In 1838, Mary Aikenhead handed the five Sisters of Charity a black Jesus crucifix when she missioned them to Australia. This crucifix remains a significant symbol for the sisters who always remember the First Nations people of our land, thus this gift is important.
The Sisters of Charity have continued to work directly with our First Nations People because they are committed to the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Today the Social Justice Council organised a moving Sorry Day service on the Convent Lawn, where the College flags were lowered to half mast, a pledge for reconciliation was read by our community, and everyone was invited to sign the College’s Sorry Book.
Several students along with Mr Beavon, Mrs Desailly and Ms Jordan will be attending the National Sorry Day morning ceremony at Teralba Park on Sunday morning, commemorating the Stolen Generations and their families. This opportunity is a very important community event, as our College strives to work for Reconciliation and Justice for Australia’s First Peoples and to show respect for, and remember and honour the Stolen Generations.
CaSSSA Cross Country
The Cross Country team were presented with their shirts during our assembly last week. Throughout the entirety of the season, our students have demonstrated exceptional perseverance, teamwork and sportsmanship further developed during the Cross Country Camp last weekend. The camp included challenges and an opportunity for all members of the team to unite, and together achieve success. Thank you to Ms Roy for her overall leadership and to Ms Lennon and Ms Tesch who also assisted during the camp.
Congratulations to our Cross Country team for their outstanding results at the CaSSSA competition yesterday:
Mt St Michael’s College won the Percentage Cup, and we were runners up for the Aggregate Cup.
12 years – Champions
13 years – Runners up
14 years – Runners up
15 years – Champions
16 years – 5th place
17-19 years – Runners up
We are so proud of our team. Well done!
Dance Showcase
This year’s Dance Showcase at MSM was a truly inspiring experience. The dedication and hard work of the students were evident in each performance, showcasing choreography in a wide range of styles. The choreography was creative and expressive, highlighting not only technical skill but also the passion and emotion behind each movement. It was particularly moving to see how dance can bring together students from all over the school community to create something truly meaningful and memorable.
Thank you to dance teachers Ms Paterson and Ms Humbler and coaches on a wonderful showcase of talent and excellence in Dance. Thank you also to staff who assisted with making the evening such a success, Ms Statham, Mr Watson, Ms Bateman and the maintenance team.
Australian Education Awards 2024
For the third year, Mt St Michael's College has been awarded an ‘excellence’ award in the 2024 Australian Education Awards for the Best Professional Learning Program. This award recognises the most outstanding professional learning and development program or initiative in an Australian school. The overall winner of this category will be announced in August.
Prayer for Reconciliation
God of all people,
We give thanks for the diversity of the peoples and culture here on our nation of islands.
Help us to learn and grow as we come together as one.
We pray especially for this nation, Australia, that all who live here never lose the ancient connection to the first people of our land.
Help us to listen and learn from the stories of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander ancestors, that we may be richer for their wisdom.
In Faith and Love
Ros Collier
Join MSM Alumni for breakfast and gain insight into their personal journey from MSM to their chosen career pathway. Throughout the morning, parents and students will be given the opportunity to speak to several Alumni from varied industries. More information to come.
Tickets for the much anticipated MSM Mothers' Lunch will go on sale on Tuesday 9 July.
We need your help to make this event a success!
The College has received interest from a parent prepared to help organise this year's event. She needs your support to help make this event a success in 2024. We are seeking another two volunteers to help coordinate this event.
If you would like to be involved, please contact pandf@msm.qld.edu.au
WIN $2500 CREDIT TOWARDS TUITION FEES paid in advance….
Don’t miss out on the chance to win – buy your tickets now! The Raffle closes Tuesday 11 June with the winner to be drawn on Wednesday 12 June at 10AM AEST. *Terms and conditions apply
Every member of the Mt St Michael’s community, past and present is invited to purchase a heart and help us light the way for future generations.
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.
Student Leadership Team
This year our SLT set the goal to connect with other student leaders in Brisbane and in the last few weeks they have enjoyed two opportunities to do so. Lourdes Hill hosted a Leadership Network Afternoon with representatives from Catholic schools across Brisbane coming together for an afternoon tea followed by structured activities aimed to build connection and exchange ideas and experiences. After some initial trepidation and brownies, the students relaxed into enriching conversation with the promise of bringing fresh ideas home to Mt St Michael’s.
