Mercy News - Friday 18 October 2024

Key Dates

Monday 21 October

• Year 12 Final Day of Classes
• Swimming Training - 6.45am to 8.30am
• Whole School Assembly (Final Assembly for Year 12) - 2.20pm to 3.20pm

Tuesday 22 October

• Swimming Training - 6.45am to 8.30am
• Year 12 Celebration Breakfast 7.30am to 8.30am
• Year 10 Next Step Excursion: Real Industry Job Interviews - 10.15am to 1.15pm
• Week 3: Abstract Explosion Art After School Program - 4.00pm to 5.00pm
• Year 12 Celebration Dinner, Moonee Valley - 7.30pm

Wednesday 23 October

• Year 10 Design and Fashion Excursion: Behind the Seams at Melbourne Fashion Week Workshop - 11.00am to 3.30pm

Friday 25 October

• House Assembly
• Year 10 Social Event - 7.00pm to 10.00pm

Monday 28 October

• Swimming Training - 6.45am to 8.30am
• Yr 11 Environmental Science Excursion: MCMC WaterWatch Water Quality Session - 8.45am to 10.45am

Tuesday 29 October

• Swimming Training - 6.45am to 8.30am
• VCAA Exams: English and English as an Additional Language - 9.00am to 12.15pm
• Week 4: Abstract Explosion Art After School Program - 4.00pm to 5.00pm

Wednesday 30 October

• VCAA Exams: Visual Communication Design - 3.00pm to 4.45pm

Thursday 31 October

• Year 7 2025 Solo Student Afternoon Tea - 4.15pm to 5.45pm

Friday 1 November

• All Saints' Day
• VCAA Exams: Biology - 9.00am to 11.45am
• VCAA Exams: General Mathematics (Examination 1) - 2.00pm to 3.45pm 

Saturday 2 November

• All Souls' Day

A Prayer for our Year 12s

Dear Lord, 

As our Year 12s approach their final two days of their high school journey, may we keep them all in our hearts and prayers as they find light through Mercy.

May they all keep the Mercy College tradition, culture, values and faith close to their hearts as they continue to grow and learn in new environments. 

Thank you God for giving each and every one of them the strength, power and guidance to finish their high school experience with nothing but love and joy.  

We pray that their lives may be filled with the greatest of opportunities and experiences as they know that the Mercy College community will always be behind them. 

May the values of Catherine McAuley live within them and may each of them carry out her words as they conclude their final days at the College.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord, Amen. 

Message From Our Principal

Welcome to Term 4

We hope our students, families and staff have had a great term break. Congratulations to our Unit 3 and 4 students for completing trial exams in preparation for their final exams later in the term. It has been fantastic to see our students and staff return to Term 4 feeling positive and looking forward to a great term ahead.  Even the downpour of rain today was unable to dampen our spirits. 

Farewell Year 12 students

Last week I celebrated morning tea with the Year 12s where I had the privilege of talking with them about their Mercy journey over the years and their hopes for the remaining weeks. It has been great to hear how positive they have been about their schooling and their openness about what we can do to support them further during these final days, as they prepare to finish their schooling and embark on their upcoming examinations.

This week we have begun a Celebration Week where we had special moments and activities for not only students, but also their families and many staff who have been alongside them for their school journey. We had our school Celebration of Sports Evening on Monday and our VCE Visual Arts Exhibition on Thursday. Our Year 12s had a Staff vs Student volleyball match, a BBQ lunch, an Art Afternoon and a themed dress up day, and tonight we will have our Student Executive Family Dinner. Next week we will have our Graduation Eucharist and Awards and our Year 12 Celebration Dinner.

The end of Year 12 classes is a very special time but there is still much to do before they are officially finished. Some students will be involved in performance or oral examinations in the next two weeks. All will be involved in extensive revision and practice exams. It is important for our Year 12 students to remember they still have much before them and we encourage them to make good choices about how they celebrate and remain focused on their success.

I have been an educator for many years. Part of the education journey is the cyclical nature of it – we begin, we learn and grow, and we move on to the journeys that lie ahead of us. Many students began their secondary education journey here at Mercy in 2019, as Year 7 students. Others have joined the group along the way, each bringing with them different gifts and attributes that have contributed to a varied and wonderful group of young adults.  

