Mercy News - Friday 19 May 2023
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Key Dates
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Prayer
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Message From Our Principal
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Director: Religious Education and Identity
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Deputy Principal
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Director: Data, Innovation and Growth
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Director: Student Engagement and Wellbeing
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Counsellor’s Corner
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Year 7
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Years 8 & 9 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader
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Senior Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader
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Humanities
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Music and Performing Arts
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Dance
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Homework Club
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Careers @ Mercy
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Community Notices
Key Dates
Friday 19 May
- Musical Production Opening Night (7.30pm show start)
Saturday 20 May
- Musical Production Performance #2 (7.30pm show start)
Sunday 21 May
- Feast of the Ascension of the Lord
Monday 22 May
- VCE PE Excursion: Exercise Physiology Program (9.30am to 12.00pm)
Tuesday 23 May
- Year 12 Text and Traditions Incursion: Art & Scripture with Father Elio Capra (2.30pm to 3.20pm)
Wednesday 24 May
- Year 12 English - SAC 2 (8.30am to 10.19am)
- School Advisory Council Meeting (5.30pm to 7.00pm)
Thursday 25 May
- Year 9 Outdoor Education Excursion: Torquay Overnight Camp and Surfing (depart 1.30pm)
- VCE Art and VCD SAT Folio Support (3.20pm to 4.45pm)
- Musical Production Performance #3 (7.30pm show start)
Friday 26 May
- National Sorry Day
- Year 9 Outdoor Education Excursion: Torquay Overnight Camp & Surfing (return 3.30pm)
- Musical Production Performance #4 (7.30pm show start)
Saturday 27 May
- National Reconciliation Week begins
- Musical Production Closing Night (7.30pm show start)
Sunday 28 May
- Pentecost Sunday
- Discover Mercy Open Morning (10.00am to 11.30am)
Monday 29 May
- Discover Mercy Open Morning (9.30am to 11.00am)
- Discover Mercy Open Evening (6.00pm to 7.30pm)
Tuesday 30 May
- Year 9 Outdoor Education Excursion: Gravity Worx Indoor Rock Climbing (9.00am to 10.15am)
- National Reconciliation Liturgy (11.00am to 12.00pm)
Wednesday 31 May
- Arts in Motion Dance Program (Years 4 to 6 Girls) - Week 1
Thursday 1 June
- CGSAV Cross Country Tournament (7.45am to 3.20pm)
- VCE Art and VCD SAT Folio Support (3.20pm to 4.45pm)
Prayer
A Prayer for Catholic Care Family Week
Loving God, You entrusted your son, Jesus, to grow up in a family, cared for by Mary and Joseph. May their life together as a family be an encouragement and blessing to all families.
We thank you for the commitment and love that young people experience in families, and for the contribution that families make to our community.
We pray especially for families who are facing challenges. May we ensure they receive the support and appreciation they need. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Message From Our Principal
Dear Mercy Community,
What a wonderful day we had today where we gathered as a school community to enjoy our House Athletics Carnival. On a chilly morning our students walked down to Coburg Athletics Track.
The sun came out and in throughout the afternoon and so did some fantastic sprints, long distance running, jumps and throws. Records were broken and the excitement was back for a whole school event on the calendar. Well done to those who competed in the 100m and 800m races and staff involved in the teacher sprint. A fierce battle took place on the home straight. It was so nice to see teachers and students enjoying the day out of the classroom.
At the end of the day, there could only be one winner though and that House was Frayne by 3 points, with Marian in second.
A special thanks to all students that came along and to all teachers and staff who helped with the running of the carnival in all roles from start to finish. Their help was greatly appreciated. All this was under the guidance of Ms Shears - Sport Convenor and the PE staff who coordinated the day.
Family Week: Circle of Inclusion: 15-19 May 2023
This week we have recognised Family Week, where the theme is “Circle of Inclusion”. When you are a member of the Mercy Community, you are in a way becoming part of a bigger family and you are invited to be part of our Mercy family.
