Mercy Regional College eNewsletter

Prayer

Remembering Pope Francis

A Prayer in Thanksgiving for the Life of Pope Francis

Loving God,
We thank You for the life and witness of Pope Francis,
a shepherd who walked humbly with You
and who led with kindness, courage, and compassion.

His words and actions touched hearts across the world,
reminding us of the power of mercy, the value of every person,
and the beauty of walking alongside others with care and understanding.
He taught us that true education shapes not only minds,
but also hearts open to peace, empathy, and hope.

Pope Francis had a special gift for inspiring young people—
calling them to be brave, to build bridges not walls,
and to carry the light of Christ into a world in need of healing.

As we remember his legacy, we are drawn back to our own school theme:
“In life’s storms, find your strength through faith and courage.”
He lived this message fully—trusting in You through every challenge,
and leading us always toward love and unity.

We give thanks for the wisdom he shared,
the hope he inspired,
and the light he brought to our Church and our world.
Now that he has returned to Your eternal embrace,
may he rest in Your perfect peace.

As we mourn the passing of Pope Francis,
we offer our prayers for his eternal rest.

We also ask for your guidance and wisdom as the
College of Cardinals gathers to elect his successor,
that they may choose a leader who will continue to
shepherd your flock with love and faith.

Amen

Principal's Message

Welcome back to Term 2!

We hope the extended break has provided everyone in our school community with the chance to rest, recharge, and spend valuable time with loved ones.

It was also a special time to reflect on and celebrate the Easter story, a central part of our Catholic and Christian faith.

Collaboration

While our students enjoyed an extended break, our staff engaged in valuable professional learning and collaboration. Teaching staff worked alongside colleagues from Trinity College Colac, to develop units and assessments aligned with the Victorian Curriculum 2.0, set for implementation in 2026.

Our education support staff focused on deepening their understanding of Child Safety within their roles, while our Learning Support Officers participated in a session with Kate Sadler from DOBCEL, centred on Supporting Our Students to Achieve.

Meg Durham also presented to staff with a focus on wellbeing and thriving together.

Remembering those who have served our country

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War — a significant moment in our shared history. We pause to remember the service and sacrifice of all who served during this conflict, and to acknowledge the lasting impact it has had on veterans, families, and communities across Australia and beyond.

Last week, we honoured all who have served our country at ANZAC Day services across our wider community. These gatherings offered us a powerful reminder of the importance of remembrance, gratitude, and the enduring values of courage, mateship, and service. Thank you to all students and staff and families who represented Mercy at these services.

Building, maintenance and security updates

The extended break gave us an opportunity to complete programmed maintenance works. Of note is the movement of our Wellbeing Hut at O’Keeffe to provide enhanced privacy and also open our play space by the covered court area. O’Keeffe also had network upgrades to improve our IT services.

At McAuley, the works on the St Patrick’s tennis courts continues which includes replacement of our shared retaining wall. We hope this work will be completed shortly.

We were also able to install our security system at Camperdown. This measure is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our students, staff, and facilities. Please see information provided by Business manager Judith Murfitt relating to information use and storage after this Principal's Message.

Assistant Principal O’Keeffe

We have commenced the recruitment process for an Assistant Principal for our O’Keeffe Campus, following the return of Matthew Irving to Terang College in his role as Assistant Principal. We sincerely thank Matthew for his leadership and contribution to Mercy during his time with us. We will keep families informed and communicate further updates as soon as possible with a suitable applicant planned to commence at the beginning of Term 3. Interim arrangements to commence in Week 6 through until the end of the term, will provide O’Keeffe Assistant Community Leader Tim Woodmason the opportunity to increase his responsibilities. Tim will be supported by Deputy Principal Patrick Seal, Assistant Principal Emily Stephens, and myself. We thank Tim for his willingness to assume this role.

The Term ahead

This term sees school photographs, Parent Teacher Student Interviews, BAS Football, Cinderella Rehearsals, Mercy Feast Day, Ballarat Catholic Education Week, VCE Unit 1 and Year 10 exams, VCE GAT and many excursions. Please check the calendar to stay on top of dates.

It is a pleasure to acknowledge the students below:

⭐ Congratulations Harrison G. who became an Australian Champion in the Australian Clay Target Association Deauville Doubles in Perth during the holidays.

⭐ Great work Beth H. who competed in the Stud Beef Victoria Handlers Camp and achieved Champion Junior Heifer of Show with a heifer she prepared for exhibition borrowed from Turanga Red Poll Stud.

