Mercy Regional College eNewsletter

Prayer

Creator God,

As we reach the end of this term, we give thanks for the learning, friendships, and growth we have shared as a school community. Bless our students, staff, and families with rest and renewal over the Easter holidays.

May the joy of Jesus’ resurrection fill our hearts with hope, kindness, and love. Help us to carry the spirit of Easter into our lives, bringing light to those in need and peace to our world.

We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Principal's Message

Here we are in the final week of Term 1!

Our term has been filled with learning and relationship building, community service and celebration. Our students represented and celebrated their Houses in Swimming, Athletics and most recently Cross Country. Our Year 11 students were resplendent in their Presentation Ball. Year 7s and 12s both had the opportunity to enjoy the company of their peers, take some time for personal reflection and form stronger bonds with their teachers and support staff whilst on Camp and Retreat.

Our College Captains spoke with confidence in the Lions Youth of the Year Quest.

We have celebrated our faith through our Beginning of Year and Ash Wednesday Masses whilst our Year 7s celebrated ‘Belonging’ at their Faith Day and our Year 12s at their Seminar Day.

Year 10 students have been part of our renewed Community Outreach Program as part of their Religious Education studies, visiting many local community organisations on Wednesday afternoons. This week they are participating in Work Experience, gaining valuable insights into the world of work. Looking at the diverse range of placements, it’s clear how fortunate our young people are to have these opportunities. We are incredibly grateful to the many generous employers and organisations who dedicate their time and expertise to support them. From Victoria Police to HCSN and local primary schools, agronomy, childcare, Cooinda, construction, veterinary clinics, healthcare, legal firms, golf courses, trades, real estate, and small businesses—these experiences provide an invaluable glimpse into potential future careers.

Our athletes have proudly represented Mercy in the HSSSD Swimming, Athletics and Senior Boys Cricket. Our Senior Boys Cricket team went on to the Greater Western Region Final as did a large group of swimmers. Pippa B. and Harrison G. won through to the School Sport Victoria State Swimming Finals to be held in the first week back in Term 2.

It was fantastic to see so many prospective families joining in our Open Day last Wednesday.

Our students and staff provided a wonderful snapshot of life here at Mercy. Students ensured that many coffees were made, biscuits were baked, drones were flown and much more was on display, with our current and future facility plans also on show at both campuses.

If you were unable to attend, but would like more information about enrolment at Mercy, please visit mercy.vic.edu.au/join-our-college/enrolment-information/ or chat to our Registrar Nicole Darcy on 5593 2011.

We will begin our Holy Week observance early with our Easter Liturgy on Friday. With Easter falling at the end of our school holidays and our staff collaboration week between Easter Monday and ANZAC Day, this gathering offers a meaningful opportunity to come together in faith and reflection. For Christians, Easter is a sacred time of renewal and hope—the cornerstone of our faith—celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of new life. This season calls us to deepen our faith, embrace gratitude, and live with compassion, carrying the message of Easter into our daily lives.

As we enjoy the tradition of Easter eggs, we recall Fr. George’s story of how surplus eggs laid during Lent’s fast were shared, reminding us of the spirit of generosity and renewal that Easter represents. Thank you to Liturgy Leader and Director of Catholic Identity and Culture Melanie Bourchier for their preparation and support. Our students and staff have been participating in awareness and fundraising with all proceeds donated to Caritas Australia. We extend our gratitude to everyone for their generosity.

It is a pleasure to acknowledge the students below:

Well done to the following students from the Camperdown Cycling Club:

Ava C. - Age group champion for female under 17
Nathaniel B. - Age group champion for male under 15 and junior aggregate winner.

If you know of any students doing great things in the community, please let us know at office@mercy.vic.edu.au

School will finish for our students an hour earlier on Friday 4 April. Reception will close at 3.30pm.

We look forward to welcoming our students for the start of Term 2 on Monday 28 April.

