20th September 2013

Principal: Br Bill Tynan

Assistant Principal - Mission: Mr Paul MacCallum

Assistant Principal - Curriculum: Mrs Janine Conolly

Business Manager: Mr David Osborne

Office Manager: Mrs Sue Wegert

Br Bill Tynan

End of Term 3, I must have been at MSB for one year, a challenging and enjoyable experience.

And we got through 11 weeks this term, well most of us did.

NAIDOC was such a great MSB day for the whole school community, so much energy, enjoyment and sharing of cultures. Our

Torres Strait Islander girls & ladies performed well, as did Jim Maitie and Willington Pearson. The senior students from

Gordonvale were an entertaining highlight.

Ron Archer spoke to the whole community of what was most important: RESPECT and GOOD STUDY HABITS.

And then the grand finale “Black Direction”, returned and had the Indigenous Defence group on stage with them plus about 10

students.

Sincere thanks to Emily Pensini for co-ordinating the day, and to all the visitors who helped make it such an enjoyable

experience.

Another part of NAIDOC was visits by James Cook University and a group from Indigenous Defence Plan. As a result of talks

during the day, almost ALL of the 19 year 12 students had a definite plan for study or work next year.

Enrolments and plans for 2014

As at Sept 13, we have 170 students enrolled for 2014, with room for a total of 180-200.

Year 8 - Still about 20 places remaining.

Year 9 - 53 enrolled, so not many spaces left.

Year 10, 11,12 has spaces left.

As stated in the last newsletter, in both Year 8 and 9 there will be 4 class groups in each year level, to allow all students to be

taught at their level, with each group being about 12 students.

In Year 11-12, extra VET options have been added, giving a wide variety of training opportunities in areas such as health, being

a teacher aide in school ,a trade or further study at University.

Getting a worthwhile education is a challenge,

one that requires a daily effort,

respecting each other,

so that each of us can achieve our goals.

2013, the 4th year in a row that all Year 12s will get their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).

Assistant Principal – Curriculum

Term 3 has been a very busy time for all of our students, but especially for the year 12s as they address their

future pathways, and Term 4 is certainly a whirlwind for our departing seniors. Students have been applying

for positions at university, through the QTAC process, to further their study, applying for traineeships, the

Defence Force, and other training providers. Information relating to a myriad of courses and scholarships is

available in my office so please make a time to see me to browse through the available information.

Congratulations to those year 12s who are signing up next week to continue their Indigenous Primary Health Care studies in

Townsville next year, and a huge thankyou to Mrs Van der Zant, who has made this transition possible. Also good luck to

those students going through the Defence Force application process – this is an interesting and challenging pathway to

pursue.

Reminder to ALL Year 12s

On-time applications for QTAC will close on 27th September (during the school holidays). After this date you can still apply

(at a higher fee):-

See me for any information you need – including your QSA number and LUI.

Accommodation applications need to be submitted ASAP – colleges are finalising numbers for next year.

I can assist you with your online application

Year 8 Students

Early next term we will be talking to our year 8 students about their future planning and subject selection for year 9, 2013.

We will be asking students to select elective choices for next year. Please take the opportunity over the forthcoming break

to discuss options with your students, and link them to their strengths and areas of interest.

Year 10s

Thank you all for your diligence in completing your subject selection. Early in term 4, I will be writing to each of our year

10s and their parents to confirm their choice of subjects for years 11 and 12.

NAIDOC Day

A wonderful celebration of NAIDOC was held at the College on the 29th August, with many training providers offering in-

formation to students. Thank you to Ms Pensini and the senior classes who drove the organisation of this event, and of

course the many, many helpers.

Exams Block - Term 3

It is great to see all seniors working diligently through exam block.

May your ongoing efforts be rewarded with great results.

Keep up the good work.

Janine Conolly

Assistant Principal - Curriculum

And the work goes on at MSB…

Year 10 Work Experience Program

On the 12th - 16th August our Mount St Bernard College Year ten students ventured out into the big

wide world of work.