⭐ 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.

⭐ Well done Archie T. on his participation in the Vic Country Under 18s Trials during the holidays

⭐ Amazing effort Tyra S. and Kate P. who competed at Boneo Park over the first week of the school holidays representing Mercy. Both girls had clear rounds and also a pole or 2 in the Showjumping 80 section; Kate finished 17th overall, Tyra 23rd. Tyra competed a second horse in dressage and show horse also, finishing 15th overall in dressage and 6th in the show horse. Mercy finished 85th out of 150 schools!

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

We keep in our prayers staff members Troy and Emily Stephens and their family on the sudden passing of Troy’ s father Peter ‘Snake’ Stephens. May he rest in peace.

To all our mothers and mother figures, we wish you a Happy Mother's Day on 11 May!

A reminder that the newsletter will now be published every three weeks, with the next edition on 21 May.

We look forward to all that Term 2 holds and thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.

With kindness,
Sharon Gillett - Principal

Business Manager

Installation of Closed-Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) at Mercy Regional College

Mercy Regional College has made the decision to install CCTV cameras at both the McAuley and O’Keeffe campuses. The O’Keeffe campus cameras were installed in August 2024. The use of CCTV is an approach that can be implemented in schools to promote and strengthen a culture of feeling safe.

The use of technology can enhance the perception of safety amongst students and staff, can protect school property against acts of vandalism and can aid in the identification of perpetrators of crimes and anti-social behaviour.

The College is required to be compliant with relevant Acts and laws, relating to video surveillance and include:

The Privacy Act (1988) - protects personal information that is held or collected for inclusion in a record, as defined by the Act.
The Surveillance Devices Act 2009 (Vic) - relates to video surveillance and prohibits employers recording in toilets, washrooms, and change rooms.
The Surveillance Devices (Workplace Privacy) Act 2009 (Vic) - prohibits employers monitoring their employees at work through covert surveillance methods, such as CCTV cameras.

Mercy Regional College has placed the following guidelines and procedures on the use of CCTV at the McAuley and O’Keeffe campuses.

PURPOSE
The two purposes of the CCTV cameras is the safety of students and staff of the College and the protection of the school property from vandalism and break-ins from the following College locations.
CCTV Cameras are installed in the buildings of the O’Keeffe Campus, McKinnons Bridge Road, Noorat. They are located both internally and externally in the buildings. CCTV Cameras are installed in the buildings of the McAuley Campus, Henderson Street, Camperdown. They are located both internally and externally in the buildings.

GUIDELINES

General

CCTV will not be located in toilets, change rooms, staffrooms, or washrooms.
CCTV will not be used to monitor staff performance or attendance.
CCTV will not be used to monitor the work performance of students.
The recorded data is held on a secure network.

Disclosure and Access to Data

The recorded data is accessible by a limited number of staff including the Principal, Deputy Principal, Business Manager, IT Manager, Network Manager, Property Manager, and the Assistant Principal O’Keeffe campus.
The recorded data is deleted with automatic processes in place after 30 days.
Only in very restricted and limited circumstances would the data be disclosed to third parties. Eg. Police request or Legal application.
Other staff may view specific data if it is being reviewed, due to an incident in the grounds.
The College will continue to review these procedure in line with the requirements of any applicable Act and any requirements of DOBCEL.

Jude Murfitt - Business Manager

Learning at MRC

How lucky were we to have such lovely weather over the Easter break! You can never underestimate the restorative power of time spent with family and even better still, time spent with family in the sun.

Whilst our students were enjoying the third week of the school holidays our teachers and support staff were back at work. Our teachers completed two days of professional development, working collaboratively with Trinity College Colac. Each day started with Kirsten Bourne providing the Keynote presentation. Kirsten is an education consultant who works with schools to improve student outcomes. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of teaching and bases all her recommendations on contemporary research and data driven improvement. Kirsten has been working with MRC to enhance our English curriculum, with great success.

Using the fundamental ideas presented by Kirsten, the teachers then worked collaboratively on building units of work which reflect the most up to date understanding of the Science of Learning. Maximising student opportunities and outcomes being the goal.

There are changes to the Victoria Curriculum which will come into effect for most subjects in 2026. The exception to this is Mathematics, which is already teaching the new Victorian Curriculum 2.0. All other subjects are in the familiarisation stage. Our days working with Trinity College provided an opportunity to consider what the changes to the curriculum are and to plan for the transition which will take place in 2026.

Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews.

Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews provide a valuable opportunity for us to work together to support your child’s learning. Parent-teacher-student interviews are crucial for building strong partnerships between teachers and families, fostering student success. They provide an opportunity for collaborative discussions which focus on tailored support and guidance for students, ultimately benefiting their learning and well-being.

The interview booking platform is now open on the Parent Access Module (PAM). If you are having difficulties navigating the system please give the school a call.

Next week there are two Parent-Teacher-Student Interview sessions. Wednesday afternoon’s session will be conducted face to face at the McAuley campus. Whilst the Thursday session will take the form of virtual (on-line) interviews

Session 1
Date: Wednesday 7th May
Time: 3.30 to 7pm
Mode: Face to face
Location: McAuley Campus, Camperdown

Session 2
Date: Thursday 8th May
Time: 11.30am to 4pm
Mode: Online (Virtual)

If there are any teachers you would like to meet with but you are struggling to make a booking due to limited time slot availability, please email the teacher to arrange an alternative time to meet.

In order for the interview sessions to run efficiently we ask that you ensure that you are on time for your interviews. If you are running late there is no guarantee that the teacher will be able to meet with you. A letter was sent to all families on Monday, please refer to that letter for more detail about the Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews.

Please reach out to me if you have any questions.

Leanne Delahunty - Director of Learning and Teaching

MIDDLE SCHOOL

We hope all our Year 9 and 10 families had a restful and refreshing break! It’s been a great start to Term 2, and we’re excited for the busy and engaging weeks ahead.

A big congratulations to our Year 10 students who completed their Work Experience placements during the final week of Term 1. We’ve received fantastic feedback from both employers and students about the professionalism, enthusiasm, and dedication shown throughout the week—it was a valuable experience for everyone involved.

Please note a couple of important dates coming up next week:

School Photos will take place on Wednesday 7th May. Make sure students are in full school uniform and ready to smile!
Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews will be held on:

Wednesday 7th May – In person at school
Thursday 8th May – Online appointments only (Please note this is a student-free day)

Finally, as football and netball seasons swing into gear, we know that many students are balancing academic responsibilities alongside sporting commitments. We encourage families to support their students by regularly checking in about upcoming assessments, current workload, and any recent test results or feedback. These conversations go a long way in helping students stay organised and focused during a busy time of year.

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns—I’m here to help.

We’re looking forward to a productive and positive term ahead!

Josiane Gardner - Learning Leader Middle School

JUNIOR SCHOOL

YEAR 7 French

French speaking activities: Students in 7B French used their whiteboards to write responses to the question "Comment ça va?" (how are you?). They then moved around the classroom and practised important phrases with various partners. Well done, students! Bravo!

Community & Wellbeing at MRC

Free Mental Health Roadshow coming to Camperdown

Useful Wellbeing Links:

MRC SchoolTV

Faith at MRC

CARITAS - Project Compassion

I am delighted to inform the school community that our Caritas efforts in term 1 have exceeded expectations. We have nearly doubled our contributions from last year raising almost $2000. I give great thanks and appreciation to all MERCY teachers, students and families for their continued support. A $2,000 donation to Caritas can have a significant impact on various projects, including improving irrigation for farmers, providing water tanks to communities, and supporting local and international programs. Specifically, $2,000 can help a farmer group improve irrigation, provide a 5000L water tank to a community in Samoa, or contribute to broader initiatives like addressing poverty's root causes and building community resilience.

Mother’s Day

Next Sunday, 11th May, we warmly wish a happy Mother’s Day to all mothers and mother figures. May you feel deeply appreciated and surrounded by love. We also hold in our hearts those who are missing their mums, those who long to be mothers, and anyone for whom this day brings pain or complexity. You are recognised and held with warm compassion.

Giving thanks for Pope Francis

As you know, we lost Pope Francis on Easter Monday. This is a great time of reflection for the Catholic Church. Pope Francis has been the leader of the Church since 13 March 2013. During that time he has left an indelible mark on the Church and the World. Pope Francis's leadership is characterized by his emphasis on humility, mercy, and inclusivity, as well as his commitment to social justice and environmental protection. He's known for his approachable demeanor and his willingness to engage with the marginalized and those on the "peripheries" of society. He's also a reformer, pushing for change within the Catholic Church and advocating for a more inclusive and compassionate approach to the world.