Remembering and celebrating our past

On Sunday I am looking forward to our Alumnae reunion. This is always a special occasion where our former students come together to reminisce about their days at Mercy, reconnect with old friends, and celebrate shared experience. We look forward to our Alumnae being together, having the opportunity to tour the College, flip though yearbooks and share stories of both mischief and achievement. It will be more than a gathering. It will be a celebration of community and the enduring spirit of Mercy College.

Prayers

We pray for peace in our world and may the present crisis of violence across tour world come to a speedy end so that, with the help of other nations, dialogue can lead to peace and justice.

As a Mercy College community, we pray for Dewmini Silva and her family, with the death of her mother over the term break. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and may your perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul 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

Deputy Principal

As our Year 12 students conclude classes and our teachers continue to support our VCE and VCE-VM students during the final stages of the year, I would like to wish all our senior students the best during the coming weeks and leave them with these words of encouragement.

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

I would also like to acknowledge the support of our VCE Learning and Wellbeing Leader, Ms. Jaime Brown, the Senior Wellbeing Teachers and our VCE 3/4 Subject Teachers as students prepare for their final examinations.

VCE Examinations

VCE exams are fast approaching, but it’s not too late to get more prepared.

A reminder that the 2024 VCE examination timetable is now available.

All students must read the VCAA examination rules for VCE and the GAT. It is also their responsibility to be familiar with materials and equipment authorised for use in the GAT and VCE written examinations.

VCE Exams Navigator should be read by all students presenting for 2024 VCE external assessments. It contains important information about what you need to know for VCE external assessments including written, aural, electronic/digital, oral and performance examinations, and the Extended Investigation oral presentation. VCE Exams Navigator 2024

Semester 2 Examinations

Semester 2 examinations have been designed to provide students the opportunity to demonstrate their level of progress and achievement based on the key content covered throughout this semester.

These examinations will also provide an indication of the level of student performance across each subject with results included in their semester reports.

Year 11 Examinations: Friday 15 November to Thursday 21 November
Year 10 Examinations: z Wednesday 20 November to Thursday 21 November
Year 9 Examinations:  Wednesday 20 November to Thursday 21 November

Students will receive feedback from their teacher(s) following these examinations with additional feedback placed on SIMON for parents to view. This aim of this feedback is to identify areas of achievement as well as areas for future improvement to support students with their learning.

Further information including a letter to parents outlining the arrangements for these examinations and the Semester 2 Examination timetable has been made available to parents and students. These details have also been posted on the Daily Messages on SIMON for all st

dents to access.

In the meantime, please contact your child’s subject teacher with any questions related to their overall progress and learning. If you have any questions about the upcoming semester examinations, please contact me.

We wish all students the very best for their upcoming examinations.

Nicholas Ambrozy
Deputy Principal 

Director: Student Wellbeing and Faith

As we begin Term 4, Mercy College would like to remind all our families of our commitment to child safety and our whole-school approach to positive wellbeing. Term 4 is always an exciting time for students who are completing their final assessments and transitioning into the next year level with Headstart commencing in Week 8. However, we understand that it can be a period where some students may feel anxious about the year ahead. We would like to draw your attention to the following information:

 CLEAR Wellbeing Program

During Wellbeing Period each day, students are engaged in our CLEAR Wellbeing Program which provides students with the skills and tools they need to support their wellbeing. 

 During Assembly Period on Tuesday 8 October, the Year 8, 9 and 10s participated in a Bullying Prevention session. Students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the tools and tips presented, and know that they can always speak to a trusted adult if they or a peer is feeling uncomfortable or unsafe at school.

Tiered approach to Wellbeing

At Mercy College, your child is supported by a number of teachers and other trusted adults.

Tier 1 (first point of contact): Wellbeing Teacher(s)
Tier 2: Learning and Wellbeing Leader
Tier 3: Director of Student Wellbeing and Faith (or another member of senior leadership)

We also have our Counselling Team and Learning Diversity Team who support our students.

Care, Safety and Welfare of Students/Child Safety and Wellbeing

Alongside the Child Safety Standards, there are number of MACS policies and procedures that we are committed to which can be found on our College website and PAM: https://www.mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au/college-information/policies

These include our Student Behaviour Policy, Bullying Prevention Policy and Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.

2025 Class Groupings

Each student has been asked to provide feedback to their Learning and Wellbeing Leader requesting the peers she would like to have in her Wellbeing/Core classes in 2025. We guarantee that at least one preferred peer will be in their class and we try our best to ensure that other members of friendship groups are in a class together as per our students’ preferences. There are a range of factors that are taken into consideration when creating classes. Unfortunately we are unable to make any changes to classes once they are set.