Strong family relationships in all their diversities are vital to a young person’s development. As educators we work in many ways to nourish and foster students to build strong and fulfilling relationships, knowing this will sustain them in the future. Family Week is a great opportunity for students, teachers and our school community to reflect on the vital role family plays in enriching and supporting personal growth, strengthening relationships within the school and beyond to the wider community.
“Over and over again we see that family bonds are essential for the stability of relationships in society, for the work of education, and for integral human development, for they are inspired by love, responsible intergenerational solidarity, and mutual trust. These are factors that can make even the most adverse situations more bearable and bring a spirit of trust fraternity to our world, enabling it to feel as a single family, where the greatest attention is paid to those most in need.”
Pope Francis (From his address to the United Nations, Clementine Hall, 2013)
Parents, Guardians and families entrust us with their daughter – to care, nurture and educate all young people in our care. We know that this is an incredible honour and we are committed to working with families to ensure that our students are able to shine at their brightest and fully flourish.
It has been a busy fortnight at Mercy College – with many special events and co-curricular activities taking place amongst the normal operations of deep learning in the classroom and positive experiences all round.
So many opportunities are provided at Mercy for our students on a daily and weekly basis, providing the foundation and growth in our students. I, along with staff, have been fortunate to witness our students shine in a variety of aspects.
Celebrating learning with our newest community members - Year 7
Staring at a new school is always a challenge, especially in making the transition from primary to secondary school. In recognising the 100 days of learning for our Year 7 Mercy students it is important to acknowledge what a remarkable 100 days it has been. Our Year 7 students have fitted in seamlessly to our community, and this was evident in their confidence and joy at the 100 Days Celebrations, where in the evening they presented to their families and peers some of what has happened in this exciting period of time. It was wonderful to welcome our families on site to celebrate with us and them.
Laudato Si' Week: Hope for the Earth. Hope for humanity
Laudato Si Week is being held in Australia: 16 to 24 May (21 to 28 May Internationally) to celebrate the eighth anniversary of the publication of the encyclical Laudato Si’. Hope for the Earth. Hope for humanity, is this year’s guiding theme.
Laudato Si’ Week began as a way to celebrate the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ papal encyclical letter, Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home. Since then, the annual celebration has become a way for all Catholics to unite and rejoice in the progress we’ve made in bringing Laudato Si’ to life and to commit ourselves to further prayer and action for our common home.
College Musical - School of Rock
Wishing our students and the staff who have supported them the best of luck with this year’s College Musical-School of Rock. Tonight is Opening Night and they have all worked so hard with Parade College over the last few months for what promises to be a fantastic musical. I am so looking forward to seeing the performance and thank all involved for what promises to be a great show and wonderful performances over the five shows.
Prayers
As a Mercy College community, we pray for – Madeline Carnibella’s (staff) nonna and her family.
“Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and may your perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul, 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
Director: Religious Education and Identity
This week we have commemorated Catholic Care Family Week. The CEO of CatholicCare Victoria, Agnes Sheehan, explains the importance of acknowledging our families: Families are the building blocks of society. Strong families give individuals the foundation they need to grow, and the support they need to face challenges and setbacks not only now but into the future. They play a vital role in establishing a person’s sense of belonging in the world.
This year’s theme is 'Circle of Inclusion'. No two families are the same, and sometimes our family includes people who aren't related to us. Family are the people we welcome into our circle. Families accept us, support us and love us, in an unconditional way.
For this reason, we have spent the week in Homerooms praying especially for our own families and also our global family. We reflected on the Parable of the Good Samaritan and considered questions like:
Who is our neighbour?
How can we be better neighbours to those around us?
How can we act like the Samaritan in this parable?
Vinnies Food Appeal
Our local St Vincent de Paul in Fawkner is in need of non-perishable food supplies at this time of year. Mercy College is calling out to our community to assist where possible. There will be a donation box at Reception for any non-perishable food items to be donated. Thank you in advance for your support of our local Vinnies!