Following on from such a positive experience, we were warmly welcomed last Friday morning for a Student Leadership Team breakfast at Marist College Ashgrove. Upon arrival we were greeted with a prayer and reflection that poignantly noted the connection our two colleges share and the significance of mission of our two founders. The students were called to be audacious in their leadership with the confidence that they are carried “…on the shoulders of giants” in the Venerable Mary Aikenhead and St Marcellin Champagnat.
The students were nourished with a lovely breakfast and intentional, almost familial conversation about leadership, our shared communities, and values. The robust discussion was clearly a success and wrapping it up was a challenge! Both SLTs have already expressed their desire to continue to forge this connection and we are planning a follow up soon.
As always, our students represented Mt St Michael’s with pride and made a positive impression on both occasions.
Year 10 Marist Dancing
Continuing the theme of positive connections with our neighbours, our Year 10 students had a wonderful evening of dancing on Tuesday night with their Marist counterparts. After a series of arduous and at times slightly awkward dancing lessons, a celebration at City Hall proved a successful and stylish way to end the series of Tuesday evening catch ups. It was a delight to see the young people of our community connecting in person and in such a respectful and joyous way.
I would like to express my gratitude to our wonderful Year 10 Pastoral Leader, Mrs Paula Brydon for facilitating this opportunity for our girls and the dedicated team of homeroom teachers who supervised on Tuesday evenings across the term.
As we head into Week 7, we are now moving into the peak assessment period for the term. I encourage all students to keep track of when their assessment is due by using their assessment calendar in Student Café and to maintain a consistent effort in their application to their studies so that their Term 2 results will be truly reflective of their abilities.
Extensions
As the term progresses, if your student falls behind in her studies, generally through illness or misadventure, then she is entitled to discuss the modification of her assessment deadlines, should there be a valid reason. If your student feels that she may need to negotiate her deadlines, then I strongly encourage her to contact either Ms Alison Larkings for students in Years 7 – 9 or Ms Ellen Kean for students in Years 10 - 12. Ms Larkings and Ms Kean are in the best position to ascertain whether your student will meet the requirements for adjustments to be made.
Absences on the day of an examination
If your student is absent on the day that she is scheduled to sit an examination, please note that she will be required to complete the examination when she is back at the College. For students in Years 10 – 12, medical documentation must be presented to the Program Leader for Senior School, Ms Ellen Kean, to substantiate the absence.
Confirmation of First Internal Assessment Instruments for Year 12 students
Confirmation is the annual quality assurance process used by the QCAA to ensure the comparability of student results for summative internal assessments in General and General (Extension) subjects across the state. Confirmation Event 1 has recently occurred and the QCAA has started to release confirmed results for the first internal assessment instrument completed by Year 12 students this week. This process has involved independent assessors examining the compatibility of the judgements made by MSM and all other secondary schools throughout Queensland to ensure the accuracy of results. Over the next few weeks, MSM students will be able to see the confirmed results that they have for each General subject in their QCAA Student Connect Portal.
An all-in-one progressive report is available in parent lounge that includes marks and comments for all completed tasks. This can be produced throughout the year as more assessments are completed and returned:
(Important Note: This won’t actually print at this point, but will generate a PDF document that has all of the material on the single report).
The past few weeks have been a busy time for academic competitions and MSM students have enjoyed participating in a range of extension opportunities. Last week, students in Years 10 and 11 competed in the 2024 Senior Ethics Olympiad. They engaged in thoughtful philosophical discussions with students from other Queensland schools around topics as diverse as sportswashing, marriage conversion, paying for history and the morality of evil race in fiction. They received an honourable mention for their passion and enthusiasm when engaging with their topics.
This week, the Da Vinci Decathlon was held at Nudgee College, with 46 schools participating. This interschool gala competition operates in the spirit of an Olympic Decathlon, with a variety of events of an academic nature designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of competitors. In teams of eight, the girls were required to work collaboratively in areas as diverse as English, Science, Mathematics, Ideation, Art and Poetry, Legacy, Codebreaking, Engineering, Creative Producers, and Cartography. All teams impressed in the lead-up to the competition and we are proud to share that our MSM Year 9 team placed 1st in Codebreaking and our Year 11 team were awarded 1st in Creative Producers. The event was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
The Australian Space Design Competition teams will also start preparing their entries this week in both the Middle School and Senior School categories. Following a short break, Middle School students will be participating in a Junior Stretch and Challenge Day in July, immersing themselves in activities that bring together big ideas from philosophy, ethics, and science. With so many academic competitions available, our students have a range of opportunities to challenge themselves, excel, and showcase their talents.
