Mount St Bernard College eNewsletter

Principal

Greeting MSB Community,

The transition into term 3 has been smooth, with the majority of our students arriving back at the college in a timely manner. We are also proud to welcome some new students and staff into our college community.

As students start to settle back into college life, we remind them of the importance of ‘code switching’ and continue to reinforce effective routines. We also encourage all students to display strong organisational qualities, positive learning behaviours and perseverance to give themselves the best possible chance of success this term.

To ensure the ongoing safety of all members of our community, in line with the recent government mask wearing advice, the college will be encouraging all students and staff to wear face masks, when social distancing is not possible. A supply of disposable masks will be made accessible in classrooms and via the clinic over the coming days. Distribution of masks will occur in the boarding houses each day as well as home form classes. We ask our parents & guardians to help support this process, by reminding their students to abide by these expectations. We also encourage parents to keep students home if they display any symptoms and notify the college of their absence via student reception.

Other college activities will continue to proceed as planned this term, however we continue to monitor the QLD Health Guidelines regularly and will continue to adapt our procedures accordingly.

I look forward to yet another busy but enjoyable term at MSB.

Sincerely,

Matt Brauer

Principal - Mount St Bernard College

Deputy Principal - Curriculum & Admin

Welcome back everyone! The year is flying by and organisation of the school calendar for Term 3 and Term 4 is well underway.

There are many key events coming up for our school community, particularly for students in Year 12. Students final exam dates will be sent to families in the post however one of the major events is the year 12 graduation. Please see below for key dates.

Date	Event & Location
Thursday, 20 October 2022	Presentation Evening – Main Hall MSB
Friday, 21 October 2022	Final day of classes for Year 12 Year 12 Graduation Liturgy – MSB Chapel
Saturday, 22 October 2022	Year 12 Formal – Pullman Reef Hotel Casino please note change of date

Along with the excitement of the end of secondary schooling, there are assessment tasks to be completed along the way. Ms Nikki Symons our Senior School Coordinator, and our dedicated teaching staff will continue to help students achieve the best outcomes for their final year.

Junior students will also continue to work hard and their assessment calendar will be published on the college website in the coming weeks.

If you have any questions/concerns relating to your child please contact the College on 07 4096 1444.

Kind regards,

Kieran Ryan - Deputy Principal Curriculum & Administration

Senior Study Sessions Open to Years 11 & 12

Senior Study sessions have resumed this week, Wednesdays, and will run until Week 9, Term 3. Sessions will be held in Library 1 from 3:15 - 4:15pm. Afternoon Tea will be provided.

Deputy Principal - Residential

Dear Friends and Families of MSB

Term Three has begun smoothly with 80% of students returning on time. I am pleased to report our students have settled back into a good routine with positive attitudes and a willingness to learn. I am most impressed with the students who consistently wear the correct uniform and follow instructions from staff at all times.

The only concern that interrupts boarding life is the misuse of social media. All parents and carers need to understand that if you endorse your child to have a mobile phone and hence a variety of social media accounts, you are then responsible for how they use it. Staff at MSB go over and above to educate students on the safe use of social media, however, we are not responsible for dealing with issues that arise from misuse of their device or accounts.

I ask all families and carers to keep a close watch on your child’s social media use. There are numerous ways to limit or prevent access to social media. We constantly send information related to workshops or online programs and events that educate parents and carers on how best to manage social media with your child. Please take the time to investigate what is happening with this critically important space.

Our staff at MSB are well equipped to support students with conflict and social issues, however, we do not have the personnel or resources to investigate every social media complaint. This is the role of the parent or carer. If your child has received threats on social media, please report this to the police and immediately block the perpetrator.

Residential students know this and should be well equipped to talk to their parent or carer about what needs to happen in order to stay safe online.

I am looking forward to a positive and productive term three in boarding.

