MRC Newsletter - Issue 7 - 21 May 2025

Prayer

Mary, Help of Christians, watch over us with love.
Intercede for us with your Son, to bless Australia,
Through your prayers and under your protection,
may the light of Christ shine over our land. 

May Australia be granted harmony, justice and peace.
Grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens
so that we can be people of peace –
people who love and respect each other,
and people who love and respect our land, Australia.
We make this prayer through Jesus, your Son.
Amen.

Principal's Message

The election of Pope Leo XIV marks a significant new chapter for the Catholic Church. This momentous occasion invites our community to reflect on the papacy's role in guiding faith, fostering unity, and promoting service worldwide. Both students and staff have dedicated time to contemplate how the Holy Father’s vision can inspire and strengthen our mission as a Catholic school.

May is traditionally dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus, a time when Catholics around the world honour her with special devotion and prayer. As a symbol of grace, compassion, and maternal love, Mary serves as a model of faith and humility. May is a reminder for us to emulate her virtues of kindness, patience, and deep trust in God, drawing inspiration from her example as we strive to live out our faith with love and compassion.

For our school, May holds an additional significance as we celebrate the Feast Day of Our Lady Help of Christians, a feast that reminds us of Mary’s role as a protector and guide, especially in times of challenge and need. We are looking forward to celebrating our Feast Day together in Camperdown on Friday and to give thanks to those tireless educators and community members who established our wonderful school. The staff versus student soccer game in the afternoon is a highlight!

Our Cinderella rehearsals commenced last week. I was fortunate to take a sneak peek at the first rehearsal and was impressed with the skills and talents of the cast. Thank you Toby McKenzie and his team for making this opportunity possible for our young people. We look forward to 13 - 16 August when the show takes the stage at the Camperdown Theatre Royal. For those involved, please read more about the Production later in the newsletter.

We are deeply aware of the ongoing pressures brought about by the rising cost of living, as well as the impact of the drought on our local community, particularly our farmers and those whose livelihoods are tied to agriculture. We encourage our Mercy families to reach out to our Business Manager, Judith Murfitt, if you need support in managing the costs associated with an education at Mercy. We are here to assist in any way we can. In these challenging times, it is also important to prioritise your mental health and wellbeing. A supportive community like ours can make all the difference. Please see below a message shared by our Executive Director of Catholic Education Tom Sexton:

Catholic Education Ballarat Offers Fee Relief to Families Impacted by Drought - 20 May 2025 

As parts of Victoria endure one of the most severe droughts in decades, Catholic Education Ballarat is reaffirming its commitment to supporting families facing financial hardship by offering school fee relief across its 57 schools in the diocese.

Executive Director Tom Sexton emphasised the organisation's dedication to ensuring that every child has access to a quality, faith-based education, regardless of their family's financial circumstances.

“The ongoing drought has placed immense pressure on many families in our communities,” Mr. Sexton said.

“We understand the challenges faced by those in agricultural sectors and related industries, and we are here to support them during this difficult time.”

Families experiencing financial hardship due to the drought are encouraged to confidentially discuss their situation with their school principal. “Our schools are more than just educational institutions; they are communities that stand together in times of need,” Mr. Sexton added.

“We urge any family facing difficulties to reach out so we can work together to find a solution.” Catholic Education Ballarat remains committed to its mission of providing accessible education and supporting the wellbeing of its students and their families, especially during challenging times.  

Next week is Education Week and following that is Ballarat Catholic Education Week. We look forward to showcasing the quality education that is accessible at Mercy in conjunction with our Hampden Catholic School Network feeder Primary Schools St Patrick’s, St Thomas’ and St Colman’s.

It is a pleasure to acknowledge the students below:

⭐ MRC had success at the School Clay Shooting Competition in Colac on 30 April, with Halle B. winning junior girls and Amelia P. coming second in Senior girls! A fantastic effort and the result of lots of hard work!

