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- Principal Report
- Religious Education
- States of matter with 5/6ML!
- Science with 4KF
- House Spirit Challenge this Friday - Crazy Hat Day!
- Peer Support Activity - Plastic Lids Needed
- Canteen News
- School Banking Commences Week 2
- Lost & Found
- Uniform Shop
- Book Club
- Term 3 Covid-19 Update
- NCCD Letter & Factsheet
- Sacraments 2020
- Brighter Futures Program - Mission Australia
- CWA of NSW Education Grants for Year 6 Students
Dear Parents, Teachers and Students,
Welcome Back to Mt Carmel for Term 3
I would like to extend a very warm welcome back for Term 3 to all students, families and staff. 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. It’s been lovely catching up with students on the playground and hearing about their holiday break.
COVID-19 Update
Following the school holidays, when many in our community have travelled, it is very important that COVID-19 guidelines be carefully followed. A letter detailing ongoing precautions was sent to families via SZapp on Monday afternoon; it is attached to this newsletter for your information.
Mt Carmel Day
Given the increase in COVID-19 cases across the state, the decision has been made to postpone our Mt Carmel Day celebrations that were scheduled for this Friday. I will let everyone know as soon as a new date has been set.
Community Council Nominations
Mt Carmel School is a vibrant welcoming community where parental involvement and engagement is sought and valued. Research shows that the more active parents are within a school, the better the school climate and the better the student outcomes.
The 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. They meet twice a term on a Thursday evening in Weeks Three and Eight.
Our school is seeking to renew and encourage membership of this important Council. If you would like to become a member of the Council, nomination forms will be sent home next Monday and must be returned to the front office by Friday 14 August (Week 4). You must have your nomination endorsed by another current parent of Mt Carmel School (other than your spouse/partner). We are seeking three parents to nominate; if more than three parents nominate, an election will be held.
Our school has achieved so much during its long history. We do however need to harness the support of as many parents as possible to achieve even greater things in the future. Please consider nominating as a member of the Council and in doing so make a contribution and share your talents. Thank you for your support.
NCCD
Attached to this newsletter is information about the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the NCCD. The process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019). The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.
School Counsellor
CatholicCare has informed us that a new school counsellor has been allocated and will commence at Mt Carmel after Week 3. Sharma Hampson is a social worker with many years’ experience in child and family roles as well as experience in child and adolescent mental health. She is warm and friendly and will be a wonderful addition to our school.
Yass SPIN Pyjama Day
Next Friday, in support of the Yass SPIN (Supporting People In Need) Foundation, we will be holding a Pyjama Day.
Come to school in your favourite snuggly PJs and bring a gold coin donation to support this important local charity.
May God’s peace be in your families,
He put another parable before them, 'The kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel all among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, then the darnel appeared as well. The owner's labourers went to him and said, "Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?" He said to them, "Some enemy has done this." And the labourers said, "Do you want us to go and weed it out?" But he said, "No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn." 'He put another parable before them, 'The kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and shelter in its branches.' He told them another parable, 'The kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.' In all this Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables; indeed, he would never speak to them except in parables. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: I will speak to you in parables, unfold what has been hidden since the foundation of the world. Then, leaving the crowds, he went to the house; and his disciples came to him and said, 'Explain to us the parable about the darnel in the field.' He said in reply, 'The sower of the good seed is the Son of man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the Evil One; the enemy who sowed it, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time. The Son of man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of falling and all who do evil, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the upright will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Anyone who has ears should listen!
REFLECTION
In this week’s Gospel reading, the disciples ask Jesus to explain the parable of the weeds in the field. Jesus tells his disciples that the Son of Man (Jesus) sows only good seed in the fields (in the world). The good seed is the children of the world. They are fruitful!
Then Jesus tells his disciples that the weeds in the field are the children of the Evil One. The enemy who sows the weeds is the Devil! Naturally the “weeds” are the “children of the Evil One.” The Devil, the enemy, is the one who sows the weeds. When it is harvest time, the weeds will be cut down, collected and burned.
Jesus then speaks of the end of time. He tells his disciples that the Son of Man will send angels, and they will collect all of the “weeds” (sinners and evil doers) in his Kingdom. They will be cast into a hot, fiery furnace. However, the righteous will “shine like the sun” in the presence of God! What is the message that we are to glean from this reading? It is not a very inviting reading! However, this reading may prompt us to pause and reflect on our lives. I invite you to do so for five-ten minutes.
