MRC The Week Ahead 2024 Term 3 Week 5
Junior School
Week 5 Already!
We hit the halfway point of Term 3 this week. This week is an activity free week, where we try to focus on students being in the classroom to continue with assessment and classwork. It has been great to see students engaging in a range of classroom activities in recent weeks.
The Year 8 students will have their Retreat in Week 7 which will be held at the Noorat Community Centre, more details will follow in coming weeks. Year 8’s will be looking at 2025 subject selections also later in the term and will finish the term with a day in Ballarat playing football against Damascus College for the McAuley Cup and Shield for both girls and boys football.
Cyber Safety- Susan McLean - Cyber Cop
As I mentioned last week, over the course of the next few weeks we will add a link in the Week Ahead which will help support parents and students with the navigation of the online world.
This week's link is about Sexting and Sending Nude images.
https://www.cybersafetysolutions.com.au/sexting-and-sending-nudes/
Breast Cancer - Shave for A Cure
Well done to all the Senior students who were involved in an amazing day on Tuesday at the McAuley Campus. It was great to be a part of such a wonderful afternoon. Congratulations to all the staff, students, families and community members who were there to support the day.
AMAZING EFFORT…
Bullying NO WAY Week
12 - 16 August is Bullying NO WAY week. This year the theme is “Belonging” and a reminder that we all belong and are a vital part of our various communities; such as family, school, sports, recreation, work, friendship groups and beyond. All students and staff are welcome to wear a splash of orange or purple throughout the week to support strengthening our communities through enabling belonging. Bullying can be diminished through the questioning of stereotypes, displaying of empathy/compassion, embracing diversity, building positive relationships and seeking support when we are feeling the need.
Let us use this week to really become mindful of how we respond to those around us and how we can create a sense of belonging for all within our College and wider communities!!
For further information view this clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL9NVUM2vzQ
OR visit:
https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/preventing-bullying/national-week-of-action
GWR Soccer
On Wednesday we had a group of students who represented Mercy at the GWR Soccer in Ballarat. Well done to all the students who were involved, it was great to see all the students enjoy their day and come away from the day with a win from their four games.
A Few Reminders for Parents
Bus Passes
A reminder for parents/caregivers if your child requires a bus pass to travel on an alternate bus please make contact with ndarcy@mercy.vic.edu.au as soon as possible. A couple of days notice is required where possible please.
Sick/Leave Early Pass
When your child is sick or needs to leave early for appointments, the process for this is to contact the office at O’Keeffe on 5592 5353. The reception staff will then ensure your child is at the office upon your arrival. Students are not to make contact with their parents at any time using their mobile device, or computer via email. If you have any concerns with this please make contact with Matthew Irving directly at mirving@mercy.vic.edu.au.
Phones/Watches
A reminder to parents and students that mobile phones are not permitted to be at school. Over recent weeks we have found that a number of students are using their phones in the toilets at recess and lunch times. This is not permitted and students will have their phones confiscated and then will need to hand them into the office each day for 5 days.
We have also had some reports of students texting each other or their parents using their watches. Please ensure that students' watches are not used during school hours, otherwise they will be treated like phones and confiscated from them for a number of days.
Contacts
We encourage you to contact your child’s MERCY teacher if you have any queries, questions or worries throughout the school year.
7A: Mr Tim Woodmason - twoodmason@mercy.vic.edu.au
7B: Mrs Leah Sinnott - lsinnott@mercy.vic.edu.au
7C: Mr Matt Irving - mirving@mercy.vic.edu.au
8A: Mrs Melanie Bourchier - mbourchier@mercy.vic.edu.au
8B: Miss Georgia O'Leary - goleary@mercy.vic.edu.au
8C: Mrs Mel Simmonds - msimmonds@mercy.vic.edu.au
O'Keeffe Leader/Assistant Principal
Matthew Irving - mirving@mercy.vic.edu.au
Kind regards,
Matthew Irving- Assistant Principal - O'Keeffe Campus
Tim Woodmason - O'Keeffe Campus Assistant
Upcoming Events
Term 3
Week 5 - Activity Free Week
Friday 15 August - GWR Table Tennis and GWR Basketball
Middle School
Term 3 Week 5
Winter illnesses have well and truly set in and we understand the need to rest and recover at home. Over this coming week community leaders will be sending home letters to families whose child’s attendance has fallen below 90%. This letter is an awareness letter just to highlight your child's attendance, as something to be mindful of over the remainder of the term and semester.
Although the next couple of weeks have fewer extra curricular activities, there is still a lot happening to keep us busy in Middle School classrooms. Students are consolidating skills and working towards completing assessment tasks, leading into reporting and parent teacher interviews in the coming weeks. As always, please keep an eye out on PAM for classwork and homework task due dates and marks.
Throughout the past week, the Olympics have provided a great talking point with many classes taking an interest especially those that put Camperdown in the spotlight. We also enjoyed an amazing day for our Breast Cancer Network Australia fundraiser on Tuesday. Our Senior students have done an incredible job of fundraising, and ran a terrific day for our whole school community, which will bring our total to over $30,000. The fundraiser is still active for anyone wishing to make a donation. A particular highlight was seeing our Middle School maths teacher Mr Daniel Glennen shed his beard. Well done to those Middle School students who won prizes in the raffles and activities on the day.