With kindness,
Sharon Gillett - Principal

Learning at MRC

SENIOR SCHOOL

The senior school has kicked off the year with an incredible mix of academic and sporting activities.

The past few weeks have been particularly busy for our Year 11 and 12 students as they tackled their assessments. This period has also provided an excellent opportunity to teach them about learning and memory retention. Students received valuable insights into effective classroom and homework strategies to support their studies.

Adam Dowie’s Sport & Recreation and Unit 1 PE students recently attended a Football Immersion Day. They had the privilege of visiting North Melbourne Football Club, where they were addressed by Michael Barlow and Finn O’Sullivan. The experience continued with a tour of Carlton Football Club, led by WAFL coach Matthew Buck, who showed them the facilities and even joined them for a kick in the indoor training area. More about this excursion below!

Meanwhile, our VM students played an active role at St Thomas Primary School’s Athletics Carnival, assisting with event coordination. They were also hard at work in the MRC coffee van, gaining hands-on experience in a fast-paced environment.

This week, our Sport & Rec students stepped up again, helping out at the HCSN Primary Interschool Athletics. These community experiences have been incredibly rewarding, giving our students valuable job-related skills and fostering a strong sense of engagement.

Berni and I sincerely appreciate the ongoing support from home, and we look forward to another successful term ahead!

Melanie Kavanagh - Learning Leader Senior School

Sport and Rec AFL Excursion

A day to remember for our VCE PE and Sport and Rec students last Friday!

A visit to North Melbourne for the 'Captain's run' was first up. Students were invited to help out kicking the balls back to the players. Finn O'Sullivan and Mick Barlow stayed behind giving some insights into the workload, work ethic, challenges and triumphs of AFL footy.

Students were then taken on a guided tour of Carlton headquarters. This was delivered by the AFLW coach Matt Buck. Matt generously gave up his time to show our learners around the gym, pools, recovery & medical rooms, theatre, the inside ground! It was an impressive insight into elite athletes, their drive, motivation, work ethic, network, their lives and the system.

The group then ventured to AFL house where Warrnambool local legend Jonathan Brown gave students some history of his playing days, the ways football has changed, including injury management. He spoke about injury prevention strategies and the evolution of coaching.

The day finished with the spectacle of Blues V Bulldogs! The Bulldogs over ran the Blues in the end.

On Thursday 20 March the Animal Studies class participated in an external class at Emu Banks Holsteins in Garvoc.

The students assisted in a range of activities to support their practical assessments and learning such as feeding calves, cleaning feeders, animal care, handling calves, and handling other animals.

We thank Jo and Bryan for hosting our students for the day!

MIDDLE SCHOOL

As the term comes to a close, it's a great time to reflect on all that has been accomplished and look ahead to what lies ahead.

For the Year 10 students, this week marks an exciting milestone as many will be heading out on their Work Experience placements. This is an incredible opportunity for them to gain valuable skills and insights into the world of work. The school wishes them the best of luck as they take on this challenge, encouraging them to represent the school with professionalism and enthusiasm. It's a time to embrace learning, ask questions, and grow in real-world settings.

For both Year 9 and Year 10 students, a big congratulations is in order for their continued effort as the term draws to a close. As assessments, projects, and final tests approach, it’s crucial to finish strong. I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication shown throughout the term, and encourage all students to maintain their focus and determination. The final push is important, and their efforts now will contribute to their long-term success.

As we head into the break, it’s a good time for students to reflect on their achievements, recharge, and prepare for the exciting challenges of the next term.

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter and a restful holiday!

Josiane Gardner - Learning Leader Middle School

Year 9 PE

During Term 1, Year 9s have been looking into fitness and healthy communities as part of their HPE classes.

During their practical classes they have been completing fitness testing to measure components such as strength, power, agility and flexibility and collecting the data to analyse in class.

It has been great to see the students push themselves to achieve their best scores and also encourage each other to go further, higher and faster!

JUNIOR SCHOOL

Year 8 Art

This term Year 8s have been hard at work completing many interesting projects in art class.

