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Dear parents, friends, staff and students,
Over the past week I have had the opportunity to stop and spend some time reading and listening to two very influential thinkers. The first was during a Marist online symposium presented by Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP, a Dominican priest currently based at Oxford, England. The second was the encyclical by Pope Francis titled Fratelli Tutti (Fraternity and social friendship). Whilst there are many messages coming from these two, there was one which linked for me as I stopped and took breath. In an early part of his encyclical, Pope Francis quotes Pope Benedict XVI who says;
“as society becomes ever more globalised, it makes us neighbours, but does not make us brothers”.
The notion that stood out for me from Fr Timothy was that with iPads, iPods and iPhones, we are caught up in the ‘I’. Whilst there are undeniable benefits from the improvements in technology, it is worth asking how we might get caught up with things that are less important. In this weekend’s Gospel, Jesus turns over the tables of the traders in the Temple and tells them to “stop turning my father’s house into a market” John 2:16. With this simple act, He challenges us to stop getting caught up with the latest trend at the expense of what is important. What is important, is our relationship with God and with those around us. If we are able to leave behind the focus on ‘I’ we might more easily embrace our brothers and sisters and allow God to enter our lives.
Today we held our belated Opening College Mass. As I explained in last week’s newsletter, due to COVID restrictions, we were unable to invite parents, however, the whole College community was able to come together for a liturgy for the first time in over 12 months. It was a special event with our Year 10 House Captains being badged. Congratulations to all the students who were involved and a special thanks to Ms Meharg for her organisation and Fr Shane for celebrating this for and with us.
Last Monday evening we held our Yr 7, 2022 information evening. As I had previously stated, due to COVID restrictions siblings who were applying were welcome but not required. The evening went well with the main presentation repeated and an opportunity for prospective parents and students to visit classroom displays. By all accounts, our visitors received a good insight into our College community and our students were fine ambassadors for the College. Thank you to those staff and students who assisted on the evening and to the visitors who attended. Enrolment application forms are available from the College office and are now being accepted. These forms are due back at the College office by 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.
Again a reminder that the Parents & Friends Annual General Meeting will be held this coming Tuesday. 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
Over the course of the past 12 months, bus companies were somewhat flexible in terms of the requirement for students to tap on/off their services using an Opal card, simply to avoid queuing around the doors of the bus. We have received communications this week stating the return to the pre-COVID expectations of tapping on and off. While drivers may exercise their discretion from time to time, they note that “repeat offences may lead to travel suspension of up to 10 weeks, in line with Transport for NSW’s Student Codes of Conduct, which will result in parents being responsible for getting their children to and from school”. Additionally, tapping on/off provides important data regarding patronage on each service which is used to coordinate various routes based on the demand in our local area. I encourage parents to have a conversation with your children to ensure that they have a valid Opal card.
Last Monday night, the College was inundated with visitors for our Year 7 2022 Information Evening. Further to what Mr Lo Cascio has mentioned above, I too would like to thank all our visitors for their cooperation with the various COVID directives that were in place, especially to those who queued for a second round of the presentation once the Champagnat Centre had reached its COVID-safe capacity of 400. I also thank the more than 80 students who voluntarily gave up their evening to act as tour guides, presenters and advocates for the College.
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 Exodus 20:1-17 The Lord delivers the ten Commandments
2nd reading 1 Cor 1:22-25 Understand the power of Christ crucified
Gospel Jn 2:13-25 Jesus drives out the money-changers from the temple
REFLECTION by Fr Michael Tate
Where does God really dwell?
The Ten Commandments are badly named. Rather, they are the Ten Responses which should characterise a liberated people, freed from slavery by ‘the Lord, your God’.
By the time Jesus came on the scene, the Temple in Jerusalem was no longer a fit dwelling place for a God who desires to free people from oppression and exploitation. To the contrary, Jesus saw the Temple ideology as placing undue burdens and shackles on people.
His anger at this erupted in dramatic street theatre. His overturning of the tables of the money-changers signalled the overturning of the Temple system.
What Our Lord revealed to uncomprehending authorities was that His body was the true sanctuary. The body of Jesus of Nazareth is the dwelling place of God, the habitation of the Lord God who liberates people. In short, God’s sanctuary is not a place, but a person.
