Welcome to the first edition of The Spirit for 2022! It has been a very unusual start to our College year. Today is our last day of our Learning at Home program. We have been pleased with the high level of engagement of our students in Years 8 - 12 with their lessons. Congratulations to our students on a great start. I am very proud of you! I am looking forward to seeing you on Monday.
The Year 7 students collected their laptops before the Australia Day Holiday and have been involved in a special “on-line” transition program this week. Thank you to Ms Correia (Year 7 Pastoral Leader), Mrs Lilley (Program Leader - Middle School), Mr Hamilton (Director of IT), Mr Bryan (Curriculum Leader – Technologies), Ms Sian Mason (Dean of Student Wellbeing) and Ms Crothers (Dean of Teaching and Learning) for leading this initiative.
Thank you to our teaching staff for their dedication to our students this week. Homeroom Teachers have enjoyed starting the day and connecting with their Homeroom Classes. Our Classroom Teachers continue to show innovation and creativity in the delivery of their lessons.
Our teachers have been very well supported behind the scenes by our amazing IT team led by Mr Hamilton. I am also grateful to the many school officers who have been supporting “behind the scenes”. Our grounds and maintenance team have been busy this week preparing the campus for our return on Monday.
A special welcome to all new members of our community - staff and new families!
New Staff
I am pleased to welcome the new members of the College Leadership Team (CLT):
- Ms Sally Crothers – Dean of Teaching and Learning
- Ms Sian Mason – Dean of Student Wellbeing
- Ms Kate Simpson - Dean of Faith and Mission.
I invite you to read more about our CLT and their role in the College. They have been working at the College since 10 January and working very hard to serve our MSM community.
I also welcome the following new members of staff:
- Mr Fabrice Alleaume – French
- Ms Susan Bodiam – Science and Design Technologies
- Ms Maria Conway – RE, English and Humanities
- Ms Jeni Emlen - Science
- Ms Zoey Fellows - SOR and Religion
- Ms Nicole Hardcastle – Mathematics
- Ms Danielle Mulcahy – Music and English
- Ms Maria Marchitto – Learning Assistant.
I also welcome back the following returning staff:
- Mrs Madonna Kelly – Year 8 Pastoral Leader
- Mrs Priscilla Ruddell – Physical Education
- Ms Fiona Mackie – PE and Humanities
The following staff have resigned over the holidays.
- Mr Kieran Donnelly
- Miss Rebecca Jeffries
- Ms Miranda Lindley-McGowan
- Ms Jane McNally
- Ms Amelia Scott.
Dr Donna Ahern (Deputy Principal – Students) also resigned at the end of the year. I thank Dr Ahern for her 14 years of dedicated service to Mt St Michael’s College.
We wish these staff God’s blessing as they enter a new chapter of their lives.
The following staff are on leave:
- Jenny Kemp - Term 1
- Deb Machen – Semester 1
- Jen Price – Semester 1 and Semester 2.
Revised Calendar for Monday 7 February – Friday 4 March
Due to the Government’s “Back to School Plan” there are several College events which have been reviewed. The information below is extracted from the Community Correspondence that was distributed via email on Wednesday 2 February. Please Click here to view full details.
Parental Access to the College Reception area in Grantuly
Under the Back to School Plan, visitor access (including parents/carers) is to be limited. Should parents/carers require assistance they are to ring the doorbell at the front door of Grantuly (College Reception) and wait for an MSM staff member to greet you at the door. Please respect social distancing and follow the directions of the staff member.
Holiday Maintenance
The Sophia Centre has had quite a facelift over the holidays. The surface has been redone and the downstairs student and staff toilets have been refurbished. Toilets in Grantuly have also been refurbished.
The next few weeks will continue to present challenges, but it is important that we work in partnership to keep our community safe, while focusing on delivering a high-quality curriculum. If you have any concerns, please contact the College.
“Let us confidently and quietly lay all our cares before God who knows what is best for us.” Venerable Mary Aikenhead
In faith and love
Sharon Volp
Principal
More information will be available soon.
I am excited about the chance to interact with students, teachers, and parents in a range of different activities around the College in my new role as Deputy Principal. By constantly listening to the blended voices of everyone, as well as the interconnected interests, we can continue to build a strong culture that values learning and prioritises student wellbeing, which aligns with my personal and professional philosophy of providing high-quality educational opportunities to all. I am motivated to sustain collaborative and trusting relationships, as well as our collective commitment to ensuring that our shared goal of fostering an environment that nurtures a ‘spirit of excellence’ in all elements of the College is realised.
While my major emphasis will not be on curriculum, I am looking forward to reconnecting with our students and observing their resilience and determination to achieve their best. I really like Pope Francis’ succinct summary of teaching as this: Teaching is a beautiful job; as it allows you to see the growth day by day of people entrusted to your care. It is a little like being parents, at least spiritually. It is a great responsibility.
As we embark on the 2022 school year, there is no other learning community in which I would rather be a member, and I am looking forward to the year ahead for our whole community.
I would like to extend a very special, warm welcome to all of our new families who are joining us at MSM this year, and I offer you this special blessing:
Like the jacaranda trees that bloom on our beautiful campus,
May you put down deep roots in our community.
