MRC The Week Ahead 2024 Term 4 Week 7
Junior School
What’s Ahead
The weeks are really flying by now, and students are beginning to finalise much of their assessments in the classroom. It is great to see such wonderful work being completed. The student's last day of classes will be on Thursday 5 December. On Friday 6 December, students will attend their activity day.
Year 7 students will be off to Adventure Park, while Year 8 students will participate in a lawn bowls session at City Memorial Bowls Club. Please keep an eye out for the PAM permissions for both activities.
Mercy Hats
A reminder that in Term 4 our young people must have a hat to be outside during recess, lunch and PE Prac. We will be asking our young people to ensure their Mercy hat is not graffitied, and if this is the case they will need to replace it with a new one.
Hats can be purchased from the uniform shop or reception for $19.50. Correct money would be appreciated.
Attendance and Notification of Absences
Just a reminder that in line with the Child Safety regulations and our school’s attendance policy, we require all unexplained student absences to be followed up. If you know that your child is going to be absent, please let us know at your earliest convenience, either via PAM, or by contacting reception. Thank you for your support with this.
Junior Oratary Competition
It has been great to see all students across Year 7 and 8 working hard to complete their speeches for English. This culminates in the Junior Oratoary Competition which will take place this Thursday at O’Keeffe Campus from 1:30pm - 3:00pm.
Contacts
We encourage you to contact your child’s MERCY teacher if you have any queries, questions or worries throughout the school year.
7A: Mr Tim Woodmason - twoodmason@mercy.vic.edu.au
7B: Mrs Leah Sinnott - lsinnott@mercy.vic.edu.au
7C: Mr Matt Irving - mirving@mercy.vic.edu.au
8A: Mrs Melanie Bourchier - mbourchier@mercy.vic.edu.au
8B: Miss Georgia O'Leary - goleary@mercy.vic.edu.au
8C: Mrs Mel Simmonds - msimmonds@mercy.vic.edu.au
O'Keeffe Leader/Assistant Principal
Matthew Irving - mirving@mercy.vic.edu.au
Kind regards,
Matthew Irving- Assistant Principal - O'Keeffe Campus
Tim Woodmason - O'Keeffe Campus Assistant
Upcoming Events
Term 4
Week 7
Thursday 21 November - Junior Oratory Competition 1:30pm - 3:00pm - O'Keeffe MPA
Middle School
Welcome
The end of the school year is fast approaching and Middle School is a hive of activity. Students are busily completing course work for each subject, and preparing also for some exams. Added to this we have students commencing their Step Up Programs. Current Middle School students who will be completing a VCE subject in 2025 have been given their Step Up timetables, and can look forward to commencing their learning in each of their VCE subjects. Booklists have been shared with families in preparation for next year. A reminder that there is a Second Hand Buying/Selling Group on Facebook for both books and uniforms, which is a great resource for families.
Outside of the classroom, some warmer weather has been welcomed, giving students plenty of opportunity to spend time outside in practical classes, and also at recess and lunch.
Homerooms are fundraising for the Vinnies Christmas Giving Program and looking forward to end of year celebrations and activities.
The final weeks are very busy ones, and students and families are reminded to keep an eye on The Week Ahead, PAM and the Newsletter to stay up to date with everything that is happening.
Middle School Exam Period
The Middle School Exam Timetables have been shared with students, and are also below. At Middle School exams are not only an opportunity to demonstrate learning, but also a valuable exercise in study, time management and coping with nerves.
Year 10
Year 9
Year 10 Transition into Senior School
Current Year 10 students who have selected to study a Unit 3/4 subject in 2025 will commence their step up program next week. Their learning in this subject begins during this time, and is important to set up the year ahead and get started on coursework.
All Year 10 students then step up into Year 11 following their exams, with their VCE or VCE/VM programs commencing Wednesday 27 November. Subject blockings and transition timetables have been shared with students. Please check in with your young person and make sure that they know which subjects they are in, and how to navigate their timetable, as it will not appear on SIMON. Encourage them to come and ask teachers for help with this if required. It is a good idea to have a new exercise book ready for each subject, as coursework begins in the very first lesson.
2025 Electives
Year 9 students have received confirmation of their 2025 elective subjects. Please check in with your young person about this. If there are any questions or concerns, please make contact with the school via reception.
Final Day Activities
We are in the process of finalising the End of Year Activities for Year 9 and Year 10 students. The year will end with a day of off site activities for each year level on Friday 6 December. Please keep an eye on PAM for details of the relevant excursion. These are always a great way to end the year.
White Card Training
White Card training will again be offered to students at Year 9 and 10. The White Card is for students that wish to complete work experience with a trade or are completing a trade certificate through TAFE in 2025. This training will incur a cost to students and accounts will be forwarded to families in the coming weeks.
Year 10 students that have already completed this training do not need to repeat the training.
Training days (both days are compulsory):
Monday 2 December and Tuesday 3 December 2024.
Vinnies Christmas Giving
As we do every year, Mercy Regional College is involved in important fundraising for the Vinnie’s Christmas Giving Program. This program ensures that families in our area, who may be struggling, are able to have what they need to celebrate Christmas. Each homeroom is allocated gifts to purchase, and we ask that students please bring in $5 to go towards the cost of these gifts. We thank families for their kind donations.
Kind regards,
Lydia Darcy and Nickeeta Roache - Middle Years Community Leaders
Upcoming Events
Term 4
Week 7
Monday 18 November - Year 10 Retreat
Week 8
Monday 25-Friday 29 November - Art and Technology Show and Year 10 Exams
Week 9
Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 December -White Card Training
Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 December - Year 9 Exam Program
Senior School
It’s official - Our Year 11’s are now Year 12’s!
A big shout out to our Year 11 cohort who have completed their Unit 2 exams, therefore, all of their coursework for 2024. The week finished with a BBQ at the lake along with their first Seminar day (today).
Unit 3 Classes Formally Commence
Our 2024 Year 11 students start their Year 12 journey on Monday. All VCE students will participate in an explicit English Day where Unit 3.
Year 12 Graduation Celebration
On Friday, 22 November, we will celebrate the Year 12 Graduation. This event will be held at the Camperdown Football Netball Club from 6:30pm. We look forward to celebrating this special occasion with students and their families, before they embark on University/TAFE pathways and employment. Best wishes to the 56 graduates.
Thanksgiving Mass and Awards
On Tuesday, 3 December, our final Mass for the year will be celebrated at St Patrick Church, Camperdown by Fr. Neville.
Following Mass, The Awards Ceremony for the Year 7 -11 students will be conducted, acknowledging outstanding achievements for 2024.
The car raffle will also be drawn on this day.
Reminder: Student Illness or Absence and Medical Certificates
It is important for Senior students to source medical certificates if they miss school due to illness. This can form evidence for special consideration in the case of extended absences, which are always unpredictable.
Kind regards,
Berni Sinnott - Senior School Community Leader
Upcoming Event
Term 4
Tuesday 28 October- Wednesday 20 November - VCE/VM Exams
Week 7
Monday 18 November - Coffee Course 2025 Year 12 VM Students, Unit 3 English and Literacy Intensive Session
Tuesday 19 November - Unit 3 2025 Commences, Foundation Maths Exam (11.45am-2.00pm)
Wednesday 20 November - VCE/VM Exams Completed
Friday 22 November - Year 12 Graduation Dinner - Camperdown Football Netball Clubrooms 6.00pm-11.00pm
Week 8
Monday 25 - Friday 29 November - Art/Technology Show