MRC Newsletter - Issue 13 - 30 August 2022
Prayer
Principal's Message
It brings me great pleasure to share with our community approval by our governing body DOBCEL and our MRC School Advisory Council to commence Stage 1 of our Master Facilities Plan, the refurbishment of the staff and student toilet facilities at our O’Keeffe Junior campus in Noorat. We look forward to partnering with building firm Bowden Corp. The refurbishment will see our existing toilet facilities enhanced to include additional staff facilities as well as the inclusion of both student and staff all gender accessible facilities, a new and enlarged first aid room, refurbished Reception and a new roof in the MPA. We will also take the opportunity to build a Yarning Circle for learning outdoors. The refurbishment will require the campus to be closed in Term 4 and all Year 7 & 8 students will be hosted at our McAuley Camperdown campus for the term. The refurbishment is due to be completed in time for the beginning of the 2023 school year.
An important and tangible aspect of our Catholic Identity for our young people is action for Social Justice. It was Social Justice Sunday on the weekend and we were all encouraged to consider the concept of fairness in society. The Australian Catholic Bishop’s 2022-23 Social Justice Statement focuses on fairness in relationships based on respect, mutual esteem and kindness, condemning violence and abuse. Sunday’s Gospel encouraged us to consider the virtues of generosity and humility in our lives. Father Neville Stanislaus wrote, ‘Generosity means being open-hearted and open-handed to those in need. Thus we should be generous not only to those who can return us the favour, but also to those who need our help’. Our young people strive to be generous to those in need around them through many appeals and actions for social justice.
We look forward to celebrating our Mercy Mass together at St Patrick’s Church Camperdown on Friday 9 September. All members of our MRC communuty are welcome to attend. The theme this year is Catherine McAuley: Boundary Breaker and we will gather together to highlight and celebrate the global Mercy community’s commitment to breaking boundaries in order to create a more just and merciful world for all. Our Mercy Mass will be hosted by Frayne House named after Mother Ursula Frayne, the first Sister of Mercy to set foot on Australian soil in Perth in 1846. Ursula established the oldest Mercy school in Australia Mercedes College Perth before travelling to Victoria where she established the Academy of Mary Immaculate in Fitzroy.
It was the Academy of Mary Immaculate College that our MRC Debating Team met in the final of the debating section of the Frayne Speech Festival on Friday. Hosted by Emmanuel College Warrnambool, the Frayne Speech Festival is an opportunity for Mercy Education Limited and Mercy Affiliate schools such as MRC to come together to celebrate debating, public speaking and voice choir in Ursula’s name. We congratulate all MRC students involved and recognise Jack McKee’s achievement in being named equal best speaker for debating on the day. A full report is included later in the Newsletter.
With spring just a few days away we have all eagerly welcomed the sunshine and warmer temperatures. Interestingly, the months of July and August are described in the Gariwerd indigenous seasonal calendar as Larneuk or nesting bird season with dramatic changes in weather and the wettest time of year with rivers running high. Petyan comes next across September, October and November marked by the bush bursting into life, wild flowers blooming, warmer days, tempestuous weather and the emu constellation becoming visible. Definitely sounds like what we are experiencing around our beautiful SW Victoria. Our VCAL students spent time working on the Camperdown Reconciliation Garden yesterday preparing the soil and planting ready for Petyan.
A brave group of students, staff and parents ventured into the icy water of Lake Bullen Merri last week in order to raise awareness and funds to support the work of local mental health support organisations. With the goal of staying in the water for 10 minutes there were many brave souls who dove right in to celebrate MRC’s Dip for Mental Health. Our VCAL team were on hand to provide a cooked breakfast and coffee on return to school. Thank you to all involved and we invite our MRC community to plan on joining us for our 2023 Dip.
In Learning and Teaching news our Maths Pathway Review has now been completed with a decision made to not continue with Maths Pathway as a tool to support teaching and learning in Mathematics after 2022. Ably led by DP Natalie Stephenson the comprehensive review sought the voice of students, parents and staff in relation to meeting the original purpose of introducing Maths Pathway, engagement in learning. A full report is provided in the Learning and Teaching section which I invite you to read.
I would like to acknowledge the work of all MRC Learning Support Officers with Teachers Aide Appreciation Day being celebrated yesterday. Our LSOs support the learning and wellbeing of many of our young people whilst they support the work of teachers in the classroom.
I also wish all fathers, grandfathers and father figures in our community the happiest of Father’s Days on Sunday. Enjoy your day!
With kindness
Sharon Gillett
Principal
Learning at MRC
Math Pathways Review Announcement
As many families are aware, we have recently conducted a detailed review of the Math Pathways Program here at Mercy. All schools conduct regular evaluations of teaching and learning programs to ensure that they are achieving their goals. Math Pathways was introduced at MRC in 2019 and has been implemented from Years 7-9.
The original reasons for introducing MPW at Mercy (as identified by the mathematics teachers) were:
- To allow for greater differentiation in the classroom and to cater to widely mixed ability groups
- To extend our brighter students
- To increase engagement and interest in Maths (especially at Years 7 & 8)
- To provide opportunities for students to develop critical thinking mathematical skills which can be applied to unfamiliar situations and contexts.
The purpose of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of the Math Pathways program at Years 7-9 in relation to its stated goals.
Scope of the Review
- Review MP objectives – why was it introduced?
- Conduct a ‘gap analysis’: To what degree does MPW achieve the objectives?
- Determine the satisfaction of stakeholders
- Determine the project’s costs and benefits
- Identify to what extent the original MP objectives were met
- Report findings and recommendations
Stakeholders
- Year 7-9 Students
- Year 7-10 Parents
- MPW teachers
- Year 10 Mathematics teachers
Methodology
This review used a mixed methods approach, relying on both qualitative and quantitative methods to gather data from stakeholders. All stakeholders were interviewed or surveyed online using questions derived from the initial program goals. The questions asked them to reflect on to what degree did they feel that MPW achieved this goal. All respondents were also given the opportunity to voice additional views not addressed in the questions. All students were randomly selected and consisted of half boys and girls.
The review found that the program was not adequate in terms of meeting all four goals. While it did allow for teachers to differentiate and target instructional levels, the main drawback was the lack of engagement in Mathematics being exacerbated by the program. It is important to note that there is no data to support the notion that MPW has negatively impacted on student achievement levels in Mathematics. On the contrary, the program did in fact enable consistent continuity of learning in Mathematics throughout the extended lockdowns of 2020 and 2021.
The review report has been circulated among the College leadership teams and the School Advisory Council for comment and all have agreed that Math Pathways will discontinue at the end of this year. Our Mathematics teachers are to be commended for their professionalism, relentless hard work and dedication to the learning of our students. It is to their credit that they have agreed to listen to the community and put the needs of our young people first. They have already begun planning in earnest for 2023. Thank you to all families who took the time to respond and support us in our decision making.
VCE Vocational Major - Learning for LIFE!
With the applied learning curriculum changing in 2023, we now have a renewed opportunity to bring learning into the real world. A range of effective life skills is required to succeed in everyday life so why wait to teach them at school? MRC is embedding the essential skills across all projects to ensure learners have the best possible opportunities. The new VCE-VM curriculum, beginning in 2023 will provide our learners with the literacy, numeracy and employability skills to tackle whatever jobs or careers they wish to take on in their future.
Unit 3 & 4 Holiday Revision Program
We are working towards having students attend on-site during the school holidays for revision sessions. Unit 4 teachers are working on a calendar to share with students. This will highlight when each subject is being scheduled. These sessions are an opportunity for students to consolidate the key knowledge and skills taught throughout the year. There are also a number of companies that offer revision sessions for the upcoming examinations. Students should speak with their class teachers to get recommendations of appropriate sessions to attend. This year these sessions will all be online. Revision documents that accompany their online lectures are provided in most cases.
GAT
The General Achievement Test (GAT) has been scheduled on Wednesday 7 September. Students can make their own arrangements to the GAT if they wish or students can come to school as per normal. We will bus the students to Camperdown College for them to complete the GAT. The GAT will be completed in two parts in 2022.
Part A: 9.30am - 11.45am. Part A is for all Unit 3 & 4 students as well as Senior VCAL students.
Part B: 1.15pm - 3.00pm. Part B is for Unit 3 & 4 students only.
Students are required to return to school in between the two sessions. Lunch will be provided to students upon their return to school. Students are required to wear their school uniform.
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) requires that all students from Years 11 and 12 who are studying one or more Unit 3 & 4 sequences are to sit the GAT. The results are used in helping the assessment of exams, particularly where there are difficulties in reaching an agreement over a specific result. Thus, it is important that all students sit the task and do so to the best of their ability. The GAT is not something that can be studied for, but it should be done to the best of the student’s ability.
