Mercy News - Friday 1 November 2024

Key Dates

Monday 4 November

• Mid Term Break - Student Free Day
• VCAA Exams: Psychology - 9.00am to 11.45am

Tuesday 5 November

• Melbourne Cup Public Holiday

Wednesday 6 November

• VCAA Exams: Mathematical Methods (Exam 1) - 9.00am to 10.15am
• VCAA Exams: Business Management - 3.00pm to 5.15pm

Thursday 7 November

• VCAA Exams: Mathematical Methods (Exam 2) - 11.45am to 2.00pm
• VCAA Exams: Arabic - 3.00pm to 5.15pm

Friday 8 November

• 7A/7B/7C Science Incursion: Zoo to You - 8.30am to 12.30pm
• House Assemblies 
• VCAA Exams: Health and Human Development - 3.00pm to 5.15pm

Monday 11 November

• Remembrance Day
• Swimming Training - 6.45am - 8.30am
• VCAA Exams: Legal Studies - 3.00pm to 5.15pm

Tuesday 12 November

• Swimming Training - 6.45am - 8.30am
• Years 7 to 10 English Enrichment Excursion: A Writer’s Journey – The ‘Art’ of Telling Stories - 8.30am to 3.00pm
• VCAA Exams: Chemistry - 9.00am to 11.45am
• Year 7 2025 Information Evening - 7.00pm to 9.00pm
  

Wednesday 13 November

• VCAA Exams: Media - 11.45am to 2.00pm
  

Thursday 14 November

• VCAA Exams: Physics - 9.00am to 11.45am
  

Friday 15 November

• VCAA Exams: Art Making & Exhibiting - 9.00am to 10.45am
• VCAA Exams:  Drama - 11.45 to 1.30pm

Prayer for All Souls' Day

Jesus, dear Saviour,
On this day we prayerfully remember all our loved ones who have died.
Please give them comfort and hope, and may they be at peace,
knowing that they will rest in God’s arms eternally.
Thank You for our memories of them and for the good times we shared.
We ask You, please, through this intercession,
to deepen our faith, strengthen our hope, and increase our love,
that we, too, may someday stand before You,
ready to enter Your Holy Kingdom
Amen

Message From Our Principal

Dear Mercy Community,

All Saints' and All Souls' Day

Today and tomorrow are significant days in our Liturgical Calendar, as Catholics we celebrate All Saints Day on 1 November and All Souls Day on 2 November. We remember all saints, known and unknown, who were ordinary people who did extraordinary things in their lifetime. These courageous women and men have given us hope and continue to inspire us today. We also remember and pray for all our loved ones who have died. We honour their lives and give thanks for them all.

Year 12 Graduation and Beyond

Last week saw us gathering together to celebrate the journey of our Year 12 students, marking the culmination of their time at Mercy College with a Graduation Mass celebrated by Fr James Puppady, (Parish Priest of St Paul’s, Coburg and St Oliver Plunkett, Pascoe Vale) followed by our Graduation Awards Ceremony.  This special ceremony bookended the beginning and end of their journey with us, bringing everyone together in a moment of gratitude and reflection.

A list of Award Recipients is listed later in our newsletter.

The next evening we held our Year 12 Celebration Dinner at Moonee Valley.  Students, families and staff shared a meal, a little dancing and many cherished memories as we honoured this incredible group of students.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024!

Most of the Class of 2024 are now immersed in their VCAA exams, applying themselves to this final academic challenge. We wish them every success and pray that their hard work and commitment are rewarded. May they approach each exam with courage, knowing that they are supported by the Mercy College community every step of the way.

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

Lila McInerney
College Principal

Year 12 Graduation Awards Recipients

Director: Student Wellbeing and Faith

Bittersweet Goodbyes

The last fortnight has seen our Year 12s final day of classes, their graduation celebrations, and the commencement of their VCE exams. I walked alongside our Class of 2024 while we navigated the planning and preparation of our many graduation events, and students asked me questions like: Will you get emotional? Will you cry? Will you miss us?