At MRC, we use a lot of Pope Francis’ teachings in our RE classes, especially those surrounding social and environmental justice.

What comes next is the conclave - the process of selecting a new pope. Two to three weeks after the funeral, eligible cardinals (those under 80 years old) gather in the Sistine Chapel to vote. The election follows these steps:

The chapel is sealed off, ensuring secrecy.
Cardinals cast their votes in rounds, with a two-thirds majority required to elect a new pope.
If no candidate is chosen, ballots are burned with chemicals to produce black smoke, signaling an inconclusive vote.
When a new pope is elected, white smoke rises, announcing the decision to the world.
The newly elected pope chooses a name and steps onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where the world hears the famous announcement: Habemus Papam!—“We have a pope!”

The last 4 popes have been elected in under 48 hours. However, the conclave can take as long as it needs to ensure a ⅔ majority.

We pray for the conclave and their election process.

Melanie Bourchier - Director of Catholic Identity & Culture

Sports Report

Junior Cross Country

Our Junior House Cross Country was held on the last day of Term 1 at the Noorat Recreation Reserve.

Well done to all Year 7 and 8 students for a great day of enthusiastic participation and team spirit!

Congratulations to Maddison M. Edie M., Oliver C. and Isaac L. who were champions for their age groups!

HSSSD Boys Netball and Girls Football

The HSSSD Boys Netball and Girls Football was held on Monday, with several teams playing very well against our fellow schools, including:

Intermediate Boys who won all games, advancing to the final and winning against Terang College.
Junior Boys who played well, making it to the finals but losing to Camperdown College.

Well done to all students who represented Mercy so well on the day!

College Notices

Time and Space Evening

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

School Photos 2025

Annual school photos including sibling photos will be taken by Arthur Reed Photos on Wednesday 7th
May 2025.
There is no need to return any forms or money to school.
Unique image codes will be issued to all students on/after photo day so families can register online to view images when they become available in the webshop.
Registration is simple, just follow the 3 simple steps on your child’s personalised flyer once you receive it and remember to add the codes for all your children attending this school.
Even if you registered last year, it’s important that you do again this year using your child’s 2025 image code to link their images for the current year with your contact details.
When images are ready to view and in the webshop, all parents who have registered will be notified by SMS and email.
Once registered, please wait for notification that 2025 images are online to view before making
your purchase.
To arrange travel between Campuses for Family Photos, please email reception@mercy.vic.edu.au by Monday 5th May.

2025_Photo_Day_Info.pdf

Our Diocesan Community

Our Diocesan Community March 2025

Careers

First Aid / CPR Course

Students who are interested in obtaining their First Aid and CPR certificates through the Corangamite Shire session on Tuesday 8 July are asked to see Mrs Penry please. There are limited spots available.

Please see the latest edition of Careers News below.

Careers Weekly 28th April 2025.pdf

Useful Careers Links:

Mercy Careers

https://studyworkgrow.com/

https://vtac.edu.au/

Kym Penry - Careers and Pathways Leader

Library News

Last week the Library at O'Keeffe was completely re-arranged.

To help our young readers find books they will like, the fiction is now shelved by genre. So if a student loves crime fiction, they can now go directly to that section instead of hunting through the shelves.

The Graphic Novels, Picture Books and Fantasy books are located on the left hand side shelving bays and all other genres are along the back wall.

The McAuley Library genrefication project is a work in progress!

Canteen News

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'

Rehearsals for Cinderella will start soon, with the first full cast rehearsal scheduled for Friday 16 May at the McAuley Campus during P5&6. O'Keeffe campus students will be bussed over for full cast rehearsals (which mostly occur once a fortnight).

Crew are not required to attend rehearsals at this early stage. More information to come later about what crew will need to do.

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:
The rehearsal schedule will be the ultimate guide to what is happening and where, and will be updated live as necessary (still a work in progress). Please refer to the link below throughout the process.

Please Note: There will be a brief meeting held for families on Sunday 25 May at 4.30pm as you pick your child up from rehearsal. This will include a short showcase, expectations and questions. Families of crew are also welcome, particularly if you have any questions.

Cinderella Rehearsal Schedule: LINK

IMPORTANT DATES
First Full Cast Rehearsal: Friday 16 May
Sunday Rehearsals: 25 May, 13 July (school holidays), 10 August
Tech/Show Week: 10-16 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, 0409 617 627