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

With kindness,
Sharon Gillett - Principal

Learning at MRC

Mercy Regional College places a high priority on working collaboratively with families to create a supportive learning environment that fosters student success. The recent Parent Teacher Student Interviews were an example of this, where members of the Mercy family came together to discuss how we can work together to support each child's learning. The insights and understandings that result from the discussion which took place at Parent Teacher Student Interviews are invaluable, as we work together to help your child reach their potential.

It was wonderful to see so many students joining their parents to take part in the interviews.  If your child was not present at the interview it is important to let them know what was discussed. Most importantly, congratulate them on their successes and strengths. If the teacher made suggestions of things you could do at home, discuss these with your child and commit to following through with them.

Please be aware that no parent ever needs to wait for formal occasions such Parent Teacher Student Interviews to contact teachers. The doors of communication are always open. You can contact your child's teacher through the Parent Access Module (PAM).

Leanne Delahunty - Director of Learning and Teaching

SENIOR SCHOOL

Senior School Update

Our senior students have been hard at work engaging with their subject content and preparing for upcoming assessment tasks. On Tuesday, 17th June, all Year 12 students and selected Year 11 students will sit the General Achievement Test (GAT). If your child is required to participate, you will receive a notification. During Mercy lessons, students will be briefed on what to expect from the GAT and the importance of giving their best effort. GAT results can be used to calculate derived scores in the event a student is unwell and unable to sit one or more final exams.

VCE VM Projects

Our VCE Vocational Major (VM) students are currently involved in a range of interest-based projects. These projects require them to take full ownership—from planning and organisation to execution—with a focus on building communication, teamwork, and project management skills.

One inspiring project is led by a group of VM girls who are collecting and donating hygiene products to Loved and Shared, an organisation that supports children and their carers. In 2024, the group donated over 172 hygiene packs. They are currently seeking donations of items such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and sanitary products. Donations can be dropped off at the office on either campus. The students will also visit the organisation’s headquarters to help assemble care packages and learn more about its work.

Meanwhile, Year 11 VM students are designing and building garden planter boxes for use in school projects. The boys have carefully researched materials and costings, and we hope to have some of these available for sale soon.

The VM “Mug Shot” coffee crew continues to do a fantastic job each week, keeping both staff and Year 12 students caffeinated and ready to take on the day.

New Unit 3 Exam Period

We are introducing a Unit 3 exam period during the first week of the Term 2 break. This initiative is designed to help students develop essential exam skills and strategies ahead of their final exams. While these exams will not contribute to study scores, they will provide valuable experience in exam technique and revision. We understand that not all students may be able to attend every session, but we strongly encourage participation where possible.

Melanie Kavanagh - Learning Leader Senior School

Outdoor Ed Experience

Our Year 12 Outdoor Education students recently took part in a two-day field experience along the iconic Great Ocean Road, investigating the relationships between conservation, recreation, and economic activity in outdoor environments.

The trip began with a tree planting session at Hordern Vale in partnership with the Southern Otway Landcare Network, where students helped revegetate an old farm dam. 

Later in the day at Apollo Bay, students kayaked along the Barham River, using this peaceful journey to observe and assess water quality, as well as the impacts of human activity on the river system. 

Early on Tuesday morning, many students gathered for a sunrise on the beach, taking time to enjoy a quiet moment. This emphasised how recreation in the outdoors can offer more than physical benefits.

The trip concluded with a 10km hike from Blanket Bay to Cape Otway, passing through a range of coastal and forested ecosystems. 

It was a wonderful opportunity to get out into nature and we thank Mr Kelly, Ms Stinchcombe and the organisations who made the experience possible!

Vis Comm Excursion

On Friday, 2nd May our VCE Visual Communications and Design students had the opportunity to attend the Top Designs 2025 Exhibition at the Melbourne Museum.  

