Mount St Bernard College eNewsletter

Principal

Dear members of the Mount St Bernard College community,

As the cooler weather approaches, the College is getting ready to welcome the term break. This has certainly been a busy term with numerous curricular and extra-curricular activities being participated in by the students.

National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week 2024 holds significant importance as it continues to build on the ongoing efforts to improve relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. It gives us time to reflect on the progress made towards reconciliation over the years, including achievements in recognising Indigenous rights, addressing inequalities, and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. It also highlights the ongoing challenges and the work still needed to achieve true reconciliation. The College came together to learn about the First Nation Peoples culture and staff and students had the opportunity to participate in a range of traditional sports, crafts, song and dance.

Positive Student Behaviour

Punctuality and full-time attendance are crucial factors for student success. Regular attendance and punctuality directly correlate with academic achievement and overall development. Studies show that students who actively participate in learning opportunities are better prepared to understand curriculum material and are more prepared for assessment tasks and exams. Whilst in the classroom students develop essential time management and organisation skills, these skills are crucial for success in future careers post-secondary schooling. Punctuality helps students develop a sense of responsibility and self-discipline. This prepares students for the expectations of the professional work, where being on time is expected by employers as this reflects reliability and respect of others' time.

With regular attendance and punctuality, stress can be reduced. When students attend their lessons they are able to receive the support they need and this leads to feeling less overwhelmed. The consistency of attending lessons also creates structure and routine and this supports students to manage their anxieties as they become familiar with regular processes. When in class and participating fully in class activities, students build stronger relationships with their peers and teachers.

Punctuality and attendance for all students is an expectation of the College and this will continue to be a focus for the College as we move into Semester Two.

The National Indigenous Australian Agency

The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) has provided funds in 2024 for our College to upgrade Bernard’s Male Residential House and enhance access to wellbeing support staff. This funding will support:

Refurbishment of Bernard’s Residential House: Including upgrades to furnishings, bathrooms, and security measures.
Wellbeing Support Staff: Funding will be allocated for staff in Pastoral Care, Indigenous Liaison Officers, Wellbeing Officers, and School Councillors.
NAIDOC Celebrations: The NIAA will also support our NAIDOC celebrations in July.

A special thank you to Kirra Kynuna and Margaret Dickey from NIAA for their site visit on May 30. It was great to meet you both and thank you in person for the positive impact this will have on our students' welfare and surroundings. It was also wonderful to see Kirra, a former House Captain, return to the College in a professional capacity.

Mercy Day

Mercy Day is an incredibly important day in the College as it pays homage to our founding Sisters of Mercy and the Charism and legacy they instilled at Mount St Bernard College. Preparations are currently underway to ensure the day honours the culture, charism and heritage of the Sisters of Mercy.

Athletics Day

The term will conclude with the Annual Athletics Carnival. This event offers a fabulous opportunity for students in Flynn, Power, and Rush Houses to come together and compete. Students will earn points for their houses through participation and involvement, which will help determine the hotly contested winning House. The Athletics Carnival is a full-day event, with normal school rules applying throughout the day. Due to the large number of events scheduled, a few events have been held in the days leading up to the main carnival day to ensure a smooth and organised competition.

Staff Departures and Welcomes

We will farewell Hazel Jenkins, Daniel Buckley, Sarah Cortis, Daniel Jenkins and Kieren Waugh from the teaching team and Gemma Winter from the cleaning team at the end of the term and we wish them well for their futures. We look forward to welcoming John Doolan as Middle Leader Curriculum, Pedagogy, Assessment and Reporting Year 9 & 10 and Joe Twidale as Middle Leader Engagement and Behaviour Year 9 & 10. We will also have new teachers joining the College and announcements will be made as the recruitment process is finalised.

Holiday Well Wishes

Wishing students and staff safe travels on their holidays. I hope you have time to relax and all get to spend quality time with family and friends. I look forward to you all returning to the College in term 3 where we will continue to work on being Respectful, Being Responsible and being Safe.

Narelle Hunt - Principal

Deputy Principal Residential

Homework and Study

Each evening from Monday to Thursday year 7,8,9 female students read for 20 minutes and study maths for 20 minutes. This is proving to be an effective study habit, as some students are reading 100 minutes a week and doing 7 -10 maths lessons per week. The same set up occurs with the male students in year 7-10 in Bernards. The boys are now used to doing homework every night. The Senior boys also do a good job of doing their own study and homework. Unfortunately, most of the senior female’s waste time during study by going on Youtube and other web sites. In term 3, all senior girls will be asked to sit at a table during study this will allow supervisors to closely monitor what web sites the students are visiting during this time. Please discuss homework with your students and ask them to take it seriously.

