Dear Parents, Teachers and Students,

NAPLAN
This afternoon, students’ individual NAPLAN reports will be sent to families. Parents with children who have completed NAPLAN previously will notice a change in the ratings for each area of testing. Whereas in previous years, students were placed in numerical achievement bands, student achievement in NAPLAN is now reported using proficiency standards for each assessment area at each year level. The standards are set at a challenging but reasonable expectation of what students know and can do at the time of testing. There are 4 proficiency levels: 

• Exceeding: the student’s result exceeds expectations at the time of testing. 
• Strong: the student’s result meets challenging but reasonable expectations at the time of testing. 
• Developing: the student’s result indicates that they are working towards expectations at the time of testing.
• Needs additional support: the student’s result indicates that they are not achieving the learning outcomes that are expected at the time of testing. They are likely to need additional support to progress satisfactorily.

When viewing your child’s report, please bear in mind that NAPLAN presents a snapshot of their performance on a standardised test at a specific point in time, and it reflects their learning throughout school to that point, not just what they have done this year. You are, of course, most welcome to have a discussion with your child’s teacher if you feel there are any significant discrepancies between your child’s ability and their performance on NAPLAN.

Over the last three years, Mt Carmel (as part of the Catalyst project with the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn) has had a strong focus on developing teacher knowledge about the science of learning, especially in its application to teaching reading. NAPLAN’s Indicative National Benchmarks suggest that 15% of Australian school students fall into the ‘Exceeding’ range in any test area, and I am pleased to be able to share that at Mt Carmel, 24% of our Year 3 cohort and 27% of our Year 5 cohort have scored in the ‘Exceeding' range for Reading, with more than 85% of each cohort scoring at ’Strong’ or higher. Across the board in both cohorts, this year Mt Carmel has equalled or exceeded the national average in all NAPLAN test areas. Congratulations to our dedicated and professional teachers across the school for their hard work, and to all our students for their wonderful learning.


Awards
After a review of our student awards we are introducing some changes from the start of this term. Firstly, the name has changed; they will now be called Mt Carmel Awards, rather than Coordinator’s Awards. A student may be nominated for an award by any staff member within the school, and the name of the teacher nominating each student for their award will appear on the certificate, rather than the person presenting it. The list of award recipients will still be published weekly in the Carmeletta, but they will now be presented on the Friday morning of the same week. Hopefully, the extra time will make it easier for parents to make arrangements to attend the morning assembly and see their child presented with an award.


Mr Tim’s School Extravaganza
As mentioned in last week’s Carmeletta, we are very excited that Mr Tim will be returning to Mt Carmel this term to help us prepare an exciting community concert. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Week 9, each year level will have a daily session with Mr Tim to learn and rehearse a performance piece that will be presented at an Extravaganza Concert on Thursday evening in the PAC. The cost of this incursion is $15 per student, and a Compass Event notification has been shared with families. If the cost of this, or any other school event, presents a problem for your family, please contact me directly for a confidential discussion about how we can help.


Altar Servers
The parish is still 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.


Irish and Celtic Music Festival Children’s Workshops
On 17-18 September, as part of the Yass Irish and Celtic Music Festival, Mt Carmel will be hosting the Junior Fleadh. 

Fleadh (pronounced flah) is a Celtic word that means festival, and it is a chance for students who are interested in Irish music to come and join in free instrumental and dance workshops, culminating in a concert to showcase what the children have learned; all experience levels are welcome. More information and an RSVP link can be found further in this newsletter. 


Departing Students
Schools are required to record destination schools for all departing students. I ask that all families of Year 6 students inform us as soon as possible of the high school your child will be attending. In the Forms & Documents tile on the school website is a Year 7 2024 Destination eForm, or you can use the link below to access the form directly. I also request that any K-5 families moving from Mt Carmel at the end of this year send me an email (michael.green@cg.catholic.edu.au) as soon as possible indicating your intentions along with your destination. Much of this term is spent preparing for next year and our student numbers need to be accurate. Thank you for assisting us with this information gathering. 

https://mtcarmelsyass.schoolzineplus.com/form/17


APPA Conference
And finally, I would like to let the community know that I will be away next week at The Australian Primary Principals Association conference. Mrs Harvey will be Acting Principal in my absence.


