Mercy News - Friday 23 August 2024

Key Dates

Monday 26 August - Friday 30 August

• Book, Literacy and Numeracy Week
  

Monday 26 August

• VCE Music Excursion, VCE Music Repertoire Performance Exam Workshop, 9.30am to 2.45pm
• Year 7 Maths Help, 3.30pm to 4.30pm

Tuesday 27 August

• 2025 College Captains Assembly
• Mercy and Parade Drama Production Rehearsal - 3.30pm to 5.30pm
  

Wednesday 28 August

• Term 3 Learner Expectation Reports available to Families
• Mercy and Parade Drama Production, Primary School Performance, 11.00am to 1.00pm
  
• Year 7 Incursion: Book, Literacy and Numeracy Week Author Visit - Lili Wilkinson, Period 3
• Year 8 Incursion: Book, Literacy and Numeracy Week Author Visit - Lili Wilkinson, Period 4

Thursday 29 August

• Year 7 Maths Help, 3.30pm to 4.30pm
• Mercy and Parade College Drama Production - 12 Angry Jurors, 7.00pm (Purchase your tickets here)

Friday 30 August

• Father's Day Breakfast, 7.30am
• 2024 Frayne Festival, Our Lady of Mercy College Heidelberg, 8.30am to 3.30pm
• Mercy and Parade College Drama Production - 12 Angry Jurors, 7.00pm (Purchase your tickets here)

Saturday 31 August

• Mercy and Parade College Drama Production - 12 Angry Jurors, 7.00pm (Purchase your tickets here)

Sunday 1 September

• Father's Day

Monday 2 September

• Year 7 Maths Help, 3.30pm to 4.30pm
• Year 12 RE Incursion: Online Exam Preparation, 4.45pm to 6.30pm

Tuesday 3 September

• Years 7 to 10 Parent Teacher Student Conferences, 2.20pm to 8.00pm 
  • Years 7 to 11 students will be dismissed at 1.35pm
  • Unit 4 classes will run as usual
    

Thursday 5 September

• CGSAV Netball Tournament
• Year 7 Maths Help, 3.30pm to 4.30pm

Prayer - Social Justice Sunday

O God, Trinity of love,
from the profound communion of your divine life,
pour out upon us a torrent of sisterly and brotherly love.
Grant us the love reflected in the actions of Jesus,
in his family of Nazareth,
and in the early Christian community.
Grant that we Christians may live the Gospel,
discovering Christ in each human being,
recognising him crucified
in the sufferings of the abandoned
and forgotten of our world,
and risen in each sister or brother
who makes a new start.
Come, Holy Spirit, show us your beauty,
reflected in all the peoples of the earth,
so that we may discover anew
that all are important and all are necessary,
different faces of the one humanity
that God so loves.
Amen

Message From Our Principal

Dear Mercy Community,

Social Justice Sunday 2024 - Truth and Peace: A Gospel World in a Violent World

This Sunday is Social Justice Sunday and the focus this year is on the promotion of peace and the need for truth in public life. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has released the Social Justice Statement for 2024–25, entitled, Truth and Peace: A Gospel Word in a Violent World.

Australia’s Catholic bishops say peace is possible if people commit to speaking the truth and redouble efforts to end war. The statement examines rising tensions around the world, the nature of truth, the spread of misinformation and disinformation, the arms race, domestic cohesion, the need for dialogue and education for peace.

As well as highlighting the devastating effects of war and the need for action to make peace, the statement looks at the ways the erosion of truth and the emergence of a post-truth culture contribute to the current crisis of trust and peace, noting that disinformation and misinformation have become more widespread due to the rapid dissemination of fake news and conspiracy theories through social media. It also identifies the arms race and the international arms trade as major obstacles to peace, calling for efforts to end the production and sale of weapons.

The statement also lists practical action that people can take to make a real difference, including ways to foster dialogue and understanding; support and promote educational initiatives that teach the values of peace, conflict resolution and empathy; advocate for disarmament; engage in community service and reconciliation efforts; and embrace non-violent approaches to conflict resolution in personal relationships, communities and broader society.

Truth and Peace: A Gospel Word in a Violent World Statement

As individuals and a College let us commit ourselves to cultivating a culture of peace.

Father's Day/Significant Men's Breakfast

Next Friday we will gather for our special Father’s Day/Significant men’s breakfast next Friday, celebrating the bond between fathers and their daughters. This annual tradition is a wonderful opportunity to share laughter and enjoy being together sharing a meal. It will be a time to honour the unique connection that fathers and daughters share, and we look forward to seeing everyone come together to make this morning truly special. Join us as we celebrate the joy of family and the love that unites us all!

