Mercy News - Friday 1 September
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Key Dates
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Prayer
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Message From Our Principal
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Director: Student Wellbeing and Faith
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Deputy Principal
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Year 7 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader
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Year 8 and 9 Learning and Wellbeing Leader
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Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Leaders
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VCE Learning and Wellbeing Leader
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Mathemetics
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Music and Performing Arts
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Health and Physical Education
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Sport
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VCE-VM
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Homework Club
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Careers @ Mercy
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Community Notices
Key Dates
Tuesday 5 September
- Years 7 to 10 Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences - 12.45pm dismissal for students in Years 7 to 10, VCE classes conclude at 3.20pm
Wednesday 6 September
- Performing Arts Concert, Bump-In
- Alumni One Year Reunion (Class of 2022) 7.00pm to 8.30pm
Thursday 7 September
- Performing Arts Concert, 6.30pm to 9.00pm
Friday 8 September
- Year 9 Incursion: yLead 'Leadershift' Program
Tuesday 12 September
- Year 12 RE Incursion: RAS Revision Lecture
Wednesday 13 September
- Year 7 Science Incursion: Zoo To You
Thursday 14 September
- Last Day of Term 3 for Students
- Mercy Day Celebrations
Friday 15 September
- Staff Spirituality Day
- Student Free Day
Prayer
God our Father, we give You thanks and praise for fathers young and old.
We pray for young fathers, newly embracing their vocation; may they find courage and perseverance to balance work, family and faith in joy and sacrifice.
We pray for our own fathers around the world whose children are lost or suffering; may they know that the god of compassion walks with them in their sorrow.
We pray for men who are not fathers but still mentor and guide us with fatherly love and advice.
We remember fathers, grandfather, and great grandfathers who are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory and nourish us with their love. Amen.
Message From Our Principal
Significant Men - Father's Day Breakfast
As a College this morning, it was wonderful to gather and celebrate fathers/significant men and all they give to our lives and to our communities. Fathers/significant men have a special place in the lives of their daughters - they offer wisdom, guidance, encouragement and love. They also, provide support and strength. We give thanks to those men who have taught, guided and loved us.
Not only did our fathers and significant men share a meal with their special Mercy student but we also had student musical entertainment, a Father’s Day video where students shared why their fathers were so special and favorite dad jokes. We all know that laughter is the best medicine and can actually improve your health. How fortunate are we that often our fathers and significant men provide these moments for us.
Season of Creation: 1 September
Today, 1 September marks the beginning of the Season of Creation, which of course will conclude on 4 October. In a commentary Pope Francis provided in the lead up to this season, he said that:
"It causes us to think about how we can contribute to the mighty river of justice and peace in this season. And we must do so by resolving to transform our hearts, our lifestyles, and the public policies ruling our societies."
I know as a Mercy community we try to engage as much as possible in that spirit, and will continue to as we commence this season.
Years 7 to 10 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences: 5 September
Members of the College community will come together for the Years 7 to 10 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences next Tuesday. We are so looking forward to meeting face to face with our parents and guardians in order to exchange insights about our students and their learning and development. To support our students academically in and out of school, we recognise that teachers and families need to have a shared understanding of their children’s learning as partners to meet their academic and social-emotional needs.
As part of the parent-teacher-student conferences and as a way of ensuring the best learning outcomes for the rest of the year I hope parents and guardians are able to:
- Praise your daughter for doing well or making progress and discuss areas for improvement identified by the teacher.
- Listen to what your daughter has to say and encourage her to express both successes and strategies for further improvement.
- Make an agreement with your daughter on how you will monitor and support her progress.
Performing Arts
I am so looking forward to our Mercy College Performing Arts Concert, which will take place on Thursday 7 September at the Darebin Arts Centre where our students will be involved in all aspects of production, not only onstage performances but also backstage and technical roles. We know that through the Performing Arts students develop the skills, work ethic and insight to pursue their passions.
Last week I attended, with many in our community, the Mercy and Parade College Drama Performance: Wonderland which provided an amazing opportunity for our students to get to know each other on another level and display their gifts and talents – which they certainly did. Congratulations to students and staff from both Colleges who were involved.
National Child Protection Week: 3 to 9 September
This year National Child Protection Week will continue to champion the message ‘Every child in every community needs a fair go’.
