TERM 4 WEEK 2 2025

Principal's Report

Dear Parents, Teachers and Students, 

Welcome to Term 4
A very warm welcome back to all our students, staff and families. I do hope that the two-week break was restful and enjoyable for everyone. Term 4 is always busy and I’m sure that this year will be no exception. There are a number of significant events coming up including Kindergarten Orientation, the Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival, the end of year Christmas Concert and our Year 6 Graduation, to name just a few.


Student Leadership
Following the notice provided to the community at the end of last term about changes to Mt Carmel’s approach to student leadership, I have received a variety of feedback from parents, some strongly in favour of the change, some in favour of the change but against the timing, some against the change altogether, and some seeking further information. As outlined in the previous communication, staff and some members of the wider school community have, over the years, questioned the authenticity and transparency of the existing approach to appointing formal student leaders and the genuine impact that student leadership positions provide, beyond the affirmation of an arbitrary title and badge. 

I would like to assure all families that the school is not seeking to eliminate our student leadership program. Rather, we value student leadership so highly that we have the collective vision of an approach that provides authentic opportunities to empower all of our senior students to have a voice in their school and to develop the skills and attributes that will serve them and their communities well as they mature into adulthood. The model we favour is one of leadership committees, which reflects our commitment to creating an inclusive and empowering environment for all children, in which:

• Every child has a voice: Leadership shouldn’t be limited to a select few. We want all students to feel seen, heard, and valued.
• Real-world skills are developed: Committees allow students to work together, solve problems, and take initiative—skills that are essential for life beyond school.
• Pressure is reduced: By removing competitive selection processes, we’re creating a more supportive space where students can grow and contribute without stress.
• Teamwork and responsibility are encouraged: Leadership becomes a shared experience, helping students learn to collaborate and care for their school community.

Although the committees have not been finalised – one of the first tasks of next year’s student leaders will be to share their vision of how students can best make a difference to our school – students will be invited to join committees focused on areas such as mission and service, environment and sustainability, community and events, wellbeing and inclusion, sports and physical activities, to name just a few possibilities. Each committee will be supported by staff mentors and will operate with flexible structures to suit different interests and goals. Our desire is to embed leadership into everyday learning and empower students to take initiative in areas they care about. This is not to be equated with an ‘every child gets a prize’ mentality. We will still maintain distinct processes to identify and publicly affirm individuals’ outstanding achievements and contributions, and nobody will be compelled to participate in any team or task that they do not have a genuine desire to contribute to.

Many families will be aware of a petition that was circulated for the reinstatement of Student Leadership roles, and I would like to acknowledge that I received this petition on Monday. The feedback contained has been shared with staff and will be discussed at our next School Leadership meeting. A formal response to the petition has been requested and will be provided in due course. Next Thursday 30 October at 5:30pm we have a scheduled Community Council meeting, which I invite any interested parents to attend as an open meeting in the PAC, with this topic on the agenda.


Uniform
With the new term comes a change back to the summer uniform. Our uniform identifies students as members of the Mt Carmel School community, and the way our uniform is worn conveys a great deal about who we are as a community and how we value and respect our school. A note from parents should accompany students if there is a one-off uniform variation.

In line with our Sun Protection Policy, students not wearing the correct school hat are required to play in designated shade areas at recess and lunch.

For your information, our previous supplier of boys’ socks has stopped producing these and we are currently out of stock in all sizes up to 7. We are also aware that the previous sock did cause some sensory issues for a number of students, notably because of the seam across the toe and overheating due to the sock length. As a consequence of these issues and the need to find a new supplier, we are looking at some different options, including a mid-length boys' sock of navy blue with gold stripes. In the meantime, if your child does not have uniform socks that fit, they can wear plain navy mid-length socks. Families will be informed as soon as we have uniform socks back in stock.


Parent Evening: Social Issues at School
Next Tuesday 28 October at 5:30pm we will be running a parent evening to provide information about social issues at school, including bullying concerns, and the Social-Emotional Learning strategies and supports that the school employs to help. You will hear about our Anti-Bullying Statement of Practice, school-delivered programs such as Sizzle and Friendology, and Amelie Nicholson, our school counsellor, will share some information about common friendship concerns and how to talk about them.

