Walking in her Footsteps: A Pilgrimage to Ireland

This year, I have been given a truly extraordinary opportunity: to travel to Ireland along with Mr Gerard McNulty to trace the footsteps of Mary Aikenhead and the Sisters of Charity, the remarkable woman and religious congregation whose faith and vision gave birth to Mount Carmel College.

It is difficult to put into words what this journey means to me as a long standing member of staff at the College. To be able to walk the streets of Dublin and Cork where Mary Aikenhead once walked, to visit the places where she founded her congregation against the odds of her time, and to stand where the charism of the Sisters of Charity first took root. This is not simply travel, but a pilgrimage into the very heart of who we are as a College.

Mary Aikenhead's story is one of courage, compassion and unwavering commitment to those in need. Born in Cork in 1787, she founded the Religious Sisters of Charity in 1815, choosing a radically different path for religious life, one that took the Sisters out of the convent and into the homes of the sick poor, into hospitals, schools, orphanages and even prisons. Her vision was simple yet profound: to give to the poor everything that the rich could buy with money. That same spirit of dignity, care and justice lives on today in the life and mission of us as staff and students.

To represent our College it is a privilege I do not take lightly. Every day at Mount Carmel, our staff and students carry forward the values that Mary Aikenhead and her Sisters embodied, compassion, courage, hospitality and a deep respect for the dignity of every person. To travel to the source of that story, to bring back a richer, deeper understanding of our founding charism, and to share that with our whole community when I return, is an honour beyond measure.

I am especially grateful to the Mary Aikenhead Ministries for their generous support of this trip, along with the staff at the College. Their belief in the importance of keeping our founding story alive, and their commitment to ensuring that generations of educators can connect personally with our heritage. It is thanks to their support that this pilgrimage has been made possible, and I carry that trust with gratitude and humility.

As I prepare to travel, leaving Australia on Thursday 10 September and returning on Friday 25 September I feel truly blessed to belong to a community rooted in such a rich and life-giving story, blessed to be entrusted with representing Mount Carmel on this journey.

“Caritas Christi urget nos - The love of Christ urges us on"

Photo Permissions

When students enrol at the College, parents/guardians sign a number of documents relating to their enrolment. One of these includes a question regarding photography permissions, and on occasion, permission for photographs to be taken is not granted.

For this reason, it is important that when an announcement is made at the start of an event, parents/guardians respect and follow this request. Despite these reminders being given, we have noticed that some parents/guardians continue to take photographs after being asked not to.

Child protection and safety is something we take very seriously, and this is just one of the measures we put in place to ensure it is upheld correctly. Therefore, I ask for your understanding and cooperation in respecting these requests going forward, as doing so helps us protect the privacy and safety of every child in our care.

Fathers Day Celebration

Thank you to those Dads, Grandads and Father Figures who attended our Breakfast Morning on Tuesday. It was so wonderful to see so many happy and smiling faces and equally great to see those who ventured into Primary classrooms for a visit. I wish you a truly fabulous day on Sunday and hope that you are spoiled.

Arts Festival and Silent Auction - Friday 11 September

Our Primary staff have been busy working hard behind the scenes to make sure student artwork is finished and performances are polished for our upcoming Arts Festival and Silent Auction.

The Arts Festival will be held on the afternoon and evening of Friday 11 September with attendance for all Primary students compulsory.

As part of the evening, we will once again be running our silent auction. We are still seeking donated items for the auction, as well as class-allocated items.

Each class's families are asked to donate items for a themed hamper, which will be made up and auctioned off. The themes are:

ELC and Kinder – Cocktail Party
Prep – Bathroom/Spa Day
Year 1 and Year 2 – Snacks and Celebrations
Year 3 – Kitchen and Baking
Year 4 – Garden and Outdoors
Year 5 – Cleaning and Organising
Year 6 – Home Decor

Please donate an item matching your class's theme so we can put together hampers for the auction.

Further information, including full event details, was sent home via email this week.