During their time there, they were fortunate enough to participate in a talk by Kristy Dickinson from the Haus of Dizzy. Kristy offered amazing insight into the development of her business highlighting the importance of believing in yourself as well as the need "to be your brand".

All the students were able to take away some key points and ideas that they can apply to their design works on the return to school.

VET First Aid Course

Students from three VET classes participated in a First Aid Course last Thursday at the McAuley Campus.

During the session, these valuable life-saving skills were discussed and then put to the test.

Donations Appreciated

A small group of Work Related Skills students are completing a project to donate hygiene family packs to the following organisations: South West Community Foundation, The SAFV Centre, Loved + Shared and Emma House. 

Donations of the following items including: shampoo, conditioner, body soap, tooth brushes, toothpaste, deodorant and all kinds of sanitary items will be most appreciated and will be included in family boxes for those in need.

Our VM students would love our wonderful Mercy community to donate any of the listed items to Reception at either campus or the Senior office to assist in the success of our project!

RYDA Session

With many of our Year 11 students already driving, the RYDA road safety education day was very timely. On Monday May 12th, the knowledgeable presenters from RYDA ran a series of 30 minute workshops throughout the day, touching on different elements of road safety and awareness. Sessions ranged from identifying what kind of driver you are personally, anecdotes from crash survivors, to an outdoor session with a focus on safe braking distance and road positioning. Our students learned a variety of safe driving strategies, while being reminded that L-platers are the safest drivers on our roads and P-platers are the most at risk! Members of the Warrnambool Police, as well as local and regional fire brigades were also in attendance to share stories and knowledge.

It is comforting to know that our roads are a little bit safer now, with this road safety message being placed in the front of our minds again. Looking at the statistics around road trauma, days such as these are very worthwhile, and we thank RYDA for coming to share their expertise with our students.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

As we move further into Term 2, a reminder that home learning continues to be a vital part of your child’s academic progress. With increasing school, sport, and extracurricular commitments, it is essential that students stay organised and manage their time effectively to keep up with their workload.

To support this, we are offering Homework Support Sessions every Wednesday at lunchtime. These sessions provide a quiet space for students to work while eating lunch, with a teacher available for assistance if needed. We strongly encourage students to attend these sessions if they anticipate difficulties completing work at home. Being proactive is key to managing their responsibilities successfully.

For Year 10 students, please note that exams will be held on June 16 and 17, covering the four core subjects: Humanities, English, Science, and Maths. These exams are designed to help students become more familiar with formal assessment conditions, with the goal of reducing stress and building confidence and skill in exam situations.

Looking ahead, Subject Selection for 2026 will take place at the end of Term 2. After the exams, students will hear from Mel Kavanagh, who will present information about VCE and VCE VM pathways, helping them begin to think about their future academic journey. They will also receive domain-specific presentations from domain leaders, offering detailed insights into VCE options and answering any questions they may have.  A parent information night is also scheduled for June 18.

Thank you for your continued support in helping your child succeed.

Josiane Gardner - Learning Leader Middle School

JUNIOR SCHOOL

It has been a great start to the term for our Year 7 and 8 students at the O’Keeffe campus with students engaging in a variety of meaningful classroom learning experiences and a range of special events and excursions where they have had opportunities to explore, reflect and grow both personally and academically.

A small group of our students had the exciting opportunity to travel to Melbourne to attend a Writer’s Festival, where they met authors, engaged in creative workshops, and explored the power of storytelling and expression. Another special highlight was the Time and Space Evening, where students were joined by their mums or significant women in their lives. This powerful event gave families a moment to reflect, connect and have meaningful conversations about growing up, identity, and the journey through adolescence. It was heart-warming to witness the strength of these connections and the positive impact they have on our young people.

We would like to thank all parents and carers who attended the recent Parent-Teacher Interviews or took the time to connect with your child’s teachers. It was a pleasure to meet many of you—especially those we hadn’t yet had the chance to see in person. These conversations are a vital part of strengthening the partnership between home and school, and we truly value your time, insights and commitment to your child’s learning journey.

