Mercy News - Friday 24 November

Key Dates

Sunday 26 November

• Feast of Christ King

Monday 27 November to Tuesday 5 December

• 2024 Years 10, 11 and 12 Headstart Program
  

Monday 27 November

• Internal Music Exams

Wednesday 29 November

• 2024 New Students: Year 8 and 9 Student Orientation (9.00am to 1.35pm)

Thursday 30 November

• Our Lady's Craigieburn Year 6 PAT Testing (4.15pm to 6.00pm)

Tuesday 5 December

• Night of Excellence, 7.00pm

Wednesday 6 December

• Last Day of Term Four
• End of Year Mass (11.00am - 12.30pm)
• Learning Showcase Assembly

Monday 11 December

• Semester 2 Summary Reports Available to Parents

Wednesday 13 December

• Last Day for Teaching Staff

Wednesday 20 December

• College Office Closes

Monday 15 January

• College Office Opens

Prayer

Message From Our Principal

Dear Mercy Community,

As we approach the final fortnight of the school year for students, we are preparing for a series of College events. Among them are the Headstart Program for our Years 9-11 students, our Night of Excellence, our final Learning Showcase for the year and whole school picnic lunch at Coburg Lake and our End of Year Eucharist.

Our end of year Eucharist will be celebrated by Bishop Terry Curtin (Auxillary Bishop to Northern Region). Families are welcome to join us in McAuley Hall for this special celebration. 

Another highlight of our end of year will take place, on 5 December, our annual Night of Excellence where we will celebrate and recognise in a public way, the Years 7 to 11 Mercy students who have embraced what our College offers and have made the most of the opportunities presented to them. Mercy students who receive awards on this evening will have witnessed service of others and sustained work and dedication in our Mercy community of learning. 

This year we are thrilled to have Dr Mary Grant (née Pace), Class of 1986, as our keynote speaker. Dr Grant is a lecturer in career development and professional practice in sport at LaTrobe University. Currently, Mary manages the practical program for sport and exercise science, sport coaching and strength and conditioning (masters) cohorts.

St Mark’s Fawkner Family Fun Day

On Saturday, some of our Mercy music students performed at St Mark’s Fawkner Family fun day. There was a wonderful community atmosphere and it was great for us to be involved and to see many familiar faces and families as many of our students spent their primary schooling at St Mark’s. We are fortunate to have such wonderful relationships with our feeder primary schools.

Year 7 Transition Day 2024

Today we were delighted to welcome our 84 new Year 7 students and their families who will be joining the Mercy community in 2024. Throughout the day, members of our Student Executive Team and staff worked with the Year 7s to build connections in their House Groups and year level. The incomming Year 7s also participated in some testing which will assist them and us in recognising areas for growth in learning.

The Year 7 Transition program aims to ensure that students feel happy, secure and confident as they make the transition from primary to secondary education. We have held various events including our Year 7 2024 Information Evening, Solo Student Afternoon Tea and transition visits to all the students Primary Schools. Throughout the transition process, we have been highlighting the fact that as always, we invite feedback from any of our families as to how best we can support their child in our care. We want them to know that they can make contact at any time as we continue to strive to work in partnership with our parents and guardians.

I know that our Mercy community will welcome our new families with hospitality, which is one of our values that is both generously offered and received.

Prayers

As a Mercy College community, we pray for:
Glen Leyden and his family (Father of Sophie - Year 9)
Nawal El Wazan, our Science/STEM Laboratory Technician whose father George died last week.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may your perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithfully departed, rest in peace. Amen.

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

Lila McInerney
College Principal

Student Executive Reflection - Year 7 2024 Transition Activities

Year 7 Solo Student Tea 

On 2 November, the halls of Mercy College were buzzing with excitement as the Year 7 2024 solo students and their parents gathered for a special event. This unique occasion brought together girls who are the only ones coming to Mercy from their primary schools. Tthis marked a significant transition from primary to secondary school. 

The afternoon began with a mix of nervous smiles and anticipation, as the Year 6s engaged in icebreaker activities, allowing the girls to interact, form new friendships and embark on this exciting new journey together. These icebreaker activities served as a stimulus for laughter, bonding and further activities allowed for a vibrant tapestry of shared experiences. I am sure I can speak on behalf of them when I say, no one left without a new friend and the feeling of nerves were overtaken by feelings of excitement for what was to come. 

