News

 Courage to Care

As part of the Year 9 program, students visited the Courage To Care exhibition. Here are some student reflections from the day:

Today we went on an eye-opening excursion to Sunshine College to participate in an exhibition by Courage to Care. This exhibition was about the injustices that were made in the time of WWII and the millions of Jews that were persecuted throughout Europe. We heard from a witness account about what life was like leading up to the holocaust. We were extremely lucky to hear a first-hand account from a survivor. We also learnt about the people that risked their lives to stand for the people that were being targeted. Finally, we were taught about the big and little ways in which we could help those who are suffering and being targeted in our society. 

Ajok Bol

In this program, we learnt about the Holocaust and related it back to the modern day world. The Holocaust was a time of great injustice against Jews and we learnt about what really happened in the time of Nazi Germany. We related it back to prejudice and discrimination nowadays. We also discussed the roles of a victim, perpetrator, bystander and upstander both then and now. I am now inspired to combat issues such as racism and bullying by taking on a positive action whether I'm at school or even a public space.

 Isabelle Desimone

We discussed the people that Hitler and the Nazi's tried to wipe out to create a master race of tall "blonde hair, blue eyed" people. These people were generally gypsies, homosexuals, the disabled but mostly Jewish people. We watched a short film that showed how the Jewish people were treated in the Holocaust and what had happened at the time. Shortly after that, we had a holocaust survivor speak to us about his experience and how he felt at the time. This speech allowed me to put myself into his shoes and understand what he was feeling while he endured tough situations as a jewish person. We then split into groups and talked about people who had the courage to stand up for what they believed in and how we can do the same.

For the rest of the day, we focused on courage and what it meant. We talked about how we could perform acts of courage even if it is something small like standing up to someone being bullied. This day has inspired me to go out and be courageous and avoid being a bystander. Learning about courage has made me want to show acts of kindness to others, such as giving money to the homeless or stand up for someone being bullied or discriminated. 

Anura Thayil

I learnt that courage wasn't just about stepping out and supporting  but courage is about acknowledgement and understanding of both pain, suffering and love that is happening in the present moment.  Courage is the capability to understand, acknowledge and support all those who are feeling pain and need some love. Simple examples such as helping someone who is getting bullied.

Pooja Chelimela

College Renovations Commencing July 2017

The College will commence renovations to the Giovanni and Administration buildings in early July. Reception and administration will be located in the Wellness Centre (former Convent building) from the start of term 2. 

The following link provides an idea on what the completed Giovanni Building will look like at the end of the project

Noel Kennedy

Business Manager

Canteen News

We invite you to join us on the next phase of our journey towards a healthy canteen at MSJ. We are keen to establish a canteen committee to improve our healthy food options at competitive prices for our students and staff. We are seeking representation from parents/guardians and interested community members as well as our students and staff.

If you can spare 2 hours per term for the next 12 months and would like to be involved, please email your details directly to  dgrandine@msj.vic.edu.au by 16 June 2017.

Daniela Grandine

Operations Manager

MMADD Day 2017

Bienvenue En Australie!

(Welcome to Australia!)

The staff and students at Mount St. Joseph Girls’ College warmly welcome Emma Roquel from the Lycée Fenelon Notre-Dame La Rochelle. La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department. 

Emma will be staying with her host sister Ruby Tennant (Year 10 Anne) for five weeks (from June 15th to July 20th) for the annual French student exchange. Ruby will, in turn, visit Emma in France for five weeks at the end of the year.

Please make her welcome in your classes, so that Emma’s experience of Australian school life will be a memorable one.

Bonne chance, Emma! (Good luck, Emma!)

Year 11 VCAL Excursion to St Mary of the Cross Primary School

On May 22, the Year 11 VCAL students undertook a complex project at St. Mary of The Cross Primary School in Point Cook. We were able to demonstrate how to make a fairy garden to a large group of Prep students.

With all the creativity, hands-on work and excitement in the room, the preps were able to produce amazing fairy gardens that they were all extremely proud of.  They then were able to take their little garden home and either give it as a present or keep it for themselves.

All in all, this day was a fun experience for everyone, especially for the MSJ VCAL students. We were able to work with a younger age group which most of us have never done before and were able to learn new leadership skills that we could then apply in the classroom.

By Khiana Hadjiantonakis and Beth Gunster

What is on in the MSJ Learning Resource Centre

There is always lots happening in the LRC: 

Chess Club - Wednesdays

Pageturners Book Club - Mondays

Study Buddies - Wednesdays

Makerspaces - Fridays

Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge

At Mount St. Joseph Girls’ College we encourage a love of literature. One way to foster this within the students is to offer participation in the annual Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge.

This year we have approximately 70 students participating in the Challenge and the objective for those who have registered, is to read 15 books before September 8th.  At the College, our objective is for students to engage with reading, so we are not so strict on whether this target is met or not.  However we would encourage students who are registered to be a part of the program to read to their very best. Certificates will be issued for those who meet the Challenge.

If your child has signed up to be a part of the Challenge, you might be able to get involved with her reading by asking questions about what she is doing to possibly meet the Challenge.

For those who have not signed up this year there may be an opportunity next year as the program is open from 7-10 students. There is still some time to sign up to the Challenge for this year.  Get in quick.

For any enquiries about the Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge, please speak to Ms Caruana in the Library.

Homework Club

Every night in the LRC students meet for Homework Club and Study Buddies  from 3:10 - 4:30pm. Students from all year levels receive guidance to complete homework and assignments or gain assistance to understand specific subject based content, such as during Maths Help on a Thursday afternoon.

Students say they take advantage of the extended opening hours in the LRC because they are able to focus on their studies in a relaxed, familiar setting where they can receive one to one support from their peers, teachers and education support officers every night of the week.

Students also say that they enjoy finishing their homework in an environment that differs from the home environment, one where they have access to high speed Internet, printers and IT support.

Have a read of the Academic Portfolio in the WAAM report to hear more about Homework Club and Study Buddies.

The LRC opens at 7:55am for Year 12 students each weekday and 8:15am for all other year levels. The LRC closes at 4:30pm each weekday.

Chess Club

Our club meets every Wed at lunchtime in the LRC. We learn Chess by playing the game.  Our aim is to hold a tournament by Term 4. We follow online games and games played by students in other schools who share their games on Tornelo.

Chess helps to develop our thinking, our memory, it improves concentration and our ability to think mathematically and it is fun! Challenge yourself daily with a chess game on any of the ten sets in the LRC.

Makerspaces in the LRC

Every Friday we offer a different activity that captures your imagination and engages us in ways we thought not previously possible. Today we created amazing cards that we will sell at our fundraising events for Caritas and some to give to friends and family. We are not finished so this Makerspace continues next Friday. 

In Term 2 we are teaching ourselves how to use connective thread with LED lights to create a cross-stitch that glows. Our knowledge of conductivity and scientific principles will surely be honed as we design a circuitry and try to be creative at the same time.