Mercy News - Friday 7 February 2025

Key Dates

Saturday 8 February

• International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking
• Feast of Josephine of Bakhita

Tuesday 11 February

• Safer Internet Day
• CGSAV Sports Leaders Breakfast

Wednesday 12 February

• Year 9 Immersion Day - Languages

Thursday 13 February

• Anniversary of Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples
• World Day of the Sick
• Discover Mercy Open Day, 9.30am and 6.00pm

Sunday 16 February

• Discover Mercy Open Day, 10.00am
  

Tuesday 18 February

• 60 Year Celebration Day: Commencement Eucharist and Picnic

Thursday 20 February

• World Day of Social Justice
  

Friday 21 February

• Year 7 Reflection Day

2025 College Prayer

God of Mercy,

We are thankful for the gift of Mercy College, and for the countless lives touched by Your love and grace who have been a part of this college community for the past 60 years.

We thank You for the vision and strength of the generations of students and staff who have built the legacy of our school. Through every challenge and triumph, God has been our source of hope. We know that hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

As we celebrate 60 Years of Hope through Mercy, we highlight our values of excellence, hospitality, justice and compassion that have shaped so many into who they are today.

Lord, bless our community—past, present, and future. May we be instruments of Your mercy, bringing hope to those in need, and creating a world of justice, peace, and love.

We pray that Mercy College remains a place of faith, where every student, parent/carer and staff member is uplifted, every voice is heard, and every heart is nurtured. We make this prayer and the prayers in our hearts through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Catherine McAuley, pray for us.

Message From Our Principal

Dear Mercy Community,

Welcome to our first newsletter for 2025.  The beginning of a new school year is always full of energy and excitement and this year even more so as we celebrate our 60 year anniversary.

We are proud as a College to celebrate six decades of our commitment to educational excellence, faith and hope for the future. Pope Francis also announced and designated 2025 as a Jubilee Year with the theme “Pilgrim of Hope,” aiming to rejuvenate faith and inspire global solidarity.

Since 1965, Mercy College has offered a solid foundation for lifelong learning and opportunities for all to flourish not only as learners, but as whole and compassionate individuals. Grounded in faith, we inspire our community to uphold the College values of compassion, excellence, hospitality and justice in everything they are and do, guiding them toward a future of service and integrity. We remain dedicated to empowering all to carry forward the message of hope, contributing to a more just, compassionate and loving world.

On Tuesday 18 February we will have a 60 year celebration day which will include our Commencement Eucharist at St Paul's Catholic Church with Bishop Fr Rene Ramirez RCJ and Fr James Puppady. 

A Warm Welcome to Our New Families
A special welcome to our newest Mercy students and their families, particularly our Year 7 cohort, who have begun their Mercy journey with an infectious energy and enthusiasm. The transition into secondary school is a significant milestone and it has been wonderful to witness the way our new students are already embracing our Mercy values.

On Tuesday we gathered for the first time in 2025 as a whole Mercy College community. We formally welcomed our Year 7 students as they walked through the Door of Mercy and other new members of our community into the Circle of Mercy which is our College community. 

On Wednesday evening we had the perfect weather for our Year 7 Welcome BBQ and Wellbeing meet and greet session. The Year 7 corridor was buzzing with energy as students showed their parents their classrooms and shared their experiences from their first week at Mercy.

Year 12 – A Focused and Determined Start
At the other end of the Mercy College journey, our Year 12 students have begun their final year with a strong sense of focus and determination. They are already demonstrating leadership and commitment as role models for our younger students. I encourage them to embrace in their final year of schooling each challenge with courage and persistence.

The Year 12 cohort and our entire Mercy College community will be led by our Student Executive Team who earlier this week were commissioned. It was wonderful to have their families join them for this occasion and pin their leadership position badge, symbolising the partnership between the student, their family and the College in their leadership journey.

VCE Academic Awards Assembly

On Tuesday we gathered for our VCE Academic Assembly, where we welcomed back our Class of 2024 top performing students who completed a Unit 3 & 4 subject including our College Dux and the students who received a study score of 40 and above.

Our 2024 Dux, Carla Rizzo in her address encouraged all:

“Remember to remain true to your passions. Look to your passions as a reminder and reason to work hard and strive for the best possible results. Don't forget to utilise all the extracurricular sports, activities and clubs that Mercy has to offer, as these are beneficial ways to find your individual passions and interests that you can pursue and excel within at Mercy".

