Welcome to the Term 4 2020 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 during Term 3.

It was such a joy to welcome our Year 7 2021 students at the Orientation Day on Friday 4 September. I hope that the students enjoyed their introduction to life at MSM. We were impressed with their enthusiasm and we are looking forward to formally welcoming them at assembly on Wednesday 27 January.
 
We were disappointed that we could not include parents/carers at our Orientation Day this year, but I would like to express my appreciation for your cooperation with the drop off and pick up of your daughters.  We are hopeful that we will be able to meet you personally in 2021.
 
Included in this edition of Aspire is some important information regarding the commencement of the 2021 school year. 
As always, I encourage you to take the time to share this news with your daughter, helping her familiarise herself with our College. 
 
In Faith and Love

Ms Sharon Volp
Principal
From the Year 7 Pastoral Leader
 
Dear 2021 Year 7 Parents and Caregivers

Your daughters have certainly experienced an extraordinary final year at primary school.  I hope that they enjoy the upcoming rites of passage that the completion of Year 6 brings.  Term 4 will be filled with a range of emotions for the whole family – disbelief that your daughter is already moving to secondary school; sadness at leaving friends and familiarity; fear of the unknown and hopefully excitement about who is to come.

Whilst our Orientation Morning was structured a little differently to previous years, I am grateful for the opportunity to meet your daughters and for them to begin to form bonds with each other that will only strengthen over the next six years.  I recognize the resilience and courage that it took for your daughters to say goodbye and take that first daunting step without you into the College grounds.  I hope that they enjoyed their morning and are looking forward to starting with us in January.

I will be in contact before your daughter’s first day with details about the beginning of Term 1, however, I would like to share some key information to assist her on her first day on Wednesday 27 January 2021.  Please note that we will update this information in the week before the College year commences as we monitor the COVID-19 situation.
  • School commences at 8.35 am.  Please aim to arrive at school by 8.15 am.
  • Assemble in the courtyard in front of M Block (behind Grantuly)
  • Wear your full day uniform including College hat.
  • Bring your Mt St Michael’s College tote bag, a water bottle, note pad and pencil case.
  • The Kaf will be open for morning tea and lunch, or alternatively you can bring your own.
  • You will be issued with your 2021 Diary and College Calendar, your student timetable, a lock for your locker and a lanyard.
Information regarding the distribution of student laptops will be provided in the week before the College year commences.

I look forward to seeing you in January and I hope that you enjoy your final weeks at primary school and your graduation activities.
 
Kind regards
Alison Correia
Year 7 Pastoral Leader
2021 Booklists

2021 Booklists are currently being finalised.  This information will be distributed in the next couple of weeks.
2021 MSM Music Day Camp
Each year MSM holds a Music Camp at the beginning of the year.  In 2021 as we are unable to do an overnight camp due to COVID-19, the Music Department is planning a day camp to be held at the College.  
 
The MSM Music Day Camp will be held in Term 1, end of Week 2: Saturday 6 February 9.00 am-7:30pm and Sunday 7 February 9:00 am-1:00 pm. 
 
