2026 - Edition 1
Dear Families,
Welcome to the Term 2 2026 Edition of Aspire, our newsletter for future MSM families that highlights successes, activities and events that have occurred recently at Mt St Michael’s College.
It has been exciting to welcome our second cohort of Year 5 students this year. We have also welcomed two new teachers to our Junior School Team – Ms Samantha Weston and Ms Monique Wild. This now completes our team which is led by our Head of Junior School, Ms Katie Jordan.
As you read through this newsletter you will see that it has been a busy first term for our Year 5 and 6 students. I am always warmly welcomed by our students in their classrooms and I take great delight in observing our students happily engaging with our staff. Our Year 5 students have already experienced their first retreat as part of their transition to MSM. Our Year 6 students have embraced leadership roles and are very excited about their trip to Canberra in Term 3.
I am so proud of the way that our Junior School students have immersed themselves in all aspects of MSM life. There have been many highlights during Term 1 including our Tennis team making history by winning the inaugural CaSSSA Tennis Primary Cup.
Please enjoy this snapshot of life in the Junior School at MSM and I encourage you to take the time to share this news with your daughter, helping her familiarise herself with our College.
Welcome to the Term 2 2026 Edition of Aspire, our newsletter for future MSM families that highlights successes, activities and events that have occurred recently at Mt St Michael’s College.
It has been exciting to welcome our second cohort of Year 5 students this year. We have also welcomed two new teachers to our Junior School Team – Ms Samantha Weston and Ms Monique Wild. This now completes our team which is led by our Head of Junior School, Ms Katie Jordan.
As you read through this newsletter you will see that it has been a busy first term for our Year 5 and 6 students. I am always warmly welcomed by our students in their classrooms and I take great delight in observing our students happily engaging with our staff. Our Year 5 students have already experienced their first retreat as part of their transition to MSM. Our Year 6 students have embraced leadership roles and are very excited about their trip to Canberra in Term 3.
I am so proud of the way that our Junior School students have immersed themselves in all aspects of MSM life. There have been many highlights during Term 1 including our Tennis team making history by winning the inaugural CaSSSA Tennis Primary Cup.
Please enjoy this snapshot of life in the Junior School at MSM and 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
We hope you enjoy learning more about our Junior School activities in this edition of Aspire.
In the Junior School, we are committed to fostering the holistic development of our students through delivering a rich and developmentally-appropriate educational program. This includes quality learning experiences, wellbeing programs, co-curricular activities and service learning opportunities. Our vision is to create a nurturing community that enables every student to flourish. Our students are supported at each step of their Junior School journey by our experienced, passionate and dedicated Junior School staff.
Ms Katie Jordan
Head of Junior School
Year 5 Students' First Day
Our Year 5 and 6 students have settled in beautifully and we are already seeing the beginnings of strong friendships, confident learning and positive leadership emerging across the Junior School at the conclusion of Term 1.
A highlight of the first day for Year 5 was the College Welcome Assembly, where they were honoured with a warm and enthusiastic Guard of Honour by the Year 12 cohort. This significant tradition helps our newest students feel seen, supported and embraced by the wider College community. On the first day of school, our Year 5 cohort also had the joy of meeting their Year 9 Big Sisters – an important connection point for our girls as they commenced their Mt St Michael’s College journey.
A highlight of the first day for Year 5 was the College Welcome Assembly, where they were honoured with a warm and enthusiastic Guard of Honour by the Year 12 cohort. This significant tradition helps our newest students feel seen, supported and embraced by the wider College community. On the first day of school, our Year 5 cohort also had the joy of meeting their Year 9 Big Sisters – an important connection point for our girls as they commenced their Mt St Michael’s College journey.
Year 5 Retreat Day
Our smallest MSM students set sail for a wonderful day of reflection and fun at our Year 5 Retreat Day. Using the film Moana, the girls reflected on their first term at MSM, exploring the key concepts of welcome, courage and hope. At our moving liturgy, each girl was welcomed into the MSM family by her class teacher and was adorned with a handmade lei containing messages of connection and hope. We sincerely thank Ms Jordan, our College Counsellor Milena and the marvellous Year 5 team of staff for supporting the girls at their first MSM Retreat.
Project Safe Haven
As we journey through this special year of Justice, MSM has partnered with Emmanuel City Mission to develop a special year-long fundraising & advocacy project. ECM is a ministry that supports people experiencing homelessness. At their headquarters in Peel St South Brisbane, they welcome more than 300 visitors every day, providing a day sanctuary space where visitors can access showers, laundry facilities, nutritious meals and medical care in a safe and supportive place. In late 2025, ECM also opened a night sanctuary, providing 40 safe beds for people needing a place to sleep. The team at ECM are humble and caring, and are totally committed to their mission to serve the poor. It is a very special place. We have named our project "Safe Haven" because that is what ECM is: a sanctuary for some of Brisbane's most vulnerable people. Across the year, MSM has committed to raising at least $15,000 to allow ECM to purchase a new multi-cooking catering oven and we are well on our way to meeting this target following our Term 1 fundraising activiites. The current oven, which produces more than 1000 hot meals a week, is currently being held together with electrical tape and hope! Our contribution will ensure that ECM can continue to provide the dignity of a hot meal to their visitors.
