67 Elimatta Drive, Ashgrove Q 4060PO Box 208, Ashgrove Q 4060

admin@msm.qld.edu.auwww.msm.qld.edu.au

Issue 16: 30 October 2014

Coming Events

OctoberFriday, 31

Term 4 fees due

World Teachers’ Day

MSM Reads HR Tuesday bells

NovemberSaturday, 1

Water Polo week 4

Monday, 2

OzCare visit 5 pm - 7 pm

Wednesday, 5

BSGSA Touch & Basketball Round 8

Thursday, 6

MSM Celebrates 2014 7 pm Sophia Centre

Friday, 7

Year 12 Breakfast 7.30 am

Final day of classes for Year 12

Year 12 farewell assembly @ 2 pm

Saturday, 8

Water Polo week 5

Sunday, 9

Met North Triathlon trials

Monday, 10

Year 12 examinations commence

Dear Parents, Friends, Staff and Students,

Developing leadership capacities and qualities in our students is a high priority in our learning at Mt St Michael's. It is not incidental or haphazard, rather it is integral to our learning frameworks, our structures and processes and it is well resourced. In this final term of the year, the significance of student leadership is highlighted as we have already experienced in the final assemblies, led by our current student leaders, the SLT, and further, in the process of electing the College Captains and SLT for the coming year. This is also a time of excitement and anticipation.

Our students have multiple opportunities to explore their leadership traits from the day they enter the College through the traditional class captain roles, but most importantly through their participation in our co-curricular programmes; being a member of a CAN group or participation in the academic, sporting and cultural groups where students learn to work in teams and understand how they can contribute. In our Positive Education programme students learn about their character strengths and are encouraged to reflect on these traits and how they might draw on these in their contribution to the College community both within and outside the classroom.

However, the role of student leadership in our whole school assemblies is perhaps the pinnacle opportunity for our young women to develop their skills, shine and make a difference. I frequently speak with them about the significance of their contributions to the mission, spirit and culture of the College. They have the capacity to inspire the whole community in the way they lead with their chosen theme, highlight what is important, along with the multiple ideas they have to engage the student body. Through this assembly structure I believe that Mt St Michael's is unique in the way student leadership is valued and expressed.

On Tuesday our leaders of 2014 held their final assembly. It was a moving and memorable morning. The consistent theme was gratitude for all those who had enabled them to be leaders; staff in the College, their families and their friends. Embedded in their gratitude was an appreciation of how much they had learnt from their leadership roles and this was a time to

Parents - come along and catch up with friends or meet some new friends Thursday morning from 8.40am

20 November 2014

at the Garden Wall Courtyard

For information please callJenny Kemp on 3858 4946 or email: jkemp@msm.qld.edu.au

say 'thank you". As teachers we can "see" their growth in confidence and leadership capacity without needing to measure it. It also gives us joy and deep fulfilment.

We congratulate and thank our College captains, Lily Treston and Bridie McKim for all that they have given to the College community this year and to the entire Student Leadership Team. As we move through this season of celebration and farewells there will be more opportunities to express our appreciation and acknowledge the new team who will follow in their footsteps.

Leadership is not limited to those who are elected. Acknowledging this principle we have a particular leadership award for a Year 12 student who epitomises the spirit of the College and has made a difference by her actions and her presence. This award, The Chroi of Mt St Michael's College, the Irish word for "heart", will be announced tomorrow and be presented at the MSM Celebrates Award ceremony next week. It should not surprise that this award is a legacy of the 2008 Student Leaders with the important criteria that it must go to a student who does not hold an elected position. It is indeed an honour to receive this award which is nominated by members of the Student Leadership Team.

In the coming days the most powerful political leaders will be on our doorstep, a few kilometres down the road for the G20 Summit. Their leadership qualities will be on display. Given recent media prominence in how a political leader too close to home, aspires to manage conflict as if in the football arena, I am sure we will be watching with interest to see how their leadership traits match up with those of our young women!

These thoughts lead me to the importance of role models. Tomorrow we celebrate International Teachers' Day; an opportunity to acknowledge with deep appreciation the work of our teachers. We know the enduring significance of great teachers who lead by example with multiple skills and a commitment which is a vocation, to inspire and grow the hearts and minds of those they teach. At our College Board meeting this Tuesday, our Chair, Mrs Jane Slattery, a former teacher and Principal concluded our prayer with these words from Christa McAuliffe, a teacher who lost her life in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986.

“I touch the future. I teach.”

Clearly she was proud to be a teacher and all teachers at Mt St Michael’s share her pride and passion.

Tomorrow we take time to celebrate.

Sincerely,Alison TerreyPrincipal

Our Jacaranda trees are in full bloom. Reminding us that this is a season to enjoy and celebrate.

Congratulations

Mt St Michael's College is pleased to formally announce the Student Leadership Team for 2015:

College CaptainsAnnalise GowingSjanni Rigby-Smith

Academic CaptainsGeorgia Atcheson Cynthia Webb

Mission CaptainsTaylor Ferguson Isabella Negus

Cultural CaptainsLucy Czerwinski Teresa Fornataro

Sports CaptainsKathryn Caulfield Madison Gravesande

Liturgy CaptainsAmara Meyn Grace Randall

Aikenhead CaptainMadelyn Stockton

Grantuly CaptainGrace Porter

Rush CaptainGeorgia Ferguson

Stewart Captain Tessa Funk

Congratulations to all of the students who have been selected to leadership roles. We know that they will represent the College extremely well in 2015 and that they will follow the wonderful leadership example of our outgoing leaders of 2014.

