Dear Parents, Teachers and Students,

Student Leaders for 2025
It is my pleasure to congratulate the following students who, following a comprehensive selection process, have been appointed as Student Leaders for 2025:

Captains – Zoe Leahy and Rory Doyle

Vice-Captains – Abby Hillman and Lachlan Inkster

Year 6 SRC – Mikayla Black and Jaxon Field

Hartigan Captains – Alice Miller and Spencer Crocker

McAuley Captains – Mabel Adie and Fletcher Lees

Fielding Captains – Zara McEvoy and Beau Jones

Mullungang Captains – Lily Butt and Milton McDonald

The appointment process is never easy, and this year was no exception. There was a very strong field of candidates who put themselves forward for consideration and, although everyone cannot be successful in this process, each student represented themselves with immense pride for their school, teachers and classmates and will no doubt show their leadership potential in other ways as Year 6 Leaders in 2025. My sincere congratulations go not only to the successful appointees, but to all students who put themselves forward to be a part of this process.


End-of-Year Events and Dates
Our whole-school Christmas Concert will be held on Friday 13 December, Week 9, at 12pm under the shade-cloth, featuring a range of traditional and modern Christmas performances from all classes. There will be limited seating for parents, so please bing your own chair, if you can.

Reports will be published to parents via Compass on Friday 13 December.

On Monday 16 December, Week 10, following our Advent prayer service, we will have a Year 3-5 awards assembly to recognise the efforts and achievements of our Primary students. Parents will be notified in advance if their child will be receiving an award and are welcome to attend.

Tuesday 17 December is the last day of attendance for Year 6 students, and we will be holding our Graduation Mass at 9:30am in St Augustine’s Church, with Year 6 awards being presented in the church at the conclusion of Mass. After Recess, at 11:30am, we will hold our traditional Farewell Assembly to wish our School Leaders well for their journey to High School. On that evening, we will host the Year 6 Farewell Party in the PAC from 5pm to 7pm.

All other students finish school for the year on Wednesday 18 December and, as a special treat, Jeff from Gecko Sports will be running some fun water activities for all classes. Students will need to wear their regular sports uniform and can bring a towel and dry socks/underwear to change into afterwards if they want to, but we anticipate that everyone will dry off pretty quickly so a full change of clothes will not be necessary.

All of these events are listed on our school calendar, which can be found on our website at https://www.mtcarmel.nsw.edu.au/calendar.


Uniform Shop Additional Opening Times
Next week (Week 9), the Uniform Shop will be open on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 December from 12pm to 4pm – it will not be open in Week 10, as we finish school on Wednesday.

On Friday 31 January, the shop will be open from 12pm to 4pm, and any orders placed over the holidays can be collected from the school office on Monday 3 February, any time during school hours.


2025 Term Dates
At the beginning of next year, Catholic Education is holding a System Day for staff professional development on Friday 31 January, which will be followed by our own staff Faith Formation day on Monday 3 February. This means that all students, K-6 will commence Term 1 on Tuesday 4 February. Term 1 concludes for students on Thursday 10 April, with Easter falling on the middle weekend of the school holidays. The calendar on our school website (https://www.mtcarmel.nsw.edu.au/calendar) has all the correct dates for the 2025 school terms.

Advent
Advent, our season of waiting and preparation for the birth of Christ, commenced this week. The passing of the weeks of Advent are traditionally marked with the lighting of five candles in an Advent wreath: one for each Sunday of Advent and one for Christmas day. The first candle is violet and represents hope; the second, also violet, represents peace; the third candle is pink and represents joy; the fourth, violet, represents love; and the final, central, candle is white and represents the light of Christ coming into the world. 4 Gold led us in a beautiful prayer service for the first week of Advent on Monday morning.

Christ our Hope,
Shine in our lives with hope and promise. Open our eyes to see you in others. Help us to be people of hope.
We await your coming with gratitude.
Amen

Next Monday, 4 Blue will lead our prayer service for the second week of Advent as we pray for peace and, as always, parents are most welcome to join us. The prayer service will conclude with the presentation of a Peace Pole to the school from the Rotary Club of Yass, which will be installed in our Japanese Garden.

