Why or why not? How would that affect this country? How would it affect your state, region, town or city?
Saint Augustine is famous for saying, ‘Love, and then do what you will.’
How is this quote similar to what Jesus told the lawyer?
What does love of self look like? What does love of God look like? How are those types of love related to love of neighbour?
Do you think that when Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbor’, he meant just the people on your street, or all people – including strangers, people in faraway countries, and even people at school that you don’t get along with? How does that sit with you?
- 27 October - HSC Student Symposium (PC – P1-4)
- 30 October – World Teachers’ Day
- 4 November – Yr 11 Academic Reports available to parents (COMPASS)
- 15 December - 7-10 Academic Reports available to parents (COMPASS)
- 18 December - HSC results released (ATAR release date TBC)
Ability Testing
Students in Years 7-9 will complete Ability testing in Week 3 as follows:
Tuesday 27 October: YEAR 9
P1: PAT Science
P3: PAT Maths
P4: PAT Reading Comprehension
Wednesday 28 October: YEAR 7
P1: PAT Reading Comprehension
P2: PAT Maths
P3: PAT Science
Friday 30 October: YEAR 8
P2: PAT Science
P3: PAT Maths
P4: PAT Reading Comprehension
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 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
Ms Judith Tolomeo
Curriculum Coordinator
Good afternoon everyone,
With recent changes to COVID restrictions, Term 4 has started with some increased optimism regarding the use of external presenters and large group presentations for a variety of Pastoral and Wellbeing programs. This actually commenced today with the commencement of the Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) program for Year 9. All students in Year 9 will be involved in three 100-minute presentations over the next three Fridays as part of an initiative supported by The Catholic Education Office of Wollongong and the Black Dog Institute.
Upcoming presentations and activities include:
- Year 11 Elevate Education presentation on Tuesday October 27, with a focus on organisation, study skills and time management for the HSC.
- Year 10 gender and team building days - Monday and Tuesday November 23 and 24. This will involve activities at Stanwell Tops on one day and guest speakers and gender specific activities on the alternate days.
- Year 9 YourChoicez “Gender Agenda” day on Wednesday November 4.
After not being able to conduct activities and presentations of this nature over the past couple of terms, it is great to see that our students are again exposed to some great role- models, guest speakers, instructional activities and challenges as they head towards the end of the term.
Upcoming activities aside, our Pastoral Care and Wellbeing teams continued their great work on site during today’s Pastoral time. An overview of activities that were conducted for the respective year groups are listed below.
- Year 7 - Meditation and Visualisation Activity
- Year 8 - Assessment TAsk preparation
- Year 9 - YAM
- Year 10 - Spirituality presentation and Tell them from me survey.
- Year 11 - HSC Preparation and Tell them from me survey.
As mentioned earlier, the Year 9 YAM program is supported by the Black Dog Institute. This program is just one of many initiatives that the institute provides to assist people with Mental Health issues, whether it be for themselves, a friend or a family member. As October is Mental health Month, the institute is also conducting a range of free webinars during October and November. Breaking down depression, Mental Fitness and Navigating your Teen’s Mental Health are examples of the type of webinars that are available. For more information regarding this, click on the link below.
Black Dog Institute webinars - October/November
As always, thank you for your ongoing support with the education, care and wellbeing of our students.
Mr Simon Huntly
Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Coordinator
Recreational Sport
After a lengthy anticipation, this week buses returned for College sport to transport students to various venues in the community. Students participated in tennis, roller skating, obstacle courses, gymnastics and virtual golf. Students' sports were high upon returning to the College. Meanwhile students on-site engaged in a range of activities led by both teachers and external providers.
A reminder of the following protocols that are currently in place that have been informed by advice from NSW Health, NSW Transport and the Catholic Education, Diocese of Wollongong.
- Students will only travel to venues who have provided the Sport Coordinator with a COVID-19 Safety Plan.
- The number of students and staff on buses will enable social distancing between students and their accompanying teacher.
- Hand sanitiser will be available for students. Students should use hand sanitiser before and after participating in activities/travelling on a bus.
- Students may wear a mask, however this is not compulsory.
- Whilst travelling on buses, students must maintain good personal hygiene, including coughing and sneezing into their elbow and disposing of tissues appropriately.
- Students are required to take their own water bottles to offsite venues.
All efforts are being made to provide opportunities for students to safely return to their intended sport schedule. If you have any queries, please contact Ms Sarah Bowen at the College via a phone call to (02) 9603 3000 or email to bowens01@dow.catholic.edu.au
Term 4 MISA
All MISA trials have now taken place and teams have been finalised. Congratulations to all students who were successful in obtaining selection into a team. Team lists are posted on the window of the sports office. Thank you to all students who attended the trials. There is likely to be some disappointment for those players who did not obtain selection. I encourage these students to seek feedback from the coaches who conducted trials and to not be disheartened. Acknowledge your feelings of disappointment, contemplate what you might do differently in future, accept the decision and move on. We are fortunate to have a wide range of sports available through the recreational program that are enjoyable for all students.
MISA will commence in Week 3 with the draw and locations found below:
Non-Participation
Students are reminded that College Sport is a compulsory requirement of enrolment at Mount Carmel Catholic College.
- If a student is unable to participate in sport on any given Tuesday they must provide a note signed by their parent/guardian to the Sports Coordinator at recess on the day that they cannot participate.
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
NSWCCC / CSNSW SPORT NEWS
Higher level MacKillop and CCC trials and events status can be monitored at https://csnsw.sport/news/events-suspended
SCHOOL SPORT AUSTRALIA SPORT NEWS
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)
October 23rd marked a significant day here at Mount Carmel as the newly appointed Youth Ministry Leaders and Carmelite Mission Captains were badged and inducted in their leadership positions for 2021. As a Christ-centred community, Mount Carmel continues to strive to provide opportunities for students to further develop and nourish their faith as well as recognise the transformation of their hearts directing them towards humble service with Mary as their model. It is this work of discipleship that our Youth Ministry Leaders and Carmelite Mission Captains will help facilitate and support at Mount Carmel. I am extremely proud of them being courageous and counter-cultural in nominating themselves and I once again congratulate them.
Assistant Religious Education Coordinator
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Last week, Year 11 were able to participate in their Senior Retreat entitled "What's in a Name?" It is inspired by the story of Jacob wrestling an angel in Genesis 32. To ensure that we were able to facilitate this most important spiritual experience, the Retreat was held here at the College on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 October.
- It was spiritual - Charlene
- It was unique - Shania
- It was a unique experience - Tamarah
- Best session
- It was fun to spend time with our new PA group and create our songline poster!
- Yes I liked the Beatitudes - Tania
- I liked the 1 on 1 interviews - Miriam
- Loved the food! - lots of students
From January onwards, there will be a number of School Opal cards expiring, as the physical card has reached its lifespan.
These are cards for students who will be in Years 8 to 12 in 2021, and only those Opal cards which haven’t been replaced in the last five years.
Impacted students and/or their parent/guardian will be contacted directly by Transport for NSW via email or post. They will be asked to confirm their details online in order for a new School Opal card to be sent to the correct postal address in time for the new school year.
If contacted by Transport for NSW, details should be submitted online by December 1, 2020 at the latest. Affected students who do not confirm their details in time will have a new School Opal card posted to the address that they currently have on file.
The Second Hand Uniform Shop is open from 2.30pm - 4pm on the following days.
Term 4
- 2 November
- 7 December