Mercy News - Friday 13 October

Key Dates

Monday 16 October

• Year 12 Final Day of Classes
• Class of 2023 Graduation Mass and Awards

Tuesday 17 October 

• Class of 2023 Celebration Morning (7.30am to 10.00am)
• Class of 2023 Celebration Dinner (7.00pm to 11.00pm)

Thursday 19 October

• VCE Art and Design Exhibition (4.00pm to 6.00pm)
  

Friday 20 October

• Offers posted to prospective Year 7 2025 students 

Monday 23 October

• Year 7 HPV Immunisations

Tuesday 24 October

• Year 9 Outdoor Eduucation Excursion: Mountain biking at the You Yangs
• EAL VCAA Aurel and Written Examination (9.00am - 12.15pm)
• English VCAA Written Examination (9.00am - 12.15pm)

Thursday 26 October 

• Physical Education VCAA Written Examination (11.45am - 2.00pm)
• Week 1: Years 4 to 6 Abstract Explosion Art Program (4.00pm to 5.00pm)

Friday 27 October 

• World Teacher's Day
• Day for Daniel
• Biology VCAA Written Examination (9.00am - 11.45am)
• General Mathematics VCAA Written Examination (2.00pm - 3.45pm)

Prayer

A Prayer for our Year 12s

Lord,

We thank you for the incredible journey our Year 12 students have undertaken, for the knowledge they have gained, the friendships they have formed, and the challenges they have overcome.

We ask that you fill their hearts with a sense of accomplishment and pride for the hard work and dedication they have displayed throughout their school years.

As they approach the culmination of this phase of their education, we pray that you grant them wisdom and clarity in their decisions regarding their future.

May they have the courage to pursue their dreams and the perseverance to overcome obstacles that may come their way.

As they prepare to leave the safety of their school years and venture into the world, we ask for your protection. Watch over them, grant them the resilience to navigate life’s challenges, and inspire them to be beacons of hope and positive change in their communities.

Amen.

Message From Our Principal

Welcome to Term 4

We hope our students, families and staff have had a great term break. Congratulations to our Unit 3 and 4 students for completing trial exams in preparation for their final exams later in the term. It has been fantastic to see our students and staff return to Term 4 feeling positive and looking forward to a great term ahead. Even the downpour of rain today was unable to dampen our spirits. 

Farewell Year 12 students

I have celebrated morning tea with the Year 12s where I have had the privilege of talking with them about their Mercy journey over the years and their hopes for the remaining weeks. It has been great to hear how positive they have been about their schooling and their openness about what we can do to support them further during these final weeks as they prepare to finish their schooling and embark on their upcoming examinations.

This week we have begun a Celebration Week where we had special moments and activities for not only students, but also their families and many staff who have been alongside them for their school journey. We had our Celebration of Sports Evening on Monday, different themed dress up days and tonight we will have our student Executive Family Dinner. Next week we will have our Graduation Eucharist and Awards and a Year 12 Celebration Dinner.

The end of Year 12 classes is a very special time but there is still much to do before they are officially finished. Some students will be involved in performance or oral examinations in the next two weeks. All will be involved in extensive revision and practice exams. It is important for our Year 12 students to remember they still have much before them and we encourage them to make good choices about how they celebrate and remain focused on their success.

I have been an educator for many years. Part of the education journey is the cyclical nature of it – we begin, we learn and grow and we move on to the journeys that lie ahead of us. Many students began their secondary education journey here at Mercy in 2018, as Year 7 students. Others have joined the group along the way, each bringing with them different gifts and attributes that have contributed to a varied and wonderful group of young adults.  

The Term Ahead

Each year level will this term reach the end of another year and begin preparations for the next. We will welcome our Year 7 2024 students and begin their Mercy journey with them. It is an exciting time. While we all still have much to achieve it can be challenging to prepare for the future while living in the present. During Term 4 we are so often inspired by the grit and determination of our students as they strive to complete the year having given their best effort.

Prayers

We pray for peace in our world and may the present crisis of violence across the Holy Land, between Palestinians and Israelis, come to a speedy end so that, with the help of other nations,dialogue can lead to peace and justice.

