Dear Families

Welcome to Aspire, our newsletter for future MSM families that highlights successes, activities and events that have occurred here at Mt St Michael’s College.
 
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In Faith and Love

Ms Sharon Volp
Principal
It's an event 100 years in the making... The 2025 MSM Centenary Gala Dinner will be held at The Star Brisbane on Saturday 26 July from 6pm to 11pm. Join us for a night to remember as we welcome our MSM community, past and present to indulge in a sumptuous two course dinner, dessert, five-hour drink package, live entertainment and more. Tickets are $225 per person and can be purchased via the link below.

This event promises to be enjoyable as we gather together to celebrate 100 years of educating in faith and love.

We warmly invite all members of the MSM community, past and present to join us for the 2025 MSM Centenary Mass to celebrate 100 years of educating in faith and love. 

There is no cost to join us for this event, however due to capacity at the venue bookings are essential.

Bookings close Wednesday 16 July at 5pm unless sold out prior.

ANY IMPORTANT MESSAGES??
Dear Families,

Message xxx
 
YEAR 7 FATHER-DAUGHTER BREAKFAST
 
In Term 1, the MSM Foundation warmly welcomed our Year 7 daughters and their fathers to a special breakfast. As they enjoyed a delicious breakfast, our guests learned more about our Mission focus for 2025, helping us to create a tribute to our core value of hope by crafting hundreds of handmade azalea blossoms. The azaleas of Grantuly are an important part of our heritage story and their flowers are an enduring symbol of hope in our centenary year.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY HIGH TEA
 
The College marched forward together to celebrate women’s achievements within our networks and globally at our MSM Foundation IWD High Tea in March. 

A beautiful high tea was shared throughout the afternoon, whilst attendees enjoyed a performance by our MSM Senior Strings and an address by guest speaker, Tracey Porst, owner of The Fair Trader. As we #MarchForward in our Centenary year, current MSM students paraded our uniforms across the decades, providing an element of entertainment for the afternoon.

We once again take the opportunity to thank our IWD Raffle donors for their generous contributions to our raffle and to the members of our community who purchased tickets in support of the MSM Foundation’s Light the Way Capital Campaign.
INTER-HOUSE ATHLETICS 
 
It was a wonderful way to finish off Term 2 at our Inter-house Athletics Carnival. The weather was fantastic, students were spirited and the performances on display by our athletes were remarkable. Students and staff collectively had a wonderful time coming together to share in this event. Well done to our House Captains and Year 12 students who supported their teams to success and a special congratulations to Grantuly House for winning this event. We acknowledge our MSM students selected in our MSM Athletics Team and wish them the best of luck for their continued training in preparation for the CaSSSA Cup Carnival in Term 3.
MSM DANCE SHOWCASE
 
Dedicated dance students from Years 7-12 wowed the audience during the annual MSM Dance Showcase, performing a range of dance works in various groups. The event was a fantastic evening of entertainment, showcasing the talents of our hardworking curriculum and co-curriculum dance students.
PROJECT PROVIDENCE
 
In 2025 MSM is celebrating the gifts of girls' education. After all, we’ve been in the business of educating girls for 100 years! While education is a right that we all enjoy, it’s easy to forget that many of our sisters in other parts of the world are not so fortunate.

For more than 60 years, the Religious Sisters of Charity from Ireland have been working in Nigeria and Malawi. They have opened many schools and hospitals and continue to bring hope and the promise of a better future through their ministries. The data on girls education in Nigeria and Malawi is sobering:
 
  • In Nigeria 43% of girls have never been to school. Of those who do, most only receive a few years of primary school education. Fewer than 6% of girls get to go to university.

  • In Malawi 51% of girls finish primary school, despite it being free for all children. Fewer than 20% go to secondary school and most do not finish their studies. 47% of girls are married before the age of 18, and education is a protective factor in the quest to end child marriage.

Through Project Providence, MSM will partner with the Religious Sisters of Charity in Ireland to fund a special project focused on girls’ education. Our fundraising goal is $15,000. This money will be used to provide scholarships to two female students – one in Nigeria and one in Malawi. The money we raise will cover the total cost of 6 years of secondary education for both students, including tuition fees, uniforms, text books and travel costs… everything she will need to stay in school and complete her education.
WELCOME YEAR 5, 2025
 
A new chapter in the history of the College commenced when we welcomed our first cohort of fifty Year 5 students on Wednesday 29 January. We have marvelled at how well they have fit into the fabric of Mt St Michael's College during Semester 1.