Elena Bontempi from Year 10 who recently competed in the Australian Final of the Global Issues Individual Competition, Senior Division. She is now preparing to represent Australia at the Future Problem Solving International Conference at the University of Iowa in the USA next June.

Sidney Hunwick from Year 9, on her comeback after a horrific sow jumping accident. She entered into a class of 15 Dressage Riders from various other SEQ Schools (eg Stuartholme, St Rita’s, St Aidan’s, Somerville House), Sidney and Warrego Jennifer competed at the weekend at the Stuartholme Dressage Day held at Burpengary Equestrian Centre. They competed in two Novice Classes – placing 1st in both of these events and 1st overall. Achieving very strong percentages and receiving very encouraging comments from the judges.

MSM Celebrates

Thursday, 06 November

7 pm

Sophia Centre

A prayer for World Teachers’ Day

Giver of all wisdom and greatest of all teachers,Look upon our teachers with love

Grant them the resolve to nurture our eager minds and to never give up on us who fall behind.

Bless their hearts for they rejoice when we succeed and encourage us when we failAnd bless them with gentle patience for the path of learning is never easy

Kindle a spirit and passion in them. It is the flame that ignites the love of learning in us.

Help them see the potential in each studentTheir belief in us means much more than the grade we make.

Instil in them a commitment to keep on learning

It shows us to not fear new knowledge and experiencesInspire them to touch the future

They influence how big a dream we dream for ourselvesBless our teachers who have come before

For their work endures to this day

Let the light of your example shine upon all teachersTo build up with their words

To love with their mindTo share with their heart.

Amen

Gretel Mahoney and Grace GarnerYear 8 students

Buy & Sell your Textbooks at the

Sustainable Bookshop

At Mt St Michael’s College, we have an online system for our parents to sell/purchase second-hand books; The Sustainable School Shop. This system has proven to be very successful.

• It is user-friendly and saves money and time.• Parents simply need to register at www.sustainableschoolshop.com.au. (if already registered click Log-in).• Nominate your school as Mt St Michael’s College Ashgrove.• You can then list ads for the items you wish to sell and those you wish to buy. The 2015 school book list is now on the MSM website.

Search all the ads for free.- It costs $1.00 to advertise an item for sale.- Annual Subscription costs $19.95 (includes Ad Matching).

Excellent email and telephone helplines are provided. Should you have any queries, please telephone 1300 683 337.

Although most trading occurs with parents from the College, the system does allow you to buy and sell with other schools in Australia and matches the advertisements of Buyers and Sellers.

Term 1: 28 January - 02 April

Term 2: 21 April - 19 June

Term 3: 14 July - 18 September

Term 4: 06 October - 27 November

Term Dates 2015

Foundation NewsJenny Kemp

Volunteers needed

for the Year 8 and Year 7 Father Daughter Breakfasts for 2015.

Year 8 Set up Thursday 29th January from 1pm – 3pm Service/clean up Friday 30th January 7am – 9.30am Year 7 Set up Thursday 5th February from 1pm – 3pm Service/clean up Friday 6th February from 7am – 9.30 am

If you can be of assistance, please contact Jenny Kemp on3858 4946 or jkemp@msm.qld.edu.au

MSM Parents and Friends Annual General Meeting Monday, 10 November 2014 at 7 pm

Meeting Room, Mezzanine Level Sophia Centre

If you have ever thought about joining the P&F at Mt St Michael’s, your opportunity is here. Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday, 10 November @ 7pm and all positions will be declared vacant. Consequently, we are seeking nominations for executive and general committee members.

All parents and friends are invited to attend the AGM and we would encourage as many of you as possible to come along.

The P&F is integral to promoting a welcoming and supportive College community and cannot survive without the service of our valued parents. While working in union with the College to support our daughters’ education, the P&F plays a major role in facilitating a strong social network for parents. So, what we are actually trying to say is that the workload and time requirements are not onerous and being a part of the P&F is actually a very enjoyable and rewarding experience.

The following roles will be available for nomination :-

PresidentThis role chairs meetings and oversees the role of the P & F and acts as a central point of contact with the Principal.

Vice PresidentThis role will co-ordinate the Parent Liaison Officer (PLO) group and also be responsible for acting as the administrator of our email and Facebook accounts.

Treasurer This role is responsible for the finances of the P and F, organising bank accounts and money for functions and reporting to the P&F and external bodies.

Secretary This role is responsible for taking the minutes at the P and F meetings, handling correspondence and distributing copies of the minutes

General Committee membersCommitted to attending P&F Meetings and assisting as they can, this is a general position with no specific responsibilities. There are usually a handful of General Committee members

Parent Liaison Officers (Year 7 through to 12 Non-Committee members)The role acts as a link between the year level group and the P&F. There can be 1 or 2 PLOs per year level. The person or persons will assist the P&F co-ordinate volunteers for events and assist in organising events for their year group. This is done through class level emails administered by the P&F.

If you are interested in being considered for a role or if you wish to discuss a role prior to nominating, please feel free to email pandfmsm@gmail.com and leave your contact number for some one to call you.

2015 P&F COMMITTEE NOMINATION FORM

I wish to nominate for the position of: (please circle preference).

President /

Vice-president /

Treasurer /

Secretary /

General Committee Member

I would like to be a Parent Liaison Officer for Year ____________________ 2015

Attendance: I will / will not be able to attend the AGM on Monday 10th November 2014.

Signature:

Telephone:

Please return this slip to Ms Sharlene Fernandez, College Reception by Friday 7 November 2014, or scan and send to sfernandez@msm.qld.edu.au