12 Angry Jurors

Once again Mercy College and Parade College have been fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate in another captivating drama production. In preparing, rehearsing and performing 12 Angry Jurors, our students and staff have been provided with the opportunity to work together across different learning environments, fostering mutual respect and a deeper understanding of the arts. By combining resources and talents, our two Colleges have created a rich, supportive atmosphere where our students can excel both on and off the stage. 

I'm looking forward to these two significant events next week, as I am sure many of you are.

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

Lila McInerney
College Principal

Student Voice

As the year continues, the Student Voice Representative Council have been busy advocating for change, organising upcoming events and promoting school spirit. We have collaborated with staff and the student body to enhance our community involvement, inside our Mercy gates and beyond. 

As a team, we have engaged in meetings which discuss whole school events. These discussions and initiatives aim to reconnect the school community and enhance our own Mercy Traditions. This term, the Student Voice Representatives has been fully devoted to our much anticipated annual event of Mercy Day. In the spirit of Catherine McAuley, all students will participate in the activity of making welcome packs for McAuley Women and Children at the beginning of Mercy Day. This will serve as a poignant reminder to show empathy, gratitude, and exemplify our school values of compassion and justice beyond our College. These packs will include essential and sanitary items which support and dignify women suffering from unfortunate circumstances. 

Furthermore, among these discussions has been the brainstorming of different carnival stalls. These stalls are arranged to showcase the individuality, and the cohesion of each Wellbeing class. On Mercy Day each Wellbeing class will present their own stall, immersing themselves into the Mercy tradition which celebrates school identity, fosters pride and unity among all. Some of the stalls which would feature on Mercy Day are karaoke, a disco in the Performing Arts Space, face painting and even different food cuisines. These different stalls offer a sense of entertainment and are dedicated towards fundraising towards our charity, Mercy for Women and Children. Thus, the stalls provide the student body with an opportunity to give back and support important initiatives which promote greater social justice within the community. An activity gathering much excitement, is the teacher event. This year, we have adopted a unique idea which fosters creativity, builds stronger connections and will contribute to a more connected, positive school community. We hope that the stalls, and activities that are in the process of being organised and booked bring a smile to the Mercy community, and we hope that many lasting memories are made. 

As Student Voice Leaders and Mercy women, we look forward to hosting Mercy Day which will be filled with much love, and laughter with a beautiful underlying message which promotes compassion and justice. 

Mariam Saleh
Student Voice Captain

Director: Student Wellbeing and Faith

A very warm ‘hello’ from me to our Mercy College community as I return from parental leave this week. August has been a transformative month for me as I make this transition from life at home as a new mother to reconnecting with our Mercy girls. There is much beauty in navigating this process during our Marian month dedicated to Mary’s Immaculate Heart. As Mercy women, we are blessed to have the mother of God as a model of Christian discipleship and over the last few weeks, I have found myself looking to her as a source of guidance, comfort and light. 

It’s humbling to think that an unmarried teenager in a little village was chosen by God to be the mother of Christ. And even more phenomenal that she whole-heartedly said ‘yes’ to this call. No doubt she would have had immense fears and worries, yet through this experience emerged a new Mary: a woman, a mother, a disciple of Christ. She was the first disciple and is now a role model and source of inspiration for many. 

In a very real way, Mary trusted in God’s plan for her life even when it took an unexpected turn. How could she have expected that she would be asked to be the mother of God? More importantly, how was she so courageous and trusting to embrace this unexpected challenge and commit to raising this child according to God’s plan and not her own? 

Not only did she act with courage and faith, but she succumbed to the journey and ultimately suffered alongside her son. I imagine her sitting in the dark, scared and sleepless, cradling her newborn baby, questioning why she was chosen for this job. In the same way, I imagine her on the night that Jesus died, scared and sleepless, cradling her child’s lifeless body, questioning - why me, why my child? 

Through it all, Mary is a reminder that trusting in God’s plan means that everything will be okay. No matter how dark and how scary. It is a reminder for our young people but also for the parents who are supporting them and suffering alongside them. Trent Dalton summed it up perfectly in his Logies acceptance speech: "..they’re out in the suburbs tonight and they’re feeling a bit lost in the darkness and I just want to tell you…when your children look at you in the darkness, all they see is your light…Keep shining. We see you".

We always want to hear from our parents about how we can better support you and your child to grow in their learning, wellbeing and faith. We know that parents are a child’s first teacher and you know them best. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s Wellbeing Teacher, Learning and Wellbeing Leader, or member of the College Leadership Team. 

