Mercy News - Friday 8 March 2024
-
Key Dates
-
Prayer
-
Message From Our Principal
-
Director: Student Wellbeing and Faith
-
Deputy Principal
-
Director: Data, Innovation and Growth
-
Years 8 and 9 Learning and Wellbeing Leader
-
Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Leader
-
Alumnae News
-
Humanities
-
Languages
-
Sport
-
Homework Club
-
Enrol now for Year 7 2026
-
Community Notices
Key Dates
Sunday 10 March
- Catholic Education Week begins
Monday 11 March
- Labour Day Public Holiday
Tuesday 12 March
- Week 3: Years 4 to 6 Kitchen Kapers After School Program, 4.00pm to 5.00pm
Wednesday 13 March
- NAPLAN: Years 7 and 9, Writing
- School Advisory Council Meeting
Thursday 14 March
- NAPLAN: YEars 7 and 9, Reading
Friday 15 March
- NAPLAN: Years 7 and 9, Conventions of Language
- Year 10 Geography Excursion: Sports Precinct and Southbank Research Tour, 8.50am to 1.35pm
Sunday 17 March
- Feast of St Patrick
- Catholic Education Week ends
Monday 18 March
- NAPLAN: Years 7 and 9, Numeracy
Tuesday 19 March
- Week 5: Years 4 to 6 Kitchen Kapers After School Program, 4.00pm to 5.00pm
Wednesday 20 March
- Year 4 Explore Day
Thursday 21 March
- Harmony Day
- Practice Evacuation to the Green, 11.15am
Prayer
Loving God,
We gather today to celebrate International Women's day, and acknowledge all the hardships women before us had to endure and overcome inorder to grant us the luxury of freedom that we are blessed to have today.
Let us pray.
Lord give strength to the women around the world who do not have the same basic human rights as us. We pray for you to look over them and give them the strength and courage to recognise their value in this world. To help them persever with resilience despite their struggles.
As we sit here today we are thankful for the opportunities we are given as young women, and strive for a future of equality, where oppression will be eradicated and women can be themselves freely. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Message From Our Principal
Dear Mercy Community,
International Women's Day
Today, we celebrate the incredible women in our lives and those who inspire us across the globe. We're in awe of their resilience and bravery as they pave the way for a fairer and more equitable world for generations to come.
And to our students – their strength, tenacity and unwavering determination in the face of significant barriers inspire us as they, recognise the transformative power of education in their lives.
On Tuesday we gathered for our International Women's Day Assembly, where we came together under the powerful 2024 theme of Inspire Inclusion. It's a theme that resonates deeply, not only with the world around us but with the core values of Mercy College – Compassion, Excellence, Justice and Hospitality.
During the assembly, we recognised our year level student leaders by presenting them to our College community. We also heard from our guest speaker Tania Romano nee Stassis (2002 College Vice-Captain) who completed a Bachelor of Science (Hons) followed by a PhD in Physiology from The University of Melbourne. She is currently Head of Medical and Education for SkinCeuticals at L’Oréal. Tania’s story encouraged us all to think about how we might inspire inclusion now and into the future.
As we reflect on the progress made towards gender equality, it's important to acknowledge that the journey is far from over. While strides have been made, there are still barriers that women face in accessing equal opportunities, representation and recognition in various aspects of life. That's why the theme of Inspire Inclusion is so vital. It calls upon us to actively work towards creating spaces where every woman, regardless of her background, race, religion, or abilities, feels seen, heard, and valued.
In the spirit of Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, we strive to create a community at Mercy where all are welcome, regardless of their differences. We understand that true hospitality is not just about welcoming others in but also about making space for all voices to be heard and their experiences to be validated.
Catholic Education Week: 10-17 March 2024
The theme for this year’s celebrations is ‘In the Light of Christ’.
Catholic education strives to make a difference in the lives of those in our schools and in the wider community by challenging young people to live out the message of Jesus and walk the way of the gospel to reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, life-giving members of society.
There are 331 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne that educate around 114,000 students and employ more than 16,000 teachers and staff, and most will celebrate Catholic Education Week in some way.
Mercy is planning several activities to celebrate the week.
Swimming: CGSAV Tournament and House Swimming
On Wednesday the Mercy College Swim Team competed in the CGSAV Swimming Competition at MSAC. A successful day of racing saw our students place 2nd in Division 3, which is credit to their hard work and training for the event.
Congratulations to all our students who took part in various events including freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle relays and medley relays.
Our House Swimming Carnival was a day filled with House spirit and fun. With the perfect weather, Coburg Pool was abuzz with activity, with students taking part in events both in and out the pool. Thanks to all our staff who under the leadership of our sports Convenor: Brianna Shears ensured the day was a success.
Congratulations to O’Hea House on being awarded overall champions, followed by Frayne and Marian.
Let us never lose trust in the patience and mercy of God.
Lila McInerney
College Principal
Director: Student Wellbeing and Faith
Season of Lent - Project Compassion
Our College community continues to acknowledge the season of Lent by participating in Caritas’ Project Compassion. Each week, students learn about a different Project Compassion story to remind them of the importance of fundraising for those less fortunate. Last week, students reflected on Leaia’s story from Samoa.
Samoa may be a country surrounded by water, but access to clean drinking water is scarce in some areas, with many families facing extreme hardship as a result.
Leaia lives with her five children, husband, brother, and sister-in-law on the island of Upolu in Samoa. Not having access to clean water for their daily lives has caused Leaia a lot of worry.
Leaia’s family built the home entirely out of recycled scraps collected from a nearby recycling plant, as not to waste precious income and provide for her children.
Their home is not connected to a piped water system, so they used to rely solely on rainwater collected in old fridges. When their water ran out, she had to walk with her young children to collect water in buckets and containers from a neighbour down the street.
Each Wellbeing Class has a Project Compassion box and all are encouraged to continue donating throughout the term in the lead up to Easter.
World Day of Prayer - Friday 1 March
In the lead up to World Day of Prayer, our community reflected on the 2024 theme and artwork during prayer time in Wellbeing classes. This year’s program calls us to bear with each other in love, despite all difficulties and oppression. The program was written by a group of ecumenical Christian Palestinian women in response to the passage from Ephesians 4:1-7: “I Beg You...Bear With One Another In Love”. 2024 Artist Halima Aziz’s artwork represents three Palestinian women praying together in nature in a peaceful place. In her work, she has different motives and symbols that indicate the origin of these women and their cohesion. Students reflected on the many symbols represented in Aziz’s artwork and prayed for peace.
House Spirit Week
Week 6 at Mercy is House Spirit Week! In the lead up to our House Swimming Carnival on Friday 8 March, students have been gathering in House groups to prepare and foster house spirit. Our House Captains and leaders have done a fantastic job running a variety of preparatory activities throughout the week. Here is what we have been up to:
Student Agency
One of our major priorities for our School Improvement Plan (2024-2027) is amplifying student agency.
Priority 2 - Student Agency
Intended Outcomes:
- That teachers implement approaches which enable student self-efficacy and agency.
- That learner engagement and agency is amplified.
Fostering student agency is an integral part of engaging our young people as learners and directly supports the development of a positive sense of wellbeing. It is vital that students have an authentic voice and are active agents in their learning and wellbeing. Student agency means encouraging students to make decisions about what is important to them and giving young people the power to act in their own learning. In 2024, we are conducting a Curriculum Review with student agency at the heart of our decision making. We will do this by embedding the following strategies on how to promote student agency.
- Define learning goals and success criteria
- Provide choice and voice
- Support inquiry and problem solving
- Encourage collaboration and feedback
- Foster reflection and metacognition
We are also looking forward to providing opportunities for students, parents and our community to voice their opinion on our students’ learning opportunities within the curriculum and will be scheduling a range of forum groups for this to take place.
Nima Ballenger
Director: Student Wellbeing and Faith
Deputy Principal
“Feedback is one of the most powerful influences on learning achievement. The most effective feedback is that which helps the learner understand where they are, where they need to be, and how to get there”.
With reference to John Hattie, one of the High Impact Teaching Strategies (HITS) used by our teachers is feedback. Feedback provides the bridge between assessment and learning and aims to inform a student about their progress and overall performance as well as identifying areas for future growth and improvement.
Learner Expectation Reports and Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences are opportunities for teachers to provide such feedback. They also provide an opportunity for parents to work in partnership with their child’s teachers in developing a shared understanding of what student progress looks like for their son or daughter.
Term 1 Learner Expectation Reports
Learner Expectation Reports will be available to all families as of Tuesday 19 March via the Parent Access Module (PAM).
Learner Expectation Reports are designed to provide feedback on a range of areas related to your child’s learning, study habits and overall progress. These reports provide feedback on your child’s progress and form the basis for discussion at the upcoming Years 7-10 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences.
In the meantime, we encourage your child to continue to the apply themselves to the best of their ability across all their subjects and look forward to discussing your child’s progress with you.
Years 7-10 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences
The Years 7 to 10 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences will be held on Monday 25 March.
This is an opportunity for teaching staff at Mercy College to share with families their understanding of the needs of each Years 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 child and discussing how to best support and extend them to achieve their goals and ‘flourish’ in the learning environment.
Families will receive further correspondence outlining how to access and make bookings for the Years 7-10 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences.
