Aspire - 2020 Edition 3 - Mt St Michael's College

Welcome to our Term 4 edition of Aspire, our newsletter for future MSM families that highlights successes, activities and events that have occurred here at Mt St Michael’s College.

It was such a joy to welcome our Year 7 2021 students at the Orientation Day on Friday 4 September. We were impressed with their enthusiasm and we are looking forward to formally welcoming them at assembly on Wednesday 27 January 2021.

A reminder that applications for Year 7 2024 close on Friday 29 January 2021.

We welcomed the Queensland Government’s announcement on 13 November regarding changes to restrictions. We are currently exploring options regarding the hosting of College Tours for Year 7 2024 families. We will be in contact in the new year regarding these arrangements.

It is my pleasure to share a snapshot of our girls' successes in this edition of Aspire. As always, I encourage you to take the time to share this news with your daughter, helping her familiarise herself with our College. 

Blessings to you and your family this Christmas and wishing you a safe and restful school holiday break. May 2021 be filled with peace, joy and hope.

In Faith and Love

Ms Sharon Volp
Principal

Year 7 Retreat

Our Year 7 students absolutely loved their first experience of an MSM retreat, led by Project Hatch. They played games, sung together, and reflected on their emerging identity as an MSM student; young women of commitment, confidence, compassion, conscience and competence.

Meet our 2021 College Captains

In late Term 3, we announced our 2021 student leaders. These exceptional young women have now accepted this challenge with determination and grace. We look forward to supporting them and seeing them grow throughout this exciting journey during the coming year.

2020 Seniors Final Five

During Term 4, our Year 12s enjoyed a special week-long event - The Final Five. Monday saw them channelling ‘Men in Black’. Tuesday was ‘Tiara Tuesday’, followed by ‘Wig Wednesday’. ‘Throwback Thursday’ was a reflection on childhood. Students gazed into a crystal ball on ‘Future Friday’, dressing as their career choice. It is interesting to consider that, with the nature of our changing workforce, many 2020 graduates may have up to seven careers. We are immensely proud to have helped develop our Year 12s with the goals of identifying career options and pathways, and to assist them to build important career development skills.

Tiara Tuesday

Wig Wednesday

Throwback Thursday

MSM Celebrates

An important event on our calendar, the College acknowledged and celebrated the achievements of our students in the academic, mission, sporting and cultural fields of life at the College during our annual award ceremony ‘MSM Celebrates’. There have been limited opportunities for our musicians to perform to an audience this year, so it was wonderful to hear the uplifting sounds of our Wind Chamber Ensemble, singers, and enjoy a delightfully energetic dance performance. While there have been challenges to overcome this year in the pursuit of excellence, our students have provided inspirational role modelling for our entire community.

Co-curricular Awards

Recently, our community celebrated our annual Co-Curricular Awards Assembly. While student achievements this year did look a little bit different and the challenges faced by departments and their students has been significant, our co-curricular activities have provided a unique opportunity to find new ways of engaging students at a time when they needed the connection that groups and sports provides more than ever. During this special assembly we celebrated the achievements of our students in co-curricular programs and acknowledged their achievements across our diverse range of activities.

Celebrating Christmas Around our College

'Yuletide' MusicFest'

Performed by all Co-Curricular Music choral and instrumental groups, the final MusicFest concert for 2020 was a live-stream event that featured a light-hearted mixture of Christmas-themed items. The concert theme was inspired by the history of the festival of Yule, with its origins in the Celtic pagan story of the Wild Hunt and the Norse god Odin. Did you know that many present-day Christian customs at Christmas have their origins in these early Yule traditions? Though we missed our usual lively audience of parents and friends, the students, complemented by MSM Staff, provided an enthusiastic audience. Many families enjoyed the concert from their own lounge rooms.

Missions of St Vincent’s Christmas Appeal

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. However, for many, a time of struggle. At Mt St Michael’s College, during our year of compassion, we help make Christmas special for individuals and families who are supported by the Ashgrove/The Gap Conference of St Vincent de Paul. Students were encouraged to bring in festive food for the Christmas table, decorations for the tree or simply pantry staples, to help make Christmas brighter and more joyful for those who may do without. We wholeheartedly thank all members of the community for their generous support of this year’s appeal.

Year 10 Business and Enterprise Christmas Markets

In November, the Year 10 Business and Enterprise students held their Christmas Market. To prepare, students conducted surveys to determine which products would be most popular. They then pitch for funds, to get their projects underway. The market was a great success, and products and displays were of an exceptional quality The Christmas Markets raised $592, with funds directed to our Term 4 charity, St Vincent de Paul.

🎄 Christmas Bauble Dash 🎄

Our Convent Lawn, at the historical entrance of the College on Elimatta Drive, was covered in Christmas cheer as part of an Interact fundraising event – the Bauble Dash. Students collected baubles and for a $2 donation were able to trade the baubles for a range of prizes. We are immensely proud to direct all funds raised to Days for Girls, an organisation that provides health solutions to girls in countries who would otherwise miss school during their periods. An important aspect of a Catholic education, our student’s commitment to social justice is demonstrated through support of groups like Days for Girls, with either local, national, or international contexts.

MSM Business Directory

Would you like to advertise in the MSM Business Directory? Contact us to find out more.
https://www.msm.qld.edu.au/business-directory

Keep in touch

The MSMC App is the ‘go to place’ to find important links such as Parent Lounge (for current parents) and to hear about Sports trials, practices and cancellations, and Music and Arts information and events.

Families enrolled with the College are also invited to download the MSMC App, to access newsletters, and community events information.

To download the MSMC App CLICK HERE for iPhone or CLICK HERE for Android.

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