MSB Messenger Friday 24th June 2022

Acting Principal

Mercy has always been shaped by need and by the courageous response of those willing to allow God to bend and change them, to form and reform them to fit the purpose he designs. Our challenge is to creatively assist that shaping. (www.mercyworld.org)

Mount St Bernard College is continually stepping up to this challenge to look at ways at improving the outcomes of our community.  As a school we are often focused on the educational outcomes of our students, but as a community we are challenged to provide a holistic program that looks at the growth, development, well-being and life skills of those in our care.   This is a challenge that I believe we meet in each and every classroom, our social interactions, intervention programs, college activities and the way in which we respectfully engage with all stakeholders. 

I have had the privilege of engaging with our students at Year 8 Camp at Echo Creek last week.  In the short time I was present, I was able to see evidence of students respectfully engaging with their peers, teachers and Echo Creek Camp staff.  I was delighted to see the growth in individual confidence during activities and the desire of our students to be involved in everything without fear of embarrassment or failure.  It is experiences like this that build personal and social resilience in our youth to embrace change and approach obstacles in life with confidence and persistence.  A massive thank you to our staff who attended this camp to ensure that our students have these opportunities. 

The recent Athletics Carnival is yet another platform in which our students can highlight their strengths.  Athletics carnivals give our students a tremendous chance to understand competition, celebrate the wins and appreciate and accept the losses.  It gives students an opportunity to support and cheer for others, appreciate talent, display humility whilst respecting rules of competition.  This year’s carnival was a tremendous success and was an excellent demonstration of the community spirit that empowers and enables individual and group achievement.  Again, many thanks to Ms Andrea Goetze and the entire MSB staff for commitment in providing yet another wonderful experience for our community. 

Whilst we can reflect on the incredible events that are happening outside of our classrooms, it is important to also reflect on what is happening in our learning spaces.  As we have come to the end of Semester One, many students will have just completed assessments that will inform the results that will be reflected in the report cards that will be released shortly.  Maximising our learning time is an important message that we have been communicating to our students over the last five weeks.  Making good choices, maintaining respectful relationships and staying in class have been a focus for all students to achieve to their potential.  I ask that families are able to support and reinforce this message at home and support the college’s aim to maximise student learning.  This also applies to reducing the time that students miss school.  Throughout Semester two, we ask that families focus on trying to ensure all students attend every single school day, where it is possible. 

As we look forward to welcoming Mr Brauer back to the College for the start of Term Three, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff, students and extended MSB community for welcoming me for the past five weeks.   It has been my immense pleasure to lead such a vibrant and caring community.  I wish everyone a wonderful holiday and  look forward to hearing of the safe, energetic and enthusiastic return of all of our staff and students for the commencement of Term Three. 

Glenn Carpenter,

Acting Principal

Deputy Principal Curriculum & Admin

Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians,

Over the coming weeks you will receive your students' first full academic report for 2022. This will provide you with information in relation to your students’ academic achievement this year as well as an update on their learning behaviours. The sections within the reports are as follows:

Progress:

Application, Behaviour and Organisation:

Overall Achievement:

The report will also indicate if the class teacher recommends a Parent-Teacher Interview to discuss progress, achievement and learning behaviours. If this is the case, I would encourage you to contact the teacher, via phone or email, to discuss any concerns they may have.

If you have any questions regarding reports, please feel free to contact the college on  Ph: 4096 1444.

Kind regards,

Mr Kieran Ryan

Deputy Principal—Curriculum and Administration

Deputy Principal Residential

Dear Families and Friends of MSB

School Attendance

We have noticed a higher than average percentage of families returning their child late to school each term. Many of these families are also taking their child out for early holidays. I am extremely concerned by these actions which are resulting in large gaps in learning for these students. If a student misses a week at the beginning and a week at the end of term, this effectively results in 40 days of school lost per year.

Given many of our students are from an English as a Second Language (ESL) background, and may have begun their journey at MSB with deficiencies in their attendance and learning, it is essential that these students make the most of every day at school. We understand the need to be connected to family and spend time at home, however, missing 40 days out of a possible 200 is severely disadvantaging students.

