Mercy Regional College eNewsletter

Prayer

Dear Lord,

On this Harmony Day, we come together in gratitude and humility. We recognize the beauty and diversity of our world, and we celebrate the unity that comes from our differences.

We pray for the wisdom to understand and respect the unique cultures, religions, and traditions of all people. May we find common ground in our shared values of love, compassion, and understanding.

We ask for the courage to confront intolerance wherever it may arise. May we be agents of positive change in our communities, promoting harmony and unity in all our interactions.

We pray for those who are marginalised or oppressed, that they may be empowered and uplifted. May we strive to create a world where all people are valued and respected, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or background.

Finally, we offer thanks for the blessings of diversity and the strength that comes from unity. May we continue to grow in love and understanding, and may we work together to create a world where all people can thrive and flourish.

Amen

Principal's Message

This week we recognise and celebrate Harmony Week, a vital celebration that highlights the importance of cultural diversity in our community. The symbol of orange is a reminder of our unity and commitment to each other. The celebration is an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the unique backgrounds, beliefs, and traditions that make up our society. Through celebrating diversity, we create a sense of belonging and safety that brings us together, strengthens our relationships, and builds a more tolerant and inclusive community. We embrace and respect our differences to build a more cohesive and harmonious society. The events and activities organised during this week help to promote understanding, create meaningful connections, and foster a sense of belonging for everyone. Our commitment to inclusiveness is a reflection of our Mercy Core Value, which recognises the importance of creating an inclusive community that embraces and celebrates diversity.

In staffing news we welcome Jason Baird to our position of Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement Learning Support Officer (Trainee). Jason is a proud Yolngu and Tiwi fellow from Gapuwiyak, in East Arnhem Land. We also welcome Toby McKenzie to our Communications, Marketing and Engagement Officer position. We thank Katya Belokon for her innovative and creative work in this role which she has continued this term from Toowoomba. We farewell teacher Ange Hales this week and welcome Leah Sinnott.

At the end of the term, we will bid farewell to two valuable members of our Mercy community. Property Manager Danny Gordon will be retiring after dedicating 26 years of his time, effort, and expertise to the betterment of Mercy Regional College. We recognise and thank Danny for his invaluable contribution to our team and our community. His dedication and commitment have been instrumental in shaping Mercy into the institution it is today. We will miss him greatly.

We will also be saying goodbye to Grounds Officer Mark Evans, who has been a dedicated member of our community for almost 17 years. Mark has always demonstrated a great work ethic, positivity, and willingness to help others, which has made him a highly valued member of our community. We are sad to see Mark go, but we are happy that he has secured a new position at Warrnambool Automotive. We wish him all the best as he embarks on this new chapter in his career.

We have advertised the positions of Property and Maintenance Manager and Grounds Officer on our website this week. We are confident that we will find candidates who are committed to maintaining the high standards that Danny and Mark have set during their time at Mercy Regional College. We thank both Danny and Mark for their many years of dedicated service, and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

We have some fantastic student achievements to recognise. I apologise to Ruby D. (Year 10) for missing her amazing athletic achievements in our last newsletter. Ruby competed at the Victorian Track & Field Championships bringing home two bronze medals - in Women’s U17 Triple and Long Jump. Ruby has now qualified for the national Track & Field Championships in April.

Photos: Ehn Sea Photography, from Athletics South West Turbines

We congratulate Harrison G. (Year 8) who competed in the Australian National Trap Shooting Championships in the Sub Junior (U15) division. He finished with silver for double barrel (49/50 and then a shoot off) and Bronze in point score and came fourth in single barrel.

Rusty P. (Year 8) and his race team competed in the Junior Formula 500 speedway on the weekend. Rusty won his race and Hugo C. (Year 7) came in 6th. Well done.

We recognise and congratulate the following students on their selection in the Greater Western Rebels - U18 Ben M. and Rhys U. Archie T. is in the U16 Boys and Sophie C. and Annabelle G. in U18 Girls.