All students have received a brochure outlining the structure and the importance of the GAT and their own individual timetable.
Year 12 English SAC Preparation and Exam Revision
Thursday afternoon saw the first in a series of three revision lectures for Year 12 English students in preparation for an upcoming SAC and the end of year exam. Seventeen students attended the session with a further eight collecting materials to support their studies. The session focused on the pair of texts for Unit 4 (The Seven Stages of Grieving and The Longest Memory) as well as tips on preparing for the Section B comparative writing task both at school and under exam conditions.
There will be two more sessions in their series on 1 and 8 September, focusing on Sections A and C of the exam in addition to the texts Rear Window and After Darkness. Any students who have yet to sign up may continue to do so using the link below.
Image Source: Complete Works Theatre Company website
Year 12s Experience Life Theatre - ‘The Seven Stages of Grieving’
Studying a text in year 12 can be a daunting task at the best of times but when it involves a play it can be even more of a struggle for the students - especially when there is no ‘live production’ or even a recording of the play for students to view.
Our English students along with those of Camperdown College were fortunate to attend a workshop covering aspects of the play ‘The Seven Stages of Grieving’, an indigenous text presenting themes of identity, storytelling, grief, and hope.
The workshop presented by the Complete Works Theatre Company, a travelling theatre troupe of 4 actors performed a number of scenes from the play and then explained how a scene exemplified key themes. This was juxtaposed with our second text ‘The Longest Memory’. Students were guided to identify similarities and differences of the two texts that explored these ‘shared themes’ even though they were written for different audiences, in different formats, and differing perspectives of the issues presented.
Comparative analysis is a requirement of VCE English school assessed coursework (SAC) and a writing task in the final English exam and this was an excellent opportunity for our students to experience ‘live theatre’ and receive valuable guidance in understanding and comparing two texts.
Frayne Speech Festival 2022
MRC’s rhetoricians were out in force once more as they took on our fellow Mercy schools in the 2022 Frayne Speech Festival. After a two-year, pandemic-induced hiatus, the Festival was again in full swing with competitions in public speaking, debating and voice choir. After an early scratching - MRC once again wowed the competition, winning over hosts Emmanuel College Warrnambool and friendly rivals Sacred Heart College Geelong (who had defeated us in another competition a month earlier) to enter the finals against the Academy of Mary Immaculate. In a tightly fought battle over the topic ‘That the world is too selfish to change its ways,’ MRC conceded defeat by a couple of points in the impromptu round.
Our College Captains Carly and Jackson also proudly represented MRC in their prepared speeches on the benefits of the pandemic and a response to a quotation from Maya Angelou.
Congratulations to all participating students - Carly, Jackson, Jo and Adam from Year 12, and Val and Jack from Year 10. Special congratulations to Val and Jack who were awarded ‘Best Speaker’ in Rounds 1 and 2; with Jack also taking out the overall ‘Best Speaker’ award jointly with a student from the Academy of Mary Immaculate.
Photo Credit: Emmanuel College (photos without logo) and MRC staff
Upcoming Debating Competitions
Training commences soon for all debaters and public speakers with a renewed passion for success at the next competition at Mount Lilydale Mercy College where the aim is to bring home at least two of the perpetual shields in 2023!
The Junior School debating program begins in Week 9 with ten students travelling to Sacred Heart College Geelong for a training session on 7 September, before taking part in the three-round competition in Term 4; with the possibility of the ‘British Parliamentary Competition’ for those interested in October. Letters detailing the events have been sent to all interested families.
National Science Week 2022 - Junior School
In the last newsletter we shared some photos of Middle school students celebrating the National Science Week 2022. Our Junior students have also been actively involved in science activities. Inspired by the 2022 theme 'Glass: More than Meets the Eye', the students investigated the mysterious nature of glass.
- What is glass made of?
- How do glass artists make glass?
- How is it recycled?
- How does a touchscreen work?
- Is there really a world shortage of sand?
These are some of the questions that the Junior students have been asking. To help find their own answers, they participated in an Escape Room activity called Breaking Glass News:
"Sand is the second most used natural resource, after water, and it's in short supply around the world. A fictional community is trying to prevent a glass manufacturing company from mining the local sand dunes. A scientist has come up with a recipe for sand-free glass but it's locked in a safe! Students should help to crack open the safe by completing 10 challenges related to the science, history and applications of glass." Lots of collaborative thinking skills were involved in this fun activity.
