MSPC Newsletter - Term 3 Week 6, 24th August 2023
Principal
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Why is parent interest important in student success?
A common comment from parents of Year 7 students at most schools is that they used to have so much involvement in their child’s education and now they are at high school they feel disconnected from the school. Why is this so? Students at high school have many different teachers in many different locations, so it is harder to build a relationship with them all. Students are hitting adolescence and sometimes are not so open with their parents. I know I had the monosyllabic grunt from my children as they went through their high school years. The busyness of life, for all and access to technology, can see the various members of a family in different rooms playing games or communicating online, watching Netflix, Disney+, etc. I found turning off the internet router was a sure way of getting my children out of their rooms. From a College perspective, it is also a big challenge for us to ensure that we have open communication with parents across a variety of platforms and that there is opportunity for appropriate input.
I would encourage parents not to be discouraged by your child’s lack of communication about their school day. We often speak about the need for student’s resilience and persistence. As parents we need that too, to keep asking how their day was, how are they feeling, etc. Keep fighting through the grunts or disinterested replies. Why? Because contrary to appearances our young people want us to be interested in them. Asking about their school day says to them that school is important. Praising a good assessment result and looking for ways to improve a not so good one gives school work a prominence in their lives. If we just speak about football, the latest fashion or what’s happening on the weekend we are not saying school work is important. There is definitely an improvement in student engagement and achievement based on your consistent interest.
Big Day Out
At last week’s assembly I dressed up as a student and opened myself up for some public humiliation. The point was to motivate students to ensure they come and have some fun at the Big Day Out next Tuesday 29th August. We are striving to be a community of getting in and having a go and we ask you to encourage your child to dress up and join in with their homeroom theme.
The day raises money for our Solomon Island friends and I only read recently that their hospital had no paracetamol. We are such a wealthy community, I encourage students to donate to the day and have cash money to spend on food and activities. All funds raised go to the Solomon’s community.
Be the Good and God Bless,
Paul Reidy
Principal
Assistant Principal - Mission
Year 11 Leadership Camp Thursday 11th and Friday 12th August
A great 2-day event with a depth of leadership potential emerging. Year 11 students who wish to be considered for the role of College captains will be giving a short speech at the 31st August College Assembly. Voting for this role and then the 3 House Co-Captains will then follow. We wish these impressive young people God’s richest blessings.
Assisi and Ignatius Mass/Morning Tea Sunday 20th August
Thanks to Mrs Swift (LOW:Assisi), Mrs Evans (LOW:Ignatius),, Miss Molloy (Leader of Evangelization) and Ministry Assistant Halle McClymont who coordinated this event in the Sacred Heart Parish last Sunday. A number of College students, teachers and parents attended.
Staff Development Day Friday 25th August
College students are not required to attend school tomorrow Friday 25th August. All staff will be working all day in the Gilbey Centre. The College Office will therefore be closed and unattended.
Big Day Out Tuesday 29th August
Excitement is building for next Tuesday’s homeroom theme dress up and afternoon food stalls, ‘Battle of the Bands’, Touch Football and other fun activities. Students need to make a $2 donation for wearing mufti (proper joggers, College hats, no midriffs or sleeveless shirts for Per 2 – 3.10pm) and then have cash money to buy food, drinks and participate in raffles and lollie jar guessing competitions! Funds raised will go to the Solomon Island Immersion project.
MSPC P & F Meeting 5.30pm Tuesday 29th August
Next Tuesday 29th August from 5.30pm in the College Learning Hub (Library). We will be discussing the results of the recent Parent Survey regarding the model of parent engagement with the College that suits our community and Father’s Day Breakfast.
Father’s Day Breakfast 7 – 8.30am Friday 1st September
All father’s, grandfathers and important male role models in our College community are invited to attend a special breakfast at the Gilbey Hall on Friday 1st September from 7 – 8.30am. A RSVP google form will soon be sent to all families so that you can indicate your food preference and any dietary requirements for this breakfast event. Our coffee cart will be in action!
