New Students 2025

As term 1 comes to a close, we want to recognise this is the end of the first term at Carmel College for all our year 7 students, and for all other new students. We interviewed four new year 7 students and a new year 8 student on what changes they've experienced since leaving primary school. Ivy Dakers, Harriet Franklin, Chloe Kim and Sadie McSheffery are all in year 7 at Carmel this year, and Romy McSheffery is a new student to Carmel, in year 8 this year. 

All the girls really appreciate the interesting new experiences and opportunities at Carmel, from completing practical experiments in science, baking biscuits and other yummy treats in Food technology to learning to sew in materials technology! 

They’ve also loved getting involved in school activities, the most recent being our Coin Trail event for St. Patrick’s day. They really enjoyed dressing up in their green and coming along to the lunchtime stalls, to experience one of their first Carmel events! Earlier this term, we also had Athletics Day and Swimming Sports, two of our main house competitions of the year! The girls really loved both events, Harriet in particular was especially excited about swimming sports, and said that it was a much better experience at Carmel, because everyone got involved and had a great time, creating a positive environment. 

While loving these new exciting changes, there are a few things they miss too, like the playground and late starts of primary school. However, as Sadie and Ivy agreed, all the students at Carmel are willing to help, the teachers are supportive and everyone has been friendly towards them, creating a warm and welcoming environment, the perfect way to start the school year! 

Romy is also new to Carmel, joining our school this year in year 8. Romy said that she is settling in well to Carmel College, and that while she found it difficult to make friends at first, she had now found a group of wonderful, inclusive friends, as is still making even more! She wanted to share that "the change is hard, but I found a way through"

By Lila Gilchrist