As we say farewell to Winter and move into Spring we bear witness to the complexities of change. It can be a time of uncertainty but also excitement and opportunity. In nature we see trees that were once barren are now graced with new growth and flowers like the blooming azalea bushes around our Grantuly verandah. In this spirit of change our Year 12 students are preparing for their mock examinations and that final transition from MSM. As part of this transition, they have been engaged in reflecting on the hopes they hold for their peers, staff, family/friends and the broader community. During a small liturgy held on Tuesday, the Year 12 cohort and the Year 12 Pastoral team gathered to bring in prayerful offering the constructed prayer Candles of Hope they have made. The students’ candles, placed within the Ionian Centre, will stand as quiet witnesses of reflection and hope, offering a lasting reminder to all who pass through of the shared intentions, memories, and unity they represent.

Side Show Spark: EKKAcanza
With Ekka still in the air, our Year 10 Business students and Community Action Network groups joined forces to put on a lunch time side show alley event like no other. Our EKKA-themed lunchtime market brought the spirit of the showgrounds right to our doorstep. From the sizzling aroma of sausages and the buzz of the crowd to handcrafted bracelets, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and lively tunes filling the air, our EKKA-inspired market was a feast for the senses. The event radiated colour, flavour, and a wonderful sense of MSM spirit. A huge thank you to our Year 10 business students, teachers, CAN members and CAN teachers and all who came along and helped to bring this celebration to life. It was a joyful reminder of how a little creativity (and a lot of enthusiasm!) can turn an ordinary lunch break into something truly extraordinary.

MSM's Got Talent Shines Bright
The long awaited MSM's Got Talent occurred this week with entrants from Years 5 – 12 participating in this three-day lunch time celebration of skill, talent and creativity. Performances from dazzling dancers, harmonious duets, and musical solo performers brought the stage in the Sophia Centre alive. The crowd cheered, the energy soared, and the applause was well-earned. There was even a special mystery entry from our MSM staff who again gained huge support from the audience. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who stepped up to showcase their talent. You helped to make lunchtime unforgettable. Congratulations to the Junior, Middle and Senior School winners. Special thanks also go to Mrs Emily McLaughlin, the Interact Leaders and the Interact members for their organisation and co-ordination.  All funds raised from this event and EKKAcanza go towards this year’s Charity focus, Project Providence.

Presentation of Graduation Gifts to Year 12 Red Hill Special School Students
During our Mary Aikenhead Day celebrations our Year 12 students were involved in constructing graduation gifts: an affirmation book and graduation cap for five Year 12 students from Red Hill Special School (RHSS). Over the last week, representatives from our Year 12 cohort were invited to meet with their fellow RHSS graduate counter parts where not only were these gifts exchanged, but they also had the opportunity to come to know and share in each other’s experiences of school life and what life after school may look like. Thank you to Steph and Trudy from Red Hill Special School, and the Year 12 RHSS & MSM students and their families for this very special opportunity. A special thank you also goes to Senior Leadership Support Administration Officer, Ms Sharon Harman who was instrumental in making this outreach possible.

Student Leadership Team for 2026
At Mt St Michael’s College, leadership is more than a title—it is a commitment to service, growth, and community. As we begin the process of selecting our next Student Leadership Team (SLT), we celebrate the courage and dedication of our Year 11 students who are stepping forward to serve.

The leadership journey began with reflection and discernment, sparked during the Year 11 Leadership Retreat. Students were invited to consider how they can contribute to the College’s mission and values through formal leadership roles. This year, students nominated for the following positions:

• College Captains
• Academic Captains
• Cultural Captains
• Mission Captains
• Sport Captains
• House Captains (Aikenhead, Grantuly, Rush, Stewart)
• Wellbeing Ambassadors

Each position carries unique responsibilities and offers opportunities to influence College life in a meaningful way. When endorsing and appointing students to leadership positions, we have been overwhelmed by the many who have consistently demonstrated a broad commitment to engagement, service, and the expectations of an MSM girl.

This year, the nomination process included submitting a written Leadership Statement for each role, outlining the student’s strengths, vision, and alignment with the College’s values. In addition, students were asked to create an activity plan for an initiative they hoped to introduce in 2026. The creativity and consideration evident in all applications was heartening and augurs well for our senior cohort being standout leaders of the College in 2026. Students who were shortlisted for the position of College Captain delivered a speech to the College community on Tuesday of this week, the authenticity and grace with which each girl spoke was outstanding.

As we have navigated this exciting time, we are reminded that leadership at MSM is rooted in the spirit of Mary Aikenhead and the values of love, hope, justice and compassion. We acknowledge the exceptional calibre and volume of students who nominated for the 2026 SLT and anticipate many will be called upon as leaders in Co-curricular and Social Justice groups. I would like to express my gratitude to Mrs Paula Brydon – Year 11 Pastoral Leader, for her hard work in leading this process. I would also like to thank all staff and students for their support and encouragement as we welcome the next generation of student leaders at Mt St Michael’s College.