If students are to succeed at school, attendance and engagement are the two key factors. Family support to be at school and do their best is critical also. Given the amount of disruption over the past 18 months with Covid-19, it is now vital that all students attend school where and when possible.

MSB has and will always support families and students who need to be absent for sorry business and other important family occasions. Please remember to communicate all absenteeism to the College via Sonya Frost or the main office.

I would like to wish all students and families a safe and relaxing holiday break. We look forward to seeing all students back on time for Term Three.

Kind regards,

Scott Whitters - Deputy Principal Residential

Assistant Principal Wellbeing

Here we are again at the end of another Term and holidays beckon. Year 8 have already had a taste of holidays with Camp last week; events like this don’t just happen; they require considerable planning. Thank you to all the staff who were involved. As we approach school holidays I hope that families and carers are considering how to spend some time with your loved ones. Time is like money; we need to consider how we spend it, otherwise it is soon gone and we wonder where it all went.

Planning some activities will assist in letting your child know that you value them and value spending time with them. It isn’t about spending money, it is about spending time with them; time you can’t get back. Making good memories will strengthen your relationship. Do you share a hobby or want to learn a new skill together or just hang out together?

Holidays if too unstructured or left totally unprepared for, can lead to boring holidays and sometimes if left too long unsupervised, young people can get themselves into trouble by making poor choices. If adults help them plan their time, it can lead to a good time for all.

The Parent Line is a NSW website that provides helpful tips for managing the school holidays. It makes mention of looking after your own Wellbeing as well.

https://www.parentline.org.au/10-tips-for-surviving-school-holidays/

And another helpful resource is https://www.skillsyouneed.com/parent/surviving-school-holidays

Whatever you do, may you and your loved ones be safe.

Sharon Boyd - Assistant Principal Wellbeing

Residential News

End of Term 2 

As we are coming to the end of another term at MSB I’d like to bring to your attention some important phone numbers to remember. 

Print this out and put it on your fridge for quick reference.

 Birthdays - We have had a few birthdays lately.  Happy birthday to all.  

Students enjoy a beautifully decorated cake from the kitchen and some lucky students get two cakes, one from the kitchen and one from family.  

Pet shop - Students love going to the pet shop on their shopping days to Atherton. Often the pet store people are outside with snakes where the students can handle them. They're braver than me that’s for sure. 

Term 3 Return - A reminder that travel day for most is either Monday 11th July or Tuesday 12th July.  All students must return to the College on their travel day. 

Those students who are in Cairns for this break MUST return on travel day, Monday 11th July.  Any students staying in Cairns arriving after this date will need to contact Mr Whitters with a valid reason why you are late. 

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all students for a great term 2. Stay safe, stay happy and we look forward to seeing you in term 3. 

Sonya Frost - Residential Administration

Religion News

Deadly Places Smoke-Free Spaces!  

This term, Deadly Choices have been working with some of our Year 12s.  They have been learning about the health, social and economic costs of smoking.  Last week they received bags and shirts to celebrate their learning – Too Deadly!    

How Can We Represent God? 

Our Year 9s have been learning about the various ways each of the monotheistic religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam, represent God.  They learned that Muslims don’t draw Allah and Jewish people don’t write G-d’s name because it is considered too holy.  Although they were reluctant to be in the photos themselves, they were proud of the artistic ways they represented their understandings. 

Janet Wigan - Religion Teacher

Middle Leader The Arts

Year 11 & 12 Visual Arts in Practice  

Students have researched their local towns. They have looked at the local tourist industry and considered the Traditional Owners. They have discovered what their local town is famous for and designed a sculptural piece that will represent their town. 

Students presented a project proposal to a hypothetical funding body. The aim was to prepare documentation with a proposed site for their sculpture on a large scale, like the Big Pineapple, Big Marlin etc.  

Traylea Sexton - Middle Leader The Arts

Year 7 Art

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Middle Leader English & Humanities

After a challenging end to Term 1, with lockdowns affecting teaching, students and staff in the English and Humanities faculties embraced Term 2 with enthusiasm, talent and academic success. 