A Positive and United Staff Team
Our dedicated staff spent our first days laying the groundwork for 2025. They have returned with enthusiasm, ready to inspire and guide our students throughout the year. I appreciate their commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, care and innovation. We are incredibly fortunate to have such passionate educators who see their work not just as a profession, but as a vocation - to nurture and develop young people who will become leaders of integrity, compassion and wisdom.

We are also delighted to welcome the following staff new to the College in 2025:

Families As Partners

I thank the families that attended our Year 7 Wellbeing session and Years 8 to 12 Individual Student Support Meetings. These were are a great opportunity for us to establish the home-school relationship.

We are constantly reminded of the partnership we share with our parents and guardians in our shared hopes and goals for our students. Communication and partnership with our parents/ guardians and families at Mercy College is paramount. Your child and our students are our greatest gift and working together to promote their learning and wellbeing is our privilege and our responsibility.

We are committed to working with our community to ensure and promote a child safe environment for our young people where they can flourish, take risks and strive to be the best versions of themselves.

Please continue to reach out to us if we can help you or your child in any way.

May this celebratory year be one of discovery, achievement and personal excellence for each member of our Mercy community.

Prayers

Our prayers and thoughts are with Rochelle Scholtes and her family on the death of her mother, Annette Scholtes after a long battle with illness. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.  And let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen

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

Lila McInerney
College Principal

VCE Academic Awards

Executive Deputy Principal (Staff and Culture)

A warm welcome to the new school year at Mercy College

It has been a delight to welcome students back to school, and the excitement of a new year is truly in the air. As a new member of the Mercy College community, I have been warmly welcomed, and I am grateful to be part of such a supportive and vibrant environment.

From my very first days here, I have experienced first hand the core values of Mercy College - compassion, excellence, hospitality and justice. These values were evident in the warmth and kindness shared during recent events, particularly the Year 7 BBQ and the Years 8 to 12 Support Meetings. These gatherings provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with students, families, and staff, reinforcing the strong sense of community that makes Mercy College so special.

This year is particularly exciting as we celebrate 60 years of Mercy College. There is a positive energy throughout the school and a real sense of hope for the year ahead. I look forward to working alongside you and your daughters as we honour this milestone and continue to build on the College’s proud history.

Jessica Frisina
Executive Deputy Principal

Director: Religious Education and Identity

A very warm welcome back to our Mercy students and families as we commence our 60th year at Mercy College! 2025 is a very special year for our College’s identity as we explore and celebrate our College theme for the year: 60 Years of Hope through Mercy.

Our College staff began the year with our Commencement Eucharist celebrated by Fr Colin Xavier, Parish Priest at St Mark’s, Fawkner. Fr Colin explored how we are to be hope-filled people of mercy in times of despair. 

In 2025, our College will continue to encounter the concept of hope as we:

1. Explore our College Theme
2. Celebrate the Jubilee Year theme: Pilgrims of Hope
3. Use Luke’s Gospel as a lens in which hope is revealed

A tradition at Mercy College is for all staff and students to engage in a College Theme lesson where we unpack and dialogue about what our theme means and how it calls us to action. This year we began by gaining an understanding of what hope means in a Christian context: “Hope in a Christian context is the confident expectation and desire for something good in the future”. As Pope Francis declared this year a Jubilee Year and calls us to be Pilgrims of Hope, it is important for us to understand how we can be renewed in hope, especially through times of apprehensiveness, anxiety, hesitation and doubt. Pope Francis proclaims that, “Everyone knows what it is to hope”, and while the ability to hope is an innately human quality, we also reflected on the many people within our community and around the world that would undoubtedly struggle to find hope and remain hopeful through grave adversity. 

For this reason, we also unpacked Luke’s Gospel as a Gospel of hope and inspiration for us all. We explored  concepts like hope through salvation history​, hope through God's care for people who were seen as insignificant in the society of the time, and key themes of radical hospitality and divine reversal.