Yr 12 Graduation Mass, Luncheon, Farewell Assembly Thursday 21st September
On Wednesday 23rd August all parents were sent 2 communication regarding these upcoming special events. One outlined attendance requirements for Year 12 over their final weeks of formal schooling and the other was a RSVP google from asking about attendance at the 3 events that will occur on Thursday 21st September. Please contact the Front Office if you have not received these communications.
Mary-Anne McShane
Assistant Principal: Mission
Curriculum
Year 12 and Year 11 Accelerated students have now completed their Trial Examinations and there are many exciting events for them coming up. They have worked hard and we encourage them to remain focused on their studies. Now is an important time where students can continue to grow and consolidate their knowledge, skills and understanding of the complex texts, content and concepts they have studied. HSC students should continue to work closely with their teachers, complete past exam papers under timed exam conditions, attend scheduled lessons and tutorials, and be proactive in seeking feedback to refine their revision notes and materials.
Term 3 is a busy time for all students at the College. The following are some timely reminders for all year groups of the steps needed for being prepared for assessments. Students should:
- check dates on the Assessment Google Calendar.
- read carefully the details required for an assessment. This can be found on the MSPC Assessment Portal, along with other important information regarding assessments. Students can access this using their school login and password.
- Additional resources / details may be found in Google classrooms as directed by the Classroom Teacher.
In preparing for assessments, students should:
- set up a quiet space at home where they can focus and prepare for their assessment.
- practice writing under timed conditions where this is a skill required for an assessment.
- keep a copy of assessment answers. This can be a photograph or a scan of written work and can be uploaded to a student’s Google Drive for safe keeping.
If students are unsure of what is expected, they are encouraged to be proactive and ask for help from their teacher or the Leader of Learning for that subject.
I wish students all the best with their studies and encourage them to stay focused and to do their best.
A summary of the Assessment Policy is detailed on the front page of the Assessment Portal which can be accessed on the MSPC Moodle Page. Assessment Handbooks can be located on the year page of the Assessment Portal.
If a student is ill and unable to complete an assessment on the due date, Years 7, 8 and 9 require a letter from a parent / carer detailing the student’s circumstances for non-completion of an assessment task. This is to be given to their class teacher. It is the students responsibility to organise and complete a catch up assessment.
For Years 10, 11 and 12 a medical practitioner is required to complete the MSPC Assessment Variation Illness Form to cover the period the student is absent for the assessment and any subsequent days. A copy of the illness variation document can be found on the year page of the Assessment Portal.
Jo McDonald
Leader of Curriculum
Faculty News
ENGLISH
Debating Success
It is my immense pleasure to share the success of our Year 7 (Scarlett Mills, Sophia Drew, Hazel Egan), Year 8 (Rosie Stewart-Walker, Sienna Lockwood, Holli Hines), Year 9 (Elissa Hawkins, Amelia Andrews, Ciara Dwyer) and Year 10 (Estella Wong, Makaylah de Jonge, Flynn Jones) debating teams who recently competed in the Diocesan Regional Debating Competition.
Our dedicated and eloquent debaters exhibited their outstanding skills and determination as they participated in three thought-provoking debates each – one prepared and two impromptu. It gives me immense pleasure to share that our Year 7, 8, and 9 teams emerged as shining stars, clinching victory in two out of three debates in their respective categories. Such consistent success is a testament to their prowess in both structured argumentation and quick thinking.
Our Year 10 debating team achieved an awe-inspiring feat by securing the title of Regional Champions on the day. This remarkable achievement not only highlights their command over the art of debate but also their ability to think on their feet and deliver compelling arguments under pressure.
As we celebrate this success, it is important to acknowledge the immense effort, hard work, and guidance that have gone into nurturing our debating talents. Our students' achievements are a reflection of the collaborative spirit between our debaters and their coaches- Miss Milly Keogh, Mr Padraig Bailey and Mr Nathan Jones. I would also like to thank Mr Rick Van Den Driest for driving the teams to their competition.
