TERM 4 2021
RISING STAR Breadth of mind, Depth of heart
Mrs Janet Stewart Principal
Mr Richard Henry CEO and Executive Principal The Moreton Bay Colleges
Partnering with our Parents ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ African proverb
We are fortunate at MBC to enjoy very high levels of parent engagement and all the educational research tells us that parent engagement with schools is known to lead to improved outcomes for students of all ages. Parental engagement in learning underpins children and young people’s cognitive and social and emotional development, shapes family practices and behaviours, and can impact the nature of the school community and the experience of schooling. Parental engagement is therefore a highly significant leverage point for enhancing the academic attainment and wellbeing. (Emerson, Fear, Fox & Sanders, 2012). We know the personal development of character takes time, hard work and collaboration – as the African proverb says, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ and at MBC that means parents are a fundamental part of our mission to nurture future-ready young women. Thus, at MBC we have always sought to intentionally encourage parental engagement and we regard parents as partners in education and seek to promote homeschool partnerships. In Term 4, parent involvement in school life is often at its height. Parents continue to support sport training and arts rehearsals and are attending a myriad of culminating events such as Music, Dance, Public Speaking performances, Sports Awards, Year level orientations, the PYP Exhibition and academic ceremonies. Add to this, the ongoing work of volunteering in primary classes, representing other parents at Parent Rep or the Parents and
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THE RISING STAR | TERM 4 2021
Friends’ meetings and a busy assessment and exam period. The arrival of our CEO and Executive Principal, Mr Richard Henry, has seen the commencement of a new initiative prioritising the parent voice – Tucker and Talk. At these breakfast gatherings parents are given the opportunity to openly discuss any matters with the senior staff in attendance. It was also extremely pleasing to be able to host our ‘traditional’ Thank you function this year for the many, many volunteers who so willingly and cheerfully contribute to building a strong and connected ‘village’ in which our girls can flourish. Our Parent Survey conducted earlier this year was another vehicle to allow parents to feedback information to the College. We thank those of you who gave your time to respond. It is important that you are aware that we have spent considerable time over the last few months unpacking the rich data provided and have established a detailed and extensive action plan based on the results. Your feedback was overwhelmingly positive, yet we recognise that there were a number of common themes which we will seek to address in this article. Optimising academic success and nurturing student wellbeing is certainly a three-way process in thriving schools today. We wish to continue to deliver the best outcomes for every child in our care, so strong community connections and commitment from the College, our students and their families are critical to this success.
Parent Survey. Your Questions – Our Answers •
TEACHING AND LEARNING
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Does the College provide flexibility and choice in curriculum offering?
In Secondary, for Years 7-10, the College follows the Australian Curriculum which outlines subjects that are core and elective. In Senior, Year 11 and 12, students experience the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) by completing a range of subjects as outlined by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) and or Vocational Education Training (VET) courses. The flexibility and choice of curriculum increases as the students move through the secondary school. In Years 7 and 8 students are required to experience all the Key Learning Areas (KLA) and their subjects for differing amounts of time. Core subjects such as Mathematics, English, Science, HSS have greater time compared with KLA of the Arts, HPE, Languages and Technologies. Students are offered a choice of the language they study in Year 7 and 8 (French or Japanese) and participate in Arts (Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Art) and Technology (Design in Practice and Digital Technology) rotations. In Year 9 students study a core programme and elective programme. Keeping a breath of subject offerings into Year 9 aligns with The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACCARA) learning requirements as well as providing the student with a range of opportunities. In Year 9 we do not want to put undue pressure on students choosing subjects that will narrow Senior subject choices. At this stage of cognitive development students will continue to traverse the spectrum of likes/dislikes and strengths/ weaknesses. By having a broad curriculum offering students can safely navigate the developmental process.
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Core areas include HSS (Geography, History, Civic and Law), Mathematics, English, Science and HPE
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Electives are semesterised enabling students to choose up to four, ensuring breadth of study is maintained from Languages, The Arts, Technologies, and Project 8 (an integrated STEAM self-directed unit from 2022)
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In Year 10 students experience a transition to Senior schooling and continue studying the Australian Curriculum however the Teaching and Learning, Assessment, Marking and Reporting begin to mirror that of Senior. Core subjects begin to diversify at this juncture. Students will study:
English
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Mathematics (a choice of Mathematical Methods or General Mathematics)
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Science – General Science for 1 Semester and a choice of 2 specialist sciences in Semester 2 (Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Forensics)
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HSS – A semester unit of History and a HSS elective (choice of Geography, Civic and Law, Studies of Society and Religion) from 2022
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And two electives for the year (Textiles and Design, Food and Nutrition, Digital Technology, Business and Commerce, French, Japanese, Visual Art, Dance, Drama and Music)
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In Year 11 and 12 students have a selection of 35 subjects. MBC has the second broadest subject selection of QGSSSA schools and of local like schools. In 2021 students studied over 20 VET courses in varying formats (face to face on site, face to face by provider, using Virtual Reality, online delivery, Mater Health, or TAFE). Flexibility of choices is seen in the patterns of study for our Senior students (please note the subjects do not include the 20 VET Options).
