Mercy News - 11 February 2022
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2022 College Prayer
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Message From Our Principal
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2021 VCE High Achievers
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RE & Identity
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Deputy Principal
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Director of Student Engagement & Wellbeing
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School Psychologists
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Health Updates
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Year 7 Lunchtime at Coburg Lake
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Learning & Wellbeing Level Leader Year 9
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Learning Diversity Team
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Year 7 2024 Applications
2022 College Prayer
Message From Our Principal
Dear Mercy Community
Welcome to our first newsletter for 2022. The beginning of a new school year is always full of energy and excitement and this year no doubt will be no different. As a Mercy community of faith we begin our school year with hope and confidence that the God who has walked with us in the past will continue to accompany us this year too. I especially welcome those of you are new to our College. I hope that you will all soon feel very much a part of our learning community. I am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges that 2022 will bring for all of us, recognizing that we live in very uncertain times.
Our College theme for 2022 is Emerge with Mercy and this has been a focus for staff and students as we have begun our year. Emilia H (Year 12) designed our theme image and shared that: “The reasoning for my design is the developmental process from caterpillar to butterfly representing the hard times we've all had to endure, from COVID-19. 2022 is finally going to be our year, the year we get to emerge from our metaphorical cocoon and grow and thrive as we learn to live in our constantly changing world. The college values are placed on the branch to show that they are all equal and help to hold us up because without the branch, the butterflies would never have been able to start their growth process. I think the branch could symbolize the COVID-19 pandemic because without it the world would look so different and I don't think many of us would have had the opportunity to emerge back into the world stronger than before. Despite the pandemic changing our lives so dramatically, we've learnt to live with it.”
As we emerge with mercy may we like Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy be reminded that it is God who calls us into being.
On Tuesday 8th February, our 2021 VCE Top Achievers were celebrated and recognised for their tremendous achievements at the VCE Academic Awards Assembly. This assembly highlighted not only the gift of excellence in our young people, but also their determination, perseverance, adaptability and mission. It was fantastic to celebrate these achievements, and have these Year 12 and accelerated Year 11 students recognised publically. I know that these examples of excellence will be inspiration for our senior students as they embark on their VCE journey in 2022 and beyond. Congratulations to our 2021 VCE High Achievers who are listed later in this newsletter and to all the Class of 2021 who inspired us all completing their final years of school during a global pandemic.
I am delighted to welcome the following staff new to the College in 2022:
Nicholas Ambrozy – Deputy Principal and teacher of Maths
Joseph Batrouney – Music Teacher
Jane Copsey – Science and Biology teacher
Tess Hickey – Instrumental Cello Teacher
Jennifer Timmins – Instrumental Flute Teacher
We also welcome back from parental leave, Angie Barberi and Suzie El-Khoury
I thank the families that attended our Year 7 and Homeroom session and Year 8-12 Individual Student Support Meetings. These were are a great opportunity for us to establish the home-school relationship. We are constantly reminded of the partnership we share with our parents and guardians in our shared hopes and goals for our students, especially during an unprecedented time in our lives where a safe and nurturing environment for all students is so important. At a time where the concept of Health and Safety are at the forefront of our minds, it is important to recognise that we all have a role to play in protecting children from harm. Communication and partnership with our parents/ guardians and families at Mercy College is paramount. Your child and our students are our greatest gift and working together to promote their learning and wellbeing is our privilege and our responsibility. Our College is committed to working with our community to ensure and promote the safety of our young people. Know that the College Leadership team and our staff are here to support you and your daughter/s, especially in this period of transition to a new school year. Please continue to reach out to us if we can help you or your daughter in any way.
As we begin a new school year, let us reflect on Catherine McAuley’s words, “We must strive to do ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
Let us never lose trust in the patience and mercy of God
Lila McInerney
College Principal
2021 VCE High Achievers
The Mercy community would like to congratualte:
Our College Dux Amy L who achieved an ATAR of 98.2 placing her in the top 2% of the state out of 50,000 students.
