14 May 2025

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers of Mary Help of Christians Catholic College Community, 

Year 7 Camp Wrap Up

Students and staff have wonderful stories to tell about their time on camp last week at Camp Gedling, Hervey Range. It was an unforgettable time filled with being adventurous, trying new things and building connections with others by having fun. Students challenged themselves with abseiling, high ropes, mountain biking, archery and completing the Amazing Race. Our Year 7 Pastoral Leader, Shane Richardson, is to be commended for his leadership in organising our inaugural Year 7 Camp, supported by our staff and the team from Camp Gedling and Outer Limits Adventure Fitness.

Wonderful memories were made as we continue to build our culture and live out our College Motto, answering the call to Learning, Service and Compassion.

Naming our College Houses

During our Integrated Learning lessons this week, students will be working through a process of discernment to identify possible names for our College Houses.

There are some exciting steps for students to follow to make this process happen in a meaningful way.

Graham Joseph, our Assistant Principal, Catholic Identity, Mission and Wellbeing, has been gathering possible inspirational characters for our students to consider as House names.

We have applied the following criteria to ensure that the choices we make for our House names are suitable and meaningful for our context and story:

• They must be saints (or beatified and in line for canonisation)
• They must be recent  (to allow for the students to feel connected to them)
• They must clearly have had a calling and responded to it through their life's actions

Each Learning Group will be responsible for assessing and ranking three of the nominated names. In their research, they will seek to connect them to aspects of The Mary's Way.

They will identify the possible House names to be based on people we can "grow into" - with layers of complexity in their lives and actions that can hopefully inspire our students across their journey at Mary Help of Christians Catholic College. 

Finally, we need House names that students will feel inspired to chant as they grow House Spirit!

We are preparing to have our Houses named for the upcoming Inter-House Athletics Carnival in Week 9 this term and look forward to the input our students will have in this decision making process. We can’t wait for the Mascots that we will develop next once we have chosen our House name. Exciting times!

Blessings.

Mardi Grubba
College Principal

Catholic Identity, Mission and Wellbeing

Habemus Papam!

On the 8th of May, while our students were on camp, the College of Cardinals issued the happy announcement that they have elected Cardinal Robert Prevost as our new Pope. Cardinal Prevost has taken the papal name of Leo XIV. Pope Leo has affirmed his commitment to many of the ideals of Pope Francis that made him a Pope for all people: social justice, care for the poor and courageous engagement with the world as it is today. We look forward to his stewardship as we continue to shape our own identity as a Catholic school in a modern and rapidly changing world. 

College Celebration: The Feast of Mary Help of Christians

Saturday the 24th of May is the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, who is both our namesake and the patron saint of Australia and our Diocese. This day will be marked by a range of celebrations across the Diocese, while our College will celebrate our first Feast Day a day earlier, on Friday the 23rd of May. 

In Catholic tradition, feast days are used throughout the year to remember people – usually saints – who are important to our faith. Feast days are, above all, a time of celebration and thanksgiving: we thank the Lord for the stewards he has offered to the Church and we remember with fondness the good works of the saints who are celebrated. 

The celebration of feast days is a long-standing tradition in Catholic schools, and it is one that we will establish this year as we continue to explore and develop our identity as a College. Our feast day will be a celebration of Mary Help of Christians as our model of faith, and it will be an opportunity to recognise all of the things that have brought us together as a community, marked by community activities and companionship. We look forward to celebrating as a community next Friday! 

The day will be organised as follows:

• Period 1: regular lessons
• Period 2: regular lessons
• Lunch: snack and play – students are encouraged to bring a small snack to “tide them over” until Period 4.
• Period 3: Mass celebrated by Fr Joe
• Period 4: shared meal in the Vocatus Centre (catered by the College)
• Afternoon tea: play and relaxation
• Period 5: elective activities offered by teachers and chosen by students

Diocese and Parish News

Parish Youth Group

Our parish, the Ministerial Region of the Good Shepherd, has a youth group for high school students and young adults. We’d love to see more Mary Help of Christians students there! The youth group meets at the Ryan Community Centre on the second Sunday of each month, at 6pm (straight after the 5pm Mass). New members are always welcome for some fun, food and good conversation.

Celebrating Mary Help of Christians

Just as our College will be celebrating the feast of Mary Help of Christians, our parish and diocese will also be holding celebrations. Most notably:

• On Thursday 22/05, the Townsville branch of the Catholic Women’s League will be hosting a Mass and morning tea at 9am at the Ryan Community Centre. Mass will be celebrated by our Bishop, Timothy Harris. For more details, view the latest bulletin on the parish website.

On Friday 23/05, Bishop Timothy Harris will celebrate a special Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in honour of Mary Help of Christians. For more details, view the latest bulletin on the Cathedral website.

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

Learning and Thinking

School attendance - every day counts

As we move into the middle of Term 2, I want to take a moment to highlight a vital aspect of learner success—regular school attendance.