Weekend Leave

All parents are reminded that weekend leave is encouraged at the end of week 3 and week 6. Unless a significant event like Sorry Business occurs on other weekends then the college will play no part in getting students offsite. This includes not taking students to Atherton to catch the Trans North Bus. Parents and guardians will need to organise for their children to be picked up from the College and returned to the College on any weekend other than week 3 and week 6. This decision has been taken as some students have chosen to undertake risky activities when they’re offsite.

It should also be noted that many of our students experience homesicknesses when they return from weekend leave. By limiting weekend leave, students have to build the resilience required to live away from home and family.

Weekend Activities

The boarding staff at MSB try to do a range activities during the course of each weekend. This may include sport, cooking, art, fishing, and visiting nearby towns. Below please find some photographs of recent visits to Tinaroo for fishing and Kuranda where the students visited the local markets.

Malcolm Fahey - Deputy Principal Residential

Acting Deputy Principal Wellbeing

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are delighted to share the positive conclusion of Term Two with you. This period has been filled with numerous learning opportunities and enriching experiences for our students, families, and staff at the College. Thanks to the dedication of our staff and the invaluable support from families like yours, our students have successfully completed their Term Two studies and the first half of 2024.

During this term, we focused on the MSB Student Expectations Matrix, which outlines behavioural expectations across all College settings. By emphasising Being Safe, Being Responsible, and Being Respectful, we communicate our college norms and expectations to the entire College community, fostering a positive learning environment.

This term, our focus was on:

Attending all classes
Being prepared to learn
Actively engaging in learning
Making safe and healthy choices
Being safe online

We are pleased to report that the vast majority of students have met and often exceeded these expectations. Our College staff have employed many Tier 1 pedagogical and behavioural approaches to support our students, including:

Consistent and predictable routines to reduce cognitive load
Unconditional positive regard to build trust
The 10 Essential Skills of Classroom Management to enhance learning

For students who found it challenging to meet these expectations, we offered various Tier 2 and Tier 3 supportive interventions, such as:

Mentoring
Goal setting
Check-In and Check-Out Monitoring
Co-development of cultural plans with Indigenous liaison officers
Counselling
Wellbeing support
Restorative conversations
Skill-building through:

Zones of regulation
Conflict resolution
Anger management

Co-development of Individual Behaviour Support Plans and Safety Plans
Co-development of Personalised Learning Plans

We are extremely encouraged by the progress and achievements of our students and look forward to continuing this positive trajectory into the next term.

Additionally, selected students from years 7 to 12 participated in the Deadly Indigenous Youth Doing Good (DIYDG) No Shame in My Game Program and the Harbrow Mentoring Program. These initiatives focus on each student's personal story, family history, cultural roles, leadership, mentoring, and sportsmanship.

Midway through the term, Deb Zysk (MSB Indigenous Liaison Officer), Jennifer King (Education Officer-Indigenous Education-North-CCEO CES), and I visited several Cape communities and schools. We are deeply grateful for the support of the elders in facilitating these visits and eagerly anticipate fruitful discussions on how to support our young people's education.

This trip resulted in several positive outcomes, including:

Establishing new contacts in the Cape community
Reaffirming the existing positive connections between the community and the College

The College community marked several significant dates this term:

National Sorry Day on May 26^th
National Reconciliation Week from May 27^th to June 3^rd
Mabo Day on June 3^rd

These dates served as important reminders of significant milestones in our reconciliation journey, emphasising the need for ongoing efforts to build respectful relationships between all Australians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

As the term ends, our students are completing their assessments. For some, this can be a time of increased stress and anxiety. We encourage families to continue supporting our students during this period of heightened workload. Rest assured; our College staff will tirelessly guide your children through this often-challenging time.

Selected students are also preparing for our upcoming NAIDOC celebrations early next term. Preparations are going well, and students, elders, parents, and staff are to be congratulated on their efforts in making these celebrations such an important part of the College calendar. We look forward to hearing from our Torres Strait Islander communities as they prepare to celebrate the upcoming Coming of the Light festival on July 1st. We wish you a safe and joyous festival.