Seeds of Justice Event 2024
Seeds of Justice is a Mercy Schools event held each year in Anglesea. This year's event is occuring on September 5 and 6. It is a chance to mix with like minded people interested in social justice issues and the way we, as people of Mercy, can support others. The guest speaker this year is the Head of Community engagement at McAuley Services for Women.
If you would like more information on the event or would like to express your interest in attending please contact Mrs Saunders (jsaunders@mercy.vic.edu.au) or Mrs Bourchier, (mbourchier@mercy.vic.edu.au)
Science Competition
The Science Competition is happening this week. Students that have elected to participated need to keep an eye on their emails and SIMON messages for all communication regarding the event.
2025 Subject Selections
This important process continues over the coming weeks. Mrs Josiane Gardner will be reaching out to those Year 9 students who have applied to accelerate into a VET or VCE subject next year, to arrange interviews and discussions with families where required. Please get in touch with any questions.
Cyber Safety- Susan McLean - Cyber Cop
As I mentioned last week, over the course of the next few weeks we will add a link in the Week Ahead which will help support parents and students with the navigation of the online world.
This week's link is about Sexting and Sending Nude images.
https://www.cybersafetysolutions.com.au/sexting-and-sending-nudes/
Kind regards,
Lydia Darcy and Nickeeta Roache - Middle Years Community Leaders
Upcoming Events
Term 3
Week 5
Tuesday 13 August - Tindley HOUSE Day
Thursday 15 August - GWR Intermediate and Senior Basketball - Check PAM for Permissions
Week 7
Thursday 22 August - Clay Target Shooting Noorat Gun Club - Selected Students
Week 8
Friday 4 September - Year 7-11 PSTI
Week 10
Wednesday 18 September - McAuley Cup
Thursday 19 September - Students last day for classes Term 3 - Normal finish time.
Friday 20 September - Student Free Day - Teacher Professional Learning
Senior School
Shave for Breast Cancer - Thank you
In a remarkable display of solidarity, our Senior Students, along with staff member Dan Glennen, participated in the Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) initiative by shaving their heads, beards, and cutting hair to donate for wig-making.
Their efforts were met with overwhelming support from peers across Years 7 to 12, staff, families, friends, and community groups who joined in to bolster their fundraising which will now exceed $30,000. We are also grateful to the community groups that donated goods for prizes!
We continue to keep our staff Jude and Kym, as well as all friends, family, and community members who may be battling cancer or illness in our prayers.
Well done Class of 2024!
Mercy Regional College in BRAVE4BCNA 2024
Cyber Safety- Susan McLean - Cyber Cop
As I mentioned last week, over the course of the next few weeks we will add a link in the Week Ahead which will help support parents and students with the navigation of the online world.
This week's link is about Sexting and Sending Nude images.
https://www.cybersafetysolutions.com.au/sexting-and-sending-nudes/
Students Driving to School
If any students who have their driving licence and are intending to drive to school, please call in to see Rose to collect the form to register your details.
P.A.R.T.Y PROGRAM - Invite for Year 11 Students
The P.A.R.T.Y. Program has run at The Alfred since 2009 as an initiative of the National Trauma Research Institute (NTRI) (www.ntri.org.au). The "P.A.R.T.Y. at The Alfred" programs provides participants with an authentic experience to create insight into the consequences that patients and their families are faced with because of risk‐related trauma.
Participants engage with paramedics, doctors, nurses, allied health practitioners, patients and their families in the hospital or outreach setting. Learning occurs through a combination of classroom‐based information delivery, interactive scenario based learning and proactive demonstrations.
The P.A.R.T.Y (Prevent Alcohol & Risk-Related Trauma in Youth Groups) is a program that focuses on injury prevention. It takes students from an educational environment into a clinical environment showing first hand the consequences of a risk-taking behaviour.
DETAILS:
- Thursday 31 October
- 9.00am - 3.00pm
- Approximate time leaving from Camperdown - 6.00am
- Approximate time arriving at Camperdown - 6.00pm
There are limited spots available for this program (30). The first 30 students to submit this form will be allowed to attend (parent consent will also need to be obtained). All Year 11 students have been invited to apply for this program. Please discuss this with your child if you would like them to attend or call Berni at school if you would like to discuss further. There are a few links below for you to watch that give great insight to the program.
P.A.R.T.Y Program (extended version)
P.A.R.T.Y returns to The Alfred
Reminder: Student Illness or Absence and Medical Certificates
Now that we are into Term 2 and the weather is beginning to turn, it will be important for senior students to source medical certificates if they miss school due to illness. This can form evidence for special consideration in the case of extended absences, which are always unpredictable.
As we have clocked over halfway through the year, we would like to take this opportunity to remind parents to contact the school if your son/daughter is going to be absent. Please call and inform the office on 5593 2011.
Kind regards,
Berni Sinnott - Senior School Community Leader
Upcoming Event
Term 3
Week 5
Tuesday 13 August - Tindley House Day
Wednesday 15 August- The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- GWR Intermediate and Senior Basketball
- GWR Table Tennis
Week 6
Monday 19 August - Year 12 VCE VM Literacy Excursion
Wednesday 21 August - Southwest Clay Shooting - Noorat