Mount St Bernard College offers a quality, Catholic secondary education for young people, male and female, in Years 7 through 12.  At MSB we are proud of our Mercy traditions, while remaining responsive to the contemporary needs of students who seek a faith-based education that will stand them in good stead for the future. 

Our College is a culturally diverse community which provides a holistic education that nurtures the academic, spiritual, emotional, physical, cultural and social development of individual students in a caring, safe and supportive environment. At MSB we recognise the individuality of every one of our students. We seek to help each student become the best person they can be, by providing quality learning and teaching and making available a rich tapestry of sporting,artistic and other co-curricular activities, to help them discover and develop their personal giftedness.

Residential facilities at Mount St Bernard College offer a safe, nurturing and caring environment for girls and boys from many areas across Far North Queensland, the Torres Strait, Tablelands, Northern Territory and beyond who need to be away from home for their education.

The new and refurbished residential facilities, opened in 2010, accommodate boarders in contemporary and comfortable facilities. The modern and progressive design of these facilities promotes independent living as part of the educational experience. The design has also taken into account the serenity of the surrounds, to blend with the magnificent old gum trees on the site.

Within the boarding environment, weekly and full time boarders take advantage of supervised study at night, themed dinners and recreational boarding activities including sporting activities, local sightseeing and regular trips to Atherton and Cairns.

An Orientation program helps new students to settle in to their new surrounds. New boarders and a close family member spend time at the College’s boarding facilities before the start of the term. Students have the chance to make new friends and find their way around the College, eating meals in the dining room and sleeping in the dorms. Parents have the opportunity to finalise administration matters and familiarise themselves with the school’s facilities and ancillary services. They meet boarding, teaching and tutorial staff and form friendships with other parents and carers who attend.

Weekly Boarding

Weekly Boarding is available as an alternative to full boarding. Weekly Boarders must be picked up and returned to the College either by parents or someone delegated in writing by parents or upon arrangement with boarding staff may be permitted to leave by bus. Parents or the nominated person must sign the student out on Friday afternoon at 3.30pm and have them back and signed in by 6.00pm on Sunday evening. There is a reduction in fees for weekly boarding.

An atmosphere of care, an environment in which students feel safe and valued, a sense of belonging and identity, and the development of the whole person is the essence of Pastoral Care and one of Mount St Bernard College’s greatest strengths.

Pastoral Care allows for the integration of the academic, social and spiritual dimensions of the College and is founded on the Gospel values of Love, Care, Faith, Justice, Forgiveness, Peace, Compassion and Hope, so that “they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Based on the concepts of community and family, each student at Mount St Bernard College is acknowledged as an individual with particular needs and all are welcomed and cared for within the context of a small community where each member is valued.

Students are encouraged to respect themselves and others and to be sensitive to the rights and needs of fellow students. The College has high expectations for student behaviour and presentation that begin with a willingness towards self discipline and achievement on the part of students. The College’s Mission Statement, Code of Expectations and Behaviour Management Policy form strong foundations for ensuring the rights and responsibilities of students are protected, and a favourable learning environment free from distractions is created.

Counselling and guidance services are an integral part of the Pastoral Care program of the College.  Both personal and careers counselling is provided to promote student wellbeing.

‘Respect, Participation and Effort’ are the key values underpinning life at MSB.

Scholarships 

SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES POLICY Rationale The MSB School provides scholarships and bursaries (fee assistance) to: • maintain and improve our high standards of achievement by recruiting and retaining outstanding students • provide opportunities for appropriately qualified students who would not otherwise be able to attend or remain at the school for financial or family reasons • meet special needs of the school e.g. to fill gaps in a particular interest area of the school. Availability of scholarships & Bursaries • Scholarship application and selection occurs each year (usually Term 3). Applications are made via the link on the school website or via THE SCHOOL OFFICE. • Scholarships may be offered to families for partial remission of tuition fees for their child • Current students are eligible to apply for scholarships. • The decision to award a scholarship is entirely at the Principal’s discretion. • Names of scholarship holders will published in school newsletters and on the website. • Academic scholarships are generally offered on the basis of an application form, previous school reports and other references. • Mercy scholarships are generally offered on the basis of an application, references, supporting documents and interview and reference from clergy if applicable. • All bursaries are reviewed annually. • Scholarships are offered to external students in last year of primary school and in their current Year 9 year. • All bursaries are reviewed annually. • The award or continuation of a scholarship/bursary is subject to satisfactory performance, effort and behaviour. Year levels of entry • Scholarships will generally be offered at entry to Middle School (Year 7 or 8) or to Senior School (Year 9 or 10). Value of scholarships • All scholarships offer 50% remission of tuition fees only (school levies are not covered).