Love and blessings,

Nima Ballenger
Director: Student Wellbeing and Faith

Deputy Principal

Trial Examinations Year 11 and 12

Between Monday 23 September and Thursday 26 September, all VCE students who are currently completing a scored VCE Unit 3 and 4 Subject will participate in a trial examination period. It is important that all students are available to be at school on those days, so we would ask that you do not make other arrangements at that time. 

All VCE Unit 3 and 4 students have received a copy of the examination timetable for this period.

Learner Expectation Reports

Learner Expectation Reports will be available to all families as of Tuesday 27 August 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 to 10 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences, to be held on Tuesday 3 September.

Families will receive further correspondence outlining how to access their child’s Learner Expectation Report and information regarding the Years 7 to 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.

Reporting Milestones

At Mercy College there is a strong emphasis on providing feedback to all involved in the learning partnership (students, teachers, parents/guardians and the community). Feedback is viewed as a crucial part of improving and empowering performance. Mercy College provides students and families’ access to continuous online reporting.

Reporting Milestones will be available for parents to access via PAM from Tuesday 27 August where each subject reports on at least one task per term.

Years 7 to 10 Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences

The Years 7 to 10 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences will be held on Tuesday 3 September.

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 student can achieve their personal best.  

We encourage all parents and guardians to make appointments with their child’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 her to achieve their goals and ‘flourish’ in the learning environment.

Families have been emailed further correspondence outlining how to access and make these bookings.

VCE Mathematics Revision Program

MAV's VCE Revision Program is LIVE and open for registrations!

The Mathematical Association of Victoria developed a self-paced, interactive, online VCE Revision Course for students. These online courses are created by VCAA assessors, and are available for students to access from the day they register, all the way up until their exams finish.

The program is accessible all the way until the end of the VCE exams.
See website to register or for more information.

Download the flyer here to for students and parents.

Nicholas Ambrozy
Deputy Principal

Counsellor's Corner

With the conclusion of the Bullying No Way: National Week of Action last week, it is timely to consider the proud commitment that Mercy College makes to eradicating bullying, ensuring that all our students feel known and connected, prioritising a sense of belonging and inclusivity. We acknowledge that it is our collective responsibility to ensure that every student feels valued and respected. 

Just as we, as a school community, are responsible for educating and minimising the possibilities of bullying – so too, are parents and carers. Parents play an important role in helping your child understand bullying and know how to respond to it. 

Kindness, acceptance and inclusion are all important actions to think about – they have the power to make a huge difference! These qualities can help others feel respected, valued for who they are and included. It may be holding the door open for someone, a kind smile, inviting someone to sit with you, or showing gratitude, these can help create a world where bullying is minimised one action at a time. 

The power of including others can help them feel like they are a part of something bigger than themselves. Showing kindness can be the smallest of gestures but can make a big difference – and there certainly can never be enough kindness. Whilst acceptance is about being open to respecting everyone’s differences, remaining patient and helpful with others.

So just as it is important to remind your child that bullying is never okay, the reminder of being inclusive, kind, accepting is equally important.

Liv Carli Hannan (Social Worker), Laura Cutri (Councellor) and Sarah Giangiulli (Psychologist)
Mercy College Counselling Team

eSafety

eSafety for Young People – Helping You Stay Safe Online – PART 1

Valuable online safety information for young people can be found on the following link:
https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people

Each topic tile on this page, provides relevant and up to date information relating to cyberbullying and how to stop it. The three main topics and subheadings discussed in this newsletter are as follows:

1. Bullying online – cyberbullying.

What is cyberbullying? Examples on this page have been provided to demonstrate what is cyberbullying.
How can I help if someone is being bullied?
Helpful steps to stop cyberbullying.

2. I’ve been called out as an online bully.

What does being called out mean?
What should I do if I have been called out as an online bully?
What should you do if you have been called a bully?

3. How to be an online upstander.

What is an upstander?
How can I be an upstander? Helpful video included in this section.
Sample scenarios of how a person has been an upstander in certain situations.

Take the time to go through this page with your child to help them to understand the terms and how to recognise and stop cyberbullying.

Year 7 Reflections

This term we have learnt a range of different things, from algebra to water. I like all the inside jokes that I am able to share with my friends and teachers and so far my favourite thing about this term is being able to simply sit in the library and play Uno with my friends, making memories as we go.

