Mercy College, Coburg eNewsletter

Key Dates

Friday 29 August

Mercy College and Parade College 'Puffs' Performance at Parade College, 7.00pm - 9.30pm

Saturday 30 August

Mercy College and Parade College 'Puffs' Performance at Parade College, 7.00pm - 9.30pm

Sunday 31 August

Social Justice Sunday

Tuesday 2 September

Years 7 to 10 Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences, 2.20pm to 3.40pm (No period 5 classes)

Wednesday 3 September

Year 9 Immersion Day: Arts and Technology
Semester Two Music Recital, 7.30pm to 08.45pm
Week 2: Fun With Science After School Program, 4.00pm to 5.00pm

Thursday 4 September

Years 7 to 10 Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences, 3.40pm to 7.00pm

Friday 5 September

Father's Day BBQ Breakfast. 7.30am

Sunday 7 September

Father's Day

Sunday 7 to Saturday 13 September: National Child Protection Week

Monday 8 September

Year 7 Immunisations

Tuesday 9 September

Year 4 Explore Day

Wednesday 10 September

Week 3: Fun With Science After School Program, 4.00pm to 5.00pm

Thursday 11 September

R U OK? Day
CGSAV Netball Tournament:

Prayer

Message From Our Principal

Dear Mercy Community,

Social Justice Sunday: 31 August
This year on Social Justice Sunday the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement: Signs of Hope on the Edge: Serving homeless people with mental ill-health, reminds us of the raw truth: homelessness and mental ill-health are deeply entwined crises. They leave thousands of Australians isolated, invisible, and suffering. Yet, at the heart of this year’s message is not despair, but hope. Hope that springs from encounter. Hope that is born when we choose to see, to notice, and to respond.

This year, let us take Social Justice Sunday as a turning point. Let us commit as individuals and communities to stand with people living in homelessness and mental ill-health. Let us advocate for structural change: affordable housing, integrated mental health care, stronger protections for the vulnerable. And let us, in our daily encounters, offer the radical hospitality of Christ.

Access the Social Justice Statement and find out more here.

Our Mercy College school community continues to thrive with energy, talent, and connection. From celebrating learning during Book, Literacy and Numeracy Week, to inspiring student leadership speeches, enjoying the magic of the performing arts, and preparing for a special community breakfast—there’s been much to celebrate.

Book, Literacy and Numeracy Week
This week, we celebrated Book, Literacy and Numeracy Week, with students across all year levels engaging in a wide range of fun and educational activities. This year’s theme was: “Book An Adventure with Letters and Numbers” From quizzes and reading challenges to maths games and problem-solving puzzles, the week was a vibrant reminder of the joy and creativity found in learning. I thank all the staff involved in planning this engaging week for inviting us into a world of imagination, creativity and problem-solving.

Student Leadership at Mercy - 2026 Student Executive
Our Year 11 students are currently taking part in the Student Executive Application and Interview Process. This week saw a significant milestone, as College Co-Captain applicants delivered their speeches to the whole school community on Tuesday, while House Captain applicants shared their speeches during Wellbeing sessions today. Each candidate spoke with clarity, conviction, and a genuine desire to make a positive difference at Mercy and beyond. We congratulate all students who have stepped forward, demonstrating what it means to lead with integrity, vision, and service. Interviews for other leadership roles will commence next week.

Puffs - Mercy and Parade College Production
It was a joy to attend the opening night performance of the Mercy and Parade production of Puffs. From the very first laugh to the final bow, the audience was swept into the world of the Puffs—the loyal, kind, and often-overlooked students just trying to survive seven chaotic years at a certain magical school. Congratulations to our Producers, Fiona Laino and Chantal Famularo and all students and staff involved in this wonderful production. The hard work, humour and heart on display were remarkable.

