3rd June 2016

Principal: Mr David Finch

Assistant Principal - Mission: Mr Paul MacCallum

Deputy Principal - Curriculum/Admin: Mr Ian Margetts

Head of Residential: Mrs Tina Schefe & Mr Dave Schefe

Business Manager: Mr David Osborne

Acting Office Manager: Mrs Hillary O’Brien

Mount St Bernard is growing! Next term we will welcome an additional 10 new students to our school and our

boarding houses. This is exciting news for MSB and has encouraged us to re-think where everyone will sleep! At

present Morrissey is almost full and we do not have enough bedrooms for girls coming in as new enrolments.

In preparations for new students coming next term, the Year 7 boys have moved from St Mary’s across to Bernard’s

and are now living on the bottom floor along with some Year 8 students. St Mary’s is now being freshly painted in

preparation for our Year 7 girls to move across to live there next term. The junior girls moving across will free up the

necessary space we require for Years 8 through to Year 12 in Morrissey. It will also allow us to take further

enrolments for Year 7 girls across at St Mary’s.

Many of our junior girls are excited about moving to their

own special boarding house, others are a bit reluctant to

leave older sisters and other family members. To help with

the moving and resettling process, staff will take the girls to

visit St Mary’s to see their new bedrooms in the next couple

of weeks. They will also start moving some of their personal

belongings across and start setting up their bedrooms. We

also have two lovely responsible senior girls who have

volunteered to go across and live with the girls to be big

sisters to them all. We will also invite the ‘real’ big sisters

and sister cousins to visit for weekend BBQ’s and other

special occasions that will be held across at St Mary’s. If you

have any concerns or special requests regarding this move,

please don’t hesitate to contact me (Miss Tina) or Judy

Anning at Morrissey.

Tina & Dave Schefe

Today the 3rd June - Commemorates the High Court of Australia’s landmark Mabo decision in 1992, which legally recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a special relationship to the land—a relationship that existed prior to colonalisation and still exists today. This recognition paved the way for land rights or Native Title. More information is available at

http://www.reconciliation.org.au/nrw/what-is-nrw/

Last Thursday 26th May marked National Sorry Day. It also saw a visit from Prime Minister and Cabinet office representatives, Alex Jia and Petrina Seden to experience first hand implementation of the Elders in Residence program.

Catherine McAuley Transition House has hosted a number of families and Elders since commencing the 2016 year.

Attendees at the Sorry Day Morning Tea and Luncheon

Photo Top Row from left: Margaret Freeman, Lorraine

Muckan, Kales Billy, Desley Rosas, Tash McKay, Flo

Cornish, Irwin Riley, & Kevin Levi.

BottomTop Row from left: Alex Jia, Lillian Freeman,

June McKay, Antoinette Cole, Jude Koehler and

Petrina Seden.

The college submitted a nomination for the 2016 Awards in the category of Education for our Didge Kids. Catholic schools emphasise personal and social development as fundamental enduring values. This holistic approach provides an educational foundation for life, meaning the full development of the person – intellectually, spiritually, socially, emotionally and physically. “The MSB Didge Kids” story began about 18 months ago when a parent offered to assist in the formation of a group of students to explore their musical talents with the didgeridoo and drumming. The Didge Kids travelled over 4,000km in February - 12 days away, 13 performances and 12 schools over 8 school days. It was a wonderful learning experience for the group to perform in front of other schools and to gain an understanding of the complexities involved in being part of a tour, including schedules, packing up and setting up, practice times and performing as part of a team. Representatives of the group, Keane Ryan & Mathew Ederer (above with Flo Cornish & Johnathon Thurston) travelled to Townsville last night to attend the Queensland Reconciliation Awards Ceremony.

The Queensland Reconciliation Awards is an initiative of the Queensland Government through the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships.

Assistant Principal—Mission Be On The Lookout

It’s one thing to help people when they ask. It’s another to notice that people need help even though they aren’t

asking for it. As Christians, we are called to be on the lookout for people who suffer. We are all busy people in one

way or another. Our days are usually pretty packed with things to do. Many of us are good at helping people, if it’s on

the calendar. Unfortunately, I think we too often miss people who need help – but don’t ask for it – when we rush through our day,

moving from task to task. Like Jesus, we need to be on the lookout for people who need us.

Look at Jesus in this week’s Gospel. The widow didn’t approach him; Jesus approached her when he saw her weeping. The story

shows how focussed Jesus was on looking for people who needed him. He wasn’t focussed just on his daily tasks. And the widow

desperately needed his help. In many ancient cultures, it was very difficult for unmarried women and widows to support

themselves. Women without husbands or sons were destined for extreme poverty. The widow in this story lost not only her son but

everything. Jesus knew that. He went to her so God’s healing power could restore her son’s life and her hope.

How about us? How often do people pass us who feel like they’ve lost everything? Friends who’ve broken up with a girl or

boyfriend. Parents struggling at work. Homeless people looking for shelter or a hot meal. Do we keep our eyes open for them? Do

we ask God for the vision to see them and the grace to help them? Or do we rush through the day focussed on what’s next in our

world?

