MSPC Newsletter - Term 2, Week 10, 3rd July
Principal
Assistant Principal - Mission
NAIDOC Week Celebrations
The College’s NAIDOC celebrations began in great style on Monday 30th June with an indoor (Plan B due to the rain) College Assembly; a luncheon for special guests and a BBQ lunch of kangaroo and beef sausages, for all students. Our Aboriginal Education Workers, Tayah Logan and Madi Van Rosi, did a great job in organizing the day. Our ATSI students led the Assembly and presented musical and video items, and NAIDOC Awards to an outstanding student in each House, with great aplomb. A great celebration of this very important week in Australia’s developing story.
Perm-A-Pleat
College uniform suppliers Perm-A-Pleat will close for their annual mid-year break from Friday 11th July to Monday 28th July, 2025. To ensure dispatch before the break, please place online orders by COB on Wednesday 9th July. Thereafter, orders will be dispatched from Monday 28th July.
College Staff Development Days Friday 4/7 and Monday 21/7/25
Tomorrow Friday 4th July will be a Staff Professional Development Day. Students are not required to be in attendance tomorrow. All staff will be meeting offsite and the content of the day is Spirituality.
Monday 21st July will also be a Staff Development Day. As such College students are not required to attend school on this day. The focus of the day will be on implementing new curriculum. It will enable significant blocks of time to allow staff to collaborate in their Key Learning Area group/s to develop new and exciting programs. The first day of attendance for college students in Term 3 is Tuesday 22nd July which is Day 17 (Week D) of the timetable.
National School Improvement Team Review Parent Voice
In Week 2 next term the College is being visited by a panel of educators who are reviewing the College against a number of measures. We first went through this Review Process in 2022. The College has to provide, in advance, lots of data and information about our approach to Learning and Teaching. On 29th – 31st July the panel will be interviewing all staff, many students in groups, and some parents in groups.
Any parent would like to come and speak with a member of the panel is most welcome to come on Tuesday 29th July or Wednesday 30th July from 2.30 – 3pm. Please ring or email me if you would be available to come and speak. Phone: 66722340 Email: mary-anne.mcshane@lism.catholic.edu.au
Mary-Anne McShane
Assistant Principal: Mission
MINISTRY
Ministry Team News – End of Term Wrap
As Term 3 comes to a close, we want to express our heartfelt thanks to all staff and students who have been involved in Ministry events this term. It has been a time of meaningful experiences, reflection, and connection with our school community and with God.
Year 12 Retreat
Our senior students recently participated in their final retreat – a powerful opportunity for reflection and personal growth as they prepare for the end of their school journey. Thank you to the staff who supported this special time. Your presence and care made a big impact.
Year 10 Retreat – Focus on Service
The Year 10 Retreat explored the theme of service, encouraging students to consider how they can serve others in everyday life. Students responded with maturity, openness and a willingness to grow. A sincere thanks to the staff who helped bring this day together.
Primary Retreat Days
Throughout the term, our Youth Ministry students helped run retreat days for local primary students. These were uplifting and joy-filled experiences, and our students were wonderful leaders and role models. A big thank you to each student who gave up their time to serve – your efforts were noticed and appreciated!
SHINE Conference – Term 3
We’re looking forward to the SHINE Conference on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd August. Both our Year 9 and 10 Youth Ministry students and teachers will be attending this event, along with some of our amazing Year 11 and 12 Ministry leaders.
Packing information and further details will be shared with students early next term.
Reminder: Some students still need to complete consent and payment via Compass. If your child is not attending, please contact Miss Molloy as soon as possible. This is a compulsory event for our Youth Ministry classes at MSPC.
Ignite Conference 2025 (Students in Year 9-12)
We have only 11 places available for this exciting opportunity
What is Ignite?
A four-day experience where students will gather with young people from across Australia to:
- Encounter Jesus and the Church
- Experience vibrant faith
- Be equipped for ministry
- Be empowered to impact the world
Dates: Thursday 25th – Sunday 28th September, 2025
Location: St Laurence’s College, South Brisbane
Cost: $390 (includes accommodation and most meals)
What to bring: Sleeping bag, pillow, towel, small amount of cash
(Note: some meals and snacks are not included. Students will also have the chance to make a small charitable donation.)
If you are interested, please see Thomas McGhee or Miss Molloy to register your interest. You can also email either of them with an expression of interest.
Year 9 Reflection Day
When: Wednesday 23rd July (Week 1)
Where: At school
Dress: Sport uniform
Facilitator: Chris Doyle
Students will enjoy a fun, music-filled and engaging day focused on faith and life. It is a compulsory school day.
Year 8 Retreat – Catch the Wave
When: Thursday 29th August (Week 7)
More details to come early next term, but students can look forward to an energising and interactive retreat experience focused on the joy of Christian life.
