Mercy News - 12 November 2021
Message from our Principal
Dear Mercy Community
November – a month of remembrance, endings and new beginnings.
As a College, we gathered virtually yesterday, 11 November 2021, and paused at 11.OO am to commemorate Remembrance Day. Silence falls across the country for one minute as Australia commemorates those who have died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
Our 2022 Student Executive team led their peers and teachers in a beautiful ceremony – an opportunity for all to stop and give thanks and honour the sacrifices made. It was a moving and reflective experience for all.
Rhea, Mission Captain, spoke to us about the peace of Christ that is given to us all, especially those who experience war, loss and significant challenges. She referenced the Gospel of John:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”. John 14:27
May all those before and ahead of us, who have and will sacrifice so much – find peace.
November 11 also marks another significant date in the Mercy College Calendar, the anniversary of Catherine McAuley’s death – 180 years ago. To mark this anniversary, Mercy Works shared the following Catherine McAuley anecdote on their Facebook page:
On the night before she died, Catherine called in a young sister and handed her a parcel wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. She was to throw this parcel into the fire and turn it over until it was fully engulfed by the flames of the fire. She was not to open the parcel, nor to look into it.
There has been much speculation as to the contents of the parcel and many people think that this may have been her shoes. Her boots.
Catherine and her sisters walked to city hovels, hospitals and thatched cabins in slum alleys, through snow and mud, any place where people were suffering.
To honour the legacy of the walking nuns, Mercy Works reflects on the image of Catherine’s “boots on” approach to life and getting things done that captures the true spirit of Mercy In Action.
This reminded me of the way in which Catherine McAuley’s legacy and mission lives on in each of us – but especially our Mercy College students. After a long period of challenges and disruption, our students have certainly encapsulated this boots on attitude – they have overcome great hurdles to ensure that they remain committed to caring for each other and themselves, to action and justice in our community and to living the mercy values of excellence, hospitality, justice and compassion.
Final Weeks of 2022
Amazingly, we find ourselves now at the pointy end of term 4. Our senior students will have completed their VCAA Exams on Wednesday. Year 10 and 11 students begin their final exams next week, while our junior students will consolidate their knowledge and demonstrate to their teachers all they have learnt across term 4 and the year – highlighting the individual growth and success that has been achieved.
We encourage parents and guardians to continue to work with us in partnership during this period, ensuring that students are both supported and setup to achieve success. Tips such as creating a positive home environment, getting enough sleep, putting revision techniques into practise and staying away from distracting devices are well known, but when put into practise, can make such a difference for our students in attaining their capacity for great things.
Welcome Year 7 2022
We look forward to welcoming our New Year 7 students and their families who will be joining the Mercy community in 2022. Our transition program has begun, with slight tweaks as we all adjust to a new sense of normal. 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. Last night, we gathered virtually for the Year 7 2022 Information evening. It was wonderful to see so many students and parents/guardians join in. It was especially great to hear from one new Dad who exclaimed he might have been more excited about the transition to Mercy than his daughter!
Throughout the transition process, we will be highlighting the fact that as always, we invite feedback from any of our families as to how best we can support the girls 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.
Let us never lose trust in the patience and mercy of God.
Lila McInerney
Prayer for Remembrance Day
Let us pray for all who suffer as a result of conflict,
and ask that God may give us peace:
for the service men and women who have died in the violence of war,
each one remembered by and known to God;
may God give peace.
Amen
Rememberance Day at Mercy College 2022
Student Executive Team 2022 Induction
2022 College Co-Captains Reflections - Amelia Pozdzik & Riana Zamora
The Student Executive Team were inducted via a whole school assembly which we streamed live.
This team will set direction, build an inspiring vision, and create something new for Mercy College Coburg in 2022. It is important to remember that each and every Mercy student from Year 7 to Year 12, is a leader in their own right, who lead by word and action the way in which we should ‘love one another’.
Year 11 students, soon will be in Year 12 and as such, every one of them will be the most senior student leaders in our Mercy Community.
On Mercy Day last term, the Student Executive Team for 2022 was announced. This team will set direction, build an inspiring vision, and create something new for Mercy College Coburg in 2022.
Each of the young people in this team will bring their own personal qualities to their role – from the passionate and vocal, to the calm and steady.
We look forward to working with them as a team, with staff and students to ensure that our school is a positive, supportive and exciting place to be.
Amelia: I am honoured to be the 2022 Co-Captain. I am especially excited to be working with my friend Riana. We have known each other since we were in primary school, so getting this opportunity to lead the school with her is amazing. I am excited to also work with my beautiful peers and staff of Mercy College. Getting this opportunity to lead and represent the school will allow me to grow as a person. Public speaking isn't my strongest suit, but with this role I hope to become more comfortable with it. My hope for next year is to create a school environment where everyone feels safe and included. I am an advocate for self growth and hope to see each member of the mercy community strive to be their very best and do their very best. I look forward to working with the student executive team and leading the school next year.