We look forward to supporting our Year 10 team as they travel to Sydney to battle it out for a State title in November. Go MSPC!
Heywire
The Heywire Competition empowers young people from all over regional Australia to tell the nation what life is like in their part of the world. Interested students are encouraged to submit a 400-word story or 2 minute audio or video clip to (https://www.abc.net.au/heywire/competition). At this stage, there are very few entries from the North Coast so the odds are in our favour!
Up to 36 winners from across Australia will get to work with ABC producers and see their stories featured across ABC platforms including ABC TV, RN, local radio, triple j and iview. They also receive an all-expenses paid trip to the Heywire Regional Youth Innovation Summit, where winners come together to discuss how life could be improved for young people in their communities.
Past winners have used Heywire to make positive change in their communities by exploring issues around agriculture, mental health, youth employment, disability and cultural identity.
Entries can be submitted in any format including writing, video, photos and audio. Entries are now open, and close September 1st.
For more information, head to their frequently asked questions page at: https://www.abc.net.au/heywire/about/faq/
Byron Writers Competition
I would like to extend my congratulations to Echo Rawson Cranney of Year 9 who entered an imaginative piece of writing into the Byron Writers Festival Susie Warrick Award. The award is a platform that recognises and celebrates the budding literary talents of young individuals. Echo was shortlisted in the Years 7-9 category, this achievement reflects her passion for creative expression and her ability to weave narratives that captivate and resonate with readers. Please enjoy reading Echo’s compelling entry below:
A Patchwork Heart
The switch on the papered wall snaps into place. Click. Weak light diffuses the room; chilled shadows slowly recede, their fluid edges blur as they disperse. My white Converses look stark against the neutral palette of the room. The voice of my mother slowly mutes as I shut the door behind me.
Lily matches my pace, entwining herself between my legs, her time-worn paws create a figure eight on the dusty floor. A lonely incandescent bulb hangs from the ceiling. It throbs with electricity, making the light shrink and expand. Baby moths dance around the torrid orb, their wings transparent in the flickering light. The static-like sound of the bulb is monotonous and shallow.
Cobwebs stick to my face as I continue further into the dormant room. I approach the skewed window on the far wall, it lets in hazy light. Covering the palm of my hand with the sleeve of my shirt, I rub the grime away. A crowded grey sky and an unkempt garden is revealed through the four textured panels. The lingering scent of rain laces the air and beads of condensation trickle down the cool glass.
I startle as Lilly jumps onto the windowsill. Her body blocks my view of the austere exterior. She treats the sill like a tightrope, still nimble in her old age. She purrs as I stroke the thinning hair on her head. The small bell on her collar tinkles from the movement.
My Nonna’s machine rests atop the varnished table; a skeleton of the past. Once cherished and venerable in its prime, now dormant collecting bunnies of dust. I inspect the machine's body, it is flaxen and cloudy. The paths made by her fingertips look like bruises on its enamel shell. A cardinal J is all that remains of the once vibrant logo. The machine's dull needle is frozen in motion, its rounded point almost incapable of piercing fabric. A woven cord still connects the machine to a cracked Bakelite outlet.
I pick up a spool of thread, a thin string falls out of my hand as I inspect it. The titles of colours circle my head as I remember how she used to say them; hickory, daffodil, chartreuse. The words rolled off her tongue like silk.
Her seat still remains beneath the table, dark scuff marks on the floor are disguised by the wood grain. I brush my hand over the chair. The foam has moulded to the shape of her curves and the fabric is worn smooth where she sat. Lilly leaps onto the chair, kneads it with her feet and curls into a ball. She misses Nonna too.
I step away from the chair and take in the room. A room. That is all it is now. It is different without her. My heart hangs heavy in my chest. It is just a reminder. A reminder that she is actually gone.
