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- Tell Them From Me Survey
- Principal's News
- Religious Life of the College
- Year 9 Religion- Iconography Designs
- Student Wellbeing News
- Curriculum Matters - Years 7-9
- Curriculum Matters- Years 10-12
- Year 12 Hospitality
- Science News
- Arts Co-Curricular News
- Mid Semester Performance - Friday 13 June 2025
- Sport News
- Library News
- Applications for Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS)
- Host Families Needed
- Volunteer Hairdressers Needed
- Tuckshop News
- 2025 Fees and Levies
- Carmel College Annual Billing
- Disclaimer
We invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey
Dear Carmel College Community,
Last week, we celebrated with the Catholic communities across the world to welcome Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV. The new Pope’s election followed mass media coverage and engagement from around the world. We saw numerous interviews in St Peter’s Square with both faithful and tourists who all spoke about the moment in history that was being played out. The movie 'Conclave' saw an uptick in viewings and the media was quick to report on the 800 year old process.
I am struck by the contrast that we saw in the Pope’s election with the current operations of the modern world. Modern times see us live in a fluid state of change where we are constantly pursuing ‘more’. We are bombarded with advertising, which conveys the basic message is that we are ‘not enough’. It suggests that we will be better people if we use a particular shampoo or drive a specific type of car, and that we will be more content if we have more stuff or do more things. The Pope’s election however contrasts this. The timeless unchanging process reminds us of the value of tradition and how things don’t need to change to be better. The conclave operates on the belief in the Spirit of God to lead us to the better. The conclave suggests that we don’t need new, or more, or better. It says that we are enough as we are and that if we give ourselves over to God, as Mary did, that we too can be more. We too can be bearers of Christ to others. We too can bring grace and hope to the lives of those around us.
Term 2 Parent Forum
This term, we are focussing on directions for our three year strategic plan 2026 – 2028. For the Parent Forum this term, we would appreciate parent input on the programs that we currently run, such as Become Education, Future Anything, Year 8 and Year 11 Camps, Subject Selection Processes, Future Schooling Themes. We would also appreciate any input on other programs you might like to see. As we are planning for the next three years, the forum will be highly relevant for Years 7, 8 and 9 Parents. We would love to see as many as possible join us from 6pm to 7pm on Tuesday 27 May.
Staffing
Next week, Ms Dee Horton is taking some well earned Long Service Leave until the end of Term 3. We wish Dee all the best for her break and welcome Mr Malcolm Sheward as Acting Business Manager.
We are currently advertising for teachers of Music, Religious Education and Humanities, as Ms Laura Hooper is taking Parental Leave in Semester 2 and Ms Alexandra Foord is leaving us at the end of Term 2. We are also advertising for a School Operations Leader following Mr Turtle’s appointment as Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching.
Have a wonderful fortnight.
God bless.
Mr Stephen Adair
Principal
Pope Leo - A Pope of Courage and Compassion
Our new Pope, Leo XIV, has just begun his journey as the leader of the Catholic Church—and he’s already showing signs of being a pope who will inspire a new generation. Before becoming the Pope, he was Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American who spent many years serving as a missionary in Peru. He worked closely with people in poor and remote communities, always focusing on fairness, kindness, and walking alongside those in need.
Pope Leo deeply believes in listening to everyone, including young people, and standing up for justice. He is passionate about building bridges between people, caring for the Earth, and ensuring that the Church is a place where everyone feels welcome.
For teenagers today, Pope Leo brings a message of hope: your voice matters, your choices matter, and your faith can make a difference. He reminds us that being Catholic means living with courage, compassion, and love in action.
Carmel Students Shine at Rotary Club Dinner
On Tuesday 13 May, two of our Rotary scholarship recipients, Year 12 student Carragan H and Year 11 student Isabella H, were invited to speak at the Rotary Club dinner in Cleveland. Both students shared their personal journeys and expressed gratitude for how the scholarship has supported their educational goals and opened up new opportunities. The evening also featured a stunning performance by Year 10 student Tyler R, who sang and played guitar beautifully, leaving the audience thoroughly impressed. It was a proud moment for Carmel College, showcasing the talent, determination, and heart of our students.