To which I replied: Yes. Probably! Definitely.

Watching Year 12s graduate is one of the hardest parts of working in a secondary school but it is also the best. As they step into the world beyond the red door of Mercy, they take with them not only their knowledge and skills but also the Mercy values they’ve cultivated during their time here. Each graduate leaves behind a unique legacy—be it through the relationships forged, the challenges faced, or the initiatives they started. Their contributions will not be forgotten. We began exploring this theme of ‘leaving a legacy’ on their Retreat and continue to nurture this as they are each part of the rich tapestry that is Mercy’s College history. Mary Wickham wrote that “The door of Mercy is double hinged…Mostly the door of Mercy stands ajar…” We hope that all Mercy girls know that they will always be welcome here. 

Nima Ballenger
Director of Student Wellbeing and Faith

Deputy Principal

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." – W.B. Yeats

In the grand tapestry of human experience, education stands as perhaps our most powerful tool for transformation. It is not merely about accumulating facts or memorizing formulas – it is about awakening curiosity, nurturing dreams, and unleashing potential that lies dormant within each of us.

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:                   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 has been emailed, 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 students 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.

2025 Booklists

The 2025 Booklists can now be accessed via Parent Access Module (PAM). Please see the instructions below to access the booklists.

​All orders are to be completed online by Sunday 17 November.

PAM Instructions

Step1. Login to the Parent Access Module (PAM) via:  https://pam.mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au
Step2. Click Campion Booklists 2025 Located under Knowledge Bank on the main page.

C.L.E.A.R Wellbeing Program

We have observed an ongoing theme around social connectedness and building positive connections amongst students across year levels. 

We encourage family discussions around what being a good friend means as well as building strong social connections that support individual differences. 

For young people social connectedness is highly important as it plays a vital part in their mental health and physical health. 

If you have any concerns about your child please reach out to our team via email: counsellingteam@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au

Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader

Year 10 Social

Our Year 10 students recently came together for a fantastic night of fun and dancing at the Year 10 Social, held in the beautifully decorated Performing Arts Space. The atmosphere was electric and it was wonderful to see the students enjoying themselves, creating lasting memories with their peers.

The event was a huge success, thanks to the hard work of the Social Committee. A big thank you goes out to everyone involved in organising and decorating the space – your creativity and dedication transformed the PAS into a vibrant, welcoming environment that made the night extra special. Also a special thank you to the Wassilieff family for their help!

Attendance

Our Year 10 students are now preparing for the exam period. Attendance is crucial during these last weeks of the year, as missing school means missing out on critical learning time. Even a day or two can result in gaps in understanding, which can make it harder for students to keep up with the curriculum. 

We understand that illness or unforeseen circumstances can sometimes prevent students from attending school. In those cases, please communicate with us so we can provide the necessary support and resources to help your child stay on track.

Let’s work together to ensure that every student makes the most of their time at school. Every day counts toward their bright future!

Bridget Allen
Year 10 Learning and Wellbeing Level Leader

Religious Education

Year 7

This term in Year 7 Religious Education we are exploring the story of God’s Creation and the effects that pollution has on our planet. So far we have looked at different ways to interpret the Bible story and even had a look at other Creation stories from different religions and cultures. Throughout this unit we have also learnt about the Catholic Catechism and the Bible. Amongst this we have also been collecting rubbish to use in our assessment. We will be making an artwork out of the rubbish we have found that is reusable. We hope that people will interpret our artwork as a symbol of what God’s Earth has become and how we should stop polluting and fix it.
Mariella Conci