Firstly students took inspiration for the French art style 'Surrealism' which explores an artist's hidden thoughts and dreams. In doing this the students were able to create their ‘surreal’ drawings.

Our young learners then began a printing folio, exploring different types of techniques including mono, stamp, etching, rubbings and gel plates. The final part of this folio was to design, cut and print using lino. These pieces told a story created by the students, taking inspiration from Dreamtime stories and Indigenous symbols.

Pictured is a collective piece created by the whole Year 8 cohort!

YEAR 7 French

Students in 7B acted out an exciting cartoon story in French using a variety of finger puppets collected by Ms Socha. The students enjoyed working in small groups and performed the roles of Léo, his friend Nina, a couple walking down the street and Léo's dog Hugo.

Year 8 Music

Recently, a local retired guitar maker and friend of Mercy Regional College was able to get a couple of electric instruments up and running for our students. Interested Year 8 students have been invited to have a go and the music room was opened for practices.

It's so exciting to hear all of the musical talent emerging from our students!

Community & Wellbeing at MRC

External Social Worker Available

Harold Gara is an accredited Mental Health Social Worker in private practice. His services are Medicare-funded through GP mental health care treatment plan referrals.

He currently attends Mercy Regional College fortnightly to provide focused psychological support and therapeutic counselling to students in need.

His areas of specialisation include, but are not limited to: anxiety, depression, adjustment challenges, trauma, and stress management.

For more information, please contact the MRC Student Wellbeing Officer - Mrs Tash Neal nneal@mercy.vic.edu.au

Useful Wellbeing Links:

MRC SchoolTV

Faith at MRC

The Importance of Easter

Easter holds deep significance for the Mercy Regional College community, as it is a time to reflect on the core gospel values of faith, compassion, and renewal. As a Catholic school inspired by the Mercy tradition, we embrace the Easter message of hope and love, recognising Jesus’ resurrection as a call to new life and service to others. This season encourages us to deepen our commitment to kindness, forgiveness, and justice, following the example of Jesus and the teachings of the Gospel.

As we celebrate Easter during the holidays, it provides an opportunity for our community to pause, reconnect with family and faith, and prepare to return with renewed purpose. Whether through prayer, acts of generosity, or quiet reflection, this sacred time invites us to live out the values central to our school’s mission. The Easter season reminds us that even in times of challenge, there is always the promise of new beginnings, guiding our school community towards a future filled with faith, love, and compassion.

MADJAM - Clean Up Day

On Tuesday 25th March, MADJAM members ran a Clean Up Activity with our student body. Each year level was designated a separate area of each campus to pick up rubbish. In each zone, a “Golden Ticket” of rubbish was hidden. One lucky student in each level who found the Golden Ticket received a prize. It is important to remember that our school is just one very small part of our greater ecological relationship with the earth. We are called to be stewards of creation - this means, not littering in the first place, but picking up rubbish if it is left. In caring for our planet, we are caring for the people who inhabit it.

Community Lunch

On Wednesday, the local Community Lunch was held at the Uniting Church. The lunch serves to bring members of the Camperdown township together for support and friendship. Some members of our senior school cohort attended the lunch to serve the meal and create connections with the participants. The act of service is an integral part of our community outreach as a Catholic school. Serving others comes from our rich Mercy tradition embedded in Gospel values. Jesus was the master server; serving the sick, dying, poor and destitute. The Sisters of Mercy's work is about seeing and responding to the needs of all those they are called to serve. The needs can be either of the body or spiritual. As a school community it is important for our students to develop a sense of what it means to serve others. It’s a wonderful opportunity when we can take our students into the community to serve in this way.

Project Compassion Fundraising

Project Compassion has been our Term 1 mission focus. The focus of Caritas’ Project Compassion is to raise awareness and funds for those locally and around the world to alleviate the pressures of poverty, disability or discrimination. Students are learning about the various individuals who have benefitted from the work of Caritas. Irene’s story is below for you.