Kind regards,

Scott Whitters

Parent guide to popular apps - Summary sheet

Parents_eSafety_Snapchat_Guide_for_parents_DOWNLOAD

Assistant Principal - Wellbeing

Positive Rewards Program Trial

MSB Superstars

The Wellbeing Team have been considering various approaches to reintroducing a Rewards Program to support positive behaviour across all areas of the day school. This Term we are trialling a simple system which we’ve branded The MSB Superstars; it focuses on attaining three cards that reinforce behaviour that is Safe, Respectful and Responsible. A card will be given to deserving students by a teacher once a week and throughout the Term the students need to collect all three cards, representing that their behaviour has been (at some point) Safe, Respectful and Responsible. Some students will be quick in gaining their set of three cards, whilst others may take longer, and some may not achieve the full set, depending on the choices they make in class , transitioning to and from classes and in the yard. Once a full set of the three cards has been achieved, the student trades the cards in for a prize. There are 10 levels of prizes, with the top level being an experience with all the students at that prize level, travelling to Ten Pin Bowls or the Malanda Theatre.

Ideally it is best if students can generate their own motivation to do the right thing and this is great for character building. In the interim, as an external encouragement I hope that The MSB Superstars will encourage students to consider their behavioural choices some more. This program also ensures that those who are often (mostly) doing the right thing, get the acknowledgement that they deserve. The prizes are as follows:

Level 1: Stationery - Level 2: Toiletries - Level 3: Card games - Level 4: Puzzles - Level 5: Craft Supplies

Level 6: Access to Main Hall at lunch time - Level 7: McDonald's $5 Voucher - Level 8: Special Art project at Lunch time - Level 9: Book/Magazine - Level 10: Ten Pin Bowling or Movies @ Malanda Theatre

I look forward to seeing more behaviour around the College that is Safe, Respectful and Responsible.

Sharon Boyd - Assistant Princpal Wellbeing

Residential News

Torres Strait Island Consultative Committee

Our term began with the arrival of our TSI Consultative Committee for a 2-day conference.

The committee members supported the uplift of students from Horn Island back to MSB.

It was a chilly few days which I know the members felt, but with many blankets on their beds and a heater for each room, they soon felt warmer.

We discussed a variety of matters, from roles and responsibilities through to student pathways and post-secondary options.

We had some delicious morning teas out and a lovely dinner to celebrate the end of our two days together.

I’d like to personally thank our committee members from 7 different islands for giving up their time to visit and also to be a part of our very first TSI Consultative Committee.

Our members come from the following islands: Boigu Island - Coconut Island - Darnley Island

Moa Island - Murray Island -Warraber Island -Horn Island

Sonya Frost - Residential Administration Officer

TSI Consultative Committee

Year 9A English started their unit on Romeo and Juliet with practical drama activities. Ms Riber used her training with the Bell Shakespeare Regional Teacher Mentorship program to run a series of workshops engaging the students in the plot, characters and language of Shakespeare’s play. Students acted out the different acts of the play, investigated the themes and poetry, and used Shakespearean insults to team up and vanquish their rivals. The students now feel confident approaching this challenging topic and are looking forward to the rest of the unit.

Sarah Riber - Middle Leader English & Humanities

Maths,Science & Senior Studies Middle Leader

It was pleasing to hear that all four year 12 students from the 2021 cohort, who are attending university, have successfully transitioned into life at university and have passed their subjects for semester one, 2022. As teachers, we often wonder how much support we should give to students as there is a fine line, between offering enough support that students are confident enough to show their true abilities and offering so much support that students fail when you are not around in the following years. The alternative approach of “sink or swim” is not a view held by many teachers as a small nudge in the right direction is all that is needed.

Either way it is good news.

In senior Science this term, students are considering claims and trying to resolve them in Biology and Physics. In chemistry, the students are reviewing the reaction between metals and acids and considering what this means for the building industry. Finally in Agricultural practices students are completing a power point on an Australian crop as well as studying the husbandry of Red Claw Crayfish.

Malcolm Fahey - Middle Leader Maths, Science & Senior Studies

Agricultural Practices

Health & Physical Education Middle Leader

NAIDOC Touch Football Competition – Kuranda

During the last week of Term 2, a team of brilliant MSB students participated in a huge NAIDOC Touch Football Competition. They performed like champions, finishing runner-up in the grand final to Mareeba SHS. All students should be very proud of their efforts and conduct both on and off the field. The day concluded with an inspiration talk from Queenslander, and Australian representative player, Petero Civoniceva.

