Mercy News - Friday 9th September 2022
Key Dates
Monday 12th September
- School Photoshoot
- VCE Music Incursion: Lunchtime Concert with Parade
Tuesday 13th September
- Year 9 Wellbeing Incursion: Preventative Mental Health Workshops
- Years 10 & 11 Science Excursion: Adaptations for Survival
Thursday 15th September
- Mercy Day
- VCE Music Incursion: Showcase Performance with Parade
- Last day of Term 3 for students
Friday 16th September
- Staff Spirituality Day (Student Free Day)
Monday 19th to Thursday 22nd September
- VCE Units 3 & 4 Trial Exams
Monday 3rd October
- Term 4 begins
Wednesday 5th October & Wednesday 12th October
- Graduation Mass Practice
Prayer
Message From Our Principal
NATIONAL CHILD PROTECTION WEEK: 4-10 September and R U OK? Day: 8 September
This week we have focused on National Child Protection Week, where R U Ok Day was in the middle of the week. The theme this year for National Child Protection Week is ‘Every child in every community needs a fair go’. It asks us to reflect on the support that children need to grow into confident and trusting adults, free from abuse of every kind. We know that the best way to ensure that children are protected is to protect children.
We are reminded with R U Ok Day? That a conversation can change a life.
Throughout the day we were inspired and empowered to meaningfully connect with people around us to start a conversation with those who may be struggling with life.
We told each other that:
You don’t need to be an expert to reach out-just a good friend and a great listener.
These four steps and a conversation could change a life:
- Ask R U OK?
- Listen
- Encourage action
- Check in
MERCY DAY - THURSDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER
On the last day of term, it with great excitement and anticipation that we will celebrate Mercy Day. Mercy Day is celebrated across the world on 24 September. It is the anniversary of the opening of the first “House of Mercy” in 1827 in Dublin, Ireland. Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, saw the great need and devoted her life to the poor, sick and uneducated, and today we, as a College, continue her legacy of hospitality and compassion in the name of Mercy. For us Mercy Day will include Eucharist with Bishop Terry Curtin-Episcopal Vicar for the Northern Region, the announcement of the Spirit of Mercy Award, our Mercy Day carnival which combines fundraising and the Term 3 Student of the Term Awards and announcement of the 2023 Student Executive. We pray it is a great celebration for us as a college. Families are welcome to join us for our Mercy day Mass which will take place in McAuley Hall at 9.30am.
Prayers
As a Mercy College community, we pray for Ana Ambrozy and her family (grandmother of Nick Ambrozy – Deputy Principal Staff).
“Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and may your perpetual light shine upon her. May her souls, and the souls of all the faithfully departed, rest in peace. Amen.
Let us never lose trust in the patience and mercy of God.
Lila McInerney
Principal
Student Executive Reflection
The year 2022 has been very exciting for the Music Department, with most of our events occurring during term 3. The dedication and diligence of music students and staff has been showcased during our lunchtime concerts, music recital and the performing arts concert, which has been very fulfilling and fun.
Just last week the Mercy Concert Band had the opportunity to perform at the Victorian Schools Music Festival at the Hawthorn Arts Centre for the first time. It was very exciting to be able to perform as a band, listen to the performances of other schools and receive some feedback from the adjudicators. We also were able to receive an award plaque of gold for our performance!
Geraldine G
Music Captain (Year 12, SHG3)
RE and Identity
On a cold and rainy night, twenty-three young Mercy people chose to learn more about the issue of homelessness in Melbourne and slept rough for one night. The students are to be congratulated for their focus, participation and involvement in the first ever Mercy College Winter Sleepout. A special congratulations to Ms Moore and the VCAL class for having organised this event that raises awareness of the issues of homelessness in Melbourne. A special thanks to Ms Moore and Mr Moss who also slept rough, and to Ms McInerney and Mr Ambrozy who stayed part of the night with us at the school.
The total money raised by the Mercy Community was $1,744.50. An amazing contribution to the Vinnies Winter Appeal. Thank you to all those who donated to Vinnies. Money raised helps run the soup vans that cater to the people of Melbourne who are experiencing homelessness every night.
Social action is an important part of being a Mercy person. Placing yourself in the shoes of others, helps us to understand the issues and break down barriers of fear and prejudice. Thank-you to Sammy from Jesuit Social Services who was brave enough to share his story of homelessness, and to the students who welcomed him with compassion and generosity.
Well done!
Seasons of Creation
The Season of Creation is a time for people of faith to renew their relationship with the Creator and with creation, through celebration, prayer, advocacy and action for our common home.
During the month of September, the College has entered into the celebration of Season of Creation through prayer, advocacy and action for our common home.