Our Year 5 students have attended academic tournaments, played in netball and touch football competitions, launched “MSM Cares” – a community service and social justice group, led by Junior School students.

They enjoyed a special Retreat day centered around the theme How Far I’ll Go: embracing courage and hope. Through a series of games and activities, and using key messages from the Disney film Moana, students reflected on the challenges of beginning in a new school, and what it means to be a courageous and hope-filled person.

We warmly welcomed our Year 5 grandparents to our special Year 5 Grandparents’ Event and we were delighted to have our Year 5 students, and their Mums and special invited guests, gather for our very first Year 5 Mother’s Day Breakfast and Liturgy. 
YEAR 5 SHOWCASE
 
Our Year 5 students celebrated and showcased their Semester 1 learning with their peers, teachers and families. The students performed pieces to demonstrate their learning in Languages, Dance, the Instrumental Program and various co-curricular pursuits. Additionally, students and families were able to view a Semester 1 photo and student reflection gallery. We congratulate the Year 5 students on all their achievements from their first semester at MSM. We also express our gratitude to the staff who have worked with our Year 5 students to make the first five months of their MSM journey so memorable.
Around the College
Rosies Youth Outreach Program
MSM Year 11 students have been generously supporting Rosies Youth Outreach Program, engaging in conversations with individuals experiencing homelessness who need a friendly face and some kind words. 
Double Denim Day
Students and staff brought their MSM spirit to participate in Double Denim Day to raise money for our chosen charity, Project Providence. Students dug into their pockets and then deep into their wardrobes (or raided their mum’s) to layer on as much denim as humanly possible to support a very worthy cause.
Year 5 and 9 Shared Morning Tea
The Convent Lawn was abuzz with joy, laughter and friendship as our Year 5 and Year 9 students came together for a shared morning tea and picnic. As a Positive School, we value fostering positive, safe and meaningful relationships with one another – the gathering was a lovely opportunity to continue building rapport and connection across these two cohorts.
MSM Chop
38 MSM Year 12 students took part in this year’s MSM Chop, cutting or shaving their heads to raise funds for Project Providence. All hair, lovingly grown over the course of a year, was donated to the Ponytail Project to be made into wigs for people undergoing treatment for cancer. 

Aerobics

Congratulations to MSM aerobics teams who recently competed in the FISAF Super Series competition. This was a large event and a great opportunity to compete before our teams perform at State Championships. Well done to our Aerobics Captain Annie J, on winning gold in her individual performance at this competition.

Year 7/8 Readers Cup
Five MSM Year 5 students attended the 2025 Children’s Book Council of Australia Readers Cup competition. This is a state-wide competition. This year, across Queensland, 487 schools entered teams for the Year 5/6 state-wide competition. That’s a staggering 16, 984 estimated books read!  For the competition, our Year 5 team read five novels, then competed against other schools to answer quiz questions from the books. A huge congratulations must go to Isobel, Hannah, Sahana, Charlee and Annabelle for their preparation and dedication to this competition.

Children's Day in Japan

MSM students celebrated Children’s Day as part of the Children’s Day Festival in Japan. The Japan Club held a stall with bags of Japanese treats and traditional Children’s Day decorations of Kabuto (origami samurai helmets) and Koinobori (carp steamers).

CaSSSA Cross Country
Congratulations to our MSM team who competed in the CaSSSA Cup Cross Country Carnival. This team trained meticulously for months, firstly through pre-season and then into Term 2 when the team was selected. They shine bright and this year was no exception. Second in the Aggregate cup (by 6 points) and Percentage Cup Champions, again!

NAPLAN Treats

The Year 7 and Year 5 cohorts celebrated the completion of NAPLAN by enjoying ice block treats given to them from members of our Interact group to celebrate their wonderful NAPLAN efforts.

Japanese Bento Boxes
Our Year 7 Japanese class dove into Japanese culture by creating their own themed bento lunches! They designed adorable and artistic bento inspired by the popular Japanese trend, kyaraben, where meals resemble beloved anime or cartoon characters. Students showcased their culinary creations and enjoyed a fun, delicious experience together.

Year 9 Theme Launch

Year 9 are striving to shine bigger, better and brighter this year especially as they model to the middle school and the junior school what it means to be an MSM student. The incredible Year 9 Homeroom Captains launched this year’s year level theme, ‘100 years of Hope. 100 ways to Shine’ and shared how important it is to illuminate their strengths, talents, and abilities in this centenary year.