Parents were not left out of the equation. Whilst the girls were off learning about the journey they were about to begin, the event provided a platform for parents to voice their questions and concerns, Whether seeking insights into academic curriculum, extracurricular activities, or the support the school provides, our Student Executive Team, as well as staff, were able to comfort them in their queries by answering such questions and solidifying the sense of community between the school and famlies. 

In the end, the Year 7 Solo Student Tea proved to be more than just an orientation event; it was a celebration of new beginnings. As the girls left with smiles on their faces and new friendships formed, the event marked the start of a new chapter, in which we are all very excited to partake in. 

Amelia Capasso
College Co-Captain

Year 7 Information Night

At our Year 7 Information Night, held on 14 November, our Year 7 students for 2024 gathered in Mc’Auley Hall, along with their families. It was during this event on this evening that we provided information to the new members of our Mercy College community, which covered various aspects of life in highs chool at Mercy. Ranging from our expectations and values, to details about homework and the various programs offered at the College (specifically in regards to the arts; dance and music), upcoming students and their families were provided with an insight into how Mercy College operates. 

This event was also particularly significant as many staff members were present in attendance at the Year 7 Information Night. This meant that before and after the official commencement of the event, the new students and their families were provided with the opportunity to meet and introduce themselves to our teachers. A deep sense of community was experienced in Mc’Auley Hall during this time, as teachers were not only able to interact with the new members of our school, but our Year 7 girls for 2024 were provided with yet another opportunity to communicate and establish early relationships with their fellow peers. 

Therefore, this special occasion not only served as an Information Night for the new members of our Mercy College community, but it also allowed for connections to form between parents and teachers, as well as students and teachers. As the Year 7s for 2024 embark on their highschool journey, it will be wonderful to see these newly established relationships continue to develop. 

Jessica Mirabile
College Co-Captain

Year 7 Our Lady’s Craigieburn, Transition Afternoon

The Our Lady’s Transition Afternoon began on a very positive note with students engaging and meeting their friends, being extremely excited to look around and get to know the school. The parents of all the students were also looking forward to getting to know the amenities within the school. It was a pleasure to see all the students with such bright faces beaming with enthusiasm. All the girls were taken for a school tour where they looked around the whole school while the parents were seated ready to get an insight upon the school and travel options. 

We began by addressing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and acknowledging the custodians of the land. Then we talked about how to get to and from school from Craigieburn. Our principal Ms Mclnerney explained how the school has two types of buses. The Mercy private school bus and the Kastoria bus line which goes to and from Craigieburn. The timings of these buses were explained. It was further discussed about the uniforms, which ones to buy and how from this term, there is no fixed seasonal uniform because of the unpredictable weather. The student leaders from Year 11 accompanying me also expressed how they are delighted to be a part of the Mercy community and how it's like a second home to all of us.

The Year 6 students then came back and asked questions with extreme joy about the school, the sporting activities and amenities. They were informed that the school organises great sporting events, excursions and activities. They were more than excited when they got to know how they all get personal laptops with amazing features to work with. It was an extremely joyful experience for me and sure others too to see the exemplary excitement among the students and the parents. All the girls were so jovial and bright and left home with bright smiles upon their lovely faces waiting to start a new beginning and finding their light through Mercy. 

Ayushi Singh
Frayne House Captain 

Deputy Principal

When you reach for a destination, the future may look beautiful, but the journey is never easy. Even when you reach your goal, you can’t forget the depth of the struggle it took to get there.
Source: The Shape of Hope (2021)

As the end of the year approaches and students finish their classes for 2023, the above quote is a powerful reminder of the impact we can have as parents and teachers by encouraging the young people in our care to preserve through the struggles when setting out to achieve their goals. The final weeks of the school year are an opportunity for us to reflect on this journey together and celebrate with pride in what has been achieved throughout this year.

I wish all our students the best for the final week of the school year and hope the College’s Headstart Program and other College events such as the Night of Excellence, provide students with a strong sense of pride in what they have achieved this year whilst also building the foundations for a successful 2024.