Year 8

This term, the Year 8s were introduced to a topic called “Living a Christian Life”, exploring the struggles faced by vulnerable groups in Australia and social justice issues. We looked at issues such as homelessness, support for refugees and asylum seekers, Indigenous Australian rights, aged care advocacy, disability advocacy, and family violence affecting women. Each of us chose one of these issues to explore further, and I’ve chosen to focus on aged care. Right now, many older Australians face real hardships—one in four lives in poverty, and people over 65 make up about 7% of the homeless population. Older Indigenous Australians also face higher rates of disability and poorer health compared to others their age. Their basic needs include affordable housing, accessible healthcare, and reliable transportation.
Juliar Al Tamo

Year 10

The Catholic social teachings—preferential treatment for the poor, human dignity, the common good, subsidiarity and participation, and care for our shared home—have been thoroughly covered by the Year 10 students in Religious Education this semester. The social teachings of the Catholic Church serve as a set of rules for how we ought to live. Our assessment required us to select a global issue that affects us and create a call to action project to help raise awareness of the issue. We had to describe what we could see about the problem, our judgement of it, and then an action to support or increase awareness of it as part of our call to action. I thoroughly investigated the causes of this type of human trafficking for my assignment on labor exploitation and developed an action plan. I sold chocolates that were sourced responsibly and did not encourage the use of labor exploitation on 18 October. We made a total of $151 after selling out rapidly, which we gave to St Vincent de Paul to aid the underprivileged. This semester's study of religion was incredibly enlightening and helpful in understanding the world we live in and how we might contribute to a better, more sustainable future.
Dana Issa

Year 11

During this term, the Year 11s have been focusing on exploring the different forms of punishment as ethical dilemmas. To enhance our understanding of the history and types of punishments, we watched the film Dead Man Walking. This movie gave us a better insight into capital punishment and how from a Christians perspective they believe more in human dignity rather than the death penalty. The 1995 film tells the story from the perspective of a nun, Sister Helen Prejean, who forms a friendly connection with an inmate on death row, Matthew Poncelet as he nears his execution. It explores themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the complexities of the death penalty, delving deeply into moral questions around justice and mercy.
Senasha Warnakula 

Arts and Technology

As the schooling year is coming to an end, and when reflecting on what the Arts and Technology teachers and students have achieved throughout this year has been nothing short of amazing!  We have seen many students continually learn to grow their knowledge and skillsets and use these cross-curricular in other areas. Here are some student's recounts of what they have enjoyed in their respective subjects this year:

Art Making and Exhibiting
Some of the highlights for me in Art were visiting the various excursions for our coursework such as, The NGV and Top Arts, where we looked at folio that showcase how different ideas and themes could be brought to life through different mediums. This excursion gave us a clear insight into how final artworks were executed. We also visited Heide Museum of Modern Art to see ‘Hair Pieces’ Exhibition. This exhibition was our inspiration for one of our areas of study where we had to design and present our own exhibition using artworks from this exhibition as well as sourcing our own. I’ve also enjoyed how there were very few restraints in Art, as this allowed me to explore whatever style I wanted and how I decided to showcase that as this further pushed my boundaries and skills in Art.
Arshia Safi, SW4

Dance
In Dance, we learnt a range of different things including the elements of dance and different types of choreographic devices. In amidst this, we then had the chance to showcase our knowledge and skills of the subject in four assessments. My favourite was when we got to perform our dance solos and then watch and cheer our peers on in theirs.
Mariella Conci, 7A

Food Studies
This year in Food Studies it has been a great experience. What I enjoyed the most was the opportunity to explore the cultural significance of different foods. Each lesson helped to strengthen our understanding of different cuisines and traditions, it also highlighted how food reflects people’s histories. I particularly enjoyed our hands-on cooking sessions where we learned new recipes and developed key skills. Experimenting with ingredients and techniques such as indigenous flavours allowed us to express our creativity and created a deeper appreciation for food. The discussions on nutrition and sustainable practices also emphasised the importance of making informed food choices whilst understanding the impact of our diets on our health and the environment.
Marsilya Daniel, SW6

