Mercy Regional College eNewsletter

Prayer

Loving God, this week we remember and honour the life of Ursula Frayne,
140 years after her passing.

We thank you for her life, her courage, and her unwavering faith.

May her spirit of compassion and dedication continue to inspire us.

As we reflect on her legacy, may we strive to follow in her footsteps,
serving others with love and humility.

May her example be a beacon of hope,
guiding us towards a more just and compassionate world.

Grant peace to her soul and comfort to those who mourn her loss.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Principal's Message

This past Sunday, June 8th, many observed Pentecost, a celebration rich in history and profound meaning. For Christians, it commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit, marking the Church's birth and empowering its early followers. More broadly, Pentecost speaks to the universal themes of new beginnings and the power of collective spirit. Imagine a group finding their voice and courage, inspired to share their message far and wide—a powerful reminder of how working together, embracing diverse voices, and finding a shared vision can transform communities and inspire action.

It's within this same spirit of collective effort and shared purpose that we celebrate the recent, much-needed rain. Living in South West Victoria for the past six years has truly deepened my appreciation for our farming families, who tirelessly provide for us. We're praying this rain makes a significant difference for their livestock and crops. Our community is also incredibly fortunate to have dedicated CFA volunteers, many of whom are also our local farmers. They tirelessly protect us, often after a full day on the land.

This weekend, the Hampden Football Netball League is recognising our farmers, and we encourage our Mercy community to extend that same profound gratitude to both our farmers and our CFA volunteers; their selfless service contributes vitally to our community's prosperity, safety, and resilience. We are truly grateful.

As Principal, I want to reiterate a crucial message, also shared by Catholic Education Ballarat (CEB), regarding support for families who might be experiencing financial hardship. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us so we can assist you. While Mercy Regional College doesn't have access to the mentioned Family Fee Assistance Scheme through CEB, which is specifically for CEB Primary Schools, we are absolutely committed to supporting our families in need. We will always find a way to help. This commitment extends equally to Year 6 families considering Mercy Regional College for their child's education.

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. Catholic Education Ballarat offers various support mechanisms, including the Family Fee Assistance Scheme, which provides reduced fees for eligible families. “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.

Last week, our BAS Footballers played their final game of the 2025 season. After winning the Division 2 final in our inaugural 2024 season, our team bravely moved up to Division 1 this year. This was a significant challenge, as every game was against much larger schools. It was fantastic to see our team finish their final two games within one kick (even by a single point!) of their opposition. We remain immensely proud of our players and extend our sincere thanks to our coaching staff member Adam Dowie for his unwavering dedication. He was ably supported by staff members (and parents) Troy Stephens, Mel Kavanagh, and Daniel Beard, with MRC Trainee Luke Kavenagh assisting. We look forward to the 2026 season, with a planned return to Division 2. Our BAS Netball trials are underway for team selection for our competition in Term 3.

It is a pleasure to acknowledge the students below:

⭐ Celebrating our Young Achievers! ⭐

⭐ Well done to Indi C, Lara C., Kiara L., Madi L., Madelyn C., Mackenzie D., Abi S., Marli M., Grace H., Charlotte D and Stella H. who competed in the Hampden Interleague Competition recently.

⭐ Fantastic work Ruby W., Jade B. and Matilda C. who competed in the Warrnambool & District Football Netball League Netball Association Championships.

⭐ Well done Albie C., Ned M., Lenny S., Eddie W., Max H. and Hamish M. who have been selected in the U17 HFNL Interleague Training Squad for Ballarat Clash.

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

Just a reminder to families that the 2026 Year 7 enrolment forms are due to be submitted by the end of Term 2, Friday 4 July 2025.

The link to the enrolment form can be found on our website via the following link - Enrolment Information Link.

We are running another tour of our Junior Campus, Noorat on Wednesday 18 June at 4.00pm. If you would like to attend, please visit the following link to register - O'Keeffe Campus Tours. If this time does not work for you, please contact our college registrar, Nicole Darcy to arrange another time.

I had the opportunity to attend the Principals Association of Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools (PAVCSS) last week and was privileged to learn from theologian Dr Elissa Roper and prominent Australian Jesuit priest, human rights lawyer, and academic, Fr Frank Brennan.

We wish staff member Rose Murphy a restful break as she commences Long Service Leave this week through until the end of the term. We welcome and thank CRT Suzy Gillis for covering Rose’s classes with Ms Leah Sinnott and Ms Tess Lourey.