Let us never lose trust in the patience and mercy of God.

Lila McInerney
Principal

College Co-Captain Reflection

This year, it has been a privilege to be College Co-Captains for our cohort, the school as a whole and the wider Mercy community. We absolutely loved being the voice for our fellow students and collaborating with the whole Student Executive team to organise and plan special events including end of term assemblies, fundraisers and of course, Mercy Day.

With the end of the school year approaching for the Year 12s, we are savouring every last moment with our peers. We thank all of the teachers and staff who have supported us in this challenging time, especially with final SAC preparations and end of year exams. We can confidently say that this role has helped us grow as individuals in order to embody Mercy through our values of Justice, Excellence, Hospitality and Compassion. It has taught us leadership skills, communication, time management and organisational skills. It has given us the tools to be able to feel comfortable stepping into the real world after our high school journey has ended.

Lastly, we thank Ms McInerney for her ultimate guidance and for her ability to be an exemplary role model. Your work is appreciated and valued by many. As our high school chapter comes to a close, we bid everyone good luck for the final examinations; we hope everyone achieves the result they desire. As we have been told by many, “Year 12 is a marathon, not a sprint”; and we are all finally crossing the finish line together in the coming weeks.

Thank you.

Eva and Lydia
College Co-Captains 

Director: Student Wellbeing and Faith

Welcome to Term 4!

Year 12s

It’s bitter-sweet celebrating our Year 12s’ last days with us at Mercy College. Their last day of classes is on Monday 16 October and the last fortnight has been filled with celebration morning teas, dress-up days, lots of preparation for their final events and most importantly, their exams! We are very much looking forward to celebrating their Graduation with them.

World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day 2023 is an opportunity for people and communities to unite behind the theme ‘Mental health is a universal human right” to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right.

Mental health is a basic human right for all people. Everyone, whoever and wherever they are, has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. This includes the right to be protected from mental health risks, the right to available, accessible, acceptable, and good quality care, and the right to liberty, independence and inclusion in the community.

Good mental health is vital to our overall health and well-being. Yet one in eight people globally are living with mental health conditions, which can impact their physical health, their well-being, how they connect with others, and their livelihoods. Mental health conditions are also affecting an increasing number of adolescents and young people. - World Health Organisation, 2023.

To commemorate World Mental Health Day, students prayed for a deeper understanding of the growing prevalence of mental health difficulties, how we can reduce the stigma, and how we can support people in need. We also spent our Assembly Period out in nature, exploring the College grounds and cleaning up any rubbish.

Young Mercy Links 

Angela Scarafilo from Young Mercy Links facilitated a session with our Year 12 cohort about volunteering opportunities with their organisation. Joining Young Mercy Links when our students turn 18 or after graduation is a great way to stay connected with the wider Mercy community and continue to enact our Mercy values. YML aims to:

• Connect with disadvantaged or vulnerable people living in our community​
• Use and build upon leadership skills to organise, present, and attend events in relation to social issues
• Meet as a community of like-minded people
• Educate ourselves
• Commit to regular volunteering
• Participate in opportunities for spiritual formation if desired

https://www.mercyhub.org.au/young-mercy-links.html

Uniform

Please refer to page 12 of the College planner for any uniform clarification. A reminder that hats must be worn during Recess and Lunch in all outdoor areas of the College in Term 1 and Term 4 as part of our sun protection policy. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Learning and Wellbeing Leader or myself. 

Nima Ballenger
Director: Student Wellbeing and Faith

Deputy Principal

As our Year 12 students conclude classes and our teachers continue to support our VCE and VCAL students during the final stages of the year, I would like to wish all our senior students the best during the coming weeks and leave them with these words of encouragement.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill

I would also like to acknowledge the support of our Senior Learning and Wellbeing Leader, Ms. Annie Driver, the Year 12 Homeroom Teachers and our VCE 3/4 Subject Teachers as students prepare for their final examinations.

VCE Examinations

VCE exams are fast approaching, but it’s not too late to get more prepared.

A reminder that the 2023 VCE examination timetable is now available.

All students must read the VCAA examination rules for VCE and the GAT. It is also their responsibility to be familiar with materials and equipment authorised for use in the GAT and VCE written examinations.

VCE Exams Navigator should be read by all students presenting for 2023 VCE external assessments. It contains important information about what you need to know for VCE external assessments including written, aural, electronic/digital, oral and performance examinations, and the Extended Investigation oral presentation. VCE Exams Navigator 2023

Semester 2 Examinations

Semester 2 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: Monday 20 November to Thursday 23 November.
Year 10 Examinations: Wednesday 22 November to Thursday 23 November.
Year 9 Examinations: Wednesday 22 November to Thursday 23 November.

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 the Semester 2 Examination timetable has been made available to parents and students. These details have also been 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 email me nambrozy@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au. 

We wish all students the very best for their upcoming examinations.

Nicholas Ambrozy
Deputy Principal

Year 7 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader

Welcome back to Term 4!

Year 7 students have started off the term with enthusiasm and confidence as they begin their final term of Year 7. 

In Homeroom they have set goals for this term focusing on academic and wellbeing. It would be great as always if parents sat with their child and talked about their goals and checked in with them regularly to help support them .

In our Wellbeing Lessons Year 7 students will be focusing on the topic of “Growing up, Health and Hygiene”- Ms Shears has organised the unit of work based on the VELS Health curriculum.

I have added a link to also inform parents about this subject: 
https://raisingchildren.net.au/pre-teens/healthy-lifestyle/hygiene-dental-care/hygiene-pre-teens-teens

As a Year 7 group we will be deciding the theme for Term 4 - I will be working with Peyton in 7C  who is the Year 7 Student Voice Leader as she gathers thoughts from the Year 7 students. Last term our goal of “Spreading Kindness” in our kindness campaign was a wonderful one to share together.

I take this opportunity to remind parents of the outstanding resources that Merri-bek and Hume Council offer to families, parents and children . There are many workshops ranging from adolescent mental health, to art and music classes, to homework clubs etc that are free to students and families. I encourage parents and students to take on these wonderful events by looking on their websites . Please refer to the slyers under Community Notices.

Maria Daniele
Year 7 Learning and Wellbeing Leader

Years 8 and 9 Learning and Wellbeing Leader

“Good luck is when opportunity meets preparation, while bad luck is when lack of preparation meets reality.”  - Eliyahu Goldratt 

It feels like only yesterday that the school year started and here we are starting the final term. This term is a time of reflection, a time to take stock of all that we've learnt and achieved over the course of the year. It's a time to celebrate our successes, no matter how big or small and to acknowledge the lessons we've learnt from our setbacks. Each assignment completed, each test taken, each challenge faced has brought us to this moment.

Now, as we look ahead, it’s important to do so with determination and purpose. This term is an opportunity to showcase the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired throughout the year. It’s a chance to apply what you’ve learnt in meaningful and creative ways. Whether you’re preparing for exams, working on a project or pursuing a personal goal, approach it with the belief that you can and will succeed.

Remember that your journey doesn’t end with this term, but it is a crucial stepping stone towards your future. The effort you put in now will shape your path ahead. It’s a chance to set the stage for the next chapter of your academic and personal growth.

I encourage you to make the most of this term by setting clear goals and staying organised. Plan your time wisely, seek help when needed and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your teachers are here to support you.

Let’s embrace this final term of the year with a sense of purpose and a commitment to excellence.

Tania Benevento
Years 8 and 9 Learning and Wellbeing Leader

Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Leaders

Welcome back to Term 4, we hope that everyone had an enjoyable and restful 2 weeks during the school holidays.

The Year 10 students have settled well upon returning to school this term and we are looking forward to a productive and positive term ahead. Term 4 always tends to be a busy term in relation to learning, assessments and exams, reports, Headstart transition classes as the Year 10 students pathway into their chosen senior secondary pathways, (VCE or VCE-VM), whole school events and the end of year event schedule, including the Night of Excellence. With this in mind we would take this opportunity to remind everyone that a steady and consistent approach to the term will be needed.

Should there be any concerns or questions, Year 10 students and their families are encouraged to contact the College to speak to Mrs Jenni Hickey or Ms Vicki Harvey, Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leaders, via email or phone.

