28 May 2025

Message from the Principal

The Feast of Mary Help of Christians

The Feast of our Patron Saint and namesake, Mary Help of Christians, is celebrated on 24th of May. This is a very special time for our College as we reflect on the model of faith that Mary.

To celebrate, we enjoyed a lovely morning last Thursday as we joined with the Catholic Women's League (CWL) at the Ryan Community Centre to celebrate Mass for the Mary Help of Christians Feast Day, followed by a delightful shared morning tea. 
The CWL generously gave us a tree to plant and we look forward to it growing as a symbol of our journey towards sustaining our Common Home.

Bishop Tim Harris presided and the homily reminded us of the humble model of faith that Mary represents, bringing us ever-closer to Jesus. Mary's faith-filled life actions were never for her alone. Mary was called, and because of her faith, she was listening and said "Yes" to being part of God's plan for the world. 
We ask Mary to pray for us in becoming a Christ-centred community of compassionate people, inviting the Spirit to guide us.

At the end of the Mass, Fr Joseph gave a moving speech about the life works of  Sr Dr Mary Glowrey (JMJ), who is the first woman religious doctor to be considered for sainthood. Eighty years ago, Sr Dr Glowrey, an Australian and educated medical missionary, founded India's largest non-government healthcare network. It was certainly a privilege to hear her inspiring story.

Naledi M, Alyssa R, Charlotte D and Skye H represented the college with pride and were great helpers with the CWL raffles.

Our College celebrates the Feast of Mary Help of Christians

At Mary Help of Christians Catholic College, we are inspired by Jesus. We are honoured to celebrate the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, our namesake and patron saint of Australia and the Townsville Diocese.

We had a wonderful Feast Day celebration last Friday. We came together as a community to celebrate this special occasion with Mass, followed by a shared meal and activities with students and staff.

With Mary as our model of faith, our students will grow in the fullness of their humanity in an environment where they will feel welcomed, accepted and valued.

Celebration of the Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians

Last Friday evening, we joined Bishop Tim in celebration of the Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Our students, Alyssa R. and Luke O. were honoured to process the icon during the Mass.
The title of Mary or Our Lady Help of Christians recognises her role as an advocate and protector for believers particularly in times of need and spiritual struggle. She always points to the Saviour Jesus. She is our powerful intercessor and we were blessed to attend this event and represent our college for the first time.

National Reconciliation Week is from 27 May to 3 June and we're coming together to reflect, learn, and connect.

We invited our community to join us for a special Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony and throughout the week, our students will also be engaging in a variety of meaningful and hands on activities, including:

• A dance workshop with Will Mabo
• A weaving activity with Carly L.
• A cultural walk at Jezzine Barracks with Pelly M.
• A yarning circle and 'Bringing Now to Next' reflection activities

A massive thank you to our First Nations Education teacher Aimee Young, for organising these rich experiences for our students and staff.

Introducing our Instrumental Music Program

We are excited to begin our Instrumental Music Program in Week 7 and I am pleased to announce that our very own Ryan Daniel will be one of our Instrumental Music Tutors (Piano) in addition to his role as School Officer in the classroom. We are so blessed to have Ryan teaching our students piano. Professor Ryan Daniel has a PhD in Music Education and we are grateful that he will share his wonderful gift with our community.

We also welcome the very talented  Brooke Roberts to the college, teaching Guitar (and maybe vocals soon). Brooke is a recording artist with a number one country hit and she is a product of our very own Catholic Education system. Brooke was College Captain at Southern Cross Catholic College.

Combined with the excellent tutorage that  Lisa Arnold will herself deliver, along with leading the Music Program,  these two incredibly talented musicians will certainly get our Instrumental Music Program off to a wonderful start. We are excited to build this wonderful program.

Mary Help of Christians, Pray for Us.

