Dear Parents, Teachers and Students, 

Welcome Back for Term 3
I would like to extend a very warm welcome to Term 3 to all students, families and staff, especially those new to our school community. I trust that the two-week break provided an opportunity to refresh and unwind, and that all are now ready to take on the challenges of a new term. We have a busy term ahead of us, with lots of exciting things planned; the calendar on our school website (https://mtcarmel.nsw.edu.au/calendar) is kept up-to-date with all events, but reminders will always be published in the Carmeletta, too.

I am back on deck now, after a brief period of leave in which I was fortunate to be able to participate in a pilgrimage to St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, and honoured to carry the Jubilee Cross the length of Via della Conciliazione, from outside the Vatican into St Peter’s Square, entering the Basilica through the Holy Door, which is only opened during a Jubilee or Holy Year, usually only every 25 years. We also visited several other Jubilee churches, including Santa Maria Maggiore (where Pope Francis is buried), Notre Dame Cathedral, Galway Cathedral, and Westminster Cathedral. In a personal element to our pilgrimage, I was also able to visit the town of Rochfortbridge in Ireland, the place from which the three courageously faithful Sisters of Mercy came in 1875 to found Mt Carmel School. I feel tremendously blessed to have had the opportunity to make this journey with my family. We were able to do and experience so many incredible things, but to be a pilgrim is to be more than just a tourist – it is a journey of encounter, an endeavour to personally experience the ways in which God's presence has been witnessed and expressed throughout time, and thus to better understand our own place in the history of our faith and, ultimately, become a better disciple.

God of hope,
In this Jubilee year, you remind us of our call to grow in faith and love.
Open our minds to know Your voice.
Open our hands to do Your work.
Open our hearts to hold Your Spirit.
Amen.

NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC Week was celebrated during the school holidays, and it is an important time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is also an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest continuous living cultures on earth. To mark NAIDOC Week, 3 Green led us in a beautiful Prayer Assembly last Friday, and this week the Year 6 classes and their teachers, Mrs Karakotas, and I will be travelling to Goulburn on Thursday to participate in the Northern Region NAIDOC Mass at the Goulburn Cathedral.

100 Days of Kindergarten
This Friday 1 August, we will celebrate a milestone for our youngest students: one hundred days of big school – time flies when you’re having fun! The Kindergarten classes will mark the occasion with a special dress-up day, lots of fun activities exploring the number 100.

School Attendance - Every Day Counts
A reminder that any student absence is required to be explained promptly, preferably with an absentee note submitted via Compass. Notwithstanding the importance to public health of keeping children at home when they are sick (and there are plenty of bugs going around at the moment), it is worth remembering that many small absences can quickly add up to have a big impact on your child’s learning – if your child misses as little as one day per fortnight, this equates to almost three full terms by the end of primary school. 

The Catholic Education Attendance Policy identifies the following levels of attendance:

• Excellent Attendance: 95% and above (e.g. 2.5 days absence or less in a term or 10 absences over a year)
• Regular Attendance: 90-94.9% (e.g. 2.6 to 5 days absence in a term or 10.1 to 20 absences over a year)
• Emerging Absenteeism: 80-89.9% (e.g. 5.1 to 10 days absence in a term or 20.1 to 40 absences over a year)
• Chronic Absenteeism: Less than 80% (e.g. more than 10 days absence in a term or 40 absences over a year)

Our attendance rates by year group so far this year range from 89 to 93 percent. Hopefully, as we come out of the winter flu-season, we will see a rise in all year levels’ attendance so that everyone can make the most of their learning in Semester 2.


Altar Servers
The parish is recruiting Altar Servers to serve at Mass on Sunday mornings. Serving on the altar helps children to become more engaged with the Mass and to better understand its rituals. It is also a great way to encourage our children to become active citizens, with a positive attitude towards community service. 

Servers must have received the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Anyone from Year 4 and up would be most welcome to participate in this important role. Training will be provided during school hours and at Mass by the Liturgy committee and experienced servers. Please return the commitment slip (attached to this newsletter or collected from the front office) if your child would like to help with this special job.


Mt Carmel Day
The actual date of Mt Carmel Day is July 16, which falls almost every year in the school holidays. Consequently, we will be celebrating our school’s Feast Day on August 15, which is the Feast of the Assumption – another important day on the church’s calendar in honour of Mary. So on Friday in Week 4, we will celebrate with a whole-school Mass and some fun activities. More information on the day will follow, closer to the event.

Michael Green
Principal

Religious Education in the Classroom
Welcome to Term 3! It is fantastic to see everyone after the holidays and I hope you have had a restful break with your family and friends. Below are a few learning and teaching experiences from last term. 

Forgiveness - 2 Blue students listening to the book The Forgiveness Garden by Lauren Thompson, a timeless parable that shows readers a better way to resolve conflicts and emphasises the importance of moving forward together.

A Day in Jesus’ Life by 1 Green

The Creed by 1 Red
1 Red students used their knowledge of Mary and Jesus to re-write the Creed in their own words.

I believe in God
Who created heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ:
Mary is His mother. He is the son of God.
Pontius Pilate hurt Jesus.
Jesus died on a cross and was buried,
Jesus rose from death.
He shared time with friends before going to heaven.
I believe in the Holy Spirit.
I believe in the people or church.
I believe in saints and that sins can be forgiven.
I believe that when we die, we will be with God in Heaven.
Amen.