I ask that we keep staff member Adam Dowie in our prayers after the passing of his beloved mother Marlene last week. Our love, thoughts and prayers are with Adam and his family as they farewell Marlene.

With kindness,
Sharon Gillett - Principal

Learning at MRC

Albert Einstein is best known for developing the theory of relativity. His mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc² has been called "the world's most famous equation". But did you know that according to many sources, while Einstein loved mathematics and science, he disliked grammar and had problems with spelling which could suggest that he had dyslexia. Einstein's groundbreaking contributions to science demonstrate that learning challenges don’t necessarily limit potential. His success challenges the stereotype that those with learning differences are less capable.

I encourage all students to let their challenges be the spark that drives them to overcome diversity and always work to their best potential. If they do this, doors will open and the path to success will appear before them.

The second half of Term 2 is a busy time for students with many Assessment Tasks being completed, in order to round off units of work in the lead up to our end of semester reports. I encourage all parents and carers to log onto the Parent Access Module (PAM) Learning Areas to review your child's progress to date.

PAM is used to monitor your child’s academic results, homework, attendance and other school related information. It is also where your child’s school reports can be accessed.

The Parent Access Module (PAM) provides access to keep parents up-to-date with:

Student learning progress including Learning Behaviours and Reports
Student timetable
School calendar
Personal details – please inform the College if the details need to be updated
Attendance
Medical profile – update your child’s medical information at any time
School activities – give permission for excursions & trips
Interview bookings – online booking for Parent Teacher Interviews
Daily messages from the College
Useful links
College policies

I encourage you to have frank and supportive conversations with your child. Praise their successes and assist them to work on their struggles. At this busy time of the year it may be beneficial to help your child develop and adhere to a regular study roster at home. Learning at Home is not limited to our regular Home Learning program and we encourage students to allocate some time at home to reviewing ideas and concepts studied in class. This is particularly important as some year levels are preparing for end of semester exams.

Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions about Learning Area tasks which are appearing on PAM

Leanne Delahunty - Director of Learning and Teaching

MIDDLE SCHOOL

As we approach the end of Term 2, it’s a significant time for our Year 9 and 10 students as they begin to wrap up their learning with a range of assessments. For Year 10, this period also includes the added responsibility of preparing for their Mid-Year Exams.

Year 10 Exams will take place on Monday and Tuesday, June 16–17, for Science, Humanities, English and Maths, and students should be revising Semester 1 content in preparation.

Following the exams, students will attend a special presentation introducing VCE and VCE VM, led by Mel Kavanagh. This will be followed by individual subject presentations from Domain Leaders, designed to help students better understand their options for next year and to answer as many of their questions as possible.

We understand this can be a demanding time, so it’s important that students are balancing their study with adequate rest and managing extracurricular commitments wisely.

A reminder that Homework Support is available every Wednesday at lunchtime for anyone needing extra assistance.

We wish all our students the very best as they complete their assessments and finish the term strong!

Josiane Gardner - Learning Leader Middle School

Year 8 Linguistic Diversity

As part of Diversity Week we celebrated linguistic diversity in our French classes, Sapphire D. (8B) taught us some Chinese, Cristianna C. (8B) presented some words in Tagalog, Jeron J. (7C) introduced us to Malayalam, Jack M. (7C) shared Spanish vocabulary with us and Olivia C., Bonnie V. and Zaya H. (all 8B) recalled some of their Indonesian language skills.

We thank them for sharing their knowledge with us. Well done!

Community & Wellbeing at MRC

As we reach the midpoint of Term 2, it’s normal for students to feel a mix of stress and anticipation. With exams on the horizon and subject selection for next year underway, it’s a time full of both pressure and possibility. It’s navigating the mid term crunch and looking ahead.

Exam Stress: Managing the Load
Exams can feel overwhelming, but remember, it’s not about doing everything at once—it’s about doing the small things consistently. These “1 percenters” really do add up:

Sleep well – Your brain consolidates memory and resets overnight.
Talk to your teachers – Clarifying concepts early reduces anxiety later.
Chunk your study – Break revision into manageable pieces.
Keep up your outlets – Sport, music, reading, or whatever helps you switch off and recharge.

Taking care of your wellbeing is just as important as preparing academically.

For many students, the opportunity to choose subjects for the following year is both exciting and empowering. It’s a great time to reflect on your interests, strengths, and future goals. If you’re unsure, seek guidance from your teachers, community leaders or the careers team.