Amid all of these events, teaching and learning remain at the heart of what we do. Students are settling back into their routines, and it’s been encouraging to see them engaging with their studies and showing curiosity and commitment in the classroom. As we progress through the term however, it is a timely reminder for students to stay on top of their home learning expectations. Regular practice and review at home support what is taught at school and help build the habits needed for long-term success. We encourage all students to manage their time effectively, make use of their planners or digital tools, and reach out to their teachers if they need support.

Thank you once again for your continued support. We look forward to an exciting term ahead filled with learning, growth, and strong connections.

Leah Sinnott - Learning Leader Junior School

Time and Space Evening

A Time and Space Evening for mothers, mother figures and mentors of our Year 7 & 8 students was held on Wednesday evening, 30 April at the O’Keeffe campus.

The session was a wonderful way for students to spend quality time with a significant female person in their lives and was facilitated by Time and Space - Treasured Connections.

Junior Pop Art

Junior art students have started a unit inspired by Pop Art, an art movement that became extremely popular during the 1960s and 1970s. It is known for its bold, colourful style and its focus on popular culture and mass media. Our Year 8s have been busy working on their Pop Art inspired fences. Here they learnt key skills and techniques that will be vital for them to have for their upcoming assessment.

The fences are made from icy pole sticks, with the designs painted on using acrylic paint and the base is made from expanding foam. Their final task for this unit is a group project where they will be exploring how art can convey messages and share information.

Year 7 French

French students in 7B had a big surprise when Oscar P. arrived in class with wonderful desserts called CANELÉ, made by his aunt Caroline to contribute to our research task on French desserts.

All students received an individual CANELÉ which is a pastry with a caramelised crust and a custard centre. C'est délicieux! This is delicious!

Community & Wellbeing at MRC

This week we celebrate MRC Diversity week. This has involved highlighting, embracing and celebrating a different diversity every day. There have been small activities and initiatives held throughout the week which we love when our young people become involved in different initiatives. Our senior students have generously put up their hand to help create awareness throughout the week, which is fantastic! 

To begin the week our MPA was transformed into an interactive sensory room for Neurodiversity day on Monday. This involved various different stations tapping into all of our senses. A cool way to see what helps us feel calm, energized and motivated. 

A brief run down of our week:

Monday – Neurodiversity https://mercy.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/neurodiversity

The world needs all kinds of minds! Temple Grandin

Focus: Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other cognitive differences

Tuesday – Cultural Diversity https://mercy.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/cultural-diversity-au

• Focus: Languages, ethnic backgrounds, migration stories
• World Map Display: Pin your family’s place of origin with a short cultural fact.

Wednesday – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) Cultures

• Focus: First Nations history, culture, and perspectives
• (Screening of film at recess/lunchtime, music played (on speaker) by Indigenous artists in MPA)

Thursday – Gender & Sexuality (IDAHOBIT Day) https://mercy.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/gender-diversity-au

• Focus: LGBTQIA+ identities, gender diversity, respect, and rights
• (Ribbons to tie on a tree and love heart structure, real life stories on display, ALLY badges/stickers)

Friday – Religious & Spiritual Diversity

• Focus: Feast day and Laudato Si’ Week 
• (Monday at O'Keeffe is wrapper free day, 10th Birthday for Laudato Si' after mass (cupcakes and sausage sizzle).

Our objective for the week is to understand that diversity is more than just a word—it's a strength that shapes who we are. Mercy, as all schools, brings together students, families, and staff from a wide range of cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. This rich tapestry helps foster empathy, creativity, and global understanding. By learning from one another, we grow stronger together and prepare our students to thrive in an inclusive, interconnected world! We look forward to witnessing inclusion of difference and embracing our own individuality. 

Thank you to everyone who helped bring this week together and celebrated this week, respectfully. 

