Mercy News - Friday 10 May 2024
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Key Dates
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A Mother's Day Prayer
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Message From Our Principal
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Student Wellbeing
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Counsellor's Corner
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Year 7 Activities Week
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Years 8 and 9 Learning and Wellbeing Leader
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Year 10 Work Experience
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Year 11 Activities Week
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Year 12 Retreat and Formal
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Homework Club
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NCCD Information Sheets
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Religious Education
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Careers at Mercy
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Sport
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Finance: Fee Statements
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Alumnae News
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Discover Mercy Open Day
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Term Two After School Program
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Community News
Key Dates
Sunday 12 May
- Mother's Day
Monday 13 - Friday 17 May
- CatholicCare Family Week
Tuesday 14 May
- Year 9 Outdoor Education Excursion, Mountain Biking at the You Yangs
Wednesday 15 May
- Week 1: Arts in Motion Afterschool Program, 4.00pm to 5.00pm
- School Advisory Council Meeting
Sunday 19 May
- Laudato Si Week begins
- Pentecost Sunday
Tuesday 21 May
- Reconciliation Liturgy and FIRE Carriers Launch, 11.15am
Wednesday 22 May
- Week 2: Arts in Motion Afterschool Program, 4.00pm to 5.00pm
A Mother's Day Prayer

We pray for young mothers, who give life and count toes and tend to our every need;
May they be blessed with patience and tenderness to care for their families and themselves with great joy.
We pray for our own mothers who have nurtured and cared for us;
May they continue to guide us in strong and gentle ways.
We remember mothers who are separated from their children because of war, poverty, or conflict; May they feel the loving embrace of our God.
We pray for women who are not mothers but still love and shape us with motherly care and compassion.
We remember mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers who are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory and nourish us with their love.
Amen
Message From Our Principal

Dear Mercy Community,
Month of May
In the Catholic tradition, this month is associated with Mary, Mother of God. Sometimes it may be difficult to imagine ourselves with having too much in common with the life of Mary but when we think of her as Mary of Nazareth, wife of Joseph, mother and a person of faith, it can become easier to identify with her. She must have faced many of the challenges that we too face, including the need for patience with our family members and courage in the uncertainty about what God is asking of us.
The figure of Mary is the inspiration for our celebration of the lives of our mothers and all the significant women in our lives.
Significant Women's Afternoon Tea
Thursday afternoon the College once again hosted a very successful Significant Women’s Afternoon Tea. Those that attended enjoyed refreshments and each other’s company in celebration of what is clearly a very special relationship. Thank you to all who attended not only for your presence but for your support of the young people who are the focus of all that we do at the College. As we know, our relationship with at least one significant person can offer meaningful support for our wellbeing. It only takes this one relationship to provide a protective factor against life’s challenges. And to this end, it is a privilege to host this event





Family Week: “Building Compassionate Families and Communities”
Next week we will be celebrating CatholicCare Victoria’s Family Week. This week is a time to reflect on the vital role our families play in our lives and in our communities. It is a time to celebrate and strengthen family relationships.
This year’s theme is “Building Compassionate Families and Communities”. Families are crucial to our wellbeing. When families are compassionate, healthy, safe and nurturing, our overall wellbeing improves and that of our wider community.
House Spirit Week
This week our students met in House assemblies for all their wellbeing lessons as we were keen to build up House Spirit in preparation for our Athletics Carnival which we needed to postpone today due to the weather. Students were involved in various activities including Mini Olympics, celebrating women in sports including celebrity heads - women in sports edition, and House chalk decorations. I thank our House Captains, House Leaders and Mrs DeMarco for their work leading these and look forward to our House Spirit continuing to grow.
Let us never lose trust in the patience and mercy of God.
Lila McInerney
College Principal
Student Wellbeing
Counsellor's Corner
Term Two, Week 3 was a big and eventful week for all at Mercy College.
Each year level experienced various activities, programs and adventures. Being immersed in a new environment, forming new friendships, learning new skills and tackling both challenging and engaging activities comes with many rewards.
However, as students once again embrace their uniforms, return to the classroom, as well as their usual extra-curricular routines, motivational levels may wane as will stress levels – especially as the weather becomes cooler and mid-term looms closer.
A reminder that students are most welcome to drop by the counselling office or send an email to counsellingteam@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au for any wellbeing support including social, emotional and academic needs.
Liv Carli Hannan (Social Worker), Laura Cutri (Councellor) and Sarah Giangiulli (Psychologist)
Mercy College Councelling Team
Year 7 Activities Week






Years 8 and 9 Learning and Wellbeing Leader

In recent weeks, our Year 8 and 9 students have been engaged in exciting and enriching activities.
The Year 8 cohort embarked on a memorable journey to Don Bosco camp, while participating in exhilarating adventures such as sea kayaking, tree surfing, bike riding, and visiting an animal sanctuary.
Meanwhile, our Year 9 students embarked on an exploration of the city, visiting several iconic venues including the MCG, The LUME, Eureka Skydeck, Queen Vic Market and Melbourne Zoo. Their experiences were further enriched by a special meeting with an Olympian, Coral Byron, adding a touch of inspiration to their urban adventures. These activities have not only provided our students with unforgettable experiences but have also contributed to their personal growth and development outside the classroom.
Jessie Burns
Years 8 and 9 Learning and Wellbeing Leader








Year 10 Work Experience

Throughout the Activities Week the Year 10 students participated in a work experience placement of their choice.
Work experience provides important learning outside the classroom for students by:
- using skills that have been developed in class in a practical way
- assisting students to develop positive skills interacting with others
- assisting students in determining possible career direction
- possibly securing/creating work opportunities
The work placements chosen in 2024 were both diverse and interesting for the students. Distance was not a factor, as they travelled far and wide from Albert Park to Wallan and all areas in between.
The placements chosen ranged across many fields of industry, including retail, education, medical, dental, counselling, sport, animal care, legal, design, engineering, theatre, hairdressing, business, human resources and marketing.
These diverse industries gave students an insight into employer expectations and the way to interact with co-workers and clients.
Here are some views from students in 10A:
“I enjoyed the experience as I got to explore a new area in work and have an understanding of what goes into Architecture”. - Alanna D
“I enjoyed work experience as I got to see the different ways communication is used to help students”. - Phoebe P
“I enjoyed work experience because I learned different ways to interact with the needs of different children”. - Talia W
“Work experience introduced me to a new environment and has allowed me to experience what work is like… and the dogs were cute". - Annabelle Tran-Hoang
“I enjoyed work experience because it taught me the importance of having a professional relationship with patients”. - Sarah Al Tamo
On behalf of Mercy College we would like to thank all the employers who generously allowed the students to do their work placements at their place of business and the time they gave into supporting our students to gain a better understanding of the world of work.
Jenni Hickey and Vicki Harvey
Career and Pathway Advisers





Year 11 Activities Week







Year 12 Retreat and Formal







Homework Club

NCCD Information Sheets
Religious Education
What’s happening in Religious Education at Mercy?
Across all year levels in Religious Education, students are developing a range of key skills in:
- Critical and creative thinking
- Reasoning and responding
- Personal and communal engagement
- Reflection on morality and justice
In Years 7, 8 and 9, students are becoming familiar with their Bibles in new and creative ways. For example, in Year 9, each student is designing a front cover for an allocated book of the Bible. They are calling on their unique artistic skills to create a cover that tells the story of their book.


In Years 10 and 11, students are enjoying the study of ethics and morality. In a world where multiple worldviews coexist, they are exploring a variety of ethical issues in our society. One student in Year 10 expressed her enjoyment of the study, saying “it is so fascinating to be able to share all our different opinions on what is right and wrong in different situations and scenarios. It is so interesting to hear what everyone thinks and how we are all different in what we think is moral”.

In Year 12, students are further developing and refining their research and referencing skills, whilst learning about what life was like in Jesus’ time in Palestine. With the help of our knowledgeable Information Services and Library team, students have been engaged in researching and reading about different aspects of life in first century Palestine.
Suzie El-Khoury
Learning Area Leader: Religious Education (Terms 2 and 3)
Careers at Mercy
Sport
On Friday 26 April, Mercy College showcased an outstanding level of skill and sportsmanship as they took four determined basketball teams to compete in the highly anticipated CGSAV Basketball tournament. With a display of teamwork and perseverance, the Junior B team managed a spectacular run, powering through to the grand final.
While the Junior B team made headlines with their thrilling journey to the finals, it’s important to commend the efforts of all Mercy College teams. Each player’s dedication to the team was undeniable, training 2-3 times a week in the lead up to the tournament.
Congratulations to all our teams for their hard work and achievements. Mercy College looks forward to preparing for Badminton and AFL with both tournaments being at the end of Term Three.



Finance: Fee Statements
May Fee Statements will be emailed to families on Thursday 16 May 2024. If you have any queries about your statement, please contact the Business Manager on 9319 9213 or email business@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au.
Payment Plans
Families are encouraged to set up a payment plans for their school fees. Currently, the College has options for quarterly, monthly, fortnightlt or weekly. If you would like to set up plan, please contact the College to arrnage a time to meet with a our Business Manager or return the payment nomination form below.
Health Care Cards
Families with a Health Care Card (HCC) may be eligiable for the CSEF payment towards their school account. Please ensure you provide a copy of your HCC to Reception by Friday 31 May for processing. The deadline for the school to submit applicatons is 20 June 2024.

Alumnae News
On Saturday 4 May, the Mercy College Foundation Students (students who commenced in 1965) held their annual reunion at Henry Barkly Hotel in Heidelberg. The school friendships they formed are still going strong since Form 1 (Year 7 nowadays) and they continue to share stories of their days at Mercy.


Have you ever wondered what life could hold for you after Mercy? Are you interested in where your peers are now?
Past students are encouraged to remain in contact with the College and are welcome to visit. We are always interested in information with respect to careers, marriages, travel, family, sporting and other achievements. Stories of interest are placed in the College newsletter from time to time so keep an eye out! To submit a story, please emil alumnae@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au
A reminder that we have our annual Alumni reunion this year on Sunday 20 October 2024. An invitation is extended to all past Mercy College students and staff. The more the merrier, so save the date!
Hurra for foundations, makes the old young and the young merry.
Foundress Catherine McAuley
Letter to Cecilia Marmion January 4, 1841
Diane Psaila
Alumnae Relations Officer
Discover Mercy Open Day

Term Two After School Program

Community News
