And just like that, we have reached our final newsletter for Term 1.
From school-wide events such as athletics and swimming sports, and the coin trail, to year-level activities including the Year 8 and Year 12 camps, retreats, surf and waterwise days, subject field trips, and extracurricular opportunities like Polyfest and a wide range of sporting events including Summer Tournament Week, the term has certainly been full. All of this sitting alongside the high quality teaching and learning taking place in every classroom.
Last Friday, our Carmel and Rosmini Tongan group took the stage at Polyfest. The weeks leading up to the festival were intense, with students coming together after school, during lunchtimes, and on weekends to learn the lakalaka and tauʻolunga. This was alongside significant fundraising efforts. I would like to acknowledge and thank those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this possible. While I will not name individuals, those involved know who you are, thank you. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity and experience you have created for our students.
However, it was during the previous week’s Fiefia Night performance that Maria Vagana, our Pasifika Leader, shared what the formation of this group truly meant to her, something far greater than simply attending an event. Below are her words, which serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of community in supporting our young people as they grow and begin to navigate the wider world:
Polyfest isn’t just another school event we tick off the calendar. What we carry here is history. What we bring to this stage is legacy. Our performance is not just movement—it is a connection to our ancestors, our culture, and everything our families have worked hard to give us. There is no other space where that connection feels as strong, as alive, and as meaningful as it does right here, right now, standing together as Pasifika youth.
If there is anything I have learnt while preparing for Polyfest, it is the true meaning of leadership: showing up even when we’re tired, stepping up when things are tough, and lifting each other up. It has reminded us that our identity is not something we hide—it is something we carry boldly.
At Carmel College, we strive to embody the words of Catherine McAuley, who inspires us to be “a shining lamp giving light to all around.” In sharing the richness and beauty of Tongan culture through dance, our students honour their identities while strengthening and enriching our community. It is in moments like these, when culture, talent, and community come together, that we are reminded how fortunate we are.
Next week out term 1 progress reports will be made available through the KAMAR portal, and an email will be sent to parents and caregivers when they are ready. This report provides a comprehensive overview of your daughter’s progress, including organisation, academic engagement, and attitude to learning. It also includes attendance data and some assessment results from Term 1.
Parent-teacher interviews will be held for all students on Thursday 23 April and Tuesday 28 April, from 12.30pm to 7.00pm. Please note that school will finish at 12.00pm on these days to allow time for interviews. Bookings will open at 4.00pm on Thursday 2 April, and we encourage families to make appointments early to ensure you can meet with your daughter’s teachers.
During the term break, a Term 2 broadcast will be sent. This will include important information and key dates, along with reminders about attendance, uniform, and other matters.
As I do at the beginning of each break, I encourage our students to find a healthy balance between rest, preparation, and self-improvement. While it is important to relax, I also challenge our young women to maintain positive habits—engaging in at least 30 minutes of physical activity, reading for at least 30 minutes each day, and switching off from devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime. These small habits help ensure they return reinvigorated, refreshed, and ready to embrace the opportunities of Term 2.
I wish you all a safe and restful Easter and term break, and look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term 2.
Risen Christ,
You come to us in the quiet dawn,
bringing light to our darkness
and hope to a weary world.
As women of Mercy,
we rejoice in Your resurrection
and the promise of new life it brings.
Open our hearts to recognise You
in those who are poor, suffering, and forgotten.
Give us courage to act with compassion,
to walk gently with others,
and to be bearers of Your mercy in all we do.
May the joy of Easter
renew our spirits,
strengthen our faith,
and inspire us to build a world
of justice, love, and peace.
We ask this in Your name,
Risen Lord.
Amen
