MSPC Newsletter - Term 3, Week 4, 15th August 2024
Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
Currently I am part of a fantastic immersion experience in the Solomon Islands with 19 Year 11 students and staff, who include Mrs Narelle Sherrah who has been in the Solomons on Long Service Leave. We hope to be back in Murwillumbah by 6pm on Sunday 18th August. We have some great stories to tell but for now here are some of the pictures of some of our exploits.
Gavin Dykes
Principal
Assistant Principal - Mission
Year 12 Students, Parents and Caregivers
We are currently preparing for the celebration of Year 12 2024’s final days of secondary education. Mr Dykes sent out an email and google form RSVPs for the various activities on 31st July and a compass notification was sent on Wednesday 14th August. So far there have been 54 responses. The RSVP closes on 6th September and we have 102 students in Year 12.
Year 9 returned to their classes at the beginning of this week following their experiences at the Snow or Camp Drew in Lennox. There are some reports in the following pages. Our Year 7, 8 and 10 Debating teams returned victorious following the Regional Finals in Port Macquarie. There is also a report in the following pages.
Our Year 11 Solomon Island Immersion students and staff arrive in Murwillumbah on Sunday evening 18th August. Year 12 students return to normal classes on Monday 19th August.
Mary-Anne McShane
Assistant Principal: Mission
MINISTRY
Thank you to the five Year 8 students who attended the Festa Christi retreat last week at the Coffs Coast Adventure Centre. Thanks to Miss Hall for accompanying Lexie Dee, Sophia Drew, Cleo Harper-Green, Willow Seamer and Siena Teague. The girls had a great time and embraced the experience in every way.
I really liked the theme for this year 'Walking in other people's footsteps' and the activities that related to the theme. I also liked how we had heaps of different girls from other schools in our groups and cabins.
- Cleo Harper-Green
Festa Christi was a great experience where I met lots of new people and formed long-lasting friendships. I really enjoyed the Commando course, toasted marshmallows, and the food was great!
- Sophia Drew
SHINE Conference
Just a reminder that the annual SHINE event is next Thursday 22nd - Friday 23rd August at St John Paul College, Coff Harbour. Both the Year 9 and Year 10 Youth Ministry classes will be attending this overnight event. Students are reminded to check their emails for further details and packing instructions. Students will depart from the college promptly at 9am and return on Friday after normal college hours. The event finishes at 3:30pm so we are hoping to be back at the college around 6:30pm. There will be an opportunity for students to be dropped at Yelgun Rest Stop on the return journey, but students will require a written note to be able to depart and a parent/carer must be there to collect them.
Year 8 Catch the Wave Day
Year 8 students will be attending their retreat day run by the Wildfire Retreat team on Thursday 29th August, Week 6. This is a compulsory school day and will be a lot of fun. Students will get the opportunity to play games, deepen their faith and participate in some great activities. Students are permitted to wear their sports uniform on this day. Recess and lunch will be at normal times.
Thank you and God bless,
Grace Molloy
Leader of Evangelisation
Assistant Principal- Learning & Teaching
At Mount St Pat’s we routinely complete what are called “Learning Walks”. A Learning Walk is where a group of our teachers visit multiple classrooms with the aim of fostering conversation about teaching and learning with students in order to develop a shared vision of high quality teaching practices that impact on student learning. Learning Walks provide an opportunity for teachers to share their expertise about existing instructional practices. They foster observation, dialogue and collaboration on whole school agreed practices and goals. Whilst in the classroom, walking teachers are encouraged to observe the host teacher and students and to reflect on the classroom teaching and learning they observe. Where appropriate, they interact with the students to ask them “5 Questions for Success” about their learning. Learning Walks offer the opportunity to observe, reflect on and discuss instructional practices.
In a Learning Walk students are asked the following five questions:
- What are you learning?
- Why is this important?
- How are you going and how do you know?
- How can you improve?
- Where do you go for help?
The questions prompt students to think for themselves about the relevance of their lessons. The data has shown that when students see relevance in their lessons they become more engaged and experience success. The 5 questions are useful in collecting data on how well students are taking ownership of their learning. They also inform leaders’ and teachers’ next steps in staff members’ Professional Learning.
Jo McDonald
Acting Assistant Principal: Learning & Teaching
Curriculum
Year 12 Trial Examinations
The recent two weeks of HSC Trial Examinations have given students a valuable opportunity to gauge their preparedness for the final assessments. These trials are not merely practice tests but a crucial component of the learning journey. As students navigate through the challenging questions and scenarios, they gain insights into their strengths and areas needing improvement. This period allows them to experience real exam conditions, manage time effectively, and apply their knowledge under pressure.