Research in Queensland consistently shows that students who attend school regularly achieve higher academic outcomes. But beyond academic success, being present at school every day helps students build friendships, develop resilience, and grow in confidence. It is through these daily interactions and learning experiences that our young people shape their future.

At our college, we believe that every student is a unique gift from God, and each day of learning is an opportunity to grow in knowledge, faith, and character. When students are at school consistently, they are better able to engage with the curriculum, participate in co-curricular activities, and contribute to our vibrant college community.

Why Attendance Matters:

• Learning is cumulative – missing even a day can disrupt a student’s understanding of key concepts.
• Friendships and social skills develop through daily interactions.
• Routine builds resilience – attending school regularly fosters self-discipline and responsibility.
• Faith formation is enriched through shared prayer, liturgy, and service.

Legal and practical considerations:

Under Queensland law, it is a legal requirement for children of school age to attend school every day unless there is a reasonable excuse. Illness, school excursions, medical appointments or authorised sporting and/or cultural events are valid reasons. However, absences for birthdays, shopping trips, or minor appointments should be avoided.

If your family is planning a holiday during school time, please inform the Pastoral Leader in advance. We can work with you to ensure your child remains engaged in their learning during any unavoidable absences.

Supporting your child’s attendance:

We understand that some mornings can be challenging. Whether it’s anxiety, tiredness, or simply a missing an item of uniform, establishing a consistent routine can make a big difference:

• Set regular bedtimes and wake-up times.
• Prepare uniforms and school bags the night before.
• Encourage a positive attitude towards school.
• Reach out to us if your child is struggling—we are here to help.

Thank you for your commitment to working together to ensure that every student is present, engaged, and thriving. After all, every day counts—for learning, for friendships, and for a brighter future.

Mr Paul Allan
Deputy Principal - Learning and Thinking

College Administration

School Class Photos

Class photos are occurring this Friday, 16th May 2025.  Families can now place photo orders online by clicking here. You will need to use the Access Key Code which was supplied to you via the Compass News Feed when placing your order. Students will need to ensure they are wearing their full and correct formal uniform on the day.

Interhouse Athletics Carnival

Our inaugural Interhouse Athletics Carnival will be held on Tuesday, 17 June 2025 (Week 9). Whilst the carnival will be held on the college grounds in future years, this year’s carnival will be held at the Townsville Sports Reserve.  Parents will be welcome to attend and support the various events throughout the day.  Further information will be supplied as we get closer to the date.

Lost Property

There is a growing collection of lost property benign held at the college office, including unnamed hats, 

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

Just a reminder that we have our First Nations Advisory Group Meeting on Wednesday 21st May from 6pm (Week 5). All families and community members are welcome. If you would like any further information about this or would like to rsvp, please email Aimee Young at ayoung9@mhoc.catholic.edu.au. We look forward to seeing you there!

Co-Curricular Update

Cross Country

On Thursday, May 1st, we held our very first Cross Country event. The students demonstrated outstanding determination and spirit as they navigated the course. A huge congratulations to the Blue House, winners of the Spirit Cup, and to the Yellow House, our House Champions!

We'd also like to celebrate our Age Champions and Runners Up:

Thank you to all the staff members who made this event possible. Your support and effort were greatly appreciated!

Instrumental Music

A friendly reminder that Instrumental Music lessons are set to begin in week 6. If your child has already enrolled, you will soon receive correspondence about lesson dates and times.

For those still interested in learning an instrument, it’s not too late to register your child! Simply complete the enrolment form to express your interest. Should you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact the College.

Kind regards,

Lisa Arnold
Co-Curricular Design and Delivery Leader 

Guidance Counsellor

It is coming to the time of term where assessment tasks will start to be discussed and the thought of exams/assignments will be foremost in student’s minds. There are lots of useful strategies that can be used to minimise anxiety for students. SchoolTV provides these suggestions on ways to minimise exam anxiety https://mhoc.catholic.schooltv.me/content/blog/how-handle-exam-anxiety

Here are some useful tips for students on creating study timetables:

• Develop a weekly study timetable

• Develop a timetable proforma that you can reuse

• Write all your life commitments into the planner first (eg. Tutoring/work/sport)

• Refer to your diary and calendar to see what is due

• Prioritise what needs to be done and when

• Make a realistic decision about how long things will take you, and book in time on the planner

• STICK TO IT!

• Remember to factor in some downtime for relaxation/leisure activities

Meet the Staff

Cathy Grieve
Tuckshop Convenor

• What is your role at the college?
  

  I am the Tuckshop Convenor.

• What did you do before joining Mary Help of Christians?
  

  Before I joined Mary Help of Christians, I volunteered and worked casually in school tuckshops. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to take on the convenor role here!

• A couple of fun or interesting facts about you?
  

  I love fishing, cooking, going for walks, and spoiling the grandchildren. But what I truly enjoy the most is spending time with my family and travelling.

• What do you love about working at Mary Help of Christians?
  I love how welcoming and kind everyone is. The staff are lovely to work with, and the students are so gracious and genuinely grateful, it makes coming to work each day really enjoyable.