Walkathon
At last week’s assembly, the SRC launched our 2019 Walkathon, which will be held on Friday 18 October, Week 1 next term. This year we are raising funds for the much-needed refurbishment of our Infants’ playground. Our fundraising target is $10 000, and the SRC proposed a Crazy Hair Day for the walkathon to celebrate if we reach our target, and to provide an additional incentive, if the target is surpassed, I will shave my head! Walkathon cards must be returned by Tuesday Week 1 so that we can complete our tally before Friday; I hope that the school holidays provide an opportunity for students to collect sponsorship from neighbours, friends and families.


Lids for Kids Mufti Day Friday
Mt Carmel students and families have been collecting plastic bottle lids since the start of the term for Envision, who recycle the plastic to manufacture prosthetic limbs for children. We set a target of 10 000 lids and I am very happy to say that last week Mrs Harvey delivered precisely that haul to Lids 4 Kids and our reward for meeting that challenge is a Mufti Day this Friday.


Children’s Week Creative Story Writing Competition
Children’s Week is a national celebration of children’s rights, talents and citizenship and is held around Universal Children's Day, which is held on the fourth Wednesday of October in Australia. This year, as part of the Children’s Week celebrations, the Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People is holding a creative story competition. Children are invited to write a short, creative story—only 200 to 500 words—about an issue of importance to them and submit it online by Sunday 6 October, the middle weekend of the school holidays. So, if your child enjoys writing and is looking for a way to fill in some time in the first week of the holidays, this competition could be for them. A flier with more information can be found attached to this newsletter.

Scooter Safety
Over the last week or so I have received several reports of Mt Carmel students riding scooters to and from school in a very dangerous manner, including riding without a helmet, riding across crossings without slowing down or checking for traffic, riding in the middle of the road near the crest of a hill, and riding across carpark driveways without slowing or checking for traffic. Scooters are tremendous fun to ride and I absolutely encourage all students to, where possible, seek active ways to travel to and from school but safety is paramount. If your child travels independently to or from school, whether by scooter, bike, bus or on foot, please give them regular reminders about pedestrian and traffic safety.

Yass Book Hunt
During the school holidays there will be a town-wide book hunt. Children are invited to find each of the 18 different book titles and 7 different book characters hidden in shop windows around town. Entry forms will be sent home this week and, when completed, must be submitted in the entry box at Yass Boots and Buckles. Next term, on Monday 28 October, Mt Carmel will take part in the Yass and Surrounding Education Centres Book Parade, including story reading in Banjo Patterson Park, author talks at the Memorial Hall and a tour of Yass Library. A flier with more information can be found attached to this newsletter.


High School Transition
Times of change can be exciting, but also challenging and sometimes scary; and the transition from Primary School to High School causes worries for many students. On Monday 21 October the Community Engagement Officer from Headspace Goulburn will be visiting Mt Carmel for a presentation to our Year 6 students about getting ready for High School, including self-care skills and stress management.


Happy Holidays
My sincere thanks to all teachers, students and families for a wonderful and hard-working Term 3. I hope that everyone has a restful and enjoyable holiday break, that all who are travelling return safely home, and that everyone comes back to school refreshed and ready for a strong finish to the school year. Please note that there is no pupil-free day at the start of Term 4 and students return on Monday 14 October in full summer uniform. 

May God’s peace be in your families,