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2020 Year 11: 118 students, 114 different subject combinations
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2021 Year 11: 120 students, 114 different subject combinations
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2021 Year 11: 120 students, 114 different subject combinations
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2022 Year 11: 100 students, 94 different subject combinations
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How does the college assist students to achieve their academic potential in Secondary?
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The Secondary Teaching and Learning team work closely with the Director of IT to set-up a model of tracking and checking Academic Goals.
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Secondary teachers are provided with time to view and consider student goals in relation to Data Placemats which are used to monitor student progress.
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Secondary teachers initiate discussions with some students based on the goals that they have set. 3
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All members of the Secondary Leadership Team are involved in the review of student goals.
Careers Programme •
The careers programme in 2021 as been multifaceted depending on the needs of each year level. •
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PMP lessons in Term 2 dedicated to careers and SET planning
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Careers evening
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On-line information evenings, subject videos
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SET Plan interviews with students, parents, and College representative
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Work-experience organised when students show interest
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Year 10:
Year 11:
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Regular emails and newsletter articles informing of open days and post school opportunities
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Work-experience organised when students show interest
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Year 12:
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Online information evening
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Student and parent access to ‘The Careers Department’ website
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Study Skills lessons dedicated to Senior student Q and A
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One-on-one meeting with HOD for Business, Careers, VET and Pathways
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University representatives visit to schools
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Regular emails and newsletter articles informing of open days and post school opportunities
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Online information evening
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Work-experience organised when students show interest
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Student and parent access to ‘The Careers Department’ website
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VET co-ordinator assists in facilitating studen information and guidance when requested.
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Study Skills lessons dedicated to Senior student Q and A
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The College has introduced a new role to lead in this area- The Careers and pathways Coordinator. The new appointee will work closely with the VET Coordinator and
the Head of Secondary to facilitate student pathway options. Performance Programme •
The Secondary Performance Programme has a high candidature with 50 students engaged from Year 7 -12. The Moreton Bay College Performance Programme recognises and supports students who are achieving at an elite level in Sport and/or the Performing Arts to balance their academic studies and performance goals. Eligible students need to meet strict criteria, which includes performing at an elite level and being involved in numerous hours of training/rehearsal. The strength of this programme is the support that students receive from the committed staff in the Learning Enhancement Centre. Students are able to access as little or as much help as they choose. Another strength is the cross year-level connections that are made with students, both within and outside their area of pursuit.
STUDENT WELLBEING
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With the re-introduction of NAPLAN in 2021, only Year 8 engage in InCAS testing. The purpose of all standardised testing is to allow teachers to have a deeper insight into the learning potential of students. Having standardised testing allow teachers and Head of Department the opportunity to triangulate data to enrich their understanding of students, and tailor planning to a student’s needs. From Prep to Year 6 we use a variety of measures for early identification and consequent intervention. BASE assessments track student progress throughout the Prep year and then InCAS demonstrates growth over time in a number of learning areas relevant the individual’s chronological age.
Year 7: My Relationship with Others, My Self-Worth and My Life Story
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Year 8: My Growth Mindset, My Positive Relationships and My Emotions
Academic mentoring is a continuation of the academic conversations that teachers have with students at SET Planning and continue throughout Senior. Where possible students will remain with the same teacher who had the initial conversation about senior at the SET planning stage. The conversation will occur once a Semester, but more frequently if a student would like to touch base with their mentor. Each of the teachers involved will be guided by a solution focus coaching model to assist students if and when they need it.
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Year 9: Communication and Connection, ACT Mindfully
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Year 10: Wellbeing Toolkit
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Year 11: Healthy Relationships
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Year 12: Looking After Ourselves, Conflict and Restorative Conversations, Happiness and Meaning, Gratitude
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In every year level PMP lessons begin with a mindful session.
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Restorative Practice is embedded in the Positive Behaviours Policy. When there are difficulties in relationships and/or expectations are not met, we work restoratively with students to restore relationships and/or address behavioural issues. Regardless of the context, in restorative conversations conflict resolution is role modelled so that students learn how to manage conflict respectfully and in a manner that safeguards relationships.
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The College works with external agencies who deliver workshops to empower girls and young women (e.g., Enlighten Education, Peer Power).