Our students were exposed to a whole week of working in their chosen industry, in some cases this

meant working from eight in the morning to five at night!

All of our students should be proud of themselves. Each and every student received glowing reports and

very positive feedback from their employers and has reaffirmed Mount St Bernard College as a school

which has hard working and diligent students.

Mount St Bernard College would like to acknowledge and thank the following employers for their support of the Year ten

Work Experience Program: Mareeba Hospital, Pelicans Child Care Centre, Tableland Veterinary Service, The Tablelander,

OPSM - Smithfield, Danielle Hodgens Lawyers, Davis Contracting, Eacham Electrics, Tableland Cabinets, GA Autos, Harvey

Norman – Atherton, Peeramon Hotel, Professionals Real Estate - Atherton, Atherton Medical Clinic , Arvie Hairdressing Sa-

lon, Burmack - Engineering, Little Scholars Child Care Centre Herberton & Herberton State Primary School. By Natalie Van

der Zant

Year 11 & 12 Legal Studies

World’s largest, record-breaking graphic organiser of the Law of

Tom Roscoe Felix Bradley Ludovicka Titus James Breanna

The Law of Contract is complex. Senior Legal Studies students

decided that to get a handle on all the complicated elements and

principles, a graphic organiser was needed.

So they made one.

The plan is that whenever you walk past, you’ll be revising the

terminology, patterns and flowchart. Osmosis really. Here’s hop-

ing because a major exam is looming at the end of term.

Well done team on a huge effort and maybe we’ll get into the

Guiness World Book of Records.

Social, Emotional and Well-Being Unit

As an addition to our Cert II Indigenous Primary Health Care, MSB has been part or

a pilot program in running a new VET unit called Social, Emotional and Well-being

Unit including Mental Health (SEWB). This unit was written by Carolyn Lucas of

Headspace, Townsville. Headspace is a dynamic youth service, providing face-to-

face, telephone and on-line support, information and referral to Australian youth

aged 12-25yrs. Carolyn wrote and developed this unit to raise awareness amongst

Indigenous youth around maintaining positive mental health, how to identify social

and emotional issues and most importantly, how and where to get help.

Miss Van der Zant and I have had the pleasure of teaching this unit, and were very

impressed with the mature participation and engagement of all the students involved

over the term. A big congratulations to Amy Dau, Caroleen Toby, Maria Bosen,

Paddy Possum and Jim Maitie who received their Certificate of Achievement this

week for completing the SEWB unit. Well-done to you all! By Torquay Beshara

ART AID TO THE RESCUE

Year 11 students at Mount St. Bernard College have displayed a

strong commitment to helping others less fortunate than them-

selves by working tirelessly to produce one hundred Art packs

which were sent to impoverished schools in Railco Kraic in East

Timor.

As part of their Religious Education studies they set about making

candles, greeting cards and popcorn which they later sold to the

whole school community. These funds were then used to purchase

visual diaries, pencil cases, pastels, pencils and other materials.

The group designed the Logo “Art Aid” and then proceeded to

screen print two hundred items before packaging each individually

for transportation to East Timor.

Participation and enthusiasm is to be commended throughout the entire process and students were rewarded with a sense of

pride and achievement at the end of this experience.

The act of giving has become contagious and they look forward to the next project.

Mrs Josie Lowerson – Art Teacher – Mount St Bernard College

Author Simon Higgins Visits

Thanks to REAP, and in collaboration with Herberton State School, author Simon Higgins

visited our school on 6th August to conduct workshops and author talks. This created keen

interest in his many books and in the creative writing process. Older students worked on

Simon’s,‘ten questions’ method to create power openings. Students incorporated emotional

resonance, background sound, characters and objects in some excellent written work.