May God’s peace be in your families, 

Michael Green
Principal

Religious Education in the Classroom
Welcome to Week 8! Year 3’s Religious Education unit examines how the rituals and traditions provide an opportunity for welcoming members into a community. Students explored the role of a diocese and a parish, focusing on our Historic Parish of St. Augustine’s. Year 3 students attended Friday Parish Mass and Fr. Peter explained the history of our parish and its vision of “ a community striving to be Christ to one another and to welcome and serve the Christ in those around us” (St. Augustine’s Parish Vision Statement).

Religious Life of Mt Carmel School
Christ the King Feast Day
Thank you to Mrs Leahy and 3 Red for preparing and leading a special prayer service on Monday 25 November to celebrate the feast day of Christ the King.

Advent 
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and this week is the first week of Advent, focusing on hope. Advent means ‘coming’ and it is a time of preparation, waiting and praying for the arrival of Jesus Christ. 

Thank you to Mrs Shepherd and 4 Gold for preparing and leading a beautiful Advent Prayer Service on Monday morning. 

Mt Carmel’s Advent Celebrations

Week 2 Advent Prayer Service: led by 4 Blue, Monday 11 December, 9 am, PAC.

Week 3 Advent Prayer Service: led by 5 Red, Monday 16 December, 9 am, PAC.

Graduation Mass: Tuesday 17 December, 9:30 am, St. Augustine’s Church.

Parents and families are invited to celebrate these special events. 

We are seeking your support to help those less fortunate in our community through generous donations of non-perishable food items. Your generosity and support is most appreciated. St Augustine’s Conference has requested the following items:

Youth Ministry
Year 6 celebrated their successful year of Youth Ministry with other Year 6 Youth Ministers during Illuminate at St. John Paul’s College, Canberra. 

Students were invited to provide feedback on their involvement with the Youth Ministry program and below are a few responses:

I really enjoyed Youth Ministry this year because I learnt so much about Jesus and about each thing in our backpack. Going to Illuminate inspired me to be more like Jesus and follow in his footsteps. Thank you Mrs Karakotas, Mrs Glover and Miss Rayner. 
–Ellie 

I loved Youth Ministry this year because I got to learn about Jesus in further depth and I got to learn things about his life that I didn't even know. I also loved learning new prayers and teaching my school community about what I had learnt. Youth Ministry is a great education and I wish we had it every year. 
–Rosie

I think that Youth Ministry is a very special experience with lots of love and connecting with God. I always looked forward to it and it is a very respectful and reflective time with God. I feel that during Youth Ministry I am very connected with God. I have loved the experience. 
–Sophie

Youth Ministry was a good experience for me because we got to learn and become closer to God. I liked how the teachers involved us by letting us lead prayer in the chapel.  I also loved how we got to teach our younger buddies and Year 5s about the Journey with Jesus. The highlight was definitely going to Illuminate. 
–Juliette

I felt that I gained a stronger connection with God and others around me. It has shown me to love all and give grace towards others. 
–Evangelique

I felt that I was being guided by God to do things that I might not have done and I felt that I had a stronger connection with others around me while doing Youth Ministry. 
–Alicia

Youth Ministry is a good experience, learning about God and our backpack. It teaches us to be responsible leaders.
–Zali

Youth Ministry has been an amazing way to pray. It is calm and relaxing and helps us to grow closer to God.
–Lucy

Youth Ministry was very fun. Being able to teach the Year 5s at the end of the year was enjoyable as we created the activities for them.
–Harry

Youth Ministry is very good because you can connect with God more than you usually can. So in my opinion, it is good for you.
–Bob

St Augustine’s Parish News

The next one is this Sunday 10 December. 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 great week of hope!

Enjoy your week!
Eva Karakotas
Religious Education Coordinator

Hail Mary, full of Grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Luke 1:26-28

Mt Carmel School Swimming Carnival 2025 - Save the Date
The 2025 swimming carnival has been set for Friday 7 February, Yass Memorial Pool. 

Canberra Goulburn/Wollongong Boys AFL Trial Information 2025
Date:Tuesday 18th February - 2025

Time:Timing

Management Arrival: 8:30am

Student Registration: 9:00am -9:15am

Trials Commence: 9:20am

Conclusion: Approx 1:00 - 1:30pm depending on numbers

Venue: South Thomas Dalton Park Fairy Meadow (South Fields)

Uniform: Football attire- mouthguards compulsory.

Registration: Registration is via the CSNSW website

Cost:$15.00

Gecko Sports
Here are some shots from the Gecko Sport tennis clinic that has been running since Week 6.

Water Fun Day
Geoff from Gecko Sport has kindly offered to run a water fun day for the school on the last day of term (18/12/24). There will be water bombs, water pistols and heaps of other fun activities with water! Children are asked to wear their sports uniform and bring a towel and a change of socks if they wish. We anticipate that the children will be able to easily dry off with a towel and some sunshine throughout the day. Activities will be for the whole school (K-5) in grade levels. Should be heaps of fun, get excited!

Ted Dunstan
Sports Coordinator

Thank You
Thank you to Connie Potter for your donation of books to the library. Your generosity is appreciated.


End of borrowing
Thank you to the many students and families who have already returned their  books. 

As the end of the year approaches, students are no longer able to borrow books. It is requested that all library books are returned by the end of this week in preparation for a stocktake.

In Week 9, reminder notices will be given to students who still have books on loan. Please encourage your child to return these books to the library.

If there are books on your child’s list that you are unable to find or if you think they have already been returned, please indicate this on the slip and return it to the library.

Premier’s Reading Challenge
NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge Certificates
Our Premier’s Reading Challenge Participation certificates will be handed out this Friday, 6 December, following our Mt Carmel awards ceremony .
Congratulations to Ellie Carroll, Mabel Adie, Lily Butt, Zoe Leahy, Fletcher Lees, Zara McEvoy, Madeline Caldow, Alia Campbell, Aria Hodgson and Evelyn Morris, Charlie Butt, Rosalind Clark, Zoe Di Sisto, Archer Jones, Chevy Leahy, Elisabeth Morris, Sophie Aksenov, Oliver Drake, Lewis Gianchou, Logan Hodgson, Felix Inglis, Ryan Tome, Charlotte Aksenov, Lincoln Goode, Peter Gorman and Abigail Morris. 

The Gold Awards will be presented to students during the 3-5 award ceremony on Monday, 16 December.  
Congratulations to Olivia Aksenov, Asher Gorman, Delilah Inglis, Madison McGurk, George Pidgeon, Scott Tome and William Walsh. 

The Platinum Awards will be given to students follwoing Graduation Mass on Tuesday, 17 December.
Congratulations to Jack Butt, Juliette Glover, Lucy Miller, Ekaterina Mulcair and Isabelle Pidgeon.  

Congratulations to all of the students who completed the Premier’s Reading Challenge this year. I look forward to seeing you participate again, in 2024.

Natalie Broers
Teacher Librarian

Congratulations to the recipients of the Week 6 Mt Carmel Awards.
These awards were handed out last Friday, 29 November, at morning assembly.

K Blue Ari Driver Lucia Reid	K Gold Abigail Morris Samuel Walker
1 Green Lola Sanford Liam Coster	1 Red Evelyn Harris Franki Aniversario Brax Howard
2 Blue Adelaide Honan Harrison Cunynghame	2 Gold Elsie Townsend Sasha Ramadan Ethan Kim Hayden Spring
3 Green Chloe Lyons Makaila Hooper Oliver Irwin Eddy Finnigan	3 Red Evelyn Platt Mikayla Clements Cody Drage
4 Blue Cecilia Cândido Pinheiro George Douglas	4 Gold Ivy Howarth Benjamin O'Reilly
5 Green Alayla Dorris Poppy Smith	5 Red Ruby Laughton Phoebe Reynolds Spencer Crocker
6 Blue Anika Lyons Josephine Streatfeild Harry Donoghue	6 Gold Juliette Glover Isabella Dunstan Xavier Doyle

Congratulations to the recipients of the Week 7 Mt Carmel Awards.
These awards will be handed out this Friday, 6 December, at morning assembly.