Media Studies
From analysing the influence of Kamala Harris’ TikTok account has on Gen Z and Millennials with trending sounds and filters, to placing our guesses on how many times Ms Carnibella has said “does that make sense?”, this year in Year 12 Media has been a fantastic, albeit gruelling, journey. I still have the loading screen of Adobe Audition burned into my retinas from countless nights in front of my laptop editing my fiction podcast. However, all the effort was worth it when we got to display the culmination of seven months of work at our VCE Art, Design and Media Exhibition. As we prepare for our exam in November, many of us will be rewatching Barbie and reviewing case studies such as the Fyre Festival and the Met Gala.
Darcy Murray, SW1

Product Design & Technology (Textiles)
My favourite part of Textiles is to be able to bring life to something I had planned and designed in my head. To be able to create something that I think looks nice and be able to use it makes me feel proud when my vision is brought to life. I love seeing how the fabrics come together to create something I or someone else I know would use.
Hannah Turnbull, 10C

Visual Communication Design
This year, what I enjoyed most about the experience was the creative freedom I was given, and the ability explore a wide range of design fields. From smoothie shop logos to the architecture of a local exhibition space, I was able to have fun designing and exploring my different interests.
Dana Gedye, SW3

We give our best wishes and say good luck to all VCE students undertaking their VCAA exams in the following subject areas of: Art Making and Exhibiting, Media Studies and Visual Communication Design. All their teachers are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication that they have shown in these subjects.

If our students need any assistance or support during their examination period, please encourage them to reach out to their teachers. 

Madeline Carnibella
Learning Area Leader: Arts and Technology

Music and Performing Arts

Music and Performing Arts this year has showcased various Performance Recitals, our Drama Production with Parade College and well as the Performing Arts Concert, which the students look forward to each year. With another busy year coming to an end, we move forward and look towards 2025.

I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce to you Dewmini Silva, our 2025 Music and Performing Arts Captain. Dewmini has been involved in all things music when she started her schooling journey here at Mercy College. Please enjoy her reflection of the past year:

We’ve had a great year in Music and Performing Arts here at Mercy, including some great opportunities for students to present their talent and hard work. In Term 2, we held our annual College Recital, focusing on our abundance of music ensembles and soloists. We received positive comments from the audience, and many enjoyed the night filled with fun and music. I performed in our VCE separate and combined bands, our College's Jazz Ensemble, and a drum solo of "Finesse" by Bruno Mars, which is one of my pieces for my Grade 5 exam.  We also held our annual Performing Arts Concert in Term 3, where I performed in my ensembles and helped as backstage crew. There were a multitude of drama, dance, and music performances, emphasising on our variety of talent and skill here at Mercy. The stage was magnificent with bright flashing lights and a perfect performance atmosphere, leaving the audience in awe.

In the future, I can't wait to expand the Mercy Performing Arts community further, reintroducing lunchtime concerts and more performance opportunities, whilst incorporating more music competitions, music workshops for interested students, and a special performance for 60 years of Mercy next year. 

Overall, I'm delighted to be the Music and Performing Arts Captain for 2025, and I hope to promote the talent of Mercy and unlock new potential in my peers!

The Music and Performing Arts Teachers, students and the wider Mercy Community can’t wait to work with Dewmini together next year.

Finally, to all of the students who will be sitting the Music written exam in the coming weeks, good luck!

Jack Stewart
Music and Performing Arts Leader

Careers at Mercy

Real Industry Job Interviews (RIJI)

As part of the Next Step program at Year 10, the students have been working on the RIJI program. The RIJI program is organised by the Inner Northern Local Learning and Employment Network (INLLEN) and is a work readiness program that assists students in developing good job search, resume writing and interviewing skills. The program concludes with a face-to-face interview with a local volunteer employer during a RIJI event. On Tuesday 22 October, the Year 10 students were involved in the mock interviews that they had prepared so well for, while some were a little nervous they embraced the opportunity and after their interviews were so positive about the experience and what they had learnt. Prior to the interviews, at the end of Term 3, all students had submitted a cover letter, resume for a mock job application. The volunteer employer gave students feedback on their interview skills on the day they will also give students written feedback on their cover letter, resume and interview in the coming weeks. Such a valuable experience and learning opportunity for the students.

