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Dear parents, friends, staff and students,
The Gospel in this Sunday’s Mass (Mark 9:2-10) is the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus in front of a small number of His disciples. The Gospel tells us that Jesus was transformed and his ‘garments became gleaming’. He was then joined by Elijah and Moses (both very important figures in the Old Testament) and a voice came from the cloud stating; “This is my beloved son. Listen to Him”. The power and authority of Jesus is proclaimed and is revealed to those close to Him. Whilst this is the focus of our thoughts on the weekend, as always, it is important for it to be read in conjunction with the earlier readings. The first reading (Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13) tells us of Abraham who went to sacrifice his son Isaac to God. When we read this, it is easy to question why God would want a man to sacrifice his only son. In the context of the times, however, this story changes when we realise that the God revealed he was not asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac but was stopping him. In some ways in the Old Testament, this was an early change to the relationship between human and God toward a recognition that this was a a merciful and caring God. Combining the two readings gives us a clear picture that the God we place our faith in as Christians has complete authority and cares for us completely.
This coming Friday we will be holding our Opening College Mass. This is late in the term but as with many things, we postponed the original date in the hope that we could come together as a community. Whilst we are very happy that we can bring the students and staff together for this important celebration, we are still unfortunately not allowed to have parents attend. We will be badging our Year 10 College leaders and will supply photos of these to parents following the Mass.
Thank you to parents for your support of the College Staff Development Day today. I realise these days may be an imposition on parents who need to rearrange their routines, it is essential that staff are given opportunities to come together for professional development aimed at improving outcomes for the students. Today was focused on diversity for the individual student. This is more than looking at how students learn but focusing more on who our students are and how their individual context will affect their academic, spiritual, sporting and relationship development. This fits in with our College Improvement priorities for 2021, two of which are focused on diversity and providing a safe and supportive environment.
Earlier this week a letter was emailed out to all parents regarding our Year 7, 2022 Information Evening. This will be held on Monday March 1 beginning at 7pm. Anyone considering enrolment will be given an opportunity to hear a presentation from the College Leadership Team and visit faculty displays around the College. As we are limited to 400 people within the confines of the hall, this presentation will begin at whatever point this number is reached and any extra people will be offered the opportunity to visit the displays. Following the conclusion of the presentation, a second will be offered if required. For this year, parents of current siblings are able to collect an enrolment package from the front office. Completed packages will be due back to the College on the last day of this term (April 1). Please pass on this information to anyone who may be considering enrolling children at Mount Carmel for Year 7 next year. As is current practice, visitors will be required to register upon arrival and you are advised not to attend should you be showing any COVID symptoms.
Again a reminder that the Parents & Friends Annual General Meeting will be held on March 9. The meeting will occur on site and parents will need to sign in. At this meeting, the P&F executive for 2021 will be elected. P&F meetings are scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month during school terms and are held in room I3 at the College. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Mr Steve Lo Cascio
Principal
As you would be aware, the College is hosting its Open Night for prospective Year 7 students in 2022. In line with NSW Health and CEDoW processes, a detailed COVID-19 safety plan has been developed which is designed to ensure that the event takes place in a safe environment. Measures include a limit on the number of people permitted into the Champagnat Centre at any given time throughout the night and a mandatory QR code sign in process upon arrival. Your support in meeting these requirements is appreciated and contributes towards a safe and successful event.
I thank the many families and friends of the College who were required to make alternative supervision arrangements today so that the Term 1 Staff Development Day could take place. The focus of today’s program was on supporting the Pastoral Care and Wellbeing of all students at Mount Carmel. These days are invaluable opportunities for all staff to focus on a range of areas that have a direct impact on our ability to further serve and support our students.
Once again, this week, I remind all parents and students about our COVID-19 processes. These include:
- Keeping your child home when they are unwell, even with very mild symptoms.
- Informing the school immediately if your child is self-isolating or undergoing testing, and informing us of the result as soon as possible.
- Following sickness with flu-like symptoms, ensuring your child is free of symptoms and can present a negative COVID-19 test, before they return to school.
Thank you for your ongoing understanding, support and timely communication of such issues.
