5 March 2025

Message from the Principal

It is with great pleasure that we officially extend a warm welcome to you all as we embark on our foundation year and send out our very first College Newsletter. Thank you for taking the leap of faith and entrusting us with the formation of your children - we are privileged to partner with you in their education and growth. 
The commencement of a new school year is always a transformative experience, impacting the mind, body and spirit. For the Mary Help of Christians Catholic College community, the start of the 2025 school year has been especially memorable and we are incredibly proud of the resilience and perseverance that our students (and families as well) have shown during the first half of this term. Hats off to you for the patience, grace and positivity you have shown. 

We will continue to prioritise good communication with you, including further building updates and opportunities for you to be involved at Mary’s. Compass will be our main communication tool, supporting the College Newsletter and What’s On from our Year 7 Pastoral Leader. Next week, the college car park is planned to open and we are working on some access to the Vocatus Centre (Block C), which is very exciting, along with landscaping 

During their time at Mary’s, our students and staff will be challenged in the spirit of Mary to determine “Who they are Called to Be.” At Mary Help of Christians Catholic College, education is more than just acquiring knowledge. It is about fostering a love for learning, nurturing a spirit of service and instilling compassion in every student. Our College motto, Called to Learning, Service and Compassion, is woven into the fabric of our daily school life, shaping an environment where each and every student is encouraged to grow academically, socially and spiritually.

The Mary’s Way shows us how to live our College Mission and Motto, inspiring us all to answer the call to Learning, Service and Compassion. By focusing on learning, we help our students to develop bold minds with a strong emphasis on effort, excellence, curiosity, and resilience. Through service, we encourage students to be generous spirits and champions of the Common Good. And with compassionate hearts, we live with empathy and humility, rising by lifting others. Mary Help of Christians places a strong emphasis on critical and creative thinking, equipping students with problem-solving skills essential for life beyond school. Our Learning and Thinking Framework provides Integrated Learning Project Opportunities, explicitly teaching critical thinking skills across subjects. This allows our students to generate and test ideas, analyse their own work, and develop resilience in learning.

One of the great joys of my role as College Principal is the journey I will take with our students, staff and all who will contribute to making Mary Help of Christians Catholic College a wonderful place to study, grow and belong. My hope is that you find in our community a place of friendship and support, where genuine care for one another is at the heart of all we do. In time, I trust you will come to feel a deep sense of pride in our college and in the people who bring it to life.

I also extend a warm official welcome to our staff and look forward to the continuation of their generous contributions. Our students are blessed to be guided by dedicated, skilled and generous teachers - educators who have chosen a profession that is, at its core, a testament of hope. Teaching is sacred work; we shape young people who, in turn, will shape humanity. There is no greater responsibility. 
At Mary’s we take pride in the achievements of every student, believing that success is deeply personal and is found in striving to do one’s best.

We encourage our students to embrace a wide range of interests. We want them to take risks, discover new passions that capture their spirits and say “yes” to opportunities; approaching each new challenge with courage. Above all, we want them to look out for one another - to lead with kindness, to lift others up and make a meaningful impact on our Mary’s community and beyond.

May our students be blessed with good friends and compassionate hearts. May they be a good friend and learn to be good to themselves, especially when they meet challenges along the way.
Let this first year of high school at Mary’s be a journey of growth, discovery and hope.

Wishing you all a wonderful year ahead.
Blessings.

Mardi Grubba
College Principal

Catholic Identity, Mission and Wellbeing

Ash Wednesday and Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the season of Lent. This is a period of preparation and reflection as the Catholic community readies itself for Easter.

The Lenten season is marked by three actions: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is a time in which we bring ourselves closer to God, both by making time for prayer in our daily lives and by acting in a way that honours His wishes for us. 

We fast by making some voluntary sacrifices: traditionally, Catholics “give something up” for Lent, as well as observing some dietary restrictions. These sacrifices echo, in a very minor way, the sacrifice made by God out of love for us: it is at Easter that we remember that Jesus died in order that we may enjoy eternal life. The process of giving something up for Lent also invites us to exercise self-control: it is a challenge, and it helps us to keep our minds on the purpose of the season.

We also engage in almsgiving through charitable donations and actions. When we give something up for Lent, we may save money, which we set aside to give to those who are less fortunate than us. Alongside all Townsville Catholic Schools, the Mary’s community supports Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion during Lent, raising money to improve the lives of people across the world. Keep an eye out for opportunities to make a contribution over the remaining weeks of Term 1: while we are a small and young community, we are keen to establish ourselves as a generous community. We have been fortunate in the support provided to us by our community in our opening weeks, and look forward to paying it forward during the Lenten season.