To staff and students of Mercy College,
VINNIES, like most other charities, is experiencing an increase in requests for assistance from the community primarily in the form of food. At the same time suppliers are also experiencing extreme demand for stock. For this reason I am also approaching other sources like Mercy College with whom we have worked together in the past to ask for help at this time also. I know that your community will do what it can.
Frank Falvo, VINNIES Fawkner
Nima Ballenger
Director: Religious Education and Identity
Deputy Principal
At Mercy College we are committed to fostering a culture of excellence and our expectations are high in our approach to student learning and improving student outcomes. This extends to providing opportunities for students to consolidate and demonstrate their learning through a combination of set assessment tasks and semester-based examinations.
Semester One Examinations
Semester One examinations have been designed to provide students the opportunity to demonstrate their level of progress and achievement based on the key content covered throughout this semester.
These examinations will also provide an indication of the level of student performance across each subject with results included in their semester reports.
- Year 11 Examinations: Tuesday 6 June to Friday 9 June
- Years 9 and 10 Examinations: Thursday 8 June to Friday 9 June
Students will receive feedback from their teacher(s) following these examinations with additional feedback placed on SIMON for parents to view. This aim of this feedback is to identify areas of achievement as well as areas for future improvement to support students with their learning.
Further information including a letter to parents outlining the arrangements for these examinations and a Semester One Examination timetable have been made available. These details will also be posted on the Daily Messages on SIMON for all students to access.
In the meantime, please contact your daughter’s subject teacher with any questions related to their overall progress and learning. If you have any questions about the upcoming semester examinations, please contact Mr Nicholas Ambrozy (Deputy Principal).
We wish all students the very best for their upcoming examinations.
General Achievement Test (GAT) – Thursday 15 June.
All students enrolled in one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 sequence are required to sit Sections A and B of the GAT.
Senior VCE-VM students will also sit Section A, which will measure the literacy and numeracy skills of participants against new standards based on the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF).
Sample questions and tasks indicative of questions in Section A of the GAT are now available on the VCAA website, including:
- One writing task
- Ten numeracy questions and answers
- Ten reading questions and answers
As in previous years, no special study is required for the GAT. While the GAT is important, it does not directly count towards a student’s final VCE results. GAT results are used to check that VCE external assessments and school-based assessments have been accurately and fairly assessed. GAT results may also play a part in determining the final score for a VCE external assessment, if a student has a derived examination score approved for that assessment.
Further information relating to the GAT including past GAT examinations can also be accessed via the VCAA website. To view these details, click on VCAA > Assessment > VCE Assessment > GAT.
100 Days of Learning at Year 7
I had the wonderful opportunity to be at the 100 Days of Learning at Year 7 celebration on Monday evening. It was a pleasure to be a part of this occasion with the students, parents and staff that have supported the Year 7 girls throughout their transition to secondary school life.
It was a privilege to witness the girls presentations and hear how their personal stories inspired their learning and extra-curricular activities. It was equally impressive to see how open they were in expressing this in front of their peers and parents and I congratulate each of them for this.
Trial Examinations Year 11 and 12
Between Monday 18 September and Thursday 21 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.
Trial examinations are designed to be as much like the real thing as possible serving several purposes, specifically for the student including
- Identify knowledge gaps and consolidate already acquired information
- Develop exemplary responses
- Identify ‘command terms’ – justify, explain, compare….
- Master timing
- Utilise reading time
- Tracking progress
- Access to examiner reports and identification of common errors or misconceptions.
Most importantly, the feedback from trial examinations will highlight the gaps in knowledge and understanding. Learning how to revise and to be better at examinations can only happen when students are engaged with their trial examinations under the same conditions in which they will experience in the VCAA External Written Assessments.
Nicholas Ambrozy
Deputy Principal
Director: Data, Innovation and Growth
Interpreting Student Results
As a parent/guardian, understanding how to read school assessment grades can be a challenging task. Sometimes, schools use complex systems and jargon to convey a student's academic performance, making it difficult for you to decipher your child's grades accurately. However, it is crucial for you to understand how these grades work to support their child's academic growth and progress.
