Edition 3 - 27 February 2020 - Term 1
Message from the Principal
On Wednesday we gathered in the Sophia Centre for our Ash Wednesday Liturgy to commence our Lenten Journey. During the Liturgy we received a sign of the cross in ash on our forehead as a sign of our commitment to live a better life and be faithful to the message of the Gospel. During Lent as Christians we are encouraged to do something extra in prayer, something involving fasting (whether it is limiting our intake of food or giving up something non-food related) and something involving almsgiving (giving money or goods to the needy or doing extra acts of charity).
The Year 12 theme this year is Mission Possible – Sisters on a Mission…so students... your Lenten Mission, if you chose to accept it, is The MSM Lenten Challenge. Below is a list of 40 suggestions of how you can incorporate prayer, fasting and almsgiving into your everyday life this Lent. This list is not exhaustive, but it may give you some ideas…
- Go through your wardrobe and place clothing that is too small for you in a bag and pop into the St Vincent de Paul container at the entrance to the College
- Bring your next-door neighbours bins in
- Donate to Project Compassion
- Call a relative to say “hello”
- Pick up a piece of litter in the MSM grounds
- Take the washing off the line without being asked
- Offer to assist with Open Day
- Say a prayer for someone who is sick
- Talk to your parents about your day
- Empty the recycled paper box in your classroom
- Assisting a friend with their homework
- Make sure the classroom is neat and tidy when you leave
- Be ready to leave the house on time without being asked
- Offer to carry someone’s tote bag if they are struggling
- Sit down and have lunch with a student you don’t know
- Give a compliment to your teacher
- Offer to say prayer in Homeroom in the mornings
- Attend a CAN group meeting
- Clean your room without being asked
- Read to a younger sibling
- Make a “thank you” card for someone who has helped you recently
- Water the plants at home
- Load and unload the dishwasher
- Spend less time on social media
- Offer to clean the car
- Make your bed
- Smile!
- Walk the dog
- Say “thank you” to your teachers
- Say “thank you’ to a member of the non-teaching staff
- Attend Mr McFadden’s prayer group on a Tuesday morning
- Give your parents a hug for no apparent reason
- Hold doors open for people
- Vacuum the floors at home
- Sit with a student who seems lonely at recess
- Spend less time on Netflix and more time with the family
- Offer to help with household chores
- Make a cuppa for someone in your household in the morning
- Help keep the locker areas clean
- Tell your parents that you love them!
In faith and love
Sharon Volp
Principal
Communities Environment Program
The MSM Environment Group are excited to announce that they have been awarded a grant of $7500 under the Federal Government’s Communities Environment Program. This grant is to be used to set up a school-wide composting program in 2020. When food waste is sent to landfill it is tightly compacted such that the organic material can only break down anaerobically, releasing harmful methane into the atmosphere. Composting is therefore an easy way to make a big difference to your greenhouse gas emissions! In addition to reducing the volume of waste sent to landfill and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, composting creates beautiful rich fertiliser that will help the rest of the plant life at MSM to thrive! We are grateful to The Hon. Trevor Evans MP for selecting our project for this grant. Stay tuned for updates as this project unfolds throughout the year!
QUEST National Challenge
At Assembly this week we celebrated the success of Ella Patterson and Elora Brady of Year 11 and Cate Gaskell of Year 10 in The QUEST National Challenge for Gifted and Talented students. As Queensland Champions, they competed in December 2019 in the National Challenge placing an impressive 1st in Humanities, 3rd in Mathematics and overall 2nd place in Australia. Outstanding! They were presented with QUEST badges to symbolise this achievement and the trophies are displayed in the Innovation Centre. Congratulations Ella, Elora and Cate.
Lily Weaver competed over the weekend at the Stuartholme School IQ Qualifier CT and Showjumping event as part of the MSM Equestrian Team. She competed in the Combined Training (dressage and 1 x round showjumping) component doing the CT95 - SJ @ 95cm.
