MRC Newsletter - Issue 5 - 5 April 2023
Prayer
Dear Lord,
As we celebrate the Easter season with family and loved ones, we come before you with thankful hearts for the gift of salvation through your son Jesus Christ. We ask for your guidance and strength as we navigate the challenges of being teenagers in today's world.
May we find comfort and hope in the knowledge that you are always with us, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. Help us to lean on your wisdom and understanding as we make important decisions about our lives and our futures.
We pray for our families and friends, that they may be filled with the joy and peace of your love. We also pray for those who are struggling or facing adversity, that they may feel your presence and find comfort in your grace.
As we reflect on the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, may we be inspired to follow in his footsteps and live our lives with compassion, kindness, and love for others. Help us to use our talents and abilities to make a positive impact in the world and to spread the message of your love and salvation to all those around us.
We ask for your blessings and guidance as we continue on our journeys, and we pray that your love and grace will be with us always.
In Jesus' name we pray,
Amen.
Principal's Message
As Term 1 draws to a close we observe the important week on the Catholic calendar Holy Week. Beginning with Palm Sunday last Sunday we move towards the Triduum consisting of Maundy Thursday tomorrow, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. On Sunday we then celebrate Easter Sunday. During this observance, we enter into the darkness reflecting on the Last Supper when Jesus gave to his disciples the commandment to love one another as he had loved them. Good Friday is then a sombre day of reflection for Christians, who remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for their sins. In the intervening days we are called to reflect on how we live our lives and what we bring to the table. Then, through the resurrection we are brought to a new beginning through Christ’s light on Easter Sunday. I encourage all families to engage with their Church and the Easter story over the Easter season.
Our student community has reflected on Holy Week through participation in a unique Stations of the Cross reflective activity. This year Liturgy Leader Joanne Saunders and RE Domain Leader Melanie Bourchier created our reflection utilising the beautiful prayer cards of The Aboriginal Stations of The Cross by artist John Dunn sourced from Aboriginal Catholic Ministry for Victoria. John’s sister Sherry Balcombe shares, “These Stations are an exploration of John’s own ‘journey’ as a member of the Stolen Generation and they illustrate beautifully how Aboriginal people resonate with the sufferings of Jesus”. Our students then spent time creating a coin trail in the shape of 50 recognising our Jubilee year with 50 cent coins and all proceeds going to Caritas Australia. We thank everyone for their generosity.
On Monday we welcomed our Hampden Catholic Schools Network (HCSN) Primary Schools to our O’Keeffe Junior Campus for a Taster Day. Students and their teachers from our three primary school partners in Years (4) 5 & 6 from St Thomas’ Terang, St Colman’s Mortlake and St Patrick’s Camperdown had a brilliant day learning alongside our Year 7 & 8 students. We finished the day with an Open Afternoon for parents and students with tours of our O’Keeffe Campus. These opportunities are much valued and enjoyed by all involved and are an important part of transition to secondary school. Enrolment for 2024 is now open. Information relating to enrolment at Mercy Regional College in any year level can be found on our website. Everyone is welcome at Mercy!
Lucy having a great time on Work Experience with St Thomas’ at district athletics. Pictured with alumna Olivia Glossop (Class of 2022).
This week, our Year 10 students are embarking on their Work Experience journey. This program offers students a chance to discover more about themselves, their work-related skills and interests, and which academic paths and learning areas they may pursue in their senior education. Additionally, Work Experience initiatives allow our schools to establish stronger ties with our regional communities, making them a valuable asset. We express our sincere gratitude to our community Work Experience hosts for their generosity and acknowledge the efforts of our MRC Work Experience team, namely Kym Penry and Mel Kavenagh with Allison Lourey, in orchestrating the program.
Jess at WDCA Awards Night.
Image source: Cobden Cricket Club
In student achievements we congratulate all those involved in local cricket and basketball finals with many successes shared on our Social Media platforms. Of particular note was the effort of Jess W. (Year 10) representing Cobden Knights Cricket. Jess played an integral role in their under 17 side this season, and achieved great recognition at the recent Warrnambool and District Cricket Association awards winning the women’s and U17 girls’ bowling aggregates and the U17 girls’ fielding award. Jess was also recognised for her success in the U16 girls’ Country Week. Jess also had great success with bat and ball at club level. Well done Jess!