Here are some tips on how to read school assessment grades:
- Understand the grading system: Each school may have a different grading system and it is essential to familiarise yourself with the grading scale used by your Mercy College. We use letter grades, numerical results or percentage scores. It is also essential to understand that results commonly group around a C, so this is an average level of ability.
- Review the assessment criteria: Before interpreting your child's grades, it also helps to review the assessment criteria for each subject task. Understanding the objectives and expectations of each assessment can help you better understand your child's grades.
- Look at the big picture: A single grade does not provide a comprehensive view of your child's academic performance. It is essential to look at their grades over time to identify any patterns or areas where they may be struggling. Comparing their grades to previous assessments and the class average can help provide a more accurate picture of their academic progress.
- Communicate with teachers: It is crucial to maintain open communication with your child's teachers to understand their academic performance fully. Reach out to teachers if you have any questions or concerns about your child's grades and ask for suggestions on how to support their academic growth.
- Celebrate successes and identify areas for improvement: While it is important to acknowledge and celebrate your child's academic achievements, it is equally important to identify areas where they may need improvement. Use their grades as an opportunity to set goals and work together with them to develop a plan for improvement.
By following these tips and maintaining open communication with teachers, parents can ensure they are well-informed and equipped to help their child succeed.
Lukasz Rabenda
Director: Data, Innovation and Growth
Director: Student Engagement and Wellbeing
On Tuesday 9 May our students from Years 7 to 10 were involved in a presentation from cyber expert Susan McLean. Susan is Australia's foremost expert in the area of cyber safety and young people. She was a member of Victoria Police for 27 years and in 1994 took her first report of cyberbullying involving a group of Year 8 school girls. Susan spoke to our students about the effects of social bullying on people, the legalities around using the internet in a negative way to hurt people and also the way students should be protecting themselves on the internet. Susan highlighted to students that whatever they do and post on the internet remains as a digital footprint, which could impact future job opportunities and informed students to audit their passwords constantly. Susan also talked to students about consent, and underlined the legalities involved around it.
Our College ICT policy also highlights, and is consistent with, the protection of our students from internet harm as well as bullying. The principles from the Mercy ICT policy can be found below.
The use of digital technologies within our school by staff and students at Mercy College are underpinned by the following principles and understandings:
- That digital technologies provide valuable opportunities for staff and students to collaborate, connect and create with peers, colleagues, experts and the wider community.
- That online behaviour will at all times demonstrate respect for the dignity of each person in the community.
- Users will behave in a manner that is ethical when using the internet and network services (even for personal communication).
- The Catholic beliefs and ethos of the school, and professional expectations and standards required by teachers are demonstrated in the way the technologies are used. Inappropriate online behaviour, including cyberbullying, will not be tolerated.
Maria Daniele
Director: Student Engagement and Wellbeing
Counsellor’s Corner
100 Days of Learning in 2023...How are we feeling?
100 days is a fantastic milestone to stop, congratulate ourselves and reflect on all the work that we have done to get this far. It is also a moment where we can do a mental health check-in and say, how are we feeling?
You may be a Year 7 student who has completed your first 100 days at Mercy; or you are in the middle years getting closer to exams; or maybe you are in Year 12 where every term is your last.
You are quite likely a parent with one or several of these students.
How often do you take a moment to recognise these kinds of achievements?
It is important to praise yourself for achievements that take time and effort and are not always competitive or based on tests and assessments.
Whilst assessments are an important part of education, only focusing on these kinds of achievements can have a negative impact on your wellbeing. It can make you self-critical, create a fear of failure and encourage perfectionism.
Parents and students should instead take time to reflect on other types of achievements, such as emotional regulation and social development.
When talking at home, try to reframe negative self-talk and critical language to your loved ones.
Simple changes to how we deal with a problem can make a big difference to our confidence. Instead of saying “I can’t do that”, try saying “I don’t know how to do that yet” or “I am still learning how to do that”.