May God’s peace be in your families, 

Michael Green
Principal

Religious Education in the Classroom
Welcome to Week 2! Last term, 3ER visited our school’s chapel, Mercy Chapel, to sketch things that were  important to them. 

Religious Life of Mt Carmel School
NAIDOC Mass

Year 6 students, Miss Rayner, Mrs Glover, Mrs Karakotas and Mr Green attended a special Mass at St Peter and Paul's in Goulburn to celebrate NAIDOC Week. After Mass, we walked to Belmore Park to have lunch before driving back to Yass.

NAIDOC Prayer Service - Thank you to 1KG, Mrs Karakotas and Mrs Goode for leading a beautiful prayer service. 

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.

Parish News

Children’s Liturgy of the Word is held at Mass on the 2nd and 4th Sundays

of the month. All children are invited to be part of the activities centred around the particular weekend’s Gospel.

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

Todd Woodbridge Cup
What is the Todd Woodbridge Cup?
The Todd Woodbridge Cup is a primary school tennis competition for Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4) that features modified equipment, numeric scoring and mixed gender teams. This year we also have a limited number of Stage 3 (Years 5 and 6) pilot events on offer. 

The competition commences with school zone events followed by regional playoffs (Term 3) and finally a state final that is held at Sydney Olympic Park each year (Term 4).

The Todd Woodbridge Cup will be held at the Hume Tennis Club Yass on Wednesday 30 August. If you are in Year 3 or 4 and would like to enter the event, please use the link below to register.

A cost of $5 per student will be required once nominations have been made.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JmhkyKGzWNp4UNiRaEuHZI06etO-7hqGP_Z0Z_5IzCk/edit


Touch Football
NSW Touch is holding a gala day competition in Yass on Tuesday 22 August at Walker Park. The competition will have divisions for students in Years 3-6. Mt Carmel will be participating in the competition with more information to come next week.


Trials 
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 Mt Carmel Awards.
 Awards will now be handed out at morning lines each Friday.

KAA Scarlett Klemmer Oliver Drake	KJG Poppy Sargent Josie Mattappallil
1AH Ted Ward Zachary Pholi	1KG Rosalind Clark Chevy Leahy
2LS Ivy Worboys Lachlan Black	2SS Chloe Lyons Elsa Baptiste
3ER Gracie Lyons George Douglas	3ML Evelyn Morris Samuel Quarrell
4SS Rory Doyle David Watson Marlowe Clark	4TD Zara McEvoy Kalon Vu
5AH Lily Cassidy Jessica Davis Evangelique Aniversario	5KG Max Richards Rushad Chowdhury
6EG Emily Laughton Henry Ngo Chris Potter	6JR Landon Glover Connor Hackett

CBCA Book Week 2023
The CBCA Book Week is a celebration of books and Australian children's authors and illustrators. This year’s theme is Read Grow Inspire. There will be various activities for students to enjoy during Week 6 including a Book Week Parade on Wednesday 23 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. Further details will be provided in the coming weeks.

NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge
Students who are completing the 2023 Premier’s Reading Challenge have just 3 weeks to go. The challenge will conclude on Friday 18 August 2023.

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.

Congratulations to the following students who have recently completed the challenge for 2023.

Logan Hodgson
Aurora Irwin
Ryan Tome
Charlie Butt
Oliver Irwin
George Pidgeon
Scott Tome
Maddie Caldow
Alia Campbell
Evelyn Morris
Abby Hillman
Zoe Leahy
Zara McEvoy
Ellie Carroll
Isabelle Pidgeon
Emma Barker
Abby McEvoy

Read with Me Wednesday
Today we had Read with Me Wednesday. Students visited at lunchtime to enjoy a book with a friend. Some students came to the library with a friend while others found one when they arrived. Our Year 5 library monitors were also there to read books with our younger students.

Term 3 Dates
Premier’s Reading Challenge concludes -Week 5 Friday 18 August

Book Week - Week 6 - Monday 21 August - Friday 25 August

Book Week Parade - Week 6 - Wednesday 23 August

Author Visit - Sarah Davis - Week 8 - Wednesday 6 September

Nat Broers
Teacher Librarian

Last week, KAA used puppets to create stories about how to spread kindness.
There were lots of laughs & giggles!

If you would like order from Issue 5, orders need to be placed by Thursday 3 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 order from this issue, you will need an account on Loop.

To access Loop, please click below.