Tena koutou katoa. Nga mihi nui atawhai.

“Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.” — Henri Frederic Amiel

These last two weeks and this week in particular, we farewell our Year 13 leavers and pause to show our gratitude and our thanks for the many blessings that we have received this year. While 2020 has been a very difficult year, there are still many things we can be grateful for.

Being grateful for the compassionate learning community where we have supported and cared for each other during these times of adversity is one of our biggest blessings.

Our Atawhai groups have farewelled each of their Year 13 students and thanked them for their contributions to their group.

Our Year 13 students have sincerely thanked the staff who have supported them through their learning journey here at Carmel. “At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer.

Our final celebration is the Thanksgiving Mass that was held this week where we send our Year 13 students onto their next steps in their learning journey with our faith filled blessings.

Thank you to all the many people who have contributed to making sure these ceremonies and rituals all run smoothly – and don’t forget to say ‘thank you’.

‘Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.” —Alice Walker