MSPC Newsletter - Term 4, Week 10, 18th December 2024

Principal

Farewell to Mrs Louise Shields
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, this will be Mrs Shields last year at MSPC. For 29 years she has made this school part of her life. She has exhibited the qualities of a Mt St Pats staff member and more. By her example we see someone who has a deep faith, who exudes joy and passion for life, and more specifically this school. We wish her all the best in her new role as Assistant Principal at St Marys in Cairns, a position she thoroughly deserves and will be amazing at, as the cliche goes our big loss is their enormous gain. I am not sure if the staff and community are aware what they are in for, but I’m sure they will quickly see the wisdom, passion and humour that she brings to all that she does. We are extremely grateful to Louise for her amazing service to this school and the wider parish and Murwillumbah community.  All the best Louise!!!

Acknowledgement and thank you to Gundi Newland
The College would like to acknowledge and thank Gundi Newman for her service and commitment to our College Community and to the Catholic Schools Parent Assembly. Gundi has been the Parent Assembly Representative for MSPC for the last 6 years (and 2 years prior to that for St Ambrose). Gundi has also been an active member of what was our P&F and now School Community Group

Thank you Gundi for your time, energy, dedication and enthusiasm. Your contributions have made a difference and you’ve helped create a space where parents could come together, share experiences, learn from and support one another. Your reliability and generosity of spirit are qualities we will miss. We wish you all the best for the future.

    Gavin Dykes
    Principal

Assistant Principal - Mission

Christmas Assembly: Thank you to the Student Leaders for the high spirited assembly they put on for our students and for our visitors from the Solomon Islands. Lots of fun was had with the House singing and our visit from Santa and the Grinch

Presentation Day Assembly: Congratulations to our well deserved award recipients last Friday at the Presentation Assembly which celebrates the achievements of all Academic Excellence and Merit winners as well as our Exemplary Students. For the very first time a Junior Sportsperson of the Year was awarded to one student in each year from 7 to 10. A list of recipients can be found in the Sports section of this newsletter. Well done to all students.

Preparation for 2025: Please be aware of requirements needed to get you started for the new school year. Please visit our website for uniform and grooming requirements and to access the online portal to purchase uniforms. There is also an equipment list for Years 8 through to Year 10 in this Newsletter.

Finally, as I leave this great school that is Mount St Pat’s, I want to share with you a few words that I delivered at the Presentation Assembly last Friday, following what was a heartfelt thank you from students and staff;

I didn’t ever think I would be leaving Mount St Pat’s and it’s hard to believe that this moment is here, saying goodbye after 29 years in this wonderful school. This place has been more than a workplace; it has been a community, a family and a home.

Over nearly three decades, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing countless young lives grow, flourish and achieve their potential. To play even a small part in that journey has been one of my greatest honours.

I want to thank my colleagues, past and present, for their support, collaboration, and friendship. Together, we’ve shared challenges, celebrated successes and remained steadfast in our commitment to nurturing the students in our care.

To our beautiful students, you are the reason I am here. Schools are all about our students and you have been my inspiration during my years here as an educator. Your curiosity, creativity and resilience have taught me as much as I hope I’ve taught you. Watching you strive for your dreams has been a constant reminder of why I chose this vocation. I want you to know the reason I became a teacher and why I made my way into working in student management and wellbeing. I, like many of you, struggled to see the purpose of school. I was there for the social connections and a fun time. I probably spent more time in the Deputy Principal’s office than all of you collectively have spent in mine, I’m serious about that. I haven’t said this to many of you because I didn’t want you to think this was a normal way. But I had some awesome teachers who believed in me and whom I trusted in. These people were also my inspiration. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of any student I could, just like they had with me. 

As I move into the last phase of my career at St Mary’s Catholic College in Cairns, I now move into staff management because, as much as I love to work with kids, I want to positively influence staff because I have had the privilege of many awesome mentors and I want young teachers to know that this is a career choice that is worth the world.

I thank this school community for entrusting me with the gift of teaching. The spirit and values of this place have shaped not just my career, but my life.

Though I leave MSP, this will always be my school. The school I came to as a young teacher, the school that educated our own three children and the school that has given me the most special teaching experience and the most precious friendships. I will carry the memories, lessons and friendships of these 29 years with me forever. This is not goodbye because we plan to retire back here. This is our home, it’s simply the start of a new chapter and I leave knowing that this school will continue to thrive and inspire. I am very blessed for my time spent here and I will always be a Pattie’s girl.  Thank you, Be the Good and God bless.

    Louise Shields
    Assistant Principal Mission

MINISTRY

We have already begun planning for our Year 10 and Year 12 Retreats for 2025.

Year 12 Retreat is Week 5, Term 1: Wednesday 5th March - Friday 7th March.

New look Year 10 Retreat is Week 7, Term 2: Thursday 12th June - Friday 13th June.

Students will be sent a dietary requirement google form to complete. They only need to fill this form out if they have a dietary requirement. Further information and consent forms will appear on Compass.

Parents and carers, please keep an eye on your emails for some extra information and instructions regarding the retreats.

Year 7 2025 Student and Parent Mass - Save the Date!
As part of our transition week for Year 7 2025, all Year 7 students and their parents/guardians are invited to attend a special Year 7 Mass in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Friday 7th February at 2:00pm.

This will be a wonderful opportunity for our new Year 7s and their families to see our Church and meet our Parish Priest, Fr Peter Wood and experience mass as a Year 7 MSPC cohort.

It would be lovely to have some of our Year 7 students read, do the offertory and even altar serve if you are an altar server. If you are a new Year 7 in 2025 and would like to do a special job at this mass, please email Mr Thomas McGhee and what you would like to do: thomas.mcghee@lism.catholic.edu.au

Thank you!
On behalf of the Ministry team, I would like to thank Thomas McGhee for his service as our College Youth Ministers this year. Thomas has been an incredible member of the team and has shown such passion and dedication in his role as college youth minister. I know our students, and myself are extremely grateful for his hard work, ideas, creativity and efforts this year. Thomas is staying with us moving into 2025. Keep an eye out for some amazing new ministry initiatives in 2025.

Thank you also to all the staff and the many, many students who have participated in all our wonderful Ministry events this year. Special thank you to Mrs Louise Shields, Mrs Angela Finkel and Mrs Cathy Cripps for their dedication to the team and attending and organising many events this year. Thank you to Mr Daniel Anderson and his student helpers for running an amazing breakfast club throughout the year. It has been wonderful and is very appreciated by students.

Many thanks also go to Fr. Peter Wood, Fr Anthony Lemon, Mary-Ann Thackray, Beth Gorton and Barbara Grant, who continuously work with us throughout the year to provide such valuable opportunities for our students.

Vinnies Christmas Appeal and You have a Friend can drive
Thank you to all the homerooms who generously donated cans and purchased candy canes as part of our Christmas fundraiser. Students and staff donated over 350 cans to YHAF and raised $1500 for Vinnies. Thank you to Mr John Lee and Mr Mick O’Donohue from You Have a Friend and Mrs Denise Banner from the St Vincent De Paul Society in Murwillumbah for accepting our donations.

Thank you also to all the families who dropped in monetary donations. It is very much appreciated.

Celebrate the Joy of Christmas at Mass
As we embrace the Christmas season, let us take a moment to reflect on its true meaning and the joy it brings. Attending a Christmas Mass is a wonderful opportunity to come together with loved ones, celebrate our faith, and share in the beauty of this special time.

Below, you will find a list of local Mass times to help you plan. We warmly invite you to join in these sacred celebrations with your family and friends. May this season bring peace, love, and blessings to all.

Prayer for Christmas

 Wishing all our students, staff and families a happy and holy Christmas.

