Principal's Report
Dear Parents, Teachers and Students,
The Jubilee Year – Pilgrims of Hope
In this week’s Carmeletta, I will draw your attention to the distinctly maritime symbols in the Pilgrims of Hope logo. There are a number of significant gospel stories and miracles involving water – Jesus calming a storm, walking on water, travelling by boat or fishing with the disciples. The waves underneath the four figures indicate that life’s pilgrimage does not always move in calm waters. Life’s circumstances and the events of the world often demand a greater call to hope, and because of this we see that the lower part of the cross has been turned into an anchor, which stands out in the wave. The anchor has often been used as a metaphor of hope and, as a matter of fact, the 'Anchor of Hope' is the name given in maritime jargon to the reserve anchor used by vessels involved in emergency manoeuvres to stabilise the boat during storms.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Jubilee Year, go to https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en/giubileo-2025/segni-del-giubileo.html.
Anyone who watches the news will be aware of Pope Francis’ current health concerns. As a part of the world-wide Catholic community, we join the faithful in prayer:
Loving God,
As Francis, our beloved pope, suffers from grave illnesses, we come before you in prayer.
We ask you to look with mercy on your servant Francis, who has served you devotedly and tirelessly as a Jesuit, a priest, an archbishop, a cardinal and as pope.
Most of all, he has served you as a faithful Christian sharing the love, mercy and compassion that your Son showed to all he encountered in his public ministry, especially those who were poor or in any way struggling.
During his papacy, Francis has striven to imitate your Son by reaching out to all who were feeling abandoned, ignored or neglected, making it his special task to care for those who were in any way sick.
As Francis himself now faces serious and complex illnesses, help the doctors, nurses and medical team who care for him, help him bear any pain with grace and help him to heal quickly.
Send your Holy Spirit, your own breath, into his weakened lungs to heal him, inspire him and raise him up again so that he may live out his vocation as the Vicar of Christ.
But if it is your will, loving God, to take him to yourself, let his passing into new life be painless and peaceful.
We ask all this in your Holy Name.
Amen.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast
On Tuesday 4 March, next week, we will be holding our traditional Pancake Breakfast, and all students and families are invited to join us.
Pancakes will be served from the Food-Tech room (just through the red doors that go up to the Music Room and Uniform Shop) from 7:30am. All dietary needs will be catered for, but please RSVP using the following link to help with our planning and to make sure no-one misses out. We also wait with bated-breath to see which house will be victorious in our annual Pancake Race!
RSVP Here: https://mtcarmelsyass.schoolzineplus.com/form/20
Ash Wednesday
Next week we will be celebrating Ash Wednesday, the day that marks the start of the season of Lent – a time of prayer, almsgiving and fasting in preparation for the celebration of Easter. Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the forehead. The ashes symbolise the dust from which God made us and to which we will all, one day, return.
On Ash Wednesday, 3 Red will lead a prayer service in the PAC at 9am, in which our community will receive ashes on their foreheads as a symbol of humility and penance. As always, parents are most welcome to attend.
Project Compassion, Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten appeal also begins next week, and we encourage each family to contribute to this appeal via the Project Compassion Box that your child will take home. Many will be familiar with the idea of giving something up for Lent; however, this is also a time of reflection of where we can listen to God’s word and follow his call through our loving actions. Lent is the perfect time to commit ourselves to a positive action for the good of others.
Playgroup
The Mt Carmel Playgroup will commence tomorrow, running each Thursday between 9 and 11am. All families with pre-school aged children are welcome, so please spread the word if you have a family friend who may enjoy attending. The cost of $3 for the first child and $1 for each subsequent child in the family covers morning tea and art/craft supplies. Thanks to Amber Maher for leading our Playgroup.
Kinder Rest Days
The first few weeks of school have flown! A reminder that next Wednesday is the last of our Kinder Rest Days and Kindergarten students will commence full weeks from 12 March, Week 6.
Canteen News
Thanks to all families for their patience as we get the Canteen up and running for 2025. We are now recruiting for a Canteen Manager – a temporary position until the end of Term 2.
Please use the link below for detailed information, including how to apply.
https://careers.cg.catholic.edu.au/cw/en/job/505106/canteen-manager-mount-carmel-school-yass-nsw
NAPLAN
The annual National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) commences on Wednesday 12 March, Week 6, for our Year 3 and Year 5 students. We treat participation in NAPLAN as just another day at school, so please don’t feel the need to do anything at home to help your child prepare for any any of the tests; a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast are the best assistance you can provide to help your child perform at their best. If you have any concerns about your child’s participation in NAPLAN, there are a variety of adjustments that can be put in place to assist. Please contact our Classroom Support Teacher, Mrs Allan (melissa.allan@cg.catholic.edu.au), to discuss which adjustments may be appropriate.
There will be an opportunity for students who have are away to sit catch-up tests; please email jan.harvey@cg.catholic.edu.au if your child is absent and you would still like them to complete NAPLAN.
Northern Region Swimming
Congratulations to all students who participated in the Northern Region Swimming Carnival last Thursday. We are extremely proud of your determination and competitive spirit towards swimming at representative level, and for the pride you take in representing Mt Carmel – well done! A special thank you Mr Dunstan, and to all staff and parents for your assistance at these events.
The Archdiocesan Swimming Carnival will be held on Monday 3 March in Boorowa. Best of luck to Mabel Adie, Fletcher Lees, Jack Maher, Zara McEvoy, Evie Mitchell, Oliver Ryan and Neva Welsh.
This Friday is Schools Clean Up Australia Day, so we will be giving the school grounds and immediate surrounds a good going-over to do our bit for the environment. If you have child-sized garden gloves for your child to wear, please send them on Friday, clearly labelled with their name, of course. There’s no need to buy a pair specially if you don’t have them on hand (pun intended, sorry!), because we do have spare gardening gloves and disposable gloves at school for anyone who needs them.
Archdiocesan Catholic Leaders’ Retreat
I will be away for most of the next fortnight, with the Archdiocesan Catholic Leaders’ Day and Retreat, followed by a brief period of leave. Mrs Jan Harvey will be Acting Principal in my absence.
May God’s peace be in your families,
Michael Green
Principal