Year 10 student Brooklyn Williams and her horse Benny competed at the recent Stuartholme Show Jumping competition, representing MSM in the 90cm and placing 6th overall out of 28 riders.
Pay It Forward Markets for Caritas
Last week, Year 11 students demonstrated their leadership skills by hosting the ‘Pay It Forward Markets’, for Caritas. With the support of our compassionate MSM community, students came together and hosted a sausage sizzle, chicken nuggets on a skewer, lolly and jelly cups, soft drinks and teacher pie face stalls. They achieved their Mission: Possible.
CAN Formation Afternoon
The College Mission Captains and the Executive Members of the CAN groups met with Mr Campion on Monday afternoon to reflect upon their role as Mission Leaders at MSM and to discuss a range of significant matters: practical ways to support those Australians affected by the Bushfires; our plans for our first CAN ExtravaCANza for 2020 and the plans for each CAN group this year. The leadership of the Community Action Network is in very good hands with these insightful and passionate young women.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Stalls
Helping raise money for Caritas
Ash Wednesday Liturgy
The season of Lent commences today on Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the forty days of Lent. At MSM, we celebrated this through our Ash Wednesday Liturgy held this morning. All members of our community were marked with a cross of ashes on their forehead as a reminder of the promise of new life which comes from living the mission of Jesus in today’s world. As a community, we came together in prayer and reflected that we our hearts are open to hearing the voice of God speaking to us in this time. As we celebrated our liturgy, we were all invited you to spend a moment in quiet reflection as we placed ourselves into the presence of our God who surrounds us in all that we do.
Honesty in Action
Thank you to Stella Valente in Year 8 for handing in cash found on campus to Reception.
Thank you to Hannah Bond for handing in an item to Lost Property
Year 12 Principal's Awards
On 13 February, College Principal Ms Volp, attended the Year 12 year level assembly to present recipients with Principal’s Awards for Academic Excellence and Excellence in Commitment for Semester 2, 2019.
Queensland Government's Swiss/ Quebec Student Exchange Program
Several of our Year 12 French students were successful in gaining a place on the Queensland Government’s Swiss/Quebec Student Exchange Program over the 2019/2020 holidays.Read More
Year 7 Visual Art
Year 7 Visual Art student are currently working on creating a self-portrait using wire. The class has been a hive of activity as the students develop their knowledge and understanding of WHS practices as well as developing a contour drawing using wire techniques.
Year 11 Semi-Formal
On a beautiful Friday night, the weather held and our Year 11 students celebrated their Semi-Formal in style at The Marquee, Victoria Park. With their partners and friends, they danced the night way and created memories to last a lifetime.
Japanese Department Welcomes Kahana-san
At Tuesday’s assembly, we formally welcomed our Japanese Assistant teacher, Kahana Sumi. Kahana gave a very informative and entertaining address to our students about her hometown of Gifu and her favourite popular culture pursuits. She is helping to improve Japanese students’ skills in classes and always has an interesting story to tell the girls about Japan. We hope you enjoy your month with us Kahana-san!
Queensland School Library Week competition winners
The MSM Library celebrated Queensland School Library Week (10 - 14 February) with a range of activities and events culminating in Library Lovers’ Day and MSM READS.
The week coincided with our annual Year 7 Library Orientation program, where all students are introduced to the library staff and the range of services we provide. The girls were also given instructions in using the catalogue and got to borrow out their first lot of books. Everyone was invited to name the Queensland School Library Week mascot who represents our Library theme for this year: “School Libraries build 20:20 vision.” Congratulations to Lily Manning, Annika Jensen and Charlotte DeZilva who named the mascot Iris and Herm-eye-onie, respectively. They are pictured with their prizes.
Star Readers of the Week
College Events and Activities
We can't wait to see you tomorrow.
Win a Table at the 10th Anniversary Mother Daughter High Tea
Friday 13 March - 3:30pm - Sophia Centre
Raffle Tickets on sale through the MSM
website www.msm.qld.edu.au via:
Pay Online > Other School Activities
Raffle Tickets $10 each or
5 Raffle Tickets for $40
Raffle Ticket sales close Thursday 5 March.
