Bulletin, Issue 5, 2011 - Mount Carmel College

Issue 5, 10 th March, 2011M O U N T C A R M E L C O L L E G EA W O R D F R O M T H E P R I N C I P A LDear Members of the College Community,Some people really love taking risks, as is instanced in such pursuits as extreme sports,where the participants love the rush of adrenaline and the feeling of escaping theordinary. However, most of us tend to be security-seekers, committed to a life style ofplaying it safe.Strange as it may seem, Jesus told a story that seemed to encourage risk-taking. TheParable of the Talents emphasises that we have to make the most of what has beengiven to us and not just bury our gifts in the hope of preserving them.Risk-taking is actually part of everyday life and is taken for granted in matters fromfood consumption to travelling by car. Motivational speaker and author, Zig Ziglar,put it neatly when he said, “It’s risky when a plane leaves the runway, but that’s whatplanes are for. It’s more risky for the plane to sit there and accumulate rust.”During this Season of Lent, we should try to find some space to focus intentionally onwhat helps or hinders our commitment to Christ. Traditionally a time in which we give something up, it mightactually be more challenging during Lent to take something on – to build up our spiritual muscles, as it were.Taking something on may not just involve money, it is more likely to involve time, or putting positive energyinto a relationship or endeavouring to be understanding when a first response might be less tolerant. Weencourage all our students to be aware of the challenges that life can bring. It is not a matter of condemning acomfortable life, but rather of wanting this for all people.It is essential that we are reminded that each human being is our sister or brother. It is the message that Jesustaught so long ago, an ageless teaching which we are always in need of re-learning so that we can truly live Hismessage. Lent is a good time to re-enter the heart of this teaching.Joyce Rupp says that we should see Lent as a time of being “clothed with love.”We are located at:361 Sandy Bay Road,Sandy Bay, TasmaniaOur address is:PO Box 217,Sandy Bay, 7006Contact us at:Ph. (03) 62167900Fax. (03) 62167999or via the Internet:info@mountcarmel.tas.edu.auwww.mountcarmel.tas.edu.auClothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has acomplaint against another, forgive each other…Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfectharmony.Colossians 3: 12-14International Women’s DayInternational Women’s Day (the 100 th Anniversary) celebrated on Tuesday, March 8 th , recognised theachievements of women all over the world in all fields, from politics to domestic issues, science to parenting.In 1910, Clara Zetkins, the leader of the Women’s Office for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, suggestedthe idea of an International Women’s Day at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen.M A R C HThursday, 10thFriday, 11thMonday, 14thTuesday, 15thTuesday, 15thWelcome and Information Evening(Secondary)Primary Photos—full summeruniform must be wornEight Hour Day Public HolidaySecondary Photos—full summeruniform must be wornBoard MeetingM A R C HWednesday, 16th Year 8 Wellbeing AfternoonThursday, 17th Primary Assembly—Grade 4Friday, 18th STCPSSA—Swimming CarnivalFriday, 18th College Twilight FairMonday, 21st Grade 3—6 Learn to Swim beginsThursday, 24th Immunisations—Gr 6, Yr7 and Yr 10Friday, 25th Grade 3—6 Learn to Swim finishesMonday, 28th P&F Meeting

The first International Women’s Day was held on 19 th March 1911 and the day was marked by protests andmeetings involving women across Europe, with about 30 000 women taking part. Much of the impetus for themovement came from the suffragettes. In 1911 women were fighting for the right to vote (Finland was the onlyEuropean country at the time which allowed women to vote, whereas Australia granted women the vote in 1902– pretty revolutionary for the time.)Although women now have equal entitlements and freedoms in many countries of the world, there is still a longway to go in some societies. It is important for us for us to recognise and celebrate our heroes and our she-roes!International Women’s Day is a time to stand proud, not in opposition to men, but working in partnership andequity to create a better world.On Tuesday we started the day by raising the awareness of our students as to the significance of the 100 thanniversary of International Women’s Day celebrations around the world. Each girl from Grade Three up wasinvited to wear a ribbon in the colours of green, white or purple, symbolic of IWD. Thank you to Mrs Tewes,Ms Byrne and Eight White for the organisation of the ribbons. They