VAPING, LET’S CLEAR THE AIR, SCHOOL WORKSHOP

A grant has enabled local Health Promoters and Corangamite shire to coordinate running vaping workshops with wellbeing staff and school nurses. On Monday the Year 9 and 10s participated in this interactive workshop run by facilitator Leigh Bartlett,  who has been working with Young People for 35 years+. She has delivered 100s of workshops across communities on a broad range of topics. 

Vaping is on the rise across the Barwon South West (BSW) region, especially among young people who have never smoked. In a 2023 community consultation by Barwon Health Healthy Communities (BHHC) schools & families from the region made it clear they cannot address this issue on their own. When it comes to risk taking behaviours we know that it takes a multi-pronged approach to support Young People. Supply, demand & education.

The BSW Vaping Project is a consortium of 10 local government areas who are committed to working with the community to build knowledge and skills about the impact and effects of vaping in Young People aged 12-25. The workshop aims to deliver information to students on vaping and other risk taking behaviours. Along with the opportunity for them to have their say on the topic of vaping, their opinions matter.

Do It For Dolly Day

‘Do It For Dolly Day’ was recognised by our community at both campuses on Friday 9th May, with blue donuts, nail polish and wristbands available to support the spread of kindness and Dolly’s Dream.

Blue butterflies were also displayed as a reminder to always look out for each other.

Tomorrow Man and Tomorrow Woman- Year 10 workshop 

Our Year 10s participated in a program: Tomorrow Man & Tomorrow Woman. This was the first workshop. They will return in October for the second workshop. 

This was led by experienced facilitators with the aim to empower young people to challenge damaging gender stereotypes and reflect on their own values and beliefs.

Tomorrow Woman: Unpacking her code. This included our young woman to use their voice, develop courage to challenge restrictive gender expectations and explore unapologetic selves amongst their peers and in their own lives. 

Tomorrow Man: Breaking the Man code. In this workshop our young men gained an understanding of harmful stereotypes and deconstructed rigid gender norms, empowering them to foster healthy connections and a more positive sense of manhood.

Useful Wellbeing Links:

Faith at MRC

Laudato Si’ Week

This week is Laudato Si’ Week. Laudato Si’ is an encyclical written by Pope Francis. An encyclical is a letter from the Pope to the people. Laudato Si’ offers us an opportunity to reflect on the world around us, and to respond to what is happening in the world at this time. We are called to reject the 'throwaway' culture and to open our eyes to see how God is present throughout creation. We are encouraged to look closely at the reality facing many of our sisters and brothers across the world, who are being pushed deeper into poverty due to the changing climate. Pope Francis invites us to a change of heart; individually, as a community, and at an international level, so we may truly respond to “both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” n 49. We are asked to respect and care for ourselves, our neighbours and our earth as an expression of God’s love.

To recognise Laudato Si’ Week, Junior MADJAM members organised a “Wrapper Free Day” on Monday 19th May at O’Keeffe. The Senior MADJAM have organised a celebration for the 10th anniversary of the publication of Laudato Si’. All students will receive a cupcake on Friday at our Feast Day celebrations in honour of Laudato Si’.

Feast Day

Our Feast Day will be celebrated this Friday. This is a special feast day for Australia, because in 1844 Mary was  nominated as the patroness of Australia under this title. The Catholic tradition has always had a strong devotion to Mary. It is recorded that when there were no priests in colonial Australia, Catholics prayed to Mary to nurture and express their faith.

One of the first Catholic priests in Australia, Father Therry, dedicated the Australian Church to Mary under the title ‘Help of Christians’.

Mercy Regional College chose this day to be the feast day of our school, because our school is not named after a Saint, and because we wish to continue acknowledging our link to Mary and through this, to the Sisters of Mercy who brought Catholic education to this region.