Mariella Conci
Year 7A

This term in Year 7, we together as a cohort have developed in many ways, some being in independence, friendships and strong bonds with the teachers. This term has been so packed with many adventures already with more yet to come. My personal favourite was probably having the pizza lunch with Mrs McInerney. Where we got the opportunity to discuss what we thought of the Mercy community and a chance to talk about our feelings along with the delicious pizza it came with. 

Alyssa Lamsal
Year 7B

Year 10 Learning And Wellbeing Level Leader

On Thursday 22 August, the Year 10s participated in their annual Reflection Day, focusing on the theme of self-image. The event was designed to provide students with an opportunity to engage in activities that promote self-reflection, build confidence and foster a positive self-image. The students were asked to participate in games, prayer, discussions about their gifts, and consider the role of Jesus in their lives. Students were also given various opportunities throughout the day to share and consider their own self image. 

Below is a Year 10 students reflection on the day...

Today’s Reflection Day at Mercy College was a really memorable experience for me. The day was focused on self-image, which is something I don’t always think about deeply, but I realise now how important it is.

We started the day with some fun activities that really helped us all relax and connect with each other. It was great to see everyone laughing and having a good time, which made the whole day feel positive and uplifting. The skits were a highlight for me—they were not only funny but also had a deeper message about how we see ourselves versus how others see us. It was a powerful reminder that our self-worth shouldn’t be based on what others think but on how we view ourselves.

Bridget Allen
Year 10 Learning And Wellbeing Level Leader

VCE Learning and Wellbeing Leader

Mercy College acknowledged the importance of supporting the No Bullying: National Week of Action – 12 to 16 August 2024. By working collaboratively within our community, we can collectively help reduce bullying.

Parents and carers play an important role in helping your child understand bullying, and know how to respond to it.If your child tells you about things at school, or you observe something in public that involves conflict or bullying, take the opportunity to talk about what bullying is.

Questions you could ask:

• What do you think bullying is?
• Have you seen it? How did you feel?
• Have you ever felt scared at school because of bullying?
• As well as me, who are the other adults you would talk to when it comes to things like bullying?
• Have you or your friends left other kids out on purpose? Do you think that was bullying? Why or why not?
• Have you ever tried to help someone who is being bullied? What happened? What would you do if it happens again?

Remind your child that bullying is never okay and discuss how they can respond safely if they experience or witness it. Encourage them to seek help from a trusted adult and keep seeking support if needed.

By promoting open communication, we empower children to stand up against bullying and create a safer environment where everyone can feel that they belong. For more information, visit bullyingnoway.gov.au.

Jaime Brown
VCE Learning and Wellbeing Leader

Year 9 Australian Catholic Church Excursion

On Wednesday 14 August, the Year 9 students “walked in the shoes of the Early Australian Catholic Church”. They visited multiple religious landmarks and locations, including St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Mary Glowrey Museum and the Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre as a part of their current studies in Religious Education on the history of the Australian Catholic Church.

The following are some reflections from Year 9 students on their experience of the day.

On Wednesday 14 August, the Year 9s went on an excursion to the city for our upcoming assessment based on the Australian Catholic church. We went to three different locations; Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre, the Mary Glowrey Exhibition and St Patrick’s Cathedral. Each class rotated locations along the day and got to try everything out.

At the Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre, we were randomly organised into different groups with our classmates. They had a museum and presentation that told us the story of Saint Mary MacKillop’s work and we completed different activities and questions with our peers. Next, we went to the Mary Glowrey Exhibition. There were lots of sources like pictures and letters that helped us learn about a religious sister named Mary Glowrey along with a presentation. One of the people who worked with us was related to Mary Glowrey! Lastly, we saw St Patrick’s Cathedral and got to go inside. It was a really massive building and we got to look around and take pictures. A lot of us enjoyed looking around at the beautiful space especially the stained glass windows and having some quiet time to reflect.

This excursion was very enjoyable and has definitely taught us a lot of new things. It will be a fun and memorable experience for all of us in Year 9!

Lily Ampong
Yar 9A

On 14 August, The Year 9 classes made a journey to three different holy places to help prepare for our upcoming assessment: St Patrick's Cathedral, Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre and the Mary Glowery Museum. Throughout the day each class made a rotation to all three places. At St Patrick's Cathedral we took our time to look around at the beautiful architecture as well as taking some time to pray and spend time with God. A little while after, we were given the opportunity to go to the Cathedral Gift Shop. The visit to Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre gave us a chance to learn more about the life of Mary MacKillop and all the difficulties she went through and still stayed so strong. Our guides showed us real objects in the time she was still alive. After this visit, we ate lunch with our classes before heading to our final site; the Mary Glowrey Museum. During this visit we got to meet a distant relative of Sr Dr Mary Glowrey who was nice enough to share her family's experience in Mary Glowrey’s hard work. All the Year 9 classes were very grateful towards our teachers for this lovely day.