The following students who achieved an excellent VCE ATAR score of 90 + placing them in the top 10 % cent of the state:
Danielle C
Maya H
Isabella F
Zofia K
The following students who achieved a subject study score over 40 placing them in the top 10% of the state:
Amy L (Health and Human Development, Business Management, Legal Studies)
Danielle C (English, Music Performance, Studio Arts, Visual Communication and Design)
Zofia K (Polish, English)
Maya H (Biology)
Amelia Z (Health and Human Development)
Jessica M (Studio Arts)
Leann B (Music Performance)
Nitisha S (Health and Human Development)
Olivia R (English)
Sayo D (Legal Studies)
Sandra Y (Health and Human Development)
Chloe C (Accounting)
Anatolia A (Turkish)
A special congratulations to the following students:
Leeann B who was selected to perform at Top Class Drama and Music
Danielle C who was selected to perform at Top Class Music
RE & Identity
Dear Mercy community, many blessings for the new school year. As we begin anew, let us take the struggles and difficulties we have faced over the last two years and emerge stronger and more determined in our endeavours, our gratitude and our faith.
Our College theme for the year resonates with this experience - ‘Emerge with Mercy’. To emerge means to move out of something hidden and become visible and more prominent. As we journey into 2022, it is our strengths that will emerge to address the changing world before us. More importantly, as people of faith in the mercy tradition we emerge with mercy into a world in need of mercy. Mercy is the love of God fulfilled in this world through our actions. These actions are inextricably linked to compassion, justice, dignity, excellence, hospitality, service. Let this be our prominent way of relationship with one another as we emerge into a new and different world.
Theme: Emerge with mercy
As a faith filled community, Mercy College fosters the development of people who are Christ centred, hope filled and agents of change. Rather than allowing our circumstances to define us, we recognise and celebrate the innate gifts we possess and use these to create a new vision for our world. Where we encounter adversity we respond with resilience. Where we encounter disconnection we respond with hospitality. Where we encounter inequality we respond with justice and compassion. As we emerge with mercy, we embrace our full human potential to bring about positive change in our own lives, our community and the world. By bridging the gaps that divide us, reaching out to those in need and fostering excellence in all that we do, we all grow, become and emerge with mercy as one human family.
Josie Dilettoso
Director of RE & Identity
Deputy Principal
To all members of our school learning community I’d like to welcome you to the 2022 school year.
I would also like to introduce myself and share with you an insight into why I wanted to work at Mercy College and be a part of this faith learning community.
For two years I was the Director of Learning and Teaching at Thomas Carr College, Tarneit. Previous to this, I was employed at St Anthony’s Catholic College in Townsville Queensland holding a number of key leadership positions within learning and teaching including Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching. As an educator, I am committed to providing the best learning experience and opportunities for students that will allow them to experience success and to flourish as individuals in all that they do; at school and in life.
Through my previous work in education, I was drawn to the vision of Mercy College and its commitment to empower students to engage in authentic learning within a global context. Learning more about Mercy College, this vision resonated with my own philosophy in that the young people we teach are moulded by the experiences we provide them, and we are called to provide a sense of hope in that all students are aspirational in what they want to achieve.
It is for this reason that I was inspired to seek the opportunity to be a part of this community. Beginning the school year, I am energized by the way the College community has welcomed the academic year under somewhat difficult circumstances. There is a strong feeling amongst staff, students and parents in wanting to be aspirational and there is a commitment to fostering a culture of excellence that will allow students to shine in all that they do. This feeling also brings a strong sense of hope in what students can achieve at Mercy College.
With reference to our College theme, ‘Emerge with Mercy, I can encourage all students to embrace the learning experiences offered at Mercy College and I look forward to sharing this journey with you.
VCE Academic Awards
On Tuesday 8 February we gathered as a school community to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2021.
We congratulate all these students and wish the Class of 2021 every success in the future. In announcing these awards, it is important to acknowledge that these results reflect the hard work and commitment to excellence each of these students showed not only in Year 12 but throughout their time at Mercy College. It is also a result of the support and guidance provided to them from their peers, teachers and parents and as a community we should all be very proud of their efforts.
I encourage each of you to work hard, believe in yourself and be aspirational in committing to excellence. Like many of the students from the Class of 2021, chase your greatness and I wish each of you every success in 2022 and beyond.