This message captures the essence of National Child Protection Week which aims to promote a safe and supported life for every child, now and into the future.
The care, safety and wellbeing of young people is a central and fundamental responsibility for us as a College and this is the highest priority in all that we do.
Let us never lose trust in the patience and mercy of God.
Lila McInerney
Principal
Director: Student Wellbeing and Faith
2024 Student Executive Applications
The last fortnight has seen our Year 11s engage in the process of applying for 2024 Student Executive roles. This is a bittersweet time for the Mercy College community! While we are excited to see our Year 11s grow into our future leaders, it is sad to think that our time with our 2023 Student Executive Team is soon coming to an end. Many Year 11s have engaged in a rigorous application process, putting themselves forward to lead in one of the many roles of the team.
Our Student Executive team consists of the following positions:
- College Co-Captains (2 positions)
- Mission Captain
- Social Justice Captain
- Student Voice Captain
- Music Captain
- Performing Arts Captain
- Sports Captain
- House Captains (5 positions)
We have seven dedicated applicants for the role of Co-Captain in 2024 who have completed applications that require endorsement from peers, teachers and parents. They have also conducted interviews with our College Principal and on Tuesday 29 August, they presented their speeches to the entire Mercy community during a whole school assembly. We wish all applicants for all roles in our Student Executive team the best of luck and commend them for their courage and dedication to being a Mercy leader.
Every Day Counts
Our focus this fortnight has been maximising learning time by ensuring that students are:
- On time for school/class: Students should be arriving at school at 8.30am and getting prepared for the day ahead. Class begins promptly at the beginning of each period and every minute of class time missed makes a significant impact on students overall learning.
- In class the whole time: Students should be using before school and break times (Recess and Lunch) to eat, use the bathroom, prepare for their upcoming lessons and then take some time to relax. We encourage our students to manage their time during the day wisely so they can spend every minute of class time focused on their learning. Interruptions to class time for whatever reason should be infrequent.
Year 9 Catholic Church Excursion
On Monday 28 August, our Year 9s participated in the school activity, ‘Walking in the Shoes of the Early Australian Catholic Church’. This activity was designed to complement and enhance the learning of students in the Australian Catholic Church unit within Religious Education classes. Each class spent the day exploring the strong connection of Melbourne with the history of the Catholic Church by visiting landmarks such as the Mary Mackillop Heritage Centre, St Patrick’s Cathedral and the Mary Glowrey Museum. Students were particularly inspired by the work of Mary Mackillop and Mary Glowrey, learning about the sacrifices they made as inspirational Catholic women. The visit to St Patrick’s Cathedral was also particularly special as students experienced the awe and wonder of the Cathedral whilst it was completely illuminated in natural light. It was an opportunity for our young people to spend time in quiet reflection, with many students using this time to pray and light votive candles.
Seeds of Justice - McAuley for Women and Children
We continue to invite all members of our Mercy community to continue donating toiletries items for McAuley for Women and Children services. Suggested items include:
- Shampoo & conditioner
- Body wash
- Deodorant
- Toothbrushes, toothpaste & dental floss
- Moisturiser
- Sanitary items
Nima Ballenger
Director: Student Wellbeing and Faith
Deputy Principal
Learner Expectation Reports
Learner Expectation Reports will be available to all families as of Wednesday 30 August via the Parent Access Module (PAM).
Learner Expectation Reports are designed to provide feedback on a range of areas related to your daughter’s learning, study habits and overall progress. These reports provide feedback on your daughter’s progress and form the basis for discussion at the upcoming Years 7 to 10 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences.
Families have been provided with correspondence outlining how to access their daughter’s Learner Expectation Report.
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 have been available for parents to access via PAM from Tuesday 29 August where each subject reports on at least one task per term.
Years 7 to 10 Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences
The Years 7-10 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences will be held on Tuesday 5 September.
This is an opportunity for teaching staff at Mercy College to share with families their understanding of the needs of each Year 7 to 10 student, working in partnership with parents, guardians and students to discuss strategies that will enhance the understanding of the course content. Such partnerships are essential to the success of each student and ensure that each girl can achieve their personal best.
We encourage all parents and guardians to make appointments with their daughter’s teachers. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in these interviews.
We look forward to meeting with you and your daughter, and discussing how to best support and extend her to achieve her goals and ‘flourish’ in the learning environment.