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The Secondary counsellors run lunchtime sessions to help students develop strategies to manage issues such as anxiety, stress, and procrastination.
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Year level camps/programmes in Year 7, 9 and 11 all offer opportunities to further the development of resilience by challenging the girls physically, socially, and emotionally.
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In Primary resilience is developed in:
Academic Mentoring Programme •
In secondary resilience is embedded in the Positive Minds Programme (PMP). The focus is on teaching strategies which help students develop resilience and this occurs in the following units in PMP:
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College Standardised testing programme •
How does the College teach students to be resilient?
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You Can Do It programme Explicit teaching of the power of ‘yet!’ and growth mindsets Explored through the pastoral curriculum WellBe Program (Primary) – helping girls to be socially and emotionally aware of emotions and their effect on our mindset
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Provision of online parenting resources (e.g., School TV and the Wellbeing Resources page on the College website).
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A letter is sent from the PMP Co-ordinator to all secondary parents at the start of each term summarising the topics being covered.
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Social media posts highlighting current issues (e.g., vaping, technology).
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Parent information evenings which focus on issues affecting the wellbeing of young people (e.g., Paul Dillon – teenage drug and alcohol use; Melinda Tankard-Reist – pornography and the sexualisation of girls and boys; Judith Locke – development of essential skills).
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Year 6 transition meetings with Secondary Leadership Team.
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Year 7 Orientation sessions with the Heads of House.
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Year level information evening at the start of each academic year.
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Support from the Head of House when students are experiencing friendship problems, social-emotional issues (that do not require counselling).
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Access to the counsellors when students are managing mental health issues.
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Discussions during Parent/ Teacher / Student and Threeway Conferences (Primary and Secondary).
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Does the College operate in a way that is consistent with its values?
The four College values underpin the Positive Behaviours Policy and how it is enacted.
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Care, Character, Teamwork and Engagement are explored each term
Inter-woven with the Hearts and Minds Framework and connections are made regularly and frequently in assemblies, chapels, classes, at sport, at performance activities
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Values Awards are presented annually to highlight when students model the College values.
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Does the College provide strategies for students to resolve conflict?
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Restorative Practice is embedded and taught explicitly (Year 9, 10 and 12) in the PMP: •
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How does the College provide me with clear information about how I can support my child’s development?
Year 7: My Relationship with Others
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Year 8: Positive Relationships
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Year 9: Communication and Connection
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Year 10: Wellbeing Toolkit
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Year 11: Healthy Relationships
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Year 12: Conflict and Restorative Practices
When conflict or relationship difficulties arise, staff work restoratively with students to empower them to repair harm done. In those situations which require a staff member to facilitate the restorative conversation, students learn how to resolve conflict restoratively.
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Does the College effectively support and implement an anti-bullying programme?
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The College has an Anti-Bullying Strategy which clearly states the expectations of students, staff and parents in terms of responding to reports or witnessing bullying.
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The College acknowledges the National Week of Action Against Bullying each year in March by focusing on anti-bullying for a week at the Form, House and College level.
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Year 9 students engage with content about cyberbullying in the PMP unit called My Cyber Self.
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Students are able and encourage to report bullying incidents through the anonymous online reporting system called Big Sister.
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In the Primary pastoral curriculum, there is explicit teaching of the difference between conflict versus bullying. Conflict resolution is explored during the pastoral curriculum.
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Does the College enforce its behaviour management in a fair and consistent way?
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The Positive Behaviours Policy is based on two whole-school models (School Wide Positive Behaviours Support and Restorative Practice) which focus on establishing expectations and fostering positive relationships. The expectations are communicated very clearly in a range of formats: by the Form Teacher on the first day of the academic year; the Student Diary; visual display in classrooms; House Form and they are revisited on Assembly throughout the year.
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Decisions around consequences align with the Positive Behaviours Policy.
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When consequences are issued for breaches of the Positive Behaviours Policy, these are always framed restoratively with the emphasis on the student’s learning and growth.
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Students complete restorative reflections when expectations are not met.
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Positive Behaviour (PB) slips are issues to remind students of expectations related to presentation, technology and use of bags. PB slips are also issued when expectations are exceeded.
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When it is reported that a student has not met expectations, they are afforded the right of reply and procedural fairness.
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Records of communication are taken and held confidentially.
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Does the College act quickly to manage and resolve problems?
all students from Year 6 to 12 the opportunity to have a voice in the direction the College takes with student wellbeing. •
Year 6 – 12 students report on their own wellbeing and can seek help through Pulse, the online wellbeing application at College.
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Big Sister our online reporting tool facilitates girls raising concerns; it is anonymous if girls choose this approach.
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Students are encouraged to help-seek and report issues of concern relating to their own or other’s wellbeing. The College Captains facilitate lunchtime Senior Forums (at least twice per term).
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Relevant staff prioritise student issues according to students’ wellbeing and the category of behaviour.
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Relevant staff work collaboratively to gain clarity and develop and appropriate course of action about reported issues.
COMMUNICATION
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Staff listen to perspectives and consider the role of the individual/s when identifying a problem.
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Discussions and investigations of problems take place and are documented.
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Does the College provide ways for students to voice or report their concerns?
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A student wellbeing group (the Hearts and Minds Committee) is formed at the start of each year to ensure students have a genuine voice in their own wellbeing at school.
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Form Captains seek feedback from their Form class about facilities, uniform matters and co-curricular opportunities.
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The University of Adelaide student wellbeing surveys give
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Does the College provide opportunities for parents to voice their opinions?
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All Senior staff have an open-door policy and parents are welcome at any time to contact the staff member to discuss a matter or arrange a time to meet to further the conversation.
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There are also various forums whereby parents can voice their opinions. Parents can join the College P & F. The College also has an active Parent Rep group which works to foster connections and community among parents.
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Our Parent Surveys are also a powerful way to have a voice about all aspects of College life.
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A new initiative which has been very well-received is the Tucker and Talk breakfasts, which are attended by all members of the Senior Leadership Team and provide an avenue for open discussion of College matters.
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FACILITIES
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The College is a place where girls should feel safe and secure while under the care of our MBC community. There have been significant security enhancements over last two years. These have included: •
extensive upgrades to the perimeter fencing
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significant upgrade of the CCTV coverage of the perimeter of both Colleges
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installation of security signage
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upgrade of security system
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review of security patrols
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upgrading of lighting in key areas including Waller Centre drop off.
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Staff are continually reminded of the need for due diligence around visitors or strangers on campus - with authority to question any unidentified persons. All staff wear their College badge for ease of identification.
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The College has undertaken an extensive review of its emergency and lockdown procedures to reinforce the actions of students and staff in these situations. New procedures and training have been implemented and delivered to staff.
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Does the College have appropriate security and lighting on campus?
Does the College have appropriate amenities and change room facilities for students?
The range of co-curricular and other activities at our College means that our girls are constantly changing to enable them to participate freely. At times this may put some strain on the available space. Since 2020, we have been embarking on a significant refurbishment of our amenities and change room facilities. The Senior Amenities in C, B and S Block were fully renovated in December 2020 / January 2021. This project included considering and implementing feedback from the Design students. The Primary amenities have been refurbished over the Christmas period. Both projects included the addition of changing cubicles to enhance the already existing change rooms.
THE RISING STAR | TERM 4 2021
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Does the College have appropriate parking and traffic flow within the College?
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The College has been working with our local Councillor Lisa Atwood to review the traffic management into the school on Wondall Road and with BCC to install SAM speed signs on Hargreaves Road. The objective of these initiatives is to improve the safety around the College for our Community.
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The College has ample parking in the P&F parent carpark and has space on site for our Senior Students who are driving their own vehicles to school.
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In 2020, the College invested in the upgrade and improved safety of the Waller Centre pick up and turnaround circle.
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As part of the College’s response to COVID, the College Road system was altered, and the drop-off and pick-up transport arrangements of the campus were enhanced including the introduction of two separate zones for Primary students.
Vale Mrs Leita Boswell (nee Beattie) Our beloved Leita Boswell (nee Beattie) passed away on the 22 November 2021. Mrs Boswell was an exceptional educator, whose association with Moreton Bay College spanned 40 years from 1957 to 1997 and beyond. Appointed in 1957 to the Junior School as Resident Mistress, Miss Beattie cared for approximately 110 boarding students. She was fondly remembered by the boarders of the late 1950’s and 1960’s as a compassionate, loving and stylish caregiver who supported them in their home away from home. Mrs Boswell was an integral part of the Primary School teaching staff and when the College relocated to Wondall Road, was appointed to the role of Head of Primary. Mrs Boswell’s focus was on the development of the whole person in line with the traditional ethos of Moreton Bay College - care and concern for others, love and compassion for family, and loyalty, honour and commitment to others. After a long and distinguished career, Mrs Boswell retired in 1997. Ken Waller, Principal at the time, wrote that she was “easily the most significant person associated with the Primary School over the last five decades. Generations of former students and their families will attest to that.” Her unwavering commitment to the College, particularly in the days when Moreton Bay College was threatened with closure, is her enduring legacy to the College. In 1999, in recognition of her service, the new Primary School general purpose building was named the Leita Boswell Hall. After her retirement Mrs Boswell continued to be involved in College life and often attended special events and assemblies to hand out awards and enjoy performances. We thank Mrs Boswell for the invaluable role she played in 40 years of faithful service. She will be greatly missed.