Final Weeks of Term 3
As we move into the final three weeks of term, we are especially mindful of our senior students, who are carrying a heavy workload as they prepare for final assessments and exams. Their commitment, focus and perseverance in the face of challenge are qualities we are deeply proud of. Just as Book Week reminds us to book an adventure, we encourage all our students – particularly our seniors – to continue leaning into the adventure of learning with courage, resilience and hope. Every effort made now adds to the growth of character and the foundation for future success.

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

Lila McInerney
College Principal

Director: Learning and Teaching

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes…Including you.”" — Anne Lamott

With this in mind resting over the holiday break is critically important for students' wellbeing for several reasons:

Mental Health and Stress Reduction: The demands of academic life can be overwhelming, leading to stress, anxiety and burnout. The holiday break offers a precious opportunity to decompress, relax, and alleviate the mental strain that accumulates during the school year. This respite can help students restore their emotional equilibrium and mental clarity.

Physical Wellbeing: Continuous study and coursework often leave students with insufficient time for proper self-care, including sleep and exercise. Resting during the holiday break allows students to catch up on lost sleep, engage in physical activities, and focus on their overall physical health, contributing to their overall sense of wellbeing.

Creativity and Inspiration: Taking a break from academic responsibilities can provide the mental space needed for creativity and inspiration to flourish. This time away from structured learning can lead students to discover new interests, hobbies, or perspectives, enriching their personal growth and development.

Social Connection: School can be a socially demanding environment, and students may feel pressure to maintain social connections throughout the academic year. The holiday break offers a chance to spend quality time with family and friends, strengthening these bonds and providing much-needed social support.

Recharge and Rejuvenate: Resting during the holiday break is akin to recharging one's mental and emotional batteries. This period of rest helps students return to school feeling refreshed, motivated, and ready to tackle new challenges. It allows them to approach their studies with renewed vigour and enthusiasm.

Balancing Academic and Personal Life: Achieving a balance between academic and personal life is essential for overall wellbeing. Resting during the holiday break reinforces the importance of setting boundaries and prioritising self-care, teaching students valuable life skills for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Preventing Academic Burnout: Continuous academic pressure without breaks can lead to burnout, which can have long-lasting negative effects on students' mental and physical health. By taking time to rest during the holiday break, students can prevent burnout, ensuring that they are more resilient and motivated when they return to their studies.

Long-term Academic Success: Well-rested students are more likely to perform better academically. The holiday break allows students to recharge and improve their cognitive abilities, concentration, and memory, ultimately enhancing their academic performance in the long run.

VCE Examinations
VCE Exams Navigator should be read by all students presenting for 2025 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. 2025 VCE Exams Navigator

Trial Examinations – VCE Unit 3&4 Subjects
Between Monday 22 September and Thursday 25 September, all VCE students who are currently completing a scored VCE Unit 3 and 4 Subject will participate in a trial examination period. It is important that all students are available to be at school on those days, so we would ask that you do not make other arrangements at that time.

Trial examinations are designed to be as much like the real thing as possible serving several purposes, specifically for the student including:

Identify knowledge gaps and consolidate already acquired information
Develop exemplary responses
Identify ‘command terms’ – justify, explain, compare….
Master timing
Utilise reading time
Tracking progress
Access to examiner reports and identification of common errors or misconceptions.

Most importantly, the feedback from trial examinations will highlight the gaps in knowledge and understanding. Learning how to revise and to be better at examinations can only happen when students are engaged with their trial examinations under the same conditions in which they will experience in the VCAA External Written Assessments.

Years 7 to 10 Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences
The Years 7 to 10 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences will be held on Tuesday 2 September and Thursday 4 September.

This is an opportunity for teaching staff at Mercy College to share with families their understanding of the needs of each Year 7 to 10 student, working in partnership with parents, guardians and students to discuss strategies that will enhance the understanding of the course content. Such partnerships are essential to the success of each student and ensure that each student can achieve their personal best.