Headstart Program
All current Year 9-11 students will undertake the Headstart Program from Monday 27 November to Tuesday 5 December. This program helps students transition from one year level to the next. This smooth transition is vital in reducing the anxiety and uncertainty often associated with the change, allowing students to adapt more easily. It also provides an opportunity for students to review and consolidate their knowledge of the current curriculum. This can be particularly important in subjects where foundational concepts are built upon in subsequent years.

Over the extended break at the end of the school year, students can experience learning loss, sometimes referred to as the "summer slide". The program helps mitigate this by keeping students engaged in educational activities. By covering some curriculum material during Headstart, this can reduce the academic pressure during the regular school year, allowing students to have a more balanced academic experience.

Semester Two Reports
Semester Two Summary Reports will be available for parents to access via PAM as of Monday 11 December. Parents will receive an email notification with details on how to access their daughter’s report. If there are any difficulties in accessing these reports, please contact the College.

2023 VCAA and ATAR Results
2023 VCE results including the Study Scores for Year 11 and 12 students who completed Unit 3/4 subjects will be available on Monday 11 December. Further details are available on the VCAA Website and students have received information outlining these key dates and how to access support from the College’s Careers Team during this time.

If you have any questions on how to access these results, please contact myself via email nambrozy@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au or phone: 9319 9253.

We wish all students waiting for their results all the best and congratulate them in advance for their work and effort throughout this year.

Nicholas Ambrozy
Deputy Principal

Director: Student Wellbeing and Faith

Year 8 Reflection Day

Annual retreats and reflection days are an integral part of our students’ faith journeys at the College. We were blessed to have Annie Lawrence from Annie’s True Beauty Salon facilitate our Year 8 Reflection Day this year. Throughout a series of ‘beauty treatments’ our students realised that they are beautiful just the way they are - especially in the eyes of God. They also learnt an important lesson; to use ‘kind words only’ when they speak to themselves and others. Here are some reflections written by our Year 8 students. 

Last Wednesday, all the Year 8s had Reflection Day. Reflection Day was a day that gave us a break from school life and stress and helped us reflect on our mental wellbeing, our school year, as well as how we look and feel. We started by going to the PAS (Performing Arts Space) and we all participated in Annie’s True Beauty Salon. Annie was a lovely visitor who welcomed us to her “True Beauty Salon” and turned on some peaceful, spa music as well as making a front desk to give us the Beauty Salon vibe. In the “beauty salon”, we were given four challenges: Detox, Infusion, Muscle Workout and Eye Rejuvenation. However, these were not actual treatments that you would get at a salon. Instead, Annie’s True Beauty Salon was supposed to make us conscious of both our physical appearance and beauty standards. We had to make a list and discuss beauty standards of how a stereotypical woman should look (blue eyes, blonde hair, hourglass figure, etc) and how these are not ‘real women’. Whoever volunteered to share their ideas and contribute to the activities were rewarded with a delicious watermelon gummy (Yum!). After recess and the four challenges, all the Year 8s were split into three classes and completed three activities. We all rotated every 30 minutes. The three activities included a nature walk, writing affirmations for the people in our class/group and creating a beauty spot and writing something positive and  important that we remembered from the beauty salon or maybe even Reflection Day. The nature walk was definitely a favourite for lots of people. For lunch, delicious pizza was given to all of us, thanks to the school. We then ended the day by going to the Chapel to have some quiet time to reflect, confess to the priest, write a prayer, colour in some drawings, light a candle or read small bible verses. Overall, Reflection Day was a memorable experience for all of us Year 8s and we have all gotten something out of this experience.
- Lily Ampong and Amira Hassoun (MHR1)

On 15 November 2023, the Year 8s had their Reflection Day. We all wore casual clothes and it was a class free day. We spent the day up until lunch time in the PAS, and had a beautiful time in the Chapel. My favourite part of Reflection Day was most definitely Adoration in the Chapel. It was such a sentimental time for everyone during Adoration we got to have confession with the Priest. A lot of the girls lit candles and placed them on the altar, me included. It was an emotional time for some as well, leaving us in vulnerable states and the feeling of being emotional without any judgement was so relieving and so amazing. This was all thanks to Annie, with her true beauty salon. Showing us media beauty and true beauty are very different, and that media beauty is what is on the outside but true beauty is what is on the inside. It was all very nice and enjoyable.
- Mariam Gorail (MHR4)

Assembly Period

In the lead up to exams and the end of the school year, we focused our Assembly period this week on managing stress, anxiety and other complex emotions. 

