Last week MSM marked a momentous milestone acknowledging 100 years of education, faith and community. The centenary celebrations brought together generations of the MSM family, including the Sisters of Charity, MSM Alumni, past members of staff, our parents and caregivers and our current staff and students.
In 1925, the Sisters of Charity and Archbishop James Duhig combined funds to purchase a homestead in Ashgrove and the Sisters welcomed their first students to make a makeshift classroom that stretched along the wide verandahs of Grantuly, beginning a 100 year long story that continues today. Our Centenary Mass included a pre-Mass reflection called “If Grantuly Could Talk”. This drama piece was a gathering of verbatim stories and accounts from people who lived, worked, worshipped and were educated within her walls. Ms Linda Statham, Director of The Arts, spent many hours interviewing Sisters Clare Nolan, Cate O’Brien, Mary Maguire and Jeannie Johnson as well as some past students to listen to their anecdotes to compose a series of short stories that were wonderfully brought to life by our students under the direction of Ms Statham. It was a very special way to honour our history, and I thank Ms Statham and our Drama students for this inspiring gift. The final lines of the piece resonated deeply -
“Without the story, Grantuly is only a building
We are the story tellers: Our task is connecting
Experiences, ideals and traditions
Preserving meaning and purpose
In Faith and Love.”
These words encapsulate the heart of MSM’s centenary: a celebration not of just years, but of lives touched, values upheld and a community united in faith and love. As we step into the next chapter, we carry forward the legacy of those who came before us, continuing to shape MSM’s story with purpose, passion and pride.
On behalf of our community, I congratulate and thank the following staff who were presented with Staff Service Awards at the conclusion of our Centenary Mass.
10 Years: Mr Peter McFadden, Ms Sherry Mulligan, Ms Megan Paterson, Ms Su Watt and Mr Adam Watson.
20 Years: Ms Nicky Romeo
25 Years: Ms Catherine Atkins and Mr John Hamilton.
The centenary celebrations continued in grand style on Saturday evening with the Centenary Gala Dinner held at The Star Brisbane. It was an evening of elegance, joy, and connection, as members of the MSM community gathered to celebrate. Guests arrived in glamorous attire, ready to enjoy a fun-filled night of entertainment. The atmosphere was electric, with the dulcet tones of Katerini Manolatos, (Alumni Class of 1996) and her band setting the mood with their soulful performance. Later in the evening, DJ Kitty Gatling, (Alumni Class of 2010) took to the stage keeping the energy high and the dance floor full.
One of the highlights of the evening was the 360-camera experience, which proved to be a crowd favourite. Guests captured joyful moments in colourful videos—keepsakes of a night that honoured the past while celebrating the present.
We are very grateful to our sponsors for the evening:
- MSM Alumni Inc – Platinum Sponsor
- Dynabook – Gold Sponsor
- Jayne Air Building Design – Silver Sponsor
Thank you to the team at Helping Hand Group who ran our auction and to local businesses, Savvy Hair Artistry Ashgrove and Westpac Ashgrove for generously providing auction items.
This article only captures a glimpse of the celebrations. I would like to express a sincere “thank you” to the many staff who were involved in the various aspects of the different events who have contributed to the outstanding success of our celebrations. Please accept my gratitude for the generosity of your time and exceptional gifts.
In Faith and Love,
Sharon Volp
MOTHERS' LUNCH
Tickets are selling fast! Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of the 2025 MSM Mothers’ Lunch. Book now to avoid disappointment. This event provides an opportunity for Mothers to indulge in a beautiful lunch and support the MSM Foundation’s Light the Way Capital Campaign through our raffle with some great prizes up for grabs!
Ticket sales will close on Friday 8 August, if not sold out prior.
This event is open to all MSM Mothers and bookings are essential
2025 MSM MOTHERS' LUNCH RAFFLE
Over $7,500 in prizes to be won thanks to our generous local community. Tickets on sale now and on the day of the event. The raffle is open to everyone, no need to be present to win!
