Lila McInerneyPrincipal

M.Ed Lead, B. Theol, Grad Dip. Stud. Guid & Welfare, Grad Dip. RE, Grad. Cert. Curr. Lead, Dip. Teach

From the Principal

MERCY COLLEGE

760 Sydney RoadCoburg North Vic 3058t: 03 9319 9299

mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au

From the Principal

NEWSLETTER18 May 2018

A Family Blessing Bless us, O God of Mercy, as a family and as we share our time together. Bless us, as each member of our family tries to meet the demands of the day. Bless us, as we each contribute to the identity of our family. Bless us, as we take joy in the events that we share as a family. Bless us, as we support each other through the difficult times that come our way. Bless us, when against all odds the love we have for each other shines through. Bless us, as we deepen our awareness and understanding of your mercy through the forgiveness and compassion we encounter within our family. O God you have truly blessed us with our family - unique in its identity, one together in love. We make this blessing through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

SIGNIFICANT WOMEN AND OUR FAMILIESMay is known in the Catholic Church as the month dedicated to Mary, our mother and the Mother of God. The person of Mary provides us with the model of motherhood and as a College this last week we acknowledged our mothers and the important women in our lives. Last Friday we had a lovely morning tea to celebrate the beautiful relationship that mother and daughter and grandmothers, aunties and sisters play in our lives. We recognised the important role these women provide for us in our lives. By hosting events such as these we honour important relationships and how they contribute to our fantastic Mercy community. This week, as a College, we are celebrating Family Week. At Mercy College, we are constantly trying to build partnerships with all members of our community. Catholic schools embrace a wide variety of families, building on the diversity and the harmony that can be created between them. In Family Week we recognise the work of CatholicCare and their theme for this year’s Family Week is Building Connections: Growing Together.

As part of Family Week I have been fortunate to share lunch with the newest members of our Mercy family-our Year 7s. I have joined with them, their homeroom teacher and their level leader to hear how they have found their journey so far at Mercy College. It has been affirming to hear from the majority of students about the productive and happy start they had to secondary school. The girls reflected on their experiences at Mercy and they said:

“I have made lots of new friends”, and “There have been different opportunities like camp, classes and teachers”. Some of our students reflected “I like that it’s a girls school” and another “You can be yourself ”.Many of the Year 7s agreed that “It’s a friendly and encouraging community that can help you be the best you can be”.These words help us recognise that our role as educators is to help every student reach their potential and to challenge each student to be the very best they can be throughout their entire schooling.

From the Principal

UPCOMINGDATES & EVENTS Friday 18 MayHello Dolly! Production

Tuesday 22 MayKitchen Kapers (Years 4 & 5) Band Concert 7.30pm Wednesday 23 MaySCSA Basketball Competition Thursday 24 MayCollege Board Meeting 5.30pm Saturday 26 MayNational Sorry Day Monday 28 MayNational Reconciliation Week begins Wednesday 30 MayTheatre Performance Workshop (Years 4 and 5) Thursday 31 MayMercy Education Seeds of Justice Student Conference begins Friday 1 AprilMercy Education Seeds of Justice Student Conference concludes Sunday 3 JuneFeast of Corpus Christi Tuesday 5 JuneJunior School Winter Breakfast 8.00am Semester 1 Performing Arts Concert 7.30pm

From the PrincipalLila McInerney

On Saturday evening, I was fortunate to attend the College musical. After weeks of rehearsal, learning lines, choreography and music practice Parade and Mercy Colleges presented wonderful performances of this year’s musical of ‘Hello, Dolly!’. Both the acting and singing from our girls and the boys from Parade, was of the highest standard with all in attendance appreciating their great talent.

Taking part in school productions, be they musicals or plays is a wonderful opportunity for our students to experience the excitement, hard work and collegiality that these productions provide. Working with students from Parade College is a great opportunity for our students to get to know their peers from another school. Congratulations to all staff and students involved. Let us never lose trust in the patience and mercy of God. Lila McInerney Principal

College Musical - Hello Dolly!