Year 7 - Year Level Assembly with Ms Maria Daniele (Year 7 Learning and Wellbeing Leader)
Year 8 - Toolbox sessions on emotional literacy
Year 9 and 10 - Managing stress and anxiety with our College counsellor, Janine Crociani

Year 7 2024 Transition Day

We were very excited to welcome the newest members of our College community to spend the day with us on Friday 24 November. This day is an integral part of our transition program where students participate in a range of activities in Houses and as a whole cohort.

Nima Ballenger
Director: Student Wellbeing and Faith

Counsellor's Corner

Over this week and next week, the Years 9 to 11 students are doing a session on “Healthy Stress”. Below are the counselling team’s suggestions for making sure we keep our stress positive and healthy.

Easy rules to follow to keep stress HEALTHY!

Eat well
A healthy diet can help reduce feelings of anxiety and stress. Nutritious eating can assist with concentration and focus. Aim for lots of fruit, vegetables and whole grains.

Hydrate
Staying hydrated is an important part of keeping stress levels low. Dehydration has the opposite effect so it is important to make sure you are drinking enough water each day.

Be active
Almost any form of physical exercise can act as a stress reliever. Physical exercise can help to refocus your mind and give you a renewed sense of energy. It doesn’t have to be complicated. You can go on a walk, take a jog, play with a pet, ride a bike, go for a swim - anything that gets you active. Organised sport for young people is a great way of keeping them fit and healthy.

No Stress Talk
Sometimes students can get caught up with friends talking about how stressed they are and then this actually increases their stress. While it is important to listen and acknowledge feelings of stress, it is also helpful to work to make a plan to decrease stress. 

Affirm Yourself 
Tell yourself things that will make you feel better not worse:

• I’ve got this
• It’s normal to be nervous
• I’m okay
• I’ll do my best and see what happens

Breathe
This is an exercise that can be used at any time when we are feeling stressed or anxious to bring us back into the moment.

•  If you’re sitting, make sure you sit up straight and give your shoulders a roll.
• Take two deep breaths – in through your nose and out through your mouth – make sure you blow your breath the whole way out.
• 5 things you feel – to bring you back into your body - always start with your feet – draw your attention to your feet, wriggle your toes, feel you socks, just notice your feet. Then notice four other things you can feel.
• 5 things you see – this brings you back into the room – bring your attention to 5 different things you can see in the room – it could be a clock or a teacher or someone’s hair.

Once you’ve done that, take two more deep breaths and tell yourself that you might still have some difficult thoughts and feelings but you’re ok. If you’re really nervous/anxious/panicky, you might need to do this a few times.

Janine Crociani
Counsellor

Year 7 Learning and Wellbeing Leader

This week, Year 7 students have been looking forward to welcoming Year 6 students to their Transition Day which will take place today, 24 November. This is a day which gives Year 6 students the opportunity to bond as a new group through engaging in different activities with each other, including dance, sport and wellbeing. Year 7 students have extended their welcome by writing letters to the Year 6 students , designing posters and volunteering to help them at lunch and recess. The amount of enthusiasm and help extended by our current Year 7 cohort in ensuring that the Year 6 students feel comfortable has really reflected the Mercy value of Hospitality. 

A reminder to parents that students are currently finalising work tasks and assessments. Please support your child by navigating SIMON and classroom for information regarding assessments - read with your child rubrics and criteria on tasks so they are able to “bounce” off and debrief with you how they are progressing. It will also allow you to initiate a conversation about the time and space they will need to be able to concentrate on any tasks they need to be doing by a certain timeline. A whiteboard mapping out due dates can be a very useful tool for the whole family, allowing students to be organised and the family to recognise the time needed for the Year 7 student to have to focus on their studies in a productive way. 

Students should also be encouraged, with their parents, to re-read their reports from last semester and any feedback from tasks this semester to know what they need to improve on in each of their subjects. It could be reading questions and focusing on key words in the questions by highlighting them, time management, being prepared with all resources to ensure success etc.

I encourage all students to ask for assistance and support from their subject teacher if they feel they are not understanding something - and not to let things build up as this will often result in disengagement in a subject which will carry to their senior years .

