TERM 4 WEEK 4 2025

Principal's Report

Dear Parents, Teachers and Students,

Student Leadership
Last Thursday evening the school held an open Community Council meeting as part of our response to the petition regarding changes to Student leadership. The discussion provided an opportunity for the school to share, in greater detail, some of the ongoing concerns and difficulties with the current model of student leadership at Mt Carmel, including impacts on student and staff wellbeing, managing perceived and actual conflicts of interest, managing parent and student dissatisfaction with outcomes, and the inequity of opportunity that naturally exists because of differing numbers of students in each house year by year. We also heard a number of community concerns and questions voiced, on topics including the value of maintaining tradition, the importance of recognition of students who display leadership qualities and the value of captains as role models, frustration about a lack of clarity about the proposed model and disappointment with the timing of the announcement, and the life-skills that are developed by applying for a leadership position, whether successful or unsuccessful. The discussion points raised are being shared with staff, and a detailed response is being prepared as a matter of priority. This will be distributed to families as soon as possible. I am genuinely grateful for the passion and commitment that those who attended the meeting bring to our school community.


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.


Kindergarten Orientation
Today we held the final week of our Kindergarten Orientation program. It has been a genuine pleasure getting to know all of our new students better as they take these important steps on  the exciting journey towards starting ‘Big School’. Tonight at 6pm we will hold an information evening for our Kinder 2026 parents in the Lacey Library.


Remembrance Day
Next Tuesday is Remembrance Day, and the SRC will be leading a prayer service, commencing at 10:40am, to mark this important community event. Parents and families are welcome to attend. I will be attending the Yass RSL Remembrance Day ceremony, with some student Leaders, to show our respect and lay a wreath at the cenotaph.


Northern Region Chess Competition
Last Thursday, Mt Carmel hosted the Northern Region Chess Competition, with students from Catholic primary schools across our region coming together to test their strategic and intellectual mettle in a round-robin tournament. Congratulations to Hayden Spring, Oliver Irwin, Gabriel Dunstan and Magnus Felizardo for the skill and sportsmanship with which they represented Mt Carmel School, and a particular congratulations to Oliver, who placed as Runner-Up in the Year 4 division.

May God’s peace be in your families, 

Michael Green
Principal

Religious Education

Religious Education in the Classroom

Welcome to Term 4! In Religious Education, Year 4 students are examining how communities are sustained in a range of ways in times of conflict, challenge and change. During my visit to Year 4, students examined the parable of the Good Samaritan to explain how the parable reflected the dynamic nature of Judaism.

I asked a few students to share their definition of a parable and below are some of their responses.

What is a parable and can you provide a parable that you like?

Baxter: A parable has a moral message and I like the parable of the Good Samaritan because it encourages me to love my neighbour.

George: A parable gives you a lesson or the moral of a story. I like parables that are about helping people when they are hurt.

Connie: It is a story that teaches you something, like don’t judge a person by the way they look.

Adalyn: It is a moral or a lesson that teaches us something. I like the parable of the Tortoise and the Hare because the moral of the story is to work slowly and steadily to win the race.

Hannah: It is a story or a lesson to learn. I like the parable of the Mustard Seed because if you have faith in the size of the mustard seed, you can plant it in the middle of the ocean and it will grow.

Year 1 is examining how sacred actions can be a powerful form of communication of God’s presence. Students have learnt that baptism is like a special welcome into God’s family. It’s the first step in becoming part of the Church. 1Green and 1Red had the chance to participate in a baptism role play.

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Religious Life of Mt Carmel School

Thank you to Miss Rayner and K Gold for preparing and leading a beautiful prayer service to celebrate All Saints Day. 

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Mt Carmel’s Mini Vinnies News
St Augustine’s Conference Visit

Last Thursday, the Mini Vinnies’ team visited St Augustine’s Conference for a tour of their conference office and pantry in preparation for our school’s Christmas Appeal launch in Week 5.

Thank you 

The St Vincent de Paul conference at Yass has long enjoyed a productive relationship with the Mini Vinnies group at Mt Carmel. I was absolutely delighted to host a visit to our conference office & food pantry from Ms Karakotas, Miss Davaris and the Mini Vinnies team earlier today. I hope this type of visit will occur again in future, as it was a really valuable addition to the links we have made already. 

The students all listened intently as I explained the circumstances which could lead to a person or family having to ask for assistance from the Vinnies conference and the sorts of support we can offer, depending on their situation. The number and range of the questions they asked were thoughtful and conveyed a very strong level of empathy. 

After the briefing and the Q & A session, students had the opportunity to look more carefully at the items on the pantry shelves, to see what sorts of goods they might highlight to their classes when the Christmas Appeal begins. Some more interesting questions arose at this time.  

I commend all the students for the respectful way they conducted themselves, the thought they put into their questions, the way they listened and for the leadership they are showing by participating in Mini Vinnies. Thank you also to Ms Karakotas for organising the meeting and to the school community for its ongoing support. 

