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 Year 6 Camp, the Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival, the end of year Christmas Concert and our Year 6 Graduation, to name just a few.

Class Placements 2024
Parents are invited to email me with regard to any considerations you may have for your child’s class placement for 2024. 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 20 October 2023. 

Please be aware that, although all requests received are given due consideration, there is no commitment that your request can 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 2024.

School Counsellor
This term we welcome Prisca Chirigo as our new CatholicCare school counsellor; Prisca will be at Mt Carmel on Mondays and Wednesdays. The school counsellor works collaboratively with students, families, teachers, the school executive, and other professionals to help create a safe, healthy and supportive school environment that strengthens connections between home, school, and the community. Counsellors support students with a range of issues related to learning, peer and family relationships, and managing emotions. If you believe that your child may benefit from speaking with our counsellor, please contact the school office to receive a referral form.

Year 6 Camp
Next Wednesday, Year 6 will be heading to Narrabeen for Camp at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation. Payment for the camp is due by this Friday. The bus will be departing Mt Carmel at 8am on Wednesday morning and is due to arrive back around 5pm on Friday. The following link contains details of camp expectations and a packing list, for your information.

https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/sport-and-recreation-centres/school-camps/parent-information-school-camps

Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival
The Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival will be held next Friday 20 October. Given that, between COVID and inclement weather, it is the first time the event has been held in several years, there will be many students and families who have not previously attended. All students from Years 2 to 5 have been allocated a team in their sport of preference (Year 6 will be on Camp), 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 will be commencing next Wednesday 18 October, Week 2, and will run for three consecutive weeks. We will have staggered start-times commencing at 9:20am to reduce anxiety at drop-off and minimise congestion in the classrooms. Parents of new Kinder students will receive their child’s starting time via email by the end of this week. Orientation concludes at 12:30pm. 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’.

Dyslexia Information Session
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, and tomorrow (Thursday) at 5:30pm there will be an information session about Dyslexia at the Yass Valley Library. Please see the flier attached to this newsletter for further information.

May God’s peace be in your families, 

Michael Green
Principal

Religious Education in the Classroom

Welcome to Term 4! I hope you have had a restful break with family and friends.

In Term 3, 2SS’s Religious Education program focused on stewardship of creation and examined the question “How can we grow to make a better world for me, others and the environment?” During my visit I asked students what they thought was important about being stewards of our world. 

Some interesting insights from students:

Asher: Not to litter in the water.

Eddie: It is important to look after our world and help others and not litter.

Hannah: Not to cut down trees because it affects our breathing.

Connie: Clean up all the rubbish that people are throwing away.

Angus: Don’t ruin land like digging holes because it can affect the landscape.

Adelaide: Not to build too much so nature can grow easily. Be kind to other people.

Jax: Don’t hurt people or animals.

Religious Life of Mt Carmel School

October is Mission Month and mission means connecting with other people, helping those in need, sharing the Gospel message through our actions. In this month, we go out of our way to help others, to be kind and thoughtful. Schools are invited to engage with mission in an holistic way within the head, heart, hands model: encouraging a learning mind, an open heart and hands for action. 

Crazy Socks and Favourite Jersey Fundraiser 2023
Thank you to all the students, staff, and families who supported the Fundraiser event. We raised $366 for Catholic Mission! 

Prayer

O God, who by the light 

of the Holy Spirit,

did instruct the hearts of the faithful,

Grant that by the same 

Holy Spirit we may be

Truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolations.

Through the same

Christ Our Lord.

Amen

Parish Mass
Click on this link for further details http://staug-yass.org.au/wp/sacraments/. 

Enjoy your week!
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

Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival 
Our school will be participating in the Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival next Friday. The format of the day will be a gala day with schools playing in a round-robin competition. 

Date:  Friday 20 October 2023 (Friday Week 2, Term 4)

Venue:  Boorowa Showgrounds, Ballyryan Road, Boorowa.

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 a maximum of 10 players per team (7 on the field) and the Netball teams will consist of a maximum 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 5

It is an expectation that all Year 2-5 students attend the event. Unfortunately, the carnival clashes with Year 6 camp this year so they will be unable to attend. 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 still require referees, scorers and coaches for the day, if you are able to assist, please fill out the Google form below.

Boorowa Touch and Netball Google form

FIRST GAMES COMMENCE 9.00 AM SHARP.
Note: all games 20 mins duration – continuous (one game finishes and the next starts).

It is advised that all teams be at the grounds by 8.30 am due to the amount of traffic.

All first round games start at 9.00am sharp and the carnival will conclude at 3.20 pm, with the last game starting at 3.00 pm.

Draws and any additional information will go out in next week’s newsletter as we have not received them yet. Just a reminder that transport to the event is via private car. If you have any questions or concerns regarding transport, please contact me through the office or via email: edward.dunstan@cg.catholic.edu.au.

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

We are looking forward to a fun day!


NRL League Stars
The NRL are l running a 6-week League Stars afternoon program in Yass again this year in Term 4 on the Mt Carmel ovals. The program will start in Week 3, Term 4 on the 23/10/23 and run for 6 weeks until the 27/11/23. Sessions will start at 3:30pm and run until 4:30pm. The NRL have also kindly offered to run two introductory clinics in school on the first two Tuesdays of Term 4.


Girls Cricket Blast Clinics
Cricket NSW are running a four week Cricket Blast program every Tuesday lunchtime in Weeks 3-6 this term. Registrations are through PlayHQ using the link below.

Click here - Girls Cricket Blast Clinics

You will need to create a PlayHQ account to register if you don’t already have one.

Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Touch Football Trial Information 2024
Date: Friday 24th November 2023 Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Venue: Southwell Park, Lyneham, ACT
Registration: Registration is through the CSNSW Sport Website; https://csnsw.sport/help/help-guide-for-parents

The Mt Carmel School Uniform Shop is open each Tuesday afternoon between 2.30pm – 4.00pm during school terms.

Healthy Lunch Box Examples

Sunsmart Snippet