Year 12 Essential English students recently successfully completed their Common Internal Assessment examination, one of the most challenging tasks for the year, as it involves analysing unseen texts. Congratulations to our students for their commendable performance. Year 7 and 9 students completed the NAPLAN tests earlier in the term and applied themselves diligently to all the literacy tasks. 

Nearly all students in Years 7-10 have been working at the appropriate Australian Curriculum level for English this year, and so far results have been impressive. Teachers have worked hard to create units that are accessible to all our students and students have stepped up to take on challenging assessment tasks with great success. Most students are now achieving at or only just below level in English. Accelerated progress in literacy has also been achieved for some students through the Macqlit reading program, facilitated by our Learning Support faculty and several dedicated school officers who work one-to-one with individual students. Students have been looking forward to their time reading and enjoying the progress they have made. 

This has been an exciting term for Humanities with several excursions including Year 7 Geography, Year 9 History and Year 12 Geography. The students always report that they understand the topics with so much more depth when they have these hands-on experiences, so we have more planned for Term 3.  

Teachers have already begun teaching many of the Term 3 units, and we look forward to an exciting new semester after a well-earned break.  

Sarah Riber - Middle Leader English & Humanities

Middle Leader Mathematics & Science

The Many Faces of Science at MSB

Middle Leader Health & Physical Education

Athletics Carnival 

Mount St Bernard’s Athletics Carnival has been run and won for 2022.  The day saw many students participating and supporting each other.  Even lunch time didn’t stop our students from having fun and dancing together!  There were some elite performances with many records falling. 

• Owen Waianga – 12 years 100m, 400m 
• Taj Cathro – 12 years 1500m 
• Hayden Wilkie – 12 years Triple Jump  
• Reem Sam – 13 years High Jump 
• Reggie Ambrum – 16 years 100m 
• Alfred Passi – Open 100m 
• Quentin Shortjoe – Open Long Jump 
• Naomi Tomsana-Sam – 12 years 400m, High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Javelin 
• Tae Dempsey – 16 years Shot Put 

At the conclusion of the Carnival there were many outstanding individual performances, acknowledged with Age Champion awards. 

12 years - Naomi Tomsana-Sam & Owen Waianga 

13 years - Mayleen King & Reem Sam 

14 years - Luwarnah Butcher & Roman Harry 

15 years - Ernestine Richards, Louish Mari & Phillip Dau 

16 years - Sinevah Mari & Jayden Gibuma 

Open - Tayiesha Warria, Alfred Passi & Jonomick Lui 

The overall House winner was Mighty POWER!  Everyone should be proud of their effort and conduct throughout the Carnival.  Students who finished first or second in their event will be invited to attend the district carnival at Mareeba State High School next term on 4th-5th August. 

Power - 1755 

Flynn - 1305 

Rush – 1300 

School Sport Update 

School Sport is slowly returning to normal, after another disrupted start to the year.  Last week we had two students away at State Championships – Jonomick Lui at Volleyball and Kevin Maitie at Rugby Union.  Congratulations boys on your supreme efforts. 

Andrea Goetze - HPE & Sport Middle Leader

Middle Leader VET & Careers

Use the school holidays wisely - Work experience may be an option

An important strategy in career exploration is experiencing the job you are interested in. This can be undertaken in many ways:

• Work observation - spending a day or more with someone already in the job at their workplace
• Career interview – developing a list of questions and interviewing someone already in a job you are investigating
• Work experience – spending some time (a week if possible) on the job
• Investigating courses by visiting institutions and talking to them about their courses
• Getting a part-time job or volunteering in a job you are interested in
• Doing a course or workshop that relates to the type of work you want to do.

The school holidays are a perfect time to do some of these activities. 

If you need help organising an activity, speak to your school Guidance Officer/Counsellor/VET Coordinator for some assistance.

Adrian Baranyi - VET & Careers Middle Leader

Middle Leader Junior Years

We made it! Congratulations to all our students for all their hard work this semester.  

Next term, we are starting a lunch time competition called ‘King of the Court’. Students have started forming teams to play in the competition that will run once per week during lunch time in Term 3.  We are also looking at creating lunch time clubs and activities based on student’s interest.  