Nick Ambrozy
Deputy Principal
Director of Student Engagement & Wellbeing
Welcome to 2022
The return to school for 2022 has been busy. It has been fabulous having students onsite after the Christmas break. The College has had the pleasure of welcoming the Year 7 students and a number of new students in various year levels. There is a lot of excitement in the air for what the new year of learning will bring.
The Year 7 families were formally welcomed to the College at the Year 7 Welcome Sessions. Ms Girolami, Ms Moore, Ms Walker and Mrs El-Khoury met with the students and their families to share some key information and respond to questions about the year.
The Years 8-12 families were involved in the Individual Student Support Meetings. These meetings provided the opportunity to discuss student goals and discuss strategies for success. The meetings continue to enhance the home school partnership which allows open communication and sharing of valuable information that will assist the College to best support each student.
Wellbeing Team 2022
The Wellbeing Team 2022 has welcomed Ms Daniele, Mrs Perin and Mr Kovac. The members of the Wellbeing Team include:
Year 7 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader - Ms Purcell
Year 8 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader - Ms Daniele
Year 9 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader - Mrs Allison Perin
Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader - Mr Petar Kovac
Senior Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader - Ms Anderton
College Psychologists – Jo Banks and Rachel Calalesina.
COVID Procedures for school
If a student is unwell they must stay home.
If a student tests positive for COVID 19 they must quarantine for 7 days and advise the College.
If a student is a close contact they must isolate for 7 days and advise the College. They must get tested on Day 1 of their isolation or as soon as possible with a Rapid Antigen Test or a PCR. The student needs to get tested again on Day 6, if they get a negative test, they can come out of isolation on Day 7.
Positive test results must be reported to the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form or call centre on 1800 675 398.
Students that are close contacts can continue with their learning from home by accessing the work on Google Classroom.
Students that are positive for COVID 19 can continue with their learning from home, if they feel well enough to do so.
In the instance of a positive case at school, communication will be sent to families with information outlining the year level and associated activities. If a student has been impacted, if they feel well, they can continue to go to school and they should monitor for symptoms.
In order to keep the community safe, masks need to be worn indoors. It is also recommended students and staff test twice a week (preferably Tuesday and Thursday) with the Rapid Antigen Tests provided to students.
Secondary School Immunisation Program
The Secondary School Immunisation Program offers free vaccines to all eligible Year 7 and Year 10 students. Below is the schedule for this year.
Year 7 students
March 9 - Diphtheria-tetanus-whooping cough (pertussis) - single injection
Oct 4 - Human papillomavirus (HPV) – two injections, spaced a minimum of six months apart
Year 10 students
May 11 - Meningococcal ACWY – single injection.
This year, be structured enough for success and achievement and flexible enough for creativity and fun. Taylor Duvall
Vanessa Folino
Director of Student Engagement & Wellbeing
School Psychologists
Dear parents, guardians and students,
We hope you had a safe and restful break over the summer holidays. The transition to school after a lengthy break may be smooth for some students, however can be a significant source of anxiety for others. While some students may be excited to see their friends and engage in learning, others may be fearful to leave the comfort and security of their home and loved ones they live with. This may be more pronounced in children with learning or developmental difficulties, who may face more social and academic-related stressors at school.
The return to school this year alongside the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Omicron variant adds a further layer of anxiety for individuals of all ages. For approximately two years we have been reminded daily of the need for physical distancing and practicing good hygiene and sanitisation practices, and have also endured numerous lockdowns implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19. The shift from a “COVID zero” to “COVID normal” approach may be confusing fear-provoking for many students, and contribute to worries that they are not safe at school.
How can parents help their children feel safe and cope with their worries?
Manage your own emotions
We all get anxious and worried at times. In fact, healthy levels of anxiety are important to increase motivation, engagement and keep ourselves safe. Children and adolescents regularly learn from parents and other adults in their lives, such as relatives, teachers, coaches etc. Role modelling effective coping strategies when you are feeling anxious and overwhelmed can help children and adolescents understand healthy ways of coping. These include strategies such as deep breathing, helpful self-talk, problem solving etc. Some children and adolescents benefit from parents explicitly stating out loud what strategy they are using, whilst others may benefit from a more indirect modelling approach.