Mariam Gorail
Year 9B

Mathematics

What’s been happening this term in Numeracy?

The term started with an important date: Australian Pi day on the 22 July. This date written 22/7 represents the fractional approximation of Pi. Students will be practising Pi recitation and Pi eating in the competition during Book, Literacy and Numeracy Week. 

Stay tuned to see who are our champions this year!

We have already completed a warm up activity in our Assembly lesson last week where students were given Sudoku challenges of different levels and asked to complete them. The following students were the first to submit them:

 Year 8 - Mia Colan (Medium)
Year 9 - Lily Ampong (Hard)
Year 10 - Indiana Fontana (Hard)
Year 10 - Charli Zelman (Extreme)
Year 10 - Michaella Hauszler (Hard)

What do our Maths teachers like doing in their spare time and how do they use Maths outside the classroom?

• Mr Ambrozy likes solving mathematical problems because it feels like uncovering hidden truths, and he says that mastering concepts or discovering new methods is deeply satisfying.
• Ms Carinci likes tap dancing and uses her knowledge of counting beats when learning new steps.
• Ms Folino likes football and when looking at the AFL ladder, looks beyond the 4 points scored for winning the game at the total points scored for and against to see how teams are placed after percentages are calculated.
• Mr Klepp likes grocery shopping and compares costs by looking at the cost per 100ml or 100mg.
• Mr Menuel likes astronomy and when looking at the Moon, wonders how mathematicians worked out such large distances.
• Ms Palmer likes cooking and adjusts recipes to increase or decrease servings.
• Ms Russell likes house renovating and has been budgeting, measuring and timetabling the work involved in her renovation.
• Ms Shears likes playing different sports and uses addition and subtraction to work out the difference between teams' scores. In some sports she uses multiplication and division to work out how many scores are needed to win.

See, Maths really is everywhere!!!

English

English during Term Three is all about text study. Students at each year level have been delving into complex texts and unpacking the worlds that have been created by authors.

At Mercy College, we value having a rich text list that explores diverse themes and different elements of the human condition. Here is what each year level is currently reading:

Year 7 - Lois Lowry’s “The Giver”. A dystopian novel set in a world where everything is perfect, controlled, and free of war and pain. However, a young boy named Jonas begins to receive the truth and see beyond this facade.

Year 8 - Laurie Halse Anderson’s “Fever 1793”. A historical fiction which follows young Matilda Cook as she navigates the Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia.

Year 9 - William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”. The classic play of feuding families, star-crossed lovers and tragic endings.

Year 10 - Elie Wiesel’s “Night”. Wiesel's real-life account of his experiences as a Jewish teenager during the Holocaust, and the struggles of living within Nazi concentration camps.

Year 11 - Euripides’ “Medea”. A cunning woman, Medea seeks revenge upon her unfaithful husband in this Greek classic.

Year 12 - Shirley Jackson’s “We Have Always Lived in the Castle”. A hallmark of the Gothic genre which explores the inner lives of the Blackwood family and a mysterious murder that changes their lives forever.

Throughout August, we have been fortunate enough to have Complete Works Theatre Company visit the College and bring some of these texts to life. Year 9 students were entertained by a modern re-telling of Romeo and Juliet (and even got involved themselves) and Year 11 students were able to envisage Medea’s revenge onstage. Students were then able to engage in a discussion after the performance with the actors. This will benefit students for their upcoming assessment tasks, as they prepare to write analytical text response essays.

Tania Ragusa
Learning Area Leader: English

Discovering the history of Mercy College

In this newsletter edition, we continue following our building plaque timeline and come to the Francis G West Building – the Year 11 and Year 12 Building – opened and blessed by Bishop J. P. O’Connell on 13 October 1991. The building was named to commemorate Frank West, the first lay principal of Mercy College: 1978 – 1984.

Sunday 13 October 1991 was also the day of the official opening of the third Coburg Convent of Mercy at 742 Sydney Road and the administration centre. Both ceremonies were performed by Bishop Joseph O’Connell. (We will feature the Community Hub in the next edition).

The images below showcase a glimpse of the learning and recreational spaces for our senior students, who with the support and encouragement of their teachers, have every opportunity to optimise best efforts and achieve their academic ambitions.

Diane Psaila
Alumnae Relations Officer

Mercy/Parade Production - 12 Angry Jurors

Music and Performing Arts Concert

Upcoming Alumnae Reunions