We could take a moment to pray, using the Ten Responses to review and guide our reflection and practice as we move towards Easter. This will help us to celebrate the enigmatic saying: ‘Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it again.’
RELIGIOUS LIFE OF THE COLLEGE
Our Mount Carmel Story
Welcome everyone to a new year! Over the next few editions, I am taking the opportunity to explore some of the dimensions of College life. We are a Marist-inspired school on Carmelite land. These two charisms are fundamental in making us who we are.
Two powerful charisms backed by a strong story of people committed to making the world a better place.
What underpins both Charisms is prayer.
Each Monday morning at 8:55 am, the College begins its week with Reflection and Prayer. Two students from different pastoral groups read a reflection about the week - setting up a theme. Then all students and staff recite the College prayer together.
This prayer is very powerful and is our reminder about things that are important to all at the College.
We ask Our Lady who appeared at Mount Carmel in Israel, to look out for us,
Then we ask for the special gifts of the Holy Spirit of courage, wisdom, and guidance.
Then we ask for special encouragement to walk in truth, a challenge in these modern times.
The next part is the wish to be more like St Marcellin Champagnat, who wanted young people to be good Christians and good citizens.
We then end our prayer with
Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
Pray for us
St Marcellin Champagnat,
Pray for us
St Mary of the Cross (Mary Mackillop)
Pray for us
And let us always remember to
prayer for one another.
Good afternoon everyone,
Earlier today Elevate Education presented ‘Study Skills Kick Start” seminars to each of the individual Pastoral Classes. Individual presenters, all of whom have recently left school and are currently studying at various universities across Sydney, dedicated their 1 hour time slot to sharing some skills that will complement much of the good work that already occurs in the classroom on a daily basis. These skills transfer across to all Key Learning Areas of study and included:
- Dynamic Reading
- Formatting Notes
- Memorising notes using trigger words, and
- Mind Mapping
Each of these skills become increasingly significant as students progress to the next stage of learning and are particularly important in Years 11 and 12 as students prepare for their final exams. Year 8 are to congratulated for their application to the sessions and we thank the team from Elevate Education and the staff who supported the students during this activity.
As mentioned in earlier Newsletters, Elevate Education are running a series of Webinars throughout the term, which parents and carers of which Mount Carmel are invited to be a part. Elevate provide a recording of the previous Webinar, as well as a link to the upcoming event. Information and links to these sessions are included below.
The recent webinar was on Time Management - how to end the battle over homework deadlines, study schedules and prioritisation. It aired live on Wednesday 24 February, but you can access the replay below.
Additionally, the next webinar is on Tech Devices - setting boundaries and promoting self-regulation with teens. The webinar will help to answer your questions around 'how much screen-time is too much", how to create positive habit-loops with your child, and what apps and technology you can use to help your child, rather than hinder them. You can register for that event here.
Webinar replay
Watch the Time Management webinar here.
Download the resources here.
The webinar is run live online from 6pm – 7pm where the presenter will share Elevate’s key research and skills and will conduct a live Q&A so you can ask them questions directly.
Should you have questions or would like to contact Elevate directly, their details are listed below.
1300 667 945
✉️ auscoaching@elevateeducation.com
https://au.elevateeducation.com
https://www.facebook.com/ElevateEd/
House Leadership
As part of our Opening School Mass today, our Year 10 House Leaders were announced and presented with their badges, which had been blessed by Father Shane during Mass. Congratulations to all House Captains and Vice Captains for their willingness to be part of this opportunity to work collaboratively as a team, to develop presentation skills and promote House spirit across the college community. We wish them every success for the upcoming year.
Upcoming events
Next Friday: Murray Day Liturgy and fundraising for Project Compassion
Wednesday 17 March to Friday 20 March: Year 7 Camp and School based activities.