David Cloran
Assistant Principal
1st Reading Gen 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18 God puts Abraham to the test
2nd Reading Rom 8:31- 34 God, sacrificing even his Som for us, will grant us a victory
Gospel Mk 9:2-10 Jesus is transfigured before Pete, James, and John
Gospel Reflection
Like so many other important events in the Bible, the events of this week’s gospel occur on a high mountaintop. Mountaintops were places of special and dramatic encounter with God and the disciples’ experience of the transfiguration is clearly no exception! In this instance, the disciples suddenly see Jesus’ power fully revealed but they fail to fully understand what is going on. One might think how much more obvious could God be about trying to reveal Jesus’ identity to the disciples, but still they don’t really catch on. Peter thinks he has caught on to the message. When the great prophets Elijah and Moses appear beside Jesus, Peter understands Jesus to be part of the line of prophets in the Hebrew tradition. He believes he has had a great insight and is so impressed that he wants to remain on the mountaintop – setting up tents in honour of Jesus, Elijah and Moses. In essence, Peter has still only partially understood who Jesus is. He thinks he is the Messiah, but a Messiah in the same mould as the prophets of old, a prophet of the old tradition. He has not understood that Jesus is breaking that mould and creating a new vision, a new tradition – one that is endorsed by the voice of God on the mountaintop.
Rather than allowing the disciples to set up tents and remain in the ‘high’ of this experience, Jesus immediately leads the boys back down the mountain. This is perhaps the greatest message of this passage: that life is not lived on the mountaintop but back down in the valley. Although the mountaintop experience may have provided some new insight and new energy, it is back down in the valley that the world waits; that the real work needs to be done; that the sick and the poor are crying out for God’s love and mercy.
- 1 March – Yr 7 2022 Open Night
- 8 March – Yr 7 BEST START Periods 1-2
- 26 March – Yr 12 Academic Reports Available to parents (COMPASS)
- 31 March – Yr 12 PTS Interviews
- 1 April – 7-10 Tracking Reports Available to parents (COMPASS)
CURRICULUM MATTERS...
BEST START
Year 7 will be completing "Best Start" Testing on the 8Th March. Best Start Year 7 is a literacy and numeracy assessment package for schools to use in the first five weeks of Year 7. It is designed to:
- provide teachers with consistent and up-to-date information about new students' skills and abilities in literacy and numeracy
- identify students at risk of falling behind
- help inform targeted teaching and intervention strategies
All Year 7 students will attend PC as usual and stay in PC rooms with their PC Teacher for P1-P2 to complete both tests (50 mins each). Tests are online and hence students will need a charged device.
PAT TESTING
Week 8
Wednesday 17 March - Year 10
P1 - PAT SCIENCE TEST
P3 - PAT MATHS TEST
P4 - PAT READING TEST
Thursday 18 March - Year 9
P1- PAT SCIENCE TEST
P2 - PAT MATHS TEST
P5 - PAT READING TEST
Friday 19 March - Year 8
P2- PAT MATHS TEST
P3 - PAT SCIENCE TEST
P4 - PAT READING TEST
Week 9
Monday 22 March - Year 7
P2 - PAT MATHS TEST
P3 - PAT READING TEST
P4 - PAT SCIENCE TEST
MINIMUM STANDARDS
Year 11/12 students who not yet met Minimum Standards will complete testing in the last few weeks of this term during Sport (Study)
Watch this space… for Numeracy updates
Ms Judith Tolomeo
Curriculum Coordinator
Good afternoon everyone,
As we enter the midpoint of Term One, our Pastoral Care teams have been very active in terms of providing a range of initiatives and presentations aimed at promoting a safe learning environment. Year assemblies last Friday were primarily centred around the issue of Vaping, particularly with respect to the laws relating to it and the negative impacts on our health. Today at our Staff Development Day, the focus centred around Sexualised Behaviour and the associated legislation and mandatory reporting that is in place at schools, Positive Behaviour for Learning and the use of data for wellbeing and learning. Each of these presentations provided opportunities for staff to work collaboratively in gaining knowledge, understanding and necessary skills in each of the areas, each of which are directed at ensuring that we are doing all that we can for all members of our community to be safe learners.