From the Principal From the PrincipalFrom the PrincipalLila McInerney

FOR ALL SIGNIFICANT WOMEN

"J30 '},uA0 ��a,� eur @&Tu,a; �ffuvrrv wheJru 9 GJnv g(91Yt,€;." - Catherine McAuley

Business ManagerJudy SailorsBuilding Works Update Last week we met to discuss the progress of the building renovations with our builders, Allmore Construction. The builders have framed the new area in the drama space for the control room audio box. Works continue to progress in the upstairs corridor with the bathroom ready for tiling next week. McAuley Hall Signage

The refurbishment of the College Hall continued with the installation of the College crest and window signage.

Deputy PrincipalJenni Hicky

Activities Week

Activities Week was a great success. Both students and teachers returned from their various adventures in varying states of tiredness and exhaustion. The activity at every year level offered much to participants. A very big thank you to both the students for their respectful, responsible and safe participation in every event and the teaching and support staff who generously contributed their time, energy, compassion and effort throughout Activities Week. Their willingness to put their personal lives on hold to enable a unique experience for our girls is a testament to their commitment to our learning community. It’s a great week, one unlike any other school, with our whole College community out of normal programs for the week and four out of six activities involving overnight stays - a big effort and commitment that is much appreciated.

Activities Week Review

We have undertaken a review of all the activities held during Activities Week, including the timing and venues, with both staff and students. We are very keen to hear from our families if they have any points they would like to contribute to the review of this event. In the College review, with staff and students, we chose to focus on: 1. The timing of the event in the school year and the length of the camps. 2. The various venues and the opportunities open to our students at each venue. 3. The curriculum relevance and learning opportunities of each activity. 4. The concept of activities week - a whole week off campus together at the one time. Is this still the best way for us to achieve what we want from these activities? If you have any feedback that you would like to add to this review, so we can make our Activities Week even better please email me; jhickey@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au

Family Week - Building Connections, Growing Together

Year Level Leader - Year 7Lauren Purcell

Director of MissionLoretta Kitch

This past week has been Family Week, sponsored by CatholicCare, the organisation within the Archdiocese of Melbourne that is responsible for breaking down the barriers to social inclusion by strengthening families and communities.

Catholic teaching holds that we are each made in the image of God, and that as humans we are social beings. It is within the family that we first learn to build loving connections with others, based on the deep knowledge that we are loved by God. Sometimes these ideal relationships are absent, or they break down. At these times the community needs to rally around to support the individuals and the family to rebuild deeper, more nourishing relationships.

This year’s focus for Family Week has been on the dynamic concept of Family Wellbeing – how it can be celebrated and strengthened within a school or parish community, and how CatholicCare programs contribute to the wellbeing of families of all backgrounds.

You can access Fostering Healthy Relationships - A Guide for Families here. This guide contains tips and hints that families can use to build stronger connections and relationships with one another. Strengthening relationships in a family helps all members to come closer together and allows them to work through difficult times in a positive way. When children have positive and strong relationships with their family, this also helps them in other aspects of their life - whether that’s in their relationships with friends and the community, or when dealing with a crisis outside of family life.

Our families are a true blessing, but we do need to work at building a healthy family together. May you take some time this week to celebrate the blessing of your family and if you are struggling and in need of assistance, please consider contacting CatholicCare. You can find out more information about their services at CatholicCare.

Next week, as part of our Youth Week activities, we will be collecting gold coin donations on ‘Team Thursday’ from students who wish to come dressed in their team colours for the day. All proceeds will benefit CatholicCare.

Year Level Leader - Year 7Lauren Purcell

Director of MissionLoretta Kitch

Director of Student WellbeingMichelle McNamara

Winter Uniform

Please Slow down and Drive Safely in Convent Court The back gate in Convent Court is used by a large number of students in the morning when they arrive at school and in the afternoon when they are leaving. Parents who drop students at the gate are asked to take extreme care when driving in Convent Court. Please slow down and do not park in front of the gate as this can lead to traffic jams. Please note parking is not allowed on the far side of Convent Court at drop off and pick up times.