To assist with our planning, please RSVP using the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/EKXPeqtcyC.


All Saints Day
The first of November is All Saints Day, so next Friday 31 October at 9am, K Gold will be leading our school in an All Saints Day prayer service.

It’s easy to think of the Catholic tradition venerating saints as a kind of old-fashioned affectation, but in our modern world, saints like Carlo Acutis (the first computer-literate saint, canonised this September) and Peter To Rot (Papua New Guinea’s first saint, canonised just last Sunday) continue to inspire us with their examples of faith, courage, and service. They show us how ordinary people can live extraordinary lives by choosing love, truth, and compassion. Their stories remind us that holiness is not reserved for the past—it’s something we can strive for in our everyday lives. As a school community, reflecting on the lives of saints helps us grow in character and encourages us to make a positive difference in the world around us.

All families are warmly invited to attend our prayer service next Friday.

Class Placements
Parents are invited to email me with regard to any considerations you may have for your child’s class placement for 2026. 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 peers that will support their development. Requests are to be emailed to me at: michael.green@cg.catholic.edu.au by Friday 7 November 2025. 

Please be aware that, although all requests received are given due consideration, there is no commitment that your request will be accommodated.

Requests from previous years are not kept on file nor 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 2026.


Departing Students
Schools are required to record destination schools for all departing students. If there are any K-5 families moving from Mt Carmel at the end of this year, please 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.


Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival
The Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival will be held this Friday 24 October. All students from Years 2 to 6 have been allocated a team in their sport of preference, and there has been lots of practice of the skills of each game in PE lessons over the last term. The event operates as a round-robin competition, and every team gets to play several games throughout the day. An important reminder is that families need to make their own travel arrangements, and because the event is so popular it’s always a good idea to leave plenty of travel time. When you arrive at the Boorowa Showgrounds, there will be a Mt Carmel ‘base’ set up in both the netball and touch football areas - look for the school flags and marquees. Our school staff will be assisting and supervising teams to ensure everyone keeps on track throughout the day, but we still need additional parents to help with a range of jobs; please see Mr Dunstan's Sports Report for details about how to volunteer. Students should wear their regular school sports uniform, including their school hat. Please ensure that all items are clearly labelled with your child’s name. There will be a canteen operating, but it’s a good idea to bring plenty of water and some other food/snacks as well.


Kindergarten Orientation
Kindergarten Orientation commenced today and will run for three consecutive weeks. We are very excited to be able to welcome our new students to Mt Carmel; Kindergarten Orientation is a very important step on the journey to starting ‘Big School’.


After School Arrangements
Our duty of care to students extends to periods of time before and after school, and of regular concern is variation to arrangements after school finishes.

We regularly have students coming to the office after 3:10pm, asking us to ring parents to ask permission to, for example, walk with a friend rather than catching the bus. For the record, our position with students is that plans made in the morning with parents remain in place unless parents contact the school before 3:10pm to inform us otherwise. 

Term 4 also marks the start of the local Touch Football competition and, understandably, this means that many students who would otherwise catch a bus home or be picked up are given permission to walk to Walker Park after school. Last Wednesday, there was a veritable exodus of students through the school gate heading in the direction of Walker Park, and teachers on afternoon duty were understandably concerned about safety – there are several road crossings, depending on which way they walk, a potentially large amount of unsupervised time (some games do not begin until 5pm), and no easy way for teachers to tell if students were walking with parents’ permission or making their own plans. To avoid confusion and to help us ensure student safety, please keep your child’s teacher informed of variations to after school routines.

World Teachers’ Day
Next Friday 31 October, NSW celebrates World Teachers’ Day, and this year’s theme is 'Teachers are Gems’. The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) is inviting members of all school communities to add messages of support for inspiring teachers, past or present, on their Teaching Gems map. To send a message, go to https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/events/world-teachers-day-in-nsw, or use the QR code on the poster that you will find further in this newsletter.