Upcoming Events: Supporting Families in a Digital World

We are proud to invite all families to a FREE, exclusive webinar featuring two of Australia’s leading experts in adolescent wellbeing and digital safety:

WEBINAR: Digital Media Literacy & Safety (Part II)
🗓 Date: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
🕢 Time: 7:30 pm
🎤 Presenters: Susan McLean & Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

Topics include:

Artificial Intelligence
Misinformation & Algorithms
Sexting & Sextortion
Online Grooming

🔗 Click here to register
⚠️ Please note: This webinar will not be available for replay. Registration is essential.

Consent Lab Presentations

We are also excited to announce that we’ve partnered with Consent Labs to deliver workshops for every year level. These sessions are age-appropriate and cover vital topics related to respectful relationships, consent, and personal safety. All families have received detailed communication and can opt out if they wish.

DAY 1 – 19.06.2025

Year 7 Cohort Lecture
Consent Foundations

Year 8 Cohort Lecture
Consent in the Digital World

Year 11 Workshop
Recognising & Responding to Sexual Harassment and Assault

DAY 2 – 20.06.2025

Year 9 Cohort Lecture
Consent with Alcohol & Other Drugs

Year 10 Cohort Lecture
Healthy Relationships

Year 12 Workshop
Recognising & Responding to Sexual Harassment and Assault

Useful Wellbeing Links:

MRC SchoolTV

Faith at MRC

Feast Day

On Friday 23rd May, Mercy Regional College came together to celebrate our school Feast Day. This day recognises our chosen patron saint, Mary, Our Lady Help of Christians. The day was full of joy and included a whole school mass at St Patrick’s Catholic Church celebrated by Fr George. The Markey House hosted the mass and contributed to the special ministries. At the conclusion of the mass, senior students led an assembly that celebrated the achievements of our student body.

We held a special lunch break that included a BBQ lunch. The sale of the sausages contributed to the beginning of this term’s fundraiser - St Vinnie’s Winter Appeal. We have raised $400 so far, further fundraisers will be held throughout the remainder of the term.

Additionally at lunch, students were provided with a cupcake in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the late Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si’”.

After lunch, there was a special Soccer game that saw Year 12 students take on the staff members. It was a nailbiting event that saw students come out on top after a penalty shoot out.

Sorry Day was recognised at the O’Keeffe Campus through a special ceremony designed and led by our junior MADJAM (Making A Difference: Justice And Mercy) members. Within the ceremony background information was provided, a short prayer, and an opportunity for students to put hands of reconciliation on display. Mr Ricky Birmingham provided music and we utilised the fire pit yarning circle on the oval at O’Keeffe Campus.

Middle & Senior students contributed to a display of purple hibiscus flowers in the library. The Native Hibiscus flower, specifically the purple variety, is the official symbol for National Sorry Day. It is used to commemorate the Stolen Generations, representing their resilience, survival, and the ongoing journey towards reconciliation. The flower's purple colour symbolises compassion and spiritual healing.

Community Lunch

On Wednesday 8th May, three MADJAM members attended the Uniting Church Community Meal. With the guidance of Wendy Gleeson and Robyn Johnston, Tess M, Tilda M, & Natalie W-L, were able to serve and interact with the clients that attend the meal regularly. The meal was provided by other classes within our school. This is a regular commitment our school makes to serving our community. It allows our students to see how we can enact our gospel values on a daily basis within our townships.

Year 7 Retreat

On Thursday 5th June, Sam Clear worked with our Year 7s on their Retreat Day. Sam Clear has been working with our school for several years and shares his personal experiences as someone who lives a life dedicated to bringing unity to the world. Students were engrossed in Sam’s passionate story and engaged in interactive individual and whole group activities. Students were able to learn about the importance of being authentic and developing meaningful relationships with others.

Year 12 Seminar Day

On Friday 6th June, Sam Clear returned to MRC to also work with the Year 12s on their Seminar Day. His message of unity and understanding had a positive impact on the students. Students were engaged in a series of activities while learning about Sam’s story. They were encouraged to make one honest prayer that would bring God’s love into the world. Many students were enthralled by Sam’s message and took the opportunity to have individual conversations with him and purchased his book.

