Dear Parents, Teachers and Students,


Mt Carmel Day and Feast of the Assumption
Because we can’t celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel on its actual date – July 16, which falls during the school holidays – we will be celebrating our school’s foundation on another Feast Day dedicated to Mary: the Feast of the Assumption, tomorrow, Thursday 15 August. There will be a variety of activities for students to participate in throughout the day to foster school spirit and learn about our history. A special treat will be provided for everyone at Morning Tea (all dietary needs will be catered for) and Fr Peter will celebrate Mass with us at 9:30am in St Augustine’s Church. Parents who would like to join us for Mass are most welcome to attend (the Feast of the Assumption is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church). Students will wear their regular school uniform on the day.


Trivia Night
On Saturday 3 August, the Mt Carmel School Community Council Trivia Night was held at the Golfie, and it was a wonderful evening of community-building fun! The event raised just over $4000 for our Infants Sandpit shade project, which would not have been possible without the generous support of our many sponsors: Camilla Duffy Photography, Clonakilla, Coles, DJ's Family Butchery, Four Winds Vineyard, Glo. Dental Whitening, Let's Gather, Mollymook Golf Club, Murrumbateman Chocolate Co, Murrumbateman Landscape Constructions, National Dinosaur Museum, National Museum of Australia, Rydeau Plumbing, SMD Skin and Beauty, Spinifex Tennis, Sonic Fitness, Sophie Art Collective, Tennis Australia, The Valley Boxing, Thunderbird Motel, Trader & Co, UC Caps, Yass Football Club - Redbacks, and Yazzbar.

A great deal of organisation is required behind the scenes to pull off such a great social event, so I would like to thank the Mt Carmel School Community Council – Katie Davis, Liz Da Deppo, Nat Wren and Georgina Shannon – and the Trivia Night Organising Committee members – Carly Hanns, Genevieve Parkinson, Anna Sadlowski, Tara Davaris, Jools Clarke, Sally Aksenov, Anne Mattappallil, Katie Davis and Liz Da Deppo – for their many contributions.


Father’s Day Raffle
The Committee for the Trivia Night had such success recruiting sponsors that there were sufficient prizes on offer to also run a Father’s Day Raffle. If you would like to buy tickets, go to https://www.raffletix.com.au/?ref=hcw3t.

A flyer with prize details can be found further in this newsletter. The raffle will be drawn at school on Friday 30 August.


Book Week 2024 – Reading is Magic!
Book Week is fast approaching and our classes are all working hard to complete displays for our Library based on this year’s short-listed books. This year we will be having our Book Week Parade next Wednesday 21 August at 12:30pm under the playground shadecloth. Our annual dress-up parade is a firm favourite on the school’s social calendar; parents and other relatives are warmly invited to attend. The school will be providing a sausage sizzle lunch for students on the day of the parade and we are seeking volunteers who may be able to assist. If you are able to help, please email natalie.broers@cg.catholic.edu.au.

Because many families stay back after the parade to view the class displays in the Library, we are extending the offer to families of joining in our sausage-sizzle lunch. Sausages are provided to students free-of-charge, but to help with catering and planning we ask that family members wishing to have a sausage sandwich after the parade pre-order via the RSVP link below and contribute $2 per sandwich (paid by gold-coin on the day). Please RSVP by 3pm this Friday.

Book Week Sausage Sizzle RSVP


100 Days of Kindergarten
At the end of Week 2 we shared an exciting milestone with our youngest students…one hundred days of big school! KJG and KAA celebrated the day with an exploration of the number 100 and lots of fun activities. Thank you to Mrs Green and Mrs Abbott for organising this special event for our Kindergarten students, and to all of our Year 6 Buddies for their generous donations of party food for our celebration.


Altar Servers
The parish is recruiting Altar Servers to serve at Mass on Sunday mornings. Serving on the altar helps children to become more engaged with the Mass and to better understand its rituals. It is also a great way to encourage our children to become active citizens, with a positive attitude towards community service. 

Servers must have received the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Anyone from Year 4 and up would be most welcome to participate in this important role. Training will be provided during school hours and at Mass by the Liturgy committee and experienced servers. Please return the commitment slip (attached to this newsletter or collected from the front office) if your child would like to help with this special job.