Year 12 Events

Please note our upcoming important events to celebrate our Year 12s final days. 

• Friday 18 October (7.00pm in the PAS) - Student Executive Dinner
• Monday 21 October (Period 5 in McAuley Hall) - Whole school assembly. All students must wear their full formal uniform with blazers. 
• Monday 21 October (7.00pm in McAuley Hall) - Graduation Mass celebrated by Fr James Puppady and Awards Ceremony
• Tuesday 22 October (7.30am in the PAS) - Year 12 Celebration Breakfast
• Tuesday 22 October (7.30pm at Moonee Valley Racecourse) - Year 12 Celebration Dinner

We thank you for trusting us with the education of your child and hope that she has a positive Term 4 and transition into 2025. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with you as a family. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Wellbeing Teacher, Learning and Wellbeing Leader, or the Director of Student Wellbeing and Faith.

God bless,

Nima Ballenger
Director: Student Wellbeing and Faith

Counsellor's Corner

I’m thrilled to introduce myself—my name is Natasha Christofi and I have recently joined Mercy College as a provisional psychologist. My journey here began as a Learning Support Officer at the beginning of this year, where I had the privilege of working closely with both teachers and students in the classroom.

Currently, I am in the final year of my Masters of Professional Psychology course at La Trobe University. It has been a long but rewarding academic journey, and I’m eager to apply my knowledge in my new role.

I am excited to be part of the counselling team at Mercy and look forward to contributing to our shared mission of supporting our community. I can't wait to connect with all of you and embark on this journey together!

Natasha Christofi
Provisional Psychologist

ESafety

eSafety for Young People – Helping You Stay Safe Online – PART 4

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.

PART 4 explores the following topics and subheadings:

1. Unsafe or unwanted contact
This page is very helpful in helping a person to see the warning signs on unsafe or unwanted contact. There is also information about what to do if it has happened. Videos are included on this page where young people share their experiences and what they did to stop unsafe and unwanted contact.

2. Consent for sharing photos and videos
Often, young people post photos or videos of others without realising the possible implications of doing so without consent. This page is very important in defining consent and ensuring young people understand the importance of seeking consent from others before posting photos and videos. Included on this page are five practical and easy tips for sharing and posting photos and videos.

3. Protecting your personally identifiable information
This page provides a comprehensive list of examples of personal identifiable information such as full name, date of birth and bank account details. The page also focusses on where to get help if this has happened to you and provides excellent contact details of support services that can assist you if you find yourself in this situation. A must read for parents and their children!

Take the time to go through this page with your child. These topics have been created to give parents and children strategies to make online experiences positive, but also to provide important information about how children can be supported when their online experiences have had a negative impact on their lives.

Year 7 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader

After returning from a restful break, Year 7s have enthusiastically jumped back into school life. A highlight of our week was beginning our Student Agency Projects in our assembly, where we brainstormed ideas about how we can positively impact our community. We look forward to continuing this project at the end of the term. 

Our Wellbeing Program is focusing on developing self-worth this week as we look into building our confidence, self esteem and knowledge of strategies to use in our own lives. We also had a fantastic author visit this week in the Library where we heard all about the writing process, creating texts and got to ask endless questions about empowering female authors.

We can’t wait for more opportunities like this in the future.

Laura Mathieson
Year 7 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader

Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader

We are pleased to inform you about the upcoming Year 10 Social, which will be held on Friday 25 October at Mercy College. This event is a wonderful opportunity for our students to relax and enjoy themselves in a safe and supervised environment.

Below are the key details for the evening:

• Event Date: ​Friday 25 October
• Location: ​Mercy College Performing Arts Space
• Time: ​​7.00pm - 10.00pm
• Dress Code: Formal

Please note: Students are to wear formal attire that is modest and appropriate for the occasion, ensuring that clothing is of a respectable length and fit, with modest necklines and appropriate coverage.

Guests
Students are permitted to bring one guest with them to the social. Please note the following requirements for guests:

• Guests must be under 18 years old.
• Guests must provide a valid photo ID upon arrival at the event.

Transportation
For the safety of all students, we require that each student be dropped off and picked up by a parent or guardian. We kindly ask that you ensure your child is dropped off at the Performing Arts Space on time and picked up promptly at the end of the event. Entrance to the College will be via Gate 2 or 3. The nominated parent or guardian must ‘sign out’ their child and guest before leaving.