The last week of the term brings an opportunity to rejoice in our strong Mercy heritage on Mercy Day and to celebrate our students' sporting skills during our annual Athletics Day. We look forward to these days of community celebration, made possible by the good behaviour of our students and the hard work and dedication of our College staff.

As our students prepare to leave for their well-deserved holidays, I encourage them to:

Thank the staff for their unwavering support
Repair any frayed relationships with their peers
Leave well and have a safe and restful end-of-term break

Your ongoing support is invaluable, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude. We look forward to nurturing and empowering your children this term, guiding them towards making safe, respectful, and responsible choices, and fostering a strong, supportive community.

As always, I encourage everyone to ‘Let your Light shine.’

Stephen Godfrey – Acting Deputy Principal Wellbeing

Assistant Principal Mission

On Friday 31 May, we had a wonderful afternoon to commemorate National Reconciliation Week which runs from May 27 (the successful 1967 referendum) to June 3 (High Court Mabo decision) each year. This is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. We began with a short ceremony in the chapel, followed by a delicious cake (thanks Ravenshoe Bakery), live music (thanks Mr Tobias), dancing (thanks to our TSI students), mural painting (thanks Ms Traylea, Ms Cortis and Ms Bunny) and other fun activities. Thanks to all the staff and students who made it such a joy-filled afternoon!

National Reconciliation Week 2024

From 5 to 28 June, over 150,000 Australians are participating in The Push-Up Challenge to improve their physical and mental fitness, have fun and raise funds to make a difference to mental health in Australia. Staff and students have been meeting outside the library during morning tea breaks to encourage each other to complete the Push-Up Challenge. The number of push-ups we do each day is related to a mental health fact and adds up to 3249, the number of lives lost to suicide in Australia in 2022 (the most recent available data). Thanks to Miss Nelson for the inspirational tunes to help us push on!

The Push-Up Challenge 2023

Next Wednesday we celebrate Mercy Day at MSB. This day will celebrate our heritage and the links we have with the Sisters of Mercy and their founder Venerable Catherine McAuley. We will begin with a College Mass in the chapel at 11:30, followed by shared lunch in the dining room. Jo Langtree from St Monica’s College is coming up to do a 2-day choir workshop to help us prepare some spirit-filled liturgical music! After lunch, students will complete a series of activities along our Mercy Trail, including, touring the museum and St Patrick’s Church, walking the labyrinth and caring for our grounds by cleaning and weeding our gardens.

May God’s Mercy continue to shine upon us all!

Janet Wigan - Assistant Principal Mission

Director - Learning Culture and Growth

As we head towards a much deserved break, it is an appropriate time for students to consider whether they’ve met their goals for the semester. Many students will feel that they have, while others might acknowledge that starting assessments earlier, thereby taking advantage of the ‘feedback loop’, would have led to a more rewarding learning experience. Genuine reflection on these issues can be channelled into improved work habits as students progress through high school.

There is no doubt, however, that the assessment process this term has produced some amazing results, from beautiful pencil sketches of dragons in the art room, to missing scenes from Romeo and Juliet. Our Year 7 students have tackled algebra for the first time while our Senior Agriculture students have been planting and maintaining their individual vegetable gardens. I would like to congratulate students and thank teaching staff for these, and many other, relevant and highly engaging activities that have taken place.

I would also like to thank all members of the school community for their ongoing support and assistance with the MSB academic program, and wish everybody a safe and happy school holidays. Hopefully, students will arrive back to school rested, energised, stimulated and ready to take things to the next level in Semester 2.

Daniel Jenkins - Director Learning Culture & Growth

Community Engagement

New Bishop for Cairns Diocese

Bishop-elect Joe Caddy thanked Cairns diocesan administrator Fr Kerry Crowley, the clergy, lay staff, and people of the diocese for the care they had taken since the retirement of Bishop James Foley two years ago. “The request from Pope Francis came unexpectedly, coming completely out of the blue – yet the prospect fills me with joy because I know that the country and waterways of Far North Queensland are some of the most beautiful country in Australia,” he said. Bishop-elect Caddy, 64, was born and raised in Melbourne and ordained to the priesthood for Melbourne in 1990.

May God’s Mercy shine upon you, we look forward to meeting Bishop Caddy later in the year.