Enjoy your holiday everyone and stay safe! 

Kieren Waugh - Middle Leader Junior Years

YEAR 8 CAMP

Abseiling was really scary and fun! ~ Braedin  

The raft building was fun and a good teamwork exercise ~Melinda.  

We got to play laser tag. We did teamwork and had to hide in bushes. We had to shoot the other team. ~ Jahara  

Everyone walked to the Echo Creek waterfall. It was kinda scary because we had leeches and we crossed rivers. ~ Jahara. 

The best thing about camp was the obstacle course. I was one of the only girls who did it. We had to teamwork ~ Keziah  

We yarned up around the campfire. Mr Ryan told scary stories. Mr Kenny told stories too. We burnt marshmallows around the campfire. ~ Jahara 

The best thing about camp was the walk and listening to everyone screaming about the leeches. The waterfall was very cold. ~ Rotannah 

Laser tag was the best. ~ Lincoln 

I enjoyed the four-hour walk. It worked out your muscles. ~ Ruby-Leigh  

Laser tag was the best thing. ~ Alvin.  

I liked the rock wall because only 4 people made it to the top. I was one of those 4! ~ Tyler M 

Year 8 Camp Echo Creek

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Middle Leader Senior Years

Exciting things are happening here at the college for the year 12s!

In term 1 Year 12 students pitched a proposal to leadership for a common room to be established for them. This would be a place that they could relax as well as study. The pitch was approved and work is finally underway on their new common room. We would like to thank Mr Carpenter for getting things started and the maintenance team here at MSB who are working hard to transform the room. Stay posted for an update of the space and how it is coming along!

Year 11 students have had a busy end of term with exams and assessments due. We are incredibly lucky to have an amazing team of teachers and staff who work tirelessly to get students over the line. Students are supported in and outside the classroom here at MSB and we are fortunate to have the Diversity and  Wellbeing teams providing a variety of supports for students.

At senior assembly last Friday I posed a question to the year 10 and 11's “What kind of leader do you want to be?’. As we end Semester 1 and soon start Semester 2, students in years 10 and 11 need to be contemplating this as they are our emerging leaders. We are extremely fortunate here to have some amazing leaders for them to watch. Last weeks award assembly showed this with many senior students gaining awards for their efforts and displays of Mercy values.

Award winners for weeks 8 and 9

Lizikerah Luffman - displaying leadership skills within her peer group

Melinda Obah - helping others succeed

Mulga Barker -  kindness during lunch breaks

Rose Mene - for her amazing contribution with sound and DJ'ing for Reconciliation and Athletics Day events

Angus Bewick - showing amazing sportsmanship

Macca Smy - showing amazing sportsmanship

Jonomick Lui - showing amazing sportsmanship

Kevin Maitie - showing amazing sportsmanship

Tayiesha – great work in Yr 12 Religion & Ethics

Limferd Lui – excellence in Science

Mahalia Jones – excellence in Science

Amitty Trevorah – excellence in Science

Tony Harry – excellence in Science

Nikki Symons - Middle Leader Senior Years

Stay Connected with MSB

Community News

Well Women’s Clinics

(These clinics are available to Medicare eligible clients)

Service includes Cervical Screening Tests (Pap Smears), Sexual Health Screening, Breast Awareness, also info on Contraception, Continence, Menopause, Lifestyle Issues, Bowel Health, Domestic Violence, etc.

All services are provided by a specially trained Women’s Health Nurse.

Malanda Health Centre       Wednesdays 29^th June & 27^th July      Ph:  4096 5339

Atherton Health Centre       Tuesday 19^th July                             Ph:  4091 0263

Upcoming Events

Term 2 - 2022

Fri 24 June - Boarders Travel Day

Winter School Holidays

- 2 weeks - 

Fri 24 June - Mon 11 July

Term 3 - 2022

Mon 11 July - Boarders Travel Day &  MSB Office Re-Opens

Tues 12 July - All Classes Commence Term 

Sat 30 - Sun 31 July - Boarders Exeat (Free) Weekend