Moreland Council has informed us more parking officers will be around schools to issue penalty notices to those breaching the Road Safety Road Rules 2009. Some offences that are apply to the streets around Mercy College are as follows:

This rule means that there is no parking or stopping in areas where these signs apply This sign reads no stopping on one side and no stopping between the hours of 8 to 4 School Days. If you see this sign it means no stopping in these areas between school drop off and pick up times on school days, so Monday to Friday. This is when you park unreasonably blocking driveways.

Also double parked waiting to pick up or drop off your children.

This is not a complete list of signs that may be in and around the College so read the signs carefully and if you are unsure, find a parking place that you have no doubt about. We ask that you obey the parking restrictions to ensure the safety of students and staff and to limit the impact of traffic on our neighbours.

All students should now be wearing winter uniform. Please remember only the official College scarf is acceptable. Students may continue to wear their sports uniform to and from school on days when they have double lessons of Physical Education or Outdoor Education. If a student does not have the official sports uniform they are to wear winter uniform to school and change for their lesson prior to class. The College rugby top is available for sale at the Uniform Shop and this can be worn for added warmth. Students are also permitted to wear a white long sleeved round neck t-shirt under their sports top. These are readily available at K.Mart, Big W or Target. Hoodies are not to be worn under the PE uniform.

Director of Learning and TeachingVanessa Folino

After Activities Week it is obvious that a lot was gained from the various experiences. Our experiences in life help to determine how we approach the learning process. At Mercy College, the aim is to develop assessment capable learners, learners that are able to manage their own learning. Professor John Hattie is an academic and currently working as the Director of the Melbourne Education Research Institute with Melbourne University’s Graduate School of Education. Over the years he has undertaken over 80,000 meta-analyses in order to determine what students can do and what teachers can do in order to improve student outcomes. Professor Hattie talks about the importance of making learning visible. He reveals teachers need to see learning through the eyes of their students and they need to provide students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills so they can become their own teachers. Mercy College is a visible learning school and the visible learning journey commenced with the use of Learning Intentions, Success Criteria and Feedback. Learning Intentions clearly articulate what the students need to be able to know, understand or be able to do at the end of a lesson or series of lessons. The Success Criteria is made up of statements, prompts or questions that students can use as a guide to ensure they are working towards achieving the learning intention. Feedback can be formal and informal. Mercy College’s continuous online reporting provides affirmation for what has been done well and in addition provides specific strategies for improvement. Final grades are of little value compared to the learning that comes from unpacking and making sense of feedback. Mercy College is now embarking on the next phase of the visible learning journey. Students and staff were consulted as to what they thought contributed to a good learner. There are many dispositions that impact learning but three were deemed paramount. Mercy College now has a learning mantra, be courageous, be inquisitive and be persistent. Learning requires

some risk taking, students need to take advantage of new opportunities and seek new experiences. Student success and growth comes from asking questions, challenging perspectives and creating new knowledge. Students need to accept learning is hard work and mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. Mercy College has previously reported against Work Habits, this has now been replaced by Learner Expectations. These expectations outline approaches to learning, that if carried out consistently, can support students on their learning journey and see them achieve success. Success can look very different for each student because each student has their individual learner profile. Success in learning is a partnership between students, teachers and parents/guardians. Open dialogue about learning is essential and ensuring learning is visible will contribute to success.

Student Success

Curriculum PieMercy College is currently reviewing the Curriculum Pie; subjects offered and time allocations for 2019. Students and staff are involved in the consultation and parents/guardians are also invited to provide some ideas, suggestions and considerations. If you are interested in contributing to the consultation process please email the Director of Learning and Teaching; vfolino@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au

There are no secrets to success. It is the results of preparation, hard work and learning from failure. Colin Powell

Year Level Leader - Year 7Lauren Purcell

Director of Learning and TeachingVanessa Folino

Director of Learning and TeachingVanessa Folino

ExaminationsAssessment at Mercy College aims to provide balanced and fair evaluation. Students complete a variety of tasks and have multiