This week Erin Phillips was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame; one of the first AFLW players to receive this honour. Erin’s story is not just about AFL, it is a living testament to courage, resilience, and the growing recognition that girls belong in every arena.
Erin’s journey began like many others: a young girl with passion and talent. When she was told at 13 she could no longer play football with the boys, she didn’t stop; she pivoted. From a decorated basketball career with WNBA championships and an Olympic silver medal, she returned to footy when the AFLW launched in 2017. Not just to play, but to redefine the game: three premierships, two league best and fairest awards, and now, the Hall of Fame.
In her emotional acceptance speech, Erin said, “I never wanted to be a boy—I just wanted the opportunities that boys had, and that was footy.” Her words resonate across generations of girls who've dared to pursue more.
Over the years I have heard many stories about women “smashing glass ceilings”. It is interesting to witness the shift in language to “kicking down doors” and sometimes building new ones altogether.
At MSM, we believe sport teaches commitment, builds community, and develops the kind of future leaders the world needs. I witnessed this most recently at the CaSSSA Cross Country Carnival. I was proud of the tremendous sense of school spirit present within the team. I loved watching the students running all over the hills of Limestone Park to cheer on their teammates. I loved the care and encouragement that was provided by our older students to our Year 5 students. I loved listening to our coaches (members of our alumni) share their expertise and wisdom as they motivated our team. I was experiencing a lot of love!
Congratulations to the Cross Country Team on bringing home the Percentage Cup. Our MSM Team nearly pulled off a huge upset by placing second in the Aggregate Competition to All Hallows’ School by the narrowest of margins. Thank you to Ms Roy, Ms Tesch and our coaches who have done such a wonderful job over many months to prepare our team for this event.
We still have one week to go until holidays. It will continue to be a busy time as we complete assessments, participate in the MSM Athletics Carnival and gather in prayer at our Liturgy on the last day.
I wish all our community a safe and relaxing holiday and look forward to seeing our students and staff return on Monday 14 July 2025.
In Faith and Love,
Sharon Volp
2025 CENTENARY GALA DINNER
Don’t miss out attending this event 100 years in the making! Gather your friends and book a table or come along and meet other parents in your daughter’s cohort. You don’t need to book a full table, we can seat you with other parents in the same year level. Join us for a night to remember at The Star Brisbane and book your tickets now.
2025 CENTENARY GALA DINNER – BAND ANNOUCEMENT
As Mt St Michael’s College marks 100 years of empowering young women, The Girl from Greece and Unladylike Quartet unite in a powerful, all-female collaboration that celebrates both the College’s legacy and the vital role of women in the arts. A vibrant mix of Greek, Mediterranean, and jazz swing hits along with smooth and soulful selections across jazz, funk, soul, country, pop, rock ’n’ roll, and beloved classics will be sure to entertain all night.
LAST CHANCE TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION!
Click the link below to book your tickets to the MSM Foundation Career Conversation’s Breakfast this Wednesday 18 June. Hear from Alumni from various career fields including dentistry, town planning, science, disability services, HR, marketing, engineering and law. Bookings close Sunday at 4pm.
MSM CENTENARY MASS
We warmly invite all members of the MSM community, past and present to join us for the 2025 MSM Centenary Mass to celebrate 100 years of educating in faith and love.
There is no cost to join us for this event, however due to capacity at the venue bookings are essential. Bookings close Wednesday 16 July at 5pm unless sold out prior.
2025 CENTENARY GALA DINNER - DJ ANNOUNCEMENT
We are thrilled to announce that we will welcome MSM Alumni, Kitty Gatling (Class of 2010) as our DJ for the evening. A mix of indie bangers and old-school jams, The Gatling Gun will delight party-animals of all tastes. Since picking up the headphones in 2013, Kitty ‘The Gun’ Gatling has established herself as a regular DJ in venues across Brisbane and Sydney, as well as guest spots at a few well-known such as Falls Music & Arts Festival and Splendour in the Grass. Kitty is up for the challenge to entertain any crowd, and we look forward to Kitty’s appearance at the MSM Centenary Gala celebration.
MOTHERS' LUNCH
Tickets for the much anticipated 2025 MSM Mothers' Lunch will go on sale on Monday 14 July. Gather your friends and organise a table. Tickets will sell fast!
