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Dear Parents, Teachers and Students,
Update for Families on COVID-19
Mt Carmel School and Catholic Education continue to take advice from health authorities in relation to COVID-19. The Catholic Education Office has a team that is actively monitoring the COVID-19 situation as it develops, paying particular attention to local hotspots and organising support for schools where required. We understand that the situation is fairly fluid and we will communicate directly with you should there be any important changes in relation to our school operations in the coming weeks. We remind all families:
- If your child is unwell, they should not attend school.
- Please ensure that anyone who presents with COVID-19 symptoms in your family is tested.
- Parents should avoid routinely entering the school where possible but can attend scheduled school events and meetings with teachers where required (physical distancing and hygiene measures still apply).
Should you have any questions in relation to our school and COVID-19, please feel free to contact our office. The revised easing of Restrictions Roadmap for Schools is attached to this newsletter, for your reference.
SZapp Update
iPhone users may have been experiencing issues with SZapp, resulting in notifications from the school being received only intermittently. An updated version of the app, which addresses this issue – version 3.6.0, is available as a free download from the App Store now and we advise all iPhone users to install this version to ensure that notifications and important messages are received correctly.
Annual Satisfaction Survey
The annual satisfaction survey of parents, students and staff will be conducted on behalf of all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese this term. The surveys are designed to gather feedback from parents, staff and students about our school and will be used to inform school improvement. Responses are confidential and individuals can not be identified. The surveys will be launched via email this Friday 7 August using email addresses supplied to the school. If you do not receive an email with a link to the survey and would like to contribute to this important feedback, a link will be provided in next week’s Carmeletta.
School Photos
School Photos will be happening next Monday 10 August, Week 4. Students should wear their full academic winter uniform, including the school jumper. Please contact the school office if you would like to receive a Family Photo order form.
Feast of St Mary MacKillop
This Friday 7 August is the Feast of St Mary MacKillop and 2AH will be leading our Prayer Service to celebrate the Feast Day of Australia’s first saint. Because of COVID-19 restrictions we will not be gathering as a whole school in the PAC, rather we will be holding a school-wide simultaneous prayer service through all of our classrooms. A link will be made available for families who wish to join our prayer service on Friday morning, via SZapp.
School Counsellor
Our new school counsellor, Sharman Hampson, commences at Mt Carmel this week, each Friday and alternate Tuesdays from next week. Sharman is a social worker with many years’ experience in child and family roles as well as experience in child and adolescent mental health. She is warm and friendly and will be a wonderful addition to our school.
If a child comes to school without recess and/or lunch, or a late order is placed at the front office for a child's lunch on a canteen day, a note is sent home for money owed to canteen to be made via Qkr.
May God’s peace be in your families,
GOSPEL: Matthew 14:13-21
When Jesus received this news he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the crowds heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick. When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, 'This is a lonely place, and time has slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.' Jesus replied, 'There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves.' But they answered, 'All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.' So he said, 'Bring them here to me.' He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves he handed them to his disciples, who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps left over, twelve baskets full. Now about five thousand men had eaten, to say nothing of women and children.
REFLECTION
This week in the Gospel, Jesus received devastating news. He heard that his beloved cousin, John, had been killed. In the wake of this news, Jesus needed time to be alone to absorb this news and begin to grieve for his dear friend.
Jesus got into a boat and withdrew to a deserted place. However, his time for grieving was short-lived. The crowd of people followed him and arrived there before him. I wonder if Jesus was tempted to start rowing to find another place where he could be alone? However, Matthew writes “that Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for the crowd.” Jesus got out of the boat and ministered to the people. He healed all those who yearned to be “whole” again.
As evening drew near, the disciples realized that many had not brought any food to eat. They were concerned for the people but they did not know what to do. They went to Jesus and told him to send the people away to the towns where they could buy food. However, Jesus instructs his disciples to feed the crowd. His disciples immediately protested. They said: “We only have two fish and five loaves of bread! This small amount of food will never be enough for this huge crowd!”
Jesus, however, was not disturbed or worried. He told his disciples to bring the fish and the bread to him. Then he instructed the crowd of people to sit down on the grass. I wonder what the disciples were thinking as they gathered the food? Did they think Jesus was crazy? Or were they anticipating another miracle?
Jesus took the bread and the fish and he blessed them. He then gave the bread and fish to his disciples and instructed them to distribute the food to the people. They did so. And as we know, everyone was well fed and there were quite a few baskets of leftovers.
