Dear Parents, Teachers and Students,

2024 Enrolments 
Our enrolment drive for 2024 has begun. If you have a pre-school child ready for Kindergarten, it’s time to enrol now. Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn has an online enrolment form, which can be accessed by clicking the link below. An interview will be organised once the enrolment application is received. If your friends have a child starting in Kindergarten next year, please encourage them to consider Mt Carmel as an option for their children’s education. We will be holding Open Day tours on Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 May, with a Parent Information Evening in the Lacey Library at 6pm on Wednesday 24 May.

Enrol Now (https://enrolments.mtcarmel.nsw.edu.au/nsw-schools/start).


Community Council Nominations
Mt Carmel School Community Council is a group of people charged with the responsibility of working with the Principal, Parish Priest and staff to provide leadership to our school. We are seeking to renew and encourage membership of this important body. A letter and nomination form are attached to this newsletter and will also be sent via Compass notification. If you would like to become a member of the Council, please complete the nomination form and return it to the front office. You can also contact the office to have a hard-copy of he nomination form sent home. You must have your nomination endorsed by another current parent of Mt Carmel School (other than you spouse/partner). We require three parents to nominate. If more than three parents nominate, an election will be held. Nominations close this Friday 12 May.

Project Compassion
Our fundraising for Project Compassion has wrapped up for 2023, concluding with last Friday’s tremendously successful Market Day, which raised a little over $1600. My sincere thanks to all families who supported the Market Day, either through donation of goods and prizes or sending money for their child to spend on the day. Congratulations to Year 6 and the SRC – you did a great job!

Our grand total for Project Compassion, combining the fundraising efforts of the Project Compassion boxes, St Patrick’s Day mufti and disco, and the Market Day, resulted in or school being able to donate $3800 to help Cartias Australia’s vital work.


Student Safety
Thank you to all the families who took note of my safety message on Compass yesterday; I know that many of you have since had a discussion with your families. I would like to reassure everyone that nobody has been harmed, the police have been very thorough in their response, and that a visit from the regional Youth Liaison Officer will be organised as soon as possible. Some students have expressed some understandable concerns at school today. If your child is at all worried, please reassure them that school is a safe place, with many trusted adults around who will help them if they are ever frightened or hurt.

Walk Safely to School Day
Next Friday, 19 May, is National Walk Safely to School Day and Mt Carmel is encouraging as many families as possible to participate. If there is anyone who lives too far from school to walk the whole way but would still like to participate, we will be hosting a “Walking School Bus”. We will meet at the Liberty Theatre corner from 8am, and at 8:15am we will walk down the main street, crossing Meehan St at the lights, up Rossi Street and then enter school via the Dutton St entrance. Parents and families are welcome to join in; no bikes or scooters, please. 


Athletics Carnival
Our 3-6 Athletics Carnival will be held, weather permitting, on Friday 2 June (Week 6) at Victoria Park. Primary students who are running in the 800m event will need to be at Victoria Park by 9am; all others will start the day at school and walk to and from the carnival with their class. Spectators and parent-helpers will be welcome to attend, please see the link in the Sports News if you would like to voluenteer on the day.

Happy Mother’s Day
And finally, I would like to wish a very happy Mothers Day to all the mums in our community. Our Mother’s Day Prayer Service will be at 9am on Friday, hosted by 2SS, and parents are welcome to attend. I hope that you have a wonderful Sunday, filled with love and joy. May God bless each and every one of you. 

May God’s peace be in your families, 

Welcome to Week 3! Students are excited about Mother’s Day and are busy preparing something special for their mothers and creating cards for St Augustine’s Parish mothers. 2SS will be leading a Mothers’ Day Prayer service on Friday 12 May 2023 at 9am in the PAC. Parents and friends are welcome to attend. 

Kindergarten students visited Lovat Chapel and listened to Fr Peter talk to them about God’s house. Students had the opportunity to explore the chapel and receive a blessing. 

On Thursday 4 May 2023, Year 6 students participated in a two hour Journey with Jesus Retreat, led by the Youth Ministry team of the Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn. Journey with Jesus is a faith and ministry experience that delves into core concepts of the Catholic Faith. The retreat was an opportunity for students to learn more about the Gospel message of love, salvation, reconciliation and forgiveness.

Mt Carmel’s Mini Vinnies News
Mini Vinnies Commissioning Ceremony was held on Friday 5 May. This was an exciting occasion to bless and commission our new Mini Vinnies’ members of the St Vincent de Paul Society. Thank you to Fr Peter and Mrs Judith Williams for their attendance and participation.

Project Compassion
Mt Carmel has raised in total $3800 for Caritas Project Compassion! Thank you for your support and donations for this great cause. 

1KG and 5KG working together to create Mothers’ Day cards.

Prayer
Lord, You are always calling us into a deeper relationship through daily prayer. Help us to keep our eyes on You and listen to Your Word, which brings healing, protection and eternal life. 