After four weeks of dance lessons at Marist College, 64 Year 10 students attended an evening of dancing at Victoria Park on Tuesday, 10 June. This event allowed students to enhance their social skills and learn partner dancing in a supportive environment. It was an evening enjoyed by all.
I would like to sincerely than the teachers who supported our students on these Tuesday evenings: Ms Emily McLaughlin, Ms Jo Desailly, Mr Peter McFadden, Ms Natalie Wright, Mrs Sherry Mulligan, Mr Kevin Peart, and Ms Caitlin Conway.
The College aims to collaborate with families to promote healthy technology habits at home. Mr John Hamilton, Director of Innovation and Technology, recently sent an email about the Qustodio Parent App, encouraging families to play an active role in creating a safe online environment for students. To start using Qustodio follow the link sent to the "Parent 1" email this week.The app provides parents with features such as:
- Content filtering
- App and game management
- Custom schedules
- Internet pause
- Comprehensive activity reports
- Expert online safety advice
As this is our final Spirit for Term 2, I wish all families a very safe, restful, and joyful holiday break. May this time offer moments of relaxation, connection, and renewal. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for the new term ahead.
Our 2025 College Captains and Student Leadership Team have played a vital role in the numerous initiatives we have celebrated at MSM this year. The fourth MSM Chop, held last Friday, exemplifies their servant leadership, determination, and influence. This year, 37 students from Year 12 cut their hair to a stylish shoulder length, donating their locks to cancer patients while raising funds for Project Providence.
The event was a joyous celebration of what makes Mt St Michael’s College such a remarkable place, filled with students whose love and compassion drive them to create a positive impact.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved, especially Ellen and Ava, who shared a common goal of continuing this cherished tradition. Your spirit, compassion, and authentic leadership are truly appreciated.
Special thanks to our Dean of Mission, Miss Kate Simpson, for her dedication in coordinating this invaluable community event.
We are excited to invite our students and their families to the MSM Foundation Careers Conversations Breakfast, taking place next week on Wednesday 18 June. This special event provides a unique opportunity to hear directly from our accomplished MSM Alumni as they share the diverse career pathways they have followed since graduating from the College.
Whether your interest lies in health, law, education, the arts, trades, or business, our alumni represent a wide range of industries and experiences. It’s a wonderful chance for students to gain real-world insights, ask questions, and be inspired as they consider their own future beyond school.
Tickets are still available, and we warmly encourage students and parents to attend this valuable event. It's always a highlight on the MSM calendar and not to be missed!
Event Details:
📅 Wednesday 18 June
🕒 7am
📍 Sophia Centre
🎟️ Book here
We are incredibly proud of the women who return to share their stories with the next generation of MSM learners. Their generosity and wisdom help strengthen the sense of community and possibility for our students.
Semester 1 and Unit 1/3 Report Cards
As we approach the end of a busy and productive first semester, families are reminded that Semester 1 Report Cards for students in Years 5–10 will be published on Friday, 27 June. These will be available via both Student Café and Parent Lounge, under the Academic Reports section.
In addition, Unit 1 and Unit 3 Report Cards for senior students have been published this week and are also accessible through the same platforms. These reports provide a summary of academic progress for Unit 1 or 3 of senior subjects and form part of the broader tracking of QCE and ATAR eligibility.
To access detailed feedback—including marked criteria sheets —please go to Student Details > Curricular Activities in Parent Lounge. This information offers valuable insight into each student's learning and areas for future growth.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your child’s progress further, we encourage you to reach out directly to the relevant subject teacher. Subject teachers are best placed to provide support on academic matters, while Homeroom teachers should be contacted for any pastoral or wellbeing concerns. Teacher contact details are available in Parent Lounge by navigating to:Student Details > Email Class Teachers > Select the teacher’s name.
The Importance of Disconnecting to Reconnect
As Semester 1 comes to a close and the holiday break approaches, I encourage all students to take time to pause, step away from screens, and intentionally reconnect—with each other, with nature, with a good book, or with personal goals. The break is a valuable opportunity to slow down, be present, and recharge after a busy term.
In our fast-paced world, these moments of genuine connection and reflection are essential. They nurture wellbeing, strengthen relationships, and help us return with renewed energy and focus for Semester 2.
