Last week, the swimming sports took place at Point Erin Pools. While the competitive races saw some of our young women shine, the fun noodle races, relays and other events brought our students together in the pool, creating an atmosphere of excitement, camaraderie and connection. It was wonderful to see our community cheer one another on. A huge thank you to the Sports Department and Sports Council for their exceptional organisation, to the students who participated, and to the staff for ensuring the day ran smoothly.
This week, the school turned green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, coinciding with the annual Coin Trail. While the trail now largely consists of chalk drawings, each Atawhai group worked hard on the designs and also on raising funds. The stalls on the day – selling shamrock sundaes, cupcakes, sherbet, sausages and more – raised even more money. Special thanks to the team of students led by Helena Lee and Abigail Street, for their dedication and hard work in organising this event. It is activities like these, run by and for students, that help foster a strong sense of community at Carmel, supporting our young women in creating lasting connections and a sense of belonging.
This weekend, and into next week, many of our summer sports teams will head off to tournament week, competing in volleyball, 3×3 basketball and water polo. Additionally, it’s worth noting that last week’s Pegasus Cup showcased outstanding results from some of the college’s equestrian riders—check out the details in this newsletter. With many students away competing, our school facilities will still be buzzing next week with Year 7-8 netball trials, 1st X1, 2nd X1 and junior football trials, as well as the Year 7-8 cricket zone day. It’s fantastic to see so many students actively involved in sports, as the skills, qualities and values they develop through participation are so valuable.
As we near the end of Term 1 in three weeks, it’s important to recognise that students’ schedules are becoming increasingly busy with school and extracurricular commitments. While it is pleasing to see our young women involved in activities both in and around the college, I encourage you to check in and support your daughter in maintaining a healthy balance between her extracurricular activities, leisure time and schoolwork.
A helpful exercise to do with your daughter is to create a log of what a ‘typical’ week looks like, ensuring there is balance between her academic, physical, spiritual and wellbeing needs. Many students find that visually mapping out their week helps them realise how they’re using their time, and for some, it serves as a reminder to make the most of their class time during school hours.
Below is a simplified snapshot of what a week could look like, whilst we also consider travel times to and from school that many of our students encounter each day.
If at any point you are unsure or think she may require some support, whether that be sitting down with her Dean, Career or Guidance Counsellors, do not hesitate to reach out.
As we head into week 9 and the last 3 weeks of term, and as we continue on our Lenten journey, may we all continue to strive to live by our Mercy values whereby we are compassionate and respectful, where we seek justice for others and ourselves, and where we have the courage to pursue our ambitions.