Amen

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

Have a lovely 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

Mt Carmel Athletics Carnival
Our athletics carnival is booked-in for Friday 2 June at Victoria Park. Over the next few weeks, students will be practising basic athletics skills and techniques during their sport sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays. The high jump event will be conducted at school prior to the carnival once the students have had a chance to practise. We will require lots of parental assistance for the carnival, if you are free on the day and would like to help out, please complete the Google form using the link below to register your interest. All Primary students (3-6) will be automatically registered for all events. If you know your child will not be present on the day or is unable to participate for any reason, please let me know on the Google form using the link below. If your child is in Year 2 and is 8 or turning 8 and you wish them to participate in the Primary carnival, please complete the Google form using the link below. Finally, we will be running the 1500m event prior to the carnival after lunch on Tuesday 23 May. Students who have registered will walk down to Victoria Park with me after lunch to run the event. The 1500m event is an open event so only 3 boys and 3 girls are selected from the school to represent Mt Carmel at Northern Region. Therefore, it is recommended for, but not restricted to, upper primary students. If you would like your child to participate in this event, please complete the Google form using the link below.

To be a parent helper at the carnival, click here.

If your child will be absent or unable to participate in the carnival, click here.

If your child is in Year 2 and you would like them to participate in the primary carnival, click here.

If you would like to register your child for the 1500m event, click here.


Northern Region Cross Country
Good luck to those students who will represent Mt Carmel at the Northern Region Cross Country carnival in Crookwell on Friday 12 May. If your child has not returned the permission slip, please ensure they do as soon as possible. 

Information and permission notes were handed-out on the last day of last term. If your child did not receive one, please ask them to see me.


Gecko Sport
Gecko sport will be running fundamental movement clinics with all infants classes from Weeks 2 - 5. The kids loved their first session with Geoff yesterday and look forward to sessions over the coming weeks.

Trials 
Canberra Goulburn (Primary) Rugby Union Trials - 2023
Date: Monday 15th May 2023
Location: Southwell Park
Address: Northbourne Avenue, Lyneham
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Cost: $20

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.

NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge 2023
The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge has commenced for 2023. All students K-6 are invited to complete the 2023 Challenge. 

The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students. While completing the challenge students are able to experience quality literature from a variety of authors and literature styles.

Students can include books read from the end of the 2022 challenge, August 19 2022 on their 2023 reading record. The 2023 challenge will conclude on Friday 18 August 2023.

Some of the PCR rules have been updated for the 2023 challenge. Please refer to the rules page on the website for further details.

The booklist has been updated for the 2023 challenge. Click on the booklist on the website for further information. Many of the PRC books are available in our school library.

If your child has completed the challenge in previous years they can log on to the Premier’s Reading Challenge website using their existing login details- www.premiersreadingchallenge.nsw.edu.au.

If your child is completing the challenge for the first time, please email me at natalie.broers@cg.catholic.edu.au and I will provide you with login details.

Nat Broers
Teacher/Librarian

The Mt Carmel School Uniform Shop is open each Tuesday afternoon between 2.30pm– 4.00pm during school terms.

If one of these items belongs to your child, please have them collect it from the front office.

Please ensure all items of clothing, drink bottles and lunch boxes have your childs name clearly outlined on it, to ensure it makes it way back to them.  

If you would like order from Issue 3, orders need to be placed by this Thursday 11 May.

 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 3, click on the image below.

To order from this issue, you will need an account on Loop.
To access Loop, please click below.

To help Yass FM build a new studio, everyone is invited to enter the Yass FM T-Shirt Design Competition. You could win a business sponsorship voucher of $300 or a cash prize of $150 (and a Certificate) with your design being featured as part of YassFM’s promotion and fundraising campaign. The design needs to reflect our community, radio and YassFM and include our slogan “Your voice in the Valley”.

Entries can include designs for the front and back of the TShirt. You can also suggest the colour of the T-Shirt. Entry is free, however, a donation with your entry would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be made online at https://www.yassfm.org/donate.

Entries open Tuesday, 02/05/23 and close Monday at 5pm on 15/05/23. The winner will be contacted on Friday, 19/05/23 and announced on YassFM at 6pm. The judging panel will include a local artist and the YassFM Board.

How to Enter: Create your design in any medium, keeping in mind the graphic nature of the screen printing process. Provide your name, address, email, and phone number along with your entry, and send into YassFM by either: Email: mail@yassfm.org, or Mail: PO Box 51, Yass, NSW 2582.

YassFM will acknowledge the designer, but will own the winning design and therefore have the rights to use for all promotional purposes of the station.

See your Design on Exhibition during the Studio Open Day and Radiothon – Saturday, 10/6/23 from 10am – 2pm at Yass FM’s temporary studio (in Victoria Park next to the Hume Tennis Club). All entries will be on exhibition along with the winning designed T-Shirt, which will be available to purchase.