Each homeroom across the school is collaborating to run their own mini fundraiser. The class based activity is generally student led. Each individual fundraiser combines to culminate in our one donation at the end of Lent. The various fundraisers this year include: bake sales, sausage sizzles, raffles, money lines, icy poles, and others. These fundraisers will be wrapping up by the end of the Term. One such fundraiser was the 10A Easter raffle, which was won last Friday by Ned D. Congratulations Ned!

Thank you to our families for supporting the students’ creative and passionate endeavours, through donations, ingredients, or time contributing to some baking.

Anzac Day

Anzac Day will fall during the break for students. It would be great to see as many of our students at our local services, in school uniform. We will have a wreath to lay at all our local services. If students are interested in participating and representing our college, please encourage them to fill in the form.

Additionally, we will hold a small school based service on the return after the break.

Melanie Bourchier - Director of Catholic Identity & Culture

Sports Report

HSSSD Athletics

On Monday 24th March, 77 students participated in the HSSSD Athletics against other local schools. In perfect conditions, all students did very well, accumulating points to allow MRC to win the overall shield!

Also a number of students were able to perform very well across a number of events to be crowned age group champion. Well done to Darby S., Lucia C., Tayla B., Indi C., Hamish M. and Aidan C. who were age champions.

We will have quite a few students progressing through to the GWR stage in the first week of Term 4 which will be an exciting opportunity. Well done!

GWR Swimming

On Wednesday 26th March our best swimmers travelled to Horsham for the Greater Western Regional Swimming event.

We had quite a few individual events and some relay races to compete in.

As always our students gave a strong account against some very good opposition with both Pippa B. and Harrison G. winning through to the State titles to be held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Thursday 1st May. Well done to both students and to all who travelled to Horsham to represent the school.

Pippa B. 50m Breaststroke (16yo female)
Pippa B. 50m Freestyle (16yo female)
Pippa B. 50m Backstroke (16yo female)
Harrison G. 50m Freestyle (16yo male)

McAuley House Cross Country

On 19th March, students from the McAuley campus competed in the House Cross Country!

In warm conditions, students completed a two lap course around the Camperdown Stadium block.

Well done to everyone who participated and thanks to everyone who helped make the day possible!

Congratulations to the age group champions:
Under 20: Rose B. Parker W.
Under 17: Poppy K. Isaac B.
Under 16: Lila B. Paddy H.
Under 15: Lucia C. George S.

We look forward to O’Keeffe students participating in the Junior Cross Country on Friday!

BAS Golf

On Tuesday 25th of March, four students made their way up to Ballarat to compete with other schools in the Ballarat Associated Schools competition. Due to restructuring within School Sport Victoria (SSV) we have not been able to offer golf to our many golfers within the school, which has been frustrating. We will look at taking a few more golfers in 2026.

Leo B., Lenny S., Max K. and Darcy H. played 18 holes at the Midlands Golf Club in Ballarat. Well done to these four students who competed on the day and in particular Leo B. who was able to finish 3rd in the junior boys section. This means he has qualified to participate in the School Sport Associations of Victoria (SSAV) competition to be held at Lonsdale Links on the 26th May.

College Notices

We invite our community to attend a local Mass during the Easter period.

Casual_Sales_Assistant_Mercy_Regional_College.pdf

We are seeking applications for a College Cleaner to join our Facilities Team and help keep our beautiful facilities ready for learning If you are interested in joining our community, please visit our website https://www.mercy.vic.edu.au/joi.../job-vacancies/job-board/ for more information!

Time and Space Evening

A Time and Space Evening for mothers, mother figures and mentors of our Year 7 & 8 students will be held on Wednesday, 30 April 2025 at 6.45pm for a 7pm start (Week 2 of Term 2).

Please secure your place by registering via this link. Simply follow the prompts and click submit at the end. Upon completion, you will receive a confirmation email from Time & Space, which will also include details about bringing a 'treasure' to the event.