Year 7s are welcome to attend this event if they are able to sing, and/or play any of the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe, bassoon, French horn, Saxophone, trumpet, trombone, tuba, euphonium, guitar or percussion. If piano, then can join Percussion Ensemble and sing in Choirs. The proposed Camp Fee is approximately $50. Please contact Ms Miriam Townsley (Music Program Leader) at [email protected] to register your interest. 
Swimming Trials
Year 7 2021 are invited to participate in the first round of MSM 2021 Swimming Team Trials, to be held on Sunday 1 November at the Marist College Ashgrove 50m pool (best entrance is via Glenlyon Drive).  Students are required to arrive at 8:00 am and we are expecting to finish these trials at approximately 10:00 am.  Parents are encouraged to drop and go. Students will be supervised by MSM Staff within the pool area for the duration of the trials and until collected by parents. Registration to attend is required, to keep track of students attending and also for planning purposes. Please email your student’s intention to trial to Kay Roy (Director of Sport) [email protected] before 3:00 pm on Friday 30 October so accurate rolls can be created. Full piece swimmers, cap, goggles and own water bottles are required.  Additional trials for the MSM 2021 Swimming Team will be held in January 2021 to finalise the team. Please direct further questions or any concerns to Kay Roy at the email above or by phone 3858 4241.  
CaSSSA Tennis Trials – Term 1, 2021 Season
The CaSSSA Tennis season commences early in Term 1, 2021.  To ensure that our teams are finalised and can commence training from the start of Term 1 next year we will run trials for all players this term, including students attending Year 7 2021 at MSM in 2021. The trials will be held at the MSM tennis courts on Saturday 21 November 2020.  Year 7 students are required to attend the trials from 8:00 am-9:30am.  CaSSSA Tennis provides a wonderful opportunity for students of all abilities and tennis experience to participate in this competition.  Our players range from very beginner level to very experienced and the competition from other schools also accommodates these different levels across all age groups.  If your daughter would like to try tennis for the very first time or has played a lot of tennis before they are all very welcome to attend.  Every registered student who attends trials will be allocated to a team suitable to their playing level and experience and they will be nominated into a CaSSSA Division accordingly.  CASSSA Tennis prides itself on inclusivity so all students are given the opportunity to learn the game from their current level with appropriate modifications made where required.  Tennis games are played on Saturdays throughout Term 1. Students are provided training from our coaching team (lead by head coach Matt Limpus) from Lifetime tennis at the MSM Tennis courts one morning per week (typically Wednesday or Friday mornings) for the duration of the season.  Students will also be invited to participate in a three day intensive tennis training workshop in the January 2021 school holidays.  Further information will be sent out to registered students after teams have been finalised.  If your daughter would like to attend, please send through their intention to trial via email to Kay Roy (Director of Sport) [email protected].  If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Kay via email or by phone 3858 4241.
Water Polo Development Program – Term 1, 2021
Year 7 2021 students are invited to participate in a Water Polo Development program, held here at the MSM pool during Term 1, 2021.  This program aims to teach students the fundamentals of the game across all abilities and levels of experience in a fun and inclusive environment.  Sessions will be run by MSM coaches (past MSM Students and current Australian Stingers/elite players).  These sessions will commence Week 1, Term 1 2021 and will be held on Friday afternoons from 3:30-4:30pm.  For planning purposes please send through expressions of interest to Kay Roy (Director of Sport) [email protected].  Additionally if you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact Kay via email or by phoning 3858 4241.

More specific information regarding all of these co-curricular sporting opportunities has been emailed to all parents 26 October 2020 so if you need to know anything else please refer to that email from our Director of Sport, Kay Roy, or don’t hesitate to reach out, we are always happy to assist!  We look forward to welcoming your daughters to MSM through these events this term and obviously early next year!
Book your uniform fitting 
Please make an appointment with the Uniform Shop so your daughter may be fitted for 2021 without the busy crowds that always occur in January.  

Contact the Uniform Shop at [email protected] and suggest three possible appointment times, in order of preference. 

Appointment sessions are 30 mins each with appointment times as follows: 
  • Mon 9 Nov   2:30 – 5:00pm 
  • Wed 11 Nov   7:30 – 10:30am 
  • Fri 13 Nov   7:30 – 10:30am 
  • Mon 16 Nov   2:30 – 5:00pm 
  • Wed 18 Nov   7:30 – 10:30am & 2:30 – 5:00pm 
  • Thu 19 Nov 2:30 – 5:00pm 
  • Fri 20 Nov 7:30 – 10:30am  
  • Mon 23 Nov 2:30 – 5:00pm 
  • Tue 24 Nov 7:30 – 10:00am 
  • Wed 25 Nov 7:30 – 10:30am & 2:30 – 5:00pm 
  • Thu 26 Nov 7:30 – 10:00am & 2:30 – 5:00pm 
  • Fri 27 Nov 7:30 – 10:30am 
  • Mon 30 Nov 7:30 – 10:00am & 2:30 – 5:00pm 
  • Tue 1 Dec 7:30 – 10:00am & 2:30 – 5:00pm 
  • Wed 2 Dec 7:30am – 10:00am  
A reminder email will be sent to you a few days prior to your appointment. 

If you are unavailable to attend in Term 4, the Uniform Shop will be open in the week before classes commence in January on a first come, first served basis. 

Please disregard if you have already booked an appointment.  
Win a term's College Fees

The Mt St Michael’s College ‘WIN A TERM’S FEES’ RAFFLE is NOW OPEN! This is your chance to WIN a Term's Fees at MSM or a $1500 Shopping Voucher* of your choice.

Tickets start from $20 and can be purchased via the link below. Proceeds will be directed to the Mt St Michael’s Sisters of Charity Scholarship Fund, providing an opportunity for a young woman to access the educational opportunities afforded by the College. Tickets are limited so the odds are on your side. Buy your tickets today! 

https://www.rafflelink.com.au/msmraffle2020 
*Terms and conditions apply
Closes Wednesday 25 November - Drawn Thursday 26 November.

2021 Term Dates
Term 1
Wednesday 27 January – Thursday 1 April

Term 2
Tuesday 20 April – Friday 18 June
Term 3
Tuesday 13 July – Friday 17 September

Term 4
Tuesday 5 October – Friday 19 November
(Year 12 students)
Tuesday 5 October – Friday 26 November
(Years 7-11)
Orientation Day
We would like to thank all of our newest Mt St Michael’s students for attending our recent Orientation Day and we hope it was enjoyable!  While there were some nerves, there was also an abundance of excitement, with new friendships eagerly formed.

As you know, this year we were unable to welcome parents to the College due to restrictions on the number of people able to visit us. However, we did welcome more than 160 Year 6 girls from over 20 local schools to our beautiful campus. 

This year we were pleased to present to new parents and carers an online Orientation Guide, containing information to help ease your daughter into her first days at the College, including a series of short videos, welcoming your family to our community.
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. 
Indigenous Reconciliation Liturgy
Due to COVID protocols, we were unable to gather for our Indigenous Reconciliation Liturgy, so we did so virtually. We were inspired by the words of Pope Francis, who reflected upon the incredible richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture.

“Your culture, which shows the lasting genius and dignity of your race, must not be allowed to disappear.  Do not think that your gifts are worth so little that you should no longer bother to maintain them.  Share them with each other and teach them to your children.
Your songs, your stories, your paintings, your dances, your language must never be lost.”


We recognise that reconciliation is needed for all Australians, Indigenous and Non-Indigenous, and that in working towards this together we can truly unify our land and our people. 
Year 7 Retreat 
During their first year at Mt St Michael’s College, our Year 7 students enjoyed their first experience of an Elective Immersion Day, and a Retreat.

These days are important for many reasons. Not only are they a great opportunity to ‘retreat’ from daily life, they also provide an avenue for students to interact and connect with each other on a deeper level than they may normally do so on any given school day. The shared experiences, and group activities and exercises are designed to meaningfully bond the cohort as one. 

During these memorable days, Year 7 students also reflect on their emerging identity as a Mt St Michael’s College student: young women of commitment, confidence, compassion, conscience and competence.
QAMT Year 7 and 8 Maths Regional Quiz: 3rd place
Congratulations to our seven teams of ‘Mathletes’ who represented Mt St Michael’s College in the Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers (QAMT) Years 7 and 8 Regional Maths Quiz 2020.  The competition included mental computations, problem solving and estimation, with students working individually and as part of a team. Our highest scoring team has placed 3rd in the Regional Finals and are now reserves for the State Finals.
2020 IEU Awards for Excellence in Art and Design Winners  
Eight Mt St Michael’s College students, recently entered artworks into the IEU Awards for Excellence in Art and Design (QLD/NT), responding to the theme, Perfect Places. We congratulate Isabella Harris (Year 8) for winning the Award for Excellence in the Year7/8 Category for her emotive galactic vista, “Wherever the Stars Shine”. Further congratulations go to Miranda O’Connor (Year 10) and Mia McConnell (Year 10) for receiving High Commendations for their digitally-manipulated artworks “Minjerribah” and “Oscillating Eyes”, respectively. Artwork: “Wherever the Stars Shine” by Isabella Harris
Around our College
In Term 3, year level assemblies were an opportunity for recognising academic success, celebrating girls who received Principal Awards for Academic Achievement and Commitment. Special congratulations to our Year 7 students – an impressive start to your learning journey at Mt St Michael’s College.
Year 9 Junior Scientists examined the nervous system and brain, delving into the physical intricacies of what makes the human body function.
In Year 9 Religious Education, students investigated the ways in which the Church responded to cultural, political, social and economic change in the 18th and 19th Centuries. 9D and Mrs Mulligan created these origami mitres to record their understanding of terms and concepts such as papal infallibility, ex cathedra and dogma.
Mt St Michael’s College Academic Captains presented study tips and tricks to all year levels and what it means to set ‘SMART’ goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely.
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.

You may also choose to follow the College on Facebook and Instagram.

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