I am conscious of the cliché, but teaching truly is a noble profession and I am grateful every day for the generosity, talent, patience, commitment and, above all, love that our wonderful teachers bring to their work. I encourage every student at Mt Carmel to take the time to personally thank their teacher next Friday.

May God’s peace be in your families, 

Michael Green
Principal

Religious Education

Religious Education in the Classroom

Welcome to Term 4! I hope you have had a restful break with your family and friends. Last term, Year 2 students examined how actions of individuals and societies reflect the beliefs and values of their role models. During my classroom visit to Year 2, students shared their insights on role models and below are some of their responses.

2Gold: How do you think a positive role model would act?

Kaylahn: Helping people and saying kind things

Ally: Encouraging others to be kind

Olivia: Helping others when they fall over.

Brock: Being respectful by being nice to others.

Liam: A role model is a person who I look up to like my parents.

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 10

Next

2Blue: How do you think a positive role model would act?

Felix: Helping someone when they have hurt themselves.

Mila: By being kind and helpful.

Ollie: My buddy helps me in the playground.

Scarlett: My parents help me when I feel sad.

After Friday Parish Mass, Fr Peter spoke to the students about the importance of having a positive role model like Jesus, who teaches us to be kind, supportive and to help others. 

Religious Life of Mt Carmel School

Mt Carmel’s Year 6 Youth Ministry Team
Last term, Mt Carmel School’s Year 6’s Youth Ministry Team organised a special faith retreat for Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students. This involved small groups engaging in games and activities, a drama based on scripture and a prayer experience led by the Year 6 students.

Catholic Mission Month
This October, Catholic Mission and the broader Catholic community is celebrating  World Mission Month, guided by the theme “Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples.” Together, we have the power to create change and build a more just world for people everywhere. By supporting missionaries in their work, we can create life-changing opportunities for countless children, families, and communities worldwide. Join us in making a difference for our sisters and brothers.

This year we are raising awareness and funds for communities in Zambia, to help ensure children have access to food and education, giving them the chance to build a brighter future.

Mt Carmel’s Mini Vinnies News
Crazy Day Fundraiser Event - Socktober 2025 - Zambia
Last term, Mt Carmel School’s Mini Vinnies Team organised a fundraiser to support Catholic Mission. Students were invited to wear crazy clothes and accessories, and bring in a gold coin donation. Thank you to everyone who contributed towards this fundraising event, we raised $370.05!

Mt Carmel School’s Upcoming Celebrations
Parents and the wider community are warmly invited to celebrate with us.

Prayer

 Dear Creator God, create in us a new sense of solidarity with the poor. 

Give us the courage to reach out to the excluded, the energy to walk with the lost and the words to encourage the lonely. 

May we pour out our lives in service. 

Unite us in faith, hope and love as we pray together.

Send your Holy Spirit to inspire and sustain us in our mission.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

St Augustine’s Parish News

Children's Liturgy
The Children’s Liturgy of the Word is on every second and fourth Sunday 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 https://staug-yass.org.au/wp/sacraments/. 

Wishing you all a fabulous week.

Eva Karakotas
Religious Education Coordinator

Sports News

Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival 2025
The Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival has arrived! A detailed Compass notification was sent out yesterday to all parents with several attachments including information about teams and draws. St Joseph’s School Boorowa have a detailed tab on their website dedicated to the carnival which can be found at: https://stjboorowa.nsw.edu.au/touch-netball-carnival.

If you are driving, make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to get there as congestion closer to Boorowa is always an issue. Games commence at 9am, ideally, aim to get there by 8:30am. Students must remember to notify their teacher or the teacher in charge of their sport (Mrs Glover for Touch and Mr Dunstan for Netball) when they arrive and when they leave the carnival. Most importantly, have lots of fun, enjoy the day and be great ambassadors for Mt Carmel by demonstrating fairness and inclusion.