Mr Graham Joseph 
Assistant Principal - Catholic Identity, Mission and Wellbeing 

Learning and Thinking

What a great feeling it was to finally move into our beautiful new college on Tuesday 11th February!  Our students have settled into learning routines and I am enjoying seeing them engaging so well in classrooms around the college. We are all truly blessed to have such fantastic facilities to learn and work in.

Resilience and organisation are learning superpowers

At last Friday’s college assembly, I spoke with students about being a resilient learner. One of our main goals is to help all students become resilient learners, with the intention that they can transfer these resilience skills into other aspects of their lives.

Resilience is all about developing the courage to face challenges and the ability to bounce forward from any setbacks. When our students encounter difficult concepts or receive feedback that doesn't meet their expectations, we encourage them to view these moments as opportunities for growth rather than failures. This "growth mindset" approach helps students build confidence in their ability to overcome obstacles.

Organisation is equally important. Well-organised students do things like manage their independent learning time in class effectively, and meet deadlines, which reduces unnecessary stress. For a wide variety of reasons, not everyone is automatically well organised!  However, it is our responsibility to assist every young person at our college to develop their organisation skills. Students who maintain organised learning spaces, use their diaries consistently, and plan ahead for assessments typically achieve better outcomes. 

In the classroom, our teachers are modelling these skills by providing structured learning experiences, breaking down complex tasks, and teaching explicit strategies for managing workloads. For all students, the expectations are high and, for some, they can sometimes feel like a huge stretch.  But that is OK.  We are matching our high expectations with the necessary supports to help everyone develop their resilience and organisation, no matter their starting point.

How can you support development of resilience and organisation at home?

• Celebrate real effort rather than just results
• Ask your child what they learned from mistakes
• Help establish consistent homework routines (more on homework in the next newsletter)
• Encourage regular use of the school diary to keep organised
• Check in on assessment calendars and due dates - your child can show you how to access these

As we work together to support every student to experience success at Mary’s, remember that resilience and organisation are lifelong skills that extend well beyond the classroom. They are well worth the time and effort (and the tough moments) to help set our young people up for future success in life beyond school.  Thank you for your ongoing support in nurturing these important qualities in our students.

Mr Paul Allan
Deputy Principal - Learning and Thinking

College Administration

Emerging Leaders Program (First Nations) Parent Information Night - 11/03/2025 (6pm-8pm)

Please see the information below from our First Nations Education Teacher, Mrs Aimee Young, regarding the forthcoming information night for the Emerging Leaders program.  This program is a fantastic initiative from Townsville Catholic Education and is one way our college lives its commitment to supporting all of our First Nations students to thrive at school.

NAPLAN 2025

NAPLAN information was distributed to all parents/carers via the Compass News Feed on Friday 14 February, 2025.  Students in Year 7 will complete one NAPLAN test per day as follows:

• Writing - Wed 12 March 2025 (42 minutes)
• Reading - Thu 13 March 2025 (65 minutes)
• Conventions - Fri 14 March 2025 (45 minutes)
• Numeracy - Mon 17 March 2025 (65 minutes)

Each test will be completed during the first session of the day, with the normal school timetable resuming from the end of each test.  For further information, please refer to your Compass News Feed.

Year 7 Parent Information Evening - Wednesday 19 March 2025 (6pm - 7pm)

All parents and carers are invited to attend our inaugural Year 7 Parent Information Evening. Usually, we would hold this evening in Week 2 of Term 1. However, it has been necessary to delay it until now due to all of the challenges with the weather at the start of the year.  This evening is a great opportunity for you to hear a short presentation from our leadership team and Year 7 Pastoral Leader, as well as meet all of your child’s teachers face-to-face in an informal setting. Further information will be shared with you soon.

College Open Day - Tuesday 25 March 2025 (3:00pm - 5:30pm)

Our inaugural College Open Day will be held on Tuesday 25 March. This will be a great opportunity for prospective families and students to tour our college and experience the welcoming nature of the Mary’s Way. One of the best aspects of our college open day will be the opportunity for our current Year 7 students to act as tour guides and take prospective families around their college! Further information, including opportunities for student volunteers, will be distributed via the Compass News Feed soon.

Do you know about the College Calendar?

There is a public-facing calendar on our college website where you can see all of the important dates coming up in the life of the college.  You can access the calendar by visiting this link:

https://www.mhoc.catholic.edu.au/about-us/calendar/ 

First Nations Education

First Nations students are invited to join the Emerging Leaders Program, which is led by Townsville Catholic Education. A Parent Information Night is being held in our auditorium from 6-8pm on Tuesday 11th March. This is a compulsory event for families wishing to join this program. Please RSVP to Aimee Young (ayoung9@mhoc.catholic.edu.au) by Friday 7th March.