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Congratulations and Farewell, Year 12!
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The Year 12 Valedictory Ceremony and Chapel Service is always a bittersweet event in the College Calendar. We take pride in celebrating and acknowledging our wonderful Year 12 students and wishing them luck as they depart on the next stage in their journeys, yet it is always difficult to say goodbye. As a school we are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate this rite of passage with our Year 12 students and their immediate families. There was immense pride to see these students take to the stage as a cohort for one last time at MBC. We were thrilled to return the hat throw to the Quad, the heart of the College. We look forward to learning of their future endeavours and to keeping in touch with these new ‘Old Girls’ in the years to come.
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PYP Exhibition As always, the PYP Exhibition was a highlight for our Year 6 cohort. After eight weeks of living and breathing the PYP Exhibition, the Moreton Bay College learning community came together to celebrate with a special opening event on Friday November 5. In the PYP Exhibition, students demonstrate their understanding of an issue or opportunity they have chosen to explore. They are required to investigate a range of key concepts and identify their own inquiry questions to guide this process. This year, all students were encouraged to extend their research beyond media, to including other primary sources such as personal interviews with experts, communication with organisations, visits to speciality locations and/or surveys of the community. In 2021, the students explored the Transdisciplinary Theme of Sharing the Planet with the Central Idea, ‘Actions shape the Earth and its inhabitants,’ collaboratively constructed by the students. A diverse range of issues relating to discrimination, social media impacts, health and wellbeing, social equity and inclusion, sustainability and environmental concerns were explored – just to name a few. With a sense of empowerment, the Year 6 students planned for and undertook a diverse range of actions, many of which were shared with the Primary School through a special ‘Day of Action’.
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This new concept came about as a result of so many students wishing to raise awareness and do something to help address the many issues explored during this process. In 2021, we also welcomed the addition of some mentors who were able to work with some of our students in their mother tongue. Authentic opportunities to reinforce and celebrate the many languages spoken by our students, are embraced within the PYP. We are very proud of our Year 6 cohort, both for the work that they carried out and for their resilience as learners during a unique moment in time. As self-directed learners, we look forward to following their successes as they move into the next phase of their educational journey.
Rising to new challenges with the Duke of Edinburgh Programme Moreton Bay College has had a long association with the Internationally recognised Duke of Edinburgh Programme. The Award is a personal challenge and, as every individual is different, so too are the challenges that students can undertake to achieve it. The Award encourages students to explore their interests, abilities and ambitions and then set themselves a challenge in each of the four sections: Service, Skills, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey. Perhaps the most personal of all the Award sections, Service is all about students giving back to their community. It gives students the chance to connect with individuals and groups they may have previously overlooked or not been aware of, and to make a real difference to their world. With so many hobbies and interests to choose from, the Skills Section of the Award allows students to explore and discover the talents within. This is the broadest section of the Award, as it offers many choices based on individual interest and passion: students can choose artistic, creative, musical, academic, technical, cultural or another area of interest. By trying something entirely new, or undertaking an existing activity with renewed purpose, students may stimulate new interests or improve existing ones. The Physical Recreation section of the Award offers students the opportunity to participate in physical activity in a variety of ways. They may choose to train alone or enjoy non-competitive activity with one or more friends; others love the challenge of team sports or are exhilarated by the thrill of competition. This section offers students the opportunity to develop healthy habits that will carry on long after their award has been achieved.
The College Duke of Edinburgh programme encourages students to set goals for improvement and then strive to reach those goals. The three levels of the Duke of Edinburgh Award are Gold, Silver and Bronze and two levels of the Bridge Award are also offered at the College. As students move through the Award levels, they face greater challenges which will require a higher level of commitment. The Award also offers students the opportunity to develop responsibility, communication, teamwork and resilience which helps prepare students for life after the College. Recently, our Bridge Level students participated in a two-day Adventurous Journey with the Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre. This involved navigation and teamwork while hiking Mt Coot-tha and a trip to St Helena Island, where students learnt about marine creatures and how to protect our natural environment to become “Champions for the Bay”. Moreton Bay College also offers several three day kayaking adventures each year with Balujali Tours, where students camp on South Stradbroke Island. These adventures provide a unique opportunity for students to explore, encounter and connect with the land and the sea – to see the world through Aboriginal eyes while immersed in the natural beauty of the Gold Coast’s waterways and wildlife. Students participate with an aboriginal guide in the journey from past to present and leave with a deeper understanding of the Aboriginal’s role as caretakers of the land.