Mardi Grubba
Principal

Catholic Identity, Mission and Wellbeing

Championing the Common Good at Mary Help of Christians

One of the late Pope Francis’s most enduring legacies was his encyclical, Laudato Si’, which addresses the need for all of us to care for our common home. It addresses both environmental and social factors, reminding us that we have been gifted with a beautiful planet and the opportunity to live harmoniously, both with our planet and with each other. Our College has embraced the spirit of Laudato Si’ in our ways of being, with a special focus on being “champions of the common good” in The Mary Help of Christians Way. As Term 2 progresses, we have begun to focus more intently on the things we can do to act sustainably and respectfully on our beautiful campus. While this is a shared effort, there are a few things our students and families can do to play their part.

1. Consider active transport
   As the weather cools down ever so slightly, we are encouraging students who live within range, and whose parents and carers are confident in their abilities, to make use of active transport options to get to and from school. While our campus is located alongside a busy road, it is also very well-connected with cycling and pedestrian infrastructure linking it to Greater Ascot, The Reserve and Harris Crossing, and even further afield to Greenview, Willowbank and Willow Gardens with little or no contact with major roads. Students have access to bike storage onsite if they choose to ride.
   By using active transport, students can build their independence, bypass afternoon traffic and, perhaps most importantly, make environmentally friendly transport choices.
2. Care for materials and resources
   We are also working with students on their care for the materials and resources provided for their use by the school and by their families. Our focus has been on caring for materials well enough that they survive their full “life expectancy” – for example, caring for Chromebooks so that they can retain the same device for Years 7 to 9, and ensuring that they do not lose or break items of stationery or other equipment. This serves not only to save money, but also to reduce our environmental footprint: a pen that is used once and carelessly left behind, for example, is no different from a single-use plastic food wrapping.
3. Use bins and recycling bins across the campus
   We are blessed to have a fresh, new, clean and attractive campus, and we are working with our students to keep it that way. The simplest step our students can take to keep their campus this way is by making good use of the rubbish and recycling bins that are conveniently located around all eating and play areas. As our gardens begin to flourish, we are paying extra attention to keeping them clear of litter, mindful both of the risks to birdlife from ingesting rubbish and the potential hazard to nearby waterways if we do not take responsibility for our waste. We are also working with students to ensure that recycling bins are used correctly.

It is our aim that, as we grow as a College and as a community, we will enshrine a care for our common home in our ways of thinking, ways of working and ways of being. We will continue to update families periodically as opportunities to enhance our sustainable practices continue to emerge.

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

Learning and Thinking

Fostering Future-Ready Learners Through Integrated Learning

We are deeply committed to nurturing students who are not only academically capable but also equipped with the skills and values needed to thrive in an ever-evolving world. This includes fostering learner mindsets that embrace intelligent behaviour when faced with challenges—encouraging students to self-regulate, strive for accuracy, and persist through difficulties.

One of the key ways we support this vision is through our Integrated Learning Program, held every Wednesday during Week B. This initiative provides students with the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary activities that bring learning to life. Working collaboratively across subject areas, students apply the General Capabilities of the Australian Curriculum—such as Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability, and ICT Capability—in meaningful, real-world contexts. Integrated learning activities also incorporate the cross-curriculum priorities of Sustainability, Australia’s Engagement with Asia, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures, encouraging students to explore diverse perspectives and deepen their understanding of the world around them.

So far this year, students have participated in a range of rich learning experiences, including activities for National Reconciliation Week (this week), where they explored Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and histories through the arts, storytelling, inquiry and reflection. Another highlight has been the naming of our college Houses, a project that invited students to research and present on significant figures and values that reflect our Catholic identity and community spirit.

This integrated approach not only enhances academic learning but also cultivates essential life skills. Students learn to think critically, solve complex problems, and communicate effectively—skills that are vital for success in today’s society.  As a Catholic learning community, we believe in educating the whole person. The Integrated Learning Program is one way we live out this mission, preparing our students to be thoughtful, compassionate, and capable contributors to society.  For further information about the Integrated Learning Program, please contact Mr Michael Reedman, our Integrated Learning Design and Delivery Leader.  Mr Reedman is doing a great job leading the development of this work at Mary Help of Christians Catholic College.