Laudato Si’ Week – Caring for Our Common Home
This week, students have been taking action for the planet as part of Laudato Si’ Week, inspired by Pope Francis’ call to care for our common home. Through Worship Wednesday, they learned about some of the world’s most urgent environmental issues, including climate change, pollution, and the loss of biodiversity. As a practical response, students have been recycling plastic bottles at school—each one making a small but important difference. It has been a week of learning, reflection, and action as we work together to protect God’s creation.
The Carmel Chop
The 2025 Carmel Chop is well underway, and our school community is once again showing incredible generosity and courage in support of Mater Chicks in Pink. This important cause provides care, comfort, and hope to women facing breast cancer—a disease that affects 1 in 7 Australian women, with over 20,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
Led this year by our passionate student representative, Emee S, the Carmel Chop has already raised over $20,000 with fundraising only opening three weeks ago. Since it began in 2021, the Carmel Chop has raised a total of $122,287, helping to fund life-saving medical equipment and improve patient care in Mater hospitals.
This year, 76 Year 12 students have made the brave commitment to either shave or cut their hair in a powerful act of solidarity. The donated hair will be sent to Sustainable Salons to be turned into wigs for cancer patients.
It’s a truly inspiring initiative, and we encourage everyone to get involved. Keep an eye out for upcoming fundraisers—every donation, big or small, makes a real difference.
Please support our students by making a donation here.
Marist Connect Night – Faith, Leadership and Connection
On Friday evening, our Year 11 and 12 students gathered with peers from four other Marist schools for a special Marist Connect Night. It was a fantastic evening filled with meaningful discussions, laughter, and new friendships. Together, students explored what it means to be a leader and how to live out the Marist way, with humility, simplicity, and a heart for others. The night was filled with inspiration and connection, reminding us of the strong spirit that unites all Marist communities.
Mrs Erin Hardy
Assistant Principal-Religious Education
Mrs Spargo's class at Carmel College has been diligently working on their Term One unit titled "Who is God," creating beautiful iconography that depicts a Christian understanding of God. This artwork not only demonstrates the students' grasp of the role of iconography in the Christian faith but also highlights the importance of sacrament. Their creativity and dedication are truly inspiring, reflecting a deepening understanding of their faith. We look forward to seeing continued artistic expression in Religious Education at Carmel College and witnessing the students' talents and spiritual growth.
As the busyness of the term gets underway with assessment tasks being handed out, we do want all of our community to be present here at school every day so that students are engaging in the curriculum as best they can. However, if a student is ill, staying at home is an effective way of reducing the spread of all respiratory viruses that may impact on theirs and others being able to complete the necessary work.
We do need ALL absences logged on the portal with a reason for absence. We have a duty of care to know that our students are safe and that parents and caregivers have given permission for an absence. I know that mornings can be fraught with a myriad of things to achieve but letting us know if a student is away does need to be a priority.
As for assessment, in order to motivate teenagers to engage with assessment, we need to build their confidence. While some of us might say that they appear confident and almost blasé about approaching exams and assignments, often it is the opposite. I came across this excellent article by Andrew Fuller, a highly regarded psychologist who advises that,
“Our first attempts may be feeble but if we persist, we often gain a sense of mastery. If, however, someone rescues us when we are bewildered, we learn that someone else can do what we cannot. This is why rescuing children when they are struggling with a new activity is toxic to confidence.” Fuller, A. (n.d.). How to build confidence. [online] Available at: https://andrewfuller.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/how-to-build-confidence.pdf [Accessed 15 May 2025].
The rest of the article is really worth reading as it has some practical advice and you can access it at this link:
https://andrewfuller.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/how-to-build-confidence.pdf
All the best,
Ms Jacqueline Weidman
Assistant Principal - Student Wellbeing
The 2025 Tell Them From Me survey is now open and once again we’d love to hear your insights into our school community. The survey will provide us with valuable feedback on what our students think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. Schools in Australia and around the world have used the Tell Them From Me survey. The results will help us to highlight what we’re doing well to support our school community and the areas where we need to improve. All Brisbane Catholic Education Schools are participating in this survey.