Intriguing stories of ninja and assassins dominated Simon’s presentations to the delight of students. With a personal

interest in martial arts and Japanese medieval culture, Simon was able to demonstrate some lightning defence techniques

and provide a fascinating background into elements of Japanese culture and history. A number of students and staff

bought signed and stamped copies of Tomodachi. English and SOSE departments purchased a class set of this text as it

supports our ACARA work programs. Thanks Simon for your inspirational approach to creative writing, your stories, your

moves and your gentle presence in our school. By Mrs Chris Weedon

友達; ともだち トモダチ

NAIDOC DAY 2013

Morning Activities

Naidoc Mass

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NAIDOC DAY 2013

Dancing

Celebrations

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NAIDOC DAY 2013

This was my first experience of the wonderful feast to be prepared for NAIDOC DAY to cater for 250 people.

Most classes contributed to the event:

Year Eights made the garden salad and helped the Year Nines fold the cutlery and the Hospitality students

were kept busy ALL week with the salads, mains and dessert dishes.

It was great working on the day with the visitors entertaining us with their singing and culinary expertise.

It is the preparation for the celebration that is just as important. By Dianne Williams - Home Ec Teacher.

Roast beef Folding the serviettes around the cutlery

Kangaroo kebabs &

Wonderful helpful visitors

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NAIDOC DAY 2013

Sago Potato Salad

The clean up - sop sop

YEAR 9B SOSE EXCURSION- LEST WE FORGET

This term, Year 9 SOSE students have been studying World War 1 and the pivotal role of the

ANZACS at Gallipoli. On Friday 13th September, students visited two significant landmarks on the

Tablelands to pay respect to those who have sacrificed their lives for our country; The Avenue of

Honour at Yungaburra and the Atherton War Cemetery. One thing that stood out to students at

both sites was the age of the young men who have lost their lives in battle. The students are to be

commended on the way they conducted themselves and displayed the utmost respect.

By Mrs Brooke Radburn - 9B SOSE Teacher

This semester students are fully involved in a range of literary and non-literary topics in English. Year 8 students read Leonie Norrington’s, Barrumbi Kids and have written character profiles. They have also studied poetry, using both the left and right side of the brain, to develop creative and imaginative ideas using a range of poetic devices. Assessment has involved Power Point presentations. Year 9s have been writing a poetry anthology, reading short stories and a novel, culminating in an analytical essay in Term Four.

Year 10 students have undertaken a unit, ‘Issues of Morality’ and Shake-

speare’s, Romeo and Juliet. The Lord of the Flies will be studied in Term Four.

Monologues and essays form mandatory assessment.

Year 11 Authority English students have read, The Crucible, performed

monologues and wrote an essay under exam conditions. Australian poetry is

the next unit and students will create multi-modal presentations and complete

a spoken task.

Yr 11/12 English Communication students have analysed advertisements and prepared for our all-important NAIDOC cele-brations. Our thanks to students for their inspirational work and to Ms Vermaas for taking Year 11 in Term 3 and 4. Ms Vermaas and students created the NAIDOC ‘language’ canoe. Year 12 Authority English students have explored Elizabethan theatre and studied, Macbeth. Assessment tasks included an exterior monologue and analytical essay. In Term Four, in their final effort, students will explore dystopic literature. Exam-ples of this genre include: 1984, Fahrenheit 451, the 1982 American dystopian science fiction thriller, Bladerunner, The Hunger Games. Year 11 & 12 Literacy students have learned that first impressions can be powerful in a multitude of settings including our personal and working lives, however not always accurate, as seen in the movie What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. A huge thank you to our English teachers for unstinting dedication, hard work and humour as they help Mount St Bernard College stu-dents build multi-literacies, enjoyment and confidence in spoken and written English.

National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) Drama Workshop

One of our Year 9 students, Hamish Nelson, has been accepted by The Tanks Arts Centre to attend a National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) Drama Workshop. Hamish competed against 44 other applicants to receive a fully-paid scholarship to this four-day workshop, which he will attend over the upcoming holidays. Congratulations Hamish, this is a wonderful achievement! By Mr Brendan Wingett

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Year 9 Expedition • Sunny skies and cold nights.

• Chocolate filled, golden syrup dumplings and jerky risotto.

• Rabbits, monkeys and elephants to walk, traverse and climb over.