K Blue Frankie Morris Naomi Mathew	K Gold Ivie Denny Acacia Aniversario
1 Green Scatlett Klemmer William Gillies	1 Red Sophie Aksenov Ryan Tome
2 Blue Zoe Di Sisto Keziah Mathew Benedicta Barker Eli Driver Cooper Sadlowski Harrison Cunynghame	2 Gold Claudia Klemmer Max Hanns
3 Green Elsa Baptiste Adalyn Harvey Angus Dando Harvey Matthews	3 Red Chloe Tyndall Mackenzie Arnold Archie Gooley
4 Blue Neva Welsh Jack Maher Logan Johnson Charley Shoring	4 Gold Gabriel Dunstan Edward Shannon
5 Green Macy Camilleri Ben Webster	5 Red Isla Townsend Chevie Stansfield
6 Blue Zali Lenon	6 Gold Reese Flynn Lola Finnigan Sophie Connell-Hewlett Jordan Mackay

The last Playgroup for 2024 will be held tomorrow, Thursday, 5 December.

We ask all parents to bring a plate to share for this end of year Christmas Party!   

The Community Council has currently raised over $6,800 from the Trivia Night, Father's Day raffle and the current Christmas raffle. Thank you to everyone in the Mt Carmel Commmunity for your support to these activities throughout 2024. 

The funds raised from these activities, are going towards two shade sails over the infants sandpit. 

Sacrament of Reconciliation

For Year Three (2025) students and above, who have been baptised

• Sacrament Date: Thursday, 3rd April 2025, at 6:30pm (Saint Augustine's Church)
• Registration Opens: Friday, 6th December 2024
• Registration Closes: Wednesday, 14th February 2025
• Commitment Mass: Sunday, 16th February 2025, at 10:15am (Saint Augustine's Church)
• Preparation Liturgy: Thursday, 13th March 2025, at 6:30pm (Saint Augustine's Church)

First Eucharist

For Year Four (2025) students and above, who have completed First Reconciliation 

• Sacrament Date: Sunday, 22nd June 2025, at 10:30am (Saint Augustine's Church)
• Registration Opens: Monday, 24th March 2025
• Registration Closes: Thursday, 4th April 2025
• Commitment Mass: Sunday, 6th April 2025, at 10:15am (Saint Augustine's Church)
• Preparation Liturgy 1: Thursday, 15th May 2025 (Lovat Chapel)
• Practice & Reconciliation: Thursday, 19th June 2025, at 6:30pm (Saint Augustine's Church)

Confirmation

For Year Six (2025) students and above, who have completed First Reconciliation and First Eucharist

• Sacrament Date (pending Archbishop’s approval): Sunday, 14th September 2025, at 10:30am (Saint Augustine's Church) 
• Back-Up Date: Sunday, 21st September 2025
• Registration Opens: Monday, 9th June 2025
• Registration Closes: Thursday, 26th June 2025
• Commitment Mass: Sunday, 29th June 2025 (Saint Augustine's Church)
• Preparation Liturgy 1: Thursday, 31st July 2025, at 6:30pm (Lovat Chapel)
• Preparation Liturgy 2: Thursday, 21st August 2025, at 6:30pm (Lovat Chapel)
• Practice & Reconciliation: Thursday, 11th September 2025, at 6:30pm (Saint Augustine's Church)

Drum Lessons  - Private Song Writing Lessons - Electronic Music Lessons

Gerard Noonan is offering private lessons in: Song writing, Electronic Music & Drum Kit in 2025 during the school day at Mt Carmel School. He has successfully completed tertiary subjects in these areas and is a registered Creative Kids Provider.

Call Gerard on 0408622819 for more information. 

https://nxtlvlfa.au/