VCAL & VET Hospitality Sofitel Hotel Excursion
On Friday 19 August, our VCAL and VET Hospitality students went to the Sofitel Hotel in Collins St Melbourne. They enjoyed a tour around the building to see behind the scenes of the kitchen, laundry, back of house and ballroom. Everything had a reflective tinted surface, making it look like polished gold mirrors rising 25 levels. The students were able to see the different rooms and suites in addition to the unreal staff areas which included a free cafe, pool table, table tennis table, massage chairs and foosball! It was a fun day with a few highlights (including the array of food on offer at the foodcourt). The excursion also opened the students' eyes to some of the differences between city and country life and peculiarities of the hospitality bisuness.
VCAL Indigenous Garden - Update
Year 11 VCAL students have been hard at work with Parks Victoria on their Indigenous Memorial Garden project this year. With the work of many hands and the support of Stephanie from Parks Victoria their progress is now being noticed by everyone! Each time the students visit the garden to continue the clearing, weeding, trimming and mulching, passers by mention how impressed they are with the progress. Their kind words serve a good reminder to the students that the community takes pride in our local sites and values the efforts of the College to neaten the garden.
The next exciting stage of the project began on Monday with the replanting of Chocolate Lilys in the central bed. Keep an eye out for the beautiful burgundy flowers to come!
Learning@Mercy Leadership Team - Natalie Stephenson, Danae Fraser, Lydia Darcy and Daniel Lee
VCAL Leader - Claire Virgona
VCE English Teacher - Lesa Thornton
Science Teacher - Fiona Sargeant
College Fees
This is a friendly reminder that school fees are now due and payable for families who do not have an approved fee payment arrangement in place with the school. We ask that you please finalise your fee account as soon as possible.
Our College remains committed to working with our families as we get through these challenging times. Please contact our Business Manager, Judith Murfitt, to make an appointment to discuss your situation if you are having any troubles meeting your fee obligations. We wish to reassure Mercy families that we want to and will assist you in every way possible to support your child’s enrolment. Please make contact so we can help at finance@mercy.vic.edu.au.
Community & Wellbeing at MRC
Re-Posting MRC’s Digital Images
We are very fortunate to have so many of our events and occasions captured and posted on our College Newsletter and on social media - Facebook and Instagram. Up until now, our students have been aware of the restrictions surrounding Mercy Regional College’s Digital Device policy, specifically the re-sharing of photos and digital images. As it currently stands, students, parents and the wider community are prohibited from re-sharing images posted by Mercy Regional College.
Moving forward, we would like to allow and invite students and their families to use photos that are exclusively of themselves to post on their own private social media pages, if they like. This also relates to photos that members of our community take with their private cameras at school events.
We ask that all students and parents are aware of the privacy rights that surround young people.
You are allowed:
- To post a photo of your child or family member that you take with a private camera at a school event.
- To post a photo of your child or family member that is taken by the College and is posted on MRC's page. (You are allowed to save the photo to your device and post it on your social media, provided the photo has no other students or members of the school community in the background.)
- To share a post on MRC’s social media by clicking on the arrow below the post. This can be done even if the photos have other students in the background.
You are not allowed:
- To post a photo that is taken with your private camera and has other students or members of the school community in the background.
- To save to your device and then repost a photo that is take by MRC and has other students or members of the school community in the background.
If you would like to share photos from school events, please share posts from MRC’s page onto your page. This would be the safest way to follow MRC’s media permissions and regulations.
If you would like further clarification around these guidelines please don’t hesitate to contact reception on 55932011.
MRC Dip for Mental Health
Many staff, students and parents attended our first ever Dip for Mental Health on a fresh Friday morning, with a balmy 5 degrees at 7am! The participants braved 10 minutes in an ice-cold lake with many shivers, laughs, nerves, some deep breathing, a few screams and counting down the minutes while in the water. And they coped with the challenge!
We know over the last couple of years our community and the world have navigated many challenges, with research proving that mental health among all ages has been impacted significantly. We wanted to do something a little different, fun; to add a social element to an initiative that would include the whole community. It is a known fact that cold water therapy has many physical and emotional benefits and can work as a good strategy to improve mental health. With this in mind, we decided to utilise our fantastic resource Lake Bullen Merri and take the dip!