• Antonio’s eagle eyes spotting a huge python, a glider’s tail, a turtle …..

• Big fires and billies of cocoa.

• Every night a new camp spot – always beside the river.

• Learning, learning, learning – navigation, fine art of bivvy erecting, cooking, getting

along, helping out…..

• Challenging ourselves to take that next step, cross that slippery rock, put up with discomfort,

smile and laugh in the face of hardship, fall over – get up – keep going.

• Every step taking us closer over the hill to school and home. By Jenny Rossiter

Year 10 Expedition We’re the mighty “A” Team

We’re the mighty “A” Team

We’re tank, if you know what I mean.

We’re tank, if you know what I mean.

We don’t get lost we just get bushed.

We don’t get lost we just get bushed.

We’re at our best when we’re pushed.

We’re at our best when we’re pushed.

GO “A” TEAM !!!

Base camp meals – YUM. Apricot chicken, beef curry, roast with vegies and gravy. Caramel

cakes and apple crumble in the camp ovens. Compasses, maps, terrain, gullies, knolls, fords,

ridges – so many terms to remember and get our heads around. Don’t run with pocket knives,

stick together, drink plenty of water, set up camp before dark, stay away from stinging tree and

wait-a-while – lessons well learnt. Now we can look at a distant mountain and say – You know

what I could walk there in a day! Group 1 made it to Mt Shipton despite the rain and the cold.

“A” Team made it to safety. We all succeeded! By Jenny Rossiter

CATHOLIC WOMEN’S BREAKFAST - SATURDAY 5TH OCTOBER

HOLIDAY INN CAIRNS 8AM - COST $25.00

Guest Speaker: Kay Painter

The speaker Kay Painter comes from America. She has spoken internationally and at forums in the United Nations and the White

House. Kay has had a very difficult life – Adultery, Divorce, Abortion, Attempted Suicide, Betrayal and a threat of being murdered.

Kay has also experienced the love, forgiveness, tender mercy and the healing of Jesus.

All are invited to come and hear Kay’s message which would be particularly helpful for those who have experienced pain in their lives

through breakdown of marriage, abortion, betrayal and shame.

God wants to bring healing to those who have been hurt.

We invite you to come to this Women’s Breakfast and to bring a friend.

CONTACTS for booking: Eve Bennett 4054 1308 or 0420292969 Anne Coyle 4033 2001 or 0428 183 708

Shalom Boarding House - Term 3 Well the house of Hearts (Shalom’s motto) had some new faces this term but the same evolving culture of community. This developing community also welcomed our weekly boarder, David Kelly every Wednes-day, and David’s contribution has been greatly appreciated. Our shared house meals, meetings, personal

space, Willington’s unique hairstyling, and special activities, all combine to make for a rich family life. The year 12’s Brian, Troy, Willy, continued to lead and learn in everything from basic living skills to more complex social skills development. A noticeable change this term has been the commitment to study, particularly by the year 8’s Cameron, Lenard and Julian.

One special event that occurred this term was the house outing to Townsville to see the Cowboys. I could tell you many stories about this trip but for me the most important summary came from a mother the boys met at the footy. This mother emailed Brother Bill this message below. Neither the mother nor the boys knew each other prior to the match.

She said of the boys, “Hello, myself and my three young children were at the Cowboys game on Saturday night sitting on the hill as we do all season. A group of teenage boys sat next to us during the game. I had to take my children to the toilet and asked them just to watch my rug. At half time I asked them what school they attended (my children attend Ryan Catholic College) and they told me Mount St Bernard’s from the Tablelands. I just wanted to let you know that their behaviour was a credit to your school. Not once did I hear them swear or misbehave as is regularly seen by teenagers at the game. I can only hope that my three children can behave as well as they did in their teenage years. “

