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Dear parents, friends, staff and students,
All of the readings from this weekend have a common theme which requires us to be a people of action. We are asked to spread the message of Jesus through what we do and to be productive in the service of God. From the first reading (Apostles 9: 26-31) which recounts how Saul (St Paul) spread the word of Jesus through Damascus, to the Gospel (John 15: 1-8) where Jesus explains that He is the vine and we are the branches who need to bear fruit, we are given the clear instruction that we must live what we believe. The theme however might be summed up best by the opening line of the second reading (1 John 3: 18- 24) which states: “My children, our love is not to be just words or mere talk, but something real and active”. As a College community, we recite the mantra that we are Christ-centred, but we should be constantly asking how this statement is put into action. Within our community, the Marist concept of family and the Carmelite focus on ministry (or apostolate) challenges us to be a people of action in ensuring that Jesus is at the centre of what we do, how we do it and why we do it.
Earlier this week, the College Leadership Team were privileged to have Fr Aloysius Rego, attend our Leadership Team meeting to guide us in exploring the way in which the Carmelite Charism can be used to assist our focus as a College. This focus is around the way that we are a Christ-Centred community and helps us to build on the strong Marist connections that have existed at Mount Carmel since its inception. Fr Aloysius highlighted the idea that the Carmelites are led to Jesus by following six focus areas. These are the ideas of Mary, Prayer, Silence, Solitude, Asceticism and Ministry. These six focus areas meld beautifully with the Marist characteristics of: Presence, In the way of Mary, Family spirit, Love of work and Simplicity. As one of our School Improvement Plan (SIP) goals is developing a clearly articulated vision and mission for the College, our leadership team and staff will continue to explore these concepts and work with the staff this year as to how we put them into practice. Our plan then will be to develop the ideas with students and parents next year as the final stage of our current SIP and this will hopefully ensure that what we say is what we do.
Included in last week’s newsletter was a link to a survey (TTFM) for parents regarding your thoughts on the College. It is extremely important that we receive feedback in terms of what we are doing well and what we might be able to improve. I have included the link for this survey again here. For any parents who may not have had a chance to complete this, we would be grateful for you to spend 10 minutes letting us know how we are travelling. For those who have already completed this, I thank you for your time and opinions. This will be used to evaluate our current improvement plan and to include strategies into the future.
On Tuesday May 11, we will be holding our next P&F meeting. This is held in room I3 (at the front of the College near the La Valla Centre) and starts at 7pm. Our hope is that at each of these meetings we will have a College Middle Leader speak at the meeting regarding something of interest and importance to parents. Following from requests at the last meeting, this meeting’s guest speaker will be Ms Alison Kripal our Administration and Compass Coordinator. She will be presenting information on Compass and how parents might use it to enhance communication with the College. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Mr Steve Lo Cascio
Principal
It is hard to believe that this time 12 months ago, we were all confined to home isolation and remote learning. While things are still not back to our pre-COVID “normal” we have taken a number of significant steps in the last couple of months towards a sense of normalcy that we haven’t seen for quite some time. In any ‘regular’ year, Term 2 seems to be packed with a range of events that fall beyond the regular day-to-day operations of a school. With that in mind, I draw your attention this week to a number of key events that we have taking place throughout Term 2, that were unable to take place in 2020 due to the COVID19 pandemic.
- Year 7 and 8 Cybersafety Presentations (May 7)
- LIVE Event (May 7)
- MISA Debating Competition (May 10)
- Year 7 and 9 NAPLAN (Week 4 & 5)
- Year 11 PTS Interviews (May 19)
- College Athletics Carnival (May 21)
- Year 7 Taronga Zoo Excursion (May 28)
- Term 2 Pupil Free Day (June 4)
- Year 8 Reflection Day (June 9 & 10)
- Year 8 Geography Excursion (June 8 & 10)
- Champagnat Day (June 11)
- Queens Birthday Public Holiday (June 14)
- College Photo Day (June 17)
- Marist Connect Event (June 18)
- Year 7-10 PTS Interviews (June 21, 24 & 25)
- Year 7 TAS Incursion (June 23)
Such significant events make for a busy term, most of which did not take place in 2020 due to the restrictions that were in place at various times. Further information about key events will be distributed closer to each date, including any relevant updates should the COVID situation change throughout the course of the term.