Students across Years 7 to 12 will be provided with an opportunity to take part during school time. The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. All parents and guardians are also asked to complete the survey. Please access this link via computer or mobile device http://tellthemfromme.com/2025cct before 30 May 2025.
It’s been an extremely busy time in the Senior learning space with our senior students engaging with a variety of assessment items, academic mentoring, tutorials and more! I am so impressed by the daily demonstration of resilience and grit in which our senior learners are locking in, giving it their best and just getting it done! The focus and diligence on display in our classrooms is so impressive and I am grateful that we have such a dedicated cohort of senior learners to model these great habits to our younger members of the Carmel community.
Academic Mentoring
Our Year 12 students are currently undertaking a process of academic mentoring driven by their PC teachers. These conversations have been informed by all available QCAA results across General, Applied and VET subjects and will allow students to discuss, in depth, their pathways, challenges, successes and barriers to learning. This is an integral part of our support system for our senior learners as they negotiate the complexities of their Year 12 pathways.
Year 12 - BCE Scholarships for Future Teachers - Teach Challenge & Transform Tomorrow
Teaching can make a real difference in the lives of others. You have the opportunity to become part of a profession that will shape the future for generations to come.
BCE scholarship benefits:
- financial support for tuition fees, up to $5,000 per year for each remaining year of teacher training (maximum $20,000)
- a teaching position in a BCE school or college
- connection to a supportive and inclusive community
- guidance and support navigating your educational and career path, and so much more!
If your student is interested in accessing this opportunity, please make contact with me asap.
Year 10 Careers Expo
On Tuesday 10 June, during Week 8, our Year 10 cohort will have the opportunity to attend the Subject and Career Expo. This event is a great opportunity for students to chat to staff, current students and industry professionals about pathway options, subjects that align with their pathways and the Queensland Certificate of Education structure.
While this is an integral part of the Year 10 subject selection process, this event is open to all Carmel students and will be held in the Civitas Centre. The evening will allow students to make crucial decisions leading up to their Senior Education and Training (SET) planning process in which our Year 10 students will select their subjects for Year 11 & 12.
I would encourage all Year 10 students and their parents to come along and learn about senior pathways and tertiary options. I’m looking forward to seeing you all there and am happy to answer any questions about future pathways at Carmel for our Senior Learners.
Ms Cher Williams
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching 10-12
Our talented Year 12 Hospitality students ran a delightful Café for invited guests. The event was a great success, with the students showcasing their skills by serving a delicious two-course lunch with full table service. The guests were treated to a wonderful dining experience, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Year 12 students.
Students turned delicious chocolate cookies into a tasty model of the moon's glowing journey through its phases! From twisting cookies into lunar treats to crafting glowing 3D models with polystyrene, posters, and more, students explored the Moon’s cycle in creative, hands-on ways that are truly out of this world!
Year 8’s Science - Growing Crystals
Growing crystals was a fun and educational experiment where students observed the process of crystallization firsthand. It was a fantastic way to learn about solubility, evaporation, and supersaturation. In this experiment, students varied the temperatures to produce crystals of different sizes, allowing them to see how temperature affects the rate and size of crystal formation.
Year 9 Chemistry – Conservation of Mass in reactions
The baking soda and vinegar reaction is a classic science experiment that demonstrated an exciting chemical reaction between an acid and a base. It was a fun, fizzy, and easy way to explore basic chemistry principles, such as acid-base reactions, gas production, and even the idea of chemical equations. The vinegar and baking soda were mixed, and the eruption was more dramatic than anyone had expected!
Year 10 Chemistry – HYPO X
Students had fun with a classic experiment using sodium thiosulphate and hydrochloric acid with the "Disappearing Cross" experiment. Students could visually see how the reaction rate changes over time as sulphur forms, though it can get a bit smelly! Students varied the temperature and the concentration of hydrochloric acid to explore how these factors affect the reaction rate.
