MRC Newsletter - Issue 10 - 12 July 2023

Prayer

Principal's Message

Welcome back to Term 3. I hope everyone had a lovely break and managed to rest and recharge. Hopefully you were able to keep well and warm, whether that was in front of a fire or by escaping to a warmer climate. 

It was fantastic to witness the wonderful celebration of NAIDOC week across the country last week. The 2023 theme of For Our Elders, placed a focus on the importance of elders in First Nations communities but also those elders in all of our lives and communities that carry the memories, knowledge, culture and experience of what has come before us. This has a beautiful link to our own celebration of 50 years of learning at Mercy (Catholic) Regional College and those who have come before us in establishing our school community in this educational space.

We welcome back from leave staff members Jenni Lenehan, Lesa Thornton and Kristie Jensen. We welcome Hannah Plozza and Sophie Bennett to our LSO team. We also welcome back to MRC former College Social Worker Chadley Peerman whilst College Counsellor Sharon Suhan is on leave this term. Also on leave to begin the term is Middle Years Community Leader Dan Glennen and LSOs Janine Gallichan, Kerryn Cain and Claudia Lee.

Term 3 is an important and exciting time in schools with our final year students in their final term of new learning before they begin preparing for their final exams or competencies. Across this term, VCE English students will be working closely with highly experienced consultant and examiner Kirstin Bourne to enhance their learning in preparation for their final exam. Similar learning intensives will be hosted for VCE Mathematics students and in other subjects areas to give our young people the very best opportunity to fulfil their learning potential and achieve their goals for their final year. Parent Teacher Student learning conferences for all young people studying VCE Unit 4 subjects are an important opportunity for students, families and teachers to partner together for enhanced learning outcomes and will be held on Wednesday 26 July, 2.00 - 6.00pm.

Students in Year 10 begin the process of choosing their pathways and learning areas for their senior years. We invite parents and carers of Year 10 students to join us on the evening of Wednesday 19 July for our Senior Pathways Information evening. Our Year 10 students will be in Melbourne on this day seeing Romeo and Juliet and returning a little later than normal school finish time.

We are also very much looking forward to our 2023 school production Addams Family. The young people involved have been working very hard and it promises to be a wonderful show. Opening night is Friday 18 August with both a matinee and evening performance on Saturday 19 August. Tickets are on sale now through our website.

We congratulate Veronica W on making it into the Ignite finals in South Australia at the end of the month, competing in aerials. This means she scored in the top 8 in Australia with her routine in her category, which is a fantastic achievement. We wish her all the very best!

I do wish to share with families that there is some illness within our community at present with many feeling the effects of a flu and/or gastro. There are also cases of COVID within the region and we ask that parents/carers please continue to notify us should this be the case with a MRC student. Although there are no mandated isolation requirements, the following is strongly recommended:

It is strongly recommended that students:

• Who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five days.
• Should not attend school after five days if still symptomatic.
• Who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school.

Where students become symptomatic at school, they should:

• Be collected by their parents/carers.
• Undergo testing for COVID-19.

Finally, I share some important dates for Term 3:

• VCE Unit 4 PTSI’s - Wednesday 26 July, 2.00 - 6.00pm 
• Whole School 50 Year Celebration Photo - Friday 18 August
• Staff Catholic Identity Professional Learning Day - Student Free - Monday 21 August
• Year 7 2024 Enrolment Transition Interviews - Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 August
• Year 7 - 11 PTSIs - Monday 28 August, 3.30-8.00pm
• Our Lady of Mercy Mass - Friday 8 September.

Please also find here a link to our Annual Report to the School Community.

If you would like to be part of our inclusive and innovative learning community, applications are now open for Director of Learning and Teaching, and expressions of interest are being taken for teaching roles in 2024.

With kindness

Sharon Gillett
Principal

Learning at MRC

Year 10 to Senior School Pathways - SAVE THE DATE!

Behind the scenes our staff are working hard preparing for the upcoming period when our students select their pathways and subjects for 2024. This is relevant for students in Year 8 and 9, but is most critical for our Year 10 cohort who will be entering their senior years of schooling. Some families may be aware that much has changed in the senior schooling landscape over the last 12 months and that young people now have several pathway options available to them with some of these pathways overlapping. It is vital that all of our families have an opportunity to listen to what has changed from the experts in person. 

