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- Principal's Report
- Religious Education
- Sports News
- Lacey Library News
- Playgroup on Tomorrow
- Uniform Shop
- Sacrament of Confirmation - Registrations Close This Friday
- Altar Servers Needed
- Readiness for School Information Session
- Yass Valley Library - Science Week Activities
- Gunning Library - Sensory Storytime
- Cancer Council - Nutrition Snippets
Dear Parents, Teachers and Students,
Welcome Back for Term 3
I would like to extend a very warm welcome to Term 3 to all students, families and staff, especially those new to our school community. I trust that the two-week break provided an opportunity to refresh and unwind, and that all are now ready to take on the challenges of a new term. It’s been lovely catching up with students on the playground and hearing about their holiday break. We have a busy term ahead of us, with lots of exciting things planned; the calendar on our school website (https://mtcarmel.nsw.edu.au/calendar) is kept up-to-date with all events, but reminders will always be published in the Carmeletta, too. For your information, some important upcoming dates for this term include:
31 July – 100 Days of Kindergarten
9-11 August – Year 5 Camp to Warrambui
10 August – Year 6 Excursion to the ACT Jewish Museum
11 August – Yass SPIN Foundation Pyjama Day
15 August – Mt Carmel Day Celebrations
21-25 August – Book Week
14 September – School Extravaganza Concert
NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC Week was celebrated during the school holidays, and it is an important time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is also an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest continuous living cultures on earth. To mark NAIDOC Week, the Year 6 classes and their teachers, Mrs Karakotas, and I will be travelling to Goulburn on Thursday to participate in the Northern Region NAIDOC Mass at the Goulburn Cathedral. Then, on Friday morning at 9am, 1KG will be leading the school in a NAIDOC Week Prayer Service in the PAC; families are welcome to attend.
Attendance - Every Day Counts
A reminder that any student absence is required to be explained promptly, preferably with an absentee note submitted via Compass. Notwithstanding the importance to public health of keeping children at home when they are sick, it is worth remembering that many small absences can quickly add up to have a big impact on your child’s learning – if your child misses as little as one day per fortnight, this equates to almost three full terms by the end of primary school.
The Catholic Education Attendance Policy identifies the following levels of attendance:
- Excellent Attendance: 95% and above (e.g. 2.5 days absence or less in a term or 10 absences over a year)
- Regular Attendance: 90-94.9% (e.g. 2.6 to 5 days absence in a term or 10.1 to 20 absences over a year)
- Emerging Absenteeism: 80-89.9% (e.g. 5.1 to 10 days absence in a term or 20.1 to 40 absences over a year)
- Chronic Absenteeism: Less than 80% (e.g. more than 10 days absence in a term or 40 absences over a year)
To this point in the year, our school data indicates Year 6 as being the only year group with attendance falling in the ‘Regular’ range, with all others ranging from 83 to 89%. I am very aware that Term 2 was a hotbed of bugs and germs, but hopefully, as we come out of the winter flu-season, we will see a rise in all year levels’ attendance so that everyone can make the most of their learning in Semester 2.
Mt Carmel Day
The actual date of Mt Carmel Day is July 16, which falls almost every year in the school holidays. Our previous practice has been to celebrate the Feast of Our lady of Mt Carmel at the end of Week 1, but this year we have decided to move the celebration of our school’s Feast Day to August 15, which is the Feast of the Assumption – another important day on the church’s calendar in honour of Mary. So on Tuesday in Week 5, we will celebrate with a whole-school Mass and a day of fun activities. More information on the day will follow, closer to the event.
Sacrament of Confirmation
The Catholic Parish of St Augustine's Yass invites children baptised in our tradition, who have made their First Holy Communion and are in Year 6 or beyond, to continue their journey in faith by preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation, which will be celebrated on Sunday 24 September 2023. Parents are reminded that registration is required by this Friday 21 July. The link below will take you to the parish website, where you can download a registration form.
https://staug-yass.org.au/wp/sacraments/confirmation/
May God’s peace be in your families,
Michael Green
Principal
Religious Education in the Classroom
Welcome to Term 3! It is fantastic to see everyone after the holidays and I hope you have had a restful break with family and friends. Last term, Kindergarten students visited St Augustine’s Church to explore God’s house and look for images of the Holy Family.
Church Drawings by KJG
Religious Life of Mt Carmel School
NAIDOC Mass - On Thursday 20 July, the Year 6 students will attend a special Mass at St Peter and Paul's in Goulburn. Mt Carmel School has organised transport for students and staff.
NAIDOC Prayer Service - On Friday 21 July, 1KG will lead a prayer service at 9am in the PAC. Parents and families are welcome to attend.
Mt Carmel’s Mini Vinnies News
Vinnies Winter Appeal
Thank you to all the students, staff, and families who supported Mt Carmel’s Vinnies Winter Appeal. At the end of Term 2, Mt Carmel’s Mini Vinnies team delivered the baskets to the Conference’s pantry. All donations were greatly appreciated by St Augustine’s Conference Yass.