Next week Elevate Education will be conducting “Study Skills - Kick Start” sessions for all of Year Eight. These will take place during Lesson 1 on Friday March 5. Students will be doing the presentations in Pastoral Classes and each class will have an Elevate presenter leading the session. We look forward to this presentation to our Year Eights, a first for Mount Carmel, and recognise the importance that Study Skills and organisation have in providing students with the necessary tools to navigate their way through each day of learning and as a means of reducing some of the stress and anxiety associated with the challenges of day to day secondary education.
Uniform reminders:
- Only College caps to be worn to, from and at school.
- School shoes should be polished, plain black leather lace up (with a slightly raised heel). Variations of leather, canvas or athletic type shoes are not part of the uniform.
- Only MCCC school or sports socks are to be worn.
- Sports jackets to be worn on Tuesday for sport, or designated practical days for PDHPE or PASS only. Refer to pages 17-20 of the student diary for further information regarding uniform expectations.
Mr Simon Huntly
Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Coordinator
‘The best moments in reading are when you come across something – a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things – which you had thought special and particular to you. Now it is here, set down by someone else…someone who is even long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out and taken yours.’
Reading is a vital part of the literacy picture. C.S. Lewis urges us to read, ‘because words matter’. He says that we read ‘to know that we are not alone… to link our stories with others and to remember that our life, like all lives, has a story’. Reading enables us to ‘see with other eyes, to imagine with other imaginations, to feel with other hearts, as well as with our own’.
Many secondary school students think reading is ‘boring’. This is often a code for ‘uninviting’ or ‘too difficult’. They perceive reading as something done solely for learning rather than personal pleasure and insight. Many have a poor self-image as readers compounded by negative school experiences. Limited experience in reading is often mistaken for limited ability in reading. These students often require added instructional support in the ‘engagement’ phase of the reading process. Exposing young people to a variety of books as distinct from short pieces of text, is critical in the light of adolescents’ daily immersion in a world that tends to favour ‘noise’ and distraction.
At the core of achievement in reading is the ability of the reader to create meaningful connections between the words on the page and his or her lived, imagined, or constructed world of experience. Building confidence is essential to improving the performance of secondary school readers. Studies have shown that when adolescents are permitted to assert their independence by making choices about reading material their inclination and capacity to read increases dramatically. Student choice is therefore a fundamental motivating factor in adolescents reading for enjoyment and pleasure.
Parents and caregivers can assist in transforming their teenagers’ experience of reading within and beyond the parameters of schooling by having books in the home and modelling the value of reading. It would be wonderful if parents could read the books their children are reading as part of their English course. This could enable a rich and authentic sharing of ideas and experiences. Encouraging appropriate screen time boundaries would also be beneficial.
Parents often ask teachers about literature which would be age appropriate as well as interesting for their children. The books listed below have been selected on the basis of their potential to engage the reader using a number of strategies such as powerful themes, interesting characters and unusual settings. Some of the texts have layered and multiple meanings, while some are provocative and challenging. All should help students gain pleasure and power from the exploration of real and imaginary worlds.
Suggested reading
- John Boyne – The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
- Charlotte Bronte – Jane Eyre
- Emily Bronte – Wuthering Heights
- Susan Cooper – The Dark is Rising
- Robert Cormier– Other Bells for Us to Ring
- Roald Dahl – Boy
- Charles Dickens – A Christmas Carol
- Anne Frank – The Diary of a Young Girl
- Jackie French – Hitler’s Daughter
- Morris Gleitzman – Once Series
- William Golding – Lord of the Flies
- Kenneth Grahame – The Wind in the Willows
- Sonya Hartnett – The Silver Donkey
- Ernest Hemingway – The Old Man and the Sea
- Anthony Hill – Soldier Boy
- Ursula Le Guin – A Wizard of Earthsea
- Harper Lee – To Kill a Mockingbird
- Madeleine L’Engle – A Wrinkle in Time
- C.S. Lewis – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- Adeline Yen Mah – Chinese Cinderella
- John Marsden – Tomorrow When the War Began
- Robert O’Brien – Z for Zachariah
- George Orwell – Animal Farm / Nineteen Eighty-Four
- Gary Paulsen – Hatchet
- J K Rowling – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
- Salman Rushdie – Haroun and the Sea Stories
- Ian Serraillier – The Silver Sword
- John Steinbeck – The Pearl
- Mildred, D.Taylor – Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
- Theodore Taylor – The Cay
- J.R.R. Tolkien – The Hobbit
- Mark Twain – The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
- Elie Wiesel – Night
- Tim Winton – Land’s Edge
- Malala Yousafzai– I Am Malala
Mrs Clare Murphy
English Coordinator and Literacy Instructional Coach
New parents should have now received their Compass log in details. If you have not done so already, please download the app by following the steps below:
In coming weeks, we will be distributing new Compass Identity Cards to all students. These cards will be used to sign in (late arrivals) and sign out (early departures) in addition to giving students access to the printers and photocopiers in the Resource Centre. We will be introducing the use of the Compass Kiosk so that students can complete the sign in/out process independently. Please ensure you have downloaded the app and can access your Compass account, and if you require any assistance or would like to update your Compass details, please contact the College office.