You have to be in it to win it 🌸
Dad's Army Wants You!
MSM Dads come and show your support for the wonderful women in your life by volunteering your time at the MSM Mother Daughter High Tea Friday 13 March.
Click here to sign up
Volunteer Request for
Mother Daughter High Tea
Friday 13 March
Seeking Volunteers to help with setting up for the Mother Daughter High Tea in the Sophia Centre all through the day Friday 13 March 2020. Please register at: volunteersignup.org/48CDE
Thank you in advance.
Thank you in advance.
2020 Term Dates
Term 1Wednesday 29 January 2020 – Friday 3 April 2020
Term 2
Tuesday 21 April 2020 – Friday 19 June 2020
Term 3
Tuesday 14 July 2020 – Friday 18 September 2020
Term 4
Tuesday 6 October 2020 – Friday 20 November 2020 (Year 12 students)
Tuesday 6 October 2020 – Friday 27 November 2020 (Years 7 - 11)
Notices
Supporting our Community - Ministry Care Programme
Our College is aware that there are students and families within our community who, from time to time, are in need of support due to a variety of factors. As a community we respond through preparing meals for families experiencing difficult circumstances. If you would like to contribute to the Ministry Care Programme and support those who are going through difficult times, please contact Stephen Campion: scampion@msm.qld.edu.auP&F Year 7 Parents Welcome to MSM
The P&F Year 7 Parent 'Welcome to MSM', which is traditionally held on the Convent Lawn of the College, was moved to the Sophia Centre due to wet conditions but the atmosphere was anything but damp. Over 160 parents attended the evening and judging by the hum of conversation and laughter, many new friendships were formed.
Once again Senor Paella provided a delicious meal and thank you to all the volunteers who manned the bar and cleaned up afterwards. A special thank you to Jenny Kemp for all her hard work. Welcome to all of the new parents to our community.
P&F Association Meeting
Monday 16 March - 6pm - Sophia Centre mezzanine classroom
Please contact pandf@msm.qld.edu.au if you would like further information
Alumni Association - 2020 Term 1 Meetings
Monday 30 March - 6pm - Mary Aikenhead Centre (Upstairs)
Please contact alumni@msm.qld.edu.au if you would like further information
Please contact alumni@msm.qld.edu.au if you would like further information
The Australia Government
Department of Education, Skills and Employment
For parents/guardians of students:2020 Student Residential Address and Other Information collection notice
Click here for further information
Parents are reminded, for the safety of everyone, to DROP students off in the LOADING ZONE area outside the Ionian Centre and avoid areas marked with yellow lines which is against road safety rules.
This is dangerous as it blocks other driver’s visibility and obstructs cars from moving around.
This is dangerous as it blocks other driver’s visibility and obstructs cars from moving around.
Onsite parking and parking in surrounding areas
Urgent safety notice
Onsite parking in the College grounds; Grantuly, undercover in the Ionian Centre and within the campus near the Sophia Centre is only permitted for staff. In consideration of our neighbours, please refrain from parking across driveways, adhere to the 40 km speed limit and be considerate of those living around the College when dropping and picking up students. Please do not drop off or pick up students within the College grounds.
In consideration for our neighbours, where possible please avoid leaving your motor running, especially when parked outside a home.
Urgent safety notice
Onsite parking in the College grounds; Grantuly, undercover in the Ionian Centre and within the campus near the Sophia Centre is only permitted for staff. In consideration of our neighbours, please refrain from parking across driveways, adhere to the 40 km speed limit and be considerate of those living around the College when dropping and picking up students. Please do not drop off or pick up students within the College grounds.
In consideration for our neighbours, where possible please avoid leaving your motor running, especially when parked outside a home.
Important Links
Copyright © 2020 Mt St Michael's College, All rights reserved.
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
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
For the latest and archived copies of the Spirit
Click here
Click here