MRC Newsletter - Issue 7 - 26 May 2021

Prayer

Principal's Message

On Monday, 24 May, we recognised our College Feast Day, the Feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians.  This is a significant event in our school year, where we pause to reflect on the intercessions of The Blessed Virgin Mary whilst also remembering our own unique school history with celebration and joy.  Mary, Help of Christians, was declared the Patron saint of Australia in the 1800s.  With the knowledge that our school uniquely evolved from the dedicated work of four local parishes, our founders decided that Mercy Regional College would take on Mary, Help of Christians as our patron saint.  This year, we were grateful to gather together on our McAuley campus to celebrate through liturgy and festival with activities for all students.  There were food stalls facilitated by our Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) students and the Year 10 students from the classes $20 Boss and Paddock to Plate, guided by Mr Daniel Glennen, Mr Tom Kelly and Mrs Tania Brucker, and we also had guest food vans.  The day was finished together to celebrate the arts and community through Mercy’s Got Talent.  We welcomed local musician Tom Richardson, founder of the All Abilities Choir, who led our students and staff in a Zoo Choir performance, ably supported by students on african drums taught in small workshops earlier in the day.  A wonderful celebration of community. 

Our ‘200 crosses for 200 years' art installation was created on the day.  Thank you to Ms Tina Jenkins and Ms Sigrid Macleod for their work to create this with our young people.  We are grateful to and congratulate Leader of Catholic Identity, Mission and Ethos, Ms Kellie Wilson, who orchestrated the day and all staff who assisted in so many ways.

During our Feast Day Mass we had the opportunity  to recognise our staff who had reached  milestones in Years of Service. These staff would usually be recognised at our HCSN beginning of Year Mass which we were unable to hold as a network this year. We congratulate and thank the following staff for their years of service:

We celebrated Catholic Education Week and 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia at the annual HCSN School Advisory Council Dinner.  Guest speakers, Parish Priest of Terang and Mortlake Fr Michael McKinnon and Executive Director of Catholic Education Ballarat Tom Sexton, shared with the gathered SAC members and partners a snapshot of their personal journeys.  MRC welcomes parent, Alison Kenna, to our School Advisory Council (SAC).  Alison will Chair the Parent Forum which provides all parents an informal opportunity to share their experiences, thoughts and questions with myself and other members of the College Leadership Team.  The next Parent Forum will be held in the library at McAuley Camperdown campus on the evening of Wednesday, 9 June. More details will follow.

We were grateful to receive ten Family Support Boxes from St Vinnies Camperdown this week, supported by Geelong Food Relief.  We thank Elise McKinnon for her organisation of this generous support for local families.  If you, or someone you know in the community, would benefit from confidential support through receipt of one of these boxes please contact me as soon as possible at  principal@mercy.vic.edu.au.

We are now half way through a busy but enjoyable term.  It has been wonderful for our community to return to “normal” with not only valuable and engaging learning opportunities in our classrooms but opportunities to join together as a Mercy community.  I draw your attention to the "Upcoming Dates and Events" section later in the newsletter.

We congratulate Mercy Alumnus, Paul Jans, on his appointment to Assistant Director: Business Services for Catholic Education Ballarat (CEB).

Last weekend in our parishes we celebrated Pentecost. I hope you enjoyed the prayer A Rushing Wind shared by DOBCEL and authored by Joyce Rupp.

With kindness
Sharon Gillett
Principal

Learning at Mercy

Semester 1 Report Writing Day / Student Free Day 

On Wednesday, 9 June, the College has a designated Student Free Day.  Students completing a Unit 3/4 sequence will be sitting the General Achievement Test (GAT), please see below the arrangements from Mrs Danae Fraser. 

Daniel Glennen 
Assistant Principal - Learning

General Achievement Test (GAT) 

VCE students who are studying Unit 3/4 subject(s) will be sitting the General Achievement Test (GAT) on Wednesday, 9 June 2021.  The GAT will be held at the Camperdown College Hall. 

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) requires all students from Years 11 and 12 who are studying one or more Unit 3 and 4 sequences to sit the GAT.  This task is completed over three hours in strict exam conditions.  The results are used in helping the assessment of exams, particularly where there are difficulties in reaching an agreement over a specific result. 