What has changed. From 2024 all senior students will be working towards achieving the VCE certificate. VCAL has been phased out. For students wishing to pursue a vocational pathway, they have the option of taking the VCE Vocational Major (VCE-VM) stream that can be integrated with both VET and traditional VCE studies. It may sound confusing which is why we need all families to engage with our process. 

On Friday 14 July we will have the official ‘launch’ of the pathways period which will take place over the course of the term. In the morning our Year 10s will hear from staff with leadership oversight in VCE, VCE-VM, VET, School Based Apprenticeships (SBATS) and Work Placements. Students will be given a Pathways booklet where they will reflect on their educational journey to date, take notes on what they learn from the various information sessions and plan their options. Parents will have various opportunities to engage with the process as it unfolds and the most important date is the:

There is an English excursion planned for this day for all Year 10 students in Melbourne. Students will be returning late to school so we have organised the session to run adjacent to the pick up time.

Unit 4 Parent Teacher Student Interviews Wednesday 26 July

Welcome to Term 3! For our Year 12 learners and Year 11s completing a Year 12 subject, this is a significant time. The final term of Year 12 presents a unique opportunity for students to consolidate their learning and reinforce the foundations they have built throughout their educational journey. It is a time for them to reflect on their accomplishments, address any remaining challenges, and strive for their personal best. Encouraging your child to maintain focus and determination during this period will contribute significantly to their overall academic growth and development.

In light of the importance of this period, we would like to invite you to attend the upcoming parent-teacher-student interviews. These interviews offer a valuable opportunity for you to engage in open and constructive dialogue with your child's teachers. Our teachers will provide insights into your child's progress, areas of improvement, and strategies to support their success during their final term.

During these conversations, we encourage you to ask questions, seek clarification, and share any concerns you may have. Together, we can create a collaborative partnership between parents, teachers, and students to ensure a positive and productive finish to the year. The support and guidance you provide at home will undoubtedly have a profound impact on your child's motivation and perseverance in their studies.

These conversations will take place on WEDNESDAY 26 JULY from 2pm - 6pm. They are for all students completing a Unit 4 (Year 12 subject). We are offering a hybrid model whereby parents can select to come into the College in person or attend online. The students will be at school from 2pm until the finish of the day so are able to attend in person with their families onsite or sit with the teacher to speak to their parent/s online. 

Bookings will open on Monday 17 July and close on Tuesday 25 July. 

Interviews for students and families from Year 7 to 11 will take place later in the term.

Natalie Stephenson
Deputy Principal - Learning, Teaching and Innovation

Cows Create Careers

In late term 2 our Year 9 agriculture students participated in the "Cows Create Careers" program. The students eagerly anticipated the arrival of two calves to the school grounds in Week 7 who would be cared for collectively by the group.
The Cows Create Careers program is an interactive and hands-on experience designed to connect students with the dairy industry. It provides a fantastic opportunity for young learners, especially those who may not live on a farm to engage in practical learning, build teamwork skills, and explore potential career pathways.
The program allowed us to investigate the world of dairy farming, learning about production cycles, animal nutrition and understanding sustainable farming practices. 
During the program, our students had the opportunity to interact with two friendly jersey cows, eventually named Zurhaah and JR. They learned about the daily care and management of the young dairy cows, including feeding and ensuring their well-being. This hands-on experience allowed our students to develop a deeper connection with the animals and appreciate their importance in the dairy industry.
One of the program's highlights was a visit from Jacinta Langdon, a representative from WestVic Dairy, who spoke to our students about the array of careers available in the dairy industry. Jacinta shared her personal journey and experiences, highlighting the diverse range of roles and opportunities within the industry. 
We would like to extend our gratitude to Con and James Glennen for supplying and delivering the calves, Jacinta Langdon as well as Mercy grounds staff including Troy and Shane as well as the students who fed the animals on weekends. 

Year 7 STEAM

Year 7 students were busy in Term 2 working on their STEAM individual design projects which were then cut and engraved on the laser cutter. The project involved researching ideas, creating the design files using Adobe Illustrator and using the laser cutter to cut/engrave their projects. The creations were then assembled and students reviewed the success of their design project. It has been wonderful to see the creative ideas flowing, ranging from jewellery and wall art, to a minecraft sword and many more.