Thank You!
Thank you again to all the staff and students who made our Ministry events so special this term. Your support, energy and openness to faith continues to shape a welcoming and vibrant Catholic community here at Mount St Patrick College.
Wishing everyone a safe and restful break.
God bless,
Miss Grace Molloy
Leader of Evangelisation
Faculty News
Year 10 Commerce Courtroom Visit Inspires Future Legal Minds
On Wednesday 18 June, Year 10 Commerce students took part in an engaging and eye-opening excursion to the Murwillumbah Local Court.
Attending on a list day, students observed a range of real-life legal matters, including speeding offences, Apprehended Violence Orders (AVOs), driving without registration and cases involving driving under the influence. The courtroom visit provided students with a unique opportunity to witness the legal system in action and deepen their understanding of court processes.
One of the highlights of the day was the warm welcome extended by the presiding Magistrate, who generously took time to explain the workings of the court and the principles of sentencing. Students were invited to sit in the jury box, walk around the courtroom, and even try out the Magistrate's chair.
A Q&A session capped off the visit, with students eagerly asking thoughtful questions about the legal system, career pathways, and decision-making in court.
Student reflections captured the impact of the day:
“It was actually the best day ever.” – Jack
“It was interesting hearing about the court processes.” – Darnika
“I’m choosing Legal Studies now.” – Finn
This excursion not only brought classroom learning to life but also sparked genuine interest in the legal field amongst our students.
The HSIE Team
FROM THE SPORTS DESK
NSWCCC RUGBY UNION
Piper Boddie from Yr 9 played in the NSWCCC U16 Rugby Union team in the “Tri Series” event against CIS and CHS School teams. Piper performed very well and was named in the NSW ALL Schools team.
COLLEGE ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
During this week (Week 10) all families would have received a survey about how your child is planning on getting to Walter Peate Oval at Kingscliff on Friday 25th July for our annual Athletics Carnival. This is an important survey to complete so we can get organised with our bus company. If you have not completed this you can do so here at this link. However, it will close on Friday 4th July at 3.30pm
We have made a slight change to the Track program for the carnival. You can view it here and students can access the Carnival Booklet via their google sport classroom. Our records are also in the Carnival Program. Do you still hold any? Athletes can view them and set their goals.
YR 9 - 11 SPORTS PERMISSIONS
Parents of students in Years 9 - 11, would have received a compass notification last week about your child's sports for Term 3. During Term 3 and again in Term, 4 there is a shift towards visiting venues offsite and, as always, we need your consent. If you could please attend to giving permissions at your earliest convenience. Thank you in advance.
Year 10 students will also need to complete an electronic waiver form in their sport google classroom to attend a skate board riding session. Parents you will need to sign that for them. Thanks for your assistance with this.
OZTAG NEWS
Shiloh and Ivy Hart were selected in Oztag teams for the State Cup competition earlier this year and recently competed in the Tri Series on the Sunshine Coast against the top 48 girls in Queensland. To top it off, they've both been selected for the Queensland State of Origin team to play against NSW! Ivy has made the team, and Shiloh is the top shadow, hoping for a chance to play.
Shiloh has also been selected for the Nationals team, which will be playing in Coffs Harbour in a couple of months.
Great success for the girls which shows their perseverance and passion for Oztag and football are truly inspiring.
Also, a special mention to Sophia Levings. She was also in the State Cup and Tri Series competitions. Sophia has also been named as a shadow for the State of Origin team.
TERM 3 DATES
Week 1
- Tuesday 22nd July U15 Rugby League Regional Finals Country Cup Ballina
- Wednesday 23rd July 1500m event for students P1&2
- Thursday 24th July Q Schools Cup Junior Girls, Intermediate Boys Ormeau
- Friday 25th July College Athletics Carnival - Walter Peate Oval Kingscliff
Week 2
- Tuesday 29th July NRCC U14 Football (postponed) Byron Bay
Week 4
- Mon 11th - Wed 13th August Junior Dio Basketball Port Macquarie
Week 5
- Tuesday 19th August NRCC Netball South Tweed Heads
Week 6
- Monday 25th August NRCC Junior Aussie Rules Byron Bay
- Wednesday 27th August NRCC Intermediate Aussie Rules Byron Bay
Week 7
- Tuesday 2nd September Diocesan Athletics Coffs Harbour
Week 8
- Monday 8th September NRCC Volleyball
Week 9
- Tuesday 16th September Titans 9’s League U14 and U16 B&G Ballina
Tim Whitney
Sports Co-ordinator
CHILD STUDIES
Year 9 Child Studies - Term 2
On Monday 23rd June, half of our Child Studies class travelled to the Uniting Preschool to interact and play with the children. It was super fun to interact with 3, 4 and 5 year olds and join in with their games.