The feedback from these trials will be instrumental in shaping students' study strategies moving forward. Detailed feedback helps identify specific gaps in understanding and provides direction for targeted revision. By analyzing their performance, students can pinpoint which topics require more focus and refine their exam techniques. This reflective process not only enhances their readiness for the HSC exams but also deepens their overall grasp of the subject matter, transforming the trials from a testing experience into a potent learning opportunity.
Year 11 Final Term
As Year 11 draws to a close, students are preparing for a crucial period of transition into Year 12, with final assessments marking the end of their current academic year. This final term is pivotal as it sets the foundation for the rigorous demands of Year 12. The assessments at the end of Year 11 provide a comprehensive review of their learning and offer an opportunity to consolidate their knowledge before stepping into the next phase of their studies. It's a time for reflection, goal setting, and fine-tuning their approach to ensure a smooth and successful progression into their final year of high school.
Academic calendars - Assessment Portal
Students can access their academic calendar on the Moodle page under Calendar at the top, then the appropriate year group. Also on Moodle is the link to the Assessment Portal that is the ‘one stop shop’ for assessment and contains information regarding: Assessment Rules, Assessment Handbook, Assessment Calendar, Assessment Tasks, Study Planners and NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority).
Preparing for Assessments
Allowing time to prepare for assessments is crucial for students to be able to perform to the best of their ability. Assessments serve as an important milestone in a student's academic journey and preparing for assessments helps students develop good study habits, time management skills and effective revision strategies, all of which are essential for supporting a student’s progress in their studies.
Allowing time to prepare for assessments helps students identify their strengths and allows time to address areas for development. Students are encouraged to be proactive in preparing for assessments as part of their homework study routine. This can boost a student’s confidence, enhance their learning experience and equip them with the necessary skills for success in their studies.
Years 7 - 12 Upcoming Assessments - Term 3
The following is an assessment overview for Weeks 5 and 6 of Term 3. Students should check their assessment calendar on the portal for accuracy and to ensure that changes have not been made since publishing this guide.
The Assessment Policy is detailed on the front page of the Assessment Portal which can be accessed on the MSPC Moodle Page. Information Handbooks are on the year page of the Assessment Portal.
If a student is sick and unable to complete an assessment on the due date, Years 7, 8 and 9 require a letter from a parent / carer or email to the class teacher, detailing the student’s circumstances for non-completion of an assessment task.
For Years 9 Accelerated, 10, 11 and 12 a medical practitioner is required to complete the MSPC Assessment Variation Illness Form. A copy of this document can be found on the student’s year page of the Assessment Portal.
Corey Nix
Acting Leader of Curriculum
Welfare
This newsletter features Item 6 of our Online Education on pressures our children face from social media.
Please read the information below and openly speak with your children so we can keep them informed and aware. If any issues arise that you would like support with, please contact me at the College.
Upstander - Unwanted Images or Videos
If your young person receives a random nude or inappropriate image or video of someone, you want to feel confident in what their actions will be.
The person in the image or video may be the one who shared it with your young person, or someone else may have shared it without the person in the image or video even knowing.
An essential conversation to have with your young person is about the two appropriate ways they can respond to an unwanted image.
Tell the sender it’s not cool
If your young person knows the sender, encourage them to tell the sender not to share any more images or videos like that. Encourage your young person to practise saying “no” in ways that feel comfortable and to tell you if this happens so you can help.
Take action
- If your young person doesn’t know the sender, ask them not to respond and to block the sender.
Ask them not to forward it to someone else or delete it. - Report this to the police. Also, if it was sent through social media, a game or another app you can report it directly to the service or platform.
- Encourage your young person to tell you if they keep getting unwanted images.
Read more at Raising Children Sexting and teenagers: practical steps for problem situations
If you have any concerns about your young person please contact the school. It is important for the school to know any wellbeing issues that may impact on learning and behaviour at school.
Louise Shields
Leader of Pastoral Care
Faculty News
ENGLISH
Debating
We are thrilled to share the exciting news from our recent debating trip to Port Macquarie. Our Year 7 and 8 teams delivered outstanding performances, winning all three of their debates with exceptional skill and confidence. Their success reflects their dedication and the effective preparation they undertook in the lead-up to this event. In addition, our Year 10 team, despite competing with only two-thirds of their full team, demonstrated remarkable perseverance and strategic insight, securing one out of their two debates. Their efforts were commendable and showcased their resilience and teamwork under challenging circumstances.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the entire school community for your unwavering support and encouragement of our debating teams. We look forward to building on this achievement and continuing to support our students in the State championships in Term Four.
