Primary News

Finishing Strong: The Power of Grit and Determination

As we approach the final stretch of the academic year, with just over 4 weeks to go, there's an important lesson we can all take from the sporting arena about what it truly means to dig deep when the pressure is on.

This past weekend, Australia's tennis stars showed the world what grit and determination really look like. At the Billie Jean King Cup in Hobart this past weekend a number of Mount Carmel students and staff witnessed some amazing tennis.  On Sunday as we dodged rain and welcomed gorgeous sunshine, Maya Joint and Kimberly Birrell faced matches where they were down and struggling, but they refused to give up.  By her own admission Joint didn't play her best tennis in the first set but fought back to win three games straight in the second set and pulled away to a commanding 5-0 lead in the third. Similarly, Birrell battled through a tough three-set match, ultimately prevailing 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. Their ability to push through adversity and finish strong secured Australia's advancement in the competition.

What Does This Mean for Us?

Just like these athletes, our students are in their final set for 2025. The school year may have had its challenging moments, difficult work, complex concepts, navigating friendship issues or finding that there have been times when motivation has wavered. However, it is important to remind ourselves and our students that it is not necessarily how the year has gone on but how strong we finish it. 

The qualities that helped Joint and Birrell succeed are the same ones that will help end this year on a high note.  When things aren't going our way, the instinct might be to give up or coast through. Instead, these athletes over the weekend showed us that setbacks are simply opportunities to regroup and come back stronger. Every challenging piece of work or disappointment in the classroom or outside in the playground is a chance to learn and improve.  As Australia's Captain Nicole Pratt noted, being in difficult situations repeatedly makes you better. The same applies to your studies. Each time you push through a difficult task, you're building mental strength that will serve you throughout your life.

The tennis court and the classroom share a fundamental truth: success belongs to those who refuse to quit when things get difficult. Maya Joint and Kimberly Birrell showed us that even when you're down, even when you're not performing at your best, you can still turn things around through sheer determination and effort.

Year 7, 2026 Step Up Day and Welcome BBQ

Next Monday our Year 6 students will take the leap into the Secondary space and spend the day being a Year 7 student.  This is a fabulous opportunity to dip their toes into what will be such an exciting adventure for them come February next year.  On behalf of the Primary we wish them all the best for the day.

In order to assist your daughter below are some dot points that I have used in the past to ensure that the transition from Primary to Secondary is as smooth as possible. 

• Nurturing Independence: as Term 1 unfolds, gently support your child in developing skills like managing their timetable and taking ownership of homework. It's about finding that balance – being there when they need you while giving them space to discover their own capabilities and build confidence.

• Creating Comforting Routines: a consistent daily rhythm that weaves together schoolwork, downtime, and rest can be incredibly grounding during times of change. This structure becomes a safe anchor that helps ease stress and supports your child in managing their time.

• Keeping the Lines Open: no matter what year level, maintaining open communication is essential. Create a safe space where your child feels heard and understood. Listen with an open heart, offer gentle reassurance, and remind them that feeling nervous is completely normal – and that each day will bring more ease and familiarity.

• Staying Connected: your involvement matters deeply. Whether it's attending events, making time for Learning Conversations, or volunteering with a team, your presence shows your child they're supported. Staying informed about the College's expectations also helps you guide them through this transition with confidence.

• Supporting Friendship Transitions: our Year 6 students are moving from a close-knit group of 50, where familiar faces and friendships – some stretching back to Kindergarten – have been constants. This transition brings opportunities for new connections. Your encouragement in welcoming new friends while honoring existing bonds will help your child navigate this social shift with kindness and openness.

• Celebrating Every Step Forward: take time throughout the year to acknowledge the wins, big and small – adapting to a new routine, making a new friend, or facing a fear. Your recognition of their efforts, not just outcomes, builds the confidence and motivation that will carry them through.

Celebration Evening 

Celebration Evening is on Wednesday 10 December and it is a compulsory evening for the girls in Years 5 and 6 to attend. Correspondence about this evening has already gone out to all students, singing rehearsals are well underway and conversations around expectations will be had. Please ensure that you have checked the length of the dress, that they will have correct white socks for the evening and that shoes are polished in preparation for the evening. If you are in need of getting the blazer dry cleaned in the week before please email your daughter’s class teacher and they may wear their tracksuit whilst this is being done. Any concerns please do not hesitate to reach out. 

The Nativity and Carols Evening 

On Monday 15 December all students from ELC - Year 4 will be involved in our Nativity and Carols Evening. Our Kinder - Year 2 students will retell the Birth of Jesus Christ at Holy Spirit Church at 5:30pm and then they will walk back to the College where Year 3 and 4 students will begin the next part of the evening with carols which will start just after 6:00pm. Throughout the evening there will be dances performed by classes and a barbeque dinner on offer.  

As you can appreciate an evening like this requires some careful planning around logistics so more details will come soon with an email sent home to families.  A reminder that this is a compulsory event for these students.