We encourage all parents and guardians to make appointments with their child’s teachers. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in these interviews. We look forward to meeting with you and your child and discussing how to best support and extend her to achieve their goals and ‘flourish’ in the learning environment.

Families have received correspondence outlining how to access and make bookings for the Years 7 to 10 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences.

Nick Ambrozy
Director: Learning and Teaching

VCE Learning and Wellbeing Leader

Don't forget the Free Parent Webinars run by Elevate Education to help you support your young person on their learning journey.

Here’s what is being covered in the remaining sessions:

How To Help Your Child Improve Their Note Taking - 3 September at 6.30pm (AEST)
How You Can Support Your Child During Exams - 17 September at 6.30pm (AEST)

Please sign up at the link below:
https://go.elevateeducation.com/auschoolwebinars

Jaime Brown
VCE Learning and Wellbeing Leader

Years 9 & 10 Learning and Wellbeing Leader

It was really enjoyable to be a part of the Maths Immersion Day. Watching the Year 9s collaborate in groups to solve problems was inspiring. As always, an enjoyable day spent with the Year 9s.

The Year 10s also had an invaluable Day with the Reflection Day, facilitated by the Melbourne Youth Ministry Team. Students participated in a variety of activities to facilitate reflection about the various areas of their lives and the choices they make. They enjoyed the day and the opportunities they were provided with..

Lucia Morello
Years 9 & 10 Learning and Wellbeing Leader

Year 9 Mathematics Immersion Day

Wednesday 20 August, Year 9 Maths Immersion Day- A Day of Problem Solving!

Students’ reflections on the day:

Our Maths incursion was both fun and educational. We began with a challenging Maths escape room that tested our problem-solving skills, followed by an exciting Maths race that combined physical activity with quick thinking. To finish, we enjoyed a relaxing art activity that allowed us to reflect on what we had learnt. Overall, it was a memorable and enjoyable way to experience Maths.
Juliar Al Tamo, 9A

Today, for Year 9 Immersion Day, we focused on Maths with lots of fun activities. We started by researching famous mathematicians teaching us about how they brought maths into school life. Next, we did an activity called "Maths Escape Room” at London’s Maths Museum which in reality was in McAuley Hall, and we solved maths problems to escape as a team. After all that running, we relaxed by creating maths inspired art, exploring patterns and symmetry, in our own creative way using free choice and our imagination. Then we did the Amazing Maths Race and to get to all the countries we solved more maths problems while racing against the clock. Finally, we watched “Donald Duck in Mathmagicland”, making learning maths fun through animation. Overall, this day was fun and an engaging experience that combined maths challenges, creative activities, and teamwork making it both educational and enjoyable for everyone.
Amelia Caroselli, 9B

For our Year 9 Immersion Day we explored the world through Maths. We went to “London” and looked at some riddles from famous mathematicians, we unlocked boxes and solved riddles as a team. Unfortunately, my team did not win but we had so much fun. After recess we made some creative math artwork, we then did the Amazing Maths race. This was so much fun running around the school going to different places which represented countries and working out some fun math questions and problems. By the end we were all so tired, but it was worth it as my team won! Overall, the day was very fun and full of teamwork challenges.
Grace Madia, 9 Adv Maths

In 2025, the Science Faculty at Mercy College has continued to receive support from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) in delivering engaging, high-quality learning experiences for our students. This collaboration helps ensure our programs reflect current educational best practice and Catholic values, nurturing curiosity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of discovery.

Here is a reflection from one of our Year 10 students on her experiences of daily review in action.

“Throughout this year in my science class, my teacher has incorporated daily review into each lesson. This consistent review has been especially helpful in consolidating our understanding of key concepts, whether the previous lesson was just the day before or a week ago. This teaching strategy reinforces what we've already learned, helps fill in any gaps in our knowledge, and keeps important information fresh in our minds. Over time, this routine has made it easier to retain complex topics and feel more confident when applying them for a test or experiment.”
Katherine Moshi. 10B

Dr Fiachra Barry
Learning Area Leader: Science and STEM

Languages - Community Languages Events

Italian Day Festival at Preston Market!
On Sunday 31 August, Preston Market will be hosting their Italian Day Festival. There will be pop up food stalls as well as live entertainment. Check out this link for further details:

Italian Day Festival

Taste of Indonesia at Queen Victoria Market!
To celebrate Indonesia’s 80th year of Independence which occurred earlier this year, a community celebration will take place at the Queen Victoria Market on Saturday 30 August and Sunday 31 August.

Watch some traditional Indonesian performances and purchase some delicious food. For further information, check out the Queen Victoria Market website:

Queen Victoria Market

Get your family and friends together and explore these events! A great way to get a taste of Indonesia and Italy, with no passport required!

Elizabeth Moore
Languages Convenor

Sport

Volleyball Student Reflection
I had a lot of fun playing volleyball with my team. The Year 7 team won two games and lost two. Despite not making it to the finals, we still enjoyed playing against the other teams, even the ones we lost.
Annabel Donkin, 7C

On Thursday 14 August, Mercy students competed in the CGSAV Volleyball Tournament at MSAC. We arrived early in the morning and everyone was filled with excitement and anticipation. The day was busy with games constantly being played. We all tried our best and had lots of fun. Congratulations to everyone who participated but a special mention to the Senior A, Senior B and the Intermediate B team who made it to the Grand Final. Regardless, of all the team's results, we still had an amazing day filled with team work, good sportsmanship and positive energy. It was a great experience and we are looking forward to the next sporting event.
Alessia Coviello 8C

Semester Two Music Recital

Wednesday 3 September, 7.00pm

The Semester Two Music Recital is almost upon us! Mercy music students have worked very diligently in class-based music lessons and ensembles this semester and are looing forward to showcasing their achievements. The Recital will commence at 7.00pm in the Performing Arts Space and will conclude at approximately 8.30pm.

Families and friends of student performers are invited to attend. Parking is available via Gate 3 on Convent Court. Please ensure you complete the consent forms for your child on PAM prior to the night.

Jack Stewart
Music Leader

Counsellor’s Corner

Feel Better, Do Better - Everyday Tips for Managing Mood For Your Child

A healthy mind helps us learn and thrive inside and outside the classroom. Here are some simple ways to lift mood and support emotional wellbeing for students:

Better sleep = Better Focus
Good sleep isn’t just for rest, but also it helps us handle stress, stay calm and feel ready for the day. Try sticking to a regular sleep schedule.

Eat Smart, Feel Great
Food is fuel for learning, growing and playing. Encourage meals that include:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Wholegrains like brown rice or oats
- Lean proteins such as eggs, beans or chicken
- Plenty of water instead of sugary drinks

Get Moving, Stay Strong
Teenagers should aim for at least 30-40 minutes of physical activity every day. That doesn’t have to be sports, but instead it can be dancing to music, riding a bike, playing tag, stretching or yoga, or walking the dog.

Mini Break, Major Reset
Quick breaks for stretching, breathing or stepping outside for fresh air can refresh mood and sharpen focus.

Talk It Out
Teenagers may not open up sometimes, but knowing it’s okay to talk makes a big difference. Encourage your child to talk to a friend, teacher, parents or school counsellor. Remind them that they don’t have to go through it alone.

The 5-4-3-2-1 Technique
A quick way to connect with one’s senses is to help bring your attention back to the present moment, whether it’s before a test or after a tough day.

- 5 things you can see
- 4 things you can touch
- 3 things you can hear
- 2 things you can smell
- 1 thing you can taste

Shifting your focus away from anxious thoughts into the present moment by thinking about all the senses helps the body and mind to feel relaxed.

If you would like to arrange an appointment for your child please reach out to their Wellbeing Teacher or The Counselling Team at counsellingteam@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au.

Drishti Rohira
College Counsellor