Congratulations to all students involved;
Year 7: Audrey Carroll, Wren Webster and Milly Simpson
Year 8: Hazel Egan, Sophia Drew and Scarlett Mills
Year 10: Elissa Hawkins, Ciara Dwyer and Amelia Andrews
Catilyn Barone & Milly Keogh (Coaches)
FROM THE SPORTS DESK
DIOCESAN JUNIOR BASKETBALL
The annual Junior Basketball Championships were held in Port Macquarie over two days, Wednesday 31st July and Thursday 1st August. Mount St Patrick were at full capacity with 4 teams on show.
Intermediate Boys
Weeks of training and anticipation culminated in our round 1 clash against MacKillop College from Port Macquarie. The defending champions of this event have a rich history and it was they who jumped away to a 10 point early lead before the team in blue and gold (us) fought back to a gutsy narrow defeat 35-28. Aggressive defence lead to many turnovers and MSPC managed to convert to stretch their opponents right to the final buzzer.
Game 2 our team really excelled and showed the rest of the teams what we are capable of with a 54 - 27 victory over St Paul’s College, Kempsey. Led by strong performances by Clancy Greenbury, Ryan Stuart and Xander Wallace, MSPC were never really challenged. The talent and scoring went deep into the bench with Eshaan Sharma, Noah Hunt, Stephan Pelikan and Brayden Drabowicz getting points.
Game 3 against Woodlawn was another MUST WIN. A win would secure a spot in the semi finals on day 2. A tight opening 5 minutes where missed shots and nervous errors were aplenty from both teams. MSPC boys settled earlier and opened a small lead. Max Hunt was shooting the lights out in this game and Riley Monaghan continued to amaze with his defensive rebounding domination. After the initial early nerves our team were never really troubled and led at the final whistle 50 - 30.
Semi Final on day 2 put us against the powerful Coffs Harbour team from St John Paul College. This game was were all players really had to dig deep and play their role. It was however a shooting clinic that the Coffs team put on display. It seemed every time they put up a three pointer they would make it. No amount of pressure, and pressure there definitely was, seemed to phase their outside shooters. We eventually bowed out of the tournament 61-31.
It was a real privilege to watch the efforts of the team and the way they got behind each other and did everything asked of them on court. Congratulations on a great tournament boys.
L to R Front row: Noah Hunt, Eshaan Sharma, Brayden Drabowicz,Clancy Greenbury
L to R Back row: Max Hunt, Riley Monaghan, Ryan Stuart, Xander Wallace,Stephan Pelikan
Intermediate Girls
The MSPC intermediate Girls Basketball team recently faced some tough competition, demonstrating resilience and strong teamwork throughout their games. Despite the challenging outcomes, the girls displayed remarkable skill and sportsmanship, making their college proud.
In their first match against Xavier, Skennars Head the team fought hard but ultimately fell short with a score of 18-48. The subsequent game against MacKillop saw another tough battle, ending in a 14-42 loss. The girls were set to face Woodlawn in the playoffs, but the game was unfortunately called off due to an injury.
Throughout the games, Hannah Dykes consistently displayed strong ball-handling skills, while Charlie Gear’s impressive defense made it difficult for the opposing teams to advance. Caitlyn Benard was a force in attack, driving the team’s offensive efforts, and Kerala Richards showed strong shooting ability, adding crucial points to the scoreboard. Maddy White effectively locked down the opposition’s offense, limiting their scoring opportunities. Amity Page, who was called up at the last minute, proved to be a valuable asset, fitting seamlessly into the team’s dynamic, and Charlize Harper-Green ensured smooth transitions by moving the ball up the court with ease.
Though the final scores were not in MSPC's favour, the girls represented the college with honour and determination, embodying the spirit of the game. Their teamwork and individual contributions highlighted their potential and promise for future matches. The MSPC community is proud of their efforts and looks forward to supporting them in their upcoming games.
Back Row: (L-R) Maddy White, Charlie Gear, Amity Page, Kerala Richards
Front Row: (L-R) Caitlyn Bernard, Hannah Dykes, Charlize Harper-Green
Junior Boys
The MSPC junior Boys Basketball team recently took to the court against some of the strongest teams in the Diocesean Basketball League. Under the guidance of Coach Troy Stanley, the boys were provided with a safe and supportive environment to find their footing against these formidable opponents.