Religious Life of Mt Carmel School

NAIDOC Prayer Service - Thank you to Mrs Shoring and 3 Green for preparing and leading a beautiful prayer service. 

Mt Carmel School’s Upcoming Celebrations

Prayer 
Aboriginal Our Father 
by Andrew Chinn

You are our Father, You live in Heaven

We talk to You, Father, You are good.

We believe Your Word, Father, we Your children.

Give us bread today.

We have done wrong, we are sorry.

Help us Father, not to sin again.

Others have done wrong to us

And we are sorry for them, Father, today.

Stop us from doing wrong, Father.

Save us all from the evil one.

You are our Father, You live in Heaven.

We talk to You, Father, You are good. 

Amen.

St Augustine’s Parish News

Sunday 14 September, 10.30am, St Augustine's Church.
Please pray for the children as they prepare for their Confirmation.

Ruby Laughton
Fletcher Lees
Alex Warhurst
Lachlan Inkster
Mikayla Black
Heath Wood
Dylan O’Reilly
Charlie Field
Magnus Felizardo
Kalon Vu
Zoe Medway
Mabel Adie
Caitlin Guiney
Conor Guiney
Isla Townsend
Jaxon Field
Harrington Roser 
Hugh McPherson
Zoe Leahy
Lily Butt
Ruby Hallam

Children's Liturgy
Children are invited to attend Children’s Liturgy every second and fourth Sunday of the month. 

Wishing you all a blessed week.

Eva Karakotas
Religious Education Coordinator

Canberra Goulburn Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to the following students who will represent Northern Region at the Canberra Goulburn athletics carnival at the AIS on August 21:

Mabel Adie, Abby Hillman, Esther Payne, Neva Welsh, Spencer Crocker, Jack Maher, Allan McRae, Zoe Mitchell, Logan Johnson, Macy Camilleri, Madeline Caldow, Alice Miller. Good luck everyone, can’t wait to hear how you go.

Ted Dunstan
Sports Coordinator

NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge 2025
Congratulations to the following students who have recently completed the 2025 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge. 

Rosalie Abbott
Chevy Leahy
Mabel Adie
Zara McEvoy

The 2025 PRC has been extended to allow additional time for challenge completion.

It now closes to students on Friday 19 September 2025 (Week 9, Term 3).

BCA Book Week 2025
Book Week is a celebration of books and Australian children's authors and illustrators. This year’s theme is Book an Adventure.

There will be various activities for students to enjoy during Week 5 including a Book Week Parade on Wednesday 20 August.

Students are invited to dress up as a book character for the day. The Book Week Parade will commence at 12:30pm.

A sausage sizzle lunch will be provided for the students to celebrate this special day. Dietary requirements will be catered for.

Because many families stay back after the parade to view the class displays in the Library, we are extending the offer to families of joining in our sausage-sizzle lunch. Sausages are provided to students free-of-charge, but to help with catering and planning we ask that family members wishing to have a sausage sandwich after the parade pre-order via the RSVP link below and contribute $2 per sandwich (paid by gold-coin on the day). Please RSVP by 3pm, Friday 15 August.

Book Week Sausage Sizzle RSVP

Open Library
At the conclusion of the parade on Wednesday all visitors are invited to the Lacey Library. Every class will have a display, based on one of the CBCA Shortlisted Books to view.

Visiting Author/Illustrator/Performer
On Tuesday 26 August, we will have Martin Chatterton visiting Mt Carmel. K-6 will be attending an interactive session with Martin. To learn more about Martin books and performances visit Martin Chatterton.

Kind regards,
Natalie Broers
Teacher Librarian

Thank you to Amelia Hooper for volunteering to be our chairperson for the night and Zoe Leahy for timekeeping. Your help was much appreciated!

The Clothing Pool will be open tomorrow, Thursday, 31 July.  

Opening Hours
Opening Hours: 2.30pm-3.30pm - even weeks of Term. 
Location: in the Uniform Shop room, next to the Music Room.

If you have any money outstanding for thr Clothing Pool, we do ask that this is dropped at the Front Office as soon as possible.
Payment is via cash only. 

Any profit made from the clothing pool will be directly donated to the Vinnies Food appeal generally held twice a year.

If you have any questions, please contact Liz on lizdadeppo@gmail.com.

If you would like order from Issue 5, orders need to be placed by next Friday 1 August.

 Please note that the front office is no longer able to accept cash/order forms for Book Club Orders. All orders must be placed via Loop. 

To view Issue 5, click on the image below.

To order from this issue, you will need an account on Loop.

To access Loop, please click below.

Expression of interest: Drum Corps Training & Performance Group for students at Mt Carmel.

Mr Noonan is proposing a return to the school having a Drum Corps Group at Mt Carmel School for Mt Carmel students to learn & perform at events such as The Christmas Street Parade & school concerts/events.

When: Mondays 1:40pm-2:05pm (2nd break after eating)

What: Students will learn traditional stick drumming on snare drum plus other styles such as French & Swiss Basel.

* Drums, stands, sticks, practice pads will be supplied.

Who: Years 2-6 at Mt Carmel School

Cost: $55 per term per student which includes above use of supplies and training by Mr Noonan who is an experienced tutor in snare drum drill & routines including entry into the National Drumline Competition in 2019 & leads the RBCC Drumline Troupe.

Contact: 0408 622 819