As we reach the end of another wonderful and incredibly full term, I want to take a moment to acknowledge all that our students, staff and wider community have achieved together.
Term 2 has been filled with opportunities for learning, service, creativity and competition. Students have represented Carmel College with pride through sport, drama productions, the Big Sing, the Pompallier Shield, the School Ball, Tika Week, assessments, the Year 7 Social, retreats, careers events and work experience, Samoan Language Week, and the Mercy Cup. Alongside these were Zone Days, the Otago Maths Challenge, Mathex, the Rosmini Quiz Night, debating, the Brain Bee, and many other activities. The energy, commitment and enthusiasm shown by our students has been outstanding.
A key highlight of the term was our annual Carmel Day, a special occasion that brings our whole school community together to celebrate our Catholic faith, Mercy tradition and the values that unite us. Although the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel falls on 16 July during the holidays, it is a longstanding Carmel tradition to celebrate this important day at the end of Term 2.
The day began with Mass, where we reflected on Mary, Our Lady of Carmel, who is honoured in our school motto, Mana Maria – Mary as our guide. We celebrated our Mercy heritage, remembering Catherine McAuley’s call to live lives of compassion, service and justice. We also acknowledged the people in our Carmel Community for the particular way they have shown our values in action, walking the path of Mercy;
- Sandra Fernandes, Community – For her outstanding dedication, leadership and commitment to the PTFA
- Karen Dorrington, Community – For her dedicated service to Carmel Sport through 24 years of coaching and developing generations of Carmel netball players
- Mandy Verdonk, Staff – For her committed service to music, rowing, the Y7/8 deparment and her inspiring contribution to student learning and school life
The celebrations continued with our much-anticipated House Concert. This year’s theme, Female Icons, showcased the incredible creativity, talent and teamwork of our students through performances inspired by artists including Pink, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. While each house delivered an entertaining performance, the underlying message was even more powerful: that being a Carmel girl means being confident, courageous and committed to lifting others up. It was a wonderful celebration of school spirit and a fitting reminder that powerful women inspire powerful women.
At our final assembly, we also recognised one senior and one junior student from each House with a Spirit of Mercy Award. Students are nominated for these awards by both their peers and staff members, based on how consistently they demonstrate our five Mercy values: Service (Āwhinatanga), Respect (Whakaute), Justice (Tika), Care (Manaakitanga) and Courage (Māia) in their everyday actions. This award is not about popularity; rather, it celebrates those students who quietly and consistently embody the values that define our Carmel community.
The recipients for term 2 were:
As we finish the term, we also farewell several valued members of our staff: Mrs Candice Capacia, Ms Grace Zhang, Miss Caitlin Harrod and Miss Ishana-Lee Nui. We thank them for their contribution to our Carmel community and wish them every blessing in the next chapter of their journey.
I also encouraged every student to take a moment before the holidays to thank their teachers and the many staff who support learning each day. Our teachers have been alongside your daughters throughout a busy and rewarding term while also dedicating significant time to learning about, implementing and providing feedback on the new curriculum and qualification framework. Their dedication, care and commitment to our students are greatly appreciated.
Next Friday, as a nation, we celebrate Matariki, the beginning of the Māori Lunar Calendar. Matariki is a special time for all New Zealanders to acknowledge our bicultural heritage and to reflect on three guiding principles: remembrance, which involves honouring those we have lost since the last rising of Matariki; celebration, which is about appreciating the present with gratitude; and looking to the future, which is about setting hopes and intentions for the year ahead.
In line with this, the term break provides a valuable opportunity for reflection. I encourage your daughter to consider what went well this term, what was challenging, what she has learnt about herself through this reflection, and what changes or goals will help her continue to grow in Term 3.
Tomorrow, Term 2 Progress Reports will be available for families to access. During the second week of the holidays, we will also send a broadcast with important information to help families prepare for the start of Term 3.
Finally, I hope your family enjoys a safe, restful and refreshing break. We encourage students to continue looking after their wellbeing by reading for at least 20 minutes each day, being physically active for at least 30 minutes each day, and unplugging from devices at least one hour before bedtime. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another exciting term.