Christians are called to be on the lookout for people who suffer. Ask God to focus your vision beyond your schedule. Look for the

widows that come across your path. Reach out. Your compassion will cause people in this day and age to echo the people in this

week’s Gospel who watched Jesus and said, “God has visited God’s people”.

Who is one person in your life who inspires you by their willingness to drop everything to help someone, even if that someone

may not be asking for help?

Your mental health needs you!

Keep things Uniform - speaking of being on the lookout. A

number of students have been noticed wearing the in-correct

uniform. It is a requirement of enrolment that students wear the

correct uniform each day. If for some reason a student cannot be in

the correct uniform, parents/carers are asked to explain the situation

in a note addressed to the Home Room Teacher. A student is given a

detention as a result of not wearing the correct uniform. The

detention can include writing lines, community service, withdrawal of

privile ges/lunch time, contact with parents, and suspension for

ongoing occurrences. In all cases conversations are held with each

student to assist with fixing the problem. Parent/carer assistance is

always appreciated in ensuring the uniform is worn correctly. Please

speak with your child’s Home Room Teacher if necessary.

Look Out for Good Mental Health

Headspace.org.au reminds us that good mental health is about being

able to work and study to your full potential, cope with day-to-day life

stresses, be involved in your community, and live your life in a free

and satisfying way.

A person who has good mental health has good emotional and social

wellbeing and the capacity to cope with change and challenges.

Mental Health Problems

Feeling down, tense, angry or anxious are all normal emotions, but

when these feelings persist for long periods of time they may be

part of a mental health problem. Mental health problems can

influence how you think and your ability to function in your everyday

activities, whether at school, at work or in relationships.

It can be helpful to talk to someone about what’s going on in your life

if you have noticed a change in how you are feeling and thinking. This

might include:

Feeling things have changed or aren’t quite right

Changes in the way that you carry out your day-to-day life

Not enjoying, or not wanting to be involved in things that you

would normally enjoy

Changes in appetite or sleeping patterns

Being easily irritated or having problems with friends and family

for no reason

Finding your performance at school, TAFE, university or work is

not as good as it used to be

Being involved in risky behaviour that you would usually avoid,

like taking drugs or drinking too much alcohol, or depending on these substances to feel “normal”

Feeling sad or ‘down’ or crying for no apparent reason

Having trouble concentrating or remembering things

Having negative, distressing, bizarre or unusual thoughts

Feeling unusually stressed or worried.

If you are concerned about some of these behaviours in your own child, please speak with a member of the Pastoral Care Team. Students are also encouraged to speak with a staff member with whom they feel comfortable.

Deputy Principal—Curriculum & Admin

With the year flashing by, Year 12 students must have in mind what they are wanting to transition into

next year. Attendance at the BLA Careers Expo last week was a great opportunity to really investigate

the ‘next step’. Many students will be considering tertiary study. Tertiary study is an education level

beyond high school study – not just university.

It includes diplomas, advanced diplomas, bachelor (undergraduate) degrees and masters degrees and can be obtained

through public universities, TAFEs, registered training organisations (RTOs) and private colleges all offer tertiary

courses.

Tertiary study can give students:

● greater earning potential

● better career prospects and a higher rate of employment

● independent learning, problem-solving, communication and research skills

● learning, socialising, travel and networking opportunities

● the chance to broaden interests and knowledge

● increased independence, self-confidence and sense of responsibility.

For more information for students and parents visit www.qtac.edu.au

Don’t forget that you can also contact Mrs Karen Heales (her Careers day is Tuesday) or myself.

Ian Margetts

Deputy Principal—Curriculum & Admin

Exam Schedule

Receive Respond Exhibition

Left: Unknown artist from another school.

Image supplied by Receive/Respond Exhibition.

Right: MSB student Diandra Wallace had to

respond with her interpretation. Read her

artist statement below.

Earthy Art by Diandra Wallace

I created ‘Earthy Art’ in response to an artwork given to me through Receive/Respond. This artwork symbolises my identity as it is a Lino print of my face printed on different paper grounds. I am a proud Aboriginal woman from Santa Teresa, Eastern Arrernte in the Northern Territory. Art is very important to Aboriginal people, this was the way we communicated, how we told our dreamtime stories in olden times and it was how our history was told.

Combining Pop Art ideas with opposite colours has informed my artwork. It is similar to Pop Art with the self-portrait image; however where I am from, there is no popular things on television, film or in shops. It was us people that were important, the land and the sun. This has created raw rustic Pop Art from a Traditional Aboriginal point of view.

My face and the black cardboard paper represent our people, the earthy colours represent the desert where I come from and yellow is for the sun that gives us life.

I have really enjoyed this opportunity to be a part of Receive/Respond because it was fun and interesting. This artwork reminds me about my home Santa Teresa and the colours make me feel really good although the Pop Art colours are really bright to me and too bright.

Left: Initial painting sent to Receive/Respond Exhibition. We look forward to seeing the response from

another student in Far North Queensland at the Exhibition Opening. Dates to be advised.

My painting is based on a Seven

Sisters story I was told as a child

and it is called 'Sisters

Dreaming'. The women shown in

this artwork are dancing and

celebrating their culture.