certainly provided a festive touch for theday, along with an invitation to celebrate the achievements of all women.My SchoolIncluded in this week’s Bulletin is an insert on the financial information published on the My School website.Hopefully this will be relevant in providing a rationale on how funding for education operates at state and federallevels.It seems ironic that whereas last year debate raged around the validity of the test results and the dangers of usingthem as a means of ranking schools, this year the interest seems to be largely in the funding issue.We have always stated at Mount Carmel that we try to use our resources wisely to improve our educationalenvironment in all manner of ways. All funding which we manage to acquire through state, federal and parentalfunding is incorporated into our College Strategic Plan, aimed at maximising the outcomes for our students.And the results of initiatives such as the Computer and BER money have been fantastic!However, our teachers are the mainspring and the inspiration behind learning at our school. Naturally, weintend to continue to seek parity of funding with the public schools, and we certainly appreciate the differencewhich can be made to a teaching environment by having more money available to improve facilities.. But a trulycommitted and passionate teacher can teach in a shed, and the incorporation of every whizz-bang educationalidea does not necessarily mean that results will improve. I consider that we are blessed in the teaching and nonteachingstaff who work at Mount Carmel, in the students who strive every day to reach their potential and in theinvestment of love and support demonstrated by our parents for their children.CondolencesAs a College community we offer our prayers at the passing of Mr Milan McQueen grandfather of Sussan Riley,Manager of our Clothing Shop. Our thoughts are with Sussan and her family at this time of sorrow.Mrs Laurie WolfePrincipalFROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPALStudent Restorative LeadersThe selection process for the 2011 Student Restorative Leaders is being finalised this week. Grade 6 and Year 10students have been invited to apply for this significant leadership opportunity, with applicants required to write asubmission outlining their suitability for the role and their readiness to accept the responsibilities involved. OnMonday next week, the students selected will participate in a day of training facilitated by Student RestorativeLeaders’ Coordinators, Mrs Lyndal Tewes and Mrs Sharon Himson.Students’ Use of Electronic DevicesIn recent times a small number of students have requested permission to use personal lap-tops in secondaryclasses. In some cases the reason given for bringing a lap top from home was that it enabled a student to useMicrosoft Office software, whereas the laptops and PCs available to students at school feature Open Officeprogrammes. Thanks to the diligence of our IT staff we have been able to secure a much more affordablelicensing agreement with Microsoft for the next few years and the Microsoft Office software will shortly beavailable again on all student-access computers.With these new licensing arrangements set to be in place within the next few weeks, it is not necessary for

students to bring lap-tops from home for classroom use. Students have ready access to computers labs, theLibrary or banks of lap-tops for learning activities and teachers make use of these technologies as they suit lessonobjectives. Unlike school computers, which have filtered and monitored Internet access, laptops brought fromhome may allow students unfiltered Internet use which could compromise our Cyber Safety Policy. If anyparents have any queries or comments about these matters please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Simon James ourIT Co-ordinator or myself at the College.Arrangements for Students for the College FairWe are looking forward to all the fun and festivity of our Twilight Fair next Friday, 18th March. Students havebeen reminded that it is a day of free dress and that the canteen will not be in operation throughout the day.Parents and other Fair patrons should note that parking will not be available in the front car park after school.Procedures for Students in the CityAs our duty of care for our students includes seeing them heading safely home, we strongly discourage studentsfrom venturing into town at the end of the school day if possible.For students who need to go into or through town at the end of the day or students who have to wait in the cityfor more than half an hour to catch a connecting bus, a note from a parent/carer giving permission to be intown is required. These notes should be shown to a Student