Lenten Group “Walking the Desert with Christ”
Student Reflection:
Giving of our time and having new experiences that can help us in our spiritual development is important to us. Today we attended a Lenten program called Walking The Desert With Christ. We get together every Wednesday and we learn about the importance of the Lenten season and how we can help to transform the lives of those less fortunate than us. We commenced the session with a time of prayer and worship, this is where we can ask God for his intercession and pray for one another. We learned how Lent is a time of reflection and preparation before we celebrate Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, we walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who sacrificed his life for us.
Lent is marked by sacrifice, fasting and a promise of renewal. So we recommend everyone to come and join us in this service, invite your friends as this can be a step in faith for God. In the Lenten program we had time for reflection, worship music and watched a video of Jesus’s journey into the desert and his 40 days of fasting, how he was tempted by Satan and how he overcame the temptation.
Come join us Mount Carmel to Walk the desert with Christ during this season of Lent.
Beth Martin and Chelsea Herborn Year 7
College Swimming Carnival
Last Friday we held our swimming carnival at The Gordon Fetterplace Aquatic Centre (Bradbury) in which competitors were able to showcase their talent and earn valuable points for their respective houses. The sun was out and the water was glistening which made for a fantastic afternoon. Congratulations to all students who swam on the day. Students who finished first in their race will progress to the Diocesan Swimming Championships with the exception of 50m freestyle where two students will progress. The Diocesan Swimming Championships will be held on Friday 12th March at Corrimal Pool. Students who will progress to this event will be able to collect a note from Ms Bowen next week. Thank you to the parent helpers, staff and student helpers who each made a significant contribution to the smooth running of the carnival. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Congratulations to the age champions of each age group listed below. Each of these students accumulated the most points in their respective age groups on the day of the carnival:
|
Age Champion |
Female |
Male |
|
12 Years |
Jaimee Miles (Avila) |
Ryan Carter (Murray) |
|
13 Years |
Ava Antala (Howard) |
Isaac Ramon (Howard) |
|
14 Years |
Cordelia Jeffrey (Howard) |
Nathan Williams (Howard) |
|
15 Years |
Maddison Breen (Avila) |
Joel Skipper (Howard) |
|
16 Years |
Isabella Breen (Avila) |
Nathan Archibald (Avila) |
|
17+ Years |
Joanna Lill (Murray) |
Blake Waugh (Murray) |
Congratulations to Howard who accumulated the most house points at the swimming carnival.
Sporting Success - NSWCCC Softball Trials
On Monday 22 February, the NSWCCC Softball Selections were held at the International Peace Park, Seven Hills. At this event, we had two students obtain selection into the NSWCCC Softball team. These students will represent NSWCCC at the NSW All Schools Softball Championships. Congratulations to Paula Zabellero and Harrison Doris on this exceptional achievement. We wish them the best of luck as they prepare for the NSW All Schools Championships.