Deb Valencic
President, St Augustine's Conference of St Vincent de Paul, Yass.

Remembrance Day Prayer Service

Remembrance Day falls on the 11th of November each year. On the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, a minute's silence is observed and dedicated to those soldiers who died fighting to protect the nation. Our Mt Carmel community has many defence force veterans who have dedicated their lives to serve the nation. We thank them for their service.

Mt Carmel’s SRC will be leading a prayer service on Tuesday 11 November to celebrate Remembrance Day. The prayer service will start at 10.40 am in the PAC and parents and friends are invited to join us. 

Mt Carmel School’s Upcoming Celebrations

Parents and the wider community are warmly invited to celebrate with us.

Prayer

  Dear God, 

As God’s people we pray for the needs of the Church and the world.  We pray for change: in ourselves and in the circumstances of those in need, particularly in Ethiopia. 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 Footballs
We have a considerable number of touch footballs unreturned from the Boorowa Touch Carnival earlier this term. If you accidentally took a ball home from the carnival, we would appreciate it if you could please return them as soon as possible.  

Sports Trials
Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Boys and Girls Cricket Trials 2026
Congratulations to Roy Mitchell and Eddy Finnigan who have been selected in the CECG Cricket squad to participate at the MacKillop Trials on the 17th and 18th November in Wagga Wagga.

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

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 - Basketball - Boys and Girls (for 2026),
Tennis - Boys and Girls (for 2026)

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


Ted Dunstan
Sports Coordinator

Lacey Library News

Thank you
Thank you to Maree Miller for covering a large amount of new resources for the library this term. Your help is greatly appreciated and the students are enjoying reading all the new books.

Kind regards,
Natalie Broers
Teacher Librarian

Mt Carmel Awards - Week 2 & 3

Congratulations to the recipients of the Week 2 Mt Carmel Awards.
These awards were handed out last Friday, 31 October, at morning assembly.

Congratulations to the recipients of the Week 3 Mt Carmel Awards.
These awards will be handed this Friday, 7 November, at morning assembly.

Remembrance Day Prayer Service by the SRC

The SRC would like to warmly welcome you to attend the Remembrance Day Prayer Service in the PAC next Tuesday, 11^th November at 10:40am.

Boorowa Touch & Netball Carnival

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Year 3 Art

3 Red students explored heat energy through an exciting hands-on art activity inspired by artist Dale Chihuly. Using plastic cups, they investigated how heat can change materials, watching as their cups transformed into beautiful “Glass Bowls” while learning how temperature changes occur when heat is transferred. Lots of engagement, oohs and ahhs, and special requests as Mrs Goode put on her ‘lampworker hat’ to help create one of a kind art.

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Year 4 Science

Science is sweet in Year 4! 🍪 They have explored solids and liquids by investigating biscuits — whole, crushed, and crumbed. Ask your budding scientists what they discovered!

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Library Fun!

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New Soccer Nets!

From the School Counsellor: World Kindness Day (November 13th)

World Kindness Day is a beautiful reminder that kindness comes in many forms - from helping others to showing care and compassion towards ourselves.

Kindness doesn’t have to be big or fancy, it’s often the small things that mean the most. You might like to:

• Smile or say hello to someone new.
• Write a thank-you note or draw a picture for someone you appreciate.
• Offer to help a friend or family member.
• Notice when someone needs a kind word or a listening ear.
• Be kind to yourself! take a break when you need one, get enough sleep, eat something nourishing, or remind yourself of something you’re proud of.

As families, you might like to talk about what kindness looks like in your home. How can we show it to others? How can we show it to ourselves?

When children (and grown-ups!) practise kindness, it helps build empathy, connection, and confidence - and makes our community a warmer, more caring place for everyone.

I’m currently unable to accept new referrals, but please feel free to reach out via email at amelie.nicholson@mccg.org.au if you would like some guidance or support. I’ll do my best to assist or point you in the right direction.

Warmly,
Amelie Nicholson
School Counsellor

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.

Clothing Pool - Open Thursday 6 November

The Clothing Pool will be open tomorrow, Thursday 6 November.  

Opening Hours
Opening Hours: 2.30pm-3.30pm. 
Location: in the Uniform Shop room, next to the Music Room.

If you have any money outstanding for the Clothing Pool, we do ask that this is dropped at the Front Office as soon as possible. Payment is via cash only. 

All Mt Carmel uniform items, with the exception of socks, can be donated (including school bags), provided they are in good condition, without significant wear and tear, stains or damage. To ensure appropriate hygiene standards are maintained, only clothing that has been washed will be accepted. 

If you have any questions, please contact Liz on lizdadeppo@gmail.com.

Individual Drum kit lessons

Available during class time with qualified tutor Gerard Noonan.

Vacancies available for term 4; contact 0408622819 if interested.

Yass High School - Orientation Day

Yass Montessori Fundraising Event

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 Community Carols - Sunday 7 December

Let's Celebrate Party Hire

2025 Christmas Card Design Competition

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.