I quote below from the VCAA definition of  GAT’s role and its importance: 

Although GAT results do not count directly towards a student's VCE results, they play an important role in checking that school assessments and examinations have been accurately assess, and in determining Derived Examination Scores.  So it is important to sit the GAT and do as well as possible on all parts of it.  The GAT is used in these ways because achievement on the GAT is a good predictor of achievement on other assessments.  If students have done well on the GAT, then their achievements are likely to be high on their school assessments and examinations.

Clearly, some GAT questions relate more closely to achievement in particular studies.  The VCAA takes this into account when it calculates students expected achievements in each study for each school.  For example, GAT results in mathematics, science and technology play only a minor part in calculating students expected achievements in humanities studies.

- Contributing to statistical moderation of school-assessed coursework
- Reviewing school assessments in school-assessed tasks
- Checking the accuracy of examination marking
- Calculating the Derived Examination Scores.

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.

A PAM notification has been sent to parents of all students required to sit the GAT.  Please complete the permission form by Friday, 28 May.  The date of the GAT is a student free day for our students who are not sitting the GAT.  Students can make their own arrangements to and from the GAT if they wish.  The bus system is still operating on this day so students who require transport to and from school can still utilise this system.  Students will be supervised back at school, where they can complete private study.  Lunch will be provided to students upon their return to school.  Students are required to wear their full winter uniform. 

Unit 1 Examination Period

The Unit 1 examination period will be held in the period between Thursday, 27 May and Friday, 18 June.  This exam block will be held in class time by each subject.  The students will be issued with a timetable of these exams.  If a student is going to be absent during the exam period they need to make contact with their subject teacher/s to organise alternative arrangements. 

Danae Fraser 
Senior Head of Teaching and Learning

Wellbeing at Mercy

Our Mercy Feast Day provided an opportunity for us to express our Mercy core value of Community.  Students and staff spent time together having fun and feasting.  All the activities were engaging and catered for everyone and those that chose to take it easy and catch up with each other enjoyed the time together.  It was great to see so many smiling faces and students happily engaging in each other's company.  Relationships are so important to us all and it was obvious that we are part of a fantastic supportive community here at MRC.

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The students that participated in yoga and mindfulness have had a good chance to press the reset button.  We, as a wellbeing team, encourage everyone at the halfway point of the term to check in with themselves and take stock of what they have achieved and what is approaching for the rest of Term 2.  It is a great time to check in on your goals or set new ones.  If you are setting some goals use the following guide and remember to set some short (day by day) goals as well:

Again, well done to all students and staff for creating an environment where we all feel welcome, supported and able to accomplish good things.

Keep up the good work.

Wellbeing Team

Do you ever find yourself wondering how you can build a stronger connection with your teenage child, or what’s going to happen when your child reaches adolescence?  If the answer is “yes”, then come along to the Living with Teens event next Tuesday evening, where we will be hosting Helen Diamond, who has 20+ years of experience as a Parenting Support Worker for CatholicCare Victoria.  Helen has a wealth of experience and will provide some advice on how to build strong connections with your teens, help us understand what’s going on for them, how to navigate behaviour and challenging times, and some ways you can look after yourselves as parents.

This is a FREE event and parents and carers from the Mercy community and beyond are welcome to attend.  As we will be providing a light supper, please RSVP at www.bit.ly/livingwithteens so we can cater accordingly.

Faith at Mercy

Pentecost

Pentecost is a Christian holy day that celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit 40 days after Easter. It is known as the ‘Birthday of the Church’.  In simple terms, it is when the apostles went out among the people and began spreading Jesus’ message, establishing the beginning of the Church and fulfilling the promise that Jesus made to them before His death and Resurrection. 

Before Jesus was crucified, he told his disciples that the Holy Spirit would come after him:

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26) 

40 days after Jesus was resurrected (10 days after he ascended into heaven), that promise was fulfilled when Peter and the early Church were in Jerusalem for Pentecost. 

Catholic Education Week 2021 23-29th May

In recognition of 200 years of Catholic education in Australia, Catholic Education Week 2021 will align with school communities across Australia in celebrating this landmark event.  The theme for the week is Faith in the Future which speaks of the essence of hope in faith, so needed against the backdrop of this year.