I always believed my Nonna’s heart was made of patchwork and thread. I imagined it beating to the galloping sound of her Janome. I believed her bond with these tangible things to be symbiotic. Sadly, now I know one can exist without the other.
Poets Out Loud
I am thrilled to share with you the outstanding achievement of one of our very own Year 8 students, Raphael Connor, who recently participated in the Poets out Loud Slam Poetry Competition, hosted by Byron Writers Festival at the Regent Cinema.
On the evening of Friday 11th Raphael took to the stage and it is with immense pleasure that I announce his achievement of a Highly Commended recognition at the event. This is truly a testament to his dedication, creativity, and exceptional poetic prowess.
Katie Pinkstone
Leader of English
SCIENCE
Year 11 Biology students attended an excursion last week to Yarrahappini National Park to undertake field work for Module 4. Complimented by the unique surroundings of Yarrahappini National Park, the Yarrahapinni Adventist Youth Centre offered us a memorable and fun learning experience. The centre is set in 75 acres of littoral rainforest, with mangrove wetlands, a rocky shore and is home to the cultural heritage of the Dunghutti, Ngambaa and Gumbaynggirr Aboriginal people.
My New Gallery
This year for Science Week, we had three guest speakers, activities for the juniors in the Learning Hub kids and an amazing documentary also shown in the Learning Hub.
On Tuesday 15th August, we had Dr Ed Egan, who talked to the two Year 9 accelerated classes. He is the head of Emergency Medicine across all Tweed hospitals and he talked about innovations in diagnosing and treating stroke patients. Tweed hospitals are among the first to trial this new innovative technology.
On Monday 21st August we had Kerrie Martin who works for 'The Centre for Innovation'. She talked about how the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease can be enhanced using AI.
On Tuesday 22nd Dr Majella Mumford, an ex-Patties student, now with a PhD in soil science. She talked to the Year 11 and 12 Earth and Enviromental Science students about mitigating climate change.
For Year 7 and 8 students, we had a fun activity in the Learning Hub where students could make a coding bracelet.
And finally, on Tuesday 22nd August we watched an amazing documentary about the body's "microbiome" and the extinction of many bacteria that live in the gut. New research now indicates that they are essential in maintaining good mental health. At a time of increasing incidence of anxiety, depression and autoimmune diseases, this was a must to see.
Jackie Tilsley
Assistant Head of Science
FROM THE SPORTS DESK
DIOCESAN JUNIOR BASKETBALL
Mt St Patrick College sent a Junior Boys team, Intermediate Girls and Boys teams to Port Macquarie to play the recent Diocesan Junior Basketball Championships on 7th & 8 August. Below are the reports from their coaches:
INTERMEDIATE BOYS
This group of athletes have had this tournament in mind for some time now. Teams were selected late in Term 2 and a few training sessions were held when we could access the Gilbey Centre. When the draw came out a week before the Championships we were drawn against the expected toughest team for our first game at 8am on the Tuesday morning, MacKillop College – Port Macquarie. A traditional powerhouse in basketball in the diocese.
From the tip off we were more than competitive racking up a 10 point lead before MacKillop clicked into gear after being stunned into action by MSPC’s fast break game and structured offence. Little by little MacKillop chipped away at the lead and by half time were leading by 5. The team from Port came out in the second half and put on a display of flowing basketball coupled with hard defence. Our shots kept missing and they hit a high percentage of theirs. The end score 65 - 26. Lesson learnt, hit your shots and crash the boards for rebounds and stop the simple turnovers.
Game 2 matched us against St Mary’s Casino. Bouncing straight back from an opening round loss, we were able to play structured offence and ran several plays to perfection. See it really does work boys!!!! Jai Brennan was on fire this game shooting from beyond the arc, grabbing offensive rebounds and mixing it with the big bodies in the paint. Our two team rookies, Clancy Greenbury and Eshaan Sharma stepped up and played big minutes in this game and provided relentless pressure on the defensive ending leading to many turnovers and scoring opportunities. Ty Lockwood was almost unstoppable throwing down some very stylish dunks from well above the ring. As Ty does, he loves to hang on to the ring to put an exclamation mark on his good work. Eventual winners 44 – 20.
