Year 5 Father's Day Breakfast and Liturgy
Last week, our community was privileged to host a truly memorable Father’s Day Breakfast for our Year 5 students and their fathers. The morning was filled with laughter, meaningful connections, and creative moments that will be cherished for years to come.

This gathering was far more than a shared meal; it was a heartfelt celebration of the invaluable role fathers play in nurturing, guiding, and inspiring their daughters. I was honoured to offer a reflection on the unique and enduring bond between fathers and daughters, and to acknowledge the profound influence fathers have in shaping young women of confidence and compassion.

We extend our sincere gratitude to MSM father, Mr Nathan Burridge for sharing his thoughtful perspective on fatherhood, and to Year 5 student Asher D for her touching and personal tribute to her father.

A highlight of the morning was undoubtedly the Paper Aeroplane Challenge—a delightful activity that revealed the inner engineer in every father and brought joy and laughter to all involved.

Special thanks are due to Ms Katie Jordan, Ms Kate Marsh, Ms Kate Toohey, and Ms Jen Roberts for their creativity and leadership in bringing this event to life. We are also deeply appreciative of the dedicated efforts of Ms Ferris, Ms Ovenden and Ms Gofton from our development office, the maintenance team, and Mr Watson from our IT department for their seamless coordination and support.

To all the fathers who joined us: thank you for your presence, your love, and your unwavering commitment to your daughters’ growth. Through your example, you are shaping the future—one paper plane at a time.

Middle School Assembly
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Ms Natalie McMaster and our Year 8 Homeroom Captains for their exemplary leadership in orchestrating a vibrant display and presentations that so beautifully showcased the many exciting developments within our Middle School. The assembly was a true celebration of our community spirit, featuring a rich tapestry of experiences: from the celebration of Languages, to an impressive aerobic gymnastics display by our Year 8 students, a captivating performance from our Dance Team, the melodic artistry of the Intermediate Wind Ensemble, and an engaging excerpt from our Drama Club’s participation in The Scene Project.

We offer our warmest congratulations to all middle school students who were honoured with a Principal’s Award, recognising their outstanding academic achievement and steadfast commitment to positive learning behaviours. Special commendation is also extended to our QAMT Year 7 and 8 students, whose dedication to training in mathematical problem-solving is truly inspiring.

This assembly stands as a testament to the enthusiasm, talent, and collaborative spirit that define our Middle School community. We are deeply grateful to all who contributed to making this occasion so memorable.

Year 7 2026 Orientation Morning
On Friday, 5 September, we had the pleasure of welcoming our incoming Year 7 students for an orientation morning designed to ease their transition and foster new connections. It was a delight to witness our newest students engaging with Year 10 mentors, receiving their welcome packs, and participating enthusiastically in a series of thoughtfully planned “getting to know you” activities.

We extend our sincere gratitude to our dedicated Pastoral team and all staff members whose warmth and encouragement made each student feel truly at home. Special thanks are due to Mrs Alison Larkings and Ms Caitlin Conway for their leadership and organisation of this event.

As we approach the conclusion of another vibrant term, I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to all students and families for the energy, kindness, and commitment you bring to our College community. We look forward to welcoming everyone back, refreshed and ready for another exciting term ahead.

In his recent canonization homily, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the lives of Saints Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis, saying they “created masterpieces out of their lives by dedicating them to God”. This message resonates deeply with our mission as a school community.

Each day, our students experience learning, acts of kindness, challenges, and choices. When guided by faith and fueled by hope these moments begin to form something extraordinary. Whether it’s a student helping a peer, a teacher inspiring curiosity, or a parent nurturing resilience at home, we are all working to build this masterpiece of life. We can face the challenges along the way and consider them more deeply. It also enables us to see that even the smallest act of charity and compassion can ripple outward and become a beacon of light in ourselves, in our friends and in our world.

On the last day of this term we will reflect, celebrate and give thanks to God in our Hope Liturgy. During the liturgy we will not only give thanks for the Actions of Hope shown by students and teachers at MSM, but we will also pray that we and the broader world be impelled by the love of Christ to shape a future filled with hope and joy and that is transformational. In this spirit of Hope, we will also announce and Commission our Student Leaders of 2026. As they carry the light forward into our next chapter of the Mt St Michael’s College story we invite them to be inspired by the servant leadership of Mary Aikenhead and the Sisters of Charity and...

     Be courageous and wise in the choices they make.
     Hold fast to our stories, our values and our traditions.
     Build new opportunities, new ways and help MSM grow into the future.
 
As the term draws to a close, I wish you all a safe and rejuvenating school holiday. We keep our Year 12 students in our prayers as they work on their final internal assessment, study for their External examinations and look towards life beyond MSM. Thank you for the opportunity afforded me this term to work with the MSM Community in this position and I wish you and your family every blessings – may we go forth to bring love, compassion, justice and hope to the world.

As we approach the end of Term 3, our Year 12 students are completing their mock examinations, finalising their QTAC applications, and preparing for their final term at the College. This is a significant milestone in their journey, and we are proud of the commitment and perseverance they continue to demonstrate.

At the same time, our students in Years 7–10 have been engaged with their Term 3 assessment program, while our Year 11 students are completing their Unit 2 examinations. As this marks the final unit of formative assessment, I remind any Year 11 student considering a change of subject to arrange a conversation with Mrs Kean before the end of term. This discussion will help ensure any senior pathway adjustments are carefully considered and well supported.