A central focus of this week at MRC was the celebration of our Feast Day Mass - the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, Patron of Australia, on Monday, 24 May. 

Catholic Education Week provides a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the contribution that our schools make to our local communities. It is also a week to recognise the contribution of those who came before us to build Catholic education in Australia and we look to the future with faith and hope for the contribution of generations to come. 

Kellie Wilson
Leader of Catholic Identity, Mission and Ethos

Maths Pathway

It was lovely to catch up with many of our parents at parent teacher interviews.  Lots of parents had questions about the Maths Pathway program and how it works.  It is a different model of learning to what most of us have grown up with, and as such, I am sure many of you have questions about how it works.

In the coming newsletters I will be including a section on ‘frequently asked questions’.

If there are any questions you would like me to address in the newsletter please send me an email.  You can also contact your child’s teacher should you have any questions.

Leanne Delahunty
Maths Domain Leader

Frequenty Asked Questions

Does my child spend all their maths classes working on their computer?
No.  Modules and one part of the test is computer based, everything else is not.
Your child will be completing a variety of different learning activities, including:

• Rich Learning Tasks
• Mini lessons
• Energizers
• Teacher led whole class lessons
• Modules
• Fortnightly individualised test
• Individual one on one teacher support
• Projects

Your child’s maths teacher has emailed some more detail about each of these to parents.

Should my child be doing Maths Pathway homework?
Yes.
All students from year 7 to 9 are required to complete at least one module per cycle (fortnight) for homework.  Students can of course complete more at home and are encouraged to do so. 

If my child is stuck on a question whilst doing homework how can they get help?
There are a number of things that students and parents can do should your child not know how to answer a question.

• Watch the video. All modules have short videos attached which explain the associated mathematical concept.
• Check the answer. Looking at the answer and working backwards to the question is a good strategy in order to decipher a concept and learn a mathematical technique.
• Email your teacher. The teacher will not be able to give an immediate response but will get back to you as soon as they can.
• If all of the above fails, your child can stop working on the module and choose a different one to work on. They can then talk to their teacher in the next lesson about the module which has them stumped.

Library Resource Centre Report

Students were able to enjoy an out-of-this-world experience last week when they joined Dr Shannon Walker from NASA’s International Space Station for a special reading of Give Me Some Space!  This event was part of the National Library & Information Week and highlighted their annual National Simultaneous Storytime where students from around the country come together to enjoy a story written and illustrated by a talented Australian author and illustrator.  Students watched on the big screen in the O'Keeffe library to see this amazing event take place.

Author Philip Bunting replied to our instagram post with a message for our students:

Astronomical thanks for supporting NSS – I really hope everyone enjoyed the reading! Please say g’day to all of your Astronauts-in-Waiting from me :) ✨🛰️🚀

Next Monday, 31 May, our first Mercy Book Club will take place in the John Tindley Resource Centre (Library), at Camperdown from 6.45pm to 8.00pm.  If you enjoy reading and lively discussions in an informal, social setting please come along.  Two books have been suggested, it will not matter at all if you haven’t read both.

Happy reading!

Maureen O’Loughlan
Library Manager

If you enjoy a good book and some informal discussion in a social setting - this is the place for you!  The first two books on our reading list will be (you do not need to read both):

• Lenny's Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee
• The Guest List by Lucy Foley

You can pick up these books from your preferred retailer or local library and snuggle up for a good read before our first meeting.  The books can also be found on eBook and audiobook platforms.

Refreshments will be provided. For more information please contact moloughlan@mercy.vic.edu.au.

Outdoor Education Excursion

On Thursday, 13 May, Our Unit 3 Outdoor & Environmental Studies students spent time exploring the Great Ocean Road region.  They visited Apostle Whey Cheese, Gibson Steps, the 12 Apostles and Timboon to look at how we interact with the outdoor environment within the primary industry, recreation, conservation, and tourism. 

How lucky are our students to have spaces like this in our backyard to explore?!

Careers

Try A Career Day

On Friday, 21 May, Year 9 students participated in the annual Try A Career Day at SW TAFE (Sherwood Park) Warrnambool last Friday.  The Expo provided an opportunity for our students to try hands-on activities and talk to people about what is involved in a range of different careers.  These included experiences relating to engineering, sport and recreation, hair and beauty, building/plumbing/electrical, business administration, health, early childhood, and more. Students participated in three sessions of their own choosing, providing them a taste of different career pathways which could link in to their approach for Year 10 Work Experience.