Deborah Booth - Communications & Community Engagement

New Bishop of Cairns appointed

Spirit of Catholic Education (SOCE) Awards - Nominees announced!

The Spirit of Catholic Education (SOCE) Awards nominees have been announced and we are incredibly proud of Aunty Lorraine Muckan, who works in Wellbeing and Pastoral Care in Morrissey Residential House, for being nominated for the Aunty Joan Hendriks Reconciliation Award!

The Spirit of Catholic Education Awards will be presented in conjunction with Catholic Education Week, 21-27 July 2024.

The SOCE Awards, an annual celebration of outstanding contributions to Catholic education in Queensland, has received a record-breaking 325 nominations in total this year from Catholic school communities across the state. A big congratulations to everyone who is nominated. Follow the link for the full list of nominees: https://catholiceducationweek.com.au/

SCHOOL OFFICERS DAY

Our College support staff are the backbone of MSB. They often work behind the scenes, ensuring that the school environment is conducive to learning and that the day-to-day operations run smoothly. Their dedication and hard work contribute significantly to the overall functioning of the College, and they deserve sincere recognition and appreciation for their vital roles. Schools simply would not function without school support staff. From laboratory technicians, classroom assistants, kitchen staff, grounds staff and administrative staff to cleaning staff, library assistants to AV and IT specialists, support staff are dedicated professionals. Thanks for all you do, we hope you enjoyed celebrating together at morning tea on Wednesday.

School Officer's Day 2024

Library News

The end of this term has seen the library celebrate National Reconciliation Week, World Environment day, World Ocean day, as well as Gay Pride Month. In recognising these important national and global events, the library aims to raise awareness, understanding and inclusivity across diverse backgrounds. Our library collection seeks to be inclusive, informative, and openminded remembering that knowledge and understanding help pave the way to a better future for all!

Lego Club continues to be immensely popular with some students requesting that it should be Lego club every day of the week! We are continuing to build our Brick head army and the flower collection is brightening up our library space beautifully. Some of the boys have taken on some larger projects with Wolverine taking shape and a large Ninjano figure creating some interesting challenges for a team of year 7 and 9 Lego builders!

June 5^th was a big day for the year 7 & 8 team who entered into the Readers Cup Competition. Supreet Kaur, Zena Belkessa, Eli Cortis and Natalie Cannan were the proud representatives who looked the part and very much enjoyed the experience. Smithfield State High School was the host of the event again this year and our team had worked well throughout the term to get their books read. I am immensely proud of their efforts, placing tied 18^th out of the 25 teams, they represented the College beautifully, not to mention stylishly!

Finally, the library is preparing for some changes! During the holidays, one of the library walls will be moved to make space for a compactus: a moving set of bookshelves, to free up space from other storage areas around the school. We are very excited for the changes, though will be asking for patience, while we get ourselves reorganised after the renovations.

Rachel Nelson - Teacher Librarian

Transition Support

It has been wonderful to have families doing support visits at the College.

We have had 15 families visit us this term.

Thank you for your support, it helps your child’s learning journey, wellbeing and to build relationships with all staff in the residential and day school.

Andrea Gower - Transition Support

Diversity

The Diversity team would like to acknowledge the ongoing success of the Macqlit literacy intervention program. Through dedicated efforts and personalised support, numerous students have made significant strides in their reading abilities. Whether it's mastering phonics, enhancing comprehension skills, or boosting fluency, the results speak volumes about the efficacy of Macqlit. This program not only equips students with essential literacy skills but also fosters confidence and a love for reading, laying a strong foundation for their academic journey ahead. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Kim Van Kempen, Shannon Day, Kendra Robinson and Benita Cairns who have diligently implemented Macqlit, as well as to the students whose commitment to learning has made these achievements possible.

Additionally, we take this opportunity to celebrate the invaluable contributions of our Learning Support School Officers (LSSOs). Their unwavering dedication and expertise play a pivotal role in ensuring every student can access the curriculum effectively. From providing tailored assistance to fostering a supportive learning environment, LSSOs are instrumental in empowering students to overcome challenges and thrive academically. Their commitment to inclusive education exemplifies the ethos of our school community, where every student's potential is nurtured and celebrated. As we reflect on the successes of this term, let us extend our gratitude to our LSSOs for their tireless efforts in championing student success and fostering an inclusive learning environment for all.

