Dear Parents, Teachers and Students,


Year 5 Camp
This morning our Year 5 students and their teachers, Ms Grace, Mrs Field and Mrs Luckie, departed for Warrambui for three wonderful days at the Year 5 Camp. I will be joining them this form this evening and am looking forward to spending the next two days in an alternative learning environment with everybody. Camp is a wonderful opportunity for students to try new things, push themselves outside their comfort zone and show their strengths in ways that are just not possible in the classroom. 


St Patrick’s Day
This Sunday is St Patrick’s Day and we’re going green on Friday to celebrate! Mt Carmel School has a long tradition of celebrating St Patrick’s Day, dating back to our school’s foundation by the Irish Sisters of Mercy in the 1870s. The day will begin with a Prayer Assembly in the PAC, hosted by 3 Green (how fitting!) and Mrs Shoring. All students are invited to wear green and bring a gold coin donation. We are also going to host a St Patrick’s Day Outdoors Disco for all our students. We will dance some Irish jigs and enjoy some Irish bands – thank you to the SRC for organising this event for our students. The SRC will be selling food and drinks at the disco and will have some fun activities for students to enjoy during their recess, so bring along some extra coins to spend and support our fundraising efforts. All raised funds will be donated to Caritas’ Project Compassion. 


NAPLAN
The annual National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) commenced today with the Year 3 Writing task – Year 5 will commence NAPLAN when they return from camp, and we anticipate that all tests for both year groups will be completed before the end of next week. We treat participation in NAPLAN as just another day at school, so please don’t feel the need to do anything at home to prepare you child for 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. There will be an opportunity for students who have been 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.


Yass Show
This weekend is the Yass Show, and all classes have been working hard to produce a magnificent array of artworks, which will be on display in the Pavilion – if you’re visiting the Show, make sure you check them out! And this year the Gardening Club has entered the Scarecrow Competition. There has been lots of fun around at the school garden at recess and lunch times as our scarecrow has been taking shape. Many thanks to Mrs Curtois for her work with the Gardening Club, and to Mrs Shoring for taking all our art entries up to the Showgrounds. I’m also looking forward to seeing all the other entries that students from our school submit personally – artworks, baking and cooking, lego creations and more.


Sacraments
Next Thursday evening, 14 of our students will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. They have been preparing with their families and classmates, with the help of the Parish Sacramental Team, for several weeks now, so Thursday will be a wonderful celebration of this milestone event in their faith journey. Congratulations, everybody!

Registrations have opened for the Sacrament of First Communion; a Compass notification with details was sent earlier today on behalf of the Parish Sacramental team. 

May God’s peace be in your families, 

Michael Green
Principal

Religious Education in the Classroom
Welcome to Week 7! Year 2 students are examining the theme of the dignity of the human person: People seek to build and heal relationships through forgiveness and reconciliation. During my visit to 2 Gold, students started to unpack the concept of relationships, starting with getting to know how they learn best to build positive relationships.

Some interesting insights from a few students describing what helps them learn best to build positive relationships:

Claudia: I learn best through my mistakes.

Evie: I learn by listening.

Benny: I learn by listening to the teacher and watching documentaries.

Ted: I like to learn from watching people when something has happened.

Noah: I read books and I write, and that is what helps me learn.

Hayden: I learn by having a go at things. 

Religious Life of Mt Carmel School

St Patrick’s Day Prayer Service
Mt Carmel School is celebrating St Patrick’s Day on Friday 15 March and 3 Green will lead a prayer service at 9am in the PAC. Families and friends are warmly invited to attend. 

Project Compassion
Thank you for your support and donations for this great cause. 

Every year, countless people turn Lent into a demonstration of faith, love and generosity. You can be a part of this incredible community, who believe that there are simple actions we can all take to “be more” for our world.

Please remember to send in your donations for Project Compassion and help make the world a fairer place for all. Let us be more! 

St Patrick's Day to Friday 15 March Caritas Project Compassion Fundraiser The SRC have organised an outdoors disco at recess with some novelty ideas - raffle tickets, green Frogs in a Pond, green pancakes, Irish Limbo, Shamrock logo using facepaint, tattoos, photo booth. Prices range from 50c to $1.00.

Gospel and Reflection

Luke 9:28-36
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%209%3A28-36&version=NIV 

Reflection 
Our aim, as modern day disciples, is to share our encounters with all whom we meet. The evangelised becomes the evangeliser and the mission of the Church continues. We want to recognise our moments of encounter, hear God speak to us and be able to pray “Master, it is good for us to be here” and then go out and share it with the world (Luke Maher, Religious Education and CSYMA Officer ‑ Canberra and Goulburn).


Canberra-Goulburn Cursillo Retreat
12 - 14 April 2024, St Clements Retreat Centre, Galong 
A Cursillo retreat offers you the opportunity to deepen your faith life through a program of talks, meditations and prayer. Consider Christ's invitation to renew your relationship with Him and share friendship with others. 

Contact Irma and Joe: irmandjoe@gmail.com 

Info and registration https://bit.ly/cursillo24. 


