MRC Newsletter - Issue 18 - 22 November 2023

Prayer

Principal's Message

What an exciting time for our Mercy Regional College community as we prepare for our final Jubilee celebrations on Saturday 25 November. Our Camperdown campus will be open for tours and reminiscing between 11.30am until 3.30pm with a “roll call assembly”, commemorative tree planting and time capsule burial commencing at 1.00pm. We will have food vans and stalls available for refreshments. It promises to be a wonderful celebration so please come along and join us. Our annual Art and Technology Exhibition is also being hosted as part of our Jubilee celebrations in our Multi purpose area.

We will finish off the weekend and our celebrations with our Jubilee Dinner where we will induct our inaugural Spirit of Mercy alumni award winners. We are being joined by former students, staff, families and principals in what promises to be an amazing celebration of our journey across these 50 years. Spirit of Mercy inductee’s stories and achievements are shared with you later in this Newsletter and on our social media pages. We will draw our annual Car Raffle on this evening so keep close to the phone in the case that you are a lucky winner!

With an eye on our future I am very pleased and excited to share with you our acceptance into the Ballarat Associated Schools (BAS) Sports competition for Division 1 Girls Netball and Division 2 Boys Football in 2024! The competition will take place on a Tuesday afternoon in Term 2, 2024 with games all played in Ballarat commencing at 4.00pm. Selection in these representative teams will be open to our people in Years 9 to 12 in 2024. We look forward to sharing with you the announcement of team coaches in the near future and players after selections early in Term 1, 2024. We thank our Year 8 PEAK students who are working on uniforms that incorporate our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) art work created by First Nations artist Geraldine Brandy. 

Last Friday night saw our Class of 2023 gather together with their parents and carers and MRC staff to celebrate not only the end of exams and learning competencies but also the end of their  time as students of Mercy Regional College. We were joined by former students Dermot O’Connor (Class of 2014) and Charlie Bradshaw (Class of 2011) who shared their journeys from MRC to their current employment. It was a fantastic night of celebration of our young people about to take many and varied steps into their future pathways and the partnership we have shared with parents and carers over many years. We wish them all the very best for their many futures. I thank our staff and parent organising team who set the scene for this beautiful celebration - organiser Rose Henry, ably assisted by Allison Lourey, Wendy Gleeson, Kerryn Cain & Briony Howells with Senior Community leader Jeremy Baker and assistant Luke Bourchier.

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 55

Next

What a brilliant day it was at the Noorat Show on the weekend. This fabulous community event celebrates Noorat and local communities but also serves as a wonderful showcase of community spirit and our amazing SW Victorian communities. Well done to all those involved in organisation and thank you to the staff and parents who joined the MRCs Car Raffle Ticket stall. 

Our Year 9 students enjoyed their Melbourne Experience Camp last week. This is a much anticipated and enjoyable experience with students spending three days in the busy city environs. Part of the experience this year was an educational talk with staff from the REACH Foundation and a visit to HoMie, a streetwear label and social enterprise where 100% of profits go towards achieving its mission: to support young people affected by homelessness or hardship. See some photos later in the newsletter.

Our Mass of Thanksgiving celebrates the end of our academic year and acknowledges the achievements of students in Years 7 to 11. It is being held this year on the afternoon of Friday 1 December at 12.30pm in St Patrick's Church Camperdown. Parents and families are most welcome to attend and celebrate with us. Families of award winners will be notified confidentially on Wednesday of next week.

Our School Advisory Council (SAC) held its last meeting of the year last night. I once again thank SAC Chair Shane West and all members for their much valued support and advice. I thank outgoing SAC members Alison Kenna, Xavier McKinnon and Olga Petrovskaya for their generosity of time and support. We will be seeking new SAC members for 2024 to join those continuing their tenure. If you would like to join our SAC please contact me at principal@mercy.vic.edu.au. 

Our O’Keeffe Building project is progressing well and on time. Our external toilets built by Modus Australia arrived at the end of last week and are already assembled in just 8 days! We plan for our 2024 Year 7 & 8 students and staff to begin the 2024 school year at O’Keeffe campus.