We will celebrate our Feast Day in 2025 with Mass at St Patrick’s Church on Friday 23rd May. After the celebratory Mass, we will have a student led assembly. Back at school there will be a BBQ lunch ($2 a Sausage, with funds going towards our Term 2 fundraiser: St Vinnie’s Winter Appeal), and a Staff vs Year 12 student soccer game.

Reconciliation Week

Next week is Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week. National Sorry Day, observed annually on May 26th in Australia, is a day dedicated to remembering and acknowledging the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly the forced removal of children from their families and communities, a period known as the Stolen Generations. It commemorates the Stolen Generations and marks the anniversary of the tabling of the Bringing Them Home report in 1997. The report documented the policies and practices that resulted in the separation of Indigenous children from their families to assimilate them into white Australian culture. National Reconciliation Week in Australia runs from May 27 to June 3 each year, a time for all Australians to reflect on our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation. The 2025 theme is "Bridging Now to Next". 

MADJAM members at Junior School have prepared a special ceremony that will take place at the Yarning Circle Fire pit on Monday during period 2. All junior students will attend and place a hand into the display as an act of recognition. 

Senior MADJAM members have created a class based activity that will see McAuley Campus decorated with Hibiscus flowers. The purple five-petal Native Hibiscus, also known as Native Cotton or Desert Rose, is the official flower for National Sorry Day. This flower, chosen by the Kimberley Stolen Generation Aboriginal Corporation, is a symbol of the Stolen Generations and their resilience. It represents the scattering of the Stolen Generations and their strength in the face of adversity.

Upcoming Dates:

• Year 7 Retreat Day - Thursday 5th June - Sam Clear
• Year 12 Seminar Day - Friday 6th June - Sam Clear
• Frayne House Celebration - Tuesday 10th June - 140 years since the passing of Sr Ursula Frayne
• Year 11 Retreat Day - Friday 20th June - Refugee Day.
  

Melanie Bourchier - Director of Catholic Identity & Culture

Sports Report

HSSSD Intermediate Netball

Two teams participated in the HSSSD Intermediate Netball last Wednesday, playing against Timboon, Camperdown, Cobden and Terang. 

The girls played with great skill, teamwork, and determination, ending the day undefeated and coming away as overall winners. We look forward to the GWR competition in a couple of months. 

Well done to everyone involved!

GWR Intermediate Girls Football

Yesterday, our Intermediate Girls footballers travelled to Hamilton for the GWR Competition.

The girls had a challenging start to the day with two losses, but won the final two games.

Well done to all involved, and thank you to Adam Dowie, Jo Roberts and Luke Kavenagh for their assistance.

BAS Football

Another season of Ballarat Associated Schools (BAS) Football has begun, with students travelling to Ballarat each Wednesday afternoon to participate.

Next week, 28 May, is a home game at the Leura Oval in Camperdown. Time TBC. We hope to see some supporters come along to watch the team in action!

College Notices

School Photos 2025

Our annual school photos have been taken and are now ready to order.

 Arthur Reed Photos uses an online ordering system where you can view your photos prior to ordering.

 On photo day all students received a flyer which includes a code unique to them.

You will require this 2025 code to register online and view your photos.

 If you have already registered, you will receive an email or SMS from Arthur Reed Photos with a link to view your photos.

 If you have not yet registered, please go to order.arphotos.com.au and enter your code to complete your order.

 If you have misplaced your registration code, please contact the Arthur Reed Photos customer service team directly on 5243 4390 (option 1) or customerservice@arphotos.com.au

 Please note that you will need to register online with your 2025 photo code to gain access to this year’s images.

 All photo packages will be sent directly to your nominated address, so please ensure that you enter the correct details and nominated shipping address upon checkout.

 If you require any assistance ordering your photos, please contact Arthur Reed Photos directly on 5243 4390 (option 1) or email customerservice@arphotos.com.au

Growing Up Online Session

Students from all secondary schools, their families and interested community members are invited to attend a FREE information session on ‘Growing Up Online’ with internationally renowned guest speaker Susan McLean from CyberSafety Solutions.