Mr Simon Huntly
Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Coordinator
Story is fundamental to our lives. In recounting the events of our day to our family members or our friends, we are immersing ourselves in narrative. In reading a book or watching a film, we are encountering story. Children use narrative play and subsequently the experience of story to help them determine the way the world works and their place in it. Barbara Hardy, former professor of English at the University of London, captured the truth about the power of narrative when she wrote over five decades ago, ‘we dream in narrative, day-dream in narrative, remember, anticipate, hope, despair, believe, doubt, plan, revise, criticise, construct, gossip, learn, hate, and love by narrative. In order really to live, we make up stories…’
Young people need stories to make sense of themselves and their world. While they live in an information Age, information does not necessarily lead to understanding. The works of good writers such as C.S. Lewis and Charles Dickens illuminate for young people the concept of what it means to be human. They show them ways of thinking about life which enlarge their moral imagination and strengthen their moral capacities. Encounters with books – as well as forming identity and building a rich vocabulary – are sites for enjoyment, and creative and critical thinking.
I thought I would share with you four books which are commonly read as part of the English course in Years 7 and 8. They happen to be favourites of mine.
With Year 7, I always choose to read C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
The opening sentence reads, ‘Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy.’ This powerful narrative deals with family, the battle between good and evil, and the power of forgiveness and redemption. It is full of excitement, fantasy and adventure with characters such as Aslan the lion, Mr Tumnus the faun, the White Witch and captain of the secret police, the grey wolf Maugrim.
The closing paragraph has the old Professor ‘who was a very remarkable man’ saying:
“Yes, of course you’ll get back to Narnia some day. Once a King in Narnia, always a King in Narnia. But don’t go trying to use the same route twice. Indeed, don’t try to get there at all. It’ll happen when you’re not looking for it. And don’t talk too much about it even among yourselves. And don’t mention it to anyone else unless you find that they’ve had adventures of the same sort themselves. What’s that? How will you know? Oh, you’ll know all right. Odd things they say – even their looks – will let the secret out. Keep your eyes open. Bless me, what do they teach them at these schools?”
The second book I love reading with Year 7 students is Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows. Although first published in 1908, this book has enduring charm and relevance. Exploring ideas such as friendship and travel, the story focuses on the four main characters of Mole, Rat, Toad and Badger – all with different personalities and temperaments – who are bound by loyalty and longing. Their adventures revolve around pottering in the garden, messing about in boats and rambling along country roads. The message of the book – with its rich and descriptive language – is do your best at all times, forgive others and make the world a better place.
The opening paragraph reads:
‘The Mole had been working very hard all the morning, spring-cleaning his little home. First with brooms, then with dusters; then on ladders and steps and chairs, with a brush and a pail of whitewash; till he had dust in his throat and eyes, and splashes of whitewash all over his black fur, and an aching back and weary arms. Spring was moving in the air above and in the earth below and around him, penetrating even his dark and lowly house with its spirit of divine discontent and longing.’
In Year 8, I have two books I like to introduce to students. The first one is Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Published in 1884, this powerful story tells of the adventures of a young boy, Huck Finn, who travels down the Mississippi River on a raft with a runaway slave, Jim. Mark Twain’s father and uncles had owned slaves and, as a child, he had spent time playing in slave quarters and listening to their songs and stories. He captures the dialect of Jim and the speech of the South in this novel, and has been praised for creating an American literature which is heard as well as read. Huck and Jim meet many interesting characters on their journey, with whom they have all sorts of adventures. While Huck doesn’t learn or mature at all along the way, readers most certainly do.
The second book I enjoy reading with Year 8 is Gary Paulsen’s novel Hatchet. This is a contemporary survival story which engages the adolescent reader in a powerful way. Brian Robeson is a 13-year-old city boy who is alone in the Canadian wilderness after his plane has crashed. He faces the problems of finding food, shelter and clothing. With imagination and courage, he experiences despair and perseverance, and it is the character development as well as the survival skills that hold the reader in suspense. This book is a particularly good one for reluctant or inexperienced readers. I haven’t met a student yet who can resist its appeal.
Mrs Clare Murphy
English Coordinator and Literacy Instructional Coach
Recreational Sport
Next week (Tuesday 9 March) a number of groups will rotate to a new sport/activity. Students are reminded to carefully check the sports schedule as there are a number of changes. Due to the Golf Driving Range being under construction at the moment, 10G will now be attending UFC Gym (Steer Rd, Gregory Hills) for the final 4 weeks of term.
Year 7 and 8 Fast 5 Netball - Sporting Schools Program
Mount Carmel Catholic College will be running a Fast 5 Netball Skill Development Program that will be delivered by a Netball NSW School Development Officer and supervised by a College staff member. Fast 5 offers secondary students the opportunity to play netball differently, with only 5 positions on the court and rolling-subs, shorter quarters and multiple scoring zones. The program will involve six sessions held across four weeks.
Key details can be seen below:
- Target Year Level: students must be in either Year 7 or 8 to be involved in this program
- State date: Thursday 11 March, 2021
- End date: Tuesday 30 March, 2021
- Time: Tuesday: 3:00PM-4:00PM and Thursday: 3:30PM-4:30PM
- Participants: To participate in the program, students must return their signed permission note promptly to secure their position in the program (first-come, first served basis). It is expected that when committing to the program you are able to attend all sessions. If there is a high demand, we will look to offer another program at another point in the year.
- Equipment: school sports uniform
Face masks
Students travelling on a bus MUST have a mask to travel on a sport bus. Face masks will no longer be for sale at school. It is expected that students are organised in providing their own mask.
Parent, Carers and Spectators
This week we received an update in relation to Parent, Carers and Spectators for all Diocese of Wollongong Pathway sporting events. (reviewed and changed for upcoming events). Parents/carers and spectators are PERMITTED to attend CEDoW Sporting pathway and representative events held at external/outdoor venues from Friday 5th March. The ratio and allowance of spectators/parents will be determined by venues ratio and capacity to maintain appropriate adult social distancing. Parents/carers and spectators will be required to follow the COVID Safe plan and precautions set out by the event coordinator.
What does this mean for upcoming trials and events?
Secondary Diocese of Wollongong Swimming Carnival - Friday 12 March
Parents are permitted to attend and requested adhere to the following COVID Safe plan for each event:
- 1 parent: 1 student ratio,
- sit/observe trial from parent/spectator viewing section,
- maintain appropriate adult social distancing
Secondary Diocese of Wollongong Rugby League trials - Wednesday 17 March
Parents are permitted to attend and requested adhere to the following COVID Safe plan for each event:
- 1 parent: 1 student ratio,
- sit/observe trial from designated viewing area
- maintain appropriate adult social distancing
Secondary Wollongong Football Boys and Girls Carnivals - Friday 19 March
Parents are permitted to attend and requested adhere to the following COVID Safe plan for each event:
- 1 parent: 1 student ratio
- sit/observe trial from designated viewing area
- maintain appropriate adult social distancing
Diocesan Swimming
The Diocesan Swimming team has been posted on the Sports Office Window. Students are to collect a permission note from the sports office if they have not already done so.
Diocesan Football
7-10 Football (soccer) teams have been posted outside the window of the sports office. Congratulations to all students who were selected. Thank you to Mr King, Mr Dalisay, Ms Terkalas and Mr Sullivan who ran these trials. Students are to continue monitoring Compass for updates from their coach/Ms Bowen regarding training sessions. Permission notes with details of the event will be available for collection in Week 7.
Diocesan Touch Football - Girls
On Monday 1 March three teams travelled to Thomas Dalton Park to compete in the Diocesan Girls Touch Football event. Below are reports of the day from the respective coaches of each team.
U13’s
Coach: Ms Vidovic
The team consisted of Kaylee Attard, Sienna Wagstaff, Lara Underwood, Beth Martin, Mikayla Faletau, Nikita Austin, Monique Pleadin, Alissiah Marmont, Alicia Gabriel, Brianna Bolwell and Isla Clarke.
The Under 13’s team demonstrated commitment and determination throughout the day, coming in 6th place to finish overall. Starting the day with 2 losses, the girls were determined to give it their best and come through with a win. This motivation resulted in 3 wins and 2 draws to end the day. Their dedication, communication and teamwork were evidence of a successful day for the ladies and proved excellent sportspersonship at the end of each game. The Under 13’s performed exceptionally well and are to be congratulated on their efforts.
U15’s
Coach: Mrs Tyra
The team consisted of Hailee Meurant, Janita Leota-Brown, Liesl Hopoate, Isabella Ashcroft, Riley Perrett, Tenaya Ferguson, Meliame Feiloakitohi, Lauren Ahovelo, Lereit Faasoa, Taylah Faiai and Mia Aiono.