We congratulate all of our swimmers who represented MRC at the Greater Western Region Swimming in Horsham. They all did a brilliant job especially since many have only swum in a 33 metre pool and the competition pool in Horsham is 50 metres! Matilda D. (Year 10) had great success making it through to the State SSV carnival in the U16 Breaststroke. Mercy was also represented in multiple relay teams with 5 teams bringing home bronze medals. Our Golfers represented MRC at the SSV Secondary Gold Championships at Camperdown Golf Club. They all played well with special mention to Fred B. who finished second and Caleb K. who finished top ten in the Senior Boys section. In the Junior Boys, Leo B. placed 4th. Our Senior Cricket team also played in Ballarat. Full details are included later in the Newsletter. I thank Sport Coordinator Darren Cheeseman for his organisation and support.

We had two groups head off on camp in the last fortnight. Our Year 8 students had an outdoors adventure in Anglesea and our VCE Outdoor Education students spent two days camping at Lorne. Friday night saw our beautiful Presentation Ball hosted in our De Chantal Stadium in Camperdown. It is always a wonderful event and this year did not disappoint. Whilst family and friends were able to attend in person we also hosted 150 virtual attendees who were able to enjoy the evening from the comfort of their homes. Thank you to the team who lead the event headed up by Rose Henry with Jeremy Baker and Allison Lourey and Alumni Tess Lourey who once again stepped in as dance trainer. I thank all MRC staff and the parents who contributed to make this evening a cherished reality. This evening is considered a very special part of life at Mercy Regional College.

Our 2023 Production reveal happened last week. We are looking forward to hosting The Addams Family in August. Auditions are open to all students (and staff) with initial auditions happening at each campus on Wednesday 5 April.

Today we host our 2023 Open Day at our McAuley Campus, Camperdown. We are very excited to welcome prospective students for Year 7 to Year 12 in 2024 and their families to explore our College and see what an education at Mercy Regional College offers.

We are seeking one or two host families for our soon to arrive French Language Assistant. Lola is coming to Mercy and St Colmans. She will be with us for all of Term 2. Lola will be hosted with a family in Mortake for the first four weeks. We are looking for families for two three week blocks for the remainder of the term. Lola is 22, and is a third-year Master of Science student from Binche, Belgium, where she is studying to become a physiotherapist. Lola loves sports and speaks six languages! If you have a spare room and would be interested in hosting Lola please email me - principal@mercy.vic.edu.au.

With kindness

Sharon Gillett
Principal

Learning at MRC

The Impact of Time Away from School

Consistent attendance at school makes a difference to learning and wellbeing outcomes.

There is a clear correlation between attendance at school and academic achievement which shows that lower attendance leads to poorer learning outcomes and lower marks.

The ‘Everyday Counts’ report by the Victorian Government is unequivocal about the need to attend school everyday: There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind and can affect their educational outcomes. Each missed day is associated with progressively lower achievement in numeracy, writing and reading.

There is also broad research that shows that low attendance negatively affects student wellbeing. The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) identifies the effects of absenteeism: Absenteeism can increase social isolation, including alienation and lack of engagement with the school community and peers, leading to emotional and behavioural difficulties (Carroll, 2013; Gottfried, 2014). It is also associated with an increased likelihood of drop-out (Keppens & Spruyt, 2017; London, Sanchez, Castrechini, & Castrechini, 2016).

However, in Australia and many other western countries, attendance rates are falling.

Reasons for Declining Attendance

There are several reasons why this might be happening. Among them:

Some students became disengaged from school in the time they were forcibly absent from face-to-face education.
Some students developed anxieties about being in the school community.
Schools may have become more lenient in their approach to absenteeism. They are not following up in the way they did before Covid. The pressure schools were placed under and the overwhelming absenteeism from staff and students, have caused routines and procedures to become more relaxed.
Family routines and expectations may have also become less strict. In some cases, there is an attitude that ‘In the big scheme of things, what does it really matter?’

Mental Health Days

When your child is struggling with academic or social issues at school, it can be so tempting to keep them home where things are easier, and you can wrap them up in love. It’s understandable, but not necessarily the best approach.

When things aren’t going well, that is the time students really need to be at school. This is where they can be offered support and connection. This is where they can access their wellbeing and academic teachers and staff and the support of their peers.

Part-Time Attendance Concerns

Not all absenteeism is for a whole day. There is a growing number of students choosing parts of the day to miss. For example, they will choose to arrive late and miss the morning Homeroom period or a class they don’t value highly.

Part-time absenteeism teaches students they can simply opt out of the parts of life they don’t enjoy, or they find hard.

Why is Attendance So Important?

The reasons for regular school attendance may seem obvious:

Learning is a building process, and it is important not to miss any of the steps
Consistency builds success in learning
More school equals more opportunities for social-emotional learning and more opportunities for building self-worth
Students become more comfortable and increase their risk-taking in learning when they are regularly at school
The inner critic quietens when our young people are busy and engaged. Humans need purpose

If your child misses one day per fortnight of school, they will miss a whole year of education over the course of their twelve years of learning.

VCE Sub-SAC Process

Thank you to all of the families who supported our VCE Sub-SAC process. It is important to reiterate why a process such as this is needed in schools. The VCAA who administer the VCE and VCE-VM/VCAL programs are very clear in their expectations of schools around how we administer assessment fairly, consistently and with a view to be able to authenticate all student work. We need to be able to demonstrate policies and processes that account for how students catch up on missed SACs and coursework and how the students redeem non-satisfactory results.

Students who miss work must be adequately supervised under the same conditions as other students and this is not possible when students are completing work in study periods or at home.
VCE coursework must be authenticated therefore we need to see students completing the majority of their classwork and assessment in class or at school.
It also ensures that our teachers retain their full allotment of planning and preparation time rather than chasing up students and supervising missed assessments.
It ensures that missed or satisfactory work is caught up and redeemed in a timely manner in a way that supports VCAA and teacher deadlines and that students are not effectively enforcing their own due dates.
It encourages improved school attendance and adherence to due dates.

NAPLAN

As I write this, our students in Years 7 and 9 are diligently sitting their NAPLAN tests. Having coordinated this process for over 20 years at 3 different schools, I can say that our young people were simply excellent in terms of their behaviour and disposition towards the test taking. It is a credit to their resilience that they understand that while this is important, it is also not worth any amount of anxiety or complaint.

The test window remains open this week so that we can catch up with students who have been absent for any of the tests. Thanks to our families for supporting us by ensuring that all of our students attended school on the test days ready to go.

Student Learning Feedback

Over the course of the next few weeks, our teachers will be completing their Mid-Semester Reports. The Mid-Semester Reports are a simple snapshot of attitudes and dispositions around learning and behaviour to date.

Work Habits for Mid-Semester Reports:

LEARNING:

Strives for personal best
Meets deadlines
Uses class time constructively
Collaborative in group tasks
Completes homework tasks

SELF-MANAGEMENT:

Punctual to class
Has the appropriate books and equipment
Makes responsible choices

SOCIAL INTERACTION:

Well-mannered and respectful of others
Co-operative
Shows empathy

More detailed assessment feedback including grades and teacher comments can be viewed in your child’s Learning Tasks through PAM. When you log in you may see a range of Classwork and Assessment tasks. Classwork may be graded using our 7-10 Grade Descriptors (as below), or a Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory mark. Assessment Tasks across Years 7-10 will use the MRC Grade Descriptors. These are based on the Victorian Curriculum descriptors used by all schools. It is perfectly normal for students to fluctuate across the standards depending on the subject and task undertaken. All teachers have been asked to provide some form of learning feedback to date in PAM.

Year 9 & 10 Visit to Egg Farm

In Week 6, our Year 9 and 10 Agriculture classes had the unique opportunity to visit Purrumbete Paddock Eggs, a local farm that specialises in pasture-raised chickens. The visit was organised as part of the Agriculture curriculum and aimed to give our students hands-on experience with sustainable farming practices and food production.

Located just a short drive from our school, Purrumbete Paddock Eggs is family-owned farm that prides itself on producing high-quality eggs from happy and healthy chickens that are free to roam and graze on natural pasture.

During the visit, our students were able to see firsthand how the chickens were kept in mobile coops that were moved regularly around the pasture to ensure that the birds had access to fresh grass and insects. The students also learned about environmental modification and the different types of feed that were used to supplement their diet.

The highlight of the visit was the opportunity for our students to collect fresh eggs straight from the coop and to spend some time with the friendly Maremma dogs.

The visit to Purrumbete Paddock Eggs was not only an educational experience but also a chance to gain an appreciation for the hard work and dedication that goes into producing high-quality, sustainable food. It was also an opportunity for our students to connect with their local community and support local farmers. We would like to extend our thanks to Adam for hosting us and for sharing his knowledge and expertise with our students.