Game three was against Woodlawn. Again we started strong and had put 10 points on the boards before Woodlawn opened their account. We held and extended this as the game went on. Joseph Maynard used his speed, skill and anticipation to great affect in this game causing many turnovers which resulted in MSPC buckets. Jaxon McAuliffe showed what a powerhouse he could be down low by grabbing many offensive boards and rebounding many for more MSPC points. Matt Ryan found his range beyond the arc in this game and had the hot hand. MSPC 66 Woodlawn 25.
The Semi final on Wednesday morning saw us against the top seed in pool B – Xavier, Ballina.From the tip off, strong defence and missed shots were evident from both teams and the first score was from the free throw line at the 16min mark, evidence of the value both coaches were placing on good defence. We had our chances it must be said in this game to overpower the well drilled team from Ballina but missed layups and rebounds and poor passes ensured we were alway chasing the led. We eventually went down 41- 29. Xavier went on to play MacKillop in the final which was all square at full time and went to overtime where MacKillop proved victorious.
I was extremely proud of all the efforts from all the boys throughout the tournament. Special mention must go to Norm Fraser who rolled his ankle in game two, sat out game three but played regardless in the semi final. For this team it would be the last time they all get to play with their good mate Ty Lockwood who has accepted an offer to board at TSS on the Gold Coast for further basketball opportunities.
Such a privilege to have the opportunity to spend time training this team over the last four years, with more success to come hopefully.
Coach Whitney
JUNIOR BOYS
The Junior Boys Basketball team made their way to Port Macquarie in Week 4 for the annual Diosean Basketball tournament. Following a large number of students putting their hands up for trials, the MSPC junior boys team was cut down to 8 players for the trip. After one student left the College at the beginning of the term, the team was down to 7 players. None-the-less the boys showed great character and competed well throughout the two days.
The teams first match was against the eventual champions - MacKillop College, Port Macquarie. The home team showed great skill and teamwork from the get go and shot to a comprehensive lead early. The MSPC team fought hard but went down by approximately 60 points. Next up was St Paul’s Kempsey. After what was a see-sawing battle, St Paul’s Kempsey came out on top with a hard-fought one point win. The final match of the pool games was against Woodlawn. Once again the Woodlawn team shot out of the gates and built a strong early lead. After the break the MSPC team was able to bring the lead back a little, but were ultimately defeated by approximately 40 points.
This meant that the boys faced off against Xavier College Ballina for their play-off match. After a flat start by both teams, Xavier were able to grab control of the game and rolled on to victory. Winning by approximately 30 points.
The trip was a significant learning experience for the team. They came up against some fantastic opposition but played the game in the right spirit and never gave up over the two days. All the boys should be proud of their efforts.
Team - Hector Purcell, Oskar Fitzmaurice, Stephan Pelikan, Keane Moriyon, Murphy Evans, Dylan Harman and Paddy Nelson.
Coach - Mr Priddis
INTERMEDIATE GIRLS
On Monday 7th August our intermediate girls team travelled to Port Macquarie to compete in the Junior Basketball Championship. It was a long travel day. On Tuesday the girls played three games: the first game the girls played against Xavier, Ballina even though the girls faced challenges they played their hearts out and left it all on the court.
The second game of the day was against Woodlawn and as the team played together you could see the teamwork being formed on the court, the girls’ spirits were high as we played our last game against MacKillop and even though they were tired they pushed through and played with Patties spirit and to walk away with fourth place. The girls should all be proud of the efforts they made and hold their heads up high.