If your answer to “how are we feeling?” was tired, stressed, drained, sad or angry, firstly know you are not alone. One in two people will struggle with mental health challenges in their lifetime. It is important to put some time aside for self-care and mental health exercise (whatever that looks like for you). If you’re feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start, then you can do a mental health check-in at www.beyondblue.org.au and students can reach out to counsellors at counselling@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au.
Annalivia (Liv) Carli Hannan
School Counsellor
Upcoming Exam Study Workshops
1. How to Make an Exam Study Schedule
- Date: Tuesday May 23
- Time: Lunchtime
- Location: Collaboration Space (near Ms Harvey’s Office)
Overwhelmed = Procrastination
When we feel overwhelmed is when procrastination is at its worst. Drawing up a study schedule will increase your sense of control over your revision and study needs which in turn will reduce feelings of stress and anxiety and will help you to become more efficient with your time.
Come along and learn how to make a schedule and get some tips for overcoming procrastination.
2. Study Tips to Prepare for Exams
- Date: Wednesday May 24
- Time: Lunchtime
- Location: Collaboration Space (near Ms Harvey’s Office)
Keep calm and Be Prepared
Good revision helps you to move information from your short term memory into your long term memory. Think of your long term memory as being like a library – the more organised the information is, the easier it will be able to be retrieved. Not sure how to do this? Come along and find out some tips to help you study and revise more effectively.
3. Interactive Study Sessions
- Dates: Tuesday May 30 and Wednesday May 31
- Time: Lunchtime
- Location: Collaboration Space (near Ms Harvey’s Office)
Keep calm and keep going
Come along with any study questions or to get some revision done on your own or with some friends.
Janine Crociani
School Counsellor
Year 7
This week we celebrated 100 days of learning with our Year 7 students.
The students had a day of activities where they focused on the number 100 in their subject areas. They then celebrated with a morning tea, and later that evening a parent and student evening, where present students were awarded a gift, certificate as well as the famous Mercy cupcake handed out only in Year 7 and 12.
Here are some reflections of Year 7 learning over their 100 days at Mercy:
STEM - Olivia
Year 7 students have participated in a subject called STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Each one of these elements are incorporated into our lessons. Recently we have been learning about forces and physics. In our lessons, we have had to answer questions and solve problems. Our most recent task is to create a parachute to help deliver medications to rural hospitals. In this we have to design a working parachute using household items including a plastic bag, tape, newspaper, etc, to successfully glide down from a height and not break the egg it is carrying. This subject has been extremely fun and I can't wait to see where it takes us.
Science and Religious Education - Kiyara
Science has been fun this year because in my primary school we didn't have science and I really liked the opportunity to try something new. We have two teachers who teach science for Year 7, Mr Hughes and Mrs Weller. Mr Hughes teaches my class. I think one of our best experiences was when we first used the Bunsen burner to evaporate water. While the water was evaporating, my group and another group decided it would be a race. Our Science class is always full of laughter and new experiments. My first two terms at Mercy College have been amazing. I've made so many new friends, and I love the teachers here. They are so kind and really helpful.
In Religious Education, Year 7 students have learnt about our Mercy tradition and how they belong in our school community. They have worked hard during their study of the following units:
- Catherine McAuley
- Modern day stories
- Stations of the Cross and Easter
- Hebrew Scriptures
A highlight of our Religious Education program was the Year 7 Reflection Day on 17 February, where we participated in the ‘Amazing Race’ challenge and sessions run by past Mercy student, Sr Cathy Solano.
English and PE - Violet
In English, we started off with an introduction letter. I wrote in that letter about myself, so my teacher could understand more about me and my writing level. When we write, we mostly work on paper rather than electronics, so we can focus on spelling and writing. When using electronics, you usually get auto-corrected. Through the first few lessons we began watching ‘Wall-E’, which was a movie about the earth and how we should look after it now rather than later. It was related to our planet and how the author made the characters express feelings through actions and expressions. It was really entertaining and fun. English is one of the many subjects that I enjoy and is making an impact in my first year here in Mercy.
Students in Year 7 Physical Education have been focusing on developing their ‘Fundamental Motor Skills’. Students have applied these skills of leaping, dodging, jumping, throwing and pivoting into game sense situations. In addition, students have recently commenced their ‘Fitness testing and Athletics’ unit, where they are understanding various fitness tests.
Maths and Dance - Qaynath
Last term we started learning ancient numerals in Maths, like Egyptian and Roman. However, we quickly moved on to whole numbers and learnt a formula known as B.O.D.M.A.S. In Term 2 we have so far learnt about powers and how to evaluate them and we are currently learning about fractions. I like how we can help each other with studying in class and being able to ask the teacher for help whenever we need it. I am looking forward to more Maths in the future.
In Dance we have enjoyed collaborating with our peers to create interesting warm ups, while thinking about the importance of safe dance practices. We are currently refining the group dance in preparation for the Learning Showcase at the end of Term 2.
Geography, History and Music - Stephanie
In the past 100 days, my class and I have learnt about many different things that happen in our planet and country. We have recently been working on natural disasters that happen in Australia, although some people have been learning about the natural disasters that occur in places like the Philippines, Japan and America. This project has been my favourite geography project so far. I love geography so much, because of our fabulous teacher Mr Moss. He has really helped my classmates and I be more aware of what happens around us during this period of time, especially with the war that is going on. He has helped us be grateful for the safe space we are in, but most importantly he has helped us be the best we all can be. I'm excited to see what I will learn next.
Year 7 History has focused on the migration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders on the continent of Australia. There was a particular focus on identifying historical evidence and the importance of Lake Mungo. Learning was complemented by an excursion to the Melbourne Museum.
Music class for semester one has been learning brass and woodwind instruments – individually and in a band setting. We are putting the final pieces together in preparation for the performance at the Year 7 Band Night on Thursday 8 June We really hope you enjoy the music as much as we have been learning our instruments!
Art and Languages - Peyton
Year 7 Art students have been learning about the art elements and principles, colour theory and focusing on Claude Monet’s famous ‘Water Lilies’ artwork. Understanding the impressionistic technique of small, short sharp brushstrokes has shown that it can be quite a challenge when creating our own artwork.
In Italian, we have learnt simple greetings, numbers, as well as vocabulary and grammar, to describe our personal world. We have been able to write a profile about ourselves and a celebrity. In Indonesian, Year 7s have been introduced to the language through a storytelling approach, where they have co-created stories. Memorable stories including characters such as SpongeBob and an orangutan called Ed have been made!
Wellbeing and Camp - Juliar
The year we participated in a Reflection Day. The theme of the day was ‘Together, we belong’. It was wonderful to see our Year 7s joining in the spirit of this day. It began with The Mercy Amazing Race, to get to know each other and the school. Camp at ‘The Summit’ was amazing, and we enjoyed the different challenges and activities.
Years 8 & 9 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader
As we settle into Term 2, the Middle School Homerooms have reintroduced different activities throughout the week, with the vision to provide a well-rounded approach to student wellbeing and engagement.
1. Goal setting on Monday: Starting the week with goal setting allows students to set their intentions and priorities for the upcoming days. It helps create a sense of focus and direction, setting a positive tone for the rest of the week. By encouraging students to articulate their goals, we are trying to promote self-reflection, motivation, and a proactive mindset.
2. Mindfulness on Wednesday: Midweek mindfulness sessions serve as a reset button, providing students with the opportunity to pause, relax and recharge. Mindfulness practices help foster self-awareness, reduce stress, and improve concentration.
3. Fantastic Friday: Students within each Homeroom work together to complete different contests, with the winning Homeroom each week being awarded 100 points. The Homeroom with the most points at the end of the term are declared winners and receive a special lunch. The winner for Term 1 is MHR5. Congratulations!
Ending the week with fun games during Homeroom helps promote a sense of camaraderie and contributes to a positive school culture. Incorporating these different activities throughout the week, helps create a balanced approach addressing various aspects of student wellbeing. Goal setting promotes motivation and focus, mindfulness cultivates mental and emotional wellbeing, and fun games foster social connection and enjoyment. This holistic approach acknowledges that student success goes beyond academic achievements and encompasses their overall development and happiness.