Real Industry Job Interviews (RIJI) 

On Tuesday 10 October the Year 10 students, through their Next Step classes, attended the Real Industry Job Interviews. Students had been preparing for this for a number of weeks in Term 3, as they had to apply for a pseudo entry level job, write a cover letter and a resume and develop their job interview skills. This was then all put into practice with the Inner Northern Local Learning and Employment Network (INLLEN) organising local employers, who have volunteered their time to participate in the RIJI program, to read the students’ cover letter and resume; conduct a mock interview for the job and then provide valuable feedback to each of the students individually. This was an amazing opportunity to help prepare students for future employment applications as well as develop their interview skills should they need it when applying for tertiary courses once they complete Year 12.

Here are the perspectives of some of the Year 10 students on this experience:

• Really good as the interviews were realistic. Sienna M, SHG6
• The employers created a welcoming environment and made us feel comfortable. They provided good advice for the future. Aby, SHG6
• A good practical experience which will prepare us for the future. Nadithi, SHG8

The employers were full of praise for the Year 10 students both in the manner in which they presented for the interview  and prepared their cover letter and resume. 

It is always good to hear such positive feedback about the students from Mercy College. To the students and staff who worked during their Next Step classes to prepare for the RIJI event, congratulations, you are to be commended on your efforts.

Upcoming events you may wish to put in your diaries:

• Year 10 exams: Tuesday 21 November - Thursday 23 November
• Student Free Day (for Years 9, 10 & 11): Friday 24 November
• Headstart: Monday 27 November - Tuesday 5 December
• Night of Excellence: Tuesday 5 December
• Final Day of Term 4: Wednesday 6 December

We wish everyone all the best for this term and encourage students to work towards developing the skills they feel they will need to have a successful Term 4 as they prepare for their senior studies in 2024.

Vicki Harvey and Jenni Hickey
Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Leaders

VCE Learning and Wellbeing Leader

As we enter the final term, we are recognising all the hard efforts of our Year 12s over the years as they prepare for their upcoming exams and celebrations to end their Mercy College journey. 

As the term began, the College has supported the Year 12s in getting the most out of their scheduled classes before their final day, Monday 16 October. 

Throughout this week, Celebration Week, the Year 12s have enjoyed and celebrated different themes of each day and have gotten very creative with their costumes! We have seen days such as Anything But a Bag, Movie Day, Tradie Day and to end the week - Pyjama Day! 

To truly recognise and congratulate our graduating Class of 2023, we also have various events and formalities taking place. On Friday 13 October, we will be spending the evening celebrating all the hard efforts our Student Executive Team have contributed throughout their time here with families, staff and friends. Monday 16 October will be a day of recognising all Year 12’s as we will finish the day with a final whole school assembly and then celebrate once again with family and friends that evening with our Graduation Mass and Awards Ceremony. 

Tuesday 17 October will begin nice and early with our Year 12 Graduation Breakfast with our Year 12s connecting over a beautiful breakfast one last time before they get glitz and glam for our Graduation Dinner at Moonee Valley Racecourse that evening. 

These celebrations do not go without acknowledging all the support, care and help our parents and guardians have given their child in their final year at Mercy College. We recognise that there would be challenging times, but also rewarding times as a parent of a Year 12. It goes without saying that the support from all parents and guardians has been incredibly appreciated by the College and as a team, we have created a strong support network for all of our students. 

As the year finishes for our 12s, we also take this time to recognise the new chapter for our Year 11s as they now begin to take on the role as the seniors of the school. They are role models for younger students and begin their journey into Year 12. We acknowledge that this is a big step for this cohort and we cannot wait to see them flourish as they enjoy their final Year at Mercy College. 

As always, we are very aware that the upcoming exams will be causing some angst for some students and will do everything we can as a College to support these students. Year 12s are welcome to utilise the College leading up to their exams to study and book in to see their teachers. A booking system has been created for students to access their teachers. 

I know this has been a long journey but also one that doesn’t seem like it should be coming to an end. There are mixed emotions however I am forever proud of all the accomplishments this year has achieved as well as all the success ahead for them. 