Finally, a reminder regarding our ongoing COVID19 recording procedures for all families, which 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.
All the best for the week ahead,
David Cloran
Assistant Principal
- 12th – 13th May – NAPLAN
- 14th May – Yr 11 Academic Reports available to available to parents (COMPASS)
- 17th May – NAPLAN
- 19th May - Yr 11 PTS Interviews
- 18th June – Yr 7-10 Academic Reports available to parents (COMPASS)
- 21st June – Yr 7-10 PTS Interviews
- 24th June - Yr 7-10 PTS Interviews
- 25th June - Yr 7-10 PTS Interviews
CURRICULUM MATTERS...
NAPLAN
Wednesday, May 12 - Year 7
Thursday, May 13 - Year 9
Monday, May 17 - Year 7 (period 1 - 2), Year 9 (period 3 - 4)
Year 11 2022 Subject Selection
10th June – Subject Selection Launch
16th June – Subject Selection information available online for parents and Year 10
students to view
17th June – Subject Market (Periods 1-4)
21st June – Eligibility forms distributed to Year 10 students
28th July – Subject Selection Interviews
3rd September – 2022 Subject Choices distributed to Year 10 students
Ms Judith Tolomeo
Curriculum Coordinator
Good afternoon everyone,
Year meetings earlier today addressed a number of matters relating to supporting the learning and wellbeing of the various year groups. Below is an overview of what each group covered during their meeting time.
- Year 7 - SEEEDSS (Time management and homework), Coordinator Awards for merits certificates, musical performances by a selection of talented students.
- Year 8 - General reminders regarding Uniform, Grooming, Respect, Integrity and “Walking in Truth”, then time in individual pastoral classes.
- Year 9 - Career Pathways and Resumes, SEEEDSS (Emotional Wellbeing).
- Year 10- Careers Update, General reminders, upcoming events with a particular focus on Subject selections for Stage Six 2022.
- Year 11 - Survival guide for the Preliminary and HSC courses.
- Year 12 - Health and Wellbeing during the HSC, Meditation and setting up for the run into the end of the year.
Thanks to Year Coordinators, Assistant Coordinators and staff who prepared and presented various items at each of the assemblies this morning.
Elevate Education
As part of our ongoing engagement with Elevate Education, they are once again providing webinars that are available for members of our community to access. The webinars for this term are outlined below.
- May 5th - Time Management techniques to align the family expectations on homework and achieve school-life balance.
- May 19th - Memory and effective revision. Why rote learning is ineffective and our top strategies for effective revision.
- June 2nd - Exam Preparation to ensure students are prepared and confident going into the exam room.
- June 16th - Stress and Wellbeing. How parents can support their child in tougher periods and manage school-related stress.
The webinars take place fortnightly across the term, beginning on Wednesday 5th May at 7pm (AEST). Registration is essential and is free for parents of Mount Carmel Catholic College.
You can register by clicking here.
The webinar is run live online from 7pm – 8pm (AEST) where the presenter will share Elevate’s research findings 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
Mr Simon Huntly
Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Coordinator
People who keep journals have life twice
Jessamyn West
The act of writing regularly is not only helpful for students’ academic performance, but of considerable potential benefit to an individual’s health and wellbeing. Research suggests that writing expressively for fifteen minutes a day, three days a week, has the potential to reduce stress, improve sleep and have a positive impact on one’s general wellbeing. An ideal form of expressive writing is journal writing.
A journal can be a place of learning, of emotional release and of creative play. Journal writing can consist of observations, memories, ideas and feelings. It may include plans, hopes, dreams and prayers. Being a space where the usual rules of writing no longer apply, a genuine sense of freedom invites you into the present moment and allows possibility to be activated with every fresh page.