Frayne House Day

On Tuesday 10th June, we celebrated Frayne House Day. The Frayne House Day is associated with the anniversary of Ursula Frayne’s passing. This year marks 140 years since she passed. Mother Ursula Frayne was one of the first Sisters of Mercy to come to Australia. Her initial experiences were in Western Australia where she had to overcome many obstacles to create schools and support networks in an under-resourced area. She then journeyed to Melbourne where she established more schools for the poor and for the aristocracy to enable young women to achieve an education. Mother Ursula died in Nicholson Street, Fitzroy on the 9 of June 1885, aged 68. A Gothic chapel to her memory was built by her successor in the convent grounds. Her remains are buried in a vault in the chapel under a Celtic cross, reminding all of her origins. This is the location of The Academy of Mary Immaculate Girls School in Fitzroy.

We celebrated the life of Mother Ursula at Mercy Regional College with green donuts for all Frayne House Members.

Christian Outreach

The first group of Year 10 students have now completed the Christian Outreach program. Over the 10 visiting weeks, students have engaged with the work and the clients of each venue, including everything from wheelchair dancing and stock sorting, to playing table top games and being a friendly face to the clients.

We thank the many organisations for hosting our students and look forward to the second group of Year 10s commencing their Christian Outreach at the beginning of Term 3.

Melanie Bourchier - Director of Catholic Identity & Culture

Sports Report

GWR Cross Country

On Monday 26th May, 28 students from Year 7-10 represented MRC at the GWR Cross Country in Warrnambool.

In cool conditions our students performed well across the age groups with six qualifying for the State level of competition to be held in term 3.

Congratulations to Harry S., Oliver C., Edie M., Isaac L., Maddison M. and Lucia C. on qualifying.

We wish them all the best of luck at Yarra Glen Racecourse on the 24th July.

HSSSD Football and Netball

On Thursday, 41 students travelled to Terang for the HSSSD Netball and Football competition, showing great determination and teamwork across all games.

In the netball, Mercy Team 1 had a narrow loss to Timboon but bounced back with a strong win over Camperdown before drawing with Mercy Team 2 in their final match.

Mercy Team 2 had a close draw against Timboon, a tough loss to Camperdown, and finished the day with a hard-fought draw against their fellow Mercy team. All girls played well and represented MRC with pride.

The footballers played very well across the three games against Camperdown College, Timboon P-12 and a combined Terang College and Cobden Tech team, showing their good sportsmanship and skill, with the boys not conceding a goal for the whole day!

Well done to everyone who competed and thank you to the many staff who contributed to the success of the day.

College Notices

Growing Up Online Session POSTPONED

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

Casual_Sales_Assistant_Mercy_Regional_College.pdf

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 one more tours session on 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

Pathways Information Session

A reminder to all Year 10 students and families that our Pathways Information Session will be held next Wednesday, 18th June.

Many important topics will be covered and it will be a great chance to ask questions about VCE, VCE-VM and VET studies at MRC!

Year 9 'Try a Career' Day

Future career paths were explored by Year 9 students at South West TAFE in Warrnambool for the recent ‘Try a Career Day.’

With many hands-on activities on offer in a range of industries, it was a great opportunity to try something new and we thank South West TAFE for hosting such a great opportunity!

Please see the latest edition of Careers News below.

Weekly Career News 26th May 2025.pdf

Useful Careers Links:

Mercy Careers

https://studyworkgrow.com/

https://vtac.edu.au/

Kym Penry - Careers and Pathways Leader

Library News

MRC Book Club: Community and Inclusiveness

The Sun Was Electric Light was our book for MRC Book Club in Term 2 and we were thrilled to have the author, Rachel Morton along to answer our questions about this award-winning book to give us an insight into her writing and life. Our Book Club is open to everyone, regardless of whether they have a connection to the College or not and is an example of our core Mercy values of Community and inclusiveness. We shared a simple meal of two different curries with rice and enjoyed conversation and humour.

If you would like to be informed about our next Book Club gathering please be in touch.

Library Genrefication Project Completed

This term we finished the genrefication project in the Library at both campuses. All fiction is now shelved by genre, similar to the way fiction is presented in a bookshop. Genrefication simplifies the browsing process, allowing students to quickly locate materials of interest. It can also make it easier for staff to find and recommend books to students. When books are grouped by genre, students are more likely to explore different titles within their preferred genres and discover new authors or series.

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'

Well done to the cast on the fantastic progress so far!

Rehearsal this Friday will include the first 'runthrough' of the first half!
We encourage all cast to continue practicing at home.

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:
New dates and times have been added. Please double check these. The rehearsal schedule will be the ultimate guide to what is happening and where, and will be updated live as necessary. Please refer to the link below throughout the process.

Cinderella Rehearsal Schedule: LINK

IMPORTANT DATES
Sunday Rehearsals: 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