Year 6 Canberra Trip - Monday 14 September - Friday 18 September

It won't be long now before Year 6 students and staff head off to Canberra for their 5-day trip, and the excitement is really starting to build. To help students get organised over the next fortnight, here are a few quick reminders:

Summer uniform - dress, blazer, correct white socks, polished school shoes will be worn on the day they travel to Canberra and on the Wednesday when students and staff are at Parliament.
Hair to be worn in a pigtail or ponytail to the airport, in readiness to receive their Canberra ribbon.
Full PE gear (including trackpants) will be worn the other days. Please pack shorts/skort or leggings and an extra top.
Check the school bag and ensure it is cleaned out of all unnecessary items as this will be the students day bag.
Breakfast, morning tea and lunch packed for the first day and sent in a disposable container. Please ensure that all have a water bottle that is not an expensive one - in case it is lost or broken.
All spending money should have been sent to the College by now in a clear zip lock bag with your daughter’s name on the front.
All medication is required to be sent to Amy Hodge in Student Services by tomorrow. Please ensure any medication that is a prescription is sent in a ‘Webster Pak’

Maths Relay Team

Congratulations to our Year 5 and 6 Maths Relay team who competed at the recent Mathematics Association of Tasmania (MAT) Relay at Rosny College last Sunday.

Congratulations to the following girls who participated: Aashiya Bhattrai, Sia Cheong, Doris Jiang, Olivia Lum, May Nguyen, Vivienne Pedersen, Shanaya Prajit and Anna Thickett.

Thank you must go to Mrs Catherine Jetson and Mrs Rachael Willis who accompanied the team and to Mrs Sharmila Prajit who assisted in the marking of papers throughout the event.

Tournament of Minds- Saturday 12 September

If your daughter has been rehearsing lines, building props, and putting the finishing touches on her team's solution, you've probably had a front-row seat to listen to just how much creativity and hard work is going into it.

Teams will present their solutions and take on the Spontaneous Challenge on Saturday 12 September (exact times to follow soon).

As I'll be travelling to Ireland, Mrs Sharon Himson will be taking over as teacher in charge from tomorrow, so please direct any questions to her.

We're Counting Down to Our First-Ever Primary Musical - Wednesday 16 September

The excitement is building as we prepare for a very special milestone for the first time ever, our Primary school is presenting a musical.

Students from Years 1–5 will take to the stage to retell the timeless tale of Beauty and the Beast, bringing the story to life through singing, dancing and acting. Audiences will follow the journey of Belle, a kind and intelligent young woman who takes her father's place as prisoner of a fearsome beast, and who ultimately teaches him the power of love, breaking the spell that has held him captive.

Under the expert guidance of Ms Jess Trost, supported by Mrs Tammy Mason, Miss Jess Thatcher and Miss Frances Seen, our talented students have been working hard behind the scenes and cannot wait to share the results of their dedication with you.

Some details about the Year 1–5 Musical are available on Seesaw and a letter has also been sent home to all families.

With only a few weeks to go, the countdown is well and truly on. We can't wait to welcome you along for this exciting first step into what we hope will become a treasured tradition of Primary musicals for years to come.

Bookings:

Bookings can be made via the Qkr! app and close on Tuesday 15 September at 6.00pm. Tickets are $10 per adult and children are free. There is no need to book for students performing.

A Snapshot of Upcoming Events

Mount Carmel College Art Festival and Silent Auction - Friday 11 September
Tournament of Minds - Saturday 12 September
Year 6 Canberra Trip - Monday 14 September - Friday 18 September
Year 1 - 5 Musical - Wednesday 16 September
2027 Kinder Class Transitions - Friday 18 September and Friday 25 September
Footy Colours Day - Thursday 24 September
ELC - Year 6 Athletics Carnival - Thursday 1 October
Last Day of Term 3 - Friday 2 October

The View

A learning community of courageous changemakers, compassionate and strong in faith.

Issue 13 · 03 Sep 2026

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