A journal can become a companion. It can support you in difficult times as well as provide room for you to learn about yourself and grow. Journal writing is all about discovery.
When students are given time for journaling in an English class, they are often provided with a prompt to begin their writing. One very useful writing activity might open with the utterance ‘I remember when…’. Sometimes single words are jumping-off points for free association. Words such as ‘school’, ‘friends’ and ‘weekend’ can provide just the starting point to begin a rich writing experience. Free associations such as ‘the smell of rain’, the ‘noise in the corridor’ or ‘the chair I am sitting on’ also provide a useful starting point. A collage of words can be helpful as well. These may consist of a prayer, a poem, a song lyric or the title of a book. Perhaps you could note the day and time of writing as well as some detail about place. ‘Friday morning. Mount Carmel. Sitting in E7. The air feels stale. What mood was I in when I left my house this morning? What are my expectations for the day?’ If all else fails, a journal entry could begin with the simple sentence, ‘I don’t know what to write today’.
The important thing is to ‘keep the appointment’. Write for fifteen minutes at a time. Don’t stop to edit. Don’t re-read immediately. Let your thoughts ‘rest’.
The following prompts might be helpful when next you keep your appointment:
I write to …
I write to discover.
I write to uncover.
I write to begin a dialogue.
I write as a witness to what I have seen.
I write as a witness to what I imagine.
I write because I believe it creates a path in the darkness.
Below are some examples of journal entries:
Today was the most embarrassing day of my life. In front of the entire school, I fell. One thousand students saw me trip up the stairs to receive my award. Loud laughter pierced my bright red face like knives of steel. I think I continued up onto the stage like a robot. I wanted to fall through the floor and run. Run out the gate. Never to return.
Year 9 student
Upon reflection of ANZAC Day 2020, I continually return to the notion of the "Australian Spirit", and particularly how, the flame that it was, could not be extinguished on this day, despite the challenging circumstance the COVID-19 pandemic has put us in. When we reach the end of 2020 and look back, not only will I remember the devastating events in Australia due to the pandemic. I will also remember the moments of intense light that days like ANZAC Day gave us in a world that was blanketed in darkness.
Year 11 student
Dear God, I am so discouraged about my work. I realise I don’t know what I realise. Please help me dear God to be a good writer and get something else accepted. That is so far from what I deserve, of course, that I am naturally struck with the nerve of it.
Flannery O’Connor
I want to write, but more than that, I want to bring out all kinds of things that lie buried deep in my heart…Can you tell me why people go to such lengths to hide their real selves? Or why I always behave very differently when I’m in the company of others? Why do people have so little trust in one another? I know there must be a reason, but sometimes I think it’s horrible that you can’t ever confide in anyone, not even those closest to you.
Anne Frank
A thought transfixed me: for the first time in my life I saw the truth as it is set into song by so many poets, proclaimed as the final wisdom by so many thinkers. The truth – that love is the ultimate and the highest goal to which man can aspire.
Viktor Frankl
Writing is important. Writing is a craft. Writing is learned by writing. The world’s most effective writers are, and have always been, avid readers. Reading, more than any other factor, has taught good writers how to write. And finally, the act of writing requires more perspiration than inspiration.
Mrs Clare Murphy
English Coordinator and Literacy Instructional Coach
Recreational Sport
This week commenced week 1 of Recreational sport. At the beginning of each term students move to a new sport activity however their group remains the same. Students are reminded to ensure that they carefully check their Compass schedule as well as the Sport Schedule to ensure that they are attending the location and at the correct time. All students attending gym groups including F45, Fernwood, Live Well Gym, Aerial Arts and UFC Gym must have a small sweat towel in order to participate in their activities.
MISA Sport
This week marked Round 1 of MISA sport. Unfortunately, all outdoor sport groups were cancelled due to the poor air quality. MISA Basketball was the only sport played this week.