Riana: I am extremely grateful and proud to have the opportunity to represent our college as a Co-Captain in 2022. Since year 7 I have looked up to all the leaders at Mercy and now being in this position is unbelievable. Mercy has always been a place where myself and everyone can feel welcome and safe. My hope is to continue to support that environment and for our community to become more involved in social justice issues, as every individual can make a huge impact. I look forward to working with my close friend Amelia and the student executive team to fulfill these goals and hopes. Together we will continue to grow, learn and overcome any challenges we face. I am so excited for what next year will bring!
Mission & Identity
November the month of ‘Remembering’
In November the Church dedicates the month to pray for those who have gone before us. It is a month of remembering those who are part of our life, our tradition and our faith. We give thanks for their example of love, courage and faith; we celebrate their life, we pray for their eternal rest and ask God to embrace them in his love.
We remember
-The holy women and men who have gone before us especially Catherine McAuley who showed us the path of mercy
-Our family members and friends
-Those who have died of the pandemic around the world
-Those who have died in war and conflicts
As we remember those who have died, we can reflect on how their lives and sacrifices influence and inspire our lives. We can also use this time to reflect on how we are living. By living out our mercy values of compassion, justice, hospitality and service to all those we encounter, we ultimately draw nearer to God's kingdom of justice and peace.
As people of faith we are called to remember those who are suffering in our world. Images of war, violence and destruction fill our news and social media feeds. In his Encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis invites us to consider who is our neighbour.
‘Mercy nourishes and strengthens solidarity towards others as a necessary response to God’s gracious love. Each of us is responsible for his or her neighbour: we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they live. Concern for fostering good relationships with others and the ability to overcome prejudice and fear are essential ingredients for promoting the culture of encounter and love…’
Remembering is a powerful human emotion because it's connected with our identity, with understanding who we are, and why we are here. As we remember the lives that have been lost, let us promise each other to work for the freedom of all who are oppressed in the world today and remember the need for kindness and love.
Vinnies Christmas Hampers Appeal @Mercy College
Christmas for many of us is a time of happiness and celebration as we gather with our family and friends sharing meals, laughing and chatting as we open presents, however for people experiencing hardship and disadvantage Christmas can be a challenging time. Over the Christmas period St Vinnies provides families with Christmas food hampers and gifts for children.
During weeks 7, 8 and 9, we are asking for the support of the students, families and staff to donate food for the Christmas Hampers to help people in need this Christmas. If you would like to donate any goods for the Christmass hampers please bring them in via your child over the next few weeks. Goods must be non-perishable and include Christmas treats, decorations and food that could be shared at the Christmas table.
Together we can make a real difference and help people have joy once more for Christmas!
Josie Dillettoso
2022 Term Dates
Parents and Guardians may like to include the 2022 term dates in their calendar:
Term 1
Tuesday 1 Feburary - Friday 8 April
Term 2
Tuesday 26 April - 24 June
Term 3
11 July - 15 September
Term 4
3 October - 2 December
Deputy Principal - Learning and Teaching
As the Year 12 students complete their VCAA examinations it is definitely a year for them to reflect on their achievements. Their final year of study has been a year that they have demonstrated resilience and determination to complete their School Assessed Tasks and now their final task – the VCAA examinations. I congratulate our students on their dedication to their studies and overall demeanour throughout the examinations in a truly challenging year.
As the Year 12 class of 2021 complete the second week of VCAA examinations there are some students who have now have finished their examinations and others who are working towards the final date of November 17 when the VCAA examinations are complete.
This has been a journey of many challenges that many would have not expected, but one where new beginnings are ahead. The following is the final stanza from the blessing by John Donohue ‘New Beginnings’:
Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.
I wish all the year 12 students all the very best for their future endeavours.
Year 10 -11 Examinations November 15 – 18
The Year 10 and 11 Examinations will take place next week (Year 10 Examinations Tuesday 16 November – Wednesday 17 November) and Year 11 Examinations (Monday 15 – 18 November)
Students have been sent an examination package explaining the timetable, requirements and procedures for the examinations. These are important tasks for the students to complete to reflect their level of understanding of key knowledge and concepts and to practice and refine their examination skills.
Please contact the following staff if you have any further questions:
Jaime Brown jbrown@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au – Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader
Helen Anderton handerton@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au – Senior Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader
Clare Kelly
Interim Business Manager
Uniform - Update from Perm-A-Pleat
We are truly sorry for the frustrations that you may experience in regards to the delay in receiving items of uniform. As a company we are working hard with our factories and freight forwarders to try and expedite the delivery of all uniform items, however at this stage the continued impacts of COVID19 on the manufacturing and freight chain are making it a very difficult process to manage. Unfortunately, these are matters outside of our control but much planning is going into rectifying the issue.