The theme this year is ‘Listen to the Voice of Creation’. Prayer for the month of September begins with a clip that voices the concern that creation has. The students have listened to the voice of Mother Nature, Water, Coral Reef, the Forest and the Rivers.
In celebrating Seasons of Creation, all homerooms will be involved in an action for the environment by planting succulents in the Jubilee Garden. They will take responsibility throughout the year to nurture and look after their succulent for future students to enjoy.
Numeracy in the Curriculum - RE and Numeracy
Students in Religious Education come across numeracy in many shapes and forms. Every time we use a calendar, look at historical events within a timeline, create an assessment task that requires measurement, use Roman Numerals for Popes and Stations of the Cross, look up a bible reference, create a Haiku poem about creation, use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast challenges to the Church from society or look at the census figures for Religion in Australia as a basis of analysis, students are using numeracy skills. Have a look at what our Mercy students have been doing…
Year 9 RE
Year 9 Students were given an event in the History of the Church in Australia. They had to create a poster regarding the event and then place that event within an historical timeline.
Year 9 Students have been studying The Second Vatican Council and have been looking at those involved. This included Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI. We also studied the changes to Vatican II. Here the students need to recognise the Roman Numerals when speaking about the Council and the two popes involved.
Year 7 students have been learning how to look up a biblical reference using the numeracy code need to decipher what section to read in a Bible.
Students study each element of the Biblical reference and then practice using a number of references. Below is the tool we use to help student decipher the reference in the Bible.
Finally our Year 10 students have been looking the various census data regarding religion in Australia. Below is some of the data they have been studying which looks at graphs and percentage. They are asked to analyse what they see, what do they think is going on and what changes have occurred.
Josie Dilettoso
Director of RE and Identity
Deputy Principal
In Victoria, we have witnessed the extraordinary endeavours of educators in all sectors, responding to multiple lockdowns throughout the past two years. In the school sector, remote schooling has been provided for more than 40 per cent of the available school days during this time.
Source: Education Change and the Pandemic by Professor David Gurr (The University of Melbourne)
The above extract is from a recent publication shared with Victorian school leaders. The full report draws reference to the current challenges faced across most schools and explains whilst lockdowns now seem to have ended, the effects of the pandemic are continuing. These include factors such as ongoing COVID-related student and teacher absences, gaps in student learning and the increased wellbeing needs of young people as they as they transition from extended periods of remote learning.
With the end of the term now upon us, this report is a timely reminder that despite the ongoing effects of the pandemic, our ability as a Catholic learning community to work in partnership with each other has allowed us to maintain a high degree of learning for our students throughout this term. This also extends to supporting the overall wellbeing needs of our students whilst creating a learning environment that reflects our commitment to improving student learning across all year levels.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to all our students, staff and families for the way each of you have supported each other and have continued to adapt to the on-going effects of the pandemic. I wish you all the best for the upcoming term holidays and look forward in continuing to support the learning and wellbeing needs of our students.
Term 3, Week 9 students are feeling the weight of assessments, exam preparation and pressures of daily life, we are ensuring all students can access the right support through the wellbeing team and counselling team.
As a general reminder the Homeroom Teacher is the first port of call, when families need to contact the College or students need to speak to a teacher, please ensure you contact the Homeroom Teacher as they are the core teacher who sees your child every day.
In addition to supporting conversations ReachOut https://au.reachout.com/ has some fabulous resources that can help guide and support those stressors. Particularly focussed on Mental health, problem solving, exam stress, work, and study.
Trial Examinations Year 11 and 12
Between Monday 19 September and Thursday 22 September, all VCE students who are currently completing a scored VCE Unit 3 and 4 Subject will participate in a trial examination period. It is important that all students are available to be at school on those days, so we would ask that you do not make other arrangements at that time.
All VCE Unit 3 and 4 students have received a copy of the examination timetable for this period.
2022 NAPLAN Results
The NAPLAN results for Year 7 and Year 9 have been received by the College and the Individual student report will be mailed to parents in the coming days.
The College does not keep a copy of the NAPLAN on file so please make sure that this is kept in a safe place. Misplaced copies are issued from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) directly.
A copy of the Frequently asked questions – Individual student reports pamphlet will also been included with the NAPLAN results and is available via the VCAA website.
https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/assessment/f-10assessment/naplan/Pages/parents/index.aspx
The Frequently asked questions – Individual student reports pamphlet is also available in other languages from the VCAA website.
Reporting Milestones
At Mercy College there is a strong emphasis on providing feedback to all involved in the learning partnership (students, teachers, parents/guardians and the community). Feedback is viewed as a crucial part of improving and empowering performance. Mercy College provides students and families’ access to continuous online reporting.