MSM vs Marist Volleyball Game
On Thursday afternoon this week, MSM hosted Marist College Ashgrove Year 12 students for the MSM vs MARIST Volleyball Game. The girls courageously went head-to-head with some of Marist College’s top volleyball players. Although the boys had modified rules against them limiting their volleyball skills, they ended up winning the game 3 sets to 0. Special mention to our MSM seniors who cheered on the girls with enormous amounts of pride and sprit showing that here at MSM we are #MSMPROUD.
Jane Tesch - Sports Assistant 
 

Student vs Teacher Debate
The Annual Student vs Teacher Debate took place last week, with the Year 12 Debating Team facing off against three of our teachers. In line with Book Week, the 2025 topic was “Reading Books is a Waste of Time.” Teams were judged across three criteria: strength of argument, persuasion and rhetoric, and audience engagement. In a fun twist, the teachers argued the affirmative, while the Year 12 Team passionately defended the opposing view. With sharp wit, well-researched arguments, and powerful rebuttals, the students impressed both the judges and the audience, ultimately securing the win. A big thank you to everyone involved in organising and supporting this much-anticipated celebration of debating at MSM!
Lucy D & Sarah K, Academic Captains 2025

As we approach the end of Week 7, students should now be turning their attention to their upcoming end-of-term examinations. To prepare effectively, it is important that they establish a study schedule that supports consistent revision and helps reduce last-minute stress.

The first step in creating a study schedule is to identify exactly which examinations they need to prepare for. This information is available on each student’s Assessment Calendar in Student Café. From there, students should map out when their examinations are scheduled, allocate dedicated study times, and consider other commitments that may impact their availability.

There is no single “right” way to design a study schedule—it should be personal and tailored to each student’s subjects and circumstances. The following tips may help your daughter in developing an effective plan:

1. Evaluate current commitments
Use a calendar to record upcoming homework, co-curricular activities, and family commitments over the next three weeks. This will provide a clear picture of available study time. If your daughter’s schedule is too crowded, she may need to adjust or temporarily reduce some activities to prioritise revision.

2. Develop a study schedule
Once your daughter knows her available time, she should add study sessions to her calendar just like any other commitment. Using the Assessment Calendar, plan which subjects will be studied on which days to ensure adequate time is devoted to each.

3. Remove distractions
Focus is key. Phones and other distractions should be removed during study sessions. Every interruption requires students to refocus, which can reduce efficiency and effectiveness.

4. Stick to the schedule
Consistency is essential. The schedule should be realistic, flexible, and reviewed weekly, adjusting as needed once subjects are completed. The greatest success comes from maintaining the habit of following the plan.

5. Maintain accountability
Some students benefit from studying with a peer, which can provide motivation and opportunities for collaboration. If your daughter chooses this approach, it’s important to work with someone who will stay on task. If studying with others becomes more social than productive, independent study may be the better option.

I wish all students every success in their upcoming examinations. With a well-planned study schedule and commitment to following it, they will be well placed to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.

As we edge towards the end of a very busy term, we continue to be proud of the effort and perseverance demonstrated by our Year 5 students.
 
Book Week Celebrations
Last week, our community came together to celebrate the magic of reading during Book Week. One of the highlights was our first annual Book Parade, where Year 5 students showcased their creativity by dressing as beloved book characters and characters going on an adventure.

Book Week is a wonderful opportunity to inspire a lifelong love of reading and to remind students of the joy that books bring. We thank our wonderful Library staff, Ms Archard, Ms Copeman-Hill, Ms Byerlee and Ms Rose for their organisation of engaging Book Week activities throughout the week and for making it such a vibrant and memorable part of the school year.

Term 3 Gala Day
On Monday 8 September, our Year 5 students will have the opportunity to participate in their second Sports Gala Day for the year. This will be a full school day for all Year 5 students to enjoy, and will provide each student with the opportunity to engage with their MSM cohort for a fun-filled day of physical activities.

Some of our students will be participating in the CaSSSA Primary Interschool Soccer Competition on this day. These students have been training hard in the lead-up to this competition and we wish them the very best of luck as they represent MSM!

The remaining Year 5 students will be engaging in rotational activities at Dorrington Park that will incorporate movement, collaboration and creativity. These activities will be facilitated by the Junior School staff.
 
Laptop Charging
At our most recent Year 5 Assembly, I reminded the girls of the importance of coming to school every day with a fully charged laptop. We spoke about how this is necessary for being prepared for learning each day and for minimising class disruptions. We greatly appreciate your support with reminding your daughter at home to charge her laptop each evening. Students who do not have charged laptops are required to borrow a loan charger from our IT Department, which incurs a cost.
 
Junior School Positive Behaviours for Learning Awards
Congratulations to the following students for receiving Positive Behaviours for Learning Awards at our Year 5 Assembly last week:

Millie (5H) - For demonstrating resilience and diligence in 5 Hope. Millie, you are an engaged learner who always strives for your personal best. Your enthusiasm for learning and willingness to accept feedback has allowed you to make pleasing progress in your learning. You bring a positive energy to our learning community.  

Josie (5H) - For being a respectful learner in your interactions with your peers. Josie, you take the time to listen to your peers and to understand their point of view. This helps to creates a warm, friendly and supportive learning environment in 5 Hope. In group work, you willingly share your ideas and you are a reliable team member. Keep up the super effort.

Sophia (5L) - Sophia, you consistently demonstrate respectful learning by actively engaging in group tasks and contributing thoughtful ideas. Your collaborative spirit and willingness to listen and share make you a valued member of the 5 Love Classroom. Well done on showing such positive learning behaviours!

Madeline (5L) - Madeline, you are a resilient and motivated learner who approaches each day with a positive attitude. You are consistently organised, ready to learn and always give your best effort. Your willingness to try new things and embrace challenges is a wonderful example of a growth mindset. Well done, Madeline!

Katie Jordan
Head of Junior School