I used spray paint, stencils and

paint pen to create layers.

ART NEWS

Badu Warrior by Yaris Blanket

My artwork is entitled Badu Warrior. It is a self-portrait. The figure in the middle of the Lino-print is based on my face. The background design inspired by my home in the Torres Strait Islands. Ms Sexton took a picture of my face and turned into a black and white picture on Photoshop, she showed me how to do this. I then traced it and transferred it onto my Lino. I cut the Lino using V-tools. Everywhere I cut away became white when I printed it. I experimented by printing with block ink on different coloured paper. Overall I liked the white paper because it made the colours standout more.

Don’t forget we are only a phone call away. If you have any issues

or concerns you wish to discuss please don’t hesitate to call or

email a member of the Pastoral Care Team:

Jenny Rossiter - Whole School - jrossiter@msb.qld.edu.au

Trudy Bakker - Years 10 - 12 - tbakker@msb.qld.edu.au

Ben Smith - Years 7 - 9 - bsmith@msb.qld.edu.au

Paul MacCallum - Head of Pastoral Care - pmacallum@msb.qld.edu.au

Positive Behaviour Support

Fortnightly Focus - Following Reasonable Requests

What has Following Reasonable Requests got to do with learning and teaching?

Being part of a community means behaving so that we all get along and we all can do our jobs. At school, as we have

already seen, the student’s job is to Learn, Let Others Learn and Let the Teacher Teach. If you follow reasonable requests

from staff and other students it avoids problems and helps your day run smoothly.

What does Following Reasonable Requests look like?

Whole body listening when someone is speaking to you. - eyes, body language, face.

Asking questions if you don’t understand what they want you to do.

Moving relatively quickly towards starting the task OR stopping what you are doing that is

causing a problem.

Being mindful of not saying any negative comments towards the person making the

request or about the request itself.

In all areas of life - sport, at home, at work- at school, in residential - you will be asked to follow directions given by

someone. Be part of a happy, well functioning community by following reasonable requests promptly and cheerfully. You

will be amazed at the difference it will make.

Ask yourself - Would I be proud for my family and friends to see me acting in this way?

Students surveyed classes and entered the data into an Excel Spreadsheet. From this they then drew a variety of graphs and calculated percentages by Year Level, Gender and Whole school

“I was surprised to find out that there were 16 students in the school who didn’t go for either team. I thought everyone would go for one team or the other.” Tyson Baluz

“I learnt a lot about selecting the data in Excel to make the graph I wanted.” Barry Maitie

“My prediction for the percentage of students who go for QLD was pretty close. I guessed 75% and it was 77%.” Trevor Mudu

“I think that if we did the same survey in a NSW school the results would be different.” Josephine Korkatain

Left: By Tyson

Baluz

Right: By

Barry Maitie

HOMEWORK CLUB The number of attending students has slightly increased at certain times of each year. There seems to be a link in assessment due dates and examinations with students numbers. One great thing to see of late was students across different year levels helping each other: A Year 12 student helping a Year 10 student, a Year 11 student helping a Year 7 student, as well as other forms of assistance. This is one of the skills that is great about homework club.

The homework club is planned to run over the following periods:

Term 2: Week 2 (20 April) until Week 9 (8 June )

Term 3: Week 2 (20 July) until Week 9 (7 September)

Term 4: Week 2 (12 October) until Week 7 ( 16 November)

Students who attend the homework club may also go to afternoon tea provided in the Dining Room, from 3:00pm to

3:15pm.

Ben Smith - Middle Leader Mathematics

bsmith@msb.qld.edu.au

Upcoming Events - 2016

Mon 30 May - Fri 10 June Study Zone

Wed 8 - Sat 11 June Fr Bony Abraham - Visit to MSB

Fri 10 June Blessing and Official Opening of Facilities Ceremony - 11am Mercy Chapel

Tues 14 - Thurs 16 June Block Exams

Thurs 16 June Term 2 ends at 3pm

Fri 17 June Boarders Travel home

Mon 27 June MSB Offices closed for holidays

Mon 11 July MSB Offices re-open

Tues 12 July Day School Office closed - Atherton Show Local Holiday

Residential School Office Open - Boarders Travel to School

Wed 13 July All classes commence Term 3

Tues 19 July Parent Teacher Interviews 3.30pm - 6pm

MOUNT ST

BERNARD

COLLEGE

PARENTS & FRIENDS

ASSOCATION IS

LOOKING FOR

INTERESTED

PARENTS OR

CARERS TO JOIN OUR

P&F ASSOCIATION.

WE WOULD

WELCOME YOUR

IDEAS AND

INVOLVEMENT IN

THE SCHOOL

COMMUNITY.

IF INTERESTED,

PLEASE RING

HILLARY O’BRIEN ON

PH: 4096 1485 OR

EMAIL

office@msb.qld.edu.au

Shoes—formal uniform

Yes No

Shoes—sport uniform

Yes No

FORMAL SHOES AVAILABLE FROM

MSB UNIFORM SHOP

Shoes - Black Formal (Size 5 - 12) $75.00

Shoes - Black Formal (Size 13 - 14) $130.00