Round 1 MISA Results
|
Sport |
Division |
Gender |
Versing |
Score |
Result |
MVP |
|
Basketball |
Years 7-9 |
Girls |
Magdalene |
24-9 |
Win |
Alexis Brunt |
|
Basketball |
Years 7-9 |
Boys |
Magdalene |
29-18 |
Win |
Kian Caoile |
Round 2 MISA Draw
|
Sport |
Versing |
Meeting Time |
Meeting Location |
Location |
|
|
GIRLS |
7-9 Girls Basketball |
St Pat’s |
12:40PM |
Outside the sports office |
Minto Basketball Stadium |
|
11/12 Girls Netball |
St Pat’s |
12:40PM |
Outside the sports office |
Coronation Park, Minto |
|
|
10-12 Girls Soccer |
St Pat’s |
1:05PM |
Outside the sports office |
Kooringa Reserve, Raby |
|
|
10-12 Girls Indoor Cricket |
St Pat’s |
12:40PM |
Outside the sports office |
National Indoor Sports, Campbelltown |
|
|
Mixed |
7-9 Mixed Frisbee |
St Pat’s |
12:40PM |
Outside the sports office |
Victoria Park, Minto |
|
BOYS |
Senior Rugby League |
All Saints |
12:40PM |
Outside the sports office |
Liverpool Catholic Club |
|
7-9 Boys Basketball |
BYE |
1:05PM |
Oval steps |
Kooringa Reserve / College grounds |
|
|
11/12 Boys Soccer |
1:05PM |
Oval steps |
|||
|
10-12 Boys Softball |
1:05PM |
Oval steps |
|||
|
7-9 Boys Hockey |
1:05PM |
Oval steps |
Diocesan Open Football (Boys)
Congratulations to the Diocesan Open Boys football team who were announced runners up at the recent Open Boys Football tournament to winners Edmund Rice. This team will now progress to the NSWCCC knockout event along with their coaches Mr Kawa and Mr O’Connell.
|
Michael Binny |
Samuel Sisonoun |
A further congratulations is extended to Samuel Sisonoun and Michael Binny who caught the eye of selectors on the day through their exceptional performance and consequently obtained selection into the Open Wollongong Diocesan Team. These students will represent the Wollongong Diocese at the NSWCCC Open Football event in May. |
 |
 |
Full reports for Diocesan Girls Football, Diocesan Cross Country and Southern Country Rugby League trials will feature in next week's newsletter.
College Athletics Carnival
|
When |
21st May 2021 (Week 5) |
|
Where |
Campbelltown Athletics Centre, Leumeah |
|
Who |
This is a whole school event and all students are expected to attend. |
More details to come.
NSWCCC Sport Registrations
A reminder that students and their parents are responsible for monitoring the closing dates of NSWCCC Sport Registrations. This is a pathway suitable for students playing a representative level of their sport outside of school. For instructions on how to register go to - https://csnsw.sport/help/help-guide-for-parents
NSWCCC Sport Registrations 2021:
- Individual Registrations for the following sports to attend a NSWCCC Selection - AFL, Baseball, Basketball, Cricket, Diving, Golf, Hockey, Netball, Rugby, Softball, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water Polo
- Registrations for the following sports is through a Diocesan/Association Selection - Athletics, Cross Country, Football, Swimming, Touch, Rugby League.
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
Miss Sarah Bowen
(Acting College Sport Coordinator - bowens01@dow.catholic.edu.au)
The Second Hand Uniform Shop is open on the following days.
Term 2 2021
- 3 May - 2.30pm - 4pm
- 7 June - 2.30pm - 4pm
Cash only - no EFTPOS facilities.
Results 24 April 2021
14B’s had a bye
14A’s defeated by Campbelltown North 9 – 75
15’s defeated Campbelltown North 26 - 20
Grad B’s defeated Thunder 30 - 23
Division 8 defeated by Ingleburn 37 - 46
Division 6 defeated Ingleburn 41 – 29