Dear Parents, Teachers and Students,

Term Dates
The last day of Term 1 will be Thursday 6 April, with the Easter long weekend starting the school holidays. Term 2 commences for students on Wednesday 26 April, following a pupil-free staff professional development day on Monday and the Anzac Day public holiday on Tuesday. The start of Term 2 means a change to the winter school uniform. 

Free Parenting Webinar - Anxiety and Resilience
Next Wednesday, 29 March, the Council of Catholic School Parents is hosting a free webinar on Anxiety and Resilience, featuring Dr Justin Coulson PhD.

The webinar runs from 7pm to 8pm and you must register to attend; use the QR cost below. Details can be found on the flier later in this newsletter.

Cross Country Carnival Change of Date
Please note that our school Cross Country Carnival has a change of date to Tuesday 4 April, Week 10. Full details can be found in Mr Dunstan's Sports Report.

School Photos — Save the Date
School photo day will be Monday 8 May, Week 3. This year photo package bookings, including family photos, will be via Compass. Details of how to book will be published early next term.

Holy Week and Easter
Holy Week commences with Palm Sunday on 2 April, at the beginning of Week 10. On Monday morning, the Mt Carmel School Youth Ministry Team will mark the start of Holy Week with a re-enactment of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem at 9am in the PAC. On Wednesday morning, Fr Peter and the Youth Ministry Team will lead a remembrance of the Last Supper at 9am in the PAC, and on Thursday, classes will move around the school for an interactive Stations of the Cross pilgrimage, concluding with final prayer in the PAC at 1:15pm.

Easter Bonnet Parade
Although it’s not a part of the liturgical celebration of Easter, the Easter Bonnet Parade is a firm favourite on the school’s traditional calendar. This year it will be held on Wednesday 5 April at 12:30pm under the shade cloth in the playground. All students are encouraged to create an Easter Bonnet out of materials from around the home; reuse, recycle and be creative! Parents are warmly invited to attend this community event.

May God’s peace be in your families, 

Religious Education in the Classroom
Welcome to Week 8! Last week was a busy week with students participating in Social Justice workshops and fundraising events for Caritas Project Compassion.

Vinnies Workshops
On Thursday 16 March, Year 3-6 students participated in Vinnies’ Social Justice Workshops facilitated by Teah Shearle. The sessions focused on different values, Catholic Social Teachings and meanings behind why we advocate for social justice – making it highly relevant, relatable and practical for students. 

Some of the activities students participated in:

See Think Do - About something in our community that you think is unfair. 

What actions can you take to advocate for social justice? 

Challenge - Balloon Game: Juggling clothes, shelter, food and school, Work. How do we support others? Vinnies cheers on our companions and supports our companions to juggle the balloons in their lives.

Students are invited to sign up to Mt Carmel’s Mini Vinnies group to become a Kindness Leader. 

St Patrick’s Day Prayer Service
Thank you to 3ML for leading the school in a beautiful prayer service.

Friday Parish Mass Attendance
Year 3, 1AH and 5AH students attended Mass last week and Fr Peter spoke to the students about the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Thank you for your support and donations for this great cause. Mt Carmel raised $510 from St Patrick’s Day fundraiser events. 

Please remember to send in your donations for Project Compassion and help make the world a fairer place for all. Let us be more! 

Yass Show Theme
Mt Carmel students and teachers created fabulous artwork for the Yass Show and the theme was helping others, which fits in with our school theme. A special acknowledgement for Year 4 who were awarded a book for the Library along with a first prize certificate for their division.  

Parish Mass
Click on this link for further details http://staug-yass.org.au/wp/sacraments/. 

Enjoy your week!
Eva Karakotas
Religious Education Coordinator

Love One Another

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” John 15:12

Cross Country - Change of Date
The Mt Carmel cross country carnival will be held Tuesday 4th April (Week 10) at Walker Park. Years 3-6 will head to Walker Park shortly after morning assembly. 8, 9 and 10 year olds will complete two laps of the 1km track. 11 and 12 year olds will complete three laps of the 1km track. 8 year old students in Year 2 who wish to participate at Walker Park need to notify their teacher so arrangements can be made for them to walk with a Year 3 class. Students will be back at school by recess so will only need to take a drink bottle with them to the track. K-2 students will run their own modified cross country at school from 12:30pm - 1:30pm, cheered on by the rest of the school and parents.

Please check the C & G website and the Facebook page for information about upcoming events https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/calendar.

Ted Dunstan
Sports Coordinator

Congratulations to the recipients of last week's Coordinator Awards.
 Awards are handed out at morning lines each Thursday.

Thank you Tanya McPherson for covering some new books for the library. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,
Natalie Broers
Teacher Librarian

Everyone is invited to attend Mt Carmel Annual Easter Hat Parade on Wednesday 5 April at 12.30pm in the assembly area. Students from K-6 are encouraged to create an Easter Hat out of materials from around the home. This is an opportunity to recycle, reuse and be creative. 

Students will parade with their class.

We look forward to sharing this enjoyable event with you.

Some photos from last year's parade.

Trish O’Dell
Primary Coordinator

Congratulations to Mullungang who won the St Patrick’s Day House Spirit Challenge!

As part of the Science unit around The Food Cycle and food waste 5KG has revitalised the school vegetable garden planting new seedling which they hope they will be able to eat later in the semester!

As part of the Ozharvest Feast Science program, Year 6 made fruit skewers with yoghurt. Looks delicious!

The parish will offer the sacraments of First Reconciliation (Year 3), First Eucharist (Year 4) and Confirmation (Year 6) in 2023.

For details including timetables please click here, or contact the Sacramental Team via email on sacramentalteamyass@gmail.com.

Children of Catholic Faith in Year 4 and above, who have not yet received their First Holy Communion, are invited to do so on Sunday 25 June. 

Please register via the parish website http://staug-yass.org.au/wp/. Registrations close on 21 April. NO registrations will be accepted after this date except via negotiation with Fr Peter. 

The children will be asked to attend a commitment mass at St Augustine's Church Yass on Sunday 14 May. 

If you have any further queries please email the team at sacramentalteamyass@gmail.com.

Regards, The Yass Sacramental Team

Would you like to be actively involved in Parish life? Can you volunteer a few hours spare per week?
If so, St. Augustine’s Parish is looking to fill three positions on the Parish Pastoral Council.

The vacant positions are
1. Social Justice Member
2. Parish Social Activities Member
3. Welfare Member

For more information please contact the Yass Parish Office on 02 6226 1086 or yass@cg.org.au. 

A wonderful opportunity for prospective families to see the College in action, meet our students and attend the Principal’s Address, Year 7 and 11 Information Evenings and lots more.

 We are enrolling now for 2024 and beyond!

 Please visit www.merici.college for all dates and information for our Open Day, Be a Merici Girl Days and Talk and Tours. Register online now!

Click here to learn more about the Junior Circus School

To view additional holiday program events, click here.