Team : Freda Biles , Maddison White, Ari Sampson-Jones, Eliza Wightley, Bree Puntigam, Kerala Richards, Makaylah De Jonge.
Coach - Miss Loughman
DIOCESAN NORTH TOUCH FOOTBALL
JUNIOR GIRLS
The Under 15 girls lost their first game against Trinity 4-2, but showed great improvement and communication in their second game and won 10-4 against St Joseph’s, Banora Point. This great result saw them finish at the top of their pool and go into the grand final against Xavier College. The girls worked so well together and put in an amazing effort to win the game 4-1 and become the Northern Rivers Champions.
JUNIOR BOYS
The Junior Boys Touch team from Mt St Patrick College Murwillumbah showcased their exceptional skills and teamwork in a thrilling Touch Footy tournament held on Friday 18th August. The tournament, which saw several schools competing, was a testament to the dedication and hard work of these young athletes as they battled it out on the field.
In a series of highly anticipated matches, the Mt St Patrick College team demonstrated their prowess by winning three out of the four games they played. Their stellar performance and strategic gameplay left both spectators and opponents in awe. The boys exhibited a remarkable understanding of the game, combining swift passes, well-timed runs, and solid defence to dominate their opponents.
The team's first match saw them face off against St Joseph’s Banora Point. In a gripping encounter, the Mt St Patrick boys went down 8-5. Their coordinated efforts both in offence and defence set the tone for the rest of the tournament.
In their second match, the team faced Trinity College, another formidable contender. The Mt St Patrick College boys continued to display their determination and sportsmanship, eventually emerging victorious with a score of 9-4. The intense competition showcased the dedication these young athletes had poured into their training.
In their last match, the boys faced St Mary’s College Casino, knowing that a strong performance would solidify their position in the tournament. With unwavering focus and strategic play, the Mt St Patrick College team emerged triumphant once again, securing a win with a score of 6-2. Their exceptional teamwork, communication, and skillful execution were evident throughout the match.
The cumulative results of their matches propelled the Mt St Patrick College Murwillumbah Junior Boys Touch team to an impressive third-place finish overall in the tournament. Their remarkable efforts and commitment to the sport were acknowledged by the spectators and opponents alike.
The tournament served as an excellent platform for the Mt St Patrick College Murwillumbah Junior Boys Touch team to showcase their talent and determination. With their remarkable display of skill, sportsmanship, and teamwork, these young athletes have undoubtedly made their school and community proud. As they continue to hone their abilities, the future looks promising for this exceptional team.
Junior and Senior Boys
SENIOR BOYS
The Open Boys Touch Football team took the field with determination and a burning desire to clinch victory. In a tight match against formidable rivals, they demonstrated exceptional coordination and strategic gameplay. The team's intense practice sessions clearly paid off as they outplayed their opponents with swift passes, tactical positioning, and remarkable defensive plays. Their dedication to the sport was evident in every move they made.
In their final match of the day, the Open Boys secured a resounding victory, capping off their performance with an impressive win. The team's persistence, teamwork, and unwavering spirit were on full display, leaving fans cheering in admiration. The standout performance of the day was undoubtedly Dallas Browning, whose lightning-fast reflexes and incredible decision-making on the field earned him a well-deserved special mention.
DIOCESAN ATHLETICS
A team of approximately 50 athletes travelled to Coffs Harbour on Wednesday 23rd August. A full report will appear in our next newsletter.
Tim Whitney
Sports Co-ordinator
College News
On Thursday 17th August, Lucan house informed MSPC about Friends of the Pound - their chosen charity, which coincided with the launch of the first MSPC Pet Photo Competition.
The college was fortunate to have Sonia Trichter (President of Friends of the Pound, Tweed) speak to staff and students regarding the ways we as a community can assist. As this was an awareness program, Lucan and Sonia requested us all to help out by contributing in a way that does not cost a cent. The rehoming of animal success is largely dependent on word of mouth (ie PEOPLE POWER) aka free advertising. Sonia encourages everyone to please like and share their pages on Facebook and Instagram.
