MSPC Newsletter - Term 3 Week 8, 3rd September 2021
Principal
Dear Parents/Caregivers
COVID UPDATE
I congratulate the students and parents of Mount St Patrick College for the manner in which they have embraced this difficult time. There are many sources of information coming at us. The College will continue to follow direction from the Lismore Catholic Schools Office, Catholic Schools NSW and the NSW Government. We will pass on any new information as soon as we can.
This time of uncertainty is especially difficult for our Year 12 students as they come towards the end of the schooling. Things will look different for them, but I am confident that we will be able to offer a fitting farewell for them. The resilience that they have shown will stand them in good stead for the future. We will provide further information regarding Term 4 and the HSC before the end of Term 3.
Staff continue to produce quality education for our students during this time. We as a school community are speaking regularly about achieving the right balance of work in a blended learning environment. We are asking students weekly for their feedback and will also be contacting parents for similar feedback. It will be quite a short survey and I would be grateful if you could complete it for us.
CONNECTION
Staff members Josh McCormack and Tim Whitney have both been offering ways to be active and connected to the College. Please speak to the Mount St Pat’s students in your house and encourage them to participate. Staff have also been involved in these competitions and it is great to see students of all ages participating.
NANO NAGLE’S EXAMPLE
The example of Nano Nagle to persevere against much hardship to run her schools in Ireland is a model for us all as we face the challenges of the Covid pandemic. The sacrifice she made to achieve her goal continues to inspire people all over the world. It is a simple thing to think, “What would Nano do?” when faced with challenges and be heartened by the knowledge that we should not be deterred but face it head on with courage and tenacity.
Be the Good and God Bless
Paul Reidy
Principal
Assistant Principal - Mission
GOOD NEWS
Spring has arrived and we are blessed to be experiencing bright sunny days and cool nights, which are good for sleeping!
CONGRATULATIONS TO AMELIE OGG WHO IS NOW A PUBLISHED WRITER
Amelie Ogg, a Year 11 student, was acknowledged in a previous Newsletter for being one of eleven senior students from 4 Australian states chosen to be guest editors for the Spring edition of the magazine ‘Australian CATHOLICS’. This special 2021 Youth Edition was to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Catholic Education in Australia which occurred in May this year. The editors’ brief was to reflect upon the past, present and future of Catholic education in Australia. Amelie’s name is attributed to 3 articles and she should be congratulated on her ability to write in different styles whilst always including thoughtful content. Well done Amelie!
Hard copies of this well-presented magaizne are available from the College Office or you can go to: www.australiancatholics.com.au
EXERCISE, EAT AND SLEEP WELL IN LOCKDOWN
These might be useful websites for parents and students to visit:
Study hacks from ReachOut https://youtu.be/y-D5l5hEh-w
Sleep hygiene for teens https://headspace.org.au/assets/Factsheets/HSP225-Sleep- Fact-Sheet-DP3.pdf
Food and Your Mood https://headspace.org.au/assets/download-cards/18d-Eat-well-headspace-fact-sheet-WEB.pdf
BEST WISHES
To Year 11 and Accelerating Year 10 students who begin their Preliminary Final Exams on Friday 3rd September. Be assured of our thoughts and prayers as you navigate online exams.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Friday 3rd Sept. Year 11/10 Accelerated Preliminary Final Exams begin-online
Thursday 9th Sept. Year 12 Zoom Assembly
PRAYER OF THANKS
Dear Lord, thank You for watching over us.
Thank You for keeping us healthy and safe during this coronavirus pandemic.
Help us to stay motivated and be people of hope.
As we journey through these troubling times, remind us of Your Goodness. AMEN.
Mary-Anne McShane
Assistant Principal: Mission
MINISTRY
PRAYER SPONSORS FOR YEAR 12 HSC STUDENTS
Prayer Sponsors have been proposed for the Year 12 students of Mt St Patrick College during their HSC exams. A prayer sponsor is someone who prays for another person at specific times with a specific intention in mind. When someone is sponsored they know that someone else is praying for them at that time.
A strong aspect of our Catholic and Christian Faith is the efficacy of prayer (i.e. prayer does make a difference). At the same time the injunction “Pray as if everything depended on God; work as if everything depended on you” has its own wisdom.
I appeal to parents, family and friends of our Year 12 HSC class to make themselves available as a prayer sponsor. Knowing that someone is praying for you at a difficult time is a source of great strength and consolation.