Year 11 Biology – Potato Catalase and Yeast Experiment
The Potato Catalase Experiment was a fun, hands-on, and interactive way for Year 11 students to explore enzyme activity! It’s not just any typical lab activity—it was an exciting science adventure where students saw enzymes in action, watched oxygen bubbles form, and explored how temperature affects the rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction. Students chopped up a potato and added hydrogen peroxide. Boom! Bubbles form as oxygen gas is released.
The Yeast Fermentation Experiment was a thrilling way for Year 11 students to dive into the world of anaerobic respiration and explore how different factors, like temperature and sugar concentration, impact the speed of carbon dioxide production during fermentation. It wasn't just a typical science experiment—it was a living, bubbling reaction that gave students a chance to see the power of yeast cells in action!
Year 11 Chemistry – Measuring heat of combustion
Calorimetry is the science of measuring the heat involved in chemical reactions or physical changes. It's an important tool in thermodynamics, helping scientists understand how energy is transferred in different processes.
Year 12 Biology – Gel Electrophoresis
Gel electrophoresis is a technique commonly used in laboratories to separate molecules like DNA, RNA, or proteins based on their size and charge. Students had fun with an educational experiment using food coloring which visually demonstrated the process. In this simplified version, different food coloring molecules with varying molecular weights were used, allowing students to see how molecules of different sizes move through the gel. This hands-on experiment provided an accessible way for students to explore the basic principles of molecular separation and how size and charge affect movement in a gel matrix.
Year 12 Biology
Students created colourful and informative posters to illustrate the stages of meiosis, showcasing their understanding of cell division through creative visuals and clear explanations.
Happy Mother’s Day
A big thank you to all our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and other special people in our lives who support us through all the ups and downs. We also extend our gratitude to the DTFM staff team and hospitality students for organising the annual Mother’s Day Breakfast. A special shout out to Tyler R, one of the Arts Year 10 Vocal students, for performing at this event. Well done!
Farewell and Chokers
It is with great sadness, but also great joy that we farewell our one and only Miss Tyla Rodrigues Carmel College’s guitar, Rock Band and Unplugged teacher. Tyla is living her dream with recently being signed to ABC Music and starts her USA tour in Nashville in 2 weeks. We wish her all the best and Chokers!!! It is very sad to see her go, but upwards and onwards Tyla!
What we offer – With most groups/ensembles coming at NO cost to our families
All Private Instrumental, Vocal, Dance, and Visual Art lessons are underway, and we are already seeing some real success stories. This year, we have the most Arts opportunities for Carmel College students that we have ever had, and our numbers are very high in all programs we offer. The Art staff are very excited for what 2025 holds for the Arts. If your student is enrolled in the Arts extra-curricular program, you will receive emails from their teacher regarding times and days of lessons and all other communication regularly. Please keep an eye on your emails for this. Please refer to the Arts Co weekly timetable below for more information.
If your child/ren would like to join an Arts Co Ensemble or take private instrumental, vocal, dance or visual art lessons, please fill out the Expression of Interest form and send to Julia.Spargo@carmelcollege.qld.edu.au. Students are welcome to joing all year round.
Arts Co-Curricular Program Leader
Don't miss out—Book your tickets today!
Representative Sport
There are a few trials open at the moment. Please ensure your child is checking the notices to see which trials are available.
All student forms for school representative pathways must come through the Sports Office so that we can approve leave and get appropriate principal consent to trial. Thank-you to all students who have been checking notices and following this process. We congratulate the large number of students who have found success in these trials and competitions. We do not generally receive results from State or National Championships so if students are involved, can you please send these results and photos through to our sport@carmelcollege.qld.edu.au address so that we can share this with our community.
Please check emails if your child was to attend a trial that was postponed. I have sent out a number of emails to the student and parents of those affected.