The participants were rewarded by a hot breakfast cooked by the VCAL team and the students from our Year 10 subject ‘$20 Boss’. A raffle for some wonderful prizes also added fun to the morning. Thank you to the VCAL class for organising and congratulations to the winners:
- Mrs Jo Roberts – Excuse Me voucher
- Mrs Danae Fraser – Terang Country Bakery voucher
- Biannca N – Blue Wren voucher
Well done to everyone involved in dipping, cooking, donating, and helping! It was a fantastic morning and we look forward to making MRC Dip for Mental Health an annual event. We would love for it to grow bigger every year!
All proceeds from the event will go towards a local mental health organisation to be announced by VCAL later this week.
Wear it Purple Day
Our students and staff added a touch of purple to their clothes on Friday 26 August in support of Wear it Purple Day.
The central principle behind Wear it Purple Day is that everyone has the right to be proud of who they are. Wear it Purple Day’s purpose is to show rainbow young people across the world that there is hope, that there are people who accept and support them, and that they have the right to be who they are.
The theme for Wear it Purple Day this year is Still me, still human. On this day we think about what it means to be fully ourselves in all of the complexity and joy of being fully human.
Year 8 PEAK Footy Drive
Our project-based subject PEAK inspires Year 8 students to turn their passions into tangible initiatives benefiting the community.
In one of the PEAK projects, a group of six boys worked hard to set up a ‘Footy Drive’ to collect jumpers, boots, and footballs that their peers no longer use. All donations will be sent to CLONTARF Foundation in Kununurra, WA – a foundation that helps to improve the education, life skills and self-esteem of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.
The boys are extremely proud and grateful to everyone who has supported their idea.
LENNY: “When I lived in Kununurra, I saw how much Aboriginal kids loved footy and that gave our group the idea.”
NED: “We just love footy, and we wanted to help out an Aboriginal community that possibly don’t have jumpers and boots to use all the time. We hope that with our donations they will get a chance to play more footy!”
BEN & SONNY: It's been really cool to know that the community is happy to donate things to us and that we are part of making some other kids happy through foot.”
MAX & XAVIER: “We gained a lot of new skills while working together, planning, and sending official emails to big organisations such as Sherrin.”
EMILY STEPHENS, O’Keeffe Community Leader: “I actually had goosebumps when we saw all the donations come together. This was a passion project which will have a positive impact on others, especially young Indigenous kids who have the same love of footy as these boys. It was very heartening to watch the boys connect their love of footy to helping others. We have absolutely loved watching them create this initiative, make contacts and bring it to fruition.”
Wellbeing Team - Berni Sinnott, Sharon Suhan, Matthew Crane
O'Keeffe Comunity Leader - Emily Stephens
Faith at MRC
Seeds of Justice Conference
Seven Middle school students will be representing the College at the Seeds of Justice regional event in Anglesea. This will be held on Thursday and Friday, 1-2 September. This will undoubtedly be a great time of growth and learning.
The 2022 theme of the event is 'People of Mercy hear the cry of the poor'. The keynote guests include:
- Mr Anthony Leddin - a professional plant breeder who loves digging into the secret life of plants and harvesting ways to overcome world hunger. He moves between working as an agronomist and or crop scientist in Australia, and volunteering as a plant breeding expert in developing countries. Food security, as Anthony explains, not only prevents famine but civil unrest and war. It protects people from being forced to become refugees.
- Sr Veronica Lawson RSM - an Australian Sister of Mercy and a Biblical Scholar. Sr Lawson will build on the ideas, facts, issues and experiences discussed by Anthony Leddin, and help to draw out the need for action from a Christian and Biblical perspective; embracing the themes of the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor.
Year 7 Faith Day and Special Persons Day
On Thursday 15 September our Year 7 students will be involved in their Term 3 Faith Day. This will also coincide with Special Persons Day at the O’Keeffe Campus. Our Year 7s will have the opportunity to invite their grandparents and special people to participate in a liturgy, shared morning tea and other engaging activities.
The day will be linked to the unit that our Year 7 students are currently working on in Religious Education this term 'We are Called'.
Vinnies Winter Sleepout
On Thursday 11 August, members of our College community got a glimpse of the realities of homelessness on a personal level by ‘sleeping rough’ for one night. The Vinnies Winter Sleepout encourages students, parents and staff to gain a deeper understanding of homelessness and raise funds to support Vinnies Homeless Services in the local community.