Year 10 Retreat
Our Year 10 cohort enjoyed an enriching and reflective day at their annual retreat. Using material from The Greatest Showman, the students reflected on their identity and the role they play in supporting each other on the tightrope of life.

Ethics Olympiad

A  group of MSM 'ethletes' participated in the Senior School Ethics Olympiad. This on-line event gave students the opportunity to engage in respectful dialogue around complex issues such as prenatal screening, tobacco bans, midnight curfews and dog meat festivals. Students particularly enjoyed discussing the topic of the editing of Roald Dahl's books to remove potentially offensive vocabulary and content. They responded to the challenging question: Under what circumstances might it be justifiable to retrospectively revise literature when the author can no longer consent? The team earned a respectable 5th position in what was an intellectually stimulating day.

Year 12 Theme Launch
Earlier this year, our Year 12 cohort launched their theme to the College, ‘Keep the Spirit Alive in 2025'. The theme acknowledges our Centenary year, and the long history of Mt St Michael's College. Our Year 12 students urged us all to remember, and draw on, the wonderful spirit on which our school was founded and bring it fervently into the year of 2025.

Year 9 Altitude Day

Year 9 students participated in Altitude Day, an event held by YLead. The day focussed on empowering students to become active and inspiring leaders. Alongside 700 students from schools across Brisbane, MSM students participated in several interactive activities and listened to two inspiring guest speakers talk about their journeys in leadership. The day was both exciting and enjoyable and grew the students’ confidence and leadership skills in preparation for positions as future leaders.

Marist Dancing
What a night to remember! After four weeks of ballroom dance lessons at Marist College, sixty-four Year 10 students showcased their skills at an evening of dancing at Victoria Park. The event was filled with fun, laughter, and sophisticated dance moves as students celebrated in a supportive and lively atmosphere.

MusicFest 1

The first Music Fest of 2025 opened with colour, creativity, and a scoop of fun under the theme “Neapolitan”—a tribute to both the classic ice cream and the rich musical heritage of Naples from which Neapolitan originates. From the joyful harmonies of the MSM Singers to the rhythmic flair of the Percussion Ensemble (complete with bowls and spoons!), the evening was a celebration of musical variety. Highlights included string renditions of ‘O Sole Mio, a chocolate-themed choir set, and a sunny finale with “That’s Amore” and “Walkin’ on Sunshine.” Behind the scenes, the concert was brought to life by a passionate team of music educators whose dedication to weekly rehearsals and student growth made the night such a sweet success.

Career Conversations Breakfast
On Wednesday 18 June we welcomed MSM Alumni from various career fields including dentistry, town planning, science, disability services, HR, marketing, engineering and law, to present to current MSM students and their parents and caregivers at our annual MSM Foundation Career Conversations Breakfast. Students and families were able to converse with the MSM Alumni about the wide range of pathways they have followed since graduating from the College. The diversity in careers allowed our current students to reflect on their academic journey so far and consider what the next few years could look like. Our sincerest thanks must go to the alumni who so generously gave of their time and to our MSM Alumni Inc for their support of this event.
Our Community
MSM ALUMNI 'BACK TO MSM' REUNION DAY

Our Centenary celebrations are well under way. It was wonderful to welcome MSM Alumni and special guests to our ‘Back to MSM’ Reunion Day on Saturday 22 March hosted by the MSM Alumni Inc. There was a sense of joy and nostalgia in the Sophia Centre as Alumni from across many decades joined to reminisce and celebrate this milestone year for the College. 
MSM ALUMNI AUSTRALIAN DOLPHINS SWIM TEAM SELECTION

Freestyle brilliance on the world stage! MSM is thrilled to announce that alumni Meg Harris (Class of 2019) and Hannah Casey (Class of 2023) will be representing Australia at the World Aquatic Championships in Singapore this August. Both athletes are set to shine in the Green and Gold, and we couldn’t be prouder of their achievements. Best of luck with your training, Meg and Hannah—your MSM family will be cheering you on every step of the way!
2026
MSM Term Dates
 
Term 1
Tuesday 23 January (Years 7, 11 and 12) – Thursday 28 March
Wednesday 24 January (all students) – Thursday 28 March

Term 2
Monday 15 April – Friday 14 June

Term 3
Monday 8 July – Friday 13 September

Term 4
Monday 30  September – 29 November (Years 7-11)
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