Advent season and the beginning of the new liturgical year commences on Sunday 3 December. Beginning four Sundays before Christmas, it is a time of preparation for our hearts and minds for the anniversary of Jesus’ birth on Christmas. This season is intended to renew our joy, hope, faith and love. Many families celebrate Advent with a wreath and lighting candles each week, beginning with the purple candles of hope and faith, the pink candle of joy and the final purple candle of peace. The use of the wreath and candles during Advent are a longstanding Catholic tradition that was originally adopted by Christians in the Middle Ages as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas. As part of our MRC Christmas tradition, our students and staff are giving generously to support the local Vinnies Christmas Giving Appeal.

Finally, we keep 2023 Year 12 student Makye Gleeson and his family in our prayers of the sudden and tragic death of Mayke’s father Matthew in a gyrocopter accident two weeks ago.

With kindness,
Sharon Gillett - Principal

Congratulations Spirit of Mercy Award Inductees!

The Car Raffle Draw is THIS SATURDAY!

Have you got your tickets yet?
10 fantastic prizes to be won!

Tickets  available from https://shop.mercy.vic.edu.au/ as well as the MRC office, or many local shops and events.

50th Jubilee Celebrations - THIS SATURDAY!

Outline of the Day on Saturday at our McAuley Campus:

FROM 11:30 AM
Registration desk open
School tours begin
Books and other Jubilee merchandise for sale
Car raffle tickets for sale  - Drawn Saturday evening!

FROM MIDDAY
Food trucks operating:
Twissto Potato
Gluten House 
Rainbow Fun Food

Free Family & Friends Photo Portraits by Glen Watson Studio in the Stadium
Music on the Green
Lions Club afternoon tea in the Library
Photo & Memorabilia Display
Student Art Show in the Stadium, MPA  and other locations

1.00 PM ASSEMBLY
Assembly in (or in front of) the Stadium
A welcome from the Principal 
Jubilee Tree Planting and Time Capsule burial

3:30PM FINISH
Activities continue until 3:30pm

There will be lots happening indoors in case of rain!

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

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

Orders are NOW OPEN. 18+ only.

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. 

Jubilee Day - THIS SATURDAY!!

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

Bookings for our Jubilee Dinner on Saturday are now closed.

FREE Family & Friends Photo Portraits this Saturday at MRC

Along with tours, music, food trucks, memorabilia merchandise, afternoon tea and student art, there will be free family / friends photo portraits at the Jubilee Day this Saturday 25 November. Glen Watson studios will be in the Stadium shooting from midday. There is no need to book, just come along on the day.

Learning at MRC

MRC Booklist 2024

The 2024 Booklist is now live and ready to purchase. Our supplier is Campion Books. 

All purchases are to be made online using our school code QMTV by 17 December. 

The link directly to the Campion login page is here: https://order.campion.com.au/?school-code=BBD312FA

Or you can find the link on PAM under the PARENT RESOURCES link and on our College website.

Our staff have spent considerable time discerning what is essential for students. There have been many resources removed from the booklist and replaced with levies so that resources can be purchased for your child by the school in bulk. Please be aware that what is listed is considered essential and it makes life much easier for our young people and our teachers when everyone has what they need. The mini-whiteboards / eraser and markers are new to Year 7 and 8 and are required for classroom learning as part of our school improvement plan.

Senior Mathematics students (Year 10 - 12) would have received a letter from Maths Leader Leanne Delahunty about the purchase of the calculator and a further communication will be forwarded from our Senior Pathways Leader Mel Kavanagh on how our Year VCE students will be given access to Edrolo. All 7-10 Humanities textbooks may be purchased second hand.

Cost Saving Options

1. There are items for each year level that are retained from the previous year (please go through these with your young person and check what they already have).
2. Stationery – students will have some items that can be retained from the previous year. Stationery items can be less expensive when purchased from places such as Officeworks or Kmart, rather than the booklist. Other than a few specialist items, most stationery can be sourced in this way.
3. Items such as English and Literature reading texts and subject text books are often available second hand via platforms such as the Parents Facebook page, or websites such as eBay and GumTree.

Please note however that workbooks, where students have to write and respond to learning activities such as grammar books, are not suitable to be purchased second hand. When sourcing second hand textbooks please make sure they are the edition that is listed on the booklist.

Year 12 Unit 3 - We are off and running!

On Monday all of the class of 2024 commenced their Unit 3 studies. The students studying Unit 3 English were privileged to have consultant, VCE English consultant to the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic School and senior VCAA English exam assessor Kirstin Bourne work with them all day to commence their first area of study along with their Year 12 English teachers for next year - Lydia Darcy and Natalie Stephenson. Kirstin spent the morning unpacking the film ‘Sunset Boulevard’ that the students will complete their first SAC on in February. As a classic film, it contains many cinematic and historical tropes that are unfamiliar to young people to today. Kirstin gave the students a terrific sense of the context in which this film was created and the complexity of the plot before they all viewed the film together. The afternoon session was spent looking at the area of study called ‘Analysis of Argument’ which is for many students the most challenging aspect of the course. 

Our Literature students were equally as privileged to spend part of the day with Margot Thompson and their Literature teacher Kym Pentry. Margot travelled by train from Melbourne to work with the class on their texts for the year. Margot is the former Chief Examiner for Literature with the VCAA and is also the VCE Literature Consultant to the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools.

Our VCE Vocational Major (VM) students also had a terrific program to launch their year which included Literacy classes and a training day on the school commercial coffee machine so that they can continue to operate the VM Grind and Grow cafe business. 

Myth Busting - Connecting all learning to students’ lives and interests

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on tailoring education to connect with students' interests and personal lives. While this approach has its merits, it's important to debunk the myth that all learning experiences must revolve around a student's specific passions and experiences. 

Here's why:

Preparing for a Diverse World: The world is a diverse and complex place, and not all learning can be tied directly to a student's individual interests and experiences. Students need a well-rounded education that exposes them to a wide range of subjects, perspectives, and ideas, even if they may not initially find them personally captivating.

Building a Strong Foundation: Some subjects, such as mathematics, science, and language arts, are fundamental building blocks of knowledge and skills that may not always align with a student's interests. However, they provide the foundation necessary for students to explore more specialized areas and careers in the future.

Encouraging Exploration: It's important to encourage students to explore new topics and ideas beyond their immediate interests. Exposure to diverse subjects can lead to unexpected discoveries and the development of new passions and hobbies they may not have otherwise encountered.

Developing Critical Thinking: Learning about topics that don't directly relate to personal interests can help students develop critical thinking skills. They learn how to analyze, evaluate, and form opinions on various subjects, which is valuable for their overall intellectual development.

Fostering Adaptability: In today's rapidly changing world, adaptability is a crucial skill. Not all learning experiences can be aligned with a student's current interests or life experiences, but they provide the opportunity for students to adapt and learn to engage with different ideas and concepts.

Real-World Preparation: Students need a well-rounded education that equips them with skills and knowledge that may be essential for their future careers or life challenges, even if these topics don't align with their current interests. Practical life skills, financial literacy, and civic education are examples of such subjects.

Expanding Horizons: Learning about different cultures, historical events, and global issues can expand a student's horizons and foster empathy and understanding of the world beyond their immediate surroundings. This kind of knowledge can have a profound impact on their personal growth.

While connecting learning to students' interests and lives is beneficial, it's not a one-size-fits-all approach. A well-rounded education should also expose students to a variety of subjects and ideas, fostering adaptability, critical thinking, and a broader perspective of the world. By debunking the myth that all learning must align with personal interests, we can better prepare our children for the complexities of the modern world.

Ms Natalie Stephenson - Deputy Principal, Learning, Teaching and Innovation

French tongue twisters

Jayden T from 7B worked patiently on perfecting the pronunciation of the French tongue twisters in his video.