Finally, we embraced the notion of being a ‘pilgrim of hope’ through ‘walking’ a labyrinth. A labyrinth is a guided symbolic, meditative 'journey' into the 'centre' of ourselves. Labyrinths can be 'walked', or the journey can be traced with a finger or coloured pen, even traced in sand. ​Labyrinths are complex, geometric designs which follow one long path that leads to the centre and always leads back out to the beginning. They have no wrong way and are not intended to trick or confuse like a maze! They cause us to stop the daily routine, slow down and walk unfamiliar ways so that we can think about who we really are and what life is about.​ In honour of our 2025 College Theme and our 60th Anniversary, we are constructing a labyrinth on our College grounds, based on the design of the Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth. We hope that our labyrinth encourages our community to reflect on the hope that Mercy College has provided over the last 60 years, and the hopes our students have for the future. We are very excited about our labyrinth and recognising 60 Years of Hope through Mercy which commences with our celebration day on Tuesday 18 February, especially our 60th Anniversary Mass at St Paul’s Catholic Church. Wishing you all a hope-filled year ahead! 

God bless,

Nima Ballenger
Director: Religious Education and Identity

Director: Learning and Teaching

As we stand on the threshold of a brand-new school year, it is with great excitement and heartfelt joy that I extend a warm and enthusiastic welcome to each and every student. Whether you are returning to our vibrant school community or joining us for the very first time, we are absolutely delighted to have you with us.

To our returning students, a very special welcome back! As you step into this new chapter, I encourage you to carry forward the lessons, growth, and successes of the past. Approach this year with determination, a thirst for knowledge, and an eagerness to embrace the fresh challenges and opportunities that await you. Let us build on the foundation we've established together, pushing ourselves to reach even greater heights and accomplishments.

To our new students, I offer you a heartfelt and warm welcome. I understand that starting at a new school can be both exhilarating and, at times, a little overwhelming. But I want you to know that you are not alone on this journey. You are surrounded by a community of caring and supportive staff, as well as fellow students, all of whom are eager to help you find your way. This is a place where you will find new friends, new passions, and a sense of belonging. Embrace the diversity of experiences, talents, and perspectives that make our school such a rich and special place to learn and grow.

As we embark on this exciting journey together, let us make a collective commitment to excellence in everything we do. Let us approach each day with open minds, boundless curiosity, and an unwavering spirit of collaboration and resilience. Together, we will foster an environment that is not only positive and enriching, but one in which every student feels valued, supported and empowered to unlock their full potential and soar to new heights of success.

Student Planner

A hard copy of the Student Planner has been distributed to all students from Years 7 to 12 to assist with organisation and study skills. We encourage parents/carers and students to utilise this valuable resource daily and ensure that homework tasks are recorded and completed.

NAPLAN Online 2025

The new NAPLAN testing window for 2025 is now from 12 to 24 March. This means the results will be in the hands of education authorities and school systems earlier in the year to inform teaching and learning programs throughout the rest of the school year. It will also give teachers more time to better assess what support students need for the rest of the year. For more details, view the NAPLAN key dates and NAPLAN Information for Parents and Carers.

Mercy College will be conducting NAPLAN Online for Years 7 and 9 students on the following dates.

• Wednesday 12 March – Writing
• Thursday 13 March – Reading
• Friday 14 March – Conventions of Language
• Monday 15 March – Numeracy
• Tuesday 16 March – Catch up

Families will receive further detail about NAPLAN dates and times at Mercy College in the coming weeks.

VCE/VCE-VM Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences

The VCE/VCE-VM Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences will be held on Tuesday 25 February and Thursday 27 February.

This is an opportunity for teaching staff at Mercy College to share with families their understanding of the needs of each VCE and VCE-VM 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 child 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 them to achieve their goals and ‘flourish’ in the learning environment. Families will receive further correspondence outlining how to access and make bookings for the VCE/VCE-VM Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences.

Special Provisions within the VCE and VCE-VM

The VCAA Special Provision policy provides students in defined circumstances with the opportunity to participate in and complete their secondary level studies.

The underlying principle of the VCAA Special Provision policy is to ensure that the most appropriate, fair and reasonable options are available for students to demonstrate their capabilities if their learning and assessment programs are affected by disability, illness, impairment or other circumstances. Special Provision should provide equivalent, alternative arrangements, but not confer an advantage to any student over other students.

Applications for Special Provisions for students studying a VCE 3/4 subject close on Friday 7 March. For further information please visit the VCAA website.