NAPLAN Online 2024
The new NAPLAN testing window for 2024 is now from 13 to 25 March.
This means the results will be in the hands of education authorities and school systems earlier in the year to inform teaching and learning programs throughout the rest of the school year. It will also give teachers more time to better assess what support students need for the rest of the year. Check out the NAPLAN key dates for this year and beyond.
NAPLAN Information for Parents and Carers
Mercy College will be conducting NAPLAN Online for Years 7 and 9 students on the following dates.
- Wednesday 13 March
- Thursday 14 March
- Friday 15 March
- Monday 18 March
Nicholas Ambrozy
Deputy Principal
Director: Data, Innovation and Growth
As we step into the month of March, we are gearing up for some significant events and initiatives that will undoubtedly shape the academic journey of our students. Here's a roundup of what's happening at Mercy College:
NAPLAN Testing
First and foremost, I'd like to remind our Year 7 and Year 9 students and their families that NAPLAN testing is scheduled to commence on Wednesday 13 March. NAPLAN, the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy, plays a crucial role in evaluating the progress of our students across key learning areas. It provides us with valuable insights into their strengths and areas for improvement, allowing us to tailor our teaching strategies to better support their growth.
Academic Data Meetings for Year 12
Our Year 12 students have been engaging in Academic Data Meetings with myself to reflect on their academic journey throughout their time at Mercy College. These meetings are instrumental in assessing their progress and identifying areas where additional support may be needed. By analysing a combination of NAPLAN and PAT test results along with their academic performance, we can collaboratively set meaningful goals for their remaining time at Mercy College. It's crucial that these goals align with their aspirations for life beyond secondary education.
Expanded Extra-curricular Programs
In addition to academic pursuits, Mercy College is proud to offer an expanded range of extra-curricular activities for our students. With over 30 diverse activities running throughout the College cycle, there's something for everyone to get involved in. Whether it's delving into the wonders of Chemistry, strategising over a game of Chess, or harmonising in the Choir, our extra-curricular programs provide students with opportunities to explore their interests, develop new skills, and build lasting friendships outside the classroom. Programs run before school, at lunchtime and after school. A full list can be found on SIMON Daily Messages.
At Mercy College, we believe in nurturing the holistic development of our students, equipping them with the tools they need to thrive academically, socially and emotionally. As we embark on these upcoming endeavors, let us continue to support and encourage one another in our pursuit of excellence.
Lukasz Rabenda
Director: Data, Innovation and Growth
Years 8 and 9 Learning and Wellbeing Leader
In our latest update on Year 8 and 9 students, we're thrilled to share that they've embarked on a new and enriching wellbeing program. This program in the past two weeks emphasised the importance of organisational skills, leadership qualities and the significance of role models.
We're incredibly proud of our students for their commitment to personal growth and development. A special thank you to all the students who took the initiative to apply for leadership roles. Your dedication is truly inspiring!
Jessie Burns
Years 8 and 9 Learning and Wellbeing Leader
Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Leader
This week we honoured the student leaders for 2024. Well done to our Year 10s; not only those who were awarded but all who applied. We look forward to seeing what they achieve for the year.
As we approach the midpoint of the term, students will soon be facing a series of assessments. These assessments are designed to evaluate their understanding of the material covered thus far and provide valuable feedback for their continued learning. We encourage students to continue to be prepared and communicate with their teachers to ensure they are prepared.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all parents for their continued support and involvement in their child's education. Your partnership is invaluable in helping our students succeed academically and personally. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.
Bridget Allen
Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Leader
Alumnae News
Dr Tania Romano (Stassis, 2002)
Tania is a biomedical scientist and physiologist, holding a Bachelor of Science (Hons) and a PhD in Physiology from The University of Melbourne. Together with her research group, she has authored over 30 original scientific manuscripts, published in many high profile national and international peer-reviewed journals.
In addition to her research credentials, Dr Romano was also a senior lecturer and research academic at La Trobe University for over a decade. Dr Romano uniquely combines her academic credentials and biomedical research experience into the field of skincare and aesthetic medicine where she is currently Head of Medical and Education for SkinCeuticals Australia.
In this role, Dr Romano is responsible for the creation of the medical and education strategies for the brand, running of local clinical trials, and educating health care professionals and the public about skincare science.
On Tuesday, we welcomed Tania as our guest speaker for our International Women’s Day assembly. She imparted helpful advice to students during her speech on the importance in striving to work hard at achieving goals.
Following the assembly, some of our Year 11 students were asked what was their take away message from Tania:
‘Never underestimate your ability as a woman’.