St Augustine’s Parish News
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Please pray for the children as they prepare for their first Sacrament of Reconciliation on Thursday 21 March, 6:30 pm, at St Augustine’s Church.

Lachlan Black
Mikayla Black
Oliver Irwin
Hannah Maher
Benjamin O’Reilly
Charlotte Osborne
George Pigeon
Eleena Mattappallil
Eve Davis
Cody Drage
Evelyn Platt
Dominic Rowland
William Walsh
Marie Elsa Noelle Baptiste

On Sunday 10 March, children focused on the light of God and how it shows us the way during Lent.

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

Enjoy your week!
Eva Karakotas
Religious Education Coordinator

Mt Carmel Swimming Carnival

Mt Carmel Swimming Carnival 2024 - Age Champions

Medallions will be presented on Friday after Mt Carmel awards.

Gecko Sport
Gecko Sport  hockey sessions continued this week for years 3-6 students and will run every Tuesday from weeks 6-9.

Canberra Goulburn Netball Trials 
Congratulations to all those who trialled for this event on Tuesday and congratulations to Alicia Hardy who made it on to the Canberra Goulburn Netball team and will compete at the MacKillop Netball Selections on Friday 10th May, at Southwell Park, Lyneham.

Canberra Goulburn U11's & U12's Rugby League Trials
Congratulations to all the boys who trialled at this event yesterday and congratulations to Henry Gooley who made it into the Canberra Goulburn U12’s Rugby League team and will compete at the MacKillop Rugby League Selections on Friday 10th May, at Southwell Park, Lyneham.


Mt Carmel Cross Country Carnival
Our cross country carnival is booked in for Tuesday 9th April at Walker Park from 9-11am. Get training!

Ted Dunstan
Sports Coordinator

Thank you
Thank you to Carrie Driver for a donation of books to the library.

NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge 2024
The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge has commenced for 2024. All students K-6 are invited to complete the 2024 Challenge. 

The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students. While completing the challenge students are able to experience quality literature from a variety of authors and literature styles.

Students can include books read from the end of the 2023 challenge, August 18 2023 on their 2024 reading record. The 2024 challenge will conclude on Friday 23 August 2024.

Some of the PCR rules have been updated for the 2024 challenge. Please refer to the rules page on the website for further details.

The booklist has been updated for the 2024 challenge. Click on the booklist on the website for further information. Many of the PRC books are available in our school library.

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.

Kind regards,
Natalie Broers
Teacher Librarian

Congratulations to the recipients of last week's Mt Carmel Awards.
Awards will be handed out at morning lines on Friday morning.

K Blue Frankie Morris Logan Bennett	K Gold Charlotte Aksenov Acacia Aniversario
1 Green Claire Kundolam Felix Inglis Liam Coster	1 Red Evelyn Harris Willem Kunneke
2 Blue Keziah Mathew William Rothwell	2 Gold Rosalind Clark Charlie Butt
3 Green Ivy Worboys Eddy Finnigan	3 Red Eleena Mattappallil Violet Richardson Barney Rainger
4 Blue Neva Welsh Richard Jol Charley Shoring	4 Gold Gracie Lyons Billy Field Gabe Dunstan
6 Blue Xavi Holm Hunter Cullen Patrick Dawes	6 Gold Lily Cassidy Rory McCall Justice-Jay Elliott-Miners

The Mt Carmel School Uniform Shop will now be open each Thursday afternoon between 2.30pm and 4.00pm during school terms.

Please note that our Medium Hats are currently out of stock, an order has been placed, but we are just waiting on its arrival. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. 

The Mt Carmel Community Council will commence operating their Clothing Pool this Thursday, 14 March from 2.30pm, and will be set up at the bottom of the Uniform Shop. 

The aim of the Clothing Pool is to supplement the Uniform Shop and assist families to source second-hand uniforms at reasonable prices. Any profit made from the clothing pool will be directly donated to the Vinnies Food appeal generally held twice a year.

The clothing pool will be established through the donation of Mt Carmel uniforms that are no longer required by the family. The items may be too small, the children have left Mt Carmel etc. Donations can be left in tubs located at the front office. 

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.

A Zoom information session will be held online on 25 March 7:30pm, after registrations have closed. The children MUST attend a commitment mass at St Augustine’s Church Yass on Sunday 7 April 2024 at 10.15am. There are also two preparation liturgies (Thursday 9 May and Thursday 30 May), both of which start at 6:30pm. The first liturgy will be held in the Lovatt Chapel and the second in St. Augustine's Church in Yass. Please make note of these dates in your calendar. As part of the lead up to Communion, your child is also required to attend at least 5 weekend masses prior to celebration of the sacrament on Sunday 2 June 2024. Please have a member of the Sacramental Team or the priest celebrating mass sign your passport on each occasion.

We look forward to meeting with you and helping to prepare your child for this beautiful sacrament. If you have any further queries please email the team at sacramentalteamyass@gmail.com.

Back to school snack solutions – Healthy Lunch Box