SAVE THE DATE - YEAR 5 FATHER'S DAY BREAKFAST
We are delighted to invite Year 5 students and their fathers to a special Father’s Day Breakfast and Liturgy on Wednesday 3 September from 7:00 to 8:15am in the Sophia Centre. Bookings for this event will open next week.
In response to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence within the field of education, the College is pleased to announce the establishment of a staff-led AI Working Group. This group has been convened to set the strategic direction for the effective integration and utilisation of AI technologies across the College. The primary objective is to foster innovation while upholding the highest standards of ethical practice in the adoption of AI tools.
The AI Working Group is committed to creating an inclusive environment that enables both staff and students to collaboratively explore and benefit from the opportunities presented by AI, all while aligning with the overarching vision of the College.
Key objectives of the group include:
- Identifying and approving appropriate AI tools for specific operational and educational purposes;
- Establishing comprehensive standards for the ethical use of AI;
- Developing and providing training materials and resources to inform staff and students about best practices in AI engagement;
- Monitoring the adoption and effectiveness of AI tools throughout the College;
- Implementing a comprehensive communication plan to ensure the smooth implementation and broad understanding of AI initiatives.
Debating News
We extend our congratulations to the Year 10 and Year 12 Debating teams for advancing to the second round of finals. We wish all team members every success in the upcoming stage of the competition.
Week 5
Please note in Week 5, there will be student free days following the Exhibition public holiday on Thursday 14 August and Friday 15 August.
Congratulations to our wonderful Year 11 students who recently completed their Residential Leadership Retreat “Creative, Courageous Leadership”. Across two very full days, and against the backdrop of Coolum Beach and migrating whales, our students shared their reflections on their MSM journey, celebrated the unique gifts of their cohort and discerned the call to servant leadership. On the final day, they began to plan for their senior year and considered the legacy they wish to leave and how to enact this. The retreat signals the formal commencement of the leadership discernment process for our Year 11 students.
We sincerely thank our Year 11 Pastoral Leader, Mrs Paula Brydon, and the following staff: Ms Wiseman; Ms Klowss; Ms Rapisarda; Ms Conway; Ms O’Neill; Ms Emblem; and Ms Taran; who accompanied the students, and me, on this retreat. Please hold our students in your prayers as they continue in their discernment.
On Friday, we celebrated both the 100th Anniversary of the Sisters of Charity in Queensland and the opening of Mt St Michael’s College. It is a time of celebration and thanks for the mantle of Charity that was started by Mary Aikenhead and the Sisters of Charity in Ireland and that has now extended across the world. The Sisters have made it their life’s mission to seek out and serve the poor and forgotten in every corner of the world. As a Mary Aikenhead Ministries College, we are honoured to continue her work today.
To commence our Mary Aikenhead Day celebrations, our students participated in a variety of service learning activities during the morning session. Year 5 made morning tea gift packs for distribution to farming communities by Downs and West Community Support. Year 7 traversed the length and breadth of the campus, completing a scavenger hunt that told the story of Mary and the pioneering Sisters. Year 8 and Year 11 made beautiful gifts for St Vincent’s Hospital and residents of St Vincent’s Aged Care; Year 9 sewed hearts as part of the 1000 Hearts Kindness Project for St Vincent’s Hospital; Year 10 packed emergency birthing kits for women in developing countries; and Year 12 produced graduation gifts for graduates from Red Hill Special School. My sincere thanks to our hardworking and capable staff for their dedication in supporting our students in their work.
Our Centenary celebrations continued in the afternoon with a joy-filled Mass, presided over by Fr Gerry Kalinowski. We were blessed to be joined by a number of special guests, several of the Sisters, Trustees of Mary Aikenhead Ministries, members of Mary Aikenhead Education, student Alumni and past and present MSM families.
During the mass, held at Riverlife, we gave thanks for the gift of a Charity Education, prayed for the Sisters as they continue in their ministry, and asked for God’s blessings as we continue to shape the evolving MSM story. Our celebrations concluded with the presentation of legacy pins to our Year 5 students to signal the new chapter in the history of Mt St Michael’s College.