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
Our Year 7 students have been turning up the heat in our kitchens. They have been mastering the technique of making fluffy scones. The CWA would be proud. These young chefs are gaining invaluable skills and experience that will last a lifetime.
GEOGRAPHY
On a rainy Thursday, MSM Year 11 Geography students ventured into Fortitude Valley to gather crucial data for their forthcoming assignment on improving Brunswick Street Mall. Undeterred by the weather, the students meticulously observed pedestrian traffic, amenities, and overall accessibility. They engaged with locals and shop owners, gathering insights on enhancing the mall's functionality and appeal. The students' dedication and thorough observations, despite the challenging conditions, showcased their commitment to making meaningful contributions to urban development.
JAPAN CLUB
Japan Club celebrated Children’s Day in Japan with a stall overflowing with Pocky and Hi-Chew. We wish for the continued strength and success of all our young people in the MSM community.
WORLD BEE DAY
As part of World Bee Day celebrations, students got their buzz on and enjoyed bee-themed activities such as a Kahoot, a colouring-in competition, Pin The Tail On The Bee, and free plant-your-own seeds. They learned how conservation efforts are key to the survival of their species, and all about the vital roles they play in our ecosystem. Go, bees!
LIBRARY
Year 7 Science classes have been learning about research and the referencing process. Students have been partaking in sessions in the Library where they are discovering the world of referencing and applying the knowledge to their Science assignment on Ecology.
EXTRAVACANZA
Students enjoyed the autumn sunshine and hot chocolates at our second ExtravaCANza for 2024. Supporting MSM Mission Leaders, our five CAN groups raised funds for Project Raise the Roof hosting the traditional ExtravaCANza stalls and selling lollies, drinks, sausage sizzle and playing the always fun lob-a-choc!
DODGEBALL
Students challenged staff to a game of dodgeball as part of the 2024 Teacher v Student series. It was an intense game with Staff winning 2 rounds to 1, Gold coin donations on entry treated the student strong spectators to an intense and competitive game displaying fast feet and strategic throws. Proceeds went towards our 2024 Project Raise the Roof.
ALTITUDE DAY
Twenty Year 9 students joined approximately 800 other students from all over Brisbane, to participate in the yLead Altitude Day. This Leadership Conference was held in the beautiful Brisbane City Hall, where students are given the opportunity to connect with other students from other schools, learn, and be empowered to step up and out in their school communities.
The girls were engaged in developmental activities and inspired by three guest speakers showcasing how to be resilient, open to change and creative. It was a very uplifting and positive experience.
RUSH DAY
Our Rush House students celebrated their special house spirit day with the traditional house cake. Rush House was named for Francis Rush, a great friend to the Sisters of Charity, who was installed as Archbishop of Brisbane on 29 May 1973.
YEAR 9 THEME LAUNCH
Year 9 proudly launched their 2024 theme, ‘Hear the Call. Initiate Action’. Congratulations to Ruby G and Gizelle B who devised the winning entries of our Year 9 theme, and we acknowledge the very hard work of the exceptional Year 9 Homeroom Captains who have worked tirelessly to launch this wonderful theme. Thank you also to Sarah O, Lucy R and Genevieve R for their AV support and expertise.
Below is a reflection on the theme written by Year 9 student, Elliana A.
This year, Year 9 2024 will strive to hear the call, in whatever form that might take. The call might encourage you to be a supportive classmate, understand when you need to exercise tolerance or realising when more is required of you in each situation. Ultimately, hearing the call is recognising when you need to step up and be the best version of yourself to help the wider community. We cannot dwell in our thoughts but be moved to act. We must initiate the necessary steps to ensure that whatever is the need, our actions will address it.
HOSPITALITY
Year 11 Hospitality students recently underwent their first practical assessment for hospitality practices. During this session, they produced a delightful assortment of dishes for the staff's social club morning tea. Despite a busy morning, the students successfully prepared a diverse menu, featuring everything from sandwiches and cheesecake to salmon bites. The staff expressed deep appreciation for the students' dedication and the wonderful spread they presented. This experience also offered valuable insights to the students about the challenges of working in an industry with stringent time constraints, meticulous planning requirements, and organisational demands.