Homeroom Teachers and myself will also work with students and hold meetings with parents if we notice through data and teacher recommendation that students need intervention or support through the Learning Diversity Team.

Maria Daniele
Year 7 Learning and Wellbeing Leader

Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Leaders

The Year 10s have had many opportunities and much to look forward to in these last weeks of Term 4.

Final weeks of Year 10 subjects

Over the past few weeks the Year 10 students have been finalising the work in their Year 10 subjects and preparing for their exams.

On Tuesday 21 November the school counsellor, Ms Janine Cociani, gave a presentation to the students related to strategies they could apply to reduce any stress and anxiety related to the exams. Some strategies, such as developing a music playlist to motivate and/or focus could be used when preparing for the exams, while others, such as how to breathe and ground can be used in preparing for the exams or when students are completing the exam. Overwhelmingly these two strategies were popular with the students as when asked what was the one take away message the students got from the presentation these were the two points students referred to.

Exams were held from 22 to 24 November. Students were reminded to take the opportunities these exams provided to trial strategies they may use in preparing for VCE exams and being able to recall their knowledge as they try to identify which strategies may best work for them in their future studies. When the students receive their results and feedback, they are encouraged to review the strategies and identify where and how they may choose to make improvements and/or retain the strategies they have found to be effective. The students are encouraged to seek their teachers' support and advice should they have any questions in relation to the exam.

Looking to the future: Headstart Program
From Monday 27 November to Tuesday 5 December, students will be involved in the Headstart program. In the Headstart Program the students will be starting their 2024 senior studies in either VCE-VM studies or VCE studies in Unit 1 & 2 subjects, and if they have chosen, a VCE Unit 3 & 4 subject. 

This is the opportunity for students to make a positive start to their 2024 senior studies, where they can commence and demonstrate their diligent and dedicated work habits and how they wish to continue in their 2024 studies. Students will be given class work throughout Headstart that will also require them to complete some homework tasks and then some preparatory work over the Christmas and New Year. The students are strongly advised to keep up-to-date with the work in order to set them up for success in 2024. Students are encouraged to set their goals for the future and work to achieve them. 

Dream big, Work hard and Make it happen 

Big dreams can be inspiring and can fuel your ambitions in life, but remember, it is all the hard work you are willing to put in that will see you living your dreams

Dates to remember:
Monday 27 November - Tuesday 5 December: Headstart Program
Tuesday 5 December, 7pm - Night of Excellence
Wednesday 6 December - Last day of Term Four for students

Please remember that if you have any questions and/or concerns to contact either your daughter’s Homeroom teacher, their Subject teacher or the Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leaders, Mrs Jenni Hickey and Ms Vicki Harvey, as we are all here to help and support our students learning and wellbeing needs.

Vicki Harvey and Jenni Hickey
Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Leaders

VCE Learning and Wellbeing Leader

This week, our Year 11s undertook their Semester Two exams which was an excellent opportunity for them to practice, develop and engage in various studying methods to best help them prepare for their VCE exams. We understand that exams and preparation for exam week can cause some anxiety and stress however we are extremely proud of the resilience, focus and motivation seen from our Year 11 students. 

On Monday 27 November, our Year 11s become Year 12s as they commence their Headstart Program. This program is designed to support our young people in their learning journey and begin 2024 subjects to ensure they continue into 2024 with the preparation, content and skills required for a positive start. We cannot stress the importance of attendance during this period of time as students will begin learning the curriculum of each subject as well as be given various tasks for the holiday break to complete. This program is also a fantastic opportunity for students to meet their new teachers and begin to develop a positive rapport with them which will benefit their learning and create a safe learning environment. 

The jump from Year 11 to Year 12 can be quite daunting, however we are here to support your child every step of the way. We continue to encourage our students to reach out to their Homeroom teacher, trusted teacher or Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader to discuss any uncertainty, stress or angst they are experiencing in their transition to Year 12. We understand that this year will bring many challenges however we are committed to ensuring that our Year 12 cohort is supported, feels safe and prepared to succeed in 2024, no matter what their learning journey looks like.

Annie Driver
Senior Learning and Wellbeing Leader

Science and STEM

Congratulations Romina

Congratulations to Romina W in Ms Pirani’s Science class (9A) on winning Stile Education’s October Art of Science Competition.