We are currently collating a booklet that will include a variety of Acknowledgement of Country, which have been written by our students. Some signage has also arrived over the past few weeks, which we will be displaying alongside our National Flags. Our National Flags have been kindly donated by MP and OAM Phillip Thompson. 

With our hall and car park almost complete, we have organised a smoking ceremony by Wulgurukaba Walkabouts on Friday 14th March during assembly time. This will be a great opportunity for students to learn more about the importance of a smoking ceremony and the meaning behind it. Families are most welcome to attend, you will just need to ensure you sign into the office.

Co-Curricular Update

Swimming Carnival

On Wednesday, February 19th, we had the privilege of hosting our inaugural swimming carnival at the Northern Beaches Leisure Centre. The day was filled with excitement, energy, and a great sense of camaraderie as students competed in various swimming events. The Red House emerged victorious, claiming the title of Overall House Champion, while the Yellow House was awarded the Spirit Cup for their enthusiasm and sportsmanship. Many students also showcased their remarkable swimming talents, with several placing as age champions and runners-up in their respective age groups. We would like to extend our congratulations to the following students for their outstanding achievements in securing the following places:

Guidance Counsellor

My name is Lesley and I am thrilled to have been appointed as the College Guidance Counsellor at Mary Help of Christians College for 2025 and beyond. I am a Registered Psychologist who has gained experience in many different fields working with children, adolescents, and adults. For the past 14 years though I have been employed in the Student Wellbeing and Pastoral Services Team for Townsville Catholic Education supporting students from Prep through to year 12. 

I’ve had an opportunity to talk to our students about the College Counselling Service and provide tips on adjusting to high school transition and coping with change but here are some helpful tips for you as parents also.

Ways to support your young person with their transition to high school

As parents you too are embarking on a new journey so here are some helpful tips taken from Reachout.com (https://parents.au.reachout.com/school-and-education/school-transition/transition-to-high-school-for-teenagers) for the weeks and months ahead.

What to know about high school transition

High school is an exciting time in a young person’s life. During their transition to high school, they will experience new challenges and plenty of changes. You can support your young person by talking to them about any worries they may have during this time. Some of the changes they are likely to face during transition include:

• being separated from the friends they made at primary school
• meeting new people and making new friends
• navigating their new school campus
• learning different rules and expectations
• getting to know multiple teachers
• managing their study schedule and a new routine
• moving into adolescence and experiencing puberty
• starting to use social media and increasing their technology use.

 How can I help?

You can help your young person settle in at high school by:

• Communicating with them about what to expect as they start high school. Encourage them to ask questions, and if you don’t know the answers, find them together.
• Helping to prepare for high school. Talk to them about what they need, and organise those things together.
• Talking to your young person about how to use social media and technology safely and ask them to show you their favourite apps, games and websites. Lead by example, set realistic boundaries for internet use and show them how to use it in a positive way.
• Getting to know other parents, teachers and the school community.
• Encouraging your young person to make new friends and to participate in social activities.
• Getting involved in school events.
• Being present and supportive during your teen’s transition to high school.

SchoolTV is a wonderful wellbeing resource that can support you in the challenges relating to modern-day parenting and what’s better it can be accessed easily via our school website at the click of a button https://mhoc.catholic.schooltv.me/

For more information on supporting students through high school transition please see the special report on School TV https://mhoc.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-transition-high-school

Wishing you all the best for this exciting journey!

Meet the Staff

Lisa Arnold
Co-Curricular Design and Delivery Leader

• What is your role at the college?
  My role at Mary's is Co-Curricular Design and Delivery Leader. I oversee the design and delivery of the Co Curricular opportunities within the College. I also teach visual art and music.
  
  
• What did you do before joining Mary’s?
  Prior to commencing at Mary's, I worked at another of our local Catholic school for 8 years, where I was the Curriculum Leader for the Arts. In this role I looked after the design and delivery of the Arts Curriculum (Dance, Drama, Media Arts, Music and Visual Arts), as well as coordinating co-curricular Arts opportunities.
  
  
• A couple of fun or interesting facts about you?
  I love playing music -  I'm currently playing clarinet in Townsville Concert Band. I live with my husband Luke and son Oliver. I also have a pet Sharpei (dog) named Wally. 
  
  
• What do you love about working at Mary’s?
  The staff and students. I feel incredibly blessed to work with such kind and supportive staff members and students who are so eager to learn.

Community News

Join the Townsville Youth Council 

Want to help shape the future for young people in Townsville?

The Townsville Youth Council provides an opportunity to collaborate with community leaders, improve support services, create new opportunities, and advocate for the issues that matter most to the next generation.

If you're aged 12-25, live in Townsville, and want to make a difference in your community, consider applying!

For more information or to apply, visit Council’s website - Townsville Youth Council