Co-ordinator before going into town, and studentswill be issued with a City Pass. A Pass can be issued for students who go into town every afternoon to wait for abus, or for students who regularly go into town on one or two afternoons a week for purposes such as a danceclass or to meet parents at their place of work. Passes can also be issued on a one-off basis if good reason isprovided. Passes will only be issued with a signed request from a parent/carer, which should be brought toschool before students go into town.If in town in College uniform, students must ensure they are wearing it correctly, including boater and blazer.Ms Julia O’RourkeDeputy PrincipalF R O M T H E A S S I S T A N T T O T H E P R I N C I P A L – P R I M A R YPhoto Day ReminderPrimary students will have individual and class photos taken tomorrow. I’m sure all students will have sparklingshoes, every hair in place and their best smiles ready for the annual photo shoot! Please remember that it is a dayfor wearing the full summer uniform. Students who normally have a P.E. lesson tomorrow should pack theirsandshoes so they can change into them after their photo has been taken.Grade 4 CampGrade 4 students enjoyed an action-packed outdoor education experience at Gumleaves last Thursday and Friday.Despite the rainy and chilly conditions in Hobart, the East Coast proved sunny and conducive to the bushactivities undertaken. Sincere thanks go to Mrs Moya Belcher and Miss Kirstin Palfrey for their support andassistance; and to Mr Mathew Speed for driving us back and forth safely aboard ‘Big Bertha,’ Mount Carmel’smuch admired bus.The next scheduled primary camp will see Grade 5 venture to Far South Wilderness Lodge on Thursday, 31 st Marchand Friday, 1 st April.Primary AssemblyThe first Primary Assembly of the year will take place on Thursday, 17 th March in the College Hall and will behosted by Grade 4. Assembly will commence at 11:50 a.m. and will conclude at approximately 12:30 p.m. Allparents are warmly invited to attend.Each class will take a turn at hosting a Primary Assembly during the year and a timetable will be included in nextweek’s Bulletin.Twilight FairThank you very much for your generous donations of time and money towards the College Fair which will takeplace on Friday, 18 th March. We are very appreciative of your efforts which contribute so substantially to theopportunities, resources and facilities available to each student in the College.Please check the dot points below for arrangements for the day of the Twilight Fair:

Clothing ShopThe Clothing Shop will be closed on Friday, 11th March.contact the College Office on 62167900.For any urgent requirements pleaseN E W S F R O M T H E P R I M A R Y S P O R T S C O O R D I N A T O RPrimary TennisHobart’s ‘interesting’ weather conditions have affected the first week of play for primary tennis. Unfortunately,neither of the matches were able to take place on the 1 st of March. This week, the Grade 5 team had a bye, andGrade 6 played Friends at Mount Carmel. Results from these matches will follow next week. Matches for the 15 thof March:Grade 6 vs. Collegiate at Collegiate 1 (Ham Common)Grade 5 vs. St. Mary’s at Mount CarmelPrimary SoccerToday, girls from Grade 2-6 kick off the Junior SSATIS Soccer Season. Thank you to those parents who havevolunteered their time to coach or manage. Good luck to all teams for the season ahead. Team lists can beviewed on the Primary Sports Notice Board. Results will follow from next week.Interschool SwimmingThose students selected to compete in upcoming interschool carnivals received an information letter on Monday.The signed permission slip must be returned to school as soon as possible. A reminder that students competingare expected to wear the College bathers and cap, which are available for purchase from the Uniform Shop. Aswith soccer, the team lists are available for perusal on the Primary Sports Notice Board.Contact details:Email: kirstin.palfrey@mountcarmel.tas.edu.auTelephone: 62167926 (Direct)62167900 (College Office)Miss Kirstin PalfreyPrimary Sports CoordinatorN E W S F R O M T H E S E C O N D A R Y S P O R T S C O O R D I N A T O RSwimmingYesterday the Secondary Swimming Team competed at the SSATIS Swimming Carnival at the Hobart AquaticCentre. A full report will be provided in next week’s Bulletin.Surf LifesavingLast Wednesday the College was represented by two teams at the Surf Lifesaving Carnival at Kingston Beach.The Navy Team, captained by Brianna Huxley finished 2 nd , while the Gold Team, captained by Megan Hillsfinished third. The weather conditions were not ideal, however, the girls had a fantastic day and participatedenthusiastically.Thank you to Miss Ellen Bowerman for assisting on the day.