We are still taking donations for this cause via the fundraising link is below.
Kellie Wilson
Catholic Identity, Mission & Ethos Leader
Sports Report
HSSSD Junior Boys & Girls Basketball
On Wednesday 24 August our Year 7 and 8 teams competed in HSSSD Junior Boys Basketball. Congratulations to Year 8 Boys and Year 7 Girls who are moving on to the next stage to be played in October. Year 7s were very close to the victory but unfortunately lost by 3 points.
Congratulations to all the students and a special thanks to Mr Cheeseman, Mrs Stephens, Mr Woodmason and George Beasley for coaching the teams.
SW Zone Clay Target Shoot Competition
On Thursday 25 August eight of MRC’s best clay target shooters travelled to the Noorat Gun Club to compete in the SW Zone Clay Target Shoot Competition.
Everyone shot two rounds of 10 targets each. While all students shot well, we give a special mention to Matt N who was one of the only two competitors to shoot 20 out of 20 targets to end up in a shoot off for the individual honours. Unfortunately, Matt lost by one shot but still managed to come second.
In the teams event, MRC came in a tie for the first place against Hamilton College. It took the boys two rounds of 25 targets to claim the victory agains their experienced rivals. The team will now compete at the State Final in Echuca on the 5 September. We congratulate the boys on this fantastic achievement and wish them good luck! S thanks to Mr Ludeman for organising the team and helping run the day.
Library News
Book Week 2022
Who is from Donaldson’s Dairy? When did the war begin? Who is the happiest refugee and what does BFG stand for? Students of Years 7 and 8 were invited to answer all these questions and more at a lunchtime Book Week Trivia Quiz on Friday. The opportunity to win vouchers from The Shed ensured some very enthusiastic participation.
Along with the Quiz, at MRC the week was also celebrated with displays at both campuses on the 2022 Book Week theme of 'Dreaming with eyes open...' This theme explores how books can take us on a journey into other people’s lives, other perspectives and new topics. While Book Week in a secondary school environment is not necessarily the spectacular, fancy-dress event that it is for primary schools, we certainly celebrate what is important. At the heart of Book Week, behind all the costumes and activities, is a celebration of Australian literature. Well done to all the students who joined in this celebration.
Book Week Quiz winners
Enthusiastic participants at Book Week Quiz
Book Week Display at McAuley Campus
Book Awards Winners
The Children's Book Council of Australia Book Awards winners were announced on Friday 19 August with Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Lim taking top honours in the older readers section and A Glasshouse of Stars winning the younger readers category.
The Eve Pownall Award was won by Still Alive by Safar Ahmed, which is our MRC Library Book of the month.
Reading Changes Your Mind
A growing body of research indicates that reading literally changes your mind.
Using MRI scans, researchers have confirmed that reading involves a complex network of circuits and signals in the brain. As your reading ability matures, those networks also get stronger and more sophisticated.
Regular reading:
- Increases your ability to empathize
- Builds your vocabulary
- Helps prevent age-related cognitive decline
- Reduces stress
- Prepares you for a good night’s rest
- Helps alleviate depression symptoms
- May even help you live longer
What should you be reading?
The short answer is: Whatever you can get your hands on! It might be time to cut down on a little of the binge watching and get your hands on a good book. It’s especially important for children to read as much as possible because the effects of reading are cumulative. However, it’s never too late to begin taking advantage of the many physical and psychological benefits waiting for you in the pages of a good book.
Read this article in full and with evidence here.
Book of the Month in the MRC Library
Still Alive by Safar Ahmed
Fans of the graphic (illustrated) novel may love this book detailing author Safar Ahmed's experiences visiting the Villawood Detention Centre in Sydney. This is a work of observation and collaboration, collating Ahmed's experiences as an art workshop facilitator with the testimony and artwork of refugees who are held in immigration detention.
In early 2011 Safar Ahmed visited Sydney’s Villawood Immigration detention centre for the first time. He brought pencils and sketchbook into the centre and started drawing with the people detained there. Their stories are told in this book.
Interweaving journalism, history and autobiography, Still Alive is an intensely personal book. It is also a searching reflection on the redemptive power of art.
Book Club
We invite all book lovers in the Mercy community to the next session of our Book Club in Term 4.