We have certainly not slowed down towards the end of term in Year 5! Over the past fortnight, the girls have been busy finalising their Term 2 units and engaging in assessment tasks to demonstrate their learning. I commend the Year 5 students for their diligence and persistence during the assessment period. It has been heartening to witness our students embracing challenges with a positive mindset. Such attitudes not only contribute to academic growth and success but also foster essential life skills. As always, your support at home plays a pivotal role in your daughters’ achievements and we thank you for being integral partners in their educational journey.
Year 5 Grandparents’ Day
On Wednesday of last week, we warmly welcomed our Year 5 grandparents to our special Year 5 Grandparents’ Event. It was a beautiful morning filled with a singing performance, shared stories, craft activities and even a quiz competition! We acknowledge and honour the cherished role that grandparents play in our lives and in our community. A big thank you goes to all of the grandparents who attended – your presence meant the world to our students. I would especially like to thanks Ms Danielle Ferris and Ms Paula Ovenden from our Marketing and Communications Department for their expert event planning.
Year 5/Year 9 Shared Morning Tea
We have greatly valued our Year 5 Little Sister / Year 9 Big Sister partnership this year. The Convent Lawn was abuzz on Thursday last week with joy, laughter and friendship as our Year 5 and Year 9 students came together for a shared morning tea and picnic. As a Positive School, we value fostering positive, safe and meaningful relationships with one another – our picnic was a lovely opportunity to continue building rapport and connection across these two cohorts.
Readers Cup Competition
On Wednesday, five Year 5 students attended the 2025 Children’s Book Council of Australia Readers Cup competition. This is a state-wide competition. This year, across Queensland, 487 schools entered teams for the Year 5/6 competition. That’s a staggering 16, 984 estimated books read! For the competition, our Year 5 team read five novels, then competed against other schools to answer quiz questions from the books. A huge congratulations must go to Isobel, Hannah, Sahana, Charlee and Annabelle for their preparation and dedication to this competition.
I would like to finish with acknowledging the commitment and care of our Junior School staff this term. Mrs Marsh, Ms Toohey and Ms Roberts have continued to foster a nurturing and engaging environment for our girls. I extend my deepest gratitude to them for going above and beyond – we are truly fortunate to have such a dedicated Junior School team.
We are looking forward to seeing many of you at our Year 5 Learning Showcase next Tuesday!
Congratulations to the following students for receiving Positive Behaviours for Learning Awards at our Year 5 Assembly this week:
Harriet (5H) – For your ability and willingness to be brave and bold in your learning. Harriet, you are commended for the enthusiasm and energy that you put into your work and bring to our 5 Hope classroom every day. Your clever ideas, keen sense of humour and sense of optimism allow you to approach any challenge with courage. Keep up the super effort.
Charlotte (5H) – For your insightful contributions in class. Charlotte, your active engagement in class and group discussions demonstrates your enthusiasm for learning, particularly in HASS and Religion. Your efforts have positively impacted our class community as your responses are well considered, and this sets a great example for your peers. Keep up the great effort.
Savannah (5L) – Well done! You showed fantastic focus and care while doing your science experiment. You followed each step carefully, paid attention to the details and didn’t give up even when things got tricky. Your hard work and curiosity really stood out—great job being such a careful and determined young scientist!
Scarlett (5L) – Scarlett, you have shown fantastic improvements in your homework this term, especially when working on IXL Maths tasks. You approach each activity with focus and determination to improve your understanding. It’s clear you are developing strong independent learning habits. Keep up the great work, Scarlett—your effort is really paying off!
Katie Jordan
Head of Junior School
Year 9 Economics and Business students this term learned about business life cycles, factors that impact businesses positively and negatively, strategic planning including visions, missions, SMART goals, strategies for business functions and tactics. This learning was then applied to a Brand Museum Project.
The project consisted of a group activity where we had to select up to two other students to work with. The decision made was based on the individual visions each student had for the term. This was difficult to do in the short period of time, and the results of the group activity provided assurance that right decisions were made! (A quick decision can sometimes be a good decision…)
The Museum Display consisted of three parts – a chosen artefact from the brand, a Road Test Statement, modelled from a sample response the teachers’ provided, with the idea inspired by Ross Bilton, a Weekend Australian journalist whose job is to write about places and products for entertainment. The final object required was a QR Code where the audience for this Brand Museum could engage with student responses by answering a series of questions relating to the brand. The data inspired students to consider new strategies. The results from the QR Code were used to justify the recommendations made in individual paragraph responses.