Validate your child’s feelings
Sometimes, it may seem as though your child’s worries are not rational or logical, and it can be difficult to understand why a young person is worrying and ruminating on a specific thought. Other times, anxiety and worry is clearly rational, for example a fear of contracting COVID-19, or if they have been bullied at school and are worried about going to school in case it re-occurs. No matter what the worry entails, it is important to validate their worries by actively listening, asking them to name the emotion they are feeling, and asking them explicitly what it is they need from you. Sometimes children and adolescents just want someone to listen to them, whereas other times they might seek advice to help them problem-solve.
Promote the use of helpful thinking
After validating your child’s feelings, help them reflect on whether their worry is logical or if they may be catastrophising. In some instances, their worry may in fact be completely rational and understandable (e.g. if they are being bullied, fear of getting COVID, if they have a learning difficulty and find the work challenging). Other times, our thoughts and worries about a situation aren’t as logical, leading to avoidance of situations which are not really dangerous e.g. Not going to school the day of an oral presentation. Try to avoid over-reassuring and instead help your child look for evidence about their worry to evaluate how likely it is to occur, and if it does occur, how bad would the outcome be?
- Has the worry happened before? e.g. Being laughed at or making a mistake during an oral presentation.
- Evaluate the severity of the worst-case scenario e.g. If you made a mistake, how bad would that be? Have other people made mistakes before? What happened to them? Chances are, they may have slipped up during an oral presentation before or made an error on a test, and nothing significant happened.
For worries that are rational, this strategy may need to be adapted e.g. COVID-related worries, bullying. For COVID-related worries, remind your child that the return to school is based on medical advice, and there are practices in place to keep the whole school community safe.
Help them focus on what is in their control
Helping your child focus on what they can do helps promote a sense of certainty and control, thereby decreasing their anxiety. This is particularly helpful for worries which are logical in their nature e.g. Being bullied at school, finding schoolwork difficult if they have a learning difficulty, contracting COVID-19. For example:
- Knowing who to ask for at school for help when needed (for academic and social issues).
- Keeping a diary of what is due and having a daily study planner of tasks to complete to stay on top of their work.
- Using effective study techniques.
- Attending the homework club. afterschool for extra help.
- Practicing good hygiene practices to minimise the risk of transmission of COVID-19 e.g. physical distancing, wearing a mask, sanitising, staying home if unwell etc.
What to look out for:
Signs that your child may be experiencing anxiety about going to school include:
- Complaining about physical illness e.g. headaches, stomach aches, sore throat.
- Ruminating and talking about the situation that is worrying them.
- Saying out loud they don’t want to go to school or refusing to go.
- Tearfulness.
- Irritable or moodiness e.g. frustrated easily, impatient, argumentative.
- Social withdrawal e.g. spending lots of time in their room.
- Asking for reassurance about things.
- “What if” statements.
- Taking a longer time than usual to get ready in the mornings.
- Changes in appetite (eating more or less).
- Changes in sleep (sleeping more or less).
If you notice any of the above signs, your child might benefit from some support with a psychologist. Please get in touch with your child’s Year Level Leader to discuss your concerns further to assist you in linking in with us. Alternatively, your child may prefer to speak to someone outside the school setting. In this case, they can obtain a Mental Health Care Plan from their GP.
We wish you all a safe start to the new school year and hope the year brings many positive experiences for us all.
For further information on how to support your teen please see the links below:
https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/supporting-a-young-person/school-refusal/
Jo Banks, Psychologist
Rachel Calalesina, Psychologist
Health Updates
Parent Portal – Medical Information
It is important that the College has the latest medical information for your daughter. Please take the time to review your daughter’s medical information and update when required. All students will have an alert via PAM to validate medical information for 2022 with any current updates, enquiries to reception@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au
Anaphylaxis - Epipens and Excursions
Parents of students that are at risk of Anaphylaxis should be aware that, in response to Ministerial Order 706, it is College policy and a requirement of legislation that students who attend the College must have supplied the College with a valid Epipen and a current Anaphylaxis Action Plan for their personal use. In order for a student to attend an excursion or event off the premises they must carry their individual College Epipen and their spare Epipen from home with them in order to attend that event. This is to ensure that sufficient medications are available should the student require them. Parents/guardians are required to update their daughter’s expired Epipen and Anaphylaxis Action Plan as soon as possible. Epipens and Action Plans need to be delivered to College Reception.