If you are interested in being a Prayer Sponsor for a Year 12 student from Mt St Patrick College, please phone during office hours (66722340) and leave your name, address and name of student (if specific student wanted) with Lesa or Jan at the office. The following prayer may be of use.
Today I wish to remember _________________________from Mount St. Patrick College.
During her/his HSC Exams, give them the strength to complete the exams to the best of her/his ability. Help them to remain calm and to think and write clearly so that they remember the things which they have learned and studied.
Give them the opportunity to show what they know and to have acceptance of her/his efforts after the exam. Fire up in them the determination of St. Paul who ran the good race till the end and who proclaimed 'If God is for us who can be against".
We pray this through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
Mick O'Donohue
Leader of Evangelisation
Welfare
“Sometimes life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain”.
I feel that this is where a lot of us are right now - students, teachers and parents. We are navigating remote learning which is difficult for everyone. But in true Pattie’s spirit, everyone is working together to help each other through.
Students are doing a fantastic job overall, attending lessons online, completing work and staying connected. Parents are encouraging their children and communicating with the staff. Staff are constantly learning new skills to try and deliver the very best support for our students and families.
Thank you to every member of our community. The power of teamwork can’t be underestimated so let’s keep working together to support our students, parents and staff. We will return to school but for now, stay positive and reach out if you need anything.
Louise Shields
Leader of Student Welfare
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
As we move into blended learning for the fourth week I would like to congratulate the students on how they have accepted the challenges and are just doing their best. The teachers are maintaining connection through zoom lessons and online tasks. It is important that students try to maintain a routine and keep up with their studies so that their growth is maintained. We encourage parents and students to give the College feedback about how blended learning is progressing so that we can address any issues and celebrate the successes. This can be done through email or by completing the surveys sent out regularly.
Year 12 are completing practical projects at the moment and we hope that they are happy with their finished project which is the culmination of the entire course. Thank you to the teachers for all the extra time and guidance. Year 12 are also busy completing coursework ready to commence revision for the HSC. The new HSC Timetable will be released soon and will give students more time for preparation.
Year 11 are commencing their Preliminary Final Examinations on Friday 3rd September. These exams will be completed online and will be in an open book format enabling students to showcase what they have learned this year. Good luck Year 11.
Year 10 have completed their final subject selections for 2022 and a final notification will be sent home next week indicating which subjects they are studying for Year 11 and 12. Any problems can be directed to me.
Year 8 - Final selections for 100Hr subjects will take place online on Tuesday 14th September at 11.00am.The students will be sent a link to a Google Form and need to nominate 5 subjects in order of preference. The subjects running are: Child Studies, Drama, Timber, Food, Marine, PASS, ART, Commerce and ISTEM
Please be aware all students will not get their first preference so it is important what they put as their second or third preference. Any issues please just email me directly.
Narelle Sherrah
Assistant Principal: Learning and Teaching
Curriculum
Year 11 are busy readying themselves for the start of their examinations tomorrow, Friday 3rd September. Despite the College looking like a ghost town, students are very busy preparing at home for their Term 3 assessments. Due to Blended Learning, all assessments for Years 7 to 11 will be completed online this term. For many students this will be a new experience and some students will be feeling apprehensive. We want to reassure students that we are here to support them and they should not be concerned about this process. The following is an overview of the assessments scheduled for the next two weeks.
I wish our students all the best with their assessment preparation and encourage them to remain focused and do their best.
Assessment Term 3 - Weeks 9 and 10: The following table is an overview of assessments:
Jo McDonald
Leader of Curriculum
Faculty News
FROM THE SPORTS DESK
BOLT FOR GOLD CHALLENGE #1 (BFG#1)
During Lockdown the College set the challenge for all our students (and staff) to download the Bolt for Gold app and register for our set challenge. All involved (125) could select either a 1,3 or 5km option to participate in it multiple times. All distances were accumulated and tallied. Those involved moved for a total of 1036km during the two weeks.
Mr McCulloch, a keen runner, challenged students to “catch him if they can”. Well, as you can see the challenge was accepted and the lead changed a number of times. Congratulations to Olivia Mason of Year 9 who accumulated 147km. What a fantastic effort! Balancing physical activity with screen time during lockdown has been a challenge, one accepted by so many in the BFG#1 A fantastic effort!
As promised the mighty RED ARMY will be awarded some points for the Champion House Trophy based on the first challenge. You can see the total results here for each House.
TERM 4 SPORT CHOICES
Next Monday morning 6th September, all Year 7 - 11 students will be emailed a google form for them to make their Term 4 sports selections. They will have all of next week, Week 9, to complete the online form. Please discuss this with them, the options are in the table below. Some are free, some a small cost, others more so. The bill for the term will be added to your School Fees.