May the spirit of Christmas be with you all. Stay safe and enjoy a restful holiday with friends and family.

    Grace Molloy
    Leader of Evangelisation

Pastoral Care

As the year draws to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a truly fulfilling and inspiring Term in my role as Acting Leader of Pastoral Care. It has been an incredible privilege to work alongside a dedicated and passionate team, all committed to supporting the wellbeing and growth of our students. Together, we have faced challenges, celebrated achievements, and fostered a sense of community that is at the heart of our College.

Looking ahead, I am delighted to announce that Ms Lara Thompson has joined our College as the new Leader of Pastoral Care. With her extensive knowledge and wealth of experience, Ms Thompson will undoubtedly bring fresh insights and dynamic leadership to the Pastoral Care Team in 2025. I have every confidence that she will continue to strengthen and enhance the support systems that are so integral to our students' success and wellbeing. For my part, I will be stepping back into my role as Leader of Wellbeing for Romero, where I look forward to continuing to contribute to the development of our wonderful students and community.

As we prepare to celebrate the Christmas season, let us take a moment to reflect on Jesus, the true meaning of Christmas, and the gift of His love and hope. May we strive to live out His example of compassion and care for others in our daily lives. I wish each of you a safe, joyful and Merry Christmas, filled with moments of peace, gratitude and togetherness. Thank you for being part of an incredible year and I look forward to all that lies ahead in 2025.

    Blake Reynolds
    Acting Leader of Pastoral Care

STUDENT LEADERSHIP UPDATE - TERM 4

On behalf of the Year 12 Leadership Team, we would like to wish all students and their families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We hope that the holidays are full of fun, rest and awesome experiences.

The Year 12 Leadership Team have been extremely busy this term. Leading from the front, our team has shown enthusiasm, energy and determination in organising a range of activities in the College.

Early in the term, Academic Wellbeing Leaders assisted the Learning Hub Team in their Homework Help initiatives signing on as mentors for younger students. Student Leaders also helped make World Teachers Day Special, ensuring MSPC staff heard how appreciated they were directly from the student body.

Leaders kicked off the festive celebrations, decorating the school and launching the Homeroom Christmas Decorating Competition, which a dazzling Nagle N39 ended up taking the crown for. On Tuesday we donated over 350 food tins to the charity ‘You Have a Friend’, with Lucan House donating the most.

We ended the term with the first House vs House Volleyball Tournament. Played over four lunchtimes, it was wonderful to see students from all grades coming together and showing house spirit and friendly competition. A tough Assisi side prevailed against the valiant Romero team in the Grand Final on Monday to take out the competition.

This Volleyball Competition is the first event of the new Louise Shields Shield - newly introduced to honour the pioneering of the 8 house structure and 29 years of service of Mrs Shields. We would like to thank her for her many years of service and wish her well at her new school.

To those other staff members not returning next year, thank you for your time at Mount St Patrick College, and know that you are deeply appreciated by the student body.

On behalf of the students we would like to thank all staff for this year of education. Our teachers work so hard and we appreciate this deeply. We wish them a restful break and look forward to 2025.

Once again, Merry Christmas to all, and see you in 2025!

    Makaylah De Jonge and Ewan Bourne
    College Captains on behalf of the Year 12 Leadership Team

Faculty News

FROM THE SPORTS DESK

JUNIOR SPORTS PERSONS OF THE YEAR
At last Friday's presentation Assembly we awarded our Inaugural Junior Sports Person of the Year Award to four deserving athletes who have represented themselves, MSPC and their families exceptionally well throughout the year.

The winners were: Ellie Durrington (Year 7); Tim Wellm (Year 8); Alex Seamer (Year 9); Will Hoffman (Year 10)

COLLEGE NETBALL COMPETITION
During Terms 3 & 4, over forty Year 7 & 8 girls participated in an Inter-School Netball Competition.