Asthma
It is advised for students who have asthma to carry their own reliever medication such as Ventolin in their pockets, however the College is able to supply Ventolin to a student who does not have their asthma medication and spacer on hand. The administration of Ventolin is done after consulting your daughter’s Asthma Action Plan from PAM. If your duaghter does not have an asthma action plan and the situation is not deemed an emergency, the College will ring the parent/guardian to have permission granted to administer the medication. In the event of an asthma medical emergency and you have not supplied a current action plan, staff would follow emergency asthma care guidelines and an ambulance called.
Asthma Action Plans
Parents/guardians of students with Asthma are required to check their daughter’s medical profile and ensure that they have supplied a current Asthma Action Plan signed by a Doctor to the College and have uploaded this plan to their son’s medical profile on PAM. You can also email the Asthma Action Plan as an attachment to reception@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au. Action and management plans for all significant health issues allow our staff the ability to act quickly with the appropriate guidance to assist your daughter. Students with other significant health issues are requested that their management plans for their condition are delivered to Reception.
Year 7 Lunchtime at Coburg Lake
A number of Year 7 students signed up to go on the first lunchtime walk to Coburg Lake. These will be taking place every Wednesday B in Term 1 and are a great opportunity to develop new friendships. Our students enjoyed playing on the playground, eating their lunch in the shade and getting to know some of their peers in their homerooms.
Learning & Wellbeing Level Leader Year 9
A warm welcome to you all from the Year 9 Team and the Year 9 students. We have had a busy yet positive start to 2022 and hopefully now settling in to our classes and the study ahead of us. Below are some reflections from the three Year 9 Homerooms. Many thanks to the students who contributed to these words as well as their Homeroom Teachers.
9A - Mr Moss
9B - Mr Malisani
9C - Ms Toll/Ms Szuba
Allison Perin - Year 9 Level Leader
After leaving the excitement of the holidays, we were nervous about starting Year Nine and making new friends. With nervousness comes the excitement of the possibility of making new friends and meeting new teachers. We were also very happy to take the opportunity of seeing our friends and teachers again. The teachers were so supportive and inviting. They helped us focus more in class and helped us to stay on top of our work. The electives offered new opportunities to learn skills in other areas. With new friends and old ones too, we are happy with the way Year nine has started.
The students of 9A
Returning to Mercy College as a Year 9 student was a little daunting at first. During our orientation day, I got the opportunity to reconnect with my friends and bond with my class through games and discussions. I am now very excited to pursue my chosen electives and make amazing memories in 2022. Even if there are struggles throughout the year, I know I have my classmates and teachers to support me along the way. Although I'll miss the holidays, I'm grateful for the fresh start that the new school year brings, and I look forward to what it has in store for me.
Lucy S, 9B
To say I woke up with a smile on my face on Tuesday morning would be lying. I was not looking forward to it at all. However, when I got to school, I was ecstatic to see my friends again after being apart and I was ready for the day. It was so nice to be surrounded by new and familiar faces. We spent most of Orientation Day getting to know our new Homeroom classes and doing some 'mindfulness' colouring before we went and had our official school photos taken. Then came Wednesday, when our first lessons began. It was all of the Year 9s first go at electives. Some had Art or World Food Traveller, but I went to Media and Rock Band. They were both entertaining and intriguing lessons. Overall, it was an exhausting but fun start to the new school year in 2022.
Darcy M, 9C
Learning Diversity Team
Need some extra help with homework or preparing for a test?
The Learning Diversity Team are here to help every day in the library.
The team working with you will be: Ms Louis, Mrs Catania, Ms Presa or Ms Firth.
Lunchtime Support:
Every Lunchtime in the Library 12:50 to 1:35pm
Homework Club:
Monday to Thursday 3:30 to 5:00pm
Friday 3:30 to 4:00pm
See you there!