Date:                   Friday 24 October 2025 (Friday Week 2, Term 4)
Venue:                Boorowa Showgrounds, Ballyryan Road, Boorowa (mud map of grounds outlined below)
Transportation: By private car.
Cost:                   $5.00 per student to cover team registration.

There will be a canteen operating at the fields and qualified First Aid trained people will be present during the day. All players will compete in their Mt Carmel sport uniform. 

The Touch teams will consist of 10 players per team (7 on the field) and the Netball teams will consist of 10 players per team (7 on the field and maximum 3 boys per team). Students will compete in their year groups from Year 2 to Year 6.

It is an expectation that all Year 2-6 students attend the event. Teachers have organised students into mixed year-level teams according to their preferred sport. Although it is an expectation that students attend, if you know your child will be absent on the day, please let their class teacher know so that they can plan accordingly. We will require referees and coaches for the day, if you are able to assist, please fill out the Google form below.

Boorowa Touch and Netball Google form

Payment of $5 to cover registrations can now be made through Compass.

Sports Trials
Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Boys and Girls Cricket Trials 2026
Date: Friday 31st October 2025 
Time: 9:30am sign on for 10:00am Start 
Venue: Taylor Park - Queanbeyan 
Registration: Registration is through the CSNSW Sport Website; https://csnsw.sport/help/help-guide-for-parents

Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Basketball Trials 2026
Date: Friday 21st November 2025
Time: 10am - 2pm
Venue: Belconnen Basketball & Sports Centre, 42 Oatley Court, Belconnen, ACT

Registration: Registrations are open on the CSNSW Sport Website – csnsw.sport. Please see the Registration Instructions for Parents 2020.

Nominations Close: Monday 17th November 2025

Cost: $20.00 per student – Will also be through the CSNSW Website

Canteen: Students may bring their own lunch and snacks. There is a small canteen facility available and there are additionally shops nearby.

Uniform: Students are to wear their school sports uniform to the trials as they are representing their school. Students are also required to bring along a water bottle for hydration.

Selection: Up to ten boys and ten girls will be selected to represent the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn in either the boys or girls team at the MacKillop trials in Wollongong on the 20th of February 2026. If a student attends these trials he/she must be available for selection in all subsequent teams.

Boys AFL 2026
The Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn are looking to enter their own team (not combined with Wollongong) for the 2026 MacKillop Trials. They are looking for Expressions of Interest for trialling for the 2026 Canberra Goulburn Team. This pathway is for Boys only who are currently in Years 3, 4 or 5 (Girls have their own pathway) and will be held very early in Term 1 2026. If you are interested, please fill out the form below:
AFL expressions of interest 2026

Girls Rugby League
U12’s Girls interested in trying out for the Mackillop Rugby League team in 2026 are invited to attend a Development Day and Selection Trials in Wollongong in October. Please see flyer for details.

If you have children in Year 5 or 6 who are interested in trialling for Canberra Goulburn sporting teams, please check the following website regularly for upcoming events:

November Trials - Primary Cricket (for 2026), Basketball - Boys and Girls (for 2026),
Tennis - Boys and Girls (for 2026)

https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/calendar

Ted Dunstan
Sports Coordinator

Mt Carmel Awards - Week 1

Congratulations to the recipients of the Week 1 Mt Carmel Awards.
These awards will be handed out tomorrow, Thursday, 23 October, at morning assembly.

World Teacher's Day - 31 October

Book Club - Issue 7 Now Available

If you would like order from Issue 7, orders need to be placed by Tuesday 28 October.

 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 the link below.

From The School Counsellor - Managing Big Emotions: Quick Tips (or TIPPs) for Kids

As kids navigate school, friendships, and new challenges, it’s common for them to feel overwhelmed. When big emotions take over, it can be hard for them to focus. Here’s a simple, effective tool that can help kids (and adults!) calm down quickly: the TIPP strategies.

T - Temperature: Cool Down Fast

Changing body temperature can quickly calm the mind.

• Try it: Splash cold water on the face, hold an ice pack, or sip cold water.
• Why it works: It activates the body’s calming system, helping kids feel more in control.

