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Dear Parents, Teachers and Students,
Kindergarten Orientation
Today we had our first day of Kindergarten Orientation for our new Kinder students for 2021. It was very exciting to have them in our school and everyone had lost of fun! There are two more weeks of Orientation to go and on each of those weeks, the uniform shop will be open for Kinder fittings in the PAC from 12:00pm to 1:00pm.
Remembrance Day
Next Wednesday is Remembrance Day and 5/6TC will be hosting a prayer service throughout the school at 10:50am, ready for a minute’s silence at 11am. A link to the prayer service will be shared on Wednesday morning for those families who would like to join us.
Student Leadership
It’s hard to believe that we are already at the stage of preparing for student leadership positions for 2021. Next Friday, nominations open for Year 5 students who are seeking formal leadership positions in 2021; that is, School Captains, Vice-Captains, House Captains and SRC Representatives. At Mt Carmel, our student leaders are appointed, not elected, and the process begins with students completing a nomination form addressing a selection criteria. These forms must be submitted by Friday 20 November, Week 6. Nominees then present a speech to the school in Week 7 and meet with an interview panel in Week 8. The panel will then decide on appointments, taking into consideration each nominee’s interview, application and feedback from students and teachers (via voting slips, following the speeches). I wish all who are considering nominating for these positions the very best. Many families will be aware that I have a child in Year 5 this year. For the record, to avoid any conflict of interest I will be taking no part in any aspect of the selection process.
BYOD
We would, under normal circumstances, hold a parent information evening for Year 4 families in Week 5 about our Year 5 and 6 BYOD program. Unfortunately, we are still unable to hold this kind of face-to-face parent meeting so we will be sending home an information pack about BYOD next week.
Class Placements 2021
Parents are invited to email me with regard to any considerations you may have for your child’s class placement for 2021. These considerations should be important for the education and wellbeing of your child. Requests for a particular teacher, gender of a teacher, multiple friends etc, are usually not appropriate nor a priority. It is very important for parents to understand that creating classes is detailed and exacting work completed by the teachers to ensure that your child is placed in an appropriate class group each year. When considering class groupings, teachers will look specifically at your child’s educational and social needs and place them with a teacher and peers that will support their development. Requests are to be emailed to me at: michael.green@cg.catholic.edu.au by this Friday 6 November 2020. Please be aware that each request will be considered separately and by no means are all requests met. Requests from previous years are not kept on file or considered, as situations change each year. If you would like a previous request to be considered again, you are asked to send in a new request for 2021.
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 tab on the school website and app is a Year 6 2021 Destination eForm. 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.
May God’s peace be in your families,
Thank you to staff, students, parents and the Mt Carmel community for supporting our Sock it to Poverty! fundraiser on Friday 30 October. We raised $380 for Catholic Mission! The next School House Spirit will continue with the theme of socks.
Next Friday, 13 November, (Week 5) Mt Carmel School will experience how their brothers and sisters around the world play the game of soccer using sockballs. Students are invited to make a sockball using recycled materials and to bring it to school on Friday 13 November.
How to make a sockball: https://video.link/w/PRQqb
All Saints’ Day
All Saints’ Day is celebrated 1 November in honour of all saints, known and unknown. Thank you to Mrs Glover and 3EG for leading the Mt Carmel community in a beautiful All Saints’ Prayer Service. Click on the link to view the All Saints' Prayer Service Video
Religious Education in the Classroom
Teachers and students have been exploring different Scripture passages using visible thinking routines. Visible thinking routines assist teachers to identify what students understand, the product of their thinking, and how students process their thinking.
This term Kindergarten students have been exploring some characters from the Old Testament. We are currently focussing on the story of David and Goliath. After hearing the story, we used the Think, Puzzle, Explore visible thinking routine.
Here is what we came up with:
You can see the Slapstick Theatre version of the story by clicking the image below
Matthew 5:1-12
Seeing the crowds, he went onto the mountain. And when he was seated his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them: How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance. Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have their fill. Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them. Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognised as children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.
Reflection
Think: What do you think you know about this Scripture passage?
Puzzle: What questions or puzzles do you have?
Explore: How might you explore the questions or puzzles you have around this Scripture passage?
A Spirituality for our Times: Practising Care and Tenderness
A reflective afternoon for women inspired Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’.
Hosted by the Archdiocesan Women’s Taskforce
Facilitators: Clare Condon SGS and Andrea Dean
Offered via Zoom Saturday 7 November from 3 pm to 4.30 pm
Register here: https://bit.ly/CareTenderness
Have a lovely week!
May peace be with you,
Eva Karakotas
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)
Crazy Sock & Jersey Day Photos
The Mt Carmel School Uniform Shop is open each Tuesday afternoon between 2.30pm– 4.00pm during school terms.
The Uniform Shop will also be open from 10am to 3:30pm on Monday 7 December and Monday 14 December.
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.
Book Club Issue 8 Now Available
Issue 8 is now available!
Paper catalogues are not being sent home, so if you would like to view the online catalogue, please click below.