In their first game against MacKillop, a school known for its basketball prowess, MSPC faced a tough match and lost 23-74. Despite the outcome, there were standout performances from Xander Hoade, who demonstrated strong defensive skills, and Paddy Nelson, who impressed with his ball movement. Vance Wilcomes also shone with his impressive attack and teamwork, while Keane Moriyon showcased his strong shooting abilities.
The second game saw MSPC face off against St Paul’s Kempsey, where they fell short with a score of 42-53. Although the team found it difficult to gel as a unit, individual highlights included Jarrah Wright's impressive shooting, Zac Stuart's effective ball movement around the key and up the court, and Hector Purcell's efforts in securing rebounds and blocking out the opposition.
In their final game against Port Regional, the boys came tantalizingly close to victory but ultimately lost 38-41. This match was a steep learning curve for the team as they worked to bring together their varying skills on the court. Strength was displayed by several players including Darcy Bush, Jarrah Wright, Keane Moriyon, Brodie Waters and Paddy Nelson, all of whom contributed significantly to the team’s efforts.
Despite the losses, the MSPC Boys Basketball team showed great potential and determination. The experiences gained from these games will undoubtedly serve them well as they continue to develop their skills and teamwork under Coach Stanley's expert guidance. The college community is proud of their efforts and looks forward to watching their continued growth in the coming matches.
Back Row (L-R): Xander Hoade, Darcy Bush, Hector Purcell, Paddy Nelson, Brodie Waters
Front Row (L-R): Vance Wilcomes, Zac Stuart, Jarrah Wright, Keane Moriyon
Junior Girls
The MSPC Girls Basketball team recently achieved an impressive 2nd place in their pool, thanks to the strong direction and leadership provided by Coach Zac Hoade. His guidance was instrumental in helping the girls improve their teamwork and overall performance, making the college proud.
In their first game against Coffs, MSPC faced a tough challenge and lost 17-58. Despite the scoreline, Sophie Gear stood out with her impressive contributions on both offense and defense. Caitlyn O'Grady showcased strong ball movement and fast breaks, while Eliza Dowling remained steady and strong in defense, making impressive penetration in the key.
The second game against Port Regional was a triumphant victory for MSPC, with the team winning 44-16. This game highlighted the strength of the girls' teamwork, with several standout performances. Cleo Harper-Green excelled with her impressive intercepts and ability to read the game, while Isabelle Fitzmaurice dominated in rebounding. Annie Amouyal displayed generous movement around the key, making crucial assists, and Alani Cracknell’s strong defense and aggressive play were pivotal in the win. Ella Morphett rounded out the team's efforts with her impressive shooting and ball-handling skills.
The MSPC community is extremely proud of our junior girls and their efforts on at the championships. We are also incredibly thankful for Coach Zac Hoade’s contributions, as his input has been key in helping the girls work better as a team. With his continued guidance, the future looks bright for this talented group of players.
Back Row: (L-R) Sophie Gear, Isabelle Fitzmaurice, Cleo Harper-Green, Eliza Dowling
Front Row: (L-R) Ella Morphett, Caitlyn O’Grady, Annie Amouyal, Alani Cracknell
RUGBY UNION 7’S
Under 14 Girls
What a day the girls had at Evans Head for the Alex Gibbon’s Cup Rugby 7’s Championships. The Under 14’s team returned to compete for the trophy after learning the ropes the week before in the Gala Day. To say I was proud of these girls is an understatement! Plagued by illness and injury, they had 4 very difficult games to win if they were going to advance to the State Finals in Sydney. The heart and determination displayed by these girls on the field was inspirational and led them to winning the day and advancing to compete in Sydney in mid-September. Piper Boddie was named Player of the Tournament and was awarded a special trophy by Alex Gibbons himself. We wish the girls luck when they travel to Sydney late next month to hopefully bring another trophy home!
Lisa East (Coach)
Back Row: (L-R) Harper Jones, Lily Biersteker, Freya Payne, Piper Boddie, Harper
Fisher, Matilda Stuart, Alex Gibbons
Front Row: (L-R) Reign Walle, Ivy Hart, Sophia Levings, Liv Andrews
Under 16 Boys
The Under 16 Boys 7’s Rugby side returned to Evans Head for the championship carnival after what was a solid hit-out last week in preparation. The boys seemed to have learnt alot from last week and the inclusion of a few extra players in Caleb D, Harper B and Max P meant the team was primed to play well.
The teams’ first game was against Ballina Coast High School (Team 2) which was a positive start to the day. With both teams having an early start at 9.15am it was fantastic to see the boys gel well together and have a convincing win against a talented team with the score ending five tries to one.