I thank the many students who took part in our Mass, generously using their talents to read; sing; dance; play music; and perform. Their gifts bring such a rich dimension to our Eucharistic Celebrations.
Special thanks to the Centenary Mass Planning Committee; our hard working staff; co-curricular liturgy dance and drama teachers; School Officers – particularly my assistant Ms Harman; our Maintenance Team; our Communications Team; and our IT Team – for making this special day run so smoothly.
On Tuesday, 22 July, the Year 7 and 8 students participated in an Eyes Open Social Media—cyberbullying presentation as part of our Positive Education Program. The presentation addressed our student wellbeing imperative to focus on education to equip our students with skills to navigate their online presence in our way that is safe for themselves and others. The presentation as always was well received and highlighted the vulnerability of students and the ease with which personal information can be gathered from social media platforms without our knowledge or consent. I encourage you to take a proactive role in supporting and protecting your daughters in this space. An excellent resource for parents and young people is the available via the following link:
https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
Friendly Reminders
We are continuing to ensure that all students are presenting in their MSM uniform with pride. I would ask parents and caregivers to support your daughters in meeting the uniform and presentation guidelines. All students are to wear their formal uniform (not sport) including the College bag and hat, to and from the College each day.
- No false eyelashes, nails or make up to be worn – You are beautiful just as you are!
- No helixes, multiple ear piercings or nose piercings – if ‘clears’ are visible, students will be asked to remove them.
- Please leave all of your lovely jewellery at home, especially large gold or diamante hoop earrings.
- Laptops MUST be carried in laptop bags at all times NOT tote bags.
Thank you in advance for working in partnership with the College.
All students in Years 7–10 are required to submit their 2026 subject preferences through the Web Preferences online portal.
Each student has received an email from noreply@selectmysubjects.com.au, which includes step-by-step instructions for completing selections following the relevant subject information sessions. Please ensure all subject selections are submitted by 8:30am on Monday, 11 August.
Years 5–12 Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent Teacher Conferences for the following year levels will continue to be conducted online:
Years 7–12:
- Tuesday, 5 August
- Tuesday, 12 August
- Wednesday, 6 August
If you encounter any issues accessing Parent Lounge, or if you need to change or cancel a booking, please contact the MSM Help Desk at 3858 4999 or email support@msm.qld.edu.au.
Contacting Teaching Staff
For pastoral or wellbeing concerns, parents are encouraged to get in touch with their daughter’s Homeroom teacher.
For curriculum-related questions, please contact the relevant class teacher directly, as they are best positioned to address subject-specific and assessment matters.
Staff contact information can be found in Parent Lounge:
Student Details > Email Class Teachers
Attendance at School
Regular school attendance is crucial for your daughter’s academic progress and personal growth. If your daughter must be absent during term time, please submit a written request for approval to Ms Volp via her Executive Assistant Ms Elmer, who can be contacted on melmer@msm.qld.edu.au.
While we appreciate the importance of family time and occasional commitments, prioritising attendance is essential—particularly during assessment periods.
Extension Requests for Assessment
If your daughter is unable to complete assessment due to illness or unforeseen circumstances, she may request an extension.
Please note:
- Family holidays taken during term are not grounds for extensions, as per QCAA guidelines.
- Students in Years 7–9 should contact Ms Larkings (Program Leader Middle School).
- Students in Years 10–12 should contact Mrs Kean (Program Leader Senior School).
- All extension requests must be submitted at least 48 hours before the assessment due date.
Absences on Assessment Days
If your daughter is absent on the day an assignment is due, she is still expected to submit her work digitally using the method specified by her teacher.
If she is absent on the day of an examination, she will be required to complete the exam during a supervised catch-up session as soon as possible upon her return to school.
We are well and truly in the throes of Term 3 and the energy in the Year 5 classrooms continues to buzz. Already this term, students have been diving into engaging learning experiences – both inside and outside of the classroom.