MISA Sport
|
Sport |
Division |
Gender |
Versing |
Score |
Winning Team |
MVP |
|
Indoor Cricket |
Years 7-9 |
Female |
Magdalene Catholic College |
62-91 |
Magdalene |
Jessica McMillan |
|
Softball |
Years 7-9 |
Male |
Magdalene Catholic College |
5-5 |
Draw |
Nicholas Lalic |
|
Volleyball |
Years 7-9 |
Female |
Magdalene Catholic College |
2-0 |
MCCC |
|
|
Male |
Magdalene Catholic College |
2-0 |
MCCC |
Aaron Naylor |
||
|
Hockey |
Years 7-9 |
Female |
Magdalene Catholic College |
0-3 |
Magdalene |
Jaimee Miles |
|
Basketball |
Years 10-12 |
Female |
Magdalene Catholic College |
43-6 |
MCCC |
|
|
Male |
Magdalene Catholic College |
48-22 |
MCCC |
Adam Prasad and Simon Krpez |
||
|
Oz Tag |
Years 10-12 |
Female |
Magdalene Catholic College |
2-7 |
Magdalene |
Emma Stephenson |
|
Male |
Magdalene Catholic College |
Round 3 MISA Draw
|
Sport |
Division |
Gender |
Versing |
Meeting Time |
Meeting Location |
Location |
|
Indoor Cricket |
Years 7-9 |
Female |
John Therry Catholic College |
12:40PM |
Outside the sports office |
National Indoor Sports, Campbelltown |
|
Softball |
Years 7-9 |
Male |
John Therry Catholic College |
12:40PM |
Outside the sports office |
Cowpasture Reserve |
|
Volleyball |
Years 7-9 |
Female and Male |
John Therry Catholic College |
1:05PM |
Champagnat Centre |
Mount Carmel Catholic College |
|
Hockey |
Years 7-9 |
Female |
John Therry Catholic College |
12:40PM |
Outside the sports office |
Macarthur Hockey Complex, Narellan |
|
Basketball |
Years 10-12 |
Female and Male |
John Therry Catholic College |
12:40PM |
Outside the sports office |
Minto Basketball Stadium, Minto |
|
Oz Tag |
Years 10-12 |
Female and Male |
John Therry Catholic College |
12:40PM |
Outside the sports office |
Victoria Park, Minto |
Spectators
A reminder to parents that sporting events are currently spectator free including Diocesan events. This includes Diocesan Girls Touch and Diocesan Swimming.
2021 College Carnival Dates
|
What |
When |
|
|
College Cross Country |
Thursday 1 April (Term 1, Week 10) |
All students |
|
College Athletics Carnival |
Friday 21 May (Term 2, Week 5) |
All students |
NSWCCC Sport Registrations
NSWCCC Sport Registrations 2021 for pathway sports opened on 1 February.
|
For instructions on how to register go to - https://csnsw.sport/help/help-guide-for-parents
Term One Individual Nominations Sport Registrations
CLOSING DATES FOR NSWCCC SELECTIONS TERM ONE
- GOLF - Closing date 25 February Selections 8 March at Macquarie Links
- Baseball - Closing date 26 February Selections Selections 3 March at Blacktown
- Volleyball - Closing date 5 March Selections 10 March at Sydney Olympic Park
- Water Polo - Closing date 11 March Selection 15 March at Ryde
- Triathlon - Closing date 15 March Selections 30 March at Penrith
- Hockey - Closing date 15 March Selections 22 March at Moorebank
- Diving – Boys & Girls – 29 March – Close 19 March
For further information visit https://csnsw.sport/
Diocesan Update
Students are NOT to register for the teams listed below as they need to be selected in the Wollongong Diocesan team prior to any registration. Sports where Diocesan teams are selected and students DO NOT register until they are officially selected in the Diocesan team include:
15's Touch (B&G)
- Opens Touch (B&G
- 15's Rugby League
- Open's Rugby League
- Open Football (B&G
- Swimming
- Cross Country
- Athletics
Representative Pathways
- MISA Website https://www.misaonline.org.au/
- 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
- SCHOOL SPORT AUSTRALIA SPORT NEWS
More School Sport Australia information can be found at
http://www.schoolsportaustralia.edu.au/
Miss Sarah Bowen
(Acting College Sport Coordinator - bowens01@dow.catholic.edu.au)
The Second Hand Uniform Shop is open on the following days.
Term 1 2021
- Monday 29 March 2.30pm - 4pm