Families have been provided with correspondence outlining how to access and make bookings for the Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences.
Student Engagement and Wellbeing
As the end of term approaches, our students are feeling the weight of assessments, exam preparation and pressures of daily life. Students are reminded they can receive 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. 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 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.
All VCE Unit 3 and 4 students have received a copy of the examination timetable for this period.
Nicholas Ambrozy
Deputy Principal
Year 7 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader
Year 7 students are continuing with their Term 3 Kindness Campaign. This week we recognised Emily Van De Ven in 7B who was nominated by her fellow peers as being “always so kind and trustworthy and for being so supportive“. Well done Emily! Like all recipients of the Year 7 Kindness Award, Emily enjoyed a $5 lunch from the canteen.
The words trustworthy, kind and supportive prompted a discussion in our weekly Year 7 gathering regarding friendship. At this time of the year, Year 7s often begin to make a “shift” in their friendship groups as they have had time to collaborate and connect with different people in and outside of class. Although a positive, sometimes this can make students feel anxious as change often does. We will be working with our Year 7 cohort on the skills in being resilient when friendships change and the negative effects of being controlling and the importance of communication (not using social media or chats) if they are feeling hurt or if people are showing distance. As parents, it is often hard to witness your child feeling upset if friendship is changing and they are hurt and not step in - it is most important that parents allow their child to speak to them and support them and encourage them to seek counselling if they are feeling overly anxious about this. I have included link below for parents to read and consider: https://life-insight.com/friendship-changes-in-the-teenage-years/
Here are some lovely quotes from “Winnie the Pooh” to share with your child in your discussion on friendship:
- You can't stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes. — Pooh
- A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference. —Eeyore
This term students will receive their Milestone Report and also have Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences. It is important that parents spend time with their child and review their report reflecting on their academic achievements and challenges. They should also look at the goals they established for themselves in Homeroom this term - this can be located on their student profile or if you ask your child for their goal and if it was met or there still needs a bit more work to get there. Students should take on board all feedback from their assessments and move forward in their skill set using resources such as homework help, meeting with teachers individually outside of class, working in the library with peers and Merri-bek/Hume council tutor programs etc if needed.
Just a kind reminder to parents to write notes for their child for the following (please use the school planner):
- If your child is out of uniform including items of the sport uniform (page 12 of the planner has what items are required for what term).
- If they have been absent.
- If they need to leave school early on the odd occasion.
If you are ever unsure, please feel free to contact your child’s Homeroom Teacher - Brianna Shears 7A, Elizabeth Moore 7B, Angela Heydon 7C or myself for clarification.
Maria Daniele
Year 7 Learning and Wellbeing Leader
Year 8 and 9 Learning and Wellbeing Leader
“The law of harvest is to reap more than you sow. Sow an act, and you reap a habit. Sow a habit, and you reap a character. Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.” – James Allen
With two weeks left of the term, it’s critical to manage your time and priorities effectively. Here’s how to make the most of these last two weeks.
1. Prioritise Tasks: Identify the most important tasks, work that needs to be completed before the term ends. Focus on these items first.
2. Create a Schedule: Develop a detailed schedule allocating specific time slots for studying and revision. This will help you stay organised and avoid last minute rushes.
3. Break Tasks Down: Divide larger chunks into smaller manageable chunks. Tackling smaller portions can make the work feel less overwhelming and help you maintain a sense of progress.
4. Review class notes: Review your class notes and materials regularly. This will help reinforce your understanding of the topics and help you retain the information for upcoming exams.
5. Utilise Active learning: Instead of passive reading, engage in active learning techniques like summarising or creating flashcards. Active engagement enhances comprehension and retention.
6. Minimise Distractions: During study sessions, eliminate distractions. Put your phone away, close unnecessary tabs on you computer and create a focussed environment.
7. Use Study Groups: Collaborate with classmates to review material, discuss concepts and share ideas. Group study can provide new perspectives and help reinforce your learning.
8. Stay Healthy: Ensure you’re getting enough sleep and staying hydrated. Physical wellbeing is crucial for maintaining focus and energy.
9. Ask for Help: If you’re struggling, reach out to your teachers or peers. Getting your questions answered can prevent confusion later on.