If you have any questions whatsoever, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Annie Driver
Senior Learning and Wellbeing Leader

Science and STEM

In Term 3, the Year 11 Physics class went on an excursion exploring Melbourne's ScienceWorks, which proved to be a thrilling voyage into the realm of science and ingenuity. Situated alongside the Yarra River, this interactive science museum provides an enthralling experience suitable for inquisitive minds. Our visit included a visit to the electrifying Lightning Room, where the sheer force of electricity was on full display, along with an educational exploration of the reflectance, fluorescence, and phosphorescence properties of specific materials. The Planetarium was a source of awe and wonder, offering a stunning simulation of the night sky, while the documentary on black holes left viewers utterly amazed.

Recently, Year 7 students were delighted to welcome the Zoo to You incursion. This educational outreach program delivers the marvels of the animal kingdom and conservation initiatives directly to the school environment. It allows for an immersive and enlightening encounter, encouraging a more profound grasp of wildlife and the Earth's natural ecosystems, all while instilling a sense of duty toward their preservation. Moreover, it affords students the opportunity to put into practice what they've gleaned from their studies in Classification and Biodiversity by interacting with real, living creatures.

Dr Fiachra Barry
Learning Area Leader: Science and STEM

English

The English Department has recently taken part in celebrating Book & Literacy Week with a variety of activities including a spelling bee, blockbuster games and in-class writing competitions. Students also participated in the House Reading Competition which became a battle of which House could read the most. It was wonderful to see the high level of engagement from students during these competitions. 

Our Year 7  and 9 classrooms are full of energy and noise as we begin practising the art of persuasion. This week, students have been working on improving their presentation and debating skills through games like ‘Beat the Teacher’ and ‘Um.. Police’. These introductory activities will help strengthen our students’ ability to argue before they begin researching the controversial topics they will use to write a persuasive speech.

The end of Term 3 saw our junior and middle years classes finalising their analytical essays with an emphasis on structuring an interpretation of the text they studied in class.

Our Year 8 and 10 classes now move to a creative writing focus, looking at the importance of setting, plot and character development to craft their own original texts. We look forward to finalising these creative responses in the coming weeks and reading the initial writings of our future authors. 

Our Year 11 English classes are busy reading, annotating and analysing a variety of persuasive texts about current issues in society. Our classrooms are filled with discussions about the arguments and language authors use to try to persuade their
audiences. This week we have focused on issues like road safety and equal pay in sport. 

Finally, our Year 12s have just finished their oral presentations and begin their revision masterclasses for their VCE exam. We wish them the best of luck in the upcoming weeks.

Nicole McCallum
Learning Area Leader: English Years 7 - 10

Tania Ragusa
Learning Area Leader: English VCE

VCE Art and Design Exhibition

The VCE Art and Design Exhibition is a celebration of our creative students at Mercy College. Held on Thursday 19 October 2023, commencing at 4.00pm until 6.00pm in The Visual Arts Building at Mercy College, this exhibition is an opportunity for students to realise the Mercy value of Excellence in their dedication to their Visual Arts subjects. 

Exhibited items will showcase the subject areas of Art: Making and Exhibiting, Media Studies and Visual Communication Design from students in VCE. 

If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP to events@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au.

On behalf of the Arts and Technology Faculty, thank you for your constant support and encouragement of students in the arts. 

Ms Madeline Carnibella
Learning Area Leader: Arts & Technology

Mrs Natalie Szuba
VCE Visual Communication Design Teacher

Performing Arts Concert

The Performing Arts Concert photos have been published!

If you would like to access any professional photos that were taken on the performance evening, you can access these photos via this link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/madn7Rs892GM3LUq6

We look forward to seeing you at the Performing Arts Concert in 2024! 

On behalf of the Arts and Technology Faculty, thank you for your constant support and encouragement in the Performing Arts.

Ms Madeline Carnibella
Learning Area Leader: Arts and Technology

Mr Jack Stewart
Music and Performing Arts Leader

Online Safety

Online spaces should be safe for everyone, but you may sometimes come across content that is distressing. The eSafety Commissioner has put together a fact sheet on what to do if you see distressing content online.

Community Notices

Embrace a Stronger You with ZD Coaching

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