Duration of scholarships • The tenure of a scholarship will be to the end of the scholarship holders secondary education, subject to annual review. • A scholarship offer may not be deferred. If a student is not in a position to take up a scholarship in the year offered, they will be invited to re-apply at a later date. • After commencement of a scholarship, it may be suspended for up to two years for reasons of temporary relocation due to parental work commitments or other circumstances. • All scholarships are reviewed annually. • The continuation of a scholarship depends on exemplary performance, effort, behaviour and can continue until the end of the student’s tenure at MSB.

 http://www.msb.qld.edu.au/documents/scholarships.html

Colleen & Frank Sims Scholarship – bursary award

Sr Mary McHugh General Excellence – entry level Yr 6 and 7

Sr Pam Murray Performing Arts Scholarship – excellence in music / drama / sport

Sr Chrissy (Mary) Randle Year 7 Academic Scholarship – for external student currently in Year 6

Sr Anne Moule General Excellence Scholarship – senior school entry

Day Students - Bus Transport

Non State Schools Transport

Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS)

PER SEMESTER

The Non-State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS) provides financial assistance to eligible applicants paying more than a certain weekly threshold in bus fares to enable their children to travel to non-state schools located outside the Brisbane City Council boundary.

The college will pay the families’ bus transport costs up-front so they do not have to outlay money before receiving the benefit of the Qld Government funded Bus Transport assistance scheme.  This means the maximum any family pays for bus transport to and from MSB is $4.00 per day irrespective of the number of children enrolled. Also included in the maximum daily family payment is siblings’ bus transport to Tableland Catholic Primary schools. The threshold payment of $20.00 per family per week will be included in the Statement of Account for fees from the College.

During Semester 1, 2019, the standard weekly threshold is $20.00 per family per week. For applicants who have an approved Commonwealth concession card (Health Care Card, Pension Concession Card (PCC) or Veterans Affairs PCC) the threshold is $15.00 per family per week. This concession card must be in the name of the applicant, not the student.

BUS COMPANIES

RTM Bus Service – Robert McCarthy PH: 0417 787 301

Mareeba – Tolga – Atherton

Kerry’s Bus Service – Trevor Cheeseman PH: 0427 841 483

Ravenshoe – Herberton

Emerson Bus Company – Kev Emerson PH: 0418 757 995

Millaa Millaa – Tarzali - Malanda – Yungaburra – Atherton – Herberton

Following enrolment at Mount St Bernard College, parents should contact the relevant bus company to secure a seat on the bus. Midway through terms one and three, application forms are sent home for completion to participate in the Assistance Scheme.

Further information is available at the student enrolment interview.

Love this college. They do a wonderful job for their students. Susan J Burke

Hello everyone.  My name is Ian Margetts and it is my privilege to be appointed Principal of Mount St Bernard College from the beginning of the 2019 school year. 

Over the last three years, in my role as Deputy Principal, I have grown to appreciate the Mount St Bernard College community, its Mercy tradition, cultural diversity and clear drive to attain optimal learning outcomes and wellbeing for each individual student. 

Small class sizes allow for personalised learning and a focus upon pathways to post-school ambitions for each student.  The College provides tertiary, trade and vocational pathways to ensure all students are catered for.  Each year our graduates go on to university, trade and employment pathways after completing Year 12. 

The College has effective pastoral and wellbeing support for all students whether they are local day students,  boarders from far-off islands or international students. This support goes a long way to ensuring students are ready and able to learn.

Mount St Bernard College works in partnership with parents and carers by phone, at the College, or during one of our regular regional and remote community visits. We are committed to working with families in the interest of the best outcomes for each student.

Boarding facilities at the College ensure all boarders are comfortable and a diverse program is offered each week to provide an array of recreational opportunities for students outside of school hours. 

I personally would like to welcome all new and returning families to the 2019 school year.  It promises to be an exciting year.  I look forward to sharing this with you all.

Ian Margetts
Principal