Tom Kelly
Agriculture teacher

Community & Wellbeing at MRC

Cyber Safety

It was a pleasure to speak with the Mercy Regional College students today about how to stay safe online. Brooke and I discussed simple strategies that the students could use to help keep themselves, friends and family members cyber safe.

It was great to hear from the students all the ways they know to safeguard themselves when playing games online or when on social media sites.

Block unwanted players/comments
Tell a trusted adult when they have an issue
Only play/connect with people they know
Be role models online
Don’t share or store inappropriate images online
Online bullying is against the law

We shared the “CYBER” acronym relating to how to stay safe online;

C – Communicate (tell a trusted adult when something isn’t right)

Y – You (It’s your Cyber world, don’t let it control you)

B – Balance (Have balance in your life, sleep, exercise, good nutrition, other hobbies)

E – Education (Keep your Cyber knowledge up to date, see links below)

R – Respect (If you don’t respect others online, you’re really not respecting yourself)

R – Reputation (Your online activity can become what people think of you)

R – Resume’ (Your online activity leaves a digital footprint that can be seen by anyone)

The esafety commission has some amazing information for every age group (adults included!). We encourage everyone to have a look with their young person.

Kids Help Line, another great place for young people to utilise when they want to communicate.

L/S/C John Keats and L/S/C Brooke Pollock, Youth Resource Officers, Warrnambool Police Station: 55601133 or 55601195

Matthew Irving
Student Development Leader

School Photos 2023

Annual school photos including sibling photos will be taken by Arthur Reed Photos on Friday 31 March 2023.

There is no need to return any forms or money to school.

Unique image codes will be issued to all students on/after photo day so families can register online to view images when they become available in the webshop.

Registration is simple, just follow the 3 simple steps on your child’s personalised flyer once you receive it and remember to add the codes for all your children attending this school.

Even if you registered last year, it’s important that you do again this year using your child’s 2023 image code to link their images for the current year with your contact details.

When images are ready to view and in the webshop, all parents who have registered will be notified by SMS and email.

Once registered, please wait for notification that 2023 images are online to view before making your purchase.

Year 11 Presentation Ball

On Friday, 17 March, our Year 11 students celebrated their Presentation Ball.

Sophie C. and Sophie C. from Year 11:

“When the day finally rolled around after 7 practices, it was fair to say we were all ready to go. The participants spent the day on Friday preparing themselves for the evening with partner photos and a group photo. After all the professional photos had been taken the students made their way to the Middle School building where they could take a minute to relax and eat some delicious food kindly prepared by Mrs Wendy Gleeson and Mrs Robyn Johnstone. After about an hour’s wait as family photos were being taken it was time for the students to make their way down to the De Chantal Stadium.

The girls waited patiently behind the stage as the boys were presented and danced ‘The Pride of Erin’ with their mother/special person. After the boys returned backstage it was then time to begin the formal presentations of the students. The couples were announced individually as Mrs Tania Bruckner and Mrs Mel Kavanagh read out the future aspirations written by the students. After everyone had been presented, it was time to get our dancing shoes on. The cohort made their way back out onto the floor and got into position for the ‘Progressive 3 Step’ dance followed by the ‘Circular Barn Dance’. Now it was time for the boys to sit out as the girls got their father/special person and danced 'The Pride of Erin'. The final dance of the evening was for the students and a special person in their lives.

Once all the formal dancing was over the group got on stage for a traditional photo. After the photo the official part was over, and it was time for a DJ from Sound Waves Geelong to perform for a few hours.

It was a great night and one that many will look back on and remember fondly. We would like to say special thanks from the students for all who helped, but especially Ms Tess Lourey, Mr Jeremy Baker, Mrs Rose Henry, Ms Jane Wyss and Mrs Alison Lourey."

Please enjoy some of the friendship photos taken before the ball.

Year 8 Camp

Our Year 8s were blessed to spend 3 days together in beautiful conditions at Anglesea Valley Lodge.

Over three days, we had the opportunity to experience a range of adventure sports, outdoor camping, and team initiatives. It was a unique and challenging experience that left the students with unforgettable memories. The camp was a hybrid model, which provided one night in dorms and the following night in the great outdoors.