House Choir
Our Year 5 students enthusiastically joined their House groups this week to rehearse for the upcoming House Choir Competition. Students in each House from Years 5 to 12 will be performing (with singing and choreography!) a song for the College community. I extend a huge thanks to Ms Lennon and the Year 12 students for their leadership and support of Year 5 student participation in this experience.
Year 5 Legacy Pins
At the College Centenary Mass last Friday, the Year 5 cohort was gifted with a legacy pin to wear proudly on their uniforms. This week, these pins were distributed individually to the students as part of a special gathering of Year 5 students and Junior School staff.
Book Week
Book Week will be celebrated at the College in Week 6 of this term. On Tuesday 19 August, students in Year 5 are encouraged to dress as a book character or in an outfit you wear on an adventure as part of our Book Character Parade. We are looking forward to celebrating all things reading-related later this term!
Junior School Positive Behaviours for Learning Awards
Congratulations to the following students for receiving Positive Behaviours for Learning Awards at our Year 5 Assembly this week:
Hannah (5H) - For your diligent application to learning in Science. Hannah, you approach each lesson with curiosity, offer considered responses, and are eager to complete our investigations. Your written responses are thorough and display your super Science knowledge and skills. Keep up the great effort.
Audrey (5H) - Congratulations on being a top contributor to our class discussions. Your consistent willingness to share your understanding and take risks in your learning is truly commendable. This sets a great example for your peers and enriches our classroom environment. By engaging so thoughtfully, you not only deepen your own understanding but also inspire your peers to think critically and participate more actively. Well done.
Audrey (5L) - Audrey, your respect and inclusiveness for others in the classroom truly stands out in 5 Love. You consistently demonstrate kindness and empathy, making everyone feel valued and included. Your positive attitude and thoughtful approach to learning and teamwork sets a wonderful example for others. Keep up the fantastic work!
Adele (5L) - Adele, your perseverance in the face of challenges is inspiring to all. You have started this semester with a “Can Do” attitude, particularly in Mathematics. You seek feedback and are not afraid to ask for help when needed. Your ability to work through times of productive struggle has developed beautifully. Keep up the great work!
Katie Jordan
Head of Junior School
Students from Year 5 all the way through to Year 12 gathered to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Moon Landing with curiosity, laughter, and a little friendly competition.
Organised by our UQ Science Ambassadors: Ayla; Chloe; Keira; Lani; and Sophie; the lunchtime event was all about raising awareness of science through fun. Students watched original footage of the 1969 Moon Landing, then battled it out in a high-energy Kahoot trivia quiz that tested knowledge of astronauts, rockets, and lunar facts. Winners were rewarded with the ultimate prize, a Milky Way (the chocolate kind)! The biggest competition, however, came from the classic party twist Pin the Landing Site on the Moon, where students took some very creative guesses.
It was a fantastic celebration of science history, student leadership, and school spirit, proving once again that science isn’t just for the classroom. It’s for lunchtime too.
MSM Year 7 and 8 students took part in an Eyes Open Social Media - Cyberbullying presentation, last week, as part of our Positive Education Program.
In February 2021, the eSafety Commissioner released their report on the digital lives of Aussie teens. They found that although teenagers’ ability to use technology offers various benefits concerning connectivity and research of topics of interest, there are negative areas they are continuing to experience.
Given these findings and our own commitment to enhancing student digital safety and awareness, this session provided awareness to students of the primary risks and dangers on social media sites, to ensure they are more informed about their use of social media to promote a positive online experience.
We welcomed back two of our wonderful MSM Alumni, Meg Rees and Abby Hewett (Class of 2020), who generously gave their time to speak with our Year 12 students. Their session focused on Women in Agriculture, but the messages they shared went far beyond that - offering inspiration, reassurance and real-work advice about navigating life after school.