‘Make sure to reach out for help from your teachers and know they support you’
We thank Tania for participating in the interview and sharing her reflection of her College days and her journey in following her career aspirations.
To read Dr Tania Romano’s full interview, please click on the link below.
Diane Psaila
Alumnae Relations Officer
Humanities
Exciting Updates from the Humanities Department
We're thrilled to share some exciting updates and developments from the Humanities department as we continue to embark on our journey of learning and discovery.
Year 7 and 8 Embrace LearnOn Portal
We're delighted to announce that our Year 7 and 8 students have enthusiastically embraced the new LearnOn online learning portal. Their eagerness to engage with this innovative platform is encouraging and we're excited to see how it enhances their learning experience.
Enriching Excursions and Incursions
Despite facing a minor setback due to the weather, our commitment to providing enriching educational experiences remains unwavering. While Year 7 students couldn't attend the Melbourne Museum excursion as planned, rest assured that alternative learning opportunities are being arranged to ensure they continue to explore and learn beyond the classroom.
In other news, our Year 9 students from classes A and B recently had the opportunity to visit the Port of Melbourne, aligning perfectly with their studies on Globalisation. This firsthand experience provided invaluable insights into the functioning of the port, its role in facilitating trade around Melbourne and the magnitude of products coming in and out of the port that will undoubtedly enrich their understanding of the subject matter.
Looking ahead, our Year 10 History students are eagerly anticipating an excursion to the Immigration Museum, where they will delve into the fascinating exhibition ‘Waves of Immigration’. This promises to be a captivating experience that will deepen their appreciation of our multicultural society.
Hands-On Learning Experiences
Our Year 12 Legal students are gearing up for the "You Be the Judge'' incursion, offering them a unique opportunity to engage in role-playing scenarios and gain practical insights into the judicial process. Similarly, our Year 12 Business Management students are eagerly anticipating a visit to the Yakult factory next term, where they will gain first hand exposure to real-life operations and management practices.
Gratitude and Appreciation
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the entire College community for your continued support and enthusiasm. Specifically, I’d like to thank our dedicated teachers for their hard work and commitment in planning and executing these enriching excursions and incursions. Their efforts truly make a difference in providing our students with valuable learning experiences outside the classroom.
I would also like to express my appreciation to our students for their enthusiastic participation and engagement in these activities. Your curiosity and eagerness to learn are truly commendable and we're proud to have such motivated students in our community.
Lastly, I extend our gratitude to the parents for their unwavering support. Your encouragement and involvement play a vital role in making these educational experiences possible for our students.
As we look ahead to the coming weeks and months, we're excited to continue providing enriching educational experiences that inspire curiosity, critical thinking and lifelong learning among our students.
Lukasz Rabenda
Learning Area Leader: Humanities
Languages
Benvenuti all'anno scolastico 2024! Selamat datang di tahun ajaran 2024!
Welcome to the 2024 school year!
With only a month of classes, it is great to hear the new vocabulary, sentence structures and grammar that students have acquired so far in their Indonesian and Italian classes. Equally important is the cultural awareness that they have continued to develop.
Our newest members of the College community, our Year 7s, have delighted us with their use of the target language beyond the walls of the classroom. Enthusiastically calling out ‘selamat siang’ or ‘ciao’ as they pass in the corridor or yard, has been great to hear.
Our Year 8s have built on their strong language foundations from Year 7 while our older students have begun recognising formal versus informal language, and revising core grammar.
Reminder
A reminder to please ensure that payment to Education Perfect has been made. This is a compulsory online learning resource for all students of Indonesian and Italian.
Language news from the community
On Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 March there will be an Indonesian street food event at the Queen Victoria Market. Enak! Delicious! Please check this link for further information: https://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/events/indonesian-street-food-from-bali-to-jakarta/#tickets
We look forward to sharing updates of your child’s growth in their languages’ studies. Be sure to ask your child to share some of her new words with you.
Elizabeth Moore
Languages Convenor
Sport
CGSAV Tennis Tournament
On 29 February 2024, I had the chance to participate in the school tennis tournament. It was a great day to have a hit and spend with my peers. Regardless of the result it is always a pleasure giving it a go and participating in these events. I strongly encourage everybody to take part in the sport events that our school offers as it is a great way to meet new people and get involved with the school!
Katerina Glykokalamos
Year 12
The experience at the tennis tournament was an absolute blast and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. We were having such a great time on the court, even though we didn't win any games in the beginning. But we didn't let that discourage us, We kept pushing, practising and giving it our all. Towards the end, things started to turn around and we began winning a lot of games. It was so exciting! Unfortunately, we didn't make it into the finals, but that didn't dampen our spirits. We were proud of our progress and had an amazing time throughout the tournament.
Ayen Machok
Year 9