Tania Benevento
Years 8 & 9 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader
Senior Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader
At the end of Activities Week, our Year 12s had an opportunity to celebrate the year so far with their annual Year 12 Formal. With 'Glitz and Glamour' as the theme, the Year 12s and their partners put on their best outfits and danced all night! We would like to thank the Year 12 Formal Committee who created such an incredible evening for everyone. We would also like to thank all students and teachers who attended to celebrate alongside our students.
As the colder weather approaches fast, it is important to ensure students are wearing their correct winter uniform. Please ensure that students are not wearing any additional jumpers or long sleeves tops under their uniform and are bringing along their jumpers, blazers as well as PE jacket when PE classes are scheduled. If your child cannot wear the correct uniform for a specific reason, this needs to be communicated with the Senior Learning and Wellbeing Leader.
We acknowledge that scheduling appointments can be difficult and that at times, students will need to leave early for an appointment. If your child is required to leave early, a handwritten note, signed by the parent/guardian needs to be given to the Senior Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader to issue a yellow slip. If your child is required to take public transport, this will need to be specified in the note.
As exams are approaching, we acknowledge that this may cause some anxiety around work completion and study habits. If your child is feeling overwhelmed or would like some additional support in their studies, please contact your child's homeroom teacher or reach out to our wonderful counselling team at counselling@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au.
Annie Driver
Senior Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader
Humanities
In the History curriculum, students acquire a broad understanding of significant events, civilizations and social changes throughout various time periods. At different stages of their education, students delve into diverse historical topics, allowing them to develop a comprehensive understanding of the past and its impact on the present. The following is a summary of the historical topics covered in each year of study:
Year 7: Students explore fascinating subjects such as Lake Mungo, an important archaeological site in Australia that provides insights into ancient Aboriginal civilizations. Additionally, they delve into the study of ancient civilizations from around the world, examining their cultures, achievements, and contributions to human history.
Year 8: Students learn about the significant historical events of the Black Death, a devastating pandemic in Europe, and the Renaissance, a period of cultural and intellectual flourishing. They examine the profound impact of these events on European societies, including their effects on art, science, and social structures.
Year 9: Students focus on the history of colonial Australia, exploring the factors that shaped the nation's early development. Additionally, they delve into the study of World War I, examining the causes, major battles and the social and political changes brought about by the war.
Year 10: Students delve into the history of World War II, studying its causes, major events and consequences on a global scale. They explore the struggle for civil rights and freedoms, analyzing key figures and movements that fought against discrimination and inequality.
By studying these diverse historical topics, students gain a comprehensive understanding of different civilizations, significant historical events and societal changes throughout the years. This knowledge equips them with valuable insights into the complexities of the past and helps them develop critical thinking and analytical skills necessary for engaging with history and understanding its relevance to the present day.
Lukasz Rabenda
Learning Area Leader: Humanities
Music and Performing Arts
Mercy and Parade College are very excited to announce the return of musical theatre since 2019 with the School of Rock. Opening night is tonight with our other shows on Saturday 20, Thursday 25, Friday 26 and Saturday 27 May.
We are so proud of all the cast and crew involved, as they have shown such incredible talent and hard work throughout the whole rehearsal process. We are so excited to see them all perform to a live audience!
Tickets are selling fast so please be sure to grab some tickets using the link below.
Please note: The production of School of Rock production contains smoke and haze effects, flashing lights, mild coarse language, adult references and themes that honour the author's artistic intentions and copyright obligations.
Dance
This week is Education Week in Victoria and the theme is 'Active Learners: Move, Make, Motivate'.
To celebrate and get active students participated in a fun dance session during their lunchtime break. It was an opportunity to get involved and share cultural dances with others, learn new dance moves and have a bit of fun along the way with friends. The Nutbush and Macarena were crowd favourites.
Fiona Laino
Dance Teacher