Bayside Cross Country Success for Carmel College
On Wednesday 7 May, our Carmel College Cross Country team participated in the Bayside Cross Country event held at Capalaba Regional Park. With over 60 enthusiastic students representing our school, it was a day filled with determination, perseverance, and outstanding performances.
Our team finished 4th overall, a commendable achievement given the level of competition. The students' hard work and dedication were evident as they navigated the challenging course with grit and resilience.
We are particularly proud to announce that fourteen of our students have qualified for the Met East Cross Country carnival, which will take place on Tuesday 27 May. This is a significant accomplishment, and we are excited to see our runners compete at the next level.
A big congratulations to all our students who participated and gave their best effort. Your commitment and sportsmanship are truly inspiring. We also extend our best wishes to our runners who will be competing in the upcoming Met East Cross Country event. We know you will continue to make us proud.
Thank you to everyone who supported our team. Let's keep cheering on our athletes as they strive for excellence. Go Carmel College!
Super 7s Open Netball - GIRLS
The Carmel College Girls' QISSN Team had an impressive performance at the Super 7's Netball Carnival last Friday. Losing only one game during the day, they progressed to the Bronze Medal Match, where they delivered a dominant performance, winning by 9 goals. Their efforts and teamwork were commendable, making the school proud of their achievements as they continue their preparations for the upcoming QISSN Carnival.
Super 7s Open Netball - BOYS
Last Friday, our Boys Open Netball team took to the court at the Super 7s competition, facing off against some tough and talented opposition. This marked the first time our boys have competed as a team against other boys' teams this year—and what a debut it was!
Despite the challenge, the team rose to the occasion with determination, teamwork, and grit. Each match tested their skills and resilience, and they responded with heart and hustle.
While a scoring controversy meant we played off for a lower final position than we had hoped, the experience was invaluable. The lessons learned on and off the court will fuel our preparation for upcoming competitions, including the QC Cup and Vicki Wilson.
Well done to all the players for representing our school with pride and sportsmanship!
Bill Turner Cup – Football
Congratulations to Our U15 Football Team!
We are thrilled to share the exciting news about our U15 Football (Soccer) team's remarkable performance in the Bill Turner Cup competition held on Wednesday, 14th May. Our talented young athletes showcased their skills, determination, and sportsmanship throughout the day.
Game 1 was a nail-biter, where our team emerged victorious against Clairvaux, winning 2-2 on penalties. The players demonstrated exceptional resilience and teamwork, making us all proud.
In Game 2, our team faced a tough challenge against Balmoral. Despite their best efforts, Balmoral managed to secure a 2-1 win over Carmel College. Our players fought hard and showed great spirit, learning valuable lessons from the match.
Game 3 saw our team going up against Mansfield, who ultimately claimed victory for the day. Although the result was not in our favour, our players displayed commendable effort and sportsmanship.
A special thank you goes out to Mr. Hayden Walker and Mr. Lachlan Reilly for their dedication and hard work in making this experience possible for our students. Their guidance and support have been instrumental in the team's journey.
We are incredibly proud of our U15 Football team for their achievements and the way they represented our school.
Congratulations to all the players and coaches for their outstanding performance in the Bill Turner Cup competition!
Student Spotlight Achievements
Thiago W– YEAR 11 (POLDING)
Recently Thiago represented Met East at the 16-19yrs Boys State Football Championships held in Cairns. The team finished 5th overall and Thiago had a great carnival. Congratulations on an amazing achievement!
Mekhi H - Year 9 (CHAMPAGNAT)
Redlands Tigers Cricket - Mekhi has been selected for the U17 Brisbane Metropolitan Squad (BMC) for Redlands Tigers Cricket.
Redlands Touch - Mekhi was selected in the U14 Redlands Representative Touch Red Team who will compete in the Tri Series and the Junior Cup in Rockhampton in July.
Well done on your achievements in both Cricket and Touch Football Mekhi!
Lenox H- Year 7 (CHAMPAGNAT)
Redlands Touch - Lenox was selected in the U14 Redlands Representative Touch Green Team who will compete in the Tri Series and the Junior Cup in Rockhampton in July.