My favourite activity was playing red light green light, where almost everyone joined in and we all had a laugh. I also played with two little girls looking at plastic bugs with magnifying glasses, and other people in my class played on the equipment and in the sandpit. This experience was one of my favourite things about 100hr Child Studies, and I look forward to going again soon.
By Sophia Drew
On Tuesday 24th June, our class held a class “birthday party” to celebrate the end of the term and also ‘act out’ our Term 2 assignments. We had a great time and some of our classmates showed off their amazing cooking skills that were showcased in their children's party menus for our assignment.
We played party games like Pass the Parcel, Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Just Dance and Musical Chairs. There were prizes for people in Pass the Parcel. The party decorations, food, games and prizes were supplied by students from our class. Mrs. Waters organized the party. It was really fun and everyone contributed to making the party a great success.
By Lexie Dee and Stephany Joseph
Year 10 Child Studies - Term 2
On Thursday 26th June and Tuesday 1st July, Year 10 Child Studies were lucky enough to go over to the Uniting Preschool and spend some time with the younger children. We watched how they interacted with each other and used their imaginations to play games. We older girls played in the sand pit making sand castles, and blew bubbles with the preschoolers. They were excited to show us their toys and how they played with them and what they played with them. We played with the building blocks and they were very intrigued in getting to run around with us. Overall it was a fun visit with all the little kids and a fun experience that everyone enjoyed!
By Ayla Binns
Year 10 Child Studies had the privilege of having a class party that was associated with our term 2 assessment of creating a children's birthday party. This included making an invitation, coming up with fun games and prizes, as well as coming up with recipes that had the necessary nutrition needed for that age group. For our class party some of the food that was catered was: Isabelle Bice made some sandwiches; Jada Coughran made raspberry brownies; Lillian Corby made raspberry frozen yoghurt bites; Mrs Waters made a delicious cake, as well as many other students who contributed. Overall It was an amazing experience and we all really enjoyed it!
By Millie Ewing
UPDATES FROM THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT
YR 12 TRIAL PERFORMANCE NIGHT
Wow- what an impressive night! Thank you to Mr Rice and Yr 12 Music for preparing your work to such an impressive standard. You weren’t ‘students that were performing’ you were ‘musicians’. You had clearly put a lot of thought into your performances and crafted them with care building interest into your pieces.
The four areas the markers were providing feedback on were:
- Technical difficulty and execution- how challenging is it, and do they pull it off
- Self-expression- dynamic variation, building interest through their performance with expressive techniques
- Stylistic understanding- how well are they representing their chosen style of music
- Communication between the students and other performers and the audience.
Special acknowledgement must go to two very hard-working and devoted teachers. Mr Mitch Rice continued to accompany his students with his impressive guitar work despite a very injured hand.
Vanessa Bowe and her impressive Entertainment VET class worked tirelessly for the 2 days of sound checks and staying until 10pm. They were back again the next morning to pack up the space. It was part of their assessment for Entertainment and their professionalism was outstanding. It certainly elevated the quality of the performances to have the sound mixed and balanced with such care.
Thank you to the very kind parents of students in the class who stayed back to thank the teachers. One parent reminding us of the life-changing impact his own music teacher had had on him and how grateful he is for the opportunities we provide at the College.
The final thank you goes to Miss Grace Molloy and Miss Milly Keogh for assisting me with the marking and feedback for students. It was 4 ½ hours straight of marking and further moderating of marks. This feedback in so valuable to the students as they work on elevating their performances even further for the presentation of their work to external markers next term.
MURWILLUMBAH FESTIVAL OF PERFORMING ARTS
The College would like to congratulate all of our wonderful students who have taken up the opportunity of performing in the local eisteddfod ‘Murwillumbah Festival of Performing Arts’. We experience more growth when we step out of our comfort zone and challenge ourselves.
I had the pleasure of watching the newly established Tweed Youth Orchestra and the long-running Whopping Big Band at the festival on Friday and felt very proud of our students who are involved in these programs.
SECONDARY CHOIR WORKSHOP DAY
Congratulations to our incredible choir for their participation in the choral workshop hosted by the Murwillumbah Festival of Performing Arts. Led by the experienced conductor Tess Doyle, the students learnt four songs in alto and soprano harmony, these include: ‘For Good’, ‘From Now On’, ‘A Wink and a Smile’ and a traditional African welcome song ‘ Funga Alafia’. Looking ahead, we hope to use this wonderful experience to expand our own repertoire and introduce new choral techniques and tips that will improve our ability to sing as a group. Thank you to the students who attended for their excellent behaviour, enthusiasm and engagement while representing the College.
These students include: Sienna Alexander, Amelia Bonnici, Charli Brown, Eva Brzoson, Lexie Dee, Sophia Drew, Evie Edwards, Abigail Ellem, Matilda Green, Abigail Gresham, Yashika Hurry, Stephany Joseph, David Lemes Silva, River Mclean-Reid, Ebony Moore, Maya Mundy, Matilda Patterson, Shanti-Rose Smyth, Siena Teague, Tylah Whittington, Annabelle Wiseman.
Katilyn Rennes-Nadal
Leader of Creative Arts: Music
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
On Thursday 12th June our Year 10 students travelled to a chilly Tyalgum Ridge for their retreat. The focus was on gratitude and service. Students participated in a range of activities, reflecting on the blessings in their lives, including the beautiful natural environment we live in.
On Friday 13th June students engaged in nine different service opportunities, visiting a nursing home, cooking, gardening, landcare, building solar buddies and assisting at primary schools, op shops and Friends of the Pound.
Thank you to the staff who attended and assisted, and a special thank you to our guest speaker, Carmen Stewart for her thought-provoking words on being “respons-able” to the needs in our community.
Mrs Angela Finkel
Leader of Catechesis
College News
Captains Newsletter
As Term 2 comes to a close, the Year 12 Leadership Team would like to wish all families a safe, restful and well-deserved winter break.
This term, we’ve continued to grow our school theme of ‘Strength in Spirit’, working together to foster connection, participation, and pride within our community. Over the past two weeks especially, we’ve had the chance to lead some fantastic initiatives.
The Nagle Stationery Drive wrapped up this week, and we’d like to sincerely thank all students, staff and families who contributed. Your generosity will have a real impact and reflects the heart of our community spirit.
We also held a Netball Competition as part of the Louise Shields Shield, which saw students come together in the spirit of fun, teamwork and healthy competition. It was great to see so many getting involved and cheering each other on.
As we head into the break, we’d also like to wish our fellow Year 12 students all the best as they begin preparing for their HSC Trials. This time can be challenging, but it’s also a chance to show resilience, dedication and support for one another. We’re in this together.
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to returning next term with renewed energy and a shared commitment to unity, service and spirit.
Warm regards,
Makaylah and Ewan
On behalf of the Year 12 Leadership Team
MSPC Basketball Division 2 Boys Seize Grand Final Victory!
Teamwork, Tenacity and Talent on Full Display
In a nail-biting contest that showcased the best of school sport, the MSPC Division 2 Boys basketball team emerged victorious in their grand final clash at the Tweed Valley Basketball GF on the weekend.
With both teams locked in a fierce battle for most of the game, it was in the final five minutes that MSPC pulled ahead, gaining a 10-point lead through smart plays and sheer determination.
Blake White ignited the scoreboard with precision 3-point shooting when it mattered most, swinging momentum and energising his teammates. Kobe Schipp delivered a powerful all-round performance, dominating on both ends of the floor with relentless offence and suffocating defence.
Brodie Waters stood tall as the defensive anchor, protecting the basket with authority and making life difficult for the opposition inside the key.
But it was the team’s collective effort that truly shone. Xavier Bolster was the glue on the court where his vision and unselfish play epitomising MSPC’s incredible teamwork. Jai Kelly-Judd impressed with his tenacity and skill, never backing down and creating opportunities through sheer will.
The youngest member of the squad, Frankie Amoyal, brought explosive speed and energy off the bench, injecting life into every shift and keeping the pressure on the opposition. Ryan Whyte led all scorers, racking up the most points for MSPC with expert penetration of the key and a calm presence under pressure.
Though sidelined by injury, Miller Newman played a vital off-court role, bringing support, spirit and leadership from the bench, reminding everyone that champions are built on more than just what happens on the hardwood.
This was more than a win, it was a team victory in every sense. Congratulations to the boys on a sensational season and a well-deserved grand final triumph!
Go MSPC!
Lauren Frankham
(Basketball Academy)
Community News
BUDDING SECONDARY SCHOOL WRITERS
For any secondary students interested in stories, creativity, and developing their writing skills, local author and teacher Melaina Faranda will be offering five FREE weekly after-school Storyboard masterclasses from July 24th at Murwillumbah Library.
Students aged 12–17 from eight different schools attended the classes in Term One — and had an absolute ball!
Term Three will be the final opportunity to join Storyboard classes this year.
Students can register here: Storyboard Masterclass 2025 – Murwillumbah Senior
ADULT CREATIVE WRITING OPPORTUNITY
Melaina is also running creative writing classes for adults on the same evenings in Murwillumbah.
If you're a teacher interested in exploring your own creativity and expanding your repertoire of techniques and activities to use with students, you can use the discount code FRIENDNOW.
Register here: Get Unstuck and Find Your Writing Inspiration