FRENCH EXCHANGE
In October 2023, Year 11 student Ella S participated in an immersive exchange to France with Southern Cross Cultural Exchange. Ella was was motivated to do this as she wanted to expand her French speaking abilities, gain independence, and learn more about the French culture. Here's what Ella had to say about her experience:
I lived with my host family for three months in a small town called Saint Thonan in Bretagne, which is in the very northwestern corner of France. I had three host sisters: Juliette, who is 11 years old, Maëlle, who is 14 years old, and Lea, who is 19. The family I stayed with also has two dogs, three cats, three chickens and a horse.
I was immersed in the lifestyle, community, and language of my host family while I attended a local high school. On the weekends, my host family took me to explore places and landmarks such as the city of Brest, towns like Quimper and Roscoff, the Carnac Alignments and Saint-Mathieu.
My host family didn’t speak much English, nor did my friends at school, which gave me the opportunity to build my French speaking skills as I was spending all of my time communicating in French. As I mentioned, I went to a local high school and I was in the class of seconde (pretty much the equivalent of year 10 in Australia). School was quite different from school at MSM and Australia. First of all, the school year generally starts in September and runs to July, and summer holidays take place in the middle of the year. Another major difference I found was that there is no uniform, which was very strange for me coming from MSM. The classes that I took were French, English, Spanish, maths, sport, digital technology, earth and life sciences, physics/chemistry, history/geography and economics. Having all of these classes meant that the school days were slightly longer, usually from about 8:00am to 4:30pm, but we finished at a different time every day. We had a lunch break at 11:45 for an hour, where everybody ate from the cafeteria, nobody brings their own lunch like we do in Australia, instead we would line up and collect the hot meal prepared by the cafeteria staff as well as an entree and a dessert. One of my favourite memories is when I delivered a presentation to some of the younger anglophone classes about Australia. It was great to see their enthusiasm towards learning about our country and our lives.
I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and gain many lifelong skills, and I would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone interested.
Congratulations to MSM students Maya, Emilia, Max, Abigail and Anneka who were cast and performed in the recent Marist Musical, Jersey Boys. Well done to MSM students Breanna, Adelaide and Delphi who were part of the production's backstage crew.
VALD FITNESS VISIT
Year 12 HPE students and the MSM Cross Country Team recently attended sessions with visiting fitness technology leaders, VALD.
In preparation for the CaSSSA Cross Country Carnival our team tested on various strength and speed components. The data gathered is a beneficial tool used to assist with training, avoiding injury and increasing overall performance in their sport.
Year 12 HPE are exploring the energy, fitness, and training requirements that an athlete needs to improve their performance in a 100m freestyle swimming event. Part of this process involves the students testing their own fitness levels before and after a series of training sessions. Students tested their strength, flexibility, agility, and speed and collected data using the VALD technology of the Forcedecks, Dynamo, Forceframe, Nordbord and Smartspeed gates. This data will inform the design of their training sessions and we are all interested in seeing how much the students will improve when VALD return.
MSM staff and students were privileged to attend game #1 of the Women’s State of Origin Rugby League 3 game series. The group had an amazing time, watching and supporting the strong, fierce and highly talented players from both Qld and NSW battle it out at Suncorp Stadium. Maybe one day, MSM students will earn their place in the Qld team and we can enjoy cheering them on from the stands.
Congratulations to MSM student Isabella S who represented Queensland at the world’s first National Little League Girls baseball tournament, which was played over 5 days resulting in a 4th place for Queensland. Well done Isabella!
Image Credit: Studio Honsa
The latest Careers Newsletter is out now!
This newsletter is designed to provide you with a snapshot of events, scholarships, study and work options, and some personal skill development ideas. Whilst aimed more towards the Senior School, some of our wonderful Year 9 students may wish to have a read as they start contemplating their futures in our fortnightly careers’ classes.
The P&F Association has been a wonderful supporter of College for many years. To keep this vital connection going, the P&F is seeking volunteers in any capacity to offer their time and share their expertise.
Ways to get involved now:
Join our Mothers' Lunch Organising Committee - Help with behind the scenes organisation or simply volunteer to help on the day of the event.
Step into the Treasurer role which involves managing simple accounts and presenting these during the four P&F Meetings held during the year. A maximum of one hour of work each month until November 2024.
Attending P&F Meetings - Only two meetings on the College calendar left this year. Come along and share your ideas about bringing our community together.
To further discuss what the Treasurer role involves or for a discussion on how else to get involved, including joining our Mothers' Lunch Organising Committee, please contact pandf@msm.qld.edu.au.
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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