Year 8 French

All French students researched the town of Avignon in the south east of France, then learned the lyrics to the 15th century song "Sur le pont d'Avignon" and the traditional way of dancing to it. Click the link to see the students of 8C singing and dancing. 

Y10 Ag / VCAL Excursion

Our Year 10 Agricultural Studies and Year 12 VCAL students ventured to Warrnambool on Monday 19 June to visit Midfield Meats and the South West Jobs and Skills Centre. It was an interesting and informative day, with students gaining insight into workplaces in action and the many opportunities available for future careers!

RIST Program

On 13 & 14 June, a group of Year 9 students were immersed in an on-farm program over two days, exploring different elements of sheep shearing and management.
Thank you to Raelend Laidlaw and the RIST program for this wonderful opportunity!

Year 10 $20 Boss Elective

The $20 Boss Year 10 elective unit is now in its third year at MRC. Our students create their own start-up small business and develop important transferable skills such as innovative, creative and critical thinking; planning, experimentation, project management and troubleshooting; collaboration, communication and teamwork; financial literacy and health and safety in the workplace. 

Students had to invest $20 each to commence their business. The aim is to break even - to cover all costs and return their initial $20 capital investment - and any profits are donated to charities of significance to the students. They underwent a self-assessment of key entrepreneurial skills where they identified areas of strength and opportunities to develop other skills further. They brainstormed business ideas, formed groups and began planning.

We had a change of format this semester, with businesses presenting on a Market Day at lunchtime in the MPA at McAuley Campus.  This was highly successful, and very well supported by staff and students.  We had five businesses - Milkshakes (Keely, Lucy B, Indi & Phoebe), Dough for Dozens Cookies  (Charlie, Alex, Jach, Elijah and Billy) who sold a range of choc chip cookies, Bliss Bombs (Annie, Lucy M & Hannah) who sold bath bombs, Icecream Sandwiches (Darcy & Archiel) and Trent’s Treats (Trent), selling preordered baked goods to staff. They had to plan, source supplies, test prototypes, manage finances, project manage and trouble shoot their way from start to finish.  Each group carefully selected an organisations as recipients of their profits: Lifeline, Make-A-Wish, Fight MND and Mates4 Mates.

Special thanks to parents for supporting your children, to Jo R for her wonderful organisation, Allison & Jordy for banking & announcements, Wendy & Faye for their expertise, ordering & equipment, and to Zoe, Troy & Steve on Market Day. I am very grateful to Kerryn for her outstanding support of our learners throughout the semester.

Project based learning really allows students to demonstrate their capabilities, collaborate and show tremendous growth.  Well done students - it has been a real pleasure to see your confidence and skills grow during the semester.  Below are some student reflections, which make great reading.  

Tania Bruckner
Commerce & Humanities teacher

In the planning stage we had to figure out what ingredients we needed and how much of it, so we did this by making milkshakes and taste testing them. On the market day we had plenty of customers but weren’t able to make enough milkshakes in time. We fixed this by getting our friends to help us make the milkshakes. We learned new skills like teamwork and problem solving.
Keely & Indi

The business idea that our group had thought of was cookies, but our first idea was to sell nuggets. In the planning process we compared prices and products but it was going to be an expensive option. We then thought cookies would be a better ideas as it would give us a broader market with more manageable costs. We decided to give taste tests to people who perhaps wanted to buy our cookies. This idea was a success because we saw many of these people at our sales day.  We needed to figure out how to make a perfect cookie dough that freezes and then cooked and sold on market day. We are most proud of our business when sales day was in full swing and we had plenty of people lining up in front of our stall and especially when there were people coming back for more. The other time I was really proud was when our group used teamwork to make the cookie batches and when we were doing the test cooking. The things we learnt in $20 Boss, included time management, business management and teamwork. We also learnt how to politely talk to people and give good customer service. 
Alex, Charlie, Billy & Elijah