May you be challenged and inspired each day by God’s call in your heart.
May you be inspired by Mary Aikenhead’s fearless love of God, and like her,
May you find God in every person who needs your help.
And may our values of hope, justice, love and compassion encircle you,
So that you might live with meaning and purpose.
May God bless you today and always.
Amen.
I wish you and your family every blessing as we open the 2022 academic year, and I look forward to meeting you in person very soon.
MSM has a vibrant social justice and community service program. Sign on for our five Community Action Network (CAN) Groups is now open.
Our CAN Groups are:
-
The Environment Group
-
The Social Justice Council
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The Missions of St Vincent de Paul
-
Interact
-
Sisters Empowering Sisters
If your daughter would like to be involved in any of these groups, she may sign on using the link in the email sent to all students. Sign on closes on Wednesday 9 February.
Learning at home: Prayer online
Home Room prayer is an important part of MSM College life. While we have been learning at home, and during our first week of face-to-face classes, our College Captains and members of our Student Leadership Team have recorded special video prayers and our Home Room teachers have used these to begin each school day. It has been wonderful to hear the voices of our student leaders while we have been away from our campus. Thank you to Eden, Georgina and our Academic, Sport, Mission and Cultural Captains for their generosity in preparing these special prayers.
My primary goal for 2022 as the Dean of Student Wellbeing is to develop productive partnerships with families to support our students to fulfil their individual potential. I am passionate about nurturing student wellbeing to prepare young people for a future they not only feel equipped to capably navigate but confident to take charge of. At MSM, we are blessed with the wonderful Positive Education program which I would like to see permeate all aspects of school life. In addition, the mission of the Mary Aikenhead Ministries of Love, Justice, Compassion and Hope, align beautifully with the constructs of wellbeing and this contributes to the unique and blessed culture of this community.
I would like to extend my thanks and admiration to our students for the resilient way in which they approached online learning this week. I look forward to seeing a sea of Mt St Michael’s uniforms rolling through the gate on Monday morning ready for some old-fashioned face-to-face teaching.
A quick reminder of some key new dates as per Ms Volp’s communication on Wednesday February 2nd:
- Photo Day has been rescheduled for Friday 4 March.
- Year 7 Immunisations will now take place on Friday 25 March
Teaching staff are aware that there may be students who do not have all required equipment when we move to face-to-face learning next week. We are sure that their deliveries will arrive in the not-too-distant future.
Back to school! Year 7 Homeroom Teachers have been onsite this week, prepping homerooms and eagerly awaiting the chance to welcome our new students into their classrooms.
Special Menu for Weeks 3 to Week 6 of Term 1
Please be advised from Week 3 to Week 6 of Term 1 The Kaf will have a reduced selection of items available for sale.
Click here for the current menu and items for sale
P&F Meetings: Please check the Mt St Michael's College App for meeting update notifications.
Alumni Meetings: Please visit the MSM Alumni Association Facebook page for updates.
Meetings
Please click here for information on 2022 meeting dates and to find out more about the MSM Parents and Friends Association.
Follow the P&F on Facebook
Meetings
Please click here for information on 2022 meeting dates and to find out more about the
MSM Alumni Association.
Follow our Alumni on Facebook
Nominations
The P&F Association is seeking interest for the role of Secretary to support the Executive Committee for 2022. The P&F Association provides a vital role in bringing our community together. If you are interested and have the capacity to volunteer in 2022, we would love to hear from you.
To read more and to download a nomination form, please visit the College website - https://www.msm.qld.edu.au/our-community/parents-and-friends. Please send your nomination to pandf@msm.qld.edu.au
Term 1
Monday 31 January – Friday 1 April
Term 2
Wednesday 20 April – Friday 17 June
Term 3
Tuesday 12 July – Friday 16 September
Term 4
Tuesday 4 October – Friday 18 November (Year 12)
Tuesday 4 October – Friday 25 November (Years 7-11)
Support the MSM Environment Group by donating your eligible containers! Bring your containers to school or use our scheme ID when returning to your local depot. Your donations will go towards funding our current and future environmental initiatives.
Mt St Michael's College scheme ID: C10333591
Mt St Michael’s College is pleased to bring to you the MSM Business Directory. Accessed through our website and APP, this online portal, profiles businesses and provides opportunities to connect with the wider MSM community to promote your services, sales and special offers.
Many business owners profiled in the MSM Business Directory are long-term friends of the College. They include current and past parents, local businesses and alumni who, together show a commitment to Mt St Michael’s College and support for MSM events, fundraisers and initiatives.
If you would like to be included in the online MSM Business Directory, simply email msmnews@msm.qld.edu.au.
For more information please click here
Slow down!
The Brisbane City Council, in coordination with The Gap Ward Office, recently erected an additional 40 km/h school zone limit and traffic signs facing incoming traffic along Elimatta Drive and Aloomba Road following a request from Mt St Michael’s College to investigate the traffic management in the school vicinity. A safety project endorsed by Mt St Michael’s College’s Work Health and Safety (WHS) Committee.
In consideration for our neighbours, where possible please avoid leaving your motor running, especially when parked outside a home.
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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