This involved four teams competing against each other in a Round Robin format. The finals were played earlier this term with much anticipation.

Congratulations to the Red Team who defeated the Purple Team in the grand final. This was a close fought match that needed to go into extra time to determine the winner. 

The Red team members were: Evie Gray, Sophie Gear, Aliza Malvay, Bronte Brown, Ella McTaggart, Evie Neville, Grace Newman,Elsi Ings, Darcy Holder.

There were some excellent Netball skills and team comradery on display and it was great to see the enthusiasm, positive attitude and excitement during the competition.

Thank you to all the girls who participated.

We look forward to running the competition again in 2025.

Miss Abbey Bevan

REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN

Parents and students wishing to register interest in any of the following events can do so now through the Lismore sport web page:   Lismore Dio Sport

• U15 Boys Aussie Rules (Warners Bay)
• U16 & U18 Girls Rugby League (Woodlawn)
• U15 & U18 Boys Rugby League (Woodlawn)
• Open Boys and Girls Soccer (trials in Coffs Harbour in 2025)
• U15 & Open Touch Football trials (Toormina)
• Open Netball trials (Coffs Harbour)

FORWARD PLANNING

Some important dates for Term 1 2025

• 19th Feb CCC / NSW ALL SCHOOLS Triathlon (Penrith)
• 25th Feb Dio League (Lismore) and Football trials (Coffs H)
• 27th Feb U14 Boys Aussie Rules trials Warners Bay
• 28th Feb College Swimming Carnival TRAC. Swimmers please note that the Diocesan event is the following week in Lismore and Compass event permissions will need to be completed asap.
• 4th March Diocesan Individual Touch football trials (Toormina)
• 6th March Diocesan Swimming Carnival (Lismore)
• 13th March Diocesan Open Basketball Championships (Coffs Harbour)
• 2nd April Diocesan North Open Football (Lismore)
• 2nd and 4rd April NSWCCC Swimming
• 4th April Diocesan Netball Trials (Coffs Harbour)
• 8th April Nick Meaney Cup Rugby League 9’s
• 10th April College Cross Country (Murwillumbah Showground)

    Tim Whitney
    Sport Co-ordinator

MUSIC

Well we have finally reached the end of the year! Thank you to all of our wonderful students who have participated in our choir, band, drumline and musical events this year!

Musical Cast Intensive Rehearsals
Last week the lead cast and dancers for our 2025 Musical ‘Grease’ kickstarted the rehearsal process. Students worked over 4 days at the Civic Centre learning songs, scenes and choreography for our first act. We were all extremely impressed by the talent and commitment of these students to their roles and look forward to seeing the energy and enthusiasm they will bring in the coming year! We also look forward to adding in the Chorus ensemble in Term 1.

 Help with COSTUMING for Grease!
We continue seeking someone to assist lead a team in sourcing costumes for the Musical.

No experience necessary though if you can sew that would be a bonus. If you know of anyone in the community that might be interested please encourage them to get in contact. There is a modest budget allocated and some costumes are already in the process of being loaned from other schools. If you enjoy a good treasure hunt through a Charity Shop- we might have just the job for you!

Headphones in Music
We would love to see all students return to school with a set of headphones/ear buds (with the aux chord), particularly Year 7&8 and Elective Music students in Years 9-12. It is the most hygienic option for students to use their own when using the piano keyboards and their computers. We imagine they are likely to take better care of their personal property. If you (or family members) are looking for ideas for Christmas presents- headphones/ear buds are a great choice- and your friendly music teachers would be very appreciative!

Christmas Liturgy
Thank you to the wonderful students who sang so nicely for our Christmas Liturgy on Tuesday, especially to Yr 12 student Isabella Biersteaker who led ‘Hallelujah- Christmas Version’ so beautifully. Such commitment to choir right up to the final days of the school year.

    Kaitlyn Rennes-Nadal
    Leader of Learning: Creative Arts - Music

College News