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YEAR 6 GRADUATION Year 6 Graduation
Celebration of Primary School Leadership Our Year 6 students transition to Secondary school is filled with much excitement. We acknowledge and thank our Primary School leaders through a variety of traditions, commencing with the Celebration of Learning and Leadership where the students receive their formal farewell from the Primary School and College Leaders. In this ceremony we enjoy the talents of the Year 6 students in a variety of performances and focus on the valuable contribution this cohort has made throughout their primary years. In the last week of Year 6, the girls enjoy a Back to Prep day and visit the Prep and Early Learning classes to remember how much fun playdough, the sand pit and Duck-Duck-Goose is. We are grateful to our Year 6 parents who organise a special Year 6 dinner and the girls love getting dressed up and dancing. On the final day of Year 6 we have a more relaxed opportunity, reading one last picture book together and then students ‘raise the roof’ with the Primary School War Cry - the only day this War Cry is ever shared. This finishes with an explosion of colour, as the Year 6 girls throw coloured streamers out to the Primary girls and they are then led out through a tunnel of honour while the original old MBC school bell is rung until the last student leaves. We wish all of the Year 6 students of 2021 all the best as they journey through their Secondary Years, and hope they look back fondly on their Primary School adventures.
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AWARDS CEREMONIES
Awards season at MBC Across the final weeks of Term 4, the Moreton Bay College community came together to celebrate the success of out students. It is a time of great pride for students, families and the college as we recognise the efforts and growth that has happened across the year. Congratulations to all students who were recognised with awards.
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Student Fashion creations on the runway at AAFTA Over the Term 3 holidays, Year 11 Eva, Year 10 Roxy, Year 10 Samantha, and Year 7 Amelie entered their creations in the Apex Australia Teen Fashion and Arts (AATFA) Queensland State Final. The competition was a great opportunity for the girls to present their creations on a professional runway, network with other designers and gain valuable design inspiration. As part of their designing process, the girls explored their various design briefs to devise ideas for their designs. After completing their research and pages of fashion illustrations, they began the construction of their final designs. The young fashion and wearable art designers had to manipulate and draft sewing patterns, select suitable materials and refine their technical garment construction skills to create their high-quality final designs. Congratulations to Samantha for placing second in the Costumes and Theatrical Category for her Costume that she created for The Moreton Bay Colleges’ Musical, The Wiz. Amelie’s ‘on trend’ black and white gingham dress, Eva’s Burberry inspired dress, and Roxy’s Hippie inspired floral jumpsuit held their own in the Casual Wear category, which was highly competitive. Miss Phoebe Hanau, Fashion Teacher
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THE RISING STAR | TERM 4 2021
Ponytail Project The 2021 Seniors ‘rocked the chop’ for the Ponytail Project. The girls have donated their ponytails for wigs which will go to people who have lost their hair due to medical conditions such as alopecia or cancer. They also raised more than $16,000 for the Ponytail Project – an amazing effort. It was an emotional day – with the girls showing so much joy in being to help others!
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CULTURAL Highland Dancing at MBC
A very traditional form of dance, Highland Dancing has been a co-curricular activity at MBC for over 25 years. Our Highland Dancers perform at special events at the college and the troupe has also performed at many Aged Care facilities including Lota House, Wondall Gardens, Nazareth House, Regis at Wynnum and Freedom Aged Care at Rochedale. At all of these facilities, the girls’ performances are warmly received and greatly appreciated. Our favourite performance opportunity is undoubtedly the Grandparents and Special Friends’ Day Concert and, when possible, performances that lift the spirits of the elderly, giving back to their community and providing entertainment at aged care facilities. Highland dancing at MBC requires a weekly commitment throughout the whole school year and the girls learn time management skills to fit in the many other academic, sporting and cultural activities they are often involved in. There are opportunities to dance as a team, but this is also a chance for the girls to consider individual goals and reach for their personal best in skill development. All participants have a choice to test these skills by completing the Queensland Scottish Dancing Association examinations held once a year. The pride they show on successfully mastering this challenge that includes theory, dances and demonstration of skills is a joy to witness.