Art of Science posters cover important scientific issues that have inspired one of Stile’s in-house artists. They hope to encourage an interest in students, prompt a discussion around the issue and boost their visual literacy skills. 

During October, Romina coloured in the Stile Education provided artwork on the Great Barrier Reef, part of the Ecosystems Unit and submitted it to Stile Education as part of the competition.

Stile considered Romina’s drawing to be ‘seriously beautiful’ as evident in the photo below. Romina was awarded prizes which included:

• A set of Posca pens and drawing book
• A set of Apple AirPods
• A certificate from Stile Education

Romina’s entry also won Ms Pirani a personalised Stile-ish stamp set and an Art of Science poster set and the Mercy College Science Department a $500 Cider House Tech Voucher to purchase Science equipment and a framed print of Romina’s artwork.

We encourage all Year 7 – 10 Science students to participate in the Art of Science Competitions run by Stile.

Julie Pirani
Science Teacher

Languages - Italian

In the study of language, it is integral that students learn about Italian culture. This is the way that students begin to engage in a language and understand it’s people, customs and daily life. Language is then intertwined in learning about the cultural focus. At Mercy the following Italian cultural aspects  are highlighted in our curriculum from Years 7 to 10.

Italian feste - Pasqua, Natale, Ferragosto, San Valentino

Italian food also becomes a focus of getting to know the Italian regions and daily habits of Italian people. This includes things such as Colazione - focuses on Italian people having a quick coffee and pastry at a local bar (caffe’). Pranzo - the main meal of most Italians, who stop and eat lunch together as a family at the table - al tavola or at work in a cafeteria or at school, where a hot healthy meal is provided which includes elements of the mediterranean diet. We also learn about different types of the Italian restaurants - “Mangiare Fuori” and the difference between a “pizzeria”, “osteria”, “trattoria” and “ristorante”. Students learn things about how Italians would never ever order a cappuccino after 11am- and that a “latte” is a coffee coined by Australians and that it means milk - and they will be given milk if they order one in Italy!

Another focus is Italian cinema and the study of Italian film such as La Vita e’ bella, Love’s Brother and 18 regali allow students to understand how language is used focusing on grammar and vocabulary as well as culture and topics they can relate to and are studying such as migration, Italian history etc.

Languages - Indonesian

Year 7 and 8 students celebrated their Indonesian language studies this year with a cultural incursion. On 22 November, students learned how to play angklung (a traditional bamboo instrument). They also enjoyed a dance performance. Using selendang (a traditional type of shawl/scarf) they then learnt how to dance a short Indonesian dance. Thank you to Sanggar Lestari, Indonesian Melbourne Dance and Culture Group, for this rich and fun cultural immersion.  

Here are some student reflections of the experience:

During this incursion, I learnt an Indonesian instrument called an angklung. It is made out of bamboo. I really enjoyed this instrument because of its nice sound and unique shape. We did a few songs with this instrument and I liked it a lot. We also did this Indonesian dance. Doing this dance was very fun. We got to include an Indonesian scarf into our dance. I really like it because of its length and its pretty color. This incursion made me start to respect Indonesian culture way more and it helped me realise how beautiful their culture is. I overall loved this incursion and would like to do it again.
- Tiana Mazorodze (7A)

We learned how to play angklungs, instruments made out of bamboo which you have to shake to play. An angklung’s size corresponds to what note it can produce, the larger instruments making a deeper noise. We also learnt how to dance with a scarf-like garment called a selendang.
- Rida Rudi (7A)

 I personally enjoyed playing silent night and waltzing matilda with the rest of the class.
- Annie Matthews (7A)

Elizabeth Moore
Languages Convenor

Health and PE

On 9 and 10 November, students in Year 9 Outdoor Education departed for their annual overnight camp at Torquay Foreshore. Many students conquered this experience with grit and determination, whilst fostering teamwork skills. Below are some student reflections, highlighting the semester of learning within this subject:

Throughout this semester, Outdoor Education has been a subject that I have really enjoyed and looked forward to. Camp was overall entertaining and a great experience. During hiking, I definitely would have liked a bag that was better fitted to my back as towards the end of the hike my shoulders become sore. My packing was efficient and well thought out as I didn’t bring too much or too little. Although Mr Moss had to help me repack it so I could also fit the tent. I was quite happy with the shoes I wore as they were pretty comfortable and made the hike much easier. Overall the hike was bearable and I could definitely do it again as you just need a good mindset to get through it.