Bath Bombs was the product selected by our group as they are currently trending throughout social media and popular with children of our generation. Our notions altered throughout time from a self care package that contained bath bombs, soap and loofahs. As products to create our soap and bath bombs are exceptionally expensive and time consuming we decided that selecting one item to produce would be the smartest idea. During planning time we conducted many trials on an array of recipes until we came to the conclusion of solely focusing on bath bombs as our product of choice. Colours, scents and shapes were all factors that were thought about during this time until we created the bath bomb that was sold on Market Day. 
Lucy M

We were most proud of the way we problem solved during our bath bomb recipe testing because we had a few recipes that didn’t work so we had to keep trying until we found the perfect recipe. We were also proud of the way we all worked together and sold all of our bath bombs. It was a very good day overall and we couldn’t be happier with how it all turned out. Some of the important lessons we learnt included taking care of our financial records properly and professionally problem solving when it came to finding a perfect recipe, perseverance - not everything works out how we want it to work out, team communication - evenly splitting up the workload, and starting up a small business on our own, not exactly the easiest thing in the world.
Annie

Our Business Idea was to sell as many Ice-Cream Sandwiches as possible to students and teachers available at the Market day, in an effort to make as much money as possible and donate that money to a cause in need.  We tested ingredients and recipes to try and find the cheapest way to make our product at a high quality, we planned out how we would handle the market day and customers and how we would serve everyone efficiently. We also calculated all our profits and how much we needed to sell to make a profit.  Some of the things we learned in the $20 Boss class were how to build and run a business, how to calculate profits and how to handle customers in the correct way. We learnt a lot during the trial and error of recipe testing and we learnt how to spend our money wisely.
Archie & Darcy

One skill I developed well was organisation.  I was working on my own, so I had to use my time well.  I used a Google spreadsheet to keep track of orders, supplies and deliveries. I also used this process to keep my financial records and create a profit statement. I was pleased to be able to make a good donation to Mates4Mates, who provide assistance for veterans impacted by their service.
Trent

Community & Wellbeing at MRC

Food Drive - Winter Woolies ‘Flanno Friday’
Friday 23rd June

The last day of Term 2 saw our Mercy community supporting some local organisations by wearing their  ‘Winter Woolies.’  In lieu of a gold coin donation students were asked to bring along a non-perishable food item to support some organisations in our local area. 

We had some food items delivered to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) in Melbourne, Warrnambool and District Food Bank and St Vinnies. We thank our Mercy community for your generous donations to help others. Thanks also to our Year 9 students who helped with sorting and delivered some items to St Vinnies as part of their Retreat in the last week and also our Year 12 VM group who helped to collect and sort the items on Friday.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) On School
Students with Disability

Wellbeing Team - Berni Sinnott, Sharon Suhan, Matthew Irving

Faith at MRC

SEEDS OF JUSTICE REGIONAL EVENT - August 31st - September 1st 2023. 

The Regional Seeds of Justice event will be held in Anglesea at Araluen Camp.

The theme for this event is: A vision of Mercy: to welcome the stranger and the needy

The keynote speakers for this event will be involved directly with Refugees and/or will be Refugees themselves sharing their journeys of hope.

If there are any students in Year 9, 10 or 11 who have a strong interest in Social Justice as well as a sense of what it is to be a person of MERCY in today’s world - we would love to hear from you. Please see Ms Kellie Wilson or Ms Jo Saunders if you have any further questions or to register your interest in this event.

Kellie Wilson - Catholic Identity, Mission & Ethos Leader

Year 9 Retreat - Wednesday 21st June 2023

Our year 9 Students and staff engaged in a retreat day on Wednesday June 21st with keynote speaker Karon Donnellon RSM (Sr of Mercy).

The theme for the day was Celebrating our Past and Inspiring our Future

This theme for our whole Jubilee Year was linked to celebrating the way Catherine McAuley was inspired by her faith to build the House of Mercy. Then - how WE are inspired by this work, to continue into the future, looking to our own communities and then taking the responsibility to be better global citizens by supporting those in other countries as well. 

Karon began the day encouraging the students to see themselves as the future of ‘Mercy’. She commented that looking after the poor, the sick and feeding the hungry is up to all of us, and there are many ways to become aware of the difficulties people face within Australia and around the world. 

The students began the day in St Pat’s church working in groups to explore our own school values and to discuss how these are lived out here at Mercy Regional College. 