Rachel Brown -

Middle Leader Diversity

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)

Instructional Leader Behaviour & Engagement

Embracing Personal Responsibility and Accountability.

As we near the end of the term, it's important for all members of the MSB community to reflect on the role of personal responsibility and accountability in our daily lives. Personal responsibility means taking charge of our actions and understanding the impact they have on ourselves and others. Whether it’s completing homework on time, participating in class discussions, or respecting school rules, being responsible helps us grow into reliable and trustworthy individuals. By making responsible choices, we not only improve our own lives but also contribute positively to our school community.

Accountability goes hand-in-hand with responsibility. It involves owning up to our actions and being willing to accept the consequences, whether they are positive or negative. This can be as simple as admitting when we've made a mistake or as significant as standing by our commitments and promises. When we hold ourselves accountable, we demonstrate maturity and integrity, earning the respect of our peers and teachers. Remember, it's okay to make mistakes; what’s important is how we respond to them. Learning from our mistakes and taking steps to make things right shows true character.

Incorporating personal responsibility and accountability into our lives can lead to greater success both inside and outside the classroom. As we finish this term, let’s strive to be role models for one another by showing respect, being honest, and taking ownership of our actions.

Emma Sheppard - Instructional Leader Behaviour & Engagement

Pastoral Leader Behaviour and Engagement - 7/8

Term 2 is coming to a close with a frenzy of activity; from assessment items being finalised, to Mercy Day and Athletics Day both happening in Week 10.

Many of our students have been attending for the preliminary events, particularly for high jump, which has already had some impressive heights being reached by our Year 7 and 8's. Now is the time for some personal training and practice, ready for Athletics Day on Thursday next week.

Alex Hinchliffe - Pastoral Leader Behaviour and Engagement - 7/8

Pastoral Leader Behaviour and Engagement - 11/12

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The upcoming three-week holiday is an excellent opportunity for students to recharge and prepare for Term 3. Here are some tips to ensure they return refreshed and ready:

Rest and Relaxation: Ensure your child gets adequate sleep and takes time to relax. A well-rested mind is more productive and resilient.
Physical Activity: Encourage regular physical activity. Exercise is a great way to reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing.
Balanced Routine: While relaxation is important, maintaining a balanced routine that includes some academic activities can help keep the mind engaged and prevent the post-holiday academic slump.
Limit Screen Time: Encourage activities that don’t involve screens, such as reading, outdoor activities, or hobbies. This can help reduce stress and improve sleep quality.

Looking Ahead to Term 3: Formal fundraising activities will continue into Term 3, providing valuable opportunities for our students to develop organisational and leadership skills. These activities are essential for supporting school programs and fostering a sense of community and responsibility among students.

Parent-Teacher Communication: We value the partnership between parents, teachers, and students. Open communication is crucial for fostering a supportive educational environment. We encourage you to reach out to teachers with any concerns or questions.

Regards,

Doris Cuda - Pastoral Leader Behaviour and Engagement - 11/12

Year 12 Formal

Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians,

We are excited to announce the details for the much-anticipated 2024 Year 12 School Formal! Here is all the information you need to know to ensure this special event is unforgettable.

Event Details

Where: The Reef Hotel Casino, Cairns
When: Saturday, 9th November, 2024
Arrivals: From 5.30pm seated by 6:15pm
More information to come

Ticket Pricing – payment required by end of Term 3 - Friday, 13^th Sept, 2024

Adults: $85 per person
Children (4 - 12 years): $40 per person
Children under 4 years: Free (Please note that the use of a highchair counts as one guest for the nominated table.)
Phone payments : Please call Julie Titlow at Student Reception to make payments for tickets Ph:40961445

Special Arrival Arrangements

If you are interested in booking a Hummer Limousine for your child's arrival at the Casino, please contact Julie at Student Reception no later than Friday, 26th July. Ph: 40961445

Guest Attendance and Travel Information

Due to the processing requirements, all travel requests need to be submitted in advance. Please ensure that details regarding guest attendance and travel plans, including name, CRN number, date of birth, relationship to student and accomodation sharing preferences are communicated to our Enrolments and Travel Officer no later than 24th August,2024.

Each student is allowed to bring up to 10 guests. An excel spreadsheet has been emailed to all students to record the names of their 10 guests. Parents are asked to look at the ‘preferred’ guest list and modify this with their child. All guest lists must be finalised and submitted by Friday, 24th August, 2024.