This is not to gloss over the mishaps and learning’s of the term but it is an example of the potential these boys demonstrate week in and week out. Also on this trip Julian elected to miss out so as to support his football team mates. I really have to commend Julian for his mature decision to forgo this trip and be accountable to his team mates. Next term is the last for the year 12’s and we are hoping to support their transition to life beyond school with a retreat. The year 11’s ,Brodie and Zachary, watch the leadership role of their

older peers and one can see them grow in respect for their mates, and subsequently, in their positive actions. I look forward to working, living and laughing closer with all the boys again in term 4. by Mr Paul King - Boarding Supervisor

Upcoming Events - Term 3 & 4 - 2013

Fri 20 Sept Boarders Travel home

Fri 20 Sept - Tues 8 Oct MSB School Holidays

Mon 7 Oct Labour Day Public Holiday

Tues 8 Oct MSB Office Open - Boarders Travel to MSB

Wed 9 Oct All Classes commence Term 4

Sat 12th Oct MSB Year 12 Formal Fundraiser - Sausage Sizzle - Big W Atherton

Wed 16th Oct P & F Meeting @ MSB in the Boardroom

Thurs 17th Oct MSB Board Meeting

Mon 21st Oct QSA Verification - Student Free Day

Fri 25th Oct MSB Presentation Night @ Herberton State Primary School Hall 7pm

Sat 26th Oct - Fri 1st Nov Year 11 Expedition - Cedar Bay

Fri 15th Nov Year 12 Graduation Mass @ 9am-10.30am / Last Day for Year 12 2013

Sat 16th Nov Year 12 Formal - The Reef Hotel Casino Cairns @ 6pm

Thurs 28th Nov All Classes finish Term 4 @ 3pm

Fri 29th Nov Boarders Travel Home

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu Concert

Flecker Botanical Gardens Cairns

It might seem a big call but this trip to the Cairns Botanical Gardens for the Gurrumul Concert

with Topsy, Dalla, Danuta, Anna-Rita, Margaret, Junita, Jilla, Billy, Pamai, Lenard and

Cameron was the best outing I have been on in decades!

The scene was a bright, blue and balmy Cairns afternoon, with a concert of three acts, Zenith,

Thelma Plum and of course Gurrumul. On the way to the concert we stopped for lunch and

the students found a homeless person injured. They brought food and drink for her and when

she asked for an ambulance to be called, they followed this up too! To see injustice is one

thing. To act and show compassion is another.

On our arrival at the concert we were greeted by a huge line up and one could sense this was not a usual sight for Cairns, or

the students. Somehow, as if by intended reward, the students were whisked to the front of the queue, given their underage

arm bands and the afternoon began!

We moved straight into the front near the stage. From one act to the next, through to

the end when Topsy met and had her photo taken with Gurrumul, each student ‘Let

their Light Shine’. I have never seen a group of young people not only find meaning in

the cultural activity but where they also brought the whole concert community out in

connection. Their laughs and appropriate calling out and responding to the performers

was appreciated by the crowd. They shed tears as Gurrumul’s family came on stage, and

at the lyrics sung. They screamed as their favourite song began, and Gurrumul could be

seen to respond to their honesty.

There is something great about the arts, as there is in sport or many of things we do at school. However, many a great

opportunity or event has gone unappreciated, or not engaged with by young people. This day was the total opposite. To see

Topsy pushing past fear and shyness and asking to meet Gurrumul was as delightful as seeing her and Anna Rita actually meet

Gurrumul. Every young person let their light shine on this day, in a unique and amazing way. Thank you to you all for

sharing this with me.

I also want to thank Brother Bill for his generosity and vision in supporting this day. In the crowd of mainly non indigenous

people, watching three indigenous acts, allowing these young people access, is truly social justice in action. They would have

been priced out of participation if not for Bill’s

support. Thank you too to Deborah Booth for

reminding me of the concert and providing two

extra tickets when they were sold out, and to the

kitchen for their lovely esky of goodies.

Most of all thank you to the young people, the

homeless woman May, to the three amazing

indigenous acts and to Dalla Tomsana & Pamai

Dau for their quiet leadership.

By Paul King - Boarding Supervisor

Photo left: Zennith Photo above: Topsy & Geoffrey

Photo right: Pamai Dau with Thelma Plum