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THE RISING STAR | TERM 4 2021
During their lessons, the girls mix with various year levels from across the college, and this provides mentor opportunities for the older girls. Many Senior dancers attend extra lessons so they can help the girls just starting out on their dancing journey. As one of our Senior dancers, Olivia, says, “Highland dance is an excellent way to keep fit, and as I’ve grown older and become more experienced it’s been really nice to mentor the younger girls.” Lauren confirms, “Helping the younger students is a really good experience. I like being able to see them get better and learn steps, as well as grow bonds with them that I wouldn’t have been able to without highland dancing.” Finally, highland dancing is not just about learning technique. Another of our experienced dancers, Ella, states, “It is a great way to keep fit and learn how to memorise things and work with your mind and body.” So, as well as learning this unique cultural dance of Scotland, the girls improve their strength, fitness and agility, develop friendships, enjoy challenges and gain an understanding of what commitment and determination can achieve. Mrs Tracey Heazlett Primary Learning Enhancement Highland Dancing Coordinator
SPORT
QGSSSA kicked off their first AFL interschool sporting competition in Term 4 this year. Capturing students from across Brisbane, Ipswich and the Gold Coast, the Association’s 10 member schools participated in a five-week trial, comprising of two skill development sessions and three centralised modified gala days – two for Secondary players and one for Primary players. 100 MBC students from Years 6 to 11 had the opportunity to sample Aussie rules football in preparation to enter the 2022 QGSSSA sporting calendar as a trial sport. 42% of all AFL participants in the state are now female and the introduction of this sport into QGSSSA is providing more opportunities for young girls to play and be involved in this game. With the growth of women’s AFL and the AFLW competition, the introduction of the sport has been a welcome inclusion. MBC is very excited about the introduction of AFL to its suite of sports. It is sure to become very popular and there is a wonderful opportunity to create long-term involvement with this sport by including students from Year 4 to Year 11.
Basketball During the September holidays Year 10 student Alice Dart and Year 8 student Vahayliah Seumanutafa represented Queensland at the U16 Australian Junior Basketball Championships in Darwin. The team went undefeated throughout the rounds to claim the gold medal and National title against South Australia in the grand final. MBC is incredibly fortunate to have been also represented by two of our basketball coaches, Anita Peckham and Pat McInerney, who were part of the Queensland coaching staff. Alice and Vahayliah had an outstanding tournament and were integral to the team’s success, with both placing in the top 10 in point scoring. Additionally, Alice was named captain of the Queensland team in her first national tournament. Basketball Coordinator Ms Carly Valente interviewed both girls about their experience at the Australian Championships and their future aspirations for Basketball.
Alice Dart What did you learn about leading your team at the championships? I learnt that a team that wants to play for each other can achieve great things and perform well above their expected level. As captain, my role was to bring the team together and I learnt you can only do that successfully when you build a rapport with your teammates. By learning about everyone’s strengths and weaknesses I was able to bring the team together and as a result, we were able to play as a team using our strengths to our advantage, rather than playing individually. What challenges did you face being a leader and how did you overcome them? The biggest challenge I faced as captain was in the semi final
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match where we were down by 12 points at half time. The team was dejected in the change room, therefore I had to ensure that I remained positive and that my half time address to the team was motivating and encouraging. We came out and played an outstanding second half to win the semi final match, I was so proud of my team for never giving up! Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time? I want to keep enjoying my basketball and remain in the State programme – hopefully making the u18 Queensland side as a bottom age player. My goal in the next few years is to be invited to an Australian Development Camp, receive an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship and one day, I would love to represent Australia.
Vahayliah Seumanutafa What was your most memorable experience from the championships? My most memorable moment was when the full-time buzzer sounded in the grand final game and our team ran onto the court to celebrate. There was a lot of excitement as the realisation set in that we had won the Australian Junior Championship. What values did you take away from playing at National level? The values I took from playing at a National level are teamwork, and how important it is to stay united in order to achieve a common goal, and playing at that level and achieving success reiterated the importance of hard work and dedication as success only comes through preparation and commitment. Has winning a National title made you more determined to achieve further success? My short-term goals are to receive an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship and be invited to Australian Development Camps. My future long-term goals are to represent Australia at the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane and to play at a professional level in either the Women’s European League or the WNBA.