In order for parents/guardians to receive uniform items, we have asked our store staff to limit the supply of garments to a maximum of 2 of any same item e.g 2 x shirts, 2 x dresses etc. This will apply if there is a shortage of a size. This will not apply if the shop has received its full stock delivery. The store will also take a sales order for garments that you may require above this limit, you will be contacted when stock arrives.
We would like to thank everyone in the school community for their understanding so far. We would like to ask all schools and parents/guardians to please show grace and demonstrate patience with our shop staff as we work through these issues.
Tim Porter - General Manager (Perm-a-Pleat)
College Psychologists
Managing Social Anxiety and Building Friendships
The periods of lockdown and remote learning in the past two years have resulted in fewer opportunities for students to socialise and build friendships, and for many students this has created some anxiety around different social situations. Social anxiety occurs when someone experiences anxiety in a social situation due to fear of feeling embarrassed or being judged. Social anxiety leads to avoidance of various social situations, such as talking in class, meeting new people, and going to parties. You may find the following tips listed below helpful to discuss with your child if they need support to manage any social anxiety they might be experiencing and build friendships with their peers.
- Remember it is okay to make mistakes and it is normal for social situations to feel a little awkward from time to time - often the other person won’t even notice and if they do they will forget in a couple of days.
- Ask the other person questions and give compliments to start conversations or keep conversations going.
- In social situations try to focus on others, rather than on yourself.
- Remember that anxiety is not as visible as you think it might be. More often than not, the other people in the social situation are not aware that you are feeling anxious.
- Build-up to the more anxiety inducing social interactions. Confidence will develop over time with gradual exposure to different social situations. Start with something simple like saying ‘hello’ to someone you know. The next step might be to ask a work/school related question. Then work towards chatting about what you did on the weekend.
- Consider non-verbal communication, like eye contact and body language. Try to be aware of the way the other person might perceive your non-verbal communication. For example, if your arms are crossed and your eyes are looking down, the other person will likely think you don’t want to talk. An open stance and a friendly smile will show the other person that you are up for a chat.
- Remember that friendship is a choice - consider the qualities you want in a friend and try to ensure the friends you spend most of your time with match these qualities.
- Try to find common interests with the people you want to be friends with.
- If you agree to attend social events and are worried about how things might go, make sure you plan ahead. Ensure you have a safe way to get home and prepare an excuse in case you feel overwhelmed and need to leave early, for example, ‘my mum has to pick me up on her way home from the shops’.
Remember, it is normal to feel nervous about some social situations, especially after a long period of being isolated from lots of other people. This nervous feeling is likely to fade away with time and exposure. Tiredness after social interactions is also very common in the transition out of lockdown. We all need to be kind to ourselves and others if we are a little awkward or weary.
Jo Banks & Rachel Calalesina
Seeds of Justice Conference
On Thursday 28 October, members of the 2022 Student Executive and selected Year 8 and9 students attended the virtual Mercy Education Seeds of Justice Conference. This was an opportunity to meet with other Mercy schools across the state and discuss the theme: “Opening the doors of Mercy - people seeking asylum and refugees”. Students were able to listen to a range of guest speakers and were educated on the difficult process faced by many asylum seekers in gaining permanent residency in Australia. As a group, students were able to create a “Seeds of Justice Action Plan” and brainstorm different ideas that can be implemented within the school community to support people seeking asylum and refugees.
- “We listened to Asma Rahim, as she shared her story of being a refugee. She brought forward the myth that refugees are a “burden” to Australia. However, that is not the case. Many are educated and have the talent to work, but aren't given the opportunity.” (Amelia P, SHG1)
- “We heard from Angela Scarafilo who discussed Young Mercy Links - a group of individuals that work to inform the community of the unfair treatment of asylum seekers… Overall, this experience was amazing and very educational as we met with people and organisations who are working to ensure that all asylum seekers are accepted into Australia.” (Tiana M, SHG 6)
- “We reflected on what Mercy College currently does about these social justice issues and ways in which we can introduce new ideas to promote a more just and compassionate society.” (Melissa P, 10C)
Tania Ragusa
Careers
UNIVERSITY UPDATES
Australian Catholic University
Key dates
Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation) webinar
Monday 6 December 2021, 7 – 8pm
Wednesday 9 December 2021, 1 – 2pm
For more details & to register: https://www.acu.edu.au/about-acu/events/2021/december/pathways-to-acu
Thursday 16, Friday 17 and Monday 20 December 2021
For more details and to register:
https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/change-of-preference-advice
Change of Preference advice at ACU will involve virtual one-on-one consultations with prospective students, as well as in-person campus tours (subject to the COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time – as set by the DHHS and ACU).