Year 7 Welcome BBQ and Year 8-12 Student Support Meetings

Thank you to the parents/guardians for actively engaging in our important partnership by attending these sessions. We would also like to thank the Learning and Wellbeing Leaders and the Wellbeing Teachers for running these sessions.

Nicholas Ambrozy
Director: Learning and Teaching

Director: Student Engagement and Wellbeing

I am excited to introduce myself as the new Director: Student Engagement and Wellbeing. As I step into this role, my hope is to connect with each of our students and work together to create a College community where everyone feels safe, heard, happy and inspired.

I am delighted to warmly welcome back all of our students and families as we begin the 2025 academic year. It is a true privilege to walk onto Mercy’s inviting campus every day and see the smiles of our students. I feel deeply fortunate to be part of your child’s journey, guiding their growth in faith and supporting their wellbeing every step of the way.

This year is especially meaningful as we celebrate 60 Years of Hope through Mercy. I am truly excited to be part of this significant time in Mercy College’s history. It is a time to reflect on the amazing journey of our College and look forward to the future with a renewed sense of purpose and pride.

A key focus will be the continued development and growth of our Wellbeing Program, which will be facilitated through our daily Wellbeing Period. This program is designed to support and nurture the personal and academic development of every student. It will be delivered by our dedicated Wellbeing Team, which includes:

• Wellbeing Teachers
• Learning and Wellbeing Leaders
• Counselling Team
• Learning Diversity Team
• Director: Student Engagement and Wellbeing

In my role, my priority will be ensuring that students have the resources, guidance, and opportunities they need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom. I’m dedicated to fostering an environment that encourages personal growth, safety and meaningful involvement. I believe in the power of collaboration and look forward to partnering with students, staff, parents and carers to make our experience at Mercy College meaningful and fulfilling.

In the words of Catherine McAuley, “I am not afraid of the future, for I believe in the goodness of God, and the future is in His hands".

I’m excited for the journey ahead, eager to see what 2025 holds and all the wonderful things we will achieve together whilst walking in the presence of God.

Teresa Talia
Director: Student Engagement and Wellbeing

Health Updates

Parent Access Module (PAM) Medical Information 

It is important that the College has the latest medical information for your child. Please ensure this medical information is recorded accurately and updated when required. 

Medical Profiles can be accessed through PAM by clicking on your child’s profile and selecting the Medical Profile tab.

Medication

The College cannot provide medication (including Paracetamol, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, etc). Students who require medication during the day (headaches, pain relief) must provide their own supplies, which may be stored at Student Recepion, to be accessed as required. Parents will also be required to complete a Medication Authority Form available from the Student Reception or on PAM. This form must be siged by an Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registered medical / health practitioner.

Students with other significant health issues are requested that their management plans for their condition are dropped off at Reception.

Anaphylaxis - EpiPens, Anapens and Excursions 

Parents of students that are at risk of Anaphylaxis should be aware that, in response to Ministerial Order 706, it is College policy and a requirement of legislation that students who attend the College must have supplied the College with a valid EpiPen or Anapen and a current Anaphylaxis Action Plan for their personal use. 

In order for a student to attend an excursion or event off the premises, they must carry their individual College EpiPen or Anapen and their spare EpiPen or Anapen from home with them in order to attend that event. This is to ensure that sufficient medications are available should the student require them.

Parents/carers are required to update their daughter’s expired EpiPen or Anapen and Anaphylaxis Action Plan as soon as possible. EpiePns or Anapens and Action Plans need to be dropped at College Reception. 

Asthma 

It is advised for students who have asthma to carry their own reliever medication such as Ventolin in their pockets, however the College is able to supply Ventolin to a student who does not have their asthma medication and spacer on hand. 

The administration of Ventolin is done after consulting your child’s Asthma Action Plan from PAM. If your child does not have an Asthma Action Plan and the situation is not deemed an emergency, the College will ring the parent/carer to have permission granted to administer the medication. 

In the event of an asthma medical emergency and you have not supplied a current action plan, the First Aid Officer would follow emergency asthma care guidelines and an ambulance called.

Asthma Action Plans 

It is important that the College has the latest medical information for your child. Parents and carers of students with Asthma are required to check their child’s medical profile and ensure that they have supplied to the College a current Asthma Action Plan signed by a Doctor. You can also email the Asthma Action Plan as an attachment to reception@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au. Action and management plans for all significant health issues allow our First Aid Officers the ability to act quickly with the appropriate guidance to assist your child. 

Parent Access Module (PAM)

Accessing PAM

All families should have access to PAM. If you are having any issues accessing your account, please contact the College and we will email you with your new username and password.

Parent Notified Absences

Parents and Guardians are reminded that you should be using  PAM or the absentee phone line to record a student absence for daily or multiple days. If your child is arriving late to school or leaving early, this information can also be recorded on PAM. Please ensure the absence is recorded before 8.45am to avoid a SMS absence alert being generated. Please call the College on 9319 9299 if you require any assistance.

School Communication

From time to time parents may wish to contact College staff with matters relating to their child. The College encourages all parents/guardians to liaise with staff to support the wellbeing and learning of your child.

To facilitate effective and efficient contact and responses, we ask parents/guardians to please follow the table below regarding who best to contact:

The College encourages parents to contact the ‘initial contact’ staff member in the first instance. However, should you wish to discuss the matter further or believe it would be more appropriate to discuss the concern with a staff member other than the ‘initial contact’, please contact the ‘secondary contact’ staff member.

Should parents wish to discuss a matter with a staff member in person, an appointment must be made with that particular staff member. It is important to note that teaching staff spend most of the school day in class and often have before and after school meetings several days a week. They are therefore not always available for an interview or meeting with parents/guardians that have not been pre-arranged at a mutually convenient time.

Years 9 and 10 Learning and Wellbeing Leader

It has been a very positive start to the school year. We began with the Year 9 and 10 Assembly in the Community Hub, where I had an opportunity to introduce myself and meet everyone. I look forward to working with everyone this year.

A highlight for me was to see the College community come together for the VCE Academic Awards Assembly and celebrate the success of students. I look forward to working with the Year 9 and 10 students towards this milestone in their lives.

The Individual Support Meetings were invaluable in getting to know many families. Thank you to those of you who came to introduce yourselves. It was amazing to see everyone come together to discuss how we can support each student’s journey. Whether it be to set goals, address concerns or just share ideas, the sense of collaboration and support was wonderful to see.

I’m excited about the year ahead. I look forward to being on this journey together. By continuing to build on the strong start we’ve had, I believe we can make this academic year truly memorable and rewarding for all. Please reach out to me with any questions you may have. I look forward to getting to know you all and working with you all this year.

Lucia Morello
Years 9 and 10 Learning and Wellbeing Leader

VCE Learning and Wellbeing Leader

Welcome Back to a New School Year!

It’s hard to believe that the summer holidays have already come and gone, and a new school year is upon us! We hope you had a restful and fun break, filled with memorable moments. As we step into the new year, we are excited to welcome all students back to school and hope that they are all ready to embark on another year of growth, learning, and adventure together.

This year promises to be filled with new challenges, opportunities, and achievements. Whether you're a returning student or new to our community, there are plenty of exciting things on the horizon. Staff have been working hard to prepare engaging lessons, activities and events that will help you succeed and grow both academically and personally.

For our new students, we are thrilled to have you join us and look forward to seeing how you'll contribute to the vibrant, diverse community that makes our school so special. To all returning students, welcome back! We can't wait to see your familiar faces and watch you continue to shine.

We encourage everyone to take advantage of all the resources available this year - whether it’s academic support, extracurricular activities, or simply reaching out to someone for guidance.

We look forward to another amazing year ahead, filled with laughter, learning, and plenty of milestones.
Let’s make it a year to remember!

Jaime Brown
VCE Learning and Wellbeing Leader

Safer Internet Day

Tuesday 11 February is Safer Internet Day. It is a very important day, recognised by over 180 countries and is aimed at raising awareness about online safety issues for everyone particularly, our young people.

The eSafety Commissioner, through esafety.gov.au, is providing helpful and practical ways for everyone, especially school aged children, to stay safe online and not be bullied or harassed by known and unknown users.  Research shows that 45% of children aged 8-17 are treated in a hurtful or nasty way online. Therefore, Safer Internet Day is promoting five simple and effective ways to minimise risk of any online abuse and what you can do about it if you are impacted negatively online.

Tip 1: Always be kind and always be respectful of others, especially when making online comments or posting material.