The U15s team were determined competitors. They began the day with a couple of losses, but were able to reflect on the teams strengths and weaknesses, make suggestions for improvement and then apply this to subsequent games. By the end of the day, the team had achieved 3 wins and to teams that were sitting above us on the ladder. Well done to all players for working collaboratively and stepping up when one of our players was injured. Overall the team finished in 8th place, but this is not representative of the effort that was put in, with many of the losses being by 1-2 points.
Open’s
Coach: Miss Terkalas
The team consisted of Medlin Kelman, Jade Constance, Eseta Malasaesilia, Ashlea Forde, Elisha Fry, Cassie Lloyd, Caitlin Lo, Melissa Neufeldt, Grace Keomoungkhoun, Jezal Taei and Bexleigh Sultana. The Open’s team were dedicated and determined competitors. They worked collaboratively and showed true sportsmanship. The team worked together after each game to reflect and improve their strategies. Overall the team finished in 8th place, congratulations on an excellent effort girls.
At the Diocesan Event a number of selectors observe match play to select a team of talented players who will represent the Wollongong Diocese and the NSW Combined Catholic College event. Gaining selection into this team as either a player or a shadow is a tremendous achievement. Two students were recognised on the day for their skill and performance including:
- Open’s - Jade Constance (shadow)
- U15’s - Liesl Hopoate (shadow)
Congratulations ladies. Thank you Mrs Tyra, Ms Vidovic and Ms Terkalas for coaching and supporting the teams on the day. We also had four students attend the day as referees. Thank you to the students below for providing their support on the day.
Congratulations to Harrison Dorris (Year 10) who was selected in the U16’s NSW team for Softball. This is an exceptional achievement and reflects an evident high level of determination, commitment to training and high performance behaviours. Harrison will now travel to Lismore in the upcoming school holidays to compete in an interstate Challenge against Queensland. We wish Harrison the best of luck at this tournament.
MISA Sport
Round 3 MISA Results
|
Sport |
Division |
Gender |
Versing |
Score |
Winning Team |
MVP |
|
Indoor Cricket |
Years 7-9 |
Female |
John Therry Catholic College |
105-43 |
MCCC |
Keanna Bocarro |
|
Softball |
Years 7-9 |
Male |
John Therry Catholic College |
10-10 |
Draw |
Josh Bojkovski Baxter Bastoli |
|
Volleyball |
Years 7-9 |
Female |
John Therry Catholic College |
2-0 |
MCCC |
Liesl Hopoate |
|
Male |
John Therry Catholic College |
2-1 |
MCCC |
Danason Chom |
||
|
Hockey |
Years 7-9 |
Female |
John Therry Catholic College |
0-0 |
Draw |
Brianna Bolwell |
|
Basketball |
Years 10-12 |
Female |
John Therry Catholic College |
20-10 |
JT |
Alexis Brunt |
|
Male |
John Therry Catholic College |
54-57 |
MCCC |
Paul Bentham |
||
|
Oz Tag |
Years 10-12 |
Female |
John Therry Catholic College |
10-1 |
JT |
Cassandra Lloyd |
|
Male |
John Therry Catholic College |
9-4 |
JT |
Nathaniel Calvelo |
Round 4 MISA Draw
|
Sport |
Division |
Gender |
Versing |
Meeting Time |
Meeting Location |
Location |
|
Indoor Cricket |
Years 7-9 |
Female |
St Patrick’s College |
12:40PM |
Outside the sports office |
National Indoor Sports, Campbelltown |
|
Softball |
Years 7-9 |
Male |
BYE |
|||
|
Volleyball |
Years 7-9 |
Female |
St Patrick’s College |
1:05PM |
Champagnat Centre |
Mount Carmel Catholic College |
|
Volleyball |
Years 7-9 |
Male |
BYE |
|||
|
Hockey |
Years 7-9 |
Female |
St Patrick’s College |
12:40PM |
Outside the sports office |
Macarthur Hockey Complex, Narellan |
|
Basketball |
Years 10-12 |
Female |
St Patrick’s College |
12:40PM |
Outside the sports office |
Minto Basketball Stadium, Minto |
|
Basketball |
Years 10-12 |
Male |
BYE |
|||
|
Oz Tag |
Years 10-12 |
Female |
St Patrick’s College |
12:40PM |
Outside the sports office |
Victoria Park, Minto |
|
Oz Tag |
Years 10-12 |
Male |
BYE |
|||
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