The commencement of the school year is always an exciting period as we reconnect with friends and MSM staff. A sincere welcome is extended to our new students and families in 2025. Regardless of the year group, I know that all new students will be warmly welcomed.
While many of us enjoyed the company of family friends over the holidays, some of our students participated in exciting co-curricular activities.
BRAINways QUEST Competition
In 2024, our BRAINways QUEST students for Gifted and Talented students progressed to the National finals. Congratulations to Alice A, Lauren G and Alice H, who entered the Nationals well prepared and with incredible enthusiasm, achieving first place in Humanities, first place in Science, second place in Mathematics and overall National champions. We are immensely proud of these outstanding results. Thank you to Ms O’Neill who has prepared our students and supported them throughout this competition.
Australian Space Design Competition
The Australian Space Design Competition (ASDC) is designed for secondary school students with a passion for space, or those considering a future in STEM fields. It allows students to experience true industry simulation where students need to respond to an engineering Request for Tender (RFT) and design a fully functional space settlement; including aspects such as overall structure, operations, automation, human factors and logistics.
Students Taylor B, Lani M, Julia S and Emily BR, combined with two other schools (as per competition rules), formed a team called Orion and awarded overall National winners in this competition. This is an amazing result and our team of four didn’t sleep on the announcement night! Thank you to Dr Blackburn who coached and prepared these students through the competition.
Other Exciting News
Some other exciting news over the holidays involves Year 10 student Alex D. Alex won the lead role of Ellie in a short film called ‘The Bear Hunt’, a story about a young disabled girl determined to discover the origins of her unique teddy bear. She finds not only the maker of her treasured bear but also a newfound sense of belonging and purpose in a world that often overlooks the beauty in difference. She flew to Adelaide at the end of January and spent a week filming in various locations around the city. The film will be released later this year and is expected to be shown at film festivals around the country.
We extend our best wishes to everyone for a wonderful Term 1 and eagerly anticipate meeting you at the various upcoming events.
I would also like to offer my heartfelt gratitude to our staff for their unwavering commitment and tireless efforts. Their dedication to excellence and passion for education have made our start to this year truly remarkable.Our 2025 Theme: Hope Endures
This year, all Mary Aikenhead Ministries agencies will focus on our core value of Hope. In his 2017 TED Talk, Pope Francis offered these words on hope:
The future has a name, and its name is hope. Hope is the virtue of the heart that doesn’t lock itself into darkness, that doesn’t dwell on the past, does not simply get by in the present, but is able to see tomorrow. Hope is the door that opens onto the future.
2025 is a centenary year at Mt St Michael’s College, and we have selected "Hope Endures" as our College theme. As we celebrate 100 years of education in faith and love, we will cast our gaze backward as we celebrate our heritage and accomplishments, and we will cast our gaze forward as we dream about what MSM can be in its second century.
Our theme logo features a picture of an azalea blossom. Azalea bushes surround Grantuly Homestead, and while they lie dormant at this time of year, in the spring they bloom with thousands of beautiful blossoms. The azalea – like the cherry blossom – is a symbol of hope and endurance and they are an important part of the heritage story of our College.
Our 2025 Major Fundraiser: Project Providence
This is a year for us to celebrate 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:
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 six 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.
We look forward to providing updates on our fundraising progress across 2025.
Year 7 Retreat
We warmly welcomed our Year 7 students to Mt St Michael’s College with a special retreat day at the end of their first week. Using themes from the Disney film Encanto, we explored concepts of welcome, identity and belonging. The Year 7 students enjoyed a wonderful day at the Retreat with their homeroom teachers, and many new friendships were forged in this gentle, relaxed environment. I sincerely thank Ms Conway (Pastoral Leader, Year 7) and the wonderful Year 7 Homeroom team for their attendance and support at the Retreat.
Opening Mass
Our community gathered this morning to formally open the 2025 school year, and to give thanks for a century of learning in faith and love at MSM. Mass was celebrated by Fr Gerry Kalinowski (Parish Priest, Jubilee Catholic Parish), a long-time friend of MSM. As part of today’s Mass, we blessed a special centenary pin for each student in the College, launched our centenary blessing prayer, and commissioned our Year 12 Leaders. Sincere thanks to the many staff and students who had a role in making today’s Mass so special.
CAN Groups begin in Week 3
Our Community Action Network (CAN) Groups will begin in the week 3 and 4 cycle. We have 5 CAN Groups at MSM that meet fortnightly at lunchtimes:
Students in Years 7-12 are warmly welcome to join these meetings. This is a wonderful way to meet like-minded people and make new friends.
For Year 5 students, a new program MSM Cares will launch in the coming weeks.
Valentine’s Day Dress Up Day
Please note that Friday 14th February is a Valentine’s Day dress up day at MSM. Students must come to school in full formal uniform. Once at school, they may layer dress up accessories in pink and purple colours over their uniform. The cost of participating is $2, with funds going to Project Providence.
YEAR 9 DANCE STUDENTS EMBRACE THE ENERGY OF BOLLYWOOD!
Our Year 11 Dance students had an unforgettable experience this week as they participated in a vibrant Bollywood dance workshop led by a guest artist from Dance Masala!
As part of their curriculum dance studies, students explored the rich cultural heritage and expressive storytelling of Bollywood dance. From dynamic hand gestures (mudras) to high-energy footwork and dramatic facial expressions, they embraced the essence of this colourful and captivating dance style.
Not only did this workshop enhance their technical and performance skills, but it also deepened their understanding of global dance traditions and the fusion of classical and contemporary movement.
Sincere thanks to Dance Masala for sharing their passion and expertise with us. We can't wait to see how our students incorporate this experience into their own creative work.
Thank you to our MSM families who have purchased a heart in support of our Light the Way Capital Campaign.
Funds raised will be used to support college initiatives, ensuring that future generations of Mt St Michael’s students can receive the very best education.
All donations are tax-deductible and heart plaques will be mounted and blessed on Mary Aikenhead Day.
School Fees
We would like to extend our gratitude to families who have taken the time to set up their Payment Schedules or have already paid their fees for this year. Your prompt action is greatly appreciated.
As a reminder, there are two available options for paying School Fees:
1. Setting up a Payment Schedule is due via Parent Lounge.
2. Alternatively, the annual fee payment must be made by 14 February 2025, also via Parent Lounge.
For your convenience, Parent Lounge can be accessed through the College App or by visiting https://tass.msm.qld.edu.au/parentlounge/.
Additionally, the email that was sent to all families regarding the 2025 School Fees can be accessed here. For assistance in setting up a payment schedule, the instructions are available here.