Year 7 Enrolments - Trinity Catholic College
Trinity Catholic College Goulburn has only 14 places left for Year 7-2025. If you have a child who will be in Year 7-2025 and would like them to attend Trinity, an online enrolment needs to be completed as soon as possible. It would be appreciated if you could also ring Rachel Cosgrove on 4821 3600, to confirm that an application to Trinity has been completed.


Irish and Celtic Music Festival Children’s Workshops
On 14-15 September, as part of the Yass Irish and Celtic Music Festival, Mt Carmel will be hosting the Junior Fleadh. 

Fleadh (pronounced flah) is a Celtic word that means festival, and it is a chance for students who are interested in Irish music to come and join in free instrumental and dance workshops, culminating in a concert to showcase what the children have learned; all experience levels are welcome. More information and an RSVP link can be found further in this newsletter.


Council of Catholic Schools Parents​​​​​​​ Free Webinars for Parents and Carers
In the coming months, the Council of Catholic Schools Parents are hosting a couple of excellent webinars that parents may be interested in:

‘Consent and online boundaries: how to support your primary-aged child’ – Tuesday 20 August from 7.30pm – 8.00pm
Run by the eSafety Commissioner’s expert education and training team, the FREE live webinar addresses how children can safely navigate the online world and how to make decisions around consent and boundaries. 
This 30-minute webinar will outline strategies for parents and carers, as well as support those hard-to-have conversations.
To register click here.


'Breaking Point, with Dr Justin Coulson’ – Wednesday 11 September from 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Join Dr Justin Coulson, Australia’s leading parenting expert, as he unpacks the mental health crisis enveloping our kids. He’ll cover:

• The root causes behind the deteriorating state of mental health, and who (or what) is responsible
• The tools you need to reverse this trend for your children
• Science-backed, relationship-focused strategies to remedy school refusal
• Realistic approaches for managing screen time in a way that protects your child’s wellbeing without completely alienating them from their peers
• Creating margin in your home and family life to protect and promote mental wellness

To register click here.


Photographic Competition
As part of the celebrations of Wee Jasper Public School's 125th Anniversary, they are running a photography competition, open to all amateur photographers, with a Junior Section (up to 16 years) and an Open Section.

There are four prizes on offer:
1st - $200
2nd - $100
3rd - $50
Peoples choice - $75

The competition closes this Friday 16th August at 3pm. Drop off at Mt Carmel School office, Wee Jasper Public School or Merchant Campbell in Yass.

Only one entry per person.

Photos must be taken in the Yass Valley Region and other local areas eg. Yass, Bookham, Wee Jasper, Bowning, Binalong, Dalton, Breadalbane, Bongongo, Gunning & Sutton

Photos need to be 20cm x 25cm (8 x 10") and not mounted.

Information with the photo should include the following:

• Photographer’s name

• Category (and age if junior)

• Contact details (if a parent is the contact, please include their first name)

• Subject title and brief description (sentence)

Photographs will be displayed at Wee Jasper Public School on Saturday 31st August 2024.

Winners will be announced on Saturday 31st August at closing ceremony around 2pm.

Entries can be collected after 2pm on Saturday 31st August 2024.

May God’s peace be in your families, 

Michael Green
Principal

Religious Education in the Classroom
Welcome to Week 4! Year 1 students have been learning about Jesus’ Jewish community focusing on the below key questions:

• What was daily life like for Jewish communities in the time of Jesus?
•  How was daily life in the time of Jesus recorded? 
• How has family daily life changed or remained the same over time? 
• How can the past help understand the present? 
• How is the past part of people’s lives today?
• How was Jesus a good friend and how can we be a good friend? 

Title: 1Green made a Being a Good Friend book and shared it with their friends.

Year 6 students’ Religious Education unit examines how the Church is a community that transcends time and space. Students were provoked with images and the question: How do children and teenagers around the world demonstrate their faith? I asked a few students what this meant to them and below are their answers:

Rosie: Helping others through volunteering shows our faith.

Rory: Donating shows that we are working together.

Henry: Mt Carmel School shows this through the Vinnies’ Winter Appeal donations.

Adam: Mt Carmel School organises fundraisers to help others in need in our community.

Religious Life of Mt Carmel School
Saint Mary Mackillop’s Prayer Service - Thank you to Ms Lees and 1 Red for preparing and leading a beautiful prayer service. 

Mt Carmel Day Celebrations
Mt Carmel School will be celebrating the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary and the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mt Carmel with a Mass on Thursday 15 August 2024, 9:30 am, at St Augustine’s Church. Students will participate in Mt Carmel Day activities and will enjoy a special cupcake for recess.