Prayer
Prayer to the Blessed Mother of Mount Carmel
"O most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendour of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me you are my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in this necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands.
Amen.”
Parish News
Sacrament of Confirmation 2023
Registration Cut Off Date - Friday 21 July. Strictly no registrations will be accepted after this date unless via negotiation with Fr Peter. The registration form and timetable have now been updated and can be found here: https://staug-yass.org.au/wp/sacraments/confirmation/.
Parish Mass
Click on this link for further details http://staug-yass.org.au/wp/sacraments/.
Eva Karakotas
Religious Education Coordinator
Love One Another
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” John 15:12
Gecko Sport
Geoff will be back to run lacrosse sessions with us this term every Tuesday for 8 weeks. Years 3 and 4 will have sessions in weeks 2-5 and Years 5 and 6 will have sessions in weeks 6-9. We look forward to the fun and enthusiasm Geoff brings to our sport lessons.
Trials
Please check the C & G website and the Facebook page for information about upcoming events https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/calendar.
Ted Dunstan
Sports Coordinator
NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge
Students who are completing the 2023 Premier’s Reading Challenge have just 4 weeks to go. The challenge will conclude on Friday 18 August 2023.
If your child has completed the challenge in previous years they can log on to the Premier’s Reading Challenge website using their existing login details.
www.premiersreadingchallenge.nsw.edu.au
If your child is completing the challenge for the first time, please email me at natalie.broers@cg.catholic.edu.au and I will provide you with login details.
Read with Me Wednesdays
Every lunchtime students are welcome to come to the library and enjoy reading time and other quiet activities.
This term we will be having Read with Me Wednesdays. Students are invited to visit the library at lunchtime each Wednesday and enjoy a book with a friend. Students can come to the library with a friend or find one when they get there. Our Year 5 library monitors will also be available to read books with our younger students.
Term 3 Dates
Premier’s Reading Challenge concludes - Week 5 Friday 18 August
Book Week - Week 6 Monday 21 August - Friday 25 August
Book Week Parade - Week 6 Friday 25 August
Author Visit - Sarah Davis - Week 8 Wednesday 6 September
Nat Broers
Teacher Librarian
The Mt Carmel School Uniform Shop is open each Tuesday afternoon between 2.30pm– 4.00pm during school terms.
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.
Please note we are currently waiting on an order of Size 8 Long Sleeve Polo Shirts. I was advised last week that they will not arrive until mid August. As soon as they arrive, they will be sent home to those students waiting on them. Apologies for the delay.
Back to School Vouchers - Back to School Vouchers can only be used directly at the front office. They can not be added to a Qkr order. Please note all Back to School Vouchers must be used by 30 June 2023.
All Qkr! orders placed before 2pm each Tuesday will be bundled up and sent home with your child on Wednesday 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 so the correct size/item can be sent home.
The Catholic Parish of St Augustine Yass invites children baptised in our tradition, who have made their First Holy Communion and are in Year 6 or beyond to continue their journey in faith by preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation which will be celebrated on the 24 September 2023.
Registrations and information is available on the St Augustine's website - https://staug-yass.org.au/wp/sacraments/confirmation/.
Registrations close this Friday 21 July.
Children who wish to be an Altar Server please contact the Parish Office or Mt Carmel Office. Training will be given to those children wishing to participate.
Children need to have received the sacrament of First Holy Communion.
For further information contact the Parish Office on 6226 1086 or Mt Carmel front office on 6226 3357.
Are you ready for some FREE science-based shows at the Memorial Hall for Science Week?
On Tuesday 15 August the Yass Valley Library is running two shows for curious kids - and curious adults! Dr. Graham Walker is a Canberra-based science educator. His shows aim to motivate and inspire young people and families, fostering positive attitudes to science and showing them the science in their everyday lives. More information to come, but please save the date.
Dr Graham’s Science FUNomena
ALL AGES 3.30pm – 4.30pm
What are your favourite scientific phenomena? Is it boiling nitrogen, forces or even explosions? From marshmallow bazookas to leaf-blower levitated basketball, this interactive show is jammed with new science stuff from Dr Graham’s garage-lab along with some classic experiments for a super special Yasss science week show… guaranteed to make your cranium curious and your laughs loud! Come and celebrate the fun and wonder of science as we uncover the fun in phenomena.
Dr Graham’s Little Scientists’ Show
PRE-SCHOOL AND FAMILIES 2pm – 2.45pm
Explore how you can discover remarkable things about your world in this fun and interactive science show specially for young scientists (3-6 years old) – but fun for the whole family. We’ll explore how to do a science experiment, observe the results, and use the new ideas you uncovered to create amazing inventions – from marshmallow cannons to leaf blower hovercrafts! This show is all about the scientific process, being curious and creative, and using science to make the world a better – and heaps more fun – place!