After a very tasty shared morning snack we headed into the middle school building to learn about the way the works of mercy can be so relevant to our world today. The students worked in groups again to learn about the way ‘mercy works’ is contributing to the support of the poorest and some of the most disadvantaged people in our region including Timor Leste, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.

After a shared soup and roll lunch and a break, the students embarked on some practical activities that not only raise awareness, but make a difference. 

1. Making knotted blankets to be given away via the Vinnies support program.
2. Sorting food and clothing to be donated to:
   - The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
   - Warrnambool Foodbank
   - Vinnies
3. Decorating our own House of Mercy in honour of Catherine McAuley and the Srs of Mercy - with inspirational quotes and images of support in the community.
4. Planning awareness and fundraising activities for our Year 9s to support Mercy Works in Term 3.

The students engaged in the day very well and were very open to the messages that Karon and the Year 9 RE staff shared about how they would be carrying on the MERCY tradition to support those in need. 

Thanks to Wendy Gleeson for preparing our delicious soup and to all staff who participated on the day.

On Friday July 7th a portion of the grocery items which were collected in the final week of Term 2 were distributed. The Year 9 students sorted and divided up the donations into goods for Food Bank Warrnambool, ASRC and Vinnies.The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Melbourne gratefully received the four boxes of groceries which were gathered and matched the wish list that the ASRC had for Asylum seeker and refugee families.Eve for ASRC was very glad to receive the boxes and is pictured here with Jo Saunders at the Footscray Donation Centre. The groceries included the goods most required by the diverse cultural groups who are supported by the ASRC and in such need. Many thanks to all the students, families and staff who generously gave the items requested.

Jo Saunders & Josiane Gardner - Year 9 RE faculty.

Sports Report

Year 9 Boys Footy

Following a strong showing at the HSSSD year 9 footy in Terang, their next challenge was coming from the hands of Emmanuel College. A big school with a very good football program, this game was going to be no easy win for the Mercy Bears. 

Coaches Mr Irving and Mr Cheeseman along with Isaac McVilly and Jay Jay Baird travelled down with the boys to Mack Oval in Warrnambool ahead of the clash. The team was made up of 21 players, with plenty of quality players coming from different clubs over the district. 

Upon arrival to the ground it was looking as if the weather was going to treat us, however this quickly changed. Not long before the players ran out, the rain started bucketing down. However this didn’t affect the play, the footy was played at a very high quality considering the rough conditions. Mercy showed great poise and composure as the rain continued to fall. 

Ultimately Mercy proved to be too strong for Emmanuel, winning the game 59 - 14. Mercy in what was a wet and heavy game, managed to repeatedly get the ball to the outside and use their leg speed to push the ball forward. This was an identified strength going into the game, and it was great to see the boys bring it into the game and use it to their advantage. 

Mercy best players (in no particular order) - 
Lenny S, Campbell W, Hamish M, Max H, Parker W, Albie C

A big thank you goes to Russells Creek Football Netball club for allowing us to use their facilities for the game, Emmanuel College for giving our boys a good game of footy, and also all the staff involved on the day.

GWR Competition

On Wednesday, 21 June our Year 7 and 8 netball teams headed to the GWR Competition in Ballarat, and our Year 7 footballers headed to the SSV Competition in Stawell to represent MRC.

Congratulations to everyone who participated and showed great sportsmanship!

Library News

Our book for next term will be the Miles Franklin award shortlisted novel, Hopeless Kingdom by Geelong-based Kgshak Akec.

This brilliant and uplifting book by a first-time author is told through the interchanging perspectives of Akita and her mother, Taresai.

“Akita’s family have always kept moving to survive. Sudan to Cairo. Cairo to Sydney. Sydney to Geelong.

Each new place challenges Akita, her siblings and her parents. Just when eight-year-old Akita is feeling settled for the first time in her life, her parents decide to relocate to Geelong. The move is the beginning of a downward spiral that threatens to unravel the fabric of their family and any hope for finding peace and belonging. This coming of age story shines a light on the generational curses of trauma, complex family dynamics, and how it feels to love someone unconditionally, even when it hurts. Individually, the female narrators experience racism, rejection and despair, but together their narratives reveal a resilience of spirit and determination to transcend expectations of what a daughter, a sister, and a mother can be.”