Website https://friendsofthepound.com/
FB https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofthePound
INSTA https://www.instagram.com/friendsofthepound/
Below is the speech delivered by Mrs Trichter. Some of the statistics Sonia shared are astounding.
Friends of the Pound – Who Are We?
We are a nonprofit animal rescue organisation primarily for dogs and cats but
sometimes the odd rabbit or guinea pig.
We are all volunteers, our role is to support the animals who find themselves
in the Tweed Shire Pound and those being offered as surrenders by the wider
community.
We are the Tweed Shire Pound’s rehoming partner.
The past 18 months have been very demanding as more animals are being
offered to FOP as rescues from the Tweed Shire Pound or directly from the
public, and less are being adopted. Eventually we can only take what we can
house, either in foster care, kennels or our two cat adoption centres.
We need help in raising the profile of the homeless dogs and cats. Could you
be our FB ambassadors? If you could that would be amazing, please go onto
our Friends of the Pound FB daily and share a dog and cat to your friends and
followers or your local FB groups. Some of the animals on our social media
sites have been waiting for their special home since 2021 e.g., Dudley who
came to us as a pup in May, Princess Jay who came to us as a pup in
November and Dylan who came to us as a pup December.
Unlike some other welfare organisations, we do not euthanize for
convenience, we keep our dogs and cats until they find their forever home
which, in the case of some, can be quite a lengthy time.
How do we stop the plight of the unwanted pets?
Through logical thinking we believe that we can stem the tide of unwanted
pets by offering low cost desexing to the pet owners in our community. We
can do this by applying for grants offered by our supporters. Supporters are
our business partners such as Petbarn and SavourLife but we also had the
good fortune that the staff of the South Tweed Commonwealth Bank thought
our cause was worthy and so was the NSW Office of the Local Government.
We have a round of dog and cat desexing being offered now in the month of
August and will continue until our funds are spent, which we are hoping will
be at least until December. Every female dog or cat desexed will see a
reduction in the number of unwanted pups and kittens as there are usually 6-8
in a litter.
We, with the help from our supporting vets and financial supporters have
de-sexed 344 community animals in the past year and half were female.
Desexing the community dogs and cats has reduced the number of unwanted
animals by approximately 1032.
Un-desexed animals are a problem, the males will roam to find a mate.
Roaming dogs usually find their way to the local pound, if they are
microchipped, they are returned home by the local ranger with a stern
warning. If there is no microchip then they go into the pound where they will
stay until claimed or if not claimed and they have stayed their mandatory
seven days, then they will then be offered to FOP.
Un-desexed animals are a cost to Council and to Friends of the Pound.
This past financial year saw 59 dogs come into care with Friends of the Pound
and 360 cats, approximately half of these cats were kittens, and our expenses
were horrendous. (Vet bills were $191,864 and our food expenses were
$117,775).
We are hopeful that through our community desexing programs that this
year will see a slowdown in the flow of dogs and cats coming into our care
and through your help will see the long term dogs and cats find their furever
Home.
Other ways you can help Friends of the Pound:
Friends of the Pound accepts monetary donations as well as cat/dog food (but it must be wet food, eg. tinned food). If you love animals as much as we do, you can always volunteer to assist at their cat adoption centres. There is one located at both Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah, but you must be 18 to volunteer. For everyone else even visiting the cats and socialising with them will contribute to them finding a place to call home. Friends of the Pound also has an Op-Shop in Tweed and will accept quality second-hand clothing, shoes and accessory donations. Recycling is major at Friends of the Pound, so they will also graciously accept animal accessories such as collars and dog sweaters.
Fostering a cat or dog is a great way to be rewarded with unconditional love and lifelong devotion whilst also saving a life. Friends of the Pound is always looking for foster carers to take care of dogs and cats, until they can find them a forever home. And, there are no out of pocket expenses for the foster carer.