Student v Teacher Basketball Competition

On the last day of Term 2, staff challenged students to a basketball game. There was some great athleticism from both teams… okay perhaps just the students demonstrated the athleticism…. but the teachers demonstrated their smart play and took out the very close match!

District Athletics Carnival

Following our extremely successful sports carnival last term, some of our students have been selected in the Mount St Bernard’s Track & Field team to compete against other schools in the district. This carnival will take place on Thursday 4th & Friday 5th of August at Mareeba SHS. Families are encouraged to attend the carnival and support our students. Emails have been sent to all students who have been selected as part of the team. Day students can collect forms to be completed from Miss Julie and return by Monday 25th July. Miss Jo will help boarders complete their paperwork once permission has been given by guardians for each student to attend. Students will be transported by bus to the carnival, day students will need to be mindful of the early bus departure and the late return to the College.

Andrea Goetze - Middle Leader Health & Physical Education

Naidoc Touch Football Competition - Kuranda

Students vs Staff Basketball Game Term 2

The Arts Middle Leader

Senior Industrial Technology

In Industrial Technology students are making a coffee or side table. They were happy to get back into the workshop after their holidays.

Juniors

In Design Technology, students in year 7 & 8 are learning about the safety guidelines in the workshop. This term they will make a Turtle, learning about the making process.

Traylea Sexton - Middle Leader The Arts

Year 7 & 8 Design Technology

Is VET for you?

Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications include certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas, offered across a large number of industries and study areas. They offer many advantages from pathway options to skill development. If you fit into one of the categories below, a VET course could be of interest. Click here to read more.

Tertiary Access Payment for regional or remote students

The tertiary access payment helps students with the cost of moving from regional or remote areas for tertiary study. Regional areas are places that aren’t in or near a major city. You can check if your family home is in a regional or remote area using the Student Regional Area Search. The Payment is a one off payment of up to $5,000 and is for study after you’ve finished Year 12 or equivalent. To get the payment you need to:

move from a regional or remote area for tertiary study
start tertiary study directly after finishing Year 12 or equivalent with no gap year.

Click here to find more information on:

Who can get it
How much can you get
How to claim
What you need to tell them
What other help is available

Adrian Baranyi - Middle Leader VET & Careers

Junior Years Middle Leader

Welcome back to Term 3!

I hope you all had a restful and joyful holiday with your family and friends.

Next week, we will be starting a number of lunch time activities.

The first activity is King of the Court. We have had 5 teams of students sign up for the King of the Court challenge that commences next week. Our first sport will be volleyball! This will occur once a week during second break.

Our second activity is a secret mission. We have a group of Year 9 students who will be in charge of the ‘secret mission’ for chosen Year 7 and Year 8 students. Invited students will receive a ‘top secret’ briefing regarding the challenge. The aim of the mission is to promote social skills while ‘hunting’ for the desired objects.

Our final activity is Lego Masters. Two of our senior students have put their hand up to start the Lego Masters competition at lunch time. Students will choose a challenge card for the week and begin making their masterpiece on their own base plate. Teachers and students will be invited to judge the masterpieces throughout the term.

We have been building a ‘Where are you from’ wall in my office. It is great to see students engaging with the wall. I am thoroughly enjoying finding out about our students’ home communities. I can’t wait for it to be finished!

Have a great week!

Kieren Waugh - Middle Leader Junior Years

MSB ISLAND & YARRABAH DANCERS

Please congratulate our Torres Strait Island dancers Jonomick, Tayeisha, Sinevah, Doriah, Limferd, Patrick, Pensio, Jimmy, Lahsade, Jacklyn, Rose, Lizikerah, Louish, Gladys, Katrina, Ronald and Sannah. Also Yarrabah dancers Mary, Dekierem, Yassarie, Mayleen, Donita, Lawrence, Jahara & Ernestine.

They have represented the college at both Malanda & Herberton State School NAIDOC celebrations. It was a huge success, our students performed dances and then participated in rotational activities.

This is very valuable community engagement and our students should be commended.

Thank you all for your support.

Andrea Gower - Transition Support Officer