The second fixture was against a strong Lindisfarne team (eventual runners up). Although the boys showed plenty of fight, they were ultimately outplayed in the fundamental areas of Rugby Union and went down four tries to one.
The final pool game was against a depleted Lismore High School team who seemed to limp into their final round game. Finishing the game with only 6 players allowed the boys from Mt St Pats to win convincingly by seven tries to one. With Arthur Jackson scoring 5 tries alone.
The two wins and one loss meant that the boys finished 4th overall for the day. With this great finish came a chance to play for a spot in the Grand Final. The Semi Final was against a team the boys came up against last week, Ballina Coast High School (Team one). After what was an exciting 14 mins of 7’s Rugby, the boys from MSPC were beaten five tries to three. Ballina Coast went on to be the eventual champions of the day. All players should be commended for their efforts and the way they represented the college on the day.
Sam Priddis (Coach)
Tim Whitney
Sports Coordinator
College News
YEAR 9 SNOW TRIP
After 2 years of talking and preparation, the 94 students filled with excitement at the Coolangatta airport and waved their parents goodbye.
A short plane trip to Canberra and off to Jindabyne we went. Arriving at our digs somewhere around 6.30pm we quickly settled, ate our evening meal, collected all necessary equipment and had one final meeting with the group. When a 5.45am wake up call was announced on Tuesday morning it was met with some shock but surprisingly the group bounced out of bed and quickly ate breakfast and boarded buses and it was off to the snow for Day 1.
On Tuesday all students were divided into either skiers or boarders and similar ability levels. They met with an instructor and they were off. Some quickly learnt the art of falling gracefully, some didn't. Some were wondering what the difference was between toe side and heel side. Others snow ploughed and made “pizzas” in the snow. But by the end of their second lesson after lunch most could go top to bottom of a run even if it was the ‘magic carpet’.
At the end of Day 1 all staff were met with enormous smiles and many stories of what had happened. Excitement levels were high but energy levels were low. The constant effort of falling, collecting yourself, clicking in up, down, etc. had taken its toll and some were asleep on the short 15 min trip back to Skirider.
Over the next few days of absolutely glorious weather the stories got better as did the skill level of all skiers and boarders. The resilience shown by the whole group was simply amazing. Whilst some had to sit out a session here or there due to illness, they all made an effort to return. As the staff kept reminding them, the snow and weather conditions do not get any better in the Australian alps.
One or two injuries was all we had to manage and I am sure these two students enjoyed their time enough to make that decision to get back there sooner rather than later.
I hope the current Year 8 students and parents are reading this as your trip preparation begins toward the end of this term. I can thoroughly recommend this trip as an excursion which will create lifelong memories for all involved.
Well done Year 9, 2024. Thank you to all the generous staff who attended.
Tim Whitney
A big thank you to Mr Whitney for his hours and hours of preparation over the 2 years and his ability to foresee problems and have a solution ready. The staff attending were in awe.
Editor: Miss McShane
PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF YEAR 12
Nepal Immersion, December 2024
Are you interested celebrating the conclusion of your child’s schooling at MSPC with a trip to Nepal in December this year?
Spend over two weeks in Nepal with your child who will be:
- VOLUNTEERING in a children’s home and village school
- SIGHTSEEING in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- DAY TREKKING from three comfortable lodges in the lower Annapurna.
All accommodation is with attached bathrooms and hot water.
The day trekking and volunteering is optional as we are transported between lodges by vehicle.
Please email Mr. Jim Smith to register your interest in attending an information evening or ask any questions.
'Nepalies' has been running at MSPC since 2016!
jim.smith@lism.catholic.edu.au
CAREERS
Interested in a career in Wildlife, Veterinary Science or Conservation?
On Saturday 24th August, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Currumbin Wildlife Hospital are hosting their inaugural Hospital and Conservation Day.
- Behind the Scenes Wildlife Hospital Tours (For a $50 donation – pre-booking essential)
- Meet Higher Education Career Experts
- Fascinating Conservation Talks
- $20 park entry on the day for all students presenting a valid student ID card
Find out more: https://currumbinsanctuary.com.au/wildlife-hospital/Events/hospital-conservation-day
iPone Lost on Bus S148 (Cabba)
Lost on bus S148 (Cabba) after school on Friday 9/8 - iPhone 12 with black case. If you have found it, or know of it's whereabouts, let front office know, ph: 0266722340. Owner is anxious about it's loss.
Awards
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND MERITS - Yr 7, 8, 10, 11
Community News