Do you ever get concerned that you may not have “enough” for what seems to be needed? It may not be enough money, energy, time, love, appreciation or ___________ (you fill in the blank). These are the times when we need to come to Jesus and ask him to supply us with what we truly need. And Jesus will give us what we need. However, it may not be exactly what we asked for. At these times, will we trust that Jesus is supplying us with “the loaves and fishes” that we need? Or will we complain because Jesus had disappointed us?
Today, may we trust Jesus to gift us with everything we need. And may we remember to thank him! (Sr Kristine Anne Harpenau)
THE FEAST OF SAINT MARY MACKILLOP
FEAST DAY – 8 AUGUST
This week we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Saint Mary of the Cross (MacKillop).
Mary MacKillop was born in 1842 in Fitzroy, Melbourne. On 8 August 1909, she died, having suffered a disabling stroke in 1902. Inspired by a meeting with Fr. Julian Tenison-Woods, Mary MacKillop took her vows at the age of twenty five, and the religious name, “Mary of the Cross”. In doing so, she founded the congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph. Soon after taking her religious vows, Mary MacKillop founded several schools. Within five years of taking her vows and founding the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Mary had established over thirty schools in South Australia. By that time, more than one hundred women had joined the Sisters of Saint Joseph.
Mary MacKillop was very conscious of the plight of the poor and needy. She worked with families that lived in isolated areas of Australia. As a result, Mary MacKillop pioneered a new form of religious life in Australia, and commenced a “system” of “Josephite” schools that would provide education, especially for the children of the poor. In 1873, Pope Pius IX gave Papal approval for the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph.
Even today, many Australians can say that they too have felt the impact of the enormous work started by St. Mary of the Cross (MacKillop), having been educated or cared for, by the Sisters of Saint Joseph. She was noted for her trust in the providence of God and miracles of healing have been attributed to her. She was declared a Saint by Pope Benedict XVI on the 17th October 2010. In January 2013, St Mary of the Cross (MacKillop) was declared by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, to be the Second Patron Saint of Australia. This means that Australia now has two Patron Saints: Mary Help of Christians and St. Mary of the Cross (MacKillop). (https://reonline.sydcatholicschools.nsw.edu.au/2020/07/17/feast-of-st-mary-of-the-cross-mackillop/
Mt Carmel will be celebrating this special feast day with a video prayer service which has been prepared by 2AH. A link for the prayer service will be sent out to all families on Friday.
PRAYER
Ever generous God,
You inspired Saint Mary MacKillop
To live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ
and constant in bringing hope and encouragement
to those who were disheartened, lonely or needy.
With confidence in your generous providence
and through the intercession of Saint Mary MacKillop
We ask that you grant our request……………….
We ask that our faith and hope be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit
so that we too, like Mary MacKillop, may live with courage, trust and openness.
Ever generous God hear our prayer.
We ask this through Jesus Christ. Amen.
(SOSJ)
God Bless,
Warren Ziebowski
Religious Education Coordinator
This term at lunch time, the year 5 library monitors have been reading stories to the students.
We are now into the final month on the Premier's Reading Challenge. The challenge concludes Friday 28th August.
Don't forget 10 choice books can be logged this year. This article explains how to do this: https://prcsupport.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/24000054175.
Over 20 students have already had their reading logs validated!
Please contact me if you need any assistance.
Keep reading,
Jaclyn Green
jaclyn.green@cg.catholic.edu.au
Thank You - no more lids required
Thank you to all the families who donated plastic bottle lids for a Peer Support activity the students will be working on this term. We have now received enough for our activity and no more lids are required.
Friday mornings are very busy on Qkr with up to 160 lunch orders being placed each week. To try and alleviate any issues arising from placing your order on a Friday morning, please think about placing your order the night before. You can place recess and lunch orders two weeks in advance on Qkr and even duplicate your orders each day or week.
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.
All Qkr! orders placed before 2pm each Tuesday will be bundled up and sent home with your child on Wednesday afternoon.
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 and the correct size/item can be sent home.
Please note the revised program for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Confirmation this year is postponed until 2021.
Reconciliation
Registration - Completed
Commitment Mass - Completed
Church Liturgy - Thursday 27 August 7pm St Augustine's
Sacrament of Reconciliation - Wednesday 2 September 6pm St Augustine's
First Eucharist
Registration - Completed
Commitment Mass - Saturday 5 or 12 September 6pm St. Augustine's and Sunday 6 or 13 September 10.15am St Augustine’s
Church Liturgy - Thursday 12 November 7pm St Augustine's
Preparation Day - Friday 20 November 9am-3.10pm Hartigan Centre and St Augustine's
Sacrament of First Holy Communion - Sunday 22 November 10.15am St Augustine's
Confirmation
Postponed to 2021