On Monday, our Shooting team participated in the Lang Sporting Clays. The team consisted of Jett L., Harrison G., Jess N., Ryli N., Angus M., Rylie M., Henry S. and Amelia P. They had a great day and some pleasing results; Senior Girls - Jess N. 4th, Junior Girls - Amelia P. - 3rd, Junior Boys - Rylie M. - 3rd, Senior Boys - Angus M.- 2nd. Well done team and thank you coach Dean Ludeman.
Mercy will have two students representing us at the Victorian Interschool Equestrian Championships to be held over the school holidays at Werribee Park. Lizzy J. and Tyra S. will wear MRC colours in a range of events inclusive of dressage, show jumping, combined training, show horse and show hunter sections. We wish them all the best and thank them for representing us. We will also be represented by students and staff at the many ANZAC Day services across our region beginning with the community service at the Cobden Cemetery tomorrow.
We also recognise the efforts and generosity of staff member Emily Stephens who recently collaborated with MRC Alumna and Netfit Netball Founder Sarah Wall and Emma Wright on a Calming Colouring Book with all proceeds donated to the Confident Girls Foundation.
We are busy planning for our first Time and Space connection evening for our Year 7 and 8 young people and their mother or significant female in their lives. We have 40 participants registered to date which is a fantastic support. Tuesday morning saw our young people spend time writing an invitational postcard to invite families to the event to be held on Wednesday 3 May, 6.45pm at our O’Keeffe Campus. Please refer to the flyer below to find out more information and register your attendance.
We are pleased to share that bookings are now open for our special day of 50th celebrations at the College on Saturday 25 November 2023. The Jubilee Day will see our guests enjoying school tours, roll calls and displays for each decade, food trucks and music, a tree planting ceremony, free family portraits, school tours, book and merchandise sales, afternoon teas and much more. The entry is free and everyone is welcome. The Jubilee Day will be followed by a more formal Anniversary Dinner at the Camperdown Football Netball Club with the presentation of inaugural Spirit of Mercy Awards and entertainment by duo the People’s Poets. Please book your tickets to both the Jubilee Day and Anniversary Dinner at the link below.
We will have some staff changes in Term 2. Lesa Thornton takes some very well earned Long Service Leave for the entire term. Lesa’s classes will be covered by Lydia Darcy and Mary Renehan. We welcomed Communications, Marketing and Engagement officer Toby McKenzie to Mercy last week and thank Katya Belokon for her continued service in this role in Term 1 whilst living in Toowoomba. We wish Katya and husband Daniel Lee all the very best as they now await the birth of their second child. We say a final farewell to MRC Property and Maintenance Manager Danny Gordon and Grounds Officer Mark Evans this week. We thank them for their service and depth of commitment and care they have provided to our community for many years. We hope to appoint new team members ready for early in Term 2.
I wish all students and families every blessing for Easter with students finishing school for Term 1 this afternoon. We look forward to welcoming staff and Year 12 students back on Monday 24 April with Year 7 - 11 students returning after ANZAC Day on Wednesday 26 April.
With kindness
Sharon Gillett
Principal
Learning at MRC
The Impact of Time Away from School
As we come to the end of another term, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support of our school community. This term has been incredibly busy, with thankfully, none of the challenges and uncertainty of the last three Term Ones. It has been full steam ahead with life and learning here at Mercy. Our students have continued to make progress in their academic and personal growth. We have seen their curiosity and creativity flourish, and we are excited to see what the future holds for them.
As we approach the next term, we encourage you to continue to work with us to support your child's learning journey. By working together, we can ensure that your child reaches their full potential and has a positive and successful school experience.
We wish you and your family a safe and restful break and look forward to seeing our students back at school next term.
Accessing the Mid-Semester Report through the Parent Access Module (PAM)
Mid-Semester Reports will be available online through PAM on the afternoon of Thursday 6 April. The Mid-Semester Report contains information about your child’s work practices and learning dispositions. Your PAM account requires a valid and current email address to be verified. Without a verified email address, you may be missing communication from your child’s subject teacher. To ensure you are receiving all email communication please logon to PAM and verify your preferred email address. Please contact reception@mercy.vic.edu.au if you have any difficulties.
Work Habits for Mid-Semester reports and 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
Accessing Assessments and Reports on PAM – Parent Access Module
Navigate to the Mercy Regional College website: www.mercy.vic.edu.au and select the COMMUNITY tab where you will find access to PAM. Login using your school provided details.
Click on the link below to access further instructions.
Parent / Student / Teacher Interviews
Parent / Student / Teacher interviews will be conducted online. The interviews will take place:
- Tuesday 9 May: 4 – 7pm
- Wednesday 10 May: 11.30am – 5pm
Details outlining how to book interviews will be sent to families at the beginning of Term 2.