Thank you to the Maintenance Team, the Arts’ Teachers and Assistants and the College Leadership Team for supporting the teachers and all of us in putting this project together.
Thank you to our teachers, Mrs Desailly and Mr Peart and to Mr Cooper for being the expert historian to ensure the history facts were accurate in the Road Test Statements.
Thank you, Year 9 Economics and Business Students, for collaboratively working together to create a Brand Museum that hopefully provided a little insight into some brands that are still around today, and the contributions or controversies brands made to War.
Thank you to the MSM Community for engaging in the Museum QR Codes that supported recommendations within individual final response recommendations.
Research groups designed a range of methodologies to investigate the effects of a distraction on task completion time. The task under investigation was completing the Stroop test – a test that utilises incongruent stimuli, where words for colours are printed in ink colours that conflict with the word's meaning (e.g. "red" in blue ink). This task is cognitively demanding and takes longer to complete as additional processing and attention are required above the automatic process of reading. Student groups added a music distractor and measured if it would cause a change in test completion time. Choices of music varied, using known songs such as “Let it go” from the Frozen movie at 50% volume, to heavy rock classic “T.N.T.” by AC/DC at loud volume.
Results consistently showed that while playing music slightly increases the time it takes to complete a cognitively demanding task when compared to completing the same task in silence, the difference is small and not statistically significant. The exception was loud rock music, which resulted in a significant increase in task completion time. The overall conclusion – it depends on what you listen to, how loud the volume is, and of course what task is being completed!
Our experience began with a presentation from Australia Zoo keepers accompanied by Mike, a 16 year old Black Head Python who encapsulated our attention while learning about the Wildlife Warrior Projects. Learning with another species in the room was an experience students enjoyed.
Australia Zoo sights were gloriously presented during the day - weather perfect, Crikey Café treats devoured and Wildlife Warrior Project locations found on the maps provided. Many photos taken and data and information gathered to bring further insight into IA3 responses.
To top off the day, the Crocoseum audience, including students, were captivated when Robert Irwin came out with Murray (the Crocodile) and his keeper to educate and continue the mission of crocodile awareness and conservation.
Thank you to the Wildlife Warriors and Australia Zoo teams for the wonderful memories and experience.
YEAR 11 AND DRAMA STUDENTS ENJOY TWELFTH NIGHT
MSM hosted the Griffith University Fine Arts Acting School who presented Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare to the Drama and Year 11 English students. One of our Alumnae, and College Captain 2021, Sienna D’Arienzo (pictured centre front) co-directed the piece. All students who attended were thoroughly amused and captivated by the action, and particularly the voice work. Twelfth Night is the English play selected for the 2026 External Exam, so it was of great advantage for the students to see the live performance.
Article written by Amelia L
Do you know why dry ice always wins at hide and seek? It always sublimates before anyone can find it....LOL....
12 yrs team – Champions
13 yrs team – 2nd
14 yrs team – 3rd
15 yrs team – 3rd
16 yrs team – Champions
17-19 yrs team – 2nd
Congratulations to Jojo L, who won the Year 5 event crossing the line in first place. Mila O, 2nd in the 12 yrs event; Laura B, 3rd in the 15 yrs event.
Sophie P, from our Year 9 cohort, was selected into the 15 Years Qld School Sport team, and will compete in the School Sport Nationals in July.
Congratulations girls and good luck Sophie.
The end of the financial year is fast approaching. Act before June 30 with a tax-deductible gift and secure your permanent spot on the Light the Way Legacy Wall. Purchase your tax-deductible heart in one of three colours before 30 June to take advantage of this tax incentive and leave your lasting legacy. Funds raised through our Light the Way Capital Campaign will be used to support college initiatives, ensuring that current and future generations of Mt St Michael’s students can receive the very best education.To find out more and to purchase your heart, click below.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: SISTERS OF CHARITY CENTENARY EXHIBITION 24 MAY-6 JULY
Are you passionate about history and sharing its stories? We’re looking for volunteers with a connection to the Sisters of Charity and an interest in history to assist with the Sisters of Charity Centenary Exhibition at St Vincent's Private Hospital, 411 Main Street, Kangaroo Point.
The exhibition will run from 25 May to 6 July, between 10 AM and 3 PM (3-4 hour shifts). If you’re interested in being part of this meaningful event, we’d love to hear from you.
Email Lisa Eastment : lisa.eastment@svha.org.au
Thank you for your support!
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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