Meg and Abby shared their personal journeys highlighting the diverse pathways that exist within the agricultural industry, from tertiary study to hands-on and on-the-job learning, A huge thank you to Meg and Abby for their time and generosity. It was a powerful reminder that our alumni community continues to uplift and empower the next generation of MSM students.
This year’s theme highlighted the challenges many Australians face in accessing reading—from socioeconomic barriers to limited resources and evolving literacy needs.
Libraries play a vital role in breaking down these barriers. Through initiatives like Freedom to Read, anti-censorship efforts, and support for literacy, digital inclusion, and multicultural engagement, libraries empower communities.
At MSM Library, students explored these issues through a thought-provoking Banned Book Display, encouraging advocacy for the right to read.
Harry Potter’s Birthday Trivia
Our MSM Library transformed into a magical hub to celebrate Harry Potter’s Birthday with a themed KAHOOT trivia challenge. Students gathered in teams of up to five to test their knowledge in two exciting rounds, Book Trivia and Movie Trivia.
The event was a great success, with enthusiastic participation, friendly competition, and plenty of laughter. A big thank you to everyone who joined in and made the celebration truly magical!
As part of the 2025 Book Week theme Book an Adventure, our MSM Library invites students to share their real or imagined journeys.
Whether they've hiked the Daintree or discovered Atlantis, their story belongs on a postcard!
How Students Can Enter:
Students are invited to collect a blank postcard from the library and submit their entry by Tuesday, 12 August at 3pm.
Prizes will be awarded for Best Written Entry and Best Illustration. All entries will be displayed in the library, with winners announced during Book Week.
At the regional final this week, they played a very tough opponent in St Therese’s Catholic College and although they fought hard the entire game, the skills and experience of the St Therese’s team were too good for our team on the day.
Well done to our senior team in their effort and the joy in which they competed in the QSchools competition. We were proud to watch you play with such passion!
During Term 3, all MSM Aerobics teams competed in the FISAF State Championships. Four of our teams have progressed through to the National Championships where they will compete against the best in the country. MSM teams “Courage”, “Power” and “Love” and our individual competitor (our Athletics Captain) Annie J, will compete at the end of August and continue to train in preparation for this National Championships. Best of luck girls!
Our ISSA team played a hard fought game against Somerset College, but unfortunately we were beaten 1-0. Our team performed incredibly competitively and should be commended on their effort in the first season for many of them.
Best of luck to our Uhlsport team who will play their elimination final against West Moreton Anglican College on Monday. A win will see them progress through to the semi finals.
Mila O recently competed in the Queensland Representative School Sport Cross Country State Championships.
Mila’s relay team proudly ran for their region and delivered an outstanding performance, winning the gold medal at the event - State Champions - 12 years!
Our sincere congratulations to Mila – we are so proud of her gold medal achievement!
Asha continues to make MSM pround with her hard work and success in swimming.
Congratulations Alicia!
Recently, MSM Year 12 student, Caitlin R and her horse, Trumby, competed in the QLD Inter-school State Equestrian Championships across Combined Training and Showjumping classes. Fellow MSM student, Elsa L, and her horse, Fabio, also attended for Combined Training.
Both girls represented MSM with grace, grit and great sportsmanship. They came away with some top 10 placings, competing in very large classes. We offer both girls congratulations for taking part so competently in the competition.
Thank you to our MSM families who have purchased a heart in support of our Light the Way Capital Campaign. Our newest instalment of hearts were proudly blessed during our Centenary Mass and have been mounted on our legacy wall.
Our Light the Way legacy wall illuminates our valued donors who are assisting us to light the way for future generations of MSM students through the enhancement of new educational facilities.
Find out more about securing a permanent spot on our Light the Way Legacy Wall by visiting our College website.
Please note there has been a change to the 2025 Fee Schedule.
A fee of $20 including GST is charged for all failed payments on a payment schedule.This fee will apply to both the initial failed payment and any retry payments. This is a fee charged by School EasyPay.
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
67 Elimatta Drive
Ashgrove, QLD 4060
Australia
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