Primary News

A Night to Remember: Our Arts Festival Shines Bright - Primary Edition 

What an extraordinary afternoon and evening last Friday turned out to be! Our annual Arts Festival once again proved that our College community is brimming with creativity, talent, and heart. From the moment it started until the final bid was placed at our silent auction, and the staff band pumped out a few tunes, the atmosphere buzzed with energy and celebration.

A Showcase of Exceptional Talent

The afternoon unfolded as a magnificent tapestry of artistic expression. Our dance performances captivated audiences with their grace, precision and sometimes cheeky smiles, while the visual art displays throughout the College showcased the incredible range and depth of our students' creative vision. The musical performances filled the air showcasing talent sometimes well above our Primary students' years.  Each act demonstrating the remarkable skill and passion of our students from ELC - Year 6. 

The spoken word presentation by our Year 6 provided a powerful moment of reflection and inspiration about Federation, with our Year 6 students presenting a piece that allowed us a glimpse into the curriculum in that year group.  

Culinary Delights and Community Spirit

Of course, no celebration would be complete without fantastic food, and Friday's festival certainly delivered. The array of food van offerings satisfied everyone and provided the perfect backdrop for all of us to mingle and share stories. For some it was an introduction to our College as we welcomed students who will be starting in 2026. 

The Silent Auction Success

The evening reached its crescendo with our brilliant silent auction - a new initiative for 2026.  This part of the festival not only provided an exciting conclusion to the evening but also demonstrated the generous support as we raised much needed funds for the Cahill Centre - College Hall.  

Heartfelt Appreciation

This evening would not have been possible without the extraordinary contributions of so many dedicated individuals.  From our talented students and skilled staff members, who shared their gifts so generously, highlighted dedication to excellence and a genuine love for Mount Carmel College and all it encompasses.  

It is important to acknowledge with deepest gratitude to our parent/carer community and the wider community for their unwavering support.  Your presence, participation, and enthusiasm make events like these not just possible, but truly special.  

Special recognition must go to Mrs Megan Richardson, the Admin Team, Mr Dave McNamara, Mrs Dorothy Lincoln, Ms Jess Trost, Mr Gary Hoggard, and Mr Tom Avis, whose exceptional efforts behind the scenes ensured that every detail was perfectly orchestrated. Their leadership, vision, and countless hours of preparation created the foundation upon which this wonderful evening was built.

Looking Forward

As we reflect on last Friday's success, we're already looking ahead to how we can make the 2026 one bigger and better.  The Arts Festival serves as a beautiful reminder of what we can achieve when we come together in support of creativity, education, and each other. Thank you to everyone who made this evening unforgettable. 

"Art is not a thing; it is a way.’ - Elbert Hubbard

Moya Belcher Award

Each year Moya Belcher, a retired teacher who worked at the College for over forty years and had a passion for The Arts judges the award in her name, ‘The Moya Belcher Visual Art Award’.  This is in recognition of an outstanding piece or pieces of work completed by students in ELC  to Year 2 and Years 3 to Year 6 for the Arts Festival.  

The worthy recipients for 2025, who were acknowledged last Friday night, were:

Primary Winner: Evelyn Jeffrey - Year 6 White 

Runner Up: Calli Jakimowicz  - Year 4

Early Years Winner: Tenuile Perera - Year 1 

Runner Up: Asees Rallar - Kindergarten

Primary Athletics Carnival 

On Tuesday all students  headed to the Domain Athletics Centre for our Primary Athletics Carnival, and it was a resounding success.  Our ELC to Year 6 students came together for a day filled with enthusiasm, friendly competition, and outstanding sportsmanship. The event showcased not only our students' athletic abilities but also the incredible community spirit that makes our school so special.  

We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to our HPE and IT departments, whose preparation and coordination made this event possible, as well as the teaching and non teaching staff who attended on the day, providing assistance to our students and running events where needed.  We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the many parents and carers who volunteered their time to help as well as our Year 10 students who deserve special recognition for their outstanding leadership and mentorship during the event. They served as role models, officials, and cheerleaders, demonstrating the kind of positive leadership we have across the College. 

Canberra Update

The Year 6 Canberra trip is approaching fast, and anticipation is growing! Here are some key reminders to help our Year 6 students prepare over the weekend as we head off on Monday morning:

• Summer uniform required for travel day and Parliament visit  - dress, blazer, correct white socks, and polished school shoes

• Hair must be styled in a  ponytail for airport departure

• Complete PE uniform for remaining days, plus pack additional shorts/skort or leggings and extra top

• Clear out and clean school bags - these will serve as day bags during the trip

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

We warmly invite grandparents and special friends to join us at the College on Wednesday 22 October from 9:30am for a wonderful morning celebration. Full details about this special event, including information on how to reserve seats on the shuttle bus from the casino to the College will be sent out to all families this afternoon.

Footy Colours Day

Even though for many of us the season is well and truly over we're still getting behind Footy Colours Day! On Friday 26 September, all students are invited to wear their AFL team colours or any sporting apparel that celebrates the games we love - including umpire uniforms and supporter gear.

Students are asked to bring a gold coin donation, which will support the Archbishop's Samaritan Fund.

Tournament of Minds - Primary School

This Saturday 13 September, four talented teams from our Primary School will take part in the Tournament of Minds competition at Hobart City High School - Ogilvie Campus. These students deserve our recognition and praise for the exceptional effort and dedication they have demonstrated throughout the past six weeks.

The journey has been comprehensive and challenging. Students began by carefully analysing their chosen problems to determine the most effective approach, then developed scripts and practiced their performances meticulously. They have worked tirelessly to ensure their presentations fit within the strict ten-minute time limit while coordinating four team members within the required 3 x 3 metre performance space.

Our committed teams have made significant sacrifices, dedicating countless recess and lunch breaks to their preparation. They stayed after hours yesterday to put the finishing touches on their presentations, ensuring they are competition-ready.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the supervising staff members who have provided invaluable support and encouragement throughout this process: Michelle Wall and Katie Fazackerley and to the Primary Staff who have offered to pop in on Saturday. Their guidance has been instrumental in preparing our students for this challenge.

Please join me in wishing all our teams the very best as they showcase their creative solutions and present their responses to their chosen challenges.

School TV

A reminder to all parents that we have SchoolTV as a way of supporting all parents and caregivers. To access SchoolTV either click on the button below or visit the College website and click on the link under the "Community" tab.