We are working towards having this engaging and inspiring young author at our next gathering, so stay tuned for the date. Be in touch if you would like to participate but are having trouble locating a copy of the book.

Inspired by Books! The Biblio Art Prize

Blarney books in Port Fairy is Australia's only bookshop with a dedicated book-related art gallery. Blarney Books is also the founder of Australia’s only book-related annual art prize where all the entries are inspired by books! First held in 2009, the Biblio Art exhibition in 2009 the competition has grown to attract entries from around Australia.

Youth entries

Artists 18 years old and under are welcome to enter without any entry fee and are welcome to choose their own book (by an Australian author) to use as inspiration. In this case, you only need to complete the form at the time of submission (indicating your age). 

​Artists have from the date of entry to end of October to complete their works. From the images submitted via our online submission forms over November, a selection will be made for our Summer exhibition. From those exhibited, the Grand Prize will be selected by independent judges, as well as a raft of other prizes (see below).

Adult entries

Artists enter the competition by submitting a registration via the Blareny Books website with a one-off payment of $25. You are then allocated a random book title. You, the artist, will read the book, and then create an artwork inspired by it.

The actual book can be obtained from any source - it is not required that you purchase the book from Blarney Books & Art. It can be borrowed from the library (did you know authors receive royalties for library borrowings?). The point is that the book informs the artwork. Through this competition, we aim to highlight and support our Australian/NZ authors, and put books into your hands which you might not have otherwise picked up.

​Artists from anywhere across Australia and New Zealand are eligible. All artists are encouraged to enter - from amateur to professional, young and old. All mediums are welcome. Enter via the Blarney Books website

​

eBooks and Audiobooks

Access your eLibrary anywhere, anytime!

Wheelers ePlatform has hundreds of eBooks, predominantly fiction.

It includes digital versions of many popular titles. Login here using your MRC credentials.

https://mrc.wheelers.co/

Jean Christie
Library & Resource Centre Coordinator

Arts Report

The Addams Family Production

Tickets are now available for The Addams Family!

3 Shows:
Friday 18 August @ 7.30pm
Saturday 19 August @ 1.00pm
Saturday 19 August @ 7.30pm

Adults: $20
Children (3-15): $10

Get your tickets from https://shop.mercy.vic.edu.au/, the MRC office or Laffs.

Child Safety

Mercy Regional College is a Child Safe Community.

Child Safety Officers

Contact them by email or on:
Phone - 55932011 (McAuley Campus) or 55925353 (O’Keeffe Campus)

Understanding the 11 Child Safe Standards

Standard 1 - Video explanation

Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.

Minimum requirements

In complying with Child Safe Standard 1 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:

1.1 A child’s ability to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights is encouraged and actively supported.

1.2 Strategies are embedded within the organisation which equip all members to acknowledge and appreciate the strengths of Aboriginal culture and understand its importance to the wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal children and young people.

1.3 Measures are adopted by the organisation to ensure racism within the organisation is identified, confronted and not tolerated. Any instances of racism are addressed with appropriate consequences.

1.4 The organisation actively supports and facilitates participation and inclusion within it by Aboriginal children, young people and their families.

1.5 All of the organisation’s policies, procedures, systems and processes together create a culturally safe and inclusive environment and meet the needs of Aboriginal children, young people and their families.

50th Jubilee Celebrations

Book: A Special Spirit: a History of Mercy Regional College 1973-2023

Lachie Lee makes history come alive with this very engaging story of the College from its inception to the present day. It celebrates many of the significant events and people that have helped to shape our school. This quality, hardcover book is a beautiful publication and an ideal gift that will be a treasured keepsake for many years to come. 

LIMITED NUMBERS AVAILABLE

Pre-order your copy now for $45 

You can also choose to have your book posted anywhere in Australia for an additional $10

Please order your copy here:

Show your Mercy Spirit! Jubilee Merchandise

You can also show your Mercy spirit and support the College with a range of 50th anniversary memorabilia including, anniversary roses, wine, and tea towels (see descriptions below).
Please order your Jubilee merchandise here:

The Colours of Mercy Anniversary Rose

As part of the Mercy Regional College 50th anniversary celebrations, the College will make available a special anniversary rose in the MRC colours. 