10. Avoid Procrastination: As the term wraps up, remind yourself of your goals and the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel by staying on track.
11. Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge the progress you have made so far. Celebrate the small wins.
Remember in these last two weeks; stay disciplined, organised and focused and you will be able to tackle your work effectively and wrap up the term with a sense of accomplishment.
Tania Benevento
Year 8 & 9 Learning and Wellbeing Leader
Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Leaders
Term 3 has flown by so quickly and as we get closer to the end of term, we can reflect on what a busy one it has been for the Year 10 students. The students, along with the support of their families, have made decisions as to what pathway and subjects they are planning to undertake for their senior secondary subjects in 2024. This has been a positive step for the future, as while careers do not need to be locked in now, just having to start the thought process has made students more aware of what they are striving for in both their academic and personal lives.
We encourage the students to make the most of the final two weeks of Term 3 by ensuring they are up-to-date with all their work and, where they may need some clarification and/or extra support, to make contact with their teachers. We hope this enables the students to then make a positive start to Term 4.
Year 10 Trivia afternoon at Parade College
On 17 August, some very fortunate Year 10s and I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon over at Parade College for a Trivia Competition. The Parade staff and students were very welcoming and as teams were chosen, we all made instant connections. We all took it in turns to choose topics for one of the eight rounds, including superheroes, logos, fruits, countries and (my team's downfall) Pokémon. In-between-round activities included a meticulous study of Taylor Swift's Blank Space music video, various riddles called 'connections' and a fierce competition for lolly bags. I'm proud to say that my team, ingeniously named Joseph, Senasha, Lucy and Kyara, won the most lolly bags and came second overall. And a big congratulations to Olive's team who won despite thinking that Egypt was actually Lithuania and definitely stealing some answers from us! Overall, I'm sure I can speak for everyone who attended when I say we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would love to do it again sometime. Thank you to Ms Hickey and Ms Harvey for organising such an enjoyable event.
Lucy Stewart, SHR3
We would like to say thank you to all the students who attended the Trivia afternoon at Parade College as these students represented Mercy College well, demonstrating the Mercy values of Hospitality, Excellence, Justice and Compassion. The students actively engaged in each round of trivia and thoroughly enjoyed not only the competition of the afternoon, but the opportunity to engage in an activity that tested their general knowledge. Working together in teams with Parade meant that each team had a diversity of skills and knowledge.
Mercy College would also like to acknowledge and thank the staff of Parade College, Jessica Frisina, Dean of Students, Years 10-12 for organising the event at Parade College and Nathan Spurr, a Parade teacher and “Trivia King”, who agreed to support the Parade students in formulating Trivia questions and was the MC for the afternoon.
All in all, it was such a pleasure to observe all the staff and students thoroughly enjoying the experience.
What’s events are happening in and around Mercy College for Year 10s in the future:
- Monday 4 September: Co-Curricular School photos for the Yearbook to be taken
- Tuesday 5 September: Years 7 to 10 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences, 1.30pm - 8.00pm. Please book online through PAM.
- Thursday 7 September: Performing Arts Concert at Darebin Arts Centre, 6.30pm to 9.00pm
- Thursday 14 September: Mercy Day celebrations and the last day of Term 3 for students
- Monday 2 October: Start Term 4
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any issues or concerns where you feel we can help support the students to achieve their best in their learning journey.
Vickey Harvey and Jenni Hickey
Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Leaders
VCE Learning and Wellbeing Leader
As Term 3 comes to an end, our senior students are preparing for their upcoming Unit 3 and 4 exams. Now more than ever, it is crucial that all students are taking care of themselves and ensuring that they are finding a balance between studying and supporting their mental health. Below are some strategies some of our Year 12s have used to find a balance:
With the upcoming Year 12 exams, it is crucial that we all take care of ourselves and our mental health whilst preparing to do our best. During this period, I make sure I keep organised and schedule in study sessions after school and on weekends. This helps me fit all of my homework and study in my week without becoming overwhelmed. Despite this, study is not everything! I always make sure I take time for myself and channel my stress into an outlet. In my case, this is dance. I always make sure no matter how much studying I do, I always make time to do the things I love. This keeps me balanced and grounded for the exam period.