International Women's Day High Tea
The College hosted our International Women’s Day High Tea in the beautiful Marquee Room at Victoria Park on Sunday 8 March. We were joined by MSM alumna and inspiring leader, Madonna Jarrett MP (Class of 1988) as our guest speaker. We are grateful for her encouragement for young girls and women to lead, make a difference, and use courage and resilience to balance the scales. Madonna, together with MSM alumna Ruby Patterson (Class of 2021) captured the attention of those gathered sharing their stories and empowering our community.
ANZAC Day Liturgy
Our moving and poignant ANZAC Day Liturgy celebrated the courage and ingenuity of Australia's defence personnel.
Year 5 & 6 Mother's Day Breakfast and Liturgy
Our Year 5 & 6 Mother’s Day Breakfast and Liturgy was a wonderful event in the lead‑up to Mother’s Day on Sunday, 10 May. MSM thanks all the incredible mothers and mother figures who attended and truly made the morning so special. The “Treasured Items” activity created a meaningful sense of connection and unity, while the students’ illustrations were a highlight — bringing smiles and laughter to everyone’s faces. A memorable celebration of love, connection, and the moments that matter most, shared within our MSM community.
AROUND THE JUNIOR SCHOOL
Year 6 Science
During Term 1 in Science, Year 6 students were learning about Earth’s movement in relation to the Sun. They created three-dimensional models to explain how Earth’s rotation on its axis causes day and night. Through hands-on activities and group discussions, students explored why we experience sunrise and sunset at different times across the world.
Valentine's Day in the Junior School
Earlier in Term 1, splashes of pink and purple filled MSM to celebrate Valentine’s Day! Our Year 10 cohort came together to host a bustling Valentine’s Day Market at lunchtime, filling the College with excitement, colour, and community spirit. All funds raised were in support of our 2026 major fundraiser “Project Safe Haven”.
Year 5 Drama
It has been a positive and joyous start to our Semester 1 Arts elective. Year 5 Drama students have been engaging in some high-energy drama games as they continue to develop trust and participation within the drama classroom. We have also learnt how important it is to be respectful and inclusive in our interactions with one another.
Junior School Water Polo Development
Term 1 saw our Year 6 students getting involved in Junior School water polo development training on Wednesday afternoons. This program was designed to help our youngest athletes learn the fundamentals of water polo, including swimming techniques, ball handling, teamwork, and game strategies. Coaches focused on creating a fun and supportive environment where students could build their skills alongside their friends. By the time these students reach Year 7, they will be ready to jump into competitive matches with confidence.
Year 5 & Year 9 Little Sister Big Sister IWD Activity
In honour of International Women’s Day, our Year 5 and Year 9 Little and Big Sisters engaged in a purple flower badge-making activity. Purple is a colour universally acknowledged as a symbol for this special day. The students proudly wore their flower badges in recognition of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
Inaugural CaSSSA Tennis Primary Cup Champions
The CaSSSA Tennis season has now concluded after an exciting finals round at the end of Term 1. This year marked the introduction of the CaSSSA Primary Cup, awarded to the top-performing school. We're thrilled to announce that our MSM primary teams have made history by becoming the very first winners of the Primary Cup in 2026. This outstanding accomplishment is thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Year 5 and 6 students and their coaches.
NAPLAN Treats
The Year 5 cohort celebrated the completion of NAPLAN during Term 1 by enjoying ice block treats given to them from members of our Interact Community Action Network (CAN) group to celebrate their wonderful NAPLAN efforts.
MSM Swimming Carnival
We congratulate our Junior School students on their enthusiastic participation in the MSM Swimming Carnival held early in Term 1.
Year 5 & 7 Parents 'Welcome to MSM' Evening
Earlier this year, we hosted a lovely evening for our Year 5 and 7 Parents/Caregivers. This was a casual evening where members of the College Leadership Team, the Head of Junior School (Katie Jordan), the Year 7 Pastoral Leader (Madonna Kelly) and the Program Leader – Middle School (Alison Larkings) engaged with parents on a more personal level. It was great to hear the stories about how the students were settling in and loving the MSM experience.