Andrews Cup T20 Cricket the ticket Cricket was introduced into the Andrews Cup sporting programme for the first time this year in the T20 blast format. This format is played with eight a side, limited bowling and fielding overs, double scoring zones and hits off tees for wides. MBC enter three teams into this competition: A Grade, and C(1) Grade and C(2) Grade. The teams were introduced to the may facets of the game under the direction of Primary Cricket Coordinator Mrs Tracy Boyd. The extended training season proved fruitful as the teams practiced their overarm bowling and batting skills. MBC also played lead up matches against Somerville House as part of their preparation. All teams played well and grew in confidence as the tournament progressed throughout the day. MBC was able to secure the inaugural A Grade Andrews Cup and C Grade pennant competitions. Congratulations to all players and to Mrs Boyd, Mr O’Brien, Mrs Hoskings and to our secondary coach Caitlyn Hoskins and assistants Emily Holmes and Jade McIntyre for their assistance in preparing the teams. We look forward to the next season! 22
THE RISING STAR | TERM 4 2021
High Achievers Athletics Chloe Munro
Gold medal Long Jump, Qld All Schools Track and field Championships
Sophie Lillicrap
Gold medal High Jump and Pole Vault, Qld All Schools Track and field Championships
Emma Bible
Gold Medal 800m, Qld All Schools Track and Field Championships
Abby Craswell
Gold Medal Qld All Schools Track and Field Championships and set an Oceania Record in the U17 Multi Class Long jump
Touch | Annie Keough Qld School Sport Touch Team
Football | Josie Boland Qld School Sport Football Team
Cricket | Astrid Muniandy Qld School Sport U12 Cricket Team
Softball | Caitlyn Hosking Australian Diamonds Softball team
Diving | Charlotte Brearley National Diving Squad
Diving | Kiarah Carmondy National Diving Programme
THE RISING STAR | SUMMER 2021
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MBC Athletes Stride Ahead On Thursday, September 16, 2021, Moreton Bay College became the reigning champions of the QGSSSA athletics competition for the sixth year in a row – an amazing result! Defeating St Peters Lutheran College by 49 points, the competition was tight, but the MBC team managed to hold on to a lead all day. Ultimately, it was determination and trust in our abilities that allowed us to come out on top. There were outstanding performances across all age groups: 12 Years, 14 Years and 16 Years all won their respective age group pennants, while 13 Years, 15 Years and 17 Years placed second. Records were broken on the track and in the field. The relays were exceptionally strong, with 5 first places, 5 second places, 1 third place and 1 fourth place. Congratulations to the 12 Years A Team consisting of Chloe Munro, Taylah Hazell, Emma Delaney and Annie Keough who broke the existing relay record in a time of 54.17 seconds. Estanoa Faitala set a new benchmark in the 16 Years Shot Put with a distance of 14.80m, while Kobi Walker
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THE RISING STAR | TERM 4 2021
ran under the existing record in the 15 years 800m with a time of 2.21.51 minutes. MBC continued their dominance in athletics at school level with 18 MBC girls winning a collective 20 medals at the QLD All School Track and Field Championships held in October 2021. Congratulations to medallists: Teresa Anthony, Annabelle Barnett, Emma Bible, Claudia Chapman, Abby Craswell, Estanoa Faitala, Jazmyn Green, Maddison Gross, Nyree Hamilton, Taylah Hazell, Sienna Hume, Sophie Lillicrap, Olivia Luckensmeyer, Chloe Munro, Eloise Nealon, Lily Neill, Francesca Peacock and Kobi Walker. A performance of note goes to Abby Craswell who set a new Oceanian Record in the U17 Multi Class Long Jump.
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Mrs Alex Givney Foundation Manager
Foundation Breakfast
In Term 4 The Moreton Bay Colleges’ Foundation hosted our inaugural Business Breakfast at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. We were proud to have Dr Dinesh as our guest speaker, who shared his inspirational story with us. His calming presence and positive outlook on life was moving and something that will stay with all who attended. Special thanks also go to Leigh Muirhead for her superb MC skills. We have more breakfast events booked for 2022 and look forward to growing our business network both within our local community and beyond.
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THE RISING STAR | TERM 4 2021
Raffle Winner In December were thrilled to watch our winner Simon Ng take ownership of his new MINI Cooper Countryman. Thanks to the team at Motorline MINI Garage for coming out to Moreton Bay Boys’ College to do the hand over. Simon said it was the best $100 he had ever spent! Richard Henry, (CEO and Executive Principal), Anthony Lee (Foundation Board Representative), Andrew Holmes (Principal MBBC), Janet Stewart (Principal MBC) and Andrew Robson (Motorline MINI Garage Dealership Principal) were all present for this special occasion. Simon, a friend of MBBC mum, Janeen Hewett is often the first to support his friends and their children when fundraising is offered. We thank Simon for his support of the 2021 Foundation Raffle! The 2021 raffle raised over $26,000 for The Foundation. We are thankful for the support of the raffle in 2021, it is a wonderful way to see our community come together and to celebrate another winner!
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Find out more Visit our website and download a Prospectus. www.mbc.qld.edu.au
Visit us Book a College Tour with our Enrolments team. registrar@mbc.qld.edu.au 07 3249 9322
450 Wondall Road Manly West, Queensland 4179 P 07 3390 8555 mail@mbc.qld.edu.au www.mbc.qld.edu.au An Early Years to Year 12 Uniting Church School for Girls CRICOS 03371K
Enrol online For your convenience our online enrolment process is now available. www.mbc.qld.edu.au/enrol