Tip 2: Be mindful of how much time is spent online. Try to achieve a healthy balance of online/offline time and view/share respectful and factual content only.

Tip 3: Don’t stay silent. Speak up and report online abuse. The esafety.gov.au  website shows you how to do this in a few simple steps.

Tip 4: Start the conversation and talk to others about the importance of online safety.

Tip 5: Share resources and promote online safety tools and tips with your community.

For more information about Safer Internet Day and staying safe online, please visit esafety.gov.au.  

Homework Club

School Photos

School photos can be ordered from The School Photographer at www.theschoolphotographer.com.au. Enter code X3166VC53M, your child’s name, year level and wellbeing class to place your order.

If your child did not have their photo taken on Thursday 30 January, catch up photos will be held on Wednesday 12 February during Period 1. Students are required to be in their academic uniform for these photos and must adhere to the Mercy College Student Dress Code and Uniform Requirements.. 

Learning Diversity Team

One of the most endearing aspects of Mercy College is the diverse nature of our students. We recognise and celebrate this diversity, understanding that each student is unique and has their own educational journey both academically and holistically. 

Students possess varying abilities, learning styles, and challenges that require tailored approaches to education. Targeted and personalised learning is developed for students at their point of need and additional support can be offered in a myriad of ways.

 At Mercy, we welcome and acknowledge positive and respectful partnerships with students and their families, ensuring that all students have equitable access to education whilst adhering to the National Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) guidelines for students with additional learning needs.

 Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in contact with me.

Laura Cutri
Learning Diversity Leader

English

As the new school year begins, our students have been settling into their English classes. Our new Year 7 students have been introduced to the foundations of English, learning to use their Oxford dictionary and getting creative in their Writer’s Notebook. On the other end of the College, our Year 12 students have launched into their Unit 3 and 4 English studies, exploring the framework of “Personal Journeys” as inspiration for their writing. 

This year, the English offerings have expanded with the inclusion of two new elective subjects: Year 9 and Year 10 Creative Writing. Born from student voice and advocacy, these electives will allow students to explore a wide range of literary works and emulate these styles in their own writing. Students in Year 9 Creative Writing have already begun looking at the origins and development of fairy tales over time, and how fairy tales can change amongst different social or political landscapes. As the semester progresses, students will also explore audio-visual texts such as podcasts and seek to create their own. 

Finally, the achievements of our 2024 graduating cohort were celebrated at the VCE Academic Awards assembly on Tuesday 4 February. Six students achieved a study score of 40+ in English, placing them in the top 8.8% of English students in the state. We congratulate these students and all the graduating class on their outstanding results, and we hope this inspires future cohorts to strive for excellence in their studies.

Tania Ragusa
Learning Area Leader: English

Humanities

Welcome to the 2025 Academic year to all members of our school community. It has been wonderful to see our girls return and engage in another year of meaningful learning.

My name is Amanda Lazzaro, and I am the new Learning Area Leader for Humanities. I look forward to working with teachers and the school community to continue to develop and improve the Humanities program in 2025 and beyond.

2025 is off to an excellent start, with the addition of Year 9 Commerce to our subject offerings. This offers our students a taste of Accounting, Business, Economics and Legal Studies, providing them with increased breadth of subjects, as well as valuable learning to assist them in their engagement with today’s world. These subjects will offer our students the ability to explore their interests and passions and become independent and questioning individuals in an ever-changing world.

In addition, 2025 sees the first year of the Year 9 Immersion program, where one day per fortnight, students engage in activities that further deepen their understanding and application of their learning in all curriculum areas. In Term One, Year 9 students will be visiting the Shrine of Remembrance as part of their Humanities Immersion days. They will engage with volunteer tour guides with passion and depth of knowledge, to further build their understanding of the Humanities curriculum and develop their understanding of various wars, the experiences and perspectives of both men and women involved in these wars, and the consequences of these significant events. Students will also visit other places of historical significance in Melbourne and discover the significance of these places to Australia’s developing history. Following this experience, students will engage in a reflective activity which will enable them to make the real-world connections between the Shrine of Remembrance and their learning in History. 

Amanda Lazzaro
Learning Area Leader: Humanities

Alumnae

Alumni Greetings to our College community as we settle into our routines and commence working through our 2025 goals!