Here is a student perspective: 

This week as part of Year 10 Next Step, students got the opportunity to sit the Real Industry Job Interviews (RIJI) at Merri-Bek Town Hall. This was a transformative experience that provided us with some insight into how workplace interviews take place and showed how pressuring, but also rewarding an interview can be. The interviewers were beyond kind, and provided feedback on what we could improve on, while also giving us insight to their experience in the workplace over the years. Overall, this experience has shown what the future holds for us in the workplace, and has guided us to embrace the nerves, knowledge, and confidence that comes with it. 
Michaella Hauszler, 10A 

On behalf of Mercy College and their Year 10 students we would like to thank the INLLEN for organising the RIJI and the volunteer employers who gave their time so generously to help students in this invaluable preparation for future interviews, whether that be for employment or tertiary studies.

Vicky Harvey
Teacher

All Souls' Day 2024

2 November is All Souls’ Day.

It is a day dedicated to prayer and remembrance for the faithful departed.

At the recent Alumnae Reunion, yellow roses were cut from our garden bed to decorate our refreshments table.

The standard rose sits beside a remembrance plaque donated by the parents of a Mercy College student who sadly passed away nearly ten years ago. 

Her old school friends approached the then College Principal, Michelle Cotter, 2011 – 2017, to ask to erect the plaque and plant the rose in her memory.

It was a lovely gesture at our recent annual reunion to remember all those who have passed before us.

May those who have passed before us rest in eternal peace.

Mercy Alumni Reunion – Sunday 20 October 2024

We were blessed with a brilliant day for our reunion!

The sun was shining, and preparations were in full swing to welcome our past students to the Mercy College Performing Arts Space (PAS) for a 2pm start.

The presentation slides running in the background were a proud reminder of our beginnings showcasing the origins of our Mercy story in Dublin. The House on Baggot Street was opened in 1827 and in 1831 foundress Catherine McAuley and her co-workers founded a new religious congregation professing their vows as the first Sisters of Mercy.

Catherine McAuley was devoted to helping the poor and needy, developing a program for instructing and training girls and women to optimise their prospects.

“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.”
Catherine McAuley believed that each individual had a responsibility to bring hope and positivity to the world.

Catherine McAuley’s Final Request
At the end of October 1841 Catherine became bedridden and was anointed on November 8. As she lay dying on November 11, fully aware of the fatigue and sorrow of those around her bed, she made one last request: she asked a sister to tell the community to “get a good cup of tea when I am gone and to comfort one another”.  She died that evening at ten minutes to eight and was buried the following Monday in the newly created cemetery at Baggot Street.
A gift of a cup and saucer for our alumni reunion guests has become our annual Mercy College tradition.

The Mercy sisters have been involved in education in the Coburg district since 1886
Mercy College commenced classes as a regional secondary College for girls in local primary schools in 1965, then opened on the current site in Coburg in 1966. The College was built on the site of the old Mercy Convent, which was originally The Young Queen Hotel built in 1846 and used as a watering place for miners on their way to the goldfields. The College was conducted by the Sisters of Mercy until 1978 when the first lay principal, Mr Frank West (1978-85) was appointed. 

The reunion on the 20 October was a wonderful time for our past students to connect with their peers and past teachers, enjoy the entertainment provided by our current students, listen to our alumnae guest speaker, look through photographs, yearbooks, memorabilia, pose for photos, go on a school tour and admire all the current facilities, and, of course, relax and enjoy a good cup of tea and delicious treats.

Our Mercy values are the backbone of all we do! Excellence, Hospitality, Justice, Compassion

We look forward to our big celebration in 2025
60 years of Mercy
1965 to 2025

Diane Psaila
Alumnae Relations Officer

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