• Apprenticeship and traineeship resources
• Exciting STEM resources
• Chat to a Monash University science student (Year 12)
• Animation and Interactive Media – rankings
• University – early entry programs (Year 12)
• Australian Defence Force Academy
• Law at University of New South Wales (UNSW)
• Flinders University, South Australia – UniTest
• Studying undergraduate teaching courses in Victoria and NSW
• Upcoming career events
  

• Resources for students interested in studying film
• 9 careers in food and nutrition science
• Free STEM job kits
• Amazing career websites – Good Careers Guide, Good Universities Guide, Myfuture, The Footnotes
• How much will your first degree at university cost?
• University early entry – reminders (Yr 12 students)
• Careers in oral health
• Updates from Monash University and Australian Catholic University
• Fun superannuation program – you could win $1000!
• Watch the Year13 Expo webinar recordings
• Upcoming career events and expos
  

Mercy Feast Day

Feast Day 2021 was a truly incredible day for our entire school community.  Thanks to all students and staff who participated so well in all aspects of the day and displayed excellent Mercy spirit. 

We began our day with a whole school Mass at St Patrick’s Church in Camperdown, with local priest Fr Mick McKinnon officiating.  This Mass celebrated our Feast Day which is Mary, Help of Christians - she is also the Patron of Australia. This day also coincided with Catholic Education Week for the Ballarat diocese. We also mark and celebrate 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia. 

Throughout the middle part of the day, students participated in a variety of activities which were designed for students to learn some new skills, bond with class and school friends, meet new people and have fun.  Some of the activities on offer included football skills, a mass Netfit session, yoga, aromatherapy, ‘minute to win it’ games, chess, karaoke, African drumming and mindfulness colouring.  Students also created a beautiful display of 200 crosses which represents 200 years of Catholic education.   This is now on display at our McAuley campus reception. 

Another highlight of the day was the ‘tug-of-war’ event on the oval in between activity events. Students were pitted against each other and then staff vs students and staff vs the Year 12 class.  Ms Gillett, Mr Glennen and Mr Lee were also exceptional sports, letting the students take aim at them with wet sponges through the handball targets! 

Delicious food and beverages were also on offer throughout the day.  We had pancakes, milkshakes, beef, chicken and veggie burgers, baked potatoes, coffees, hot chocolates and Timboon Ice-cream.  A special mention to the middle school leaders for serving pancakes, the $20 Boss class for their organisation and selling of burgers and Paddock to Plate students for their assistance, as well as the VCAL students for making and selling milkshakes. 

Another fabulous tradition at MRC is Mercy’s Got Talent, which was a wonderful finish to our day of celebration.  The amazing Tom Richardson from the All Abilities Choir and Australia’s Got Talent fame led our entire school in a rocking rendition of ‘You’re the Voice’, with incredible back-up performances by our African drumming students from earlier in the day.  Madidi McKenzie and Alex Baker also entertained everyone with some great performances and Mr Bourchier as well. What talented people we have in our midst!

A special shout out to our special guests, including: alumna, Sarah Wall, who ran a Netfit session, Mixx FM who broadcast from the College throughout the day, Tom Richardson who ran African drumming workshops and entertained us, and to Mel Kavenagh, Bree Harrison, Timboon Ice Creamery, and The Milkbar Coffee Van.

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Sport Report

HSSSD Cross Country

On Monday, 17 May, 51 students represented Mercy Regional College at the HSSSD Cross Country event and took out the overall win by a massive 150 points!  All students had an excellent run and have qualified for the Greater West competition at the end of May.

Congratulations to the following students who were age champions on the day:
U13 Girls: Elsie Sinnott
U14 Girls: Taleah Murfett
U14 Boys: Archie Taylor
U15 Boys: Myles Sinnott
U16 Girls: Lara Taylor
U16 Boys: Fred Beasley
U17 Boys: Gryff Dwyer
U18 Boys: Hamish Sinnott

MRC Production Update

Rehearsals for our 2021 production It Snows commence on Sunday, 6 June.