When: Wednesday, 11 June at 7.30pm

Where: MRC McAuley Campus, 15 Henderson St Camperdown. 

RSVP appreciated at https://www.trybooking.com/DBLLF

2026 Enrolments + O'Keeffe Tours

We welcomed many families to our Open Day in March and we thank everyone who joined us! 

For those who were unable to attend and would still like to visit the College, we are running several tours throughout Term 2 on 3 June and 18 June. 

Please visit the following link to register: https://enrol.mercy.vic.edu.au/events/2025-okeeffe-noorat-campus-tours-2024-05-08

If these time do not work for you, please make contact and we can arrange another time. 

The link to the 2026 enrolment form can be found on our website https://www.mercy.vic.edu.au/join-our-college/enrolment-information/ 

2026 Year 7 enrolments are to be submitted by Friday, 4 July 2025. 

If you require any further assistance completing the form please do not hesitate to contact our Registrar Nicole Darcy on 5593 2011 or office@mercy.vic.edu.au

Careers

Please see the latest edition of Careers News below.

Useful Careers Links:

Kym Penry - Careers and Pathways Leader

Library News

Melbourne Writers Festival

A group of Year 7 and 8 students attended the Melbourne Writers Festival at the State Library of Victoria on 8 May. The secondary schools program offered sessions with four notable authors: Gary Lonesborough, Solli Raphael, Robyn Dennison and Neal Shusterman. It was a lengthy but very worthwhile day and we are especially proud of this group for choosing to give up a day off on a student-free day in favour of a learning extension activity! 

Our students were actively engaged, with each student raising their hand during the four sessions to ask some thoughtful questions of the authors. It was inspiring for students to hear how Solli Raphael had his first book published at age 13 and they were keen to come into the Library to ask for Neal Shusterman books on their return to school on Friday. Thank you to Mr Matthew Summers for accompanying us on this trip and for driving the bus.

MRC Book Club

We are very fortunate to once again have the author present. Our book is The Sun Was Electric Light by Rachel Morton. 

Rachel is a Warrnambool based author whose book is winning high praise and was the recipient of the 2024 Victorian Premier's Award for an unpublished manuscript. Unpublished no more! The book is in stock at Collins Booksellers Warrnambool and it is also available on your Kindle.

Everyone is welcome. Join us on Wednesday 4 June from 6PM at the Terang Commercial Hotel.

This event is free but please RSVP via the link below for seating and catering purposes.
https://www.trybooking.com/DBNME

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 have now begun, with a full cast rehearsal last Friday, as well as some smaller rehearsals on Monday and today.

Well done to all the cast on your fantastic participation so far!

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 THIS 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
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)

Any enquiries to Toby please: tmckenzie@mercy.vic.edu.au, 0409 617 627

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)

Upcoming Dates and Events

Friday 23 May
MRC Feast Day Mass

Sunday 25 May
Cinderella Rehearsal (Full Cast)

Monday 26 May
Catholic Education Week
GWR Cross Country
SSAV Golf
Year 9 Try a Career Day

Wednesday 28 May
Community Lunch
Cinderella Rehearsal (Leads)
Christian Outreach
BAS Football - Home Game at Leura Oval

Friday 30 May
Cinderella Rehearsal (Leads)

Monday 2 June
Unit 1 Exams Begin
Cinderella Rehearsal (Leads)

Wednesday 4 June
BAS Football
MRC Book Club

Thursday  5 June
Year 7 Retreat

Friday 6 June
Year 12 Seminar Day

Monday 9 June
King's Birthday Public Holiday (no classes)

Tuesday 10 June
GWR Intermediate Girls Netball
Frayne House Celebration Day

Wednesday 11 June
Cyber Safety Solutions Session (7.30pm)

Community Notices