The school Cross Country Competition was a very successful event with all the children taking part and doing their very best. We saw some great running performances, and congratulate the individual winners. This year's winning house was St Mary MacKillop.

Book Week culminated in a fantastic costume parade. The children enjoyed dressing up as their favourite book character, and had the opportunity to showcase this to the rest of the school. The week's activities, including the character parade and visiting show, were a great way to celebrate books and encourage a joy of reading amongst our students.

At the conclusion of Bullying Free NZ Week, we celebrated with Pink Shirt Day. The PTA organised a number of events to mark the day which were enjoyed by all the students.  The Disco at lunchtime was a highlight of the Day.

Last week the whole school enjoyed a Football For Schools taster session, taking part in skills training and giving it a go in the inflatable pitch. Football for Schools also offer after school sessions -  see their website for details

Our annual Senior Athletics Afternoon was very enjoyable. The children had a wonderful time taking part in a range of activities and demonstrated great sportsmanship as they competed. The sack race was a highlight of the event. The winning house was St Francis.

In the last week of term 1 we were fortunate to hit a break in the rainy, stormy weather as we held our annual Junior Athletics Afternoon.

Video Credit: Frogley Family

Earlier this term our Year 4 and 5 students each spent a day at Mairangi Bay Surf Lifesaving Club learning about Surf Safety. Mrs Louise Spora writes: "This was an invaluable day facilitated by experienced surf lifesavers. The students started the day in the classroom learning Beach Safety Rules, how to be sunsmart and what to do in a rip. The lifeguards then took the students onto the beach and they played some games which allowed them to practice using the lifesaving equipment. These skills were then transferred to the water where the students 'saved' each other using rescue tubes and finally ended the day with boogie board races. The students left exhausted but excited about taking their new skills with them on their next visit to a beach."

Our Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms enjoyed a session with Hamish from the Marist Rugby Club learning how to play Rippa Rugby.  Under 6's Rippa Rugby is played on Friday nights in Term 2 at the Marist Club in Panmure.  For more information on how to join, contact Hamish on 021 031 6665 or email [email protected]

Sixty Mt Carmel children formed 6 teams who completed against a number of teams from local Eastern schools at this year's Top Schools Competition organised by the Rotary Club.  Well done to all the children who worked brilliantly together and undertook the adventurous activities with enthusiasm and congratulations to the Year 3/4 team who were awarded Bronze medals.  Overall the water slide proved to be the most popular, particularly as the area at the bottom got very boggy over the course of the day!

At the beginning of March, all of our Year 6 students travelled to Long Bay to visit the Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre. The children first took part in problem solving games, which relied on them working as part of a team to complete a series of challenges. After this, the children split into groups to take part in abseiling and body boarding taught by the MERC Instructors. During the body boarding sessions the children first learnt all about rip tides and staying safe in the water, followed by a great time catching some fantastic waves.