Well done Lenox on your Touch Football achievement. Best of luck at the Junor State Cup!
Leo R – Year 7 (ROMERO) & Cameron T – YEAR 7 (AVILA)
Cameron and Leo recently competed in the All-Schools Cross Country event. Both boys ran very well. Cameron finished the 3km in 13min and Leo 13 min 11 sec. It was a very wet day but they both showed great sportsmanship and resilience. Well done, we are very proud of you both!
Yours in Sport,
Mrs Kristy Wilkinson
Sport Program Leader
Writer in Residence Program
On Wednesday 14 May, Carmel College had the pleasure of hosting guest author Victoria Carless for morning tea and an engaging conversation with our Writer in Residence group. These talented students have been diligently working on individual short stories for an upcoming competition. Victoria provided invaluable feedback and shared insights on various creative writing topics. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Victoria for her time and generosity. A special congratulations to Isabelle T., who received a signed copy of Victoria's latest novel, Lani and the Universe.
Mother’s Day Craft
In celebration of Mother’s Day, the library offered students the chance to create gem-art coasters. We hope these colourful creations brought joy to their recipients.
Library Hours and Use of Space
Please note that the library opens at 8am, and supervision begins at this time. We have observed some students entering the library before 8am, so please remind them to check the time before arriving.
The library offers a variety of spaces for different activities, including quiet areas for individual work and lively spaces for board and card games. It is important that students use each space appropriately to ensure everyone can enjoy the library.
Overdue Resources
There are many overdue library resources dating back to March. Students have been reminded to return these items. Next week, parents and caregivers will be notified if their student has any overdue resources.
Mrs Jessica Finden
Teacher Librarian
Follow us at carmelcollege_library for all your library news!
Online parent applications can be made for student travel assistance - Semester 1, 2025 via the School Transport website during the month of May.
Programs available:
- Bus Fare Assistance Program (BFAP)
-
Students With Disability (SWD)
A helpful link for parents to prepare their child for travelling on public transport is Public Transport Guide for Parents.
We are thrilled to announce that students from Nara Ikuei High School, Japan, will be visiting Carmel College in Term 3. During their stay, they will share their knowledge of Japanese language and culture with our students while also learning about our great Aussie lifestyle and improving their English skills.We are looking for families that would like to open their homes to our Japanese guests. If you are interested in hosting a student, please review the documents below and reach out to Mrs Ward or Ms Edwards for more information. Let's make this cultural exchange a memorable experience for everyone involved!
The Year 12 annual fundraising event, The Carmel Chop, returns in Term 3.
Our seniors will be cutting their hair to donate to sustainable salons, where it will be used to create wigs for individuals experiencing medically-induced hair loss. In addition, our students are raising funds to support Mater Chicks in Pink, a charity dedicated to providing support to women diagnosed with breast cancer.
We are seeking volunteer hairdressers who are willing to donate their time and talent to assist our students with their haircuts on the day of the event.
Your support will not only contribute to the success of our fundraising efforts but also make a significant difference in the lives of those who will receive the donated wigs.
If you are interested in participating or would like more information about the event, please email events@carmelcollege.qld.edu.au.
Dear Carmel Community,
We are looking for parents who can volunteer at our Tuckshop for 2-3 hours either fortnightly or monthly. If you're interested in lending a hand, please reach out to our Tuckshop Convenor, Mrs Belinda Greaves, by emailing sthotuckshop@carmelcollege.qld.edu.au.
The 2025 Volunteer Tuckshop Roster for Term 2 is outlined below:
The College has a great online ordering system for Tuckshop called My Student Account (MSA). This allows you to place all your school orders conveniently online. Please refer to the information in the documents below on how to place an order:
Thank you for your support.
Mrs Belinda Greaves
Tuckshop Convenor
Copyright in some materials appearing in the Carmel College Newsletter is owned by third parties and should not be used or reproduced without the authority of the third party. The links to websites or web pages are for information purposes only.
To the extent that such third-party materials are not owned by BCE, we accept no responsibility for such content.