Now ask yourself: In my daily life, am I sowing weeds or wheat? What are the areas of my life where there appears to be more weeds than wheat? What do I want to do to change that?
I seriously doubt that any of us are striving to produce poor fruit. However, the weeds often begin to grow in seemingly innocuous ways. They are almost invisible at first. Weeds have a way of encroaching in every area of our lives if we are not mindful and alert.
Today I invite you to sit and reflect on this image of the “weeds and the wheat.” Then identify the weeds in your life. How deep are these weeds rooted? Do you wish to uproot them and allow the good seed to grow?
Then, identify the areas of your life that you have protected or sheltered from the weeds. What is the life and growth you experience in productive areas of your life? What have you learned that might enable you to get your weeds in your life under control?
Then talk with Jesus! Ask him to help you root out the “weeds” in your life. Jesus will not fail you!
Then thank Jesus for the productive areas of your life. These are gift and grace! Celebrate these gifts! (Sr Kristine Anne Harpenau)
THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF MT CARMEL
The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was celebrated on July 16. It was first instituted in the late 14th century in commemoration of the approval of the rule of the Carmelite Order a hundred years earlier. According to legend, a religious community was established even before the time of Christ on Mount Carmel. This is the mountain overlooking the Mediterranean Sea on which the prophet Elijah successfully challenged the priests of Baal and won the people to the true God. The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel entered the Calendar of the universal Church in the early 18th century.
Although there is no historical evidence for the pre-Christian Carmelite community, references in the 12th century record a community of monks on the holy mountain. Despite continual difficulties, the community built a monastery and church dedicated to the Virgin Mary on Mount Carmel in 1263. Saint Louis, King of France, had visited Mount Carmel in 1254, and brought back six French hermits for whom he built a convent near Paris.
Mount Carmel was taken by the Muslims in 1291, and the brothers were killed and the convent burned. The spread of the Carmelites in Europe is largely attributable to the work of Saint Simon Stock (1247-1265). The Carmelite Order was formally approved in 1274 at the Council of Lyon. (Catholic News Agency)
Due to current health regulations, we have made the decision to postpone our celebration of Mt Carmel Day but will keep you informed of the rescheduled date.
God Bless,
Warren Ziebowski
Religious Education Coordinator
Ooblek is a non-Newtonian fluid that can mimic the qualities of a solid or liquid. Also, they explored density and solubility in science by making lava lamps!
Peer Support Activity - Plastic Lids Needed
For Peer Support this term, one of the activities requires plastic bottle lids (same size lids - eg milk lids, that can be used for wheels).
If you have any lids, can you please drop them off at the front office or to 1EK.
Thank you!
This term, cheeseburgers and lasagne have been added to the lunch options.
Unfortunately Icy Twists have been removed from the menu due to their star rating.
Cracker Cups and Cheese and Cracker Plates, available as a snack item, will now have an option to have salsa as the dip. You will be able to make the choice when using Qkr to order these items.
Please remind your child/ren that any recess orders, ice blocks, fruit cups and apple pie orders need to be collected from the canteen.
The Mt Carmel School Uniform Shop is open each Tuesday afternoon between 2.30pm– 4.00pm during school terms.
Ordering Options - Uniform orders can be placed online via Qkr! or by order form, which can be collected and paid for from the front office.
All Qkr! orders placed before 2pm each Tuesday will be bundled up and sent home with your child on Wednesday afternoon.
Please note that if the incorrect size/item is ordered or the size selected does not fit correctly, please return the item along with a note regarding changes required and the correct size/item can be sent home.
Please note the revised program for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Confirmation this year is postponed until 2021.
Reconciliation
Registration - Completed
Commitment Mass - Completed
Church Liturgy - Thursday 27 August 7pm St Augustine's
Sacrament of Reconciliation - Wednesday 2 September 6pm St Augustine's
First Eucharist
Registration - Completed
Commitment Mass - Saturday 5 or 12 September 6pm St. Augustine's and Sunday 6 or 13 September 10.15am St Augustine’s
Church Liturgy - Thursday 12 November 7pm St Augustine's
Preparation Day - Friday 20 November 9am-3.10pm Hartigan Centre and St Augustine's
Sacrament of First Holy Communion - Sunday 22 November 10.15am St Augustine's
Confirmation
Postponed to 2021
CWA of NSW Education Grants for Year 6 Students
If any year 6 student would like to apply for this 2021 Educational Grant, please collect the application form from the front office.