If your child has registered their name to be involved in the production you will have received information via PAM.  Please let me know if your child would like to be part of our college production and you haven't received the relevant information and rehearsal schedule.

Don't forget to save the performance dates to your calender!

Christine Norton
Production Manager

Alumni News

Alumni Return for Feast Day

We had the pleasure of welcoming back some of our alumni for the Feast Day on Monday, 24 May.

Sarah Wall, Class of 2001

Our special guest, Sarah Wall, led an engaging Netfit session with our students.  The session proved to be a great hit with the students who enjoyed a fun work out in the afternoon sun.  In her interview with Mixx FM Sarah shared her memories of Feast Days back when she was a student at Mercy. ‘The highlight of the day used to be a cardboard car race’, Sarah said. ‘The winner would usually be the car that didn’t fall apart on the track!’

Sarah is an acclaimed netball player who played at the elite level for 12 years, with the Melbourne Phoenix, Queensland Firebirds, Melbourne Vixens, Sydney Swifts, and Giants Netball.  In 2012, Sarah created NETBALL Netfit as a program designed to get girls and young women active and to inspire them to do their best.

We would like to thank Sarah for passing some of her energy and passion for Netfit to our students, and we hope to see her at the College again soon.

Chris Barks, Class of 2015

Chris has been a ‘behind the scenes’ man at many Mercy events, helping out with the lights and other technical set up at Mercy’s Got Talent contests.

In the six years since finishing at the College, Chris has managed to try out a number of roles and responsibilities ranging from dairy farming to production and light operations.  He has worked as an events technical officer at the Colac Otway Arts Centre where he set up venues for events, meetings and theatre shows.  In March 2021, Chris was appointed as a producer on Mixx FM, Colac.  On our Feast Day, Chris was once again behind the scenes, switching between the music and the ads and ensuring that the broadcast ran smoothly.

Chris studied sound design and engineering at the Australian College of the Arts but he admits that he prefers learning new skills on the job.  Chris says that having a lot of varied experience has allowed him to find something he truly enjoys doing.

As a piece of advice for our current students, Chris mentions the importance of chasing the dream. “I actually wanted to become a pilot in Year 12 but couldn’t go through with it because of problems with eyesight’, Chris says. ‘I realised that it was only a hurdle in life and that I can find something else I’m good at. One should never give up if the original plan doesn’t work out.’

We thank Chris for his words of wisdom and wish him all the best with his new role. 

Upcoming Dates and Events

23-29 May - Catholic Education Week (celebrating 200 years)

26 May - National Sorry Day

27 May-3 June - Reconciliation Week

Friday, 28 May - HCSN Taster Day - Year 8 Students at McAuley Campus

Monday, 31 May - Book Club

Tuesday, 1 June - Living With Teens parenting event

3-18 June - Unit 1 Exams

Wednesday, 9 June - General Achievement Test (GAT)

Wednesday, 9 June - Report Writing Day (student free for those not sitting the GAT)

Wednesday, 9 June - Parent Forum

Friday, 11 June - No Derrinallum buses running

Monday, 14 June - Public Holiday - Queen's Birthday

Sunday, 20 June - College Production Rehearsals Commence

Friday, 25 June - Applications for Year 7 2022 Enrolments Close

Friday, 25 June - Term 2 Concludes

Wednesday, 28 July - Michael Carr-Greg presentation | Adolesence & Mental Health Awareness, more details to come soon.

Our school calendar is always available to be viewed through the Parent Access Module (PAM) - please see our handy hint in the pictures below. Further details for school events, student excursions, camps, and student assignment due dates, etc, can all be found on the PAM calendar.

Community Notices

South West Skills and Jobs Centre is excited to announce the launch of our brand new website to celebrate National Careers Week 2021!

If you aren’t familiar with this service, we are located at every SWTAFE Campus and offer a wide range of FREE job search, career and course advice services.... but now we’re even more accessible.

We can help anyone in the community with:

• FREE career guidance
• FREE course advice
• FREE university pathway info
• FREE transitioning from study into the workforce support
• FREE assistance with job application and interview skills
• FREE apprenticeship and traineeship support and advice
• FREE support with resume writing
• FREE job search