Mercy News - Friday 23 June 2023
School Holiday Office Hours
The College will be open over the school holidays from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Key Dates
Thursday 29 June
- Feast of St Paul
Sunday 2 to Sunday 9 July
- NAIDOC Week
Monday 10 July
- First day of Term Three
Prayer
We thank you Lord, for this term.
For the challenges, the successes,
and the mistakes from which we have learnt.
Be with us as we spend time with family and friends.
Keep us safe in our activities;
give us good rest and good fun.
Bring us back refreshed and ready for a new term.
We thank you for our classmates, teachers, families and a community that cares for us.
Amen
Message From Our Principal
Dear Mercy Community,
Final Day of Term Two
This afternoon our students and staff finished Term Two and are now on a well-earned two week break. After a term of rewards and challenges, I know that this period of rest and refection will be welcomed by our students. I hope that they find time for both rest and relaxation, and connection with activities and people who bring them joy.
As we do at the end of each term, today the College participated in the Learning Showcase. We continue to value the opportunity to gather as a whole school and it was great to be able to recognize Activities Week and learn more about what each year level experienced and celebrate some individual student achievements.
Term Two Student of the Term
Congratulations to our Term 2 Student of the Term recipients. The Student of the Term Award is a recognition of individual students who actively seek to achieve excellence in their participation in and contribution to Mercy College school life. The Award seeks to recognise and celebrate individual student achievement in the every day of school life; with a particular focus on students contributing to our learning community culture in the most holistic sense. This award is a recognition of a student who is distinguished by her courage, her inquisitive nature and her persistence when it comes to learning.
Semester Two
With the new semester we will have the following staff taking on a specific leadership responsibility to support our students learning and wellbeing.
Director: Student Wellbeing and Faith - Nima Ballenger
Year 7 Learning and Wellbeing Leader - Maria Daniele
Year 8 and 9 Learning and Wellbeing Leader - Tania Benevento
Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Leaders - Vicki Harvey and Jenni Hickey
VCE Learning and Wellbeing Leader - Annie Driver
I will be undertaking some Principal’s Enrichment Leave overseas at the start of term where I will have the opportunity to work in the footsteps of Pope John Paul II. This will include a visit to Krakow, Ireland and England. Before having taken over the Holy See as Pope John Paul II, Karol Wojtyla had lived in Krakow for four decades – practically through his entire adult life until his assumption of the papacy. Here he spent his formative years as a student and then as a young priest, a theologian and a philosopher, a playwright and a poet. The Pope's visit to Ireland drew immense crowds. 1,250,000 one quarter of the population of the island of Ireland, one third of the population of the Republic of Ireland, attended the opening Mass of the visit in Dublin's Phoenix Park. Whilst in Ireland I will take the opportunity to visit Baggot Street - the House of Mercy. On my return, I will visit the Sisters of Mercy - Great Brittan.
I look forward to passing on to the Mercy learning community my insights and learnings when I return.
I wish everyone a safe and restful break as we look towards another busy Semester.
Let us never lose trust in the patience and mercy of God.
Lila McInerney
Principal
Term 2: Student of the Term Award Winners
Year 7 - Sakhee Adhikari, 7B
Sakhee encapsulates what being respectful and responsible means here at Mercy. She speaks kindly to everyone and always has a smile on her face.
She completes tasks on time and always to the best of her ability, taking initiative wherever possible. She encourages others, gives everything her best go, and brings a positive attitude each week.
Although she has only been at Mercy for one semester, Sakhee has embraced many opportunities in her short time here. Without hesitation, she volunteered to help with Discover Mercy Day and at the 100 Days of Learning events. She is also a highly reliable student in her Homeroom. and always wears her uniform with pride.
Sakhee has demonstrated that she is proud to be a Mercy student, and is keen to represent our College in a positive way.
Year 8 - Gabriella D’Silva, MHR5
Gabriella is dedicated to excellence in her learning, always punctual and organised.
Whether in class, Homeroom or out-of-school activities, she has displayed emerging leadership qualities such as confidence, hard work and excellent communication with others.
At the Swimming and Athletics Carnival, she modelled House Spirit through active participation in many events, and encouraging positivity and participation in her peers.
She is to be commended for her diligence to all tasks, and the positive relationships she has built in the school community.
Year 9 - Jessica Sleiman, MHR5
Jessica shows perseverance in her learning, embodying the spirit of ‘give it a go’ by working hard and seeking assistance where needed.
Year 9 comes with challenging activities such as the City Experience in Activities Week and the first exams.
She makes brave choices to really try and involve herself in activities and build skills and connections with others.
Jessica is a kind and helpful person who always has a smile and hello for friends and teachers every day.
Year 10 - Aliana Zamora, SHR4
Aliana is a conscientious and valued member of her Homeroom.
She is to be commended on her dedicated approach to her studies, participating in all Homeroom activities, and always being respectful of prayer time and mindfulness activities.
Aliana constantly wears her uniform correctly and with pride, and makes an effort to be punctual and positive every day.
Year 11 - Isabella Punaro, SHR2
Isabella, although a quiet achiever, has consistently worked hard both in lessons and through homework to achieve incredible results throughout this semester.
She always enters the class with a smile, and will always be there to help her friends.
Isabella is engaged in her learning, and with a dedicated approach to school, this has proven her to be a positive role model of best practice to those around her.
Year 12 - Sienna Romeo, SHR5
Sienna has shown an incredible start to the final year of schooling at Mercy College.
Arriving every day with a smile on her face, Sienna is ready to take on her studies with persistence and dedication.
She is there for her friends whenever needed. Whether that be sitting and talking, or providing a safe space, her warmth and positivity towards her peers is a true representation of a Mercy College student.
We hope Sienna continues to succeed in all facets of her final year.
Message from our College Co-Captains
Throughout this year, our role as College Co-Captains has included representing the student body at the School Advisory Council. The School Advisory Council is a board of Mercy community representatives which focus on ways to improve and expand our College. It consists of the College Co-captains, College leadership, parents of Mercy students, lawyers, accountants and more. This board is specifically designed to represent all people within the Mercy community, highlighting Mercy’s goal of justice as all people are treated equally and are able to voice their opinions, concerns and ideas.
Our time usually consists of attending a few meetings every term to discuss recent student activities and learning. We find that it is not only a time of great reflection but of pride, as we are able to showcase the many learning opportunities students partake in both inside and outside of the classroom. To do this, we ask students from every year level to brief us on what they have been participating in throughout the term. Although we attempt to be at every School Advisory Council meeting, student executive students offer their time to present on behalf of us when we are unable to attend. For the June School Advisory Council meeting, we asked students from every year level to write a summary of what they have completed and participated in throughout the term.
Here are a few summaries which Mercy students wrote.
Eva Brazzani and Lydia Faranso
College Co-Captains