Learning@Mercy Leadership Team -
Natalie Stephenson, Danae Fraser and Lydia Darcy
Junior School Arts Workshops
Our Year 7 and Year 8 Rhythm & Movement Studies students were lucky enough to have a Performing Arts workshop incursion this term. They worked with Xan Colman, artist and artistic director of 'A is for Atlas' and Jorge Andrade, a performing artist and scriptwriter from Portugal.
Learners built their creative performance skills with a range of theatre sports style drama activities and ended the workshop with a performance utilising different acting scenarios with the dialogue they wrote as a class. Even the staff joined in!
Year 8 Clay Sculptures
Students in 8A Visual Art have commenced making their clay sculptures. Working in 3D can be both challenging and rewarding and the students are doing some terrific work.
Tertiary Information Session
On Thursday 30 March, our College was privileged to host a TIS Tour expo for Senior students. Representatives from various tertiary education institutions spoke to the students about possible pathways and entry requirements. We are hopeful that this opportunity has helped the students to gain some ideas about their future.
Debating
Our senior debaters Val, Charlotte and Jack were victorious against Ballarat Grammar on Wednesday 22 March. They were the affirmative team and had to argue that Australia should not provide military support for foreign conflicts.
Our C grade team of Holly B., Joseph M. and Maddi S. lost by just one point and they were also the affirmative team for the argument: That Australia should make voting non compulsory.
A lengthy speech by the VCE adjudicator and individual feedback for six debaters kept us late (among other things). Thank you to Tia who came along and supported the C Grade team in their debate room whilst I was with the Seniors. A very positive night and we look forward to tonight for our next debate.
Jo-Anne Saunders
Debating & Public Speaking Coordinator
Year 8 French Highlight
We are sharing an exceptional project by Dylan L. from Year 8C who created a diorama of the Louvre Museum in Paris. Dylan researched the history of the architecture in an article, all written in French. Well done, Dylan.
Monica Socha
French Teacher
Community & Wellbeing at MRC
School Photos 2023
Annual school photos have been taken by Arthur Reed Photos.
To view the images of your child and order photos, you will need to first register online.
- Go to https://order.arphotos.com.au and enter the 2023 image code for your child (from
their personalized flyer). - Tap on ‘Add another child’ to enter the image codes of any siblings.
- Fill in your email and mobile details and then review all details before confirming your
registration.
That’s it! When 2023 photos are ready, you will be notified by email and SMS.
Even if you registered last year, it’s important that you do it again each year using your child’s new
image code to link their photos for the current year with your contact details.
To ensure you are ordering school photos for the current year, please wait for notifications that
2023 images are online before placing orders.
In the webshop you can view photos and customize your photo package; Choose ANY layout, ANY
image and purchase multiple digital image downloads. All photo orders will be sent directly to the address you provide when ordering.
REGISTER ONLINE NOW to be notified when 2023 school photos can be viewed and ordered.
Catholic School Parents Victoria Connect News
Please find below March edition of the CSPV Connect News.
Harmony Week 2023
To celebrate Harmony Week, our students created bright artworks to be displayed in the McAuley Library. The artworks consist of orange handprints that represent the diversity and uniqueness of our College community. Symbolically, this activity was led by Jason Baird, our new LSO Trainee who will focus on bringing together all forms of Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement at MRC.
Anzac Poppy
Well done to Tilda from Year 8 for her artistic work creating a beautiful poppy to help commemorate Anzac Day later this month.
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 individuals in helping to bring about change. Please contact kwilson@mercy.vic.edu.au if this is something that you might be interested in.
Kellie Wilson - Catholic Identity, Mission & Ethos Leader
Jo-Anne Saunders - Liturgy Coordinator
Library News
MRC Book Club
The first get together for the year for the MRC Book Club was held on Wednesday 29 March. If you have never joined a book club before, please consider becoming involved next term. The only requirement is to read the chosen book and to come along to an informal gathering to socialise, meet people and discuss the book.
The Book Club get together was held at the Commercial Hotel in Terang. We felt that having the gathering in a venue other than school would highlight the social aspect and make it feel less like another meeting. Another reason for the choice of venue is that Les Cameron at the Commercial has created an amazing hub for the arts at the hotel. The hotel has resident artists and provides accommodation for writers and artists of all types for retreats, along with space to hold exhibitions and concerts. Rooms are also made available for community groups to hold activities of all kinds. We thank Les for making us welcome and we congratulate him on creating such a vibrant community and arts hub in Terang.