As we move into the September break, I would like to wish all our students every success with their remaining assessments and offer my warmest encouragement for a well-earned holiday. For our Year 12 cohort in particular, this is a valuable time to rest and recharge, while also continuing with some focused revision in preparation for their external examinations in Term 4. I encourage them to strike a balance: the holidays should not be consumed entirely by study, but it is important to remain connected to their learning.

For all students, I strongly recommend taking the opportunity to unplug from devices, enjoy reading a book for pleasure, spend time outdoors, and reconnect with family and friends. Rest, reflection, and renewal are important in preparing for the busy final term ahead.

I look forward to welcoming everyone back, safe and refreshed, on Tuesday 7 October, ready to embrace the final term of 2025 with energy and determination.

Our Year 5 students are finalising their Term 3 units of learning, and engaging in assessment tasks to demonstrate knowledge and skills relating to their learning this term. At this time of term, teachers are carefully reviewing student work to provide an accurate picture of progress and achievement. Assessment is more than just a grade — it helps us to understand each child’s strengths and areas for growth, and it informs the planning of future learning experiences. As teachers work through marking, we thank students for their effort and persistence, and we encourage families to continue supporting positive routines at home.
 
Principal’s Awards
At our Junior School Assembly last week, we were joined by Ms Volp who awarded a number of our Year 5 students with Semester 1 Principal’s Awards. These awards were presented to students who demonstrated Academic Excellence and/or Excellence in Commitment across their studies in Semester 1. Together, these awards highlight how our students demonstrate a love of learning through both achievement and effort. It brought us all great joy to acknowledge and celebrate these Year 5 students.

Year 5 Term 3 Gala Day
On Monday, our Year 5 students had the opportunity to participate in their second Sports Gala Day for the year. Two teams of students enjoyed competing in soccer games at the CaSSSA Primary School Gala Event. They learned new soccer skills, showed great teamwork and put in an impressive effort representing MSM on the day. All other Year 5 students participated in active games and recreational activities at Dorrington Park, including soccer skills workshops. All round, it was a day filled with fitness, friendships and fun!

Term 3 MSM Cares Project – Nude Food Day
Our Term 3 MSM Cares Project Team (Eva, Sophia and Amelia) are inviting all students in the College to participate in Nude Food Day next Thursday 18 September. Please read the speech created by the project group that is being delivered to cohorts across the College to promote Nude Food Day:

This term our project is all about protecting our environment. We have decided to hold a Nude Food Day. Nude Food Day is where you don’t bring any plastic in your lunchbox. This will be held on the last Thursday of the term, Thursday 18 September.
Did you know plastic is one of the reasons why turtles are dying? In fact, plastic takes between 20 to 1,000 years to breakdown. Imagine a piece of plastic in the ocean for 20 to 1,000 years. When you put your rubbish in the bin you imagine it at the dump, then in trucks to landfill right? But, did you know some plastic is dropped or left behind on the way? It could end up on the roads, nature and even in the ocean.
 
So, now you know that nude food is where we fill our lunchboxes with food that doesn’t contain much plastic, you must be thinking of what to do. Some ideas can be… Instead of eating chips in a plastic bag or eating fruits wrapped in clingwrap, you could put them in a small container. Another idea is to use metal utensils from home in replacement for plastic ones. If you are someone who brings sandwiches in plastic wrap, you could try wrapping it in a cloth or placing it in an enclosed sandwich box. You can squirt your juice into a small water bottle. If you like bringing rice, soup or pasta to school you could put it in a flask and if you bring yogurt to school, tip it in a small tub with a lid. These examples are just some of our ideas, but we can’t wait to see what you come up with for Nude Food Day!
 
An exciting prize is up for grabs for any student in the school who successfully brings a nude food lunch. Year 5 will be competing as a class to win a class prize!

Junior School Positive Behaviours for Learning Awards
Congratulations to the following students for receiving Positive Behaviours for Learning Awards at our Junior School Assembly last week:

Emily (5H) - Emily, your growth mindset and perseverance are truly inspiring. Whether you're learning new concepts, working with different groups, or tackling new challenges, you always give your best and never give up. You are open to trying new things, value feedback and show impressive resilience. Keep up the fantastic effort!

Lilly (5H) - Lilly, your dedication to learning at MSM has contributed to your progress in learning. You consistently approach each task with care, thoughtfulness, and your best effort. Your eagerness to ask questions and seek feedback shows how engaged and curious you are, and it is clear that you enjoy learning every day. Well done!

Annabelle W (5L) - Annabelle, it has been awesome to watch you gain both courage and confidence this year. Each term you have become more engaged and focussed in your learning, and the results are showing. You truly are a resilient learner who is making the most of every opportunity. Congratulations Annabelle!

Annabelle G (5L) - Annabelle, your unwavering dedication to your studies is truly commendable. You consistently approach each task with thoroughness and perseverance. Your diligence in your co-curricular music lessons is just another example of your terrific efforts. Keep up the awesome work!

I wish all of our students a refreshing upcoming Spring holiday. We look forward to a fantastic final term of Year 5!

Katie Jordan
Head of Junior School