On the first day of the camp the students learned how to pack correctly for their hike and prepared their hiking packs. They packed to carry their sleeping bags, sleeping mat, clothing, cooking tools and tents! A mammoth effort.

This was followed by some adventure sports including rock climbing, archery, and team building initiatives. The instructors provided guidance on how to use the equipment, techniques for climbing, and how to work as a team to achieve success. It was fabulous to see confidence grow and the students push their limits in a supportive and safe environment.

The second day consisted of surfing and a bushwalk to our campsites. We woke up to a unique wake up call of ‘Circle of life beaming in their rooms’! Our Year 8s were thrilled to ride the waves and practice their surfing skills. After a fun-filled morning of surfing, the students packed up their gear and began hiking to their campsite. The hike was challenging but rewarding, and the students were excited to set up their tents and camp for the night.

Our overnight camping was a unique experience for many of our young people. They cooked their own dinner on an outdoor fire. There were some impressive main courses of delicious burritos and a camp chocolate ripple cake for dessert! They were able to conquer their fears, develop new skills, and create long-lasting memories.

The third day began with a pack up of the campsite and team initiatives that required the students to work together to solve problems and overcome obstacles. The activities involved communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills. We saw them develop their teamwork and communication skills while having fun. Our hike back to base was a chance to reflect on the experiences they had during the past few days and bond with their peers.

The teachers and instructors from Auscamp were impressed with our young people's positive attitudes, determination, and willingness to try new things. We are extremely proud of our students and we hope they gained valuable memories and experiences to talk about for years to come. We believe that this experience will leave a lasting impression on the students and inspire them to continue exploring the outdoors and trying new things in the future.

We would like to thank the teachers and instructors who facilitated the camp and helped make it a success. We also want to acknowledge the parents who supported their children in participating in this exciting and challenging adventure. It is opportunities like these that make our school community special and we are proud to provide these experiences for our students.

Emily Stephens
O'Keeffe Community Leader

On 9 and 10 March our Unit 1 Outdoor Education class participated in the Surf Camp at Torquay.

The first job for the students was to set up camp for the evening, which was done efficiently. After that we attended the Australian National Surfing Museum looking at the history of surfing and the improvements in technology over time to allow surfers to surf the biggest waves in the world. By mid afternoon it was time to begin our 2-hour surfing session with “Go Ride a Wave”. The waves were big and frequent allowing plenty of opportunities for the class to surf.

We returned to camp to recover and cook our evening meals, which students had planned in the previous few weeks. All groups were successful with this task and to finish off the day the students travelled to Bells Beach to check out the famous surf spot.

Day 2 began with another 2-hour surf session and again the waves didn’t disappoint. The students were busy catching the waves for two hours earning high praise from the instructors for their efforts.

Students will now reflect on this camp as part of their Term 1 assessment. Well done to all students and staff that attended. It was an enjoyable couple of days.

Darren Cheeseman
VCE Outdoor & Environmental Studies teacher

Faith at MRC

MRC Composting Project - Care for our Common Home

Jack M., our Senior Environmental Leader, has been working on a composting project. He, along with some of our other leaders, is looking for some volunteers to go on a roster to help out. If this is something that you have an interest in or would be happy to help with please email Jack for more information and to register your interest.

We are also in the process of completing our Catholic Earthcare Level 2 Accreditation. We are looking at building a team of students, staff and other interested people in helping to bring about change.

The 3rd Week of Lent

The third week of Lent in 2023 (Year A) The gospel is the story of the woman at the well, whom Jesus brings to new life through his mercy and compassion. Jesus chose to interact with a Samaritan (an outsider) and a woman to whom he was not related (socially difficult in his time).

So this week of Lent is also a good time to contemplate how we treat outsiders.

And it could also lead to a discussion of the role of women in the Catholic Church.

The following topics may develop into ideas, conversations and prayers for you and your family this week.

Change of heart
Baptism and new life through the symbol of living water
Racism and Immigration
Evangelization (getting to know Jesus)
Leadership roles for women in the Church

Project Compassion in our Classrooms

The idea of Project Compassion awareness campaign is to shine a light on some of the important work of Caritas. We have Project Compassion boxes available in homerooms and also at reception at both campuses if people would like to donate to this worthy cause.