The book we read this term was Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus - a highly recommended book that provides many relevant themes for discussion. An interesting fact about the author is that Lessons in Chemistry is her first novel, which was published when she was 64 years old.
Look out early in Term 2 for an invitation to join the next Book Club session or contact jchristie@mercy.vic.edu.au
“Courage is the root of change - and change is what we are chemically designed to do. So when you wake up tomorrow, make this pledge. No more holding yourself back. No more subscribing to others’ opinions of what you can and cannot achieve. And no more allowing anyone to pigeonhole you into useless categories of sex, race, economic status and religion.”
Bonnie Garmus: Lessons in Chemistry
eBooks and Audiobooks on Wheelers
Access your eLibrary anywhere, anytime!
Wheelers ePlatform has hundreds of eBooks, predominantly fiction. It includes digital versions of many popular titles. Login here using your MRC credentials.
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.
Jean Christie
Library & Resource Centre Coordinator
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
- Scholarships for high achievers
- Medicine, dentistry, oral health – UCAT ANZ
- Australian Defence Force – gap year program
- Early entry applications now open
- Work experience – electrical engineering, IT, Electrical Trades (female students)
- Work experience – Australian Defence Force
- Work experience – Powerhouse Museum & Sydney Observatory
- Event: SAE Creative Media Institute – create for a day
- Event: Monash University MySci (3-day science program)
YEAR 11 STUDENTS
- Work experience – electrical engineering, IT, Electrical Trades (female students)
- Work experience – IT (female students)
- Work experience – games design
- Work experience – Australian Defence Force
- Work experience – Powerhouse Museum & Sydney Observatory
- Event: SAE Creative Media Institute – create for a day
- Event: Monash University MySci (3-day science program)
YEAR 10 STUDENTS
- Work experience – applied mathematics, astronomy & astrophysics, biotechnology & biochemistry.
- Work experience – laboratory science
- Work experience – electrical engineering, IT, Electrical Trades (female students)
- Work experience - IT (female students)
- Work experience – games design
- Work experience – Australian Defence Force
- Event: A Day at Melbourne University
- Event: SAE Creative Media Institute – create for a day
YEAR 9 STUDENTS
- Work experience – applied mathematics, astronomy & astrophysics, biotechnology & biochemistry.
- Event: A Day at Melbourne University
- Event: girl power in engineering & IT program
- Event: hands-on engineering & IT
ALL STUDENTS
- Veterinary science – courses and entry requirements
- Australian National University – open day sessions on demand
- University course search tools
- Business + STEM careers
- Academic Insights Program
- Will artificial intelligence replace certain jobs?
- Jobs in robotics & artificial intelligence
- Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA)
- Interested in studying business? Explore your ‘business personality’
- Australian Jobs Report 2022
- Competition – filmmaking
- Australian Harvard Model UN Conference
- Deakin University - new exercise science degree for high achievers
- Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy & Economics (PPE)
- Train to become a flight attendant.
- Upcoming career events and activities.
Upcoming Dates and Events
Thursday 6 April - Term 1 Concludes
Student Free Day
Staff PL Day - Trauma Informed Pedagogy
Monday 24 April - Term 2 Commences
Student Free (Year 12 classes running)
Staff PL Day - Wellbeing
Tuesday 25 April - ANZAC Day
Wednesday 26 April - VCE Art Excursion
Friday 28 April - State Swimming
Monday 1 May - HSSSD Athletics
Tuesday 2 May - House Cross Country (Years 7 & 8)
Wednesday 3 May - Year 7 Faith Day
House Cross Country (Years 9 & 12)
Debating competition
Year 7 & 8 Parent Evening - Time & Space @ O'Keeffe Campus - Noorat
Friday 5 May - Year 12 Seminar Day
Monday 8 May - HSSSD Cross Country
Tuesday 9 May - Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews - 4.00pm to 7.00pm - Online
Wednesday 10 May - Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews - No Classes
Friday 12 May - HSSSD Boys Netball (all ages)
Junior Girls Football
Monday 15 May - Friday 19 May - MRC Diversity and Inclusion Week
Tuesday 16 May - HSSSD Intermediate/Senior Netball
Monday 22 May - Friday 26 May - Catholic Education Week
Wednesday 24 May - MRC Feast Day - All Day
MRC Feast Day Mass
GWR Boys Netball (all ages)
Friday 26 May - State Golf
Year 9 Try A Career Day
Community Notices