Consultations (Melbourne and Ballarat campuses)
Thursday 16 December 2021 10am – 6pm
Friday 17 December 2021 10am – 4pm
20 December 2021 10am – 2pm
Campus tours (Melbourne and Ballarat campuses)
Thursday 16 December 2021 10am – 4pm
Friday 17 December 2021 10am – 4pm
Monday 20 December 2021 10am – 2pm
Students can also contact the AskACU team if they have any questions during the Change of Preference period on 1300 275 228.
New diploma programs at ACU
ACU will be offering five new diploma programs at the Melbourne Campus in 2022:
- Diploma in Business
- Diploma in IT
- Diploma in Biomedical Science
- Diploma in Exercise Science
- Diploma in Nutrition Science
Why study a diploma?
Diplomas are pathways to further study at ACU as students can gain credit into a bachelor’s degree. Students will learn essential academic skills and be taught by our experts, preparing them to undertake further study if they wish. Diplomas can also be used as standalone qualifications – ACU diploma programs are accredited and Commonwealth supported places (CSP) are available.
AGILE
AGILE (Academy of Global Impact and Leadership through Ethics) is an innovative opportunity for high-achieving students to elevate their performance.
High-achieving students who receive ATARs over 90 and enrol at ACU will be offered:
- immediate membership in AGILE, which will provide them with exclusive networking opportunities
- masterclass seminars with ACU’s nationally recognised teaching staff and global leaders
- access to talks from Australia’s most inspiring leaders.
AGILE students will graduate not only with a degree, but with the experience, knowledge, and aptitude to be any employer’s first choice and make a positive contribution.
To find out more: https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/why-study-at-acu/agile
Monash University
Change of Preference 2021
Monash University would like to support students as they navigate the Change of Preference period. Please find below a list of handy links and resources: https://www.monash.edu/change-of-preference
Your Essential Guide to Monash Science is a great resource for Year 12 students with course advice videos, virtual precinct tours, pathways advice, the Subject Adjustment bonus tool and more: https://www.monash.edu/science/future-students/your-essential-guide-domestic-students
Monash Science Precinct Tours for senior students where they can see where they could be studying next year, meet some of Monash’s current students and have all their questions answered. Please note that any visitors to campus must be fully vaccinated or have a valid exemption.
To book: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/monash-science-precinct-tour-tickets-139326514355?aff=DE
Book a 1:1 appointment as Monash are offering 1:1 appointments, either with Monash science course advisors. There will be many appointments available on the day results are released, as well as right through the Change of Preference period.
To book: https://calendly.com/monash-science-ug
Latrobe University
Change of preference not far away
LaTrobe will be announcing details for change of preference soon, Keep checking their website for details.
LaTrobe’s Pathways Guide
If a student doesn’t get the ATAR they need to make it into their dream course or don’t meet the prerequisites – LaTrobe’s Pathway Guide will help students find the most suitable Plan B. https://www.latrobe.edu.au/
How the new education pathways work
LaTrobe’s new Diploma of Teacher Education and Associate Degree of Teacher Education both provide a pathway into a La Trobe accredited teaching degree. Students will study alongside Bachelor degree students in the same subjects and have the added bonus of a Student Advisor to help them choose their subjects and navigate university.
Either pathway course is appropriate for students who:
- haven’t met the entry requirements for the Bachelor of Education (Primary) or Bachelor of Education (Secondary), this could be ATAR or other conditions like prerequisites
- didn’t complete the Casper test in time
Students can preference both courses within their preference list for example:
- Bachelor of Education (Primary)
- Diploma of Teacher Education
https://www.latrobe.edu.au/courses/diploma-of-teacher-education?
- Associate Degree of Teacher Education
https://www.latrobe.edu.au/courses/associate-degree-of-teacher-education?
View all education courses: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/courses/study-education-teaching?
Bachelor of Arts
LaTrobe’s Bachelor of Arts offers students a way to pursue their passion and their profession. Students can choose from an array of majors and minors from humanities, social sciences, business, health and science, keeping their career options open.
For more details: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/courses/bachelor-of-arts?
RECEIVING ATAR & STUDY SCORES
Once results are released Year 12 students can access VCE results and their ATAR through the VTAC VCE results and ATAR Service
Year 11 students can also receive their Study Scores for any Unit 3/4 subjects they have undertaken in 2021 via the website https://resultsandatar.vic.edu.au/results/applicants.htm;
Students will need their VCAA (VCE) student number.
- First students need to register or log in
- If students have not created an account last year (scroll down the page to Register - it is under the Login section). Students will then need to complete some personal details.
- If students have already created an account last year then they will just need to 'Login'
- If students have forgotten their password they can request a reset by clicking on 'Forgot your password'.
Vicki Harvey