Parents and the wider community are invited to celebrate our Mass in honour of Mary. 

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.”

St Augustine’s Parish New

Sacraments of Confirmation 2024
Sunday 22 September, 10.30am, St Augustine's Church

Please pray for the children as they prepare for their Confirmation

Alicia Hardy
Ava Leighton
Chase Collins
Darcy Bell
Fletcher Douglas
Harry Donoghue
Isabella Dunstan
Isabelle Pidgeon
Jack Butt
Josephine Streatfeild
Lucy Miller
Natalia O’Connor
Olivia Scanlon
Phoenix Streatfeild
Sophia Da Deppo
Zali Lenon
Zoe Seselja

Children's Liturgy

The next one is on Sunday 25 August 2024. All children are invited to be part of the activities centred around the particular weekend’s Gospel. 

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

Enjoy your week!
Eva Karakotas
Religious Education Coordinator

Hail Mary, full of Grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Luke 1:26-28

The Todd Woodbridge Cup is a primary school team tennis competition for Stage 2 (Years 3 & 4) and Stage 3 (Years 5 & 6) students that uses modified equipment, numeric scoring, and mixed gender teams. Events are designed to be fun and inclusive, meaning it is not just for experienced tennis players. Anyone who wants to give tennis a go is encouraged to come and have a go. 

The Todd Woodbridge Cup will be held in our region on 28/8/24 (Stage 2) and 13/9/24 (Stage 3).

If you would like to nominate your child for the event, please use the links below.

Year 3/4 Todd Woodbridge Cup

Year 5/6 Todd Woodbridge Cup

*We only have 5 entries for the 5/6 event at present, not enough for a team. If you are interested, please register ASAP.

Gecko Sport
Gecko Sport will be running a 5 week fundamental movement program with our infants classes every Friday from Week 6-10. We are looking forward to all the fun and games we will have with the Gecko Sport team!

Ted Dunstan
Sports Coordinator

NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge
Congratulations to the following students who have recently completed the 2024 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge.

Oliver Drake
Lewis Gianchou
Felix Inglis
Charlie Butt
Delilah Inglis
George Pidgeon
Zoe Leahy
Fletcher Lees
Zara McEvoy
Lucy Miller
Isabelle Pidgeon

The 2024 challenge will conclude on Friday 23 August 2024. 

If you have any questions about the Premier’s Reading Challenge please email me at natalie.broers@cg.catholic.edu.au.

CBCA Book Week 2024
Book Week is a celebration of books and Australian children's authors and illustrators. This year’s theme is Reading is Magic.

Book Week Parade
There will be various activities for students to enjoy during Week 5 including a Book Week Parade on Wednesday 21 August.

Students are invited to dress up as a book character for the day. The Book Week Parade will commence at 12:30pm.

A sausage sizzle lunch will be provided for the students to celebrate this special day. Dietary requirements will be catered for. 

Open Library
At the conclusion of the parade on Wednesday all visitors are invited to the Lacey Library. Every class will have a display, based on one of the CBCA Shortlisted Books to view.

Magic Show
During our week of celebrations we will be having a Magic Show! Students are invited to perform a rehearsed magic trick at the show on Thursday at lunchtime. There will be a sign-up sheet in the library for anyone who wishes to participate. Start rehearsing your tricks now!

Visiting Illustrator/Artist/Writer
Next Monday as part of our Book Week celebrations, we will have Judy Watson visiting Mt Carmel. Judy is an award winning illustrator and artist. K-6 will be attending an interactive session with Judy. To learn more about her achievements and published works visit https://judywatson.net/about/.

Week 5 Events
Book Week - Monday 19 August - Friday 23 August - Reading is Magic

Artist and Illustrator Visit - Monday 19 August - Judy Watson 

Book Week Parade - Wednesday 21 August -Sausage sizzle lunch- All visitors are invited to the Lacey Library after the parade.

2024 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge - concludes Friday 23 August 

Kind regards,
Natalie Broers
Teacher Librarian

Congratulations to the recipients of the Week 2 Mt Carmel Awards.
These awards were handed out last Friday, 9 August, at morning assembly.