We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring all details are accurate and submitted on time. This will help us meet the required deadlines and make the event run as smooth and enjoyable as possible for everyone.

We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you and creating cherished memories at the 2024 Year 12 School Formal!

Feel free to reach out to the school office for any further information or assistance. We look forward to seeing you there!

Year 12 Formal Committee

Years 7 & 8 CPAR

And that’s a wrap!

As the term draws to a close, we take a moment to reflect on the journey our Year 7 and 8 students have undertaken. This term has presented many opportunities for growth across all curriculum areas.

It has been fantastic to see those students who are continually making the right decisions and putting their education first. It has been rewarding to see the high quality of work produced by these dedicated students.

I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our teachers for continuing to develop authentic, engaging activities to support student growth and development.

I would also like to acknowledge the incredible work that our amazing team of LSSO’s provide for our students. These ladies and gentlemen are the backbone of our classrooms and this term they have gone above and beyond to ensure their students are accessing the curriculum. In each lesson they provide incredible amounts of encouragement to ensure our students have opportunities to demonstrate their understanding. Watching these lovely people connect with our students is a highlight of my day!

I would also like to thank Ms Rachel Nelson who has been busy in the library providing our students with the learning materials required to complete their designated units!

We wish you all a restful and enjoyable break. We look forward to welcoming our students back, recharged and ready for another fantastic term of learning and growth.

Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in your child's educational journey. If you have any feedback or suggestions, please feel free to reach out.

Enjoy the holidays!

Kieren Waugh - Middle Leader Curriculum, Pedagogy, Assessment and Reporting 7/8 (C.P.A.R)

Art News

Students across years 7 to 12 have been putting their finishing touches on their assessment items. A few samples below, including Naidoc Poster Competition entries.

Congratulations to students for your efforts this term.

Traylea Sexton - Art Teacher

Art in Term 2 2024

NAIDOC POSTERS 2024

This term we‘ve been blessed with a whole bunch of “ideas men and women.” Grace, Alvin, and Kura, are keen engineers, who have created opportunities in building solutions, designing circuits, using alternative energies, and generally searching for ways to help our planet.

This term, the year 10’s examined the Faraday experiment (using a magnet to create power) and learnt the entrepreneurial process of implementation, the pluses, and minuses.

Year 7’s and 8’s courageously looked for answers to natural and manmade disasters. Well done, young engineers. Keep watch for the other photos, including the speed trials of our mini solar car kits.

Thanks to all the staff who have joined these classes and were also sparked by the possibilities – Tyreece, Angela, John, Ryan, Julia, Amber and Georgia. I hope you all get a chance to pull something apart to put it back together again!

Julia Cazita-Mazeaud - Engineering Teacher

Music News

Aside from having some students playing a jam-stage at the school's recent Reconciliation Day event, much of the Music faculty's endeavours are currently focused around studio recording. The College has supported the Music department in purchasing some excellent studio recording equipment, including pre-amps, tube-microphones and a 20-channel recording desk. Although this type of music project is by curriculum reserved for Year 11 and 12 students only, MSB has opened this music making opportunity up this term to some junior students as well.

We are excited to share that Year 9 student Yindali has recorded an original song called 'Fire in my Heart' last week, which MSB submitted to the recent QATSIF song competition, in line with this year's Naidoc theme 'Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud".

We will share the recording later in the year, part of this year's Do-It-Yourself-Musician project as a Bandcamp release featuring MSB students’ recordings from 2024. This project is all about teaching students necessary skills as musicians to go on a journey of music making, and publishing in the real world today.

Year 11 and 12 continue to perfect their studio recording efforts of original music into Term 3 and a cool Year 8 band called 'Purple Days' got wind of the possibilities of recording their in-class efforts for a bigger project, and we are proud to feature their audio recordings in this newsletter below.

The Year 8 students are Supreet (piano) and Mia (bass) and the recordings are instrumental cover song versions of “Butter” and “I Need You”. The band will re-record these with their drummer Lacey later in the year to be featured on the 2024 MSB Recording Project.