Eva Brazzani, SHR4
It seems like Year 12 exams are quickly approaching. To prepare, I have been making sure to keep a well organised timetable, completing work as soon as possible after school. This allows me to stay on top of homework and SAC preparation, whilst freeing majority of my weekend for extra exam study time. Although I have built up my ability to focus over a longer period of time throughout high school, I know that it is also important to take a break and to enjoy what little time I have left of my Year 12 journey. This includes spending time with family, seeing my friends over the weekend, taking a walk, or listening to music as a way to relax. This helps me keep a strong balance as I prepare for my exam period, whilst also allowing me to enjoy all the excitement that comes along with graduation!
Lydia Faranso, SHR1
With Year 12 coming to an end and trial exams fast approaching, I have tried my best to make sure I have the time to study and complete homework, as well as take time for myself amongst my busy schedule. I’ve found that this term especially, having study periods throughout the week really helps me get a majority of my work done at school, since I can find a quiet study space to work efficiently in getting things done. Any unfinished work or extra study I know I need to do, I will write on my notes app on my computer, so I can check what needs to be done each day and tick it off as I complete each task. I’ve found that because I have such a busy schedule, it actually helps me stay more organised in terms of planning out when to do homework, as I know what free time I have and how I need to split it up. It also helps that a lot of the activities I do after school such as music or sports are times that allow me to relax, have fun and spend time away from studying and school work.
Bridie Lier, SHR8
As my Year 12 journey is coming to a close, there is one more thing I have to overcome. And that's exams. In preparation for these final exams, I have been completing as many practice questions and essay topics as I can and seeking feedback on how I can improve my answers. To stay on top of the workload from each subject, I ensure I'm writing all homework needed to be completed and important dates in my planner, including SACs and other important school events. In addition, I make sure not to bottle all my stressful feelings inside by talking to a trusted teacher when needed. I try to maximise classroom time by asking the teachers any questions I have to better my understanding of the content we're learning while also utilising my study periods to complete homework. To balance out work and free time, I always fit in time to enjoy any leisure activities. This includes fitting in time to participate in extracurricular activities like sports and ensuring I have time to practice my saxophone. In doing this, I’m still focusing on my schoolwork and exams without burning out quickly, as I’m still doing things that bring me joy.
Anna Marchio, SHR6
I would like to thank all parents and guardians for your continuous support in ensuring that our senior students continue on through their learning journey.
I am so proud of each and every senior student and am honoured to be part of their final few months at Mercy College.
Annie Driver
VCE Learning and Wellbeing Leader
Mathemetics
On Thursday 24 August, 9A Maths completed an experiment using their knowledge from the topic of Geometry and Similar Triangles.
The experiment involved measuring the shadow of a 1m ruler and then the shadow of a student in order to find the height of the student. Luckily it was a sunny day!
The diagram we used looked something like this...
After completing this experiment, we discovered that the heights of the students using similar triangles were taller than their actual heights. At least they weren’t shorter!!!
Why is there a difference? Possibly because there was a change in the length of the sun’s shadow for the 1m ruler by the time we measured the student’s shadow and measuring errors.
This experiment showed students how an example from their textbook can be applied in a practical situation and how the theory can be applied to solve a real world problem.
Maria Carinci
Learning Area Leader: Mathematics
Music and Performing Arts
The Performing Arts Concert is a celebration of all things performing at Mercy College. The concert will be held at Darebin Arts Centre on Thursday 7 September 2023, commencing at 6.30pm and finishing at 9.00pm. This concert is an opportunity for students to realise the Mercy value of Excellence in their various curricular and co-curricular exploits.
Tickets are now available to purchase. Please click on the link below and follow the prompts:
https://darebin.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/112947
Ticket Prices
Adult: $25
Concession/Student: $15
Family (2 Adults + 2 Students): $75
This is a wonderful opportunity to support the students of Mercy College in their Performing Arts endeavours and we look forward to seeing you all there!
Thank you for your constant support in the Performing Arts.
Madeline Carnibella
Learning Area Leader: Arts and Technology
Mr Jack Stewart
Music and Performing Arts Leader
Health and Physical Education
Health and Physical Education in Term 3 has witnessed practical lessons full of fun, fitness, smiles and learning. From fitness testing programs to creating gymnastics routines to unpacking Physical Activity Guidelines and programs across the lifespan, students have embraced the importance of health and wellbeing and emphasised on the significance of participating in regular physical activity. Take a closer look into some student experiences and classroom learning so far.