Some of the stories MRC students may have looked at in RE or MERCY classes throughout the weeks of Project Compassion would include the following:

Week 3 - Thu’s Story

Thu - Vietnam

Thu lost his leg after stepping on a land mine in Vietnam. With your generosity, Thu can now earn extra income and support his wife as she recovers from a stroke.

Week 4 - Tereesa's Story

Tereesa - Australia

Tereesa is a Gamilaroi woman from Western Sydney who struggled with homelessness while raising her four children. Through the Baabayn Young Mums and Bubs Group, Tereesa was able to reconnect with her culture and create a better future for her children.

Kellie Wilson - Catholic Identity, Mission & Ethos Leader
Jo-Anne Saunders - Liturgy Coordinator

Library News

eBooks and Audiobooks on Wheelers

Access your eLibrary anywhere, anytime!

An eBook is simply a book available in a digital, full-text format. Most eBooks are digital versions of print books; however, some books are now published only as eBooks or are “born digital.”

You don’t need a dedicated e-reader – you can read eBooks on laptops, desktop computers, tablets and smartphones.

There isn’t a single eBook platform, so each platform looks and feels a bit different. Some platforms only allow one user per book at the same time (and you need to “borrow” it like a print library book) while others allow for simultaneous users. Likewise, there might be different options for digital notetaking or limits on printing/copying.

Of course, one of the main benefits of eBooks is that they are available 24/7 so you can find your next great read whenever you like!

Wheelers ePlatform has hundreds of eBooks, predominantly fiction.

It includes digital versions of many of the popular titles the Library has in print, as well as some that are unique to the digital collection.

When you find a book that sparks your interest:

Click Sign In (Single Sign-On should log you in automatically with your MRCcredentials).
To sample the book select Look Inside. If you enjoy reading it –
Click Borrow. No need to worry about forgetting the due date – the book will automatically return after 3 weeks. However, if you do finish it early you can Return the book so it becomes available to others.

Login to Wheelers

Book Club at the Pub

Do you love reading and meeting people?

All parents, staff and friends of the College are invited to join the MRC Book Club.

Book Club is a great way to take a break from the busyness of life and:

Discover new books
Meet new people
Gain different perspectives and points of view

Not only that, Book Club involves snacks and drinks!

This term we will be reading a terrific book recommended by Deputy Principal - Learning, Teaching & Innovation Natalie Stephenson - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.

We will meet at 7pm on Wednesday 29 March at the Commercial Hotel in Terang to discuss and share our thoughts on the book and enjoy a social catch up.

You can order the book from your favourite bookshop or here.

If you would like to join us, please let us know by registering here. There is no cost.

Jean Christie
Library & Resource Centre Coordinator

Sports Report

GWR Senior Cricket

On 10 March twelve students represented MRC in the GWR Senior Cricket held at Ballarat. It was a nice cool day with one win and one loss.

Game 1 vs Emmanuel College
EC : 4 / 136
Jonty R. 2 -12
Caleb C. 1-12

MRC : 4/99
Henry s. 33 n.o
Jonty R. 42

Game 2 vs Ballarat High School
MRC 7/113
Henry H. 29
Wilba C. 25 n.o

BHS 4/101
Wilba C. 2 - 13
Ethan W. 1 -20
Fred B. 1 - 9

SSV Secondary School Golf Competition

On Tuesday 6 March, 12 MRC students represented the College is the SSV Secondary School Golf Competition at Camperdown Golf Club. Congratulations to Fred B. (Year 12) who finished second with a score of 73 and Caleb K. (Year 12) who also finished in the top ten in the Senior Boys section.

In the Junior Boys section, Leo B. (Year 7) was able to finish in the 4th position. This was Leo’s first time playing golf for MRC.

GWR Swimming

The MRC swimming team had a brilliant day at the GWR Swimming Sports last week.

Our sincere congratulations to Matilda D. (Year 10) who took out 3 medals. Matilda’s first place in Girls U16 50m Breastroke has qualified her to represent MRC at the state championships later this year.