Date: Thursday 13 October
Book: 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' by Tyalor Jenkins Reid
Jean Christie
Interim Library Manager
MRC Car Raffle
We thank everyone who has already purchased their Car Raffle ticket this year! Your support is greatly appreciated and helps us reach our target to purchase a mobile coffee trailer for our VCAL students. The tickets are available online via the link below, as well as at the College reception, local cafes and shops that have paper ticket books.
Car Raffle Ticket Stall
We would like to thank our familes and staff who have kindly contributed their time to promote the raffle and volunteered at the ticket stall.
If you or your family could spare some time to volunteer, please pick a shift via the form below. Your support will be greatly appreciated!
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
Career News
Career News
Topics in the Career News this week include:
YEAR 12 STUDENTS
- Tertiary applications – resources
- Open days this weekend
- Year 12 events – get help with your tertiary applications
- University and TAFE scholarships
- Key application dates
- Career and course exploration resources
ALL STUDENTS
- Employment resources
- Competitions
- Amazing programs and camps – agriculture, camp for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, IT, biomedical research
- Fantastic program for students interested in the construction industry
- Upcoming career events
Kym Penry
Careers Leader
Student Achievements
U14 Grand Final - Hampden Football Netball League
Congratulations to six of our Year 8 boys who won the U14 Grand Final for Terang Mortlake Football Netball Club.
Football & Netball Awards
Congratulations to pour students on receiving an array of football and netball awards over the last week. Please let us know if we accidentally missed someone and we will add their names to the next newsletter.
Hampden Football Netball League
- Lara T. - 17 & Under Netball Rebekah Moroney Memorial Medal Winner
- Mary P. - 17 & Under Netball Rebekah Moroney Memorial Medal Runner-Up
- Eisha H. - 17 & Under Reserves Netball Best & Fairest Runner-Up
- Rhys U. - U 16 Football Doug McConnell Medal
- Matilda D. - 15 & Under Netball Best & Fairest Runner-Up
- Piper S. - 13 & Under Netball Best & Fairest Runner-Up
Photo credit: Warrnmabool Standard (Rob Gunstone)
Warrnambool & District Football Netball League
- Matilda C - 15 & Under netball - Best & Fairest
- Ted K - U15 football - Leading Goal Kicker with 51 goals
- U 17 Kolora-Noorat netball team - U17 Best Club Award
Photo source: Warrnambool & District Football Netball League Facebook Page
Indoor Bias Bowls National Championships
Congratulations to Year 12 student Lara M. who played in Indoor Bias Bowls National Championships last week. With eight wins and only one loss, Lara won silver!
Alumni News
Class of 1992 - 30th Reunion
We are looking forward to welcoming all alumni from the Class of 1992 for a 30th reunion. Save the date – 15 October 2022, 7pm. Enjoy a campus tour followed by a casual night of reminiscing and catching up with your former classmates.
Regardless of how many years you attended the College for, you are still part of your graduating class and are welcome to attend the reunion.
Please RSVP at https://cutt.ly/Class-92-30th-Reunion. Email us at alumni@mercy.vic.edu.au or contact Narelle Kerr with any questions.
Class Reunions - Save the Date
- CRC Class of 1987 - 35th Reunion
Saturday 15 October (time TBC)
Camperdown - MRC Class of 2012 - 10th Reunion
Friday 18 November (time TBC)
Steakroad Bar and Grill
Update your contact details on our Alumni Database to receive an invitation to your class reunion, once the details are finalised - bit.ly/mrc-alumni.
If you are planning your class reunion, please let us know at alumni@mercy.vic.edu.au and we will help you promote your event.
Upcoming Dates and Events
Thursday 1 September - VCE English Revision Lecture #2
Thursday 1 September - Friday 2 September - Seeds of Justice Student Conference
Friday 2 September - State Junior (Year 8) Girls Netball
Agricultural Studies Excursion
Saturday 3 September - Markey House Feast Day
Monday 5 September - State Senior Girls Netball
TMHFA - Year 11 VCAL - Session 2
Wednesday 7 September - No State Run Derrinallum School Bus
GAT
Thursday 8 September - McAuley Cup
St Patrick Primary School's Grade 5s @ O'Keeffe
VCE English Revision Lecture #3
Monday 12 September - Discovery Day
TMHFA - Year 11 VCAL - Session 3
College dates for 2022 can be viewed through the Parent Access Module (PAM), including all term dates, student free days, camps and retreats.
Community Notices