Year 7 and 8 Physical Education
Students in Year 7 have been busy learning static balances, rolls, travelling movements and jumps and are currently in the process of creating Gymnastics routines highlighting their skill ability. Year 8 students have been focusing on refining their Netball skills and applying these into game sense strategies.
Year 9 and 10 Physical Education
Performance enhancement has been the focus point for Year 9 Health and Physical Education where students have unpacked their significant influence on athletes, whilst Year 10 students have been embracing Physical activity across the life span. Students have participated in an array of activities such as Boxing, Yoga, Pilates, Bocce and Ultimate Frisbee. Students have enjoyed embracing fond childhood activities they used to play, outlining their importance in assisting with fine and motor skill development.
Year 9 Outdoor Education
Students in Year 9 Outdoor Education have been busy preparing for their upcoming camp in Term 4. Students have faced and conquered fears and tested their fitness and skill ability when rock climbing.
VCE Health and Human Development
Currently, in Unit 2 of Health and Human Development, our work has heavily focused on the stages of development throughout the lifespan. With a specific focus on the changes that occur as we transition from youth to adulthood, we explored aspects of physical, social, intellectual and emotional development, as well as the role of the endocrine system. In learning about the different hormones in males and females that contribute to these changes, I was quite intrigued by the complexity of the body and was able to understand the importance of youth as a time for rapid change. Following this, we analysed healthy relationships and what they involve, as well as the considerations and responsibilities of becoming a parent. This segued into our current chapter, which focuses on prenatal development and responsible parenthood. As we began by watching a documentary that complements our work for this topic, ‘Inside the Womb’, we were able to follow the development of a fetus in the uterus. This fascinating presentation definitely provided us with an eye-opening insight into the wonders of pregnancy and gave us an appreciation for the significant changes that occur to the body, even when in utero. I look forward to all that is yet to come in Unit 2 of Health and Human Development.
Jessica Mirabile, SHR3
VCE Physical Education
Recently in 3/4 PE, we have been learning about training program principles, methods and designs. We were assigned at home workouts that involved circuit training, plyometrics, resistance, flexibility and fartlek training. These workouts helped us prepare for our SAC which tested our knowledge on these components.
Summar Hamka, SHR3
Rebecca Mazzone
Learning Area Leader: Health and Physical Education
Sport
On 22 August, two teams of Mercy College students travelled down to Darebin International Sports Centre to compete in the Division 1 CGSAV Soccer tournament. The weather was not so kind to us, raining most of the day. However, this did not dampen the spirits of our Mercy girls. The junior team, combined of Years 7 and 8 students, won 1 of their matches for the day, most competing for the first time. The junior team was filled with teamwork, encouragement and excitement, and it was great to be able to bring these students along for the day. The intermediate, combined with Years 9 and 10 students, was a more experienced team, with most students playing soccer at local club level. The inters team had a draw in their first game 3 goals all, and won their last game 2-0. Congratulations to all the students that attended the CGSAV Soccer Division 1 tournament last week.
VCE-VM
Mercy College Winter Sleepout
Choosing to stay at school on a Friday night to sleep on a cardboard box?! Yes, a group of dedicated students did just that! On the 18 August, Mercy College hosted a Winter Sleepout. This is a fundraising event to raise money for St Vinnies who support those who are homeless in Australia.
Congratulations to the students who participated. They developed their awareness of the issue of homelessness, while also raising money for this social issue. Our goal of $1000 was raised!
Thank you to Mrs Ballenger and the Leadership team who assisted with supervision.
Thank you also to the Year 12 VCE-VM students who organised, advertised, and participated in this project as their major project for WRS (Work Related Skills) Unit 2.
Here is a student reflection of the event:
On the night of the sleepout, the students participated in fun activities such as trivia, kahoot and karaoke. The food of the winter sleepout was very nice - for dinner we ate spaghetti and some bread and butter, for breakfast we ate some fruit, muffins and juice. We ate outside for a more realistic homeless experience.
Overall, the purpose of the Sleepout is to give students an experience of what it is like to spend a night outside, during the winter, without a home. By doing so, we hope to better understand the daily struggles faced by those who are homeless and increase awareness about the issue.
Talia Wassilieff, MHR4
Elizabeth Moore
Teacher of VCE-VM