Project Compassion Launch
Congratulations and thank you to our Term 1 Year 6 MSM Cares Leaders who represented the College at the Caritas Project Compassion Launch at St Stephen’s Cathedral. MSM Cares focused its work on fundraising for Caritas throughout Term 1, ensuring that the vital work of caring for the world’s poor continues. At the Cathedral, our students had the opportunity to meet other student leaders from Brisbane Catholic Schools, and enjoyed meeting our new Archbishop Shane Mackinlay.
Semester 2 2025 Principal's Awards
At our Junior School Assembly held on our Valentine's Day Fundraiser, College Principal Ms Volp awarded a number of our current Year 6 students with Semester 2 2025 Principal’s Awards. These awards were presented to students who demonstrated Academic Excellence and/or Excellence in Commitment across their studies in Semester 2 of last year. Together, these awards highlight how our students demonstrate a love of learning through both achievement and effort. It brought us all great joy to acknowledge and celebrate these students.
Harmony Day in the Library
Harmony Day is a day to recognise and celebrate our cultural diversity and promote inclusion and belonging for all. To mark the occasion, students joined together at lunchtime in the library to make friendship bracelets and chatter-boxes — a simple and meaningful way to connect, share, and celebrate harmony with one another.
Year 11 Students Consult our Year 5 Students
As part of the Year 11 Religion and Ethics Sacred Stories Unit, students re-imaged sacred stories from various faith traditions and spirituality into a storybook, video, dramatic movement or a dance for a younger audience.
During the initial drafting stage, Year 5 students worked with the Year 11 students to provide feedback on their story ideas. It was an energetic and productive session where the Year 5 students provided some of their own personal touches to the students' stories and together, they co-created possible images through the responsible usage of AI tools.
MSM Cross Country
The 2026 MSM Cross Country was a fantastic day, filled with an abundance of house colour and spirit across the course. Congratulations to Aikenhead House who were awarded House Champions for this event.
Our MSM Cross Country team is diligently training for the upcoming CaSSSA Cross Country Carnival held at the end of May.
Our MSM Cross Country team is diligently training for the upcoming CaSSSA Cross Country Carnival held at the end of May.
Junior School Wellbeing Activities
Our Year 5 and 6 students took part in dedicated wellbeing activities on the last day of Term 1. These were planned by our enthusiastic Year 6 Class Captains to foster connection between both year levels. Students worked in groups of four (one student from each Year 5 and 6 class) to participate in activities that encouraged conversation, teamwork and a sense of shared community.
Students enjoyed answering icebreaker questions and creating a collaborative puzzle that celebrated what they value about life at MSM. It was a wonderful opportunity for the girls to build rapport and deepen their connection with one another.
Easter Egg Hunt
It wouldn't be the last day of Term 1 without a joyous Easter egg hunt. Our Junior School students scattered the Convent Launch in search of their personalised Easter egg featuring a special Easter message from one of their peers.
Year 6 Leadership
We have impressed upon the Year 6 students the message that every student in Year 6 is recognised as a leader, regardless of whether they hold a formal position. This is an important message, as leadership in its truest form is not defined solely by titles or badges, but by the way we act, speak and treat others each day. For those students who have chosen to nominate for formal roles as Class Captain or MSM Cares Leader, it has been heartening to see them reflect thoughtfully on their leadership qualities. Each term in Year 6, there are two Class Captains per Homeroom, along with two MSM Cares Leaders in the cohort. Students appointed as Class Captains and MSM Cares Leaders are expected to attend regular lunchtime meetings with the Head of Junior School, where they collaborate to discuss, develop and organise key initiatives (including mission and service projects) that support the Junior School and wider MSM community. They make a positive contribution to College life by attending selected events and functions, and by being actively involved in supporting and assisting with Junior School Assemblies.
Introducing our Year 6 Class Captains:
Term 1
Mila G, Georgie W, Matilda F, Charlee G
Term 2
Olivia D, Josie A, Audrey M and Eilish D
Introducing our MSM Cares Leaders:
Term 1
Eva S, Millie W and Sophia C
Term 2
Amelia E and Eilish D
Junior School Positive Learning Behaviours Awards
Fortnightly Positive Learning Behaviours awards presented at our Junior School Assemblies are an important way in which we recognise and celebrate students who consistently demonstrate respect, diligence and resilience. These awards acknowledge students who treat others and their environment with kindness, approach their learning with enthusiasm and effort, and show perseverance when challenges arise. By highlighting these behaviours, we reinforce the values that support strong learning, personal growth and a positive community. Awards are presented by the Head of Junior School, with our Year 6 Class Captains formally congratulating each award recipient with a handshake.
OUR COMMUNITY
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Mt St Michael's College - MSM News
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Mt St Michael's College
67 Elimatta Drive
Ashgrove, QLD 4060
Australia
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Mt St Michael's College - MSM News
Our mailing address is:
Mt St Michael's College
67 Elimatta Drive
Ashgrove, QLD 4060
Australia
Add us to your address book