A Word from the Principal
The Fast Life
Fast from judging others;
Feast on Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from fear of illness;
Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute;
Feast on speech that purifies.
Fast from discontent;
Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger;
Feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism;
Feast on hope.
Fast from negatives;
Feast on encouragement.
Fast from bitterness;
Feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern;
Feast on compassion.
Fast from suspicion;
Feast on truth.
Fast from gossip;
Feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm;
Feast on prayer that sustains.
Fast from anxiety;
Feast on faith.
Lent invites us into a different kind of rhythm. In a world that feels constantly busy and noisy, this sacred season gently calls us to pause, to reflect, and to realign our hearts with what truly matters. The prayer The Fast Life beautifully captures the spirit of Lent - not simply as a time of giving something up, but as a time of becoming something more.
Traditionally, Lent is associated with fasting. Yet this prayer expands our understanding of what that can mean. To fast from judging others and feast on Christ dwelling in them challenges us to see each person our daughters, other parents, staff, and even those with whom we disagree through the eyes of compassion. In a community, this shift can be transformative.
To fast from discontent and feast on gratitude speaks directly to the culture in which our young people are growing up. Comparison can so easily steal joy. Lent reminds us to notice the quiet blessings: growth in confidence, small academic improvements, restored friendships, courage after disappointment. Gratitude grounds us in hope.
The call to fast from anger and feast on patience and to fast from negatives and feast on encouragement offers a powerful model for our homes. Our daughters are watching how we respond to stress, to setbacks, and to one another. Lent gives us the opportunity to model calm strength, thoughtful speech, and forgiveness fasting from bitterness and feasting on mercy.
Perhaps most poignantly, the prayer invites us to fast from anxiety and feast on faith. As parents, worry can feel like part of the role. Yet Lent gently asks us to place our trust back in God to remember that our children’s journeys are unfolding in God’s time as well as ours. Faith does not eliminate uncertainty, but it sustains us within it.
This Lenten season, may we consider not only what we might give up, but what we might take on. What attitudes might we release? What virtues might we intentionally practise? When we fast from what diminishes love and feast on what strengthens it, we create homes and a school community shaped by hope, compassion, and deep trust in God’s presence.
May this Lent be a time of quiet transformation for us all
Open Communication: Stronger Together
At Mount Carmel Catholic College, we know that education works best when it is a genuine partnership between school and home. When we work together openly, respectfully and with shared purpose our young women thrive.
One of the greatest strengths of a Catholic community is relationships. Our faith reminds us that we belong to one another, that we are called to walk alongside each other, and that honest conversation builds trust. In busy school communities, however, small worries can sometimes grow quietly in the background. A minor concern left unspoken can, over time, feel much larger than it needs to be.
We warmly encourage families to reach out early, before concerns become overwhelming. Whether it is a friendship issue, a learning question, a wellbeing matter or something that “just doesn’t feel quite right,” early communication allows us to respond thoughtfully and proactively. Most matters can be resolved quickly when they are addressed at the beginning.
Our approach is simple:
- Start with the person closest to the situation, usually your daughter’s classroom teacher or subject teacher.
- If further support is needed, our Clan Teachers, Heads of House, Counselling team, and Leadership team are always available.
- Keep the focus on shared goals: your daughter’s growth, wellbeing and learning.
We also ask our students to develop the confidence to advocate for themselves. Encouraging your daughter to respectfully approach her teacher, seek clarification, or express a concern is an important life skill. When families and school reinforce this together, it builds resilience, independence and confidence.
Open communication works both ways. We are committed to contacting families when we see changes in learning, wellbeing or engagement, and we deeply value the insight parents provide. You know your daughter in ways we never can; we see her in the learning environment each day. Together, that shared understanding forms a complete picture.
Partnership does not mean we will always agree on every detail, but it does mean we commit to listening, seeking understanding and working toward solutions grounded in care and respect.
As we continue to build our community piece by piece this year, thank you for the trust you place in us. When we communicate early, honestly and with goodwill, we strengthen not only individual outcomes, but the culture of the entire College.
If something is on your mind, please reach out. We are here to walk alongside you.
School Improvement Surveys
Insight SRC is conducting this survey on behalf of Mount Carmel College and Catholic Education Tasmania. It is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of parents' perceptions of their children's experience of school.
The results will benefit everyone within the school by providing valuable information about the ways in which the school can use staff, student and parent input to plan programs and activities to improve your child's experience at school.
Parents and carers will receive email communication regarding this survey and how to complete it during Week 7 of this term. While your participation is voluntary, it is important to remember that the success of this important project is dependent on the involvement of all parents.