Susan Waters
Leader of Wellbeing, Lucan
YEAR 9 2024 (CURRENT YEAR 8 STUDENTS)
The current group of Year 8 students had a meeting today 24th August to explain to them the planned Yr 9 2024 Activity Week details. Parents should have received a hard copy note from their child further explaining the week of planned activities in 2024. In Term 3 for all of Week 3 Year 9 students are involved in an activity week. Participation in this week is compulsory. Students and parents have the choice between attending either a 5.5 day long Snow trip (Leave Monday morning back Saturday lunchtime) or a 4 day Adventure Camp at Burleigh Heads.
Parents will be billed a $500 component for each activity in their school fees in 2024.
If you would like your child to attend the Snow trip a $200 non-refundable deposit will need to be made to the College by Friday 15th September 2023. The purpose of this is to finalise numbers and to allow parents enough time to pay the cost of the trip over the best part of 1 year. This year's cost was $2400 and preliminary costing for the 2024 event has come in very close to that figure. The final sum cannot be finalised until new season prices are given.
Tim Whitney
Sports/Co-curricular Group School Photos
We visited your school on 1/03/2023 and photographed the sports/co-curricular groups listed below.
These group photographs are available for families to view and purchase at 20% off the normal price until 29/08/2023.
Images can also be viewed by visiting www.advancedlife.com.au entering the code: B8V DPW 9YB and clicking on “Group Photos”
Important
- Sports and co-curricular group photos can only be purchased online, PLEASE DO NOT return payment to your school
- If your child's group or team is scheduled to be photographed at a later date, you will receive an additional email notification when the images are ready to be ordered
- Photos will be returned to your school for distribution approximately six weeks after the discounted early order period has closed
- Past years' photographs including sports, co-curricular and representative groups are also available at your school's advancedorder and your child's advancedyou photo sites
advancedlife would like to express our appreciation to Mount St Patrick College for placing your trust in us. Please remember we offer a 100% money-back guarantee on our products to ensure your peace of mind. We would also love to receive your feedback or resolve any issues you may experience, to ensure your satisfaction. If you have any questions, comments or feedback relating to your advancedlife experience, please contact us at www.advancedlife.com.au/contact
PARENT ENQUIRIES
Please ask parents to contact our Parent Customer Service Team at: www.advancedlife.com.au/contact
Nepal immersion 2023. It's back!
December 4- 21, 2023.
Open to current Year 12 students and post Year 12 ex-students.
Volunteering in a Children's Home and a village school.
Plus a low altitude, 6 day trek and sightseeing in Kathmandu!
Contact Mr. Jim Smith jim.smith@lism.catholic.edu.au if interested.
LOST PROPERTY
The College Lost Property is full of jumpers, unfortunately none of these have names on them. If your child has lost a jumper recently please ask them to visit Lost Property located in the photocopier room. Please ensure your childs names is clearly written on all items of clothing.
Awards
Assisi College Awards
Year 11 – Hunter East
Doyle College Awards
Year 9 – Annie Butt
Year 10 - Fin Kelly
Year 12 – Sophie Buchanan, Bailee Pedlow, Diya Sidhu
Ignatius College Awards
Year 9 – Amelia Andrews, Ewan Gale, Bryan Cunial
Year 10 - Amali Moore
Year 12 – Joseph Colnan, Kiana McCabe
Lisieux College Awards
Year 11 – Chloe Zambelli
Year 12 – Logan Heath
Loreto College Awards
Year 12 – Ashley Gray
Lucan College Awards
Year 10 – Flynn Jones, Jamie Howitt
Year 11 – Alexander Wong
Nagle College Awards
Year 9 – Amity Page
Year 11 – Ella Harman
Romero College Awards
Year 9 – Hunter Chapman, Ayla East
Year 10 – Reef Kidwell
Year 11 - Jacob Lanyon
Year 12 – Rhiannon Nolan-Stiens