If you’re looking for a rose with a ‘wow’ factor, this is it! This Rosa floribunda has glossy thick mid-green foliage - a stunning multi-coloured rose in bush form that produces huge clusters of yellow flowers that change to pink and red on maturity. To add to the enchantment, every petal is unique. 

The beautiful flowers on this plant produce a lovely mild fragrance. This rose is disease resistant and all round strong. Ideal for garden beds or borders along the driveway.

We are now taking pre-orders so that you won’t miss out on this rose, which will be made available closer to and on the special weekend of celebration in November 2023.

Cost $37.00

Tea towels with spirit!

Available in two designs, these locally-sourced tea towels are both beautiful and useful. Super soft and absorbent, they are made from 180gsm cotton twill. There are two designs to choose from, both featuring the 50th Anniversary logo, which incorporates both the Catholic Regional College and Mercy Regional College emblems. 

Cost: $15 each

Anniversary Wine

The College has partnered with Bellarine Estate to produce two anniversary wines, a crisp Chardonnay and a complex Shiraz. (Collect from College or purchase on the Jubilee Day)

Cost $20 each. (due to liquor licensing requirements, ordering and payments for wine will open mid-October.)

Jubilee Day

We would love our past students, families and staff to join us in this celebration on Saturday 25 November from 11:30 to 3:30 in Camperdown. School tours, roll calls and displays for each decade, food trucks and music, tree planting, free family portraits, afternoon tea and more. 

Register for this free event here:

Jubilee Dinner 

On Saturday evening (25 November) we will gather for dinner and the presentation of the inaugural Spirit of Mercy Awards, and the Annual Car Raffle. Then you are invited to kick up your heels to the lively music of The People’s Poets.

Tickets can be purchased here:

Alumni News

Class Reunions 2023

2023 is a special year for CRC and MRC community. As the College is celebrating its 50th anniversary, we are hoping to see many of our alumni involved in events and festivities. And what year can be better to have a class reunion than the jubilee year? 

We are calling out to the graduating classes of milestone years who are due to have a reunion in 2023. If you are planning an event, please contact the College at alumni@mercy.vic.edu.au or 03 5593 2011. We will be happy to help you promote your event and organise a campus tour for your group. 

• Graduating Class of 1978 – 45 Years Reunion
• Graduating Class of 1983 – 40 Years Reunion
• Graduating Class of 1988 – 35 Years Reunion
  
• Graduating Class of 1993 – 30 Years Reunion
• Graduating Class of 1998 – 25 Years Reunion
• Graduating Class of 2003 – 20 Years Reunion
• Graduating Class of 2008 – 15 Years Reunion
  
• Graduating Class of 2013 – 10 Years Reunion
• Graduating Class of 2018 – 5 Years Reunion
• Graduating Class of 2022 – 1 Year Reunion

Upcoming Dates and Events

Thursday 13 July - State Cross Country

Friday 14 July - Year 7 STEAM Excursion

Wednesday 19 July - Year 10 English Excursion
                                     Debating Competition
                                     Senior Pathways Information Evening

Monday 24 July - HSSSD Intermediate & Senior Basketball

Tuesday 25 July - ODE Snow Camp

Thursday 3 August - GWR Intermediate & Senior Basketball
                                    GWR Junior/Senior & Intermediate Table Tennis

Wednesday 16 August - Year 11 Retreat
                                         The Addams Family Tech Rehearsal @ Theatre Royal

Thursday 17 August -  The Addams Family Dress Rehearsal @ Theatre Royal

Friday 18 August - Whole School Photo
                                The Addams Family Opening Night @ Theatre Royal  
                                Bullying No Way Day

Saturday 19 August - The Addams Family Matinee & Closing Night @ Theatre Royal

Monday 21 August - Student Free Day (Staff PL)

Tuesday 22 August - Year 7 2024 Enrolment Interviews

Thursday 24 August - Clay Target Shooting

Friday 25 August - Frayne Speech Festival

Later in the Year:

Friday 15 September - Term 3 concludes

Monday 2 October - Term 4 commences
                                  Central Australia Experience

Saturday 25 November - MRC 50th Jubilee Day and Anniversary Dinner

Community Notices

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