K Blue Lydia McDonald Logan Bennett	K Gold Olivia Logue Scarlett Hamilton
1 Green Ally Wren Mila Boyton Liam Coster	1 Red Poppy Sargent Rosella Jones Brock Flynn Oliver Drake Feliks Burzynski
2 Blue Dane Hewett Cooper Sadlowski	2 Gold Evie Mitchell Sasha Ramadan Hayden Spring
3 Green Angus Dando Lachlan Miller	3 Red Eleena Mattappallil Scott Tome George Pidgeon
4 Blue Alia Lees-Campbell Jack Maher	4 Gold Benji Carroll Gabriel Dunstan Vincent DaDeppo
5 Green Molly-Ann Howarth William Drake	5 Red James Roe Lachlan Walker
6 Blue Camilla Bremner Martha Whitehead Evangelique Aniversario Lewis Matthews	6 Gold Isabelle Pidgeon Ekaterina Mulcair George Ballenger

Congratulations to the recipients of the Week 3 Mt Carmel Awards.
These awards will be handed out this Friday, 16 August, at morning assembly.

K Blue Elyse Carter Hamish Lyons	K Gold Acacia Aniversario Sebastian Sadlowski Ruby Kim Rigel Barker
1 Green Winnie Smith Ollie Ryan	1 Red Phoebe Mitchell Ryan Tome
2 Blue Anna Gunthorpe Chevy Leahy	2 Gold Rafaela Tapia-Jeffrey Theodore Ward
3 Green Adalyn Harvey Ashton Dorris	3 Red Constance Potter Violet Richardson Johnathon Hamilton
4 Blue Esther Payne Cecilia Cândido Pinheiro	4 Gold Lucy Pearce Heidi Tyndall
5 Green Fletcher Lees Harrington Roser	5 Red Phoebe Reynolds MIlton McDonald
6 Blue Olivia Scanlon Teia-Rose Hackett Isabella Soeira Mendonca Chloe Caldow Harry Donoghue	6 Gold Zoe Seselja Summer Litster Isabella Dunstan Rosie Rainger

Support our school by purchasing tickets in our amazing Father's Day Raffle.

All proceeds will go towards the shade sail for the infants sandpit. Great prizes on offer. Share the link with your family and friends!

Click here to purchase your tickets!

Raffle drawn just before Father's Day - buy a ticket to win the perfect gift!

Mt Carmel’s Harry Potter Fans Celebrate JK Rowling’s Birthday 

Congratulations, McAuley! Winners of the House Spirit Olympic House Spirit Challenge- Well done!

If you would like to try Oyakodon 親子丼, click the following link - Oyakodon Recipe. 

Are you planning to have a Spring Clean over the next few weeks? Art Club has started up again this term each Tuesday at lunchtime and we would love it if you have any spare items you are no longer using to be donated to our Art Room. We have created a list of items below that would be really helpful. Thank you so much in advance! 

Any type of art or craft supply

• 
  aluminum foil
• Christmas paper
• coloured paper
• small boxes
• odd saucers/cups
• paint shirts  
• old silk flowers
• fabric
• wax paper
• glad wrap                      
• small paper                     
• sponges
• buttons
• craft jewels
• thread/needles
• craft wire
• newspaper                       
• cardboard rolls
• knitting wool                                                                  
• wallpaper              
• cookie cutters
• plastic storage bags (zip-lock style)
• plastic containers with lids (butter/margarine/chinese containers)
• beads
• sea shells
• ribbons
• egg cartons

Kind Regards
Mrs Harvey & Ms Grace

Congratulations to our incredible Community Council and their team of parent volunteers for their amazing Trivia Night event that included an incredible raffle and an outstanding silent auction last Saturday. It was enjoyed by 80 guests and there were laughs and fun had by all - This successful fundraising event raised $4081.48 for shade to be purchased for over the K-2 Sandpit which will be fabulous for our students. Congratulations to the winning trivia team: - “Van Gogh for the win!”

Please note that the Clothing Pool will be closed tomorrow, Thursday 1 August.
We apologiese for any inconvenience this may cause, but will be open again in Week 2.

The Southern Tablelands Group of the Country Women's Association of NSW, are awarding 15 Year 7 Educational Grants for 2025. If any current Year 6 student would like to apply for the 2025 Educational Grant, please collect the application form from the front office. 

Applicants must submit a letter addressing the selection criteria along with a letter from Mr Green supporting their application.

Applications close 11 October 2024.

Has your child ever thought about playing guitar?
Spaces are now avalable for 2024. Fill in the below form and drop back to the office to secure your place with Den.