Mr Paul Allan
Deputy Principal - Learning and Thinking

College Administration

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.

Last call for Lost Property

As mentioned last month, a growing collection of lost property is being held at the college office! If your child is missing any items, please ask them to drop in to the college office and check the lost property rack.  We have also been encouraging students to do this.  At the end of this month, any remaining lost property will be donated to charity (where possible).

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

National Reconciliation Week

Each year, from 27 May to 3 June, our nation marks National Reconciliation Week. These two dates are significant:

• On 27 May 1967, the Australian people voted overwhelmingly to recognise First Nations people as a part of the Australian population
• On June 3, 1992, the High Court handed down its decision in the Mabo case, establishing the principle of native title rights in Australia.

Between these two dates, we dedicate time to learning about and appreciating the histories, cultures and achievements of all Australians on a path towards reconciliation. We have marked this week with the first of two Integrated Learning rotations focusing on the Australian Curriculum’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curriculum priority. Students have engaged in workshops both at school and off-campus, at Jezzine Barracks. Students will complete their second set of rotations in Week 10.

A particular highlight this week has been our Smoking Ceremony, which is an important cultural protocol as part of the establishment of new spaces and new communities. It is also a wonderful, immersive learning experience for our students. We thank Ashley Saltner, Deja Wyles and Will Mabo for leading us through this process.

First Nations Education Advisory Committee

Last Wednesday, our First Nations Education Advisory Committee held its first meeting. The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to provide a First Nations perspective on a range of matters, both within the classroom and across the College more broadly. This allows us to provide authentic and culturally sensitive learning experiences for all of our students. 

The Advisory Committee has also commenced work on our Reconciliation Action Plan, which will guide us towards an authentic reconciliation and celebration of the wealth of First Nations knowledge and experience within our community. We thank the parents and students who have offered their time as part of this committee, and look forward to continuing our work together as the year progresses.

Co-Curricular Update

District Trials

The following trials are on offer for students who play the following sports at club level and have a high level of skill in the chosen sport. If students wish to nominate for a trial, they are to contact either their HPE teacher or Mrs Arnold. Alternatively parents are also welcome to make contact with Lisa Arnold 

Block Sport - Boys Rugby League

Please find below the final draw for our upcoming Block Sports Competition. All games will take place on Tuesday afternoons at RLTD.

We kindly ask that all students arrive 30 minutes prior to the start of their game at the designated field. The RLTD grounds are located at 132 Kern Bros Drive, Kirwan.

To ensure students are well-prepared, please make sure they bring the following items:

• Mouthguard
• Water bottle
• Hat
• Appropriate footwear (footy boots or joggers)

Interschool Cross Country

On Tuesday, 12 students proudly represented our College at the Interschool Cross Country held at Bicentennial Park. Each student demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship, determination, and school spirit as they tackled the course.

We would like to congratulate the following students for their efforts and for representing our College so admirably:

Guidance Counsellor

Sleep is a key indicator of wellbeing in young people. Please see this special report from School TV explaining why sleep is such an important fuel for teens. 

Meet the Staff

Silvana Arias
Administration Officer 

• What is your role at the college?
  

  As the Administration Officer, I’m lucky to wear a few different hats! I look after enrolments, marketing, reception, and provide support to our Leadership Team.

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

  Before joining the college, I worked in Marketing and Communications at the Townsville Catholic Education Office.

• A couple of fun or interesting facts about you?
  

  I'm a long distance runner, and I will be completing my first full marathon (42.2 km) at the Brisbane Marathon this weekend - wish me luck! I am also fluent in Spanish and have a Black Labrador that I proudly show off at any given opportunity! 

• What do you love about working at Mary Help of Christians?
  I love that everyone is known, supported, and valued. It’s a welcoming and positive environment that makes each day truly enjoyable.