Setting up the tent went relatively well as me and my partner remembered all of the steps to set up the tent and no parts were missing which made it smooth sailing. Although another group had an issue with their tent as the rain cover was not included so we had to solve the problem. We ended up getting Mr Moss’ tent as it was significantly larger and fit 4 people. During the night I found that the tent was quite comfortable as it had lots of headroom and didn’t feel claustrophobic. We also used our other tent to hold all of our bags which worked out really well as they stayed clean and possums couldn’t get to them.

Cooking with my group went well as we all brought things to make our dish and ultimately worked as a team. We remembered all of the steps while setting up our Trangia stove and in the end we made a pasta dish which was surprisingly delicious. It filled us up and replenished us from our hike. Cleaning up also went well as we worked as a team and collaborated well.

During the night there were many possums around the tents which made the experience one I will never forget, as some of the funniest memories came from that. Another experience that I really enjoyed. Throughout my life I have always loved riding my bike around my local area but I never thought I could do what we did. It was definitely challenging but overall so much fun as I loved going down all of the trails and going super fast down the slopes. The worst part was going up the 3km hill that was actually extremely steep. I got up about ¾ of the way but then I had to get off and walk the rest. I learnt that if you put your mind to something, you can absolutely conquer anything and I used this when biking. Overall it was really enjoyable and I would definitely do it again.
- Alessia Cali MHR5

I really enjoyed the adventure at Torquay. I didn’t mind the hike much as it was fun and something different as I’ve never hiked with a heavy bag before. Camp was a good experience for me because I’m always camping with my family and people who are older than me and more responsible, but this time, I got to set up the tent and do everything with just me and my friend. 

The surfing was definitely a new experience for me, but I don’t think I did too badly, I was proud of myself for almost standing up. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to go mountain biking but I really enjoyed the sessions we had at school.
As for rock climbing, I was proud of getting to the top of a 16-wall. It was fun to get back into it as I hadn’t been rock climbing for a long while. I think my commitment to Outdoor Ed has been really good. I’ve tried my best and tried a ton of things that I’ve never done before during this subject. This subject has taught me a lot, both practical and knowledgeable and it’s been a really fun experience to have opportunities like this where I can go camping with my friends and surfing at the beach.

A big low was when we were setting up our tent and realised that the group before us had forgotten to pack the groundsheet. We were freaking out a bit, but soon got over it as we at least had mattresses. When we got inside though, I found a hole in the mesh of the tent and got a bit worried that bugs would come in, but the more fun I had around camp the more I just forgot about it and went to bed. Although there were some difficulties along the way, I enjoyed the hike the most. The views along the way and at the stops were great, it was like I was driving with my family but instead, I got to see the views in person. Though the sun was hot, it was eventually bearable and it made me appreciate the shade a whole lot more. It was also fun because I got to experience being an actual hiker, with bags and everything not just going for a regular walk.

I’ve learnt that I really enjoy adventures like these and I like experiencing things that I’ve never done before. I’ve seen how I react to teamwork in difficult situations which I admit I could improve on and be more better and more motivated.
- Michaella Hauszler MHR4

Rebecca Mazzone
Learning Area Leader: Health and Physical Education

Careers

MACS Christmas Campaign

Giving thanks can be the greatest gift of all

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) is excited to be launching a Christmas campaign in December. The focus of the campaign will be on giving the biggest thanks possible to our amazing teachers.

To make the campaign more special, students have the chance to be part of it. MACS has created an online form at www.macsbiggestthanks.com, where students can write a message of thanks to the teacher who has helped them to flourish, whether by igniting their passion in a certain subject or by inspiring them to believe in themselves.

Not only will the messages of thanks be shared with teachers, but some of the students’ messages will appear on billboards around Melbourne and in future communications. We need parent/carer/guardian consent in the online form to give students the chance of having their message used in this way.

The form will be open until Friday 1 December. We look forward to seeing the messages of joy and positivity from students as we celebrate our wonderful teachers this Christmas.

Community Notices