Our Mercy College theme this year, 60 Years of Hope through Mercy, is a celebration of our journey in providing secondary education for girls from our beginnings in 1965 to this year in 2025. Therefore, this year is a reflective one for our Mercy College Coburg community. The significance embraces the past, the present, and future generations. All that has been, all that is, and all that will come. When we look back through the years, we take pride in the dedication and work of all involved in developing our great College.

Last year, we showcased a timeline series of building plaques and the unique uses of these learning and recreational spaces to accommodate the changing times, the expansion of curriculum, technologies and the support of student initiatives. We look forward to presenting snippets from our past and exciting initiatives in the weeks and months to come in celebrating our milestone.

Our alumni reunion this year will be a High Tea event and will be held on Sunday 12 October from 2.00pm to 5.00pm at Mercy College in McAuley Hall. More details on registration will follow so save the date and keep an eye out on socials and upcoming newsletters. For any enquiries or to be added to our mailing list, please email: alumnae@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au.

We have reminders around the College of what it means to belong to the Mercy community. One of my favourite quotations from the writings of foundress Catherine McAuley is the one pictured here in the West Building. “The simplest and most practical lesson I know… is to resolve to be good today, but better tomorrow".

The full quotation continues with the following –
“Let us take one day only in hands, at a time, merely making a resolve for tomorrow, thus we may hope to get on taking short, careful steps, not great strides".

Letter to de Sales White February 28, 1841

Here we are 184 years later. The significance and impact of Catherine’s words of hope has carried weight, and in this present day, we embrace our 2025 College theme: 60 Years of Hope through Mercy.

Diane Psaila, Class of 1976
Risk, Compliance and Alumnae Relations Officer

College Tuition Accounts

The initial College statements for 2025 have been emailed to families today. If you have any queries about your statement, please contact the Finance Team on 9319 9294.

Payment Plans
Families are encouraged to set up a payment plans for their school fees. Currently, the College has options for quarterly, monthly or fortnightly payments. If you would like to set up plan, please contact the College to arrange a time to meet with a member of the Finance Team or return the payment nomination form below.

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund

The CSEF (Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund) is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. The allowance is paid directly to the school to use only towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

The annual CSEF amount per student is $256 for secondary school students. Mercy College contributes additional $469 per funded family, making the contribution a total of $725.

Application forms should be completed and lodged with the College as soon as possible in Term One. CSEF payments are for the current application year and cannot be claimed retrospectively for prior years.

Please fill in the CSEF Application Form and provide a copy of your HCC to Reception for processing.

If you have any questions, please contact the College on 9319 9299. 

Introducing CDF Pay

From 2025, Mercy College will be using CDFpay for online cafeteria ordering, papercut printing, College events, bus and music fees.

How to register for a CDFpay account

1. Download the CDFpay app on the Apple or Google store, then click ‘Sign up now’.
   No app? Register here
2. Enter and confirm your email address, then click ‘Sign up’.
3. Check your email inbox and follow the prompts to complete your account registration (check junk/spam if lost).

After you have registered and entered your child’s details, you can:

• Add your child’s student card number to enable over-the-counter purchases. Your child’s student ID Number can be found on their Profile through PAM.
• Top up your parent wallet and set daily spend limits for your child. 
  • To avoid card surcharges, top up $50 or more using a debit card or bank transfer any value.
• Order and pay in seconds!

Students will be able to purchase items from the cafeteria and access the printers at school by scanning the barcode on their Student ID cards, once they arrive in March 2025.

In the meantime, students can still purchase at the cafeteria using their student ID number or accessing the printers using their laptop username and password.

Have questions? 

• About your child's ID Number: Contact Mercy College Reception
• About CDF Pay: View CDFpay powered by Flexischools Help & Support for detailed FAQs or chat to the Flexischools Digital Assistant. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please complete the online Contact Form and Flexischools will get back to you directly. 

School Advisory Council

The School Advisory Council at Mercy College provides a forum for discussion and discernment, where parent voice and community perspective are available to influence and support the decisions made by the principal and parish priests for the good of the school where students’ wellbeing and outcomes are paramount.

The Mercy College School Advisory Council includes up to two parents to contribute to these discussions. Should you be interested in being a part of the School Advisory Council in 2025, you are invited to nominate to be involved by contacting the College on 9319 9299 or emailing sac@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au. 

Community Notices