Upfront Payment Discount

A discount of $150 per student is available for family fees that are paid in total by the new date: 21 April 2025. Please note that this amount is pro-rata for split family accounts.

2025 Tuition Fees Letter

2025 Tuition Fees and Levies Statement

Careers

Work Experience

Our Year 10 students are currently completing a week of work placement for our Work Experience program. Students plan their approach with support from staff, and then complete their 5 days in the workforce, learning new skills and building a greater sense of independence. It is a valuable learning opportunity and for many students, the first major step on their career pathway as they move towards Senior school.

We thank the many local and regional businesses who readily offer their support for this program - it is greatly appreciated. Thank you also to Allison Lourey, Rose Henry and the Year 10 Mercy teachers who assisted in the many stages of planning and preparation to ensure the week goes smoothly.

Please see the latest edition of Careers News below.

Careers Weekly 31st March 2025.pdf

Useful Careers Links:

Mercy Careers

https://studyworkgrow.com/

https://vtac.edu.au/

Kym Penry - Careers and Pathways Leader

Library News

Book Week

Book Week is not until August but we are getting ready now!

This week, the Children’s Book Council of Australia announced the shortlisted books in all categories for the Book of the Year Awards and we are making sure that we have two sets of all the shortlisted books in the Older Readers category for the Library.

Many thanks to Collins Booksellers Warrnambool for providing us with these books free of charge and supporting us in growing the reading culture at MRC.

Canteen News

To celebrate the end of Term 1, the McAuley Canteen has an additional Easter themed menu this week!

Orders to the Canteen at both Campuses can be made online via the Spriggy Schools app: https://www.spriggyschools.com.au/

McAuley campus orders will be processed by our on-site canteen, and O'Keeffe campus orders will be processed by 'The Shed' in Noorat.

2025 Production 'Cinderella'

Congratulations to all students who auditioned and joined the on-stage cast for our August production of 'Cinderella'.

CINDERELLA - Jess M.
GODMOTHER - Matéa M.
STEPMOTHER - Piper K.
PORTIA - Poppy C.
JOY - Chloe A.
THE PRINCE - Ned D.
THE HERALD - Dylan L.
THE QUEEN - Tilda M.
THE KING - Kane M.
THE CHEF - Jess M.
THE STEWARD - Tess M.

FEATURED ENSEMBLE (Townspeople, Palace Staff, Guests + Small Feature in Transformation)
Charlotte D. (Feature: White Horse)
Madison L. (Feature: White Horse)
Imogen P. (Feature: Footman)
Sienna A. (Feature: Footman)
Steph F. (Feature: White Horse)
Thomas A. (Feature: Coachman)
Zoe R. (Feature: White Horse)

ENSEMBLE (Townspeople, Palace Staff, Guests)
Alex L.
Aliviah S.
Bonnie M.
Bonnie V.
Cooper M.
Cristianna C.
Gracie R.
Halle B.
Olive W.
Remy H.
Sapphire D.

We also welcome our off-stage students who will help out behind the scenes!

Aidan V.
Austin P.
Ava B.
Basil H.
Charlotte B.
Daisy C.
Emma B.
Fletcher G.
Florence P.
Grace B.
Kade K.
Lenny S.
Lily M.
Marc V.
Michael W.
Nathaniel B.
Orson C.
Sarah M.
Sophie M.
William R.

IMPORTANT DATES
First Rehearsal: Week of 12 May (TBC)
Proposed Sunday Rehearsals: 25 May, 13 July (school holidays - TBC)
Tech/Show Week: 11-16 August
Tech Rehearsal: Wed 13 August (school hours)
Dress Rehearsals: Thu 14 & Fri 15 August (school hours)
3 Public Shows: Fri, 15 August (evening) & Sat, 16 August (matinee & evening)

Further information will be sent to on-stage and off-stage students and families in the coming weeks!

Any enquiries to Toby please: tmckenzie@mercy.vic.edu.au