Obviously Term 4 sport will only be going ahead if and when the restrictions we are currently operating under are lifted. Students will still be expected to wear masks when travelling on a bus to and from venues, and if indoors they will be asked to keep masks on at all times.
TERM 4 SPORTING CANCELLATIONS
During the week I received an email from NSWCCC Sport detailing the planned cancellations of a number of sports for term 4. They are listed below. I have also included some Primary school events for parents of talented Primary school students who may be attending these events.
Tim Whitney
Sports Co-ordinator
TAS
YEAR 7 AND 8 FOOD TECH FROM HOME
College News
MSPCs FAVOURITE FISH
Bert is growing well and becoming bigger and fatter by the month. Bert has been fed pellets and is doing well. Mr McCulloch is considering bloodworms for Term 4, which should increase his rate of growth. Let's hope he does not get too big for his tank.
HOLY COW!
The Mt St Patrick ‘old scholars’ didn’t forget their friends in Nepal when Covid-19 hit last year.
Rami from Prana Treks, who has guided our students through the Annapurnas, has had to go back to village and farming life as no trekking is possible during these times.
A cow in Nepal is not cheap and our old scholars dug deep and raised $2500 to help out. With this money were able to purchase a pregnant cow and build a semi-permanent cow shed. The cow has the Hindu name of Kali but a Christian name of Patrick – Joseph! She has since had a female calf (Rita) and all is well. She produces several litres of milk per day.
Rami and his extended family use the milk and sell any excess to the local co-op. These funds help keep his older daughter and son in college (like Year 11 and 12 in Australia) and his youngest son in school.
I was astounded by the generosity of these ex-students and it is nice to see that we can look beyond our own problems during Covid and see that others have a tough time as well. It is a reflection of the values we encourage at Mt St Pat’s that live on after they have left school.
Our Nepal trips are obviously on hold for the time being but will resume for College Year 12 students, ex- students who have missed out, and their parents, as soon as we can!
Jim G Smith (AKA Top notch Relief Teacher at MSPC. Ed)
www.focustours.com.au
Puzzle Corner
Can you solve the puzzle below?
A cirlce of 11 trees is planted, with the trees close together. Over time, their roots become entangled with one another. Each tree has one – and only one - root entangled with one root from every other tree.
How many tangles are there?
If you think you have the solution, please see/email Mrs Bevan. The first 5 correct answers will receive a prize.
Last Editions answer = 4 mittens (3 colours so 4th will be a match)
Awards
YEAR 7 ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND MERIT AWARDS
YEAR 8 ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND MERIT AWARDS
CO-ORDINATOR'S, PRINCIPAL'S AND COLLEGE AWARDS
LISIEUX CO-ORDINATOR'S AWARDS
Year 7: Eva Barlow, Giselle Boot, Ciara Dwyer, Leonard Egan, George Fisher, Sam Teeling, Jack O’Shea
Year 8: Patrick Corby, Archie Fairbairn-Gray
Year 11: Lucy Jones
LISIEUX PRINCIPAL'S AWARDS
Year 7: Leonard Egan
Year 8: Patrick Corby
Year 11: Lucy Jones
LISIEUX COLLEGE AWARDS
Year 11: Lucy Jones
LORETO CO-ORDINATOR'S AWARDS
Year 7: Gypsy Arnaud-Gower, Marley Abbott, Callum Johnston
Year 10: Isobel Gresham, Elizabeth Warne
LUCAN CO-ORDINATOR'S AWARDS
Year 7: Mahli-Summer Abbott, Charlie Gear, Luca Szandala, Max Gommers, Luke Leach, Stephanie Mayne
Year 8: Freda Biles, Sophie Forsyth, Angus Miller, Jai Brennan
LUCAN PRINCIPAL'S AWARDS
Year 7: Luca Szandala
Year 8: Freda Biles
NAGLE CO-ORDINATOR'S AWARDS
Year 7: Charlize Green, Faith Vosotros
Year 8: Sienna Prendergast, Indiana Wadley
NAGLE PRINCIPAL'S AWARDS
Year 8: Sienna Prendergast, Indiana Wadley
NAGLE COLLEGE AWARDS
Year 8: Indiana Wadley
Canteen Roster
The following roster will only come into affect if restrictions are lifted and we allowed to return to the College. If we are still in lockdown due to COVID 19 and restrictions are in place then no volunteers will be permitted onsite until further notice. Thank you for you support.