Marley H and Maisie P from 8B cleverly turned their presentation into an entertaining skit.

Cultural Studies (7B with He-Xi)

In French class in 7B, we undertook cultural studies and spoke about the history and significance of Chinese New Year celebrations around the world. He-Xi showed some videos, explaining how she celebrates Chinese New Year with her family. We discussed the animals that represent us in the Chinese zodiac and their characteristics.

Year 8 Drones

Over the last few weeks Year 8 students have been exploring drone safety and flying. Students have learnt about coding sequences and have used the application Droneblocks to command their drones to follow a series of instructions. Now that basic application has been explored, students will learn to code more specific instructions to navigate their drones through an obstacle course.

Year 9 & 10 Exams

Exams for Year 9 and 10 Students have been held this week. Exams are an important part of schooling, as an opportunity for students to show their knowledge of subject areas but also to experience preparing, revising and studying for exams, managing nerves and learning time management skills. Well done to all students for participating so well!

Community & Wellbeing at MRC

Remembrance Day

Our College community observed Remembrance Day at a small service on November 10 to reflect on and honour the value of human life and freedom.

November 11 is also the date Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, died in 1841. We remember her and all those who have given their lives in service to others. Lest we Forget.

Year 9 Camp

Year 9 Camp 2023 again returned to Melbourne. Students ventured to Scienceworks where they explored the main museum and took part in a presentation in the planetarium. 

The first night's activity saw students take on the pools at MSAC. Students enjoyed the challenge of the inflatable obstacle course and the diving boards however the winner for the night was the wave pool. 

Day 2 saw students up bright and early to get themselves out to Collingwood to the Reach foundation to partake in their program exploring respect. Students engaged openly with the presenters and took a lot out of the program. Students held this session in high regard. 

Following the Reach session students headed off in small groups to explore Melbourne and familarise themselves with Melbourne's public transport. During this time students headed to HoMie and learnt about the impact that this fashion brand is having on youth homelessness and mimimising textile waste. Big thanks to Jack and Mark from HoMie for taking time out of their day to work with us. After a big day of exploring students finished the day with a trip to either Hardrock climbing or Skydeck. All reports back on these activities were that they were really good. 

The final day activity was Ice Skating. This saw students having to show persistent qualities as they push themselves to be able to get one lap without falling. 

A big thank you to all the staff that attended to make this camp run smoothly and students are to be commended for their exceptional behaviour. 

Nickeeta Roache - Assistant Middle Years Leader

Faith at MRC

Year 12 Seminar Day 

On Friday last week - our incoming Year 12 cohort started their Religious Education program for 2024 with their first Seminar Day.

Students completed activities around teamwork and focusing on strengths and working on supporting each other’s weaknesses. Students also worked on developing leadership and gave feedback as to how we can demonstrate Mercy values at school and in our community. 

The middle part of the day saw our students working with Sr Cathy Solano (RSM) who talked to them about the concept of interculturality - Cathy spoke to them about how this can have a positive impact on communication and relationship building and help build a sense of community. How intercultural communication can help overcome barriers that often exist due to language differences, religious beliefs, traditions.

Caritas Australia’s Gaza Crisis Appeal

An estimated 1 million people have been displaced in Gaza with immediate food, shelter, health, and psychosocial needs. This is a period of incredible turmoil and sadness. The escalation of violence has only exacerbated needs for the people in Gaza and West Bank, who already live in dire conditions. 

We are working with our partners on the ground to provide comprehensive and critical support to over 17,000 families affected by this devastating conflict.’

With your support, we will be able to help our partners on the ground to assist people displaced and affected by the current conflict.

Please donate to Caritas Australia’s Gaza Crisis Appeal.

You can donate online www.caritas.org.au/gaza or phone 1800 024 413

St Vinnies Christmas Appeal 

Our school community has been involved in giving to Vinnies at Christmas time for a long time and in 2023 we are once again involved in spreading a little bit of Christmas cheer to those in need. This is such a wonderful part of our school’s commitment to the communities in our region. 