Reporting Milestones will be available for parents to access via PAM from Monday 12 September where each subject reports on at least one task per term.
VCE Revision Program - book now and use until exams!
Each year the Mathematical Association of Victoria prepares a very successful VCE revision package for students in the three VCE Mathematics studies:
Mathematical Methods
Specialist Mathematics
Further Mathematics.
The Mathematical Association of Victoria developed a self-paced, interactive, online VCE Revision Course for all 3 maths studies.
The program received incredibly positive feedback as it was jam-packed with useful information and advice, and accessible all the way until the end of the VCE exams.
Head to the website for more information and registrations: https://www.mav.vic.edu.au/Student-activities/VCE revision-program
All course videos are delivered by highly qualified, experienced teachers who are current VCAA exam assessors. This means that the information the students receive will be the most relevant and up-to-date, and the tips will be based on where students typically make mistakes in their VCE exams. Furthermore, the courses feature technology videos created by TI and CASIO experts.
Nicholas Ambrozy
Deputy Principal
Languages- Italian
Year 7 Italian Cultural Investigation
Year 7C, as part of their cultural investigation, recently considered what being Italian means.
They were required to decorate their exercise books to depict this Italian ‘vibe’. Here is a collage of their excellent work.
Maria Daniele
Director of Student Engagaement & Wellbeing
VCAL
Mercy College Winter Sleepout 2022
On the evening of Thursday 1st September, Mercy College held its first ever Winter Sleepout. The aim of the sleepout was to raise awareness of the growing issue of homelessness, and to raise money. It was open to all students in Years 9 to12.
The evening began with uncertainty but also with lots of eagerness too as students registered in the Community Hub. This was then followed with a Welcome and a Liturgy. The Liturgy gave us an opportunity to reflect and pray for the less fortunate. The liturgy ended beautifully with a circle of candles. Next on the agenda was a Scavenger Hunt near the West Building based on Homelessness facts and statistics. This activity had been designed by some of the members of the VCAL class. Students were enthusiastic and running around frantically. Most students found it challenging to find the answers, however, we did have a winning team. The winning team won an extra layer of cardboard for their bedding! Then, all students and supervising teachers had dinner in the Jubilee Garden. For dinner, Ms Dilettoso had prepared delicious pumpkin soup and bread rolls- it was divine! Following dinner, Sam, our guest speaker, came to talk about his personal story and performed some amazing raps for us. Then we all watched the movie, “Pursuit of Happyness” to end the night. Once the film finished, we all prepared for the sleepout. Some of us slept inside the Community Hub, while the rest of us slept outside in front of the West Building and near the Science Labs. The night was cold and rainy which added to the experience. The following morning on Friday 2nd September, we were very fortunate that Mr Ambrozy and Ms Dilettoso had the barbeque out to make us egg and bacon rolls for breakfast.
Overall, the sleepout was a major success having raised over $1,700 but also because we all were able to put ourselves in the places of the homeless. Although many of us didn’t get much sleep, it was all part of the experience. We are so grateful for all the effort that was put in to make it such a success, and hopefully the Winter Sleepout can become an annual event!
By Nethu W
Thank you to Ms Dilettoso for her expert guidance of how to successfully implement this event. Thanks to Ms Dilettoso and Mr Moss for sleeping overnight to supervise. Thank you also to Ms McInerney and Mr Ambrozy for assisting with supervision during the evening. We are also grateful to Fort Knox Coburg North for generously donating the cardboard boxes to use as beds.
And finally, a big thank you and congratulations to the 2022 VCAL class for organising this event. A great way to demonstrate PDS (Personal Development Skills) Unit 2 competencies, while also raising money for a great cause.
Ms Moore
VCAL Teacher
Performing Arts
This year we had the wonderful opportunity of working and collaborating with Parade Collage for the Mercy College and Parade College Performing Arts Concert. This was a wonderful experience for all music and drama students. Many of the music ensembles, such a Concert Band, Vocal Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble, combined, which meant we were able to perform as part of a much larger group, and create such a wonderful and beautiful sounds together. We also performed together in year levels items, such as the Year 10, Year 12 and VCE Music item, which was a special experience.
Held at the Rivergum Theatre at Parade College, over 150 Mercy and Parade students got to showcase their amazing musical and dramatic talent by playing an instrument, singing or acting across two nights. Both concerts were sold out, and we enjoyed performing to a large and enthusiastic audience. We really appreciate the effort of the Music and Drama staff at both school, as it took a lot of work to put together this extraordinary concert. It is an experience we all enjoyed, and will not forget!
Rebecca D
Year 12 Performing Arts Captain (SHG5)