I - Intense Exercise: Burn Off Energy

Physical activity helps release stress and excess energy.

• Try it: Have your child run around, jump on a trampoline, or do jumping jacks.
• Why it works: Exercise releases “feel-good” hormones, helping kids feel calmer.

P - Paced Breathing: Slow the Breath

Slowing down the breath can calm both the body and mind.

• Try it: Have your child breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4, and breathe out for 4.
• Why it works: Slow breathing helps lower heart rate and reduces stress.

P - Progressive Relaxation: Let Go of Tension

Helping kids relax their muscles can ease physical stress.

• Try it: Guide your child to squeeze and relax their fists, shoulders, or legs.
• Why it works: Tensing and relaxing muscles helps release tension and calm the body.

How to Use TIPP Together:

1. Temperature: Splash cold water.
2. Intense Exercise: Jump or run for a minute.
3. Paced Breathing: Breathe in for 4, hold, and out for 4.
4. Progressive Relaxation: Squeeze and release muscles.

Encourage your child to use TIPP when they feel upset or stressed, and let’s work together to help them stay calm! If you have any questions or need additional support, I’m here to help! Feel free to reach out to Amelie.nicholson@mccg.org.au or make a referral using the following link:  https://mccg.my.site.com/housing/s/school-referral-form.

Individual Drum kit lessons

Available during class time with qualified tutor Gerard Noonan.

Vacancies available for term 4; contact 0408622819 if interested.

Trader & Co World Kindness Colouring in Competition

Trader & Co. are celebrating World Kindness Day on 13th November with a colouring-in competition! 🎨 Parents can print the attached page at home (A4) or collect one from Trader & Co. All completed pages must be returned to Trader & Co. by 11th November, and judging will take place on 13th November. Winners from each category will be announced on our social media channels (Instagram and Facebook). We can’t wait to see your colourful creations spreading kindness!

Yass Montessori Fundraising Event

2025 Christmas Card Design Competition

VASY Annual Art Exhibition

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop is open each Thursday during term from 3pm-4pm, and located next to Front Office. 

All Qkr! orders placed before 2pm each Thursday will be bundled up and sent home with your child on Friday afternoon. Order Forms can be collected from the front office if needed.

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 to the front office, so the correct size/item can be sent home.

RSL and Schools - Remember ANZAC Art Competition

The Yass RSL sub-Branch is excited to share the opportunity for your students to participate in the RSL and Schools Remember ANZAC Art Competition. 

All NSW-based primary and secondary schools are invited to submit a maximum of two artworks for judging by a panel consisting of representatives from the NSW Department of Education, Art Gallery of NSW, RSL NSW and the Anzac Memorial Veteran Artist in Residence.  

The two winning pieces of artwork will be featured on the cover of the 2026 RSL and Schools Remember ANZAC Service program. All finalists will receive a certificate and medal, and their artwork will be displayed at the Anzac Memorial from 26 March to 30 April 2026. 

The competition closes to schools on 31 October 2025, and finalists will be announced and notified on 14 November 2025. 

Yass Landcare - Children’s Art Competition

Yass Landcare is excited to invite Mt Carmel students to take part in our Children’s Art Competition for 2025!

This year’s theme is “Reptiles and Amphibians” – encouraging children to explore the fascinating frogs, lizards, snakes, and turtles that play an important role in our local ecosystems.

Details:

• Prizes: Thanks to the generous support of Wildbark – Mulligans Flat Centre and the Canberra Reptile Zoo, winners will receive free tickets and more special prizes.
• Display: All submitted artworks will be displayed in Yass, most likely at the Yass Library, prior to judging – giving the community the chance to enjoy and celebrate the children’s creativity.
• Eligibility: Open to children of all ages in the Yass area.
• Entries Close & Judging Dates: Entries close 28 November and Judging and presentations will be on the 6 December. 

This is a wonderful opportunity for young artists to learn more about reptiles and amphibians, showcase their creativity, and connect with our natural environment.