Tobias Moldenhauer - Music Teacher

Year 8's playing "Butter"

Year 8's playing "I Need You"

VET & Careers

The Barista and the Chef

This term Year 10 Students were lucky enough to participate in a Gateway to Industry Event – The Barista and the Chef. The students were able to learn about the skills needed to be a barista. In the afternoon the students worked with the chef to create and present a range of food to spoil the taste buds of those lucky enough to sample the treats. If your interested in finding out more about this industry consider taking Certificate II in Cookery in Years 11 and 12.

RYDA – Road Safety Course

Year 11 Students were able to attend the RYDA – Road Safety Course. This was a great opportunity for students to learn about road safety, looking at car stopping distances, highlight key road rules, risk taking and a variety of other skills that will make for future safe drivers. It was a great day!!

Upcoming Events

MSB Careers Expo

MSB Careers Expo is just around the corner on the 30^th of July. The expo will host industry representatives from TAFE, JCU and CQE, the ADF, and showcase possible subjects that students can take in Year 11 and 12. It’s a great place to start thinking about your future.

Work Experience

Year 10 students will be starting their Work Experience journey early in Term 3 with the support of Vocational Partnerships Group (VPG). The staff from VPG will come and interview the students to find out what type of jobs they maybe interested in. The students will be presenting their resumes to the VPG staff and for some participating in their first interviews. These are great skill for our students, so please encourage them to take advantage of this opportunity.

Debby Small - VET & Careers Middle Leader

Gateway to Industry Schools Hospitality

2024 RYDA Road Safety Program

As we reach the end of a busy term, students and staff are busy finalising assessments and grades for our senior students.

Student reports will be sent out over the holidays; these are available digitally, so please look out for an email from MSB to alert you when they are ready.

If you prefer a paper copy or pdf of the report, please contact the school office to arrange.

External exams in term 4: QCAA have released the dates of external exams for General subjects. These will be listed in the Year 12 Term 3 and Term 4 assessment calendars to help plan study and out of school commitments.

Lunchtime study sessions: a reminder that L1 and L1 are available to Senior students during lunchtimes. L2 is a space for quiet study, and L2 for collaborative work.

Below are some examples of Senior student work around the school this term. Please encourage our Senior students during this stressful and important year; they are doing a great job and we love seeing the work they produce!

Saffron Belkessa-Wood - Middle Leader Curriculum, Pedagogy, Assessment and Reporting 11/12 (C.P.A.R)

Senior student work

The Year 11 & 12 Geography class visited the Saltwater Creek catchment in Cairns for their Term 2 field trip. They collected water samples from various locations in the creek catchment and analysed them for a variety of parameters in order to assess the impact of urbanisation on the natural biome. The class enjoyed the day out and were able to really get a sense of how the natural and urban environment interconnect along the course of the creek. As a result, they have developed practical solutions and recommendations for improving water quality and supporting aquatic life in the area.

Sarah Riber - Geography Teacher

Year 11 & 12 Geography - Saltwater Creek,Cairns

Community News

Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most iconic works – the story of star crossed lovers and family feuds remains vibrant and relevant today with its action and romance. This exciting new production directed by MSB Drama Teacher, Sarah Riber, with MSB students and staff - Meenakshi Riber, Clementine Barker, Chelsea Webb, Maya Hutton & Tahli Mays, Flynn Cortis & Traylea Sexton.

NB: Recommended for ages 12+ due to mature content

Commencing this Fri 14 June through to Sun 23 June.

Tickets available to purchase from athertonperformingarts.com.au or Tablelands Books.

MSB Calendar

Term 2

Tues 18 June - Excursion to Atherton Performing Arts - Romeo & Juliet

Wed 19 June - Mercy Day - Mass and activities inc shared lunch

Thurs 20 June - MSB Athletics Carnival inc shared lunch

- Term 2 ends @ 3pm

Fri 21 June - Boarders Travel Day - Student Free Day

- MSB Office closed for winter school holidays

Winter School Holidays

Fri 21 June - Mon 15 July (3 weeks)

Mon 8 July - MSB Office Re-Opens for Staff Week

Tues 9 July - Atherton Show Public Holiday - MSB Office closed

Term 3

Mon 15 July - Boarders Travel Day - Student Free Day

Tues 16 July - Term 3 commences for all classes

- QATSIF Graduation Ceremony - JCU Cairns

Thurs 25 July - Bell Shakespeare Performance @ MSB

Fri 26 July - MSB NAIDOC DAY

Sat 27 & Sun 28 July - Exeat Free Weekend

MSB Messenger Friday 14th June 2024