Each homeroom group from Year 7-11  and staff as well, have been tasked with buying a small gift or two for some people who are in need. Students will have been told who they are buying for by their Mercy teacher. Students are asked to bring along either some money or a small gift to contribute to this. The gifts will then be wrapped and delivered to our local St Vinnie’s as part of our Thanksgiving Mass on Friday 1st of December. 

Careers News

In Careers News this week: 

ALL STUDENTS

• • Focus on summer schools- explore careers over the Christmas break
  • Competitions
  • Passionate about sport? Check out these amazing courses
  • University – early entry programs
  • Stay up to date with The University of Melbourne’s fine arts and music courses
  • University versus apprenticeships – Riley Payne’s story.
  • Apprenticeships and traineeships – resources and tips
  • Free career development programs
  • Upcoming events

Library News

The Library - Looking forward to 2024 and beyond

2023 in the Library has been a time of reflection and assessment, asking the questions:

• “How does the Library reflect and contribute to the achievement of MRC’s vision and mission?
•  “Where are we now?”
• “Where do we want to be?”  

This period of reflective practice made it evident that, in order to support and reflect the aspirations of the College, there would need to be major cultural change in the way that the MRC Library is viewed and utilised. The school library should be a place for inspiration, curiosity, imagination and collaboration.

The MRC Library should be a space that fosters a love of learning in anyone who spends time there. It should cater for: academically-minded students, those seeking extension activities and also for those seeking a recreational respite from the pressures of study. 

In 2024 we will be introducing some new extension activities and programs including: Library Leaders, Journaling Club, Student Book Club and CBCA Book Awards Shadow Judging Panel and the Principal’s Reading Challenge. In this newsletter we will expand on two of those programs.

Library Leaders 2024

Student leaders have the potential to influence the school environment and the behaviour of their fellow students by becoming advocates for positive change in the school community. We will be Inducting a Year 7 and a Year 8 Student Leader in the junior Library and they will have a role to play in creating a culture of learning in the library. 

Library Leaders:

• Become independent users of the library and other Libraries they will use in the future
• Contribute to continual improvement of the library
• Greet and assist other Library users
• Demonstrate leadership through being a role model for other students
• Provide a student voice in the Library

Journal Club

In Journal Club, Students will meet as a group and work individually or collaboratively for the practice of writing as a reflective tool and respond creatively to prompts given by the session leader.

Journal Club supports the mission of the Library in relation to the following points:

• Unlocking the potential for learning through the support of independent and collaborative learning opportunities that encourage critical and creative thinking and enrich student outcomes,
  
• Initiating programs and activities that develop literacy, information literacy, a reading culture and essential lifelong learning skills,
  

There are many benefits of journaling for students. Some of the benefits students can expect over time:

• Students develop stronger, more confident writing skills
• Inspire creativity
• Increased self-awareness for participants
• Increased motivation
• Decreased stress and improved wellbeing
• Social connection

Journal Club will run in lunchtime sessions in four of five week blocks each term.

Staff members, along with members of the wider community will be invited to lead a journaling session - some could have an art and design focus, a wellbeing focus or writing focus.

MRC Book Club

This Term the MRC Book Club will be discussing A Room Made of Leaves by Kate Grenville. 

Everyone is welcome. You can register to attend this free event here

Please join us at the Terang Commercial Hotel at 6:30pm on Wednesday 6 December for discussion, drinks and nibbles in a relaxed social atmosphere.

Jean Christie - Library & Resource Centre Coordinator

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)

Alumni News

Upcoming Dates and Events

Friday 24 November
Inter Boys State Table Tennis

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

Monday 29 November
Unit 1 2024 English Workshop
Junior Debating

Friday 1 December
Last Day for Year 11
Mass of Thanksgiving and Student Awards

Wednesday 6 December
Last Day for Years 7 - 10

Thursday 7 December
White Card Training

Community Notices

Terang Op Shop
Have a lot of Mercy 2nd Hand Uniform - All $2 a piece