Bridget Allen
Year 10 Learning And Wellbeing Level Leader

VCE Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader

The last couple of weeks have seen an excited buzz through the West Building. Whilst some of the Year 12 students are feeling the nerves for the fast approaching exams others are thrilled and are looking forward to what their future may hold.

The last couple of weeks have been filled with memorable events including a staff versus Year 12 student volleyball match, where I am proud to announce that the staff had two resounding wins, albeit the second game was very close. The shared BBQ was a hit and all left with full tummies, even though there was a lot of salad left behind.

The art day was next where all Year 12s made themselves a Mercy keepsake to take with them so they will always remember that they are a Mercy girl. The fancy dress day as always was the favourite day of all. Staff and students enjoyed dressing up as ‘one of the decades’. The 70s, 80s and 90s appeared to be the particular favourites with both staff and students, with a great deal of thought and effort gone into planning.

The final week will be our more formal events where we will celebrate each and every Year 12 and thank them for their contribution to making Mercy great. I wish all Year 12s the very best of luck with their exams, and implore them to continue to maintain their dedication, motivation and drive in their studies to achieve their very best!

Jaime Brown
VCE Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader

Science and STEM

VCE Physics

In Unit 4, Area of Study 3, VCE Science students conduct a research investigation. By applying their knowledge of Electromagnetism, specifically motors and generators, the Year 12 Physics students repurposed a three phase AC motor recovered from an old washing machine and converted it to a DC output generator. This generator will then be used to produce electricity using a wind turbine in the Mercy College veggie garden. The electricity produced will be used to power the watering system to water the vegetables, again helping Mercy College with its commitment to sustainability.

VCE Chemistry

In Term 4, Year 11 Chemistry students are investigating the claims made by manufactures regarding the chemical composition of their products. Using an acid-base titration with a methyl-orange indicator, students verified the concentration of hydrochloric acid in a brand of brick cleaner.

Year 8 Science

While learning about the Rock Cycle, Year 8 students modelled the concept of Relative Dating, using different types of bears, gummy bears and sprinkles. The different types of bread create a simple model of layers of sedimentary rocks, sequenced to contain different fossils, represented by the gummy bears.

Fiachra Barry
Learning Area Leader: Science and STEM

English

As we approach the final stretch of the school year, our Year 12 students are getting ready to tackle an important milestone in their academic journey: the VCE English exam. 

On Tuesday 29 October, thousands of students across the state will sit the English exam and demonstrate their learning throughout the year. As a compulsory subject, all Year 12 students completing a scored VCE pathway at Mercy College are required to sit this exam. Students will need to write 3 pieces in 3 hours and whilst this may seem like a daunting task, it is achievable with preparation and positivity.

Here are some practical tips for success that you can reiterate to your child, as they prepare for their English exam:

1. Review Your Texts Thoroughly
   Students should make sure that they have a deep understanding of the texts they have studied throughout the year. Revisit key themes, characters, important quotes and structural elements from each text. Whether it’s Rainbow’s End or We Have Always Lived in the Castle, be ready to discuss how the authors of these works address major ideas and concerns.
   
   
2. Practise Writing Under Exam Conditions
   It’s important to practise writing essays within a time limit. Use past VCE English exam questions to simulate the exam environment, and build your writing stamina by completing hardcopy responses with pen and paper.
   
   
3. Plan Your Time Wisely
   During the exam, students will need to manage their time efficiently across multiple sections, so making a clear plan is vital. Use the 15 minutes of reading time to unpack the prompts provided and decide upon an exam strategy. During writing time, allocate time for planning and reviewing work. Don't spend too much time on one section at the expense of another.
   
   
4. Develop Your Argument
   Think critically about your texts and the exam prompts, and develop a strong, cohesive argument. Remember to engage with the author's intent and use evidence to support the discussion.
   
   
5. Stay Calm and Positive
   Finally, while preparing for the exam can feel overwhelming, remind your child that they are well-equipped with the skills and knowledge they need. Encourage them to stay calm, focus on their strengths, and trust their preparation. The exam is their opportunity to demonstrate everything they’ve worked on over the course of the year and examiners are wanting to reward students for this.

Good luck to all our Year 12 students—your hard work will pay off! We believe in you and are excited to see you succeed.

Please feel free to reach out to the Year 12 English teachers for any last-minute guidance or support.

Tania Ragusa
Learning Area Leader: English

Community Notices