MSPC Newsletter - Term 4 Week 4, 3rd November 2022
Principal
Year 7 2023 Orientation
This week we had our orientation days for Year 7 2023. There was a lot of colour from the Leaders of Wellbeing as they led their new charges through a day of activities. There was also a lot of colour from the varied primary school shirts which the students coming from to Mount St Patrick College were wearing. Year 10 students from each house provided valuable guidance throughout the days. We are looking forward to our new Year 7 cohort joining us in 2023.
HSC exams, formal and beyond
Friday 4th November sees the end of the HSC exams. The students have been calm and composed in the manner in which they approached the examinations. I am sure that this will show in their results. The next step is a big one, away from school after 13 years and for many away from home and the area they have grown up in. One last event is the Year 12 Formal which will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their contribution to the College and for them to celebrate with each other. I am looking forward to seeing them together for this last event as a year group on Friday 11th November.
Diaries for 2023
After surveying staff, students and parents we have decided not to have a hard-copy College diary for 2023. Students will have access to the many items the diary offers through the College intranet site. This will mean calendars and timetables will be up to date as any changes will be reflected in what they are looking at. We will also ensure that College and House prayers are also easily accessible for all students. Students who would like to organise themselves using a paper-based or hard copy diary will be welcome to bring their own to do so.
Communication
The recent Tell Them From Me survey has highlighted the need for College communication to be more regular and targeted and we will be investigating the best mode to do this. Parent responses to surveys and emails are a substantial part of any improvement and I thank people for their input.
Final Thought
“When I was a young boy I sought God by looking up - trying to see if I could find God through some break in the sky. Today when I look for God, I look down, not up, because I find God in small things. As Pope Franics has said, we find the extraordinary in the ordinary” John Scally, Waiting in Joy
Be the Good and God Bless,
Paul Reidy
Principal
Assistant Principal - Mission
Year 7 2023 Orientation Days
We have had two great Orientation Days for incoming Year 7 students this week. Tuesday’s rain didn’t dampen anyone’s enthusiasm and the Year 6 students went home smiling after their day of high school. Thanks to all the Leaders of Wellbeing; the teachers who ran the PE and Art activities and the Year 10 Buddies who did a fantastic job giving tours, answering questions and playing games.
Year 12 HSC Exams conclude Friday 4th November
As I write this article on Thursday 3rd November, the Physics students are completing their 3-hour morning exam. The final HSC Exam is Design and Technology for 1.5 hours on Friday afternoon 4th November. Well done to Year 12 students on their perseverance throughout the exam period and to their parents and siblings for ongoing support, and patience!
Breakfast Club 4th November
This free student-driven initiative is continuing and tomorrow returns to the Gilbey Hall. The students running the Breakfast Club would be grateful for gold coin donations from regular patrons to go towards purchasing supplies for the following weeks.
Year 12 Formal 11th November
We are looking forward to this celebration of Year 12 2022 students’ end of secondary education. The Gilbey Hall will be open from 5pm and the formalities will begin at 6pm with the introduction of Year 12 2022. The students usually make their appearance in Queensland Road en route to the Gilbey laneway from 5.15pm, via an assortment of vehicles.
The College P & F are running a cashless bar from 5 – 11.30pm and are in need of volunteers to either be cashiers (process eftpos transactions and provide order receipts/collect glasses) or bar staff (must be over 18yrs and have a current RSA). The busy period will probably be from 5 – 8.30pm so some volunteers may not need to be present for the entire evening. If you are able to assist please contact the P & F Secretary, Ms Mary-Ann Thackray at mthackray@lism.catholic.org.au
Mary-Anne McShane
Assistant Principal: Mission
Welfare
Wellbeing focus this week is Accomplishment and Optimism and the Character Strength is Fairness
Louise Shields
Leader of Welfare
Curriculum
Week 4 has seen our Year 12 and our Year 11 Accelerated students complete their last week of HSC examinations. We are so impressed by their mature and focused manner.
Meanwhile the rest of the College has been gearing up for their upcoming assessments. Students have been notified of their assessment blocks as follows:
Term 4 Assessment Blocks:
- Year 7 assessment block is scheduled for Week 5, commencing 07/11/22 to 11/11/22.
- Year 8 assessment block is scheduled for Week 6, commencing 14/11/22 to 18/11/22.
- Year 9 assessment block is scheduled for Week 6, commencing 14/11/22 to 18/11/22.
- Year 10 assessment block is scheduled for Week 5, commencing 07/11/22 to 11/11/22.
- Year 11 (Year 12 HSC) and Accelerated Year 10 assessment block is scheduled starting Week 9, commencing on 05/12/22 to 09/12/22.
Assessment Policy: A copy of the Assessment Policy can be found on the Assessment Portal. If students require a variation to assessment, they should complete the online Assessment Variation Application Form for each subject.
Students can access all information regarding their assessments via the Assessment Portal which is found on the MSPC Moodle Site. Students can access the site using their school email and log in: https://moodle.mursclism.catholic.edu.au/
For Years 10 - 12: If students are absent on the day of the assessment, a Medical Practitioner must complete the Mount St Patrick Assessment Variation Illness Application. This can be accessed on the student’s year page of the Assessment Portal. A zero will be awarded if the completed document is not provided. NOTE: A signed statutory declaration will not be accepted. * Please note that a family social event or holiday will not be considered a valid reason for an extension or exemption.
Years 11 and 12 should refer to their Senior Handbooks for the MSPC Assessment Policy relating to Stage 6. Years 11 and 12 should be conversant with the NESA HSC Rules and Procedures Guide. All students entered in an HSC course must read the HSC Rules and Procedures Guide. The weblink can be found on the year page of the Assessment Portal.
Students are encouraged to be proactive with their learning and assessment preparation. This is important for building confidence and assessment readiness. Students will be provided with study guides and revision materials by their teachers. If students are unsure of expectations, they should seek advice from their teachers. There are many helpful online resources that can also assist parents to help their child to be organised, confident and assessment ready. Implementing a balanced home study routine can play an important part in this process.
Below is the schedule for assessment tasks for Weeks 3 and 4:
Jo McDonald
Leader of Curriculum
Faculty News
FROM THE SPORTS DESK
DOWNIE TROPHY CRICKET
MSPC Senior Boys took on St Josephs in the first round of the Downie Cup at Les Cave field in Murwillumbah. The boys made a strong start scoring 194 off 28 overs, with Nathan Pryke the top scorer with 83 runs. St Josephs struggled to get going losing wickets at regular intervals. Eventually, they were bowled out for 61, Nathan Pryke taking 5-5 off 4 overs. MSPC now face St Johns in the next round at Woodlawn.
Nicholas Rimell
BERG SHIELD CRICKET - Round 1
A team of Year 8 and 9 students played the first round of the Berg Shield Cricket knockout against St Joseph's College Banora Point on Tuesday 1st November.
In damp conditions, Captain Rishabh Lashand won the toss and elected to bat. Tex Mikkelsen was on strike for the first ball which he hit for 4. A few balls later he got a top edge that went to the keeper. Bringing Rishabh in to join Sam Acret for an astonishing unbeaten 319-run partnership off only 118 balls. Sam Acret scored 127* and Rishabh Lashand scored 122*.
St Joseph’s were set 327 to win off 20 overs. Jake Shackell and Jack O'Shea opened the bowling restricting them to 2/15 off their 6 overs. Then Menzie Tucker and Hugo Portus bowled 4/19 off their 6 overs including a team hat-trick with Menzie taking the first and then Hugo following it up with 2 more. Sam and Rishabh then combined to close the game out with 2/4 off their 2.2 overs. Jack O'shea also got a runout from a direct hit. Well done boys!
The next round will be against St Mary's Catholic College, Casino.
Corey Nix
DIOCESAN OPEN TOUCH TRIALS
I attended a sport planning session last week and dates were set for 2023. The Diocesan Individual Touch Football Trials are extremely early in Term 1, Friday February 24th. As a result, all trialists are asked to have their applications for the Under 15 and Open teams completed by the end of Week 2 Term 1, Friday 10th February 2023 please.
Representative Touch Football players are asked to visit the Lismore Diocesan Sport website and complete an application before that date. The applications will open shortly. Visit the registration tab and complete. Successful applicants will be invited to attend the trial which will take place in Coffs Harbour.
https://sport.lism.catholic.edu.au/?doing_wp_cron=1544140477.4038619995117187500000
Tim Whitney
Sports Coordinator
PDHPE
YEAR 11 SLR EXCURSION
The Year 11 Sports, Lifestyle and Recreation students and staff travelled to Tallebudgera and Palm Beach on Monday 31st October, completing aquatic and land-based activities run by CYC Burleigh. The first group of students learnt how to Surf on a Giant Stand up Paddle Board which proved more challenging for some of the group, but with their enthusiastic attitudes they conquered the waves in no time. Group 2 were instead completing a Coastal Trek from Tallebudgera Creek to Pirate Park, where lunch was polished off. From there Group 2 travelled to the beach to catch some waves on the Giant SUP’s, whilst group 1 ventured along the beach to Tallebudgera Creek. Also a big thankyou to Miss Still and Mr Whitney for assisting throughout the day.
Tom Gresham
Sports Trainee
College News
RRISK SEMINAR
Year 11 students will be participating in the RRISK seminar from 9 – 11am during periods 1 and 2 of the 14th to 16th November. RRISK stands for Reduce Risk Increase Student Knowledge, and addresses risk-taking behaviour amongst Year 11 students. Students from the College have been participating in this program for many years.
RRISK is a resilience building program that is relevant to the social life, developmental stage and concerns of young people.
This will be preceded by a How to Save a Mate wellbeing lesson the week before.
Attached is a flyer for those wishing more information, or feel free to email me.
Regards,
Michelle Delaney