Matilda D. (Year 10)

1st: Girls U16 50m Breastroke
2nd: Girls 16-20 200m Freestyle
3rd: Girls 16-20 100m Freestyle

Congratulations also to our medal winners:

Elsie S. (Year 9)

3rd: Girls U15 50m Backstroke

Relay teams

3rd: Girls U12-13 200m Freestyle relay
3rd: Boys U12-13 200m Freestyle relay
3rd: Girls U14 200m Freestyle relay
3rd: Girls U15 200m Freestyle relay
3rd: Boys U16 200m Freestyle relay

Alumni News

Class Reunions 2023

2023 is a special year for CRC and MRC community. As the College is celebrating its 50th anniversary, we are hoping to see many of our alumni involved in events and festivities. And what year can be better to have a class reunion than the jubilee year?

We are calling out to the graduating classes of milestone years who are due to have a reunion in 2023. If you are planning an event, please contact the College at alumni@mercy.vic.edu.au or 03 5593 2011. We will be happy to help you promote your event and organise a campus tour for your group.

Graduating Class of 1978 – 45 Years Reunion
Graduating Class of 1983 – 40 Years Reunion
Graduating Class of 1988 – 35 Years Reunion
Graduating Class of 1993 – 30 Years Reunion
Graduating Class of 1998 – 25 Years Reunion
Graduating Class of 2003 – 20 Years Reunion
Graduating Class of 2008 – 15 Years Reunion
Graduating Class of 2013 – 10 Years Reunion
Graduating Class of 2018 – 5 Years Reunion
Graduating Class of 2022 – 1 Year Reunion

Career News

Topics in this edition of Career News include:

YEAR 12 STUDENTS

Australia National University – Tuckwell Scholarship
The University of Melbourne – Hansen Scholarship
Medicine, Dentistry, Oral Health – registrations for the UCAT are now open
Online medicine information evenings – UNSW, Monash University, Charles Sturt University
ADF Gap Year – book your aptitude test
Explore amazing sports courses
Careers in exercise science and exercise physiology
Early entry programs are now open at Charles Sturt University, Australian National University, and La Trobe University
Australian Federal Police – Forensics Work Experience Program. Closes this Friday!
Australian Defence Force - Work Experience

YEAR 11 STUDENTS

Australian Federal Police – Forensics Work Experience Program. Closes this Friday!
Australian Defence Force - Work Experience
JMC Academy – games design work experience

YEAR 10 STUDENTS

Australian Federal Police – Forensics Work Experience Program. Closes this Friday!
Australian Defence Force - Work Experience
JMC Academy – games design work experience

ALL STUDENTS

Explore the amazing Myfuture website
Year13
Academy: complete exciting online career modules exploring the
following career areas: mining & resources, early childhood, human
services.
Careers with STEM: download amazing online STEM career guides and job kits
Careers in genetics counselling.
Health career resources
How to get work experience in wildlife and animal care
Free career tests
Amazing courses at Australian Maritime College
La Trobe University: RISE program for Indigenous students
The University of Melbourne – videos on demand
Victoria University – unique block model of learning
Train to become a flight attendant.
Monash University – civil engineering, science
Hair and beauty courses
Calling all entrepreneurs

Career News, 9 March 2023

Upcoming Dates and Events

Wednesday 22 March - MRC Open Day
Debating competition at Ballarat Grammar School

Monday 27 March - HSSSD Athletics TBC

Thursday 30 March - GWR Lawn Bowls

Wednesday 29 March - MRC Book Club

Friday 31 March - School Photos

Monday 3 April - Thursday 6 April - Year 10 Work Experience

Thursday 6 April - Term 1 Concludes
Student Free Day
Staff PL Day - Trauma Informed Pedagogy

Community Notices

Find Your Flow Workshops

Find Your Flow workshops are relaxed opportunities for young people to create artworks with watercolours and inks in a mindful way. The aim of the workshop is to encourage young people to express themselves through paint under the guidance of Chelsea Hatherall, an experienced artist and practitioner in this space. There will be an opportunity for young people’s artworks to be photographed and turned into postcards if they are interested.

Details

This workshop is for any young person that wants to express themselves using water-based inks. There is no pre-requisites for having experience in painting, so we encourage anyone interested regardless of their experience level to come along. Materials and snacks will be provided.

When? April 12 (workshop one) and April 19 (workshop two) from 11AM – 2PM.
Where? Alderwood Manor, 56 Curdie Street, Cobden (April 12) and 55 High Street, Terang (April 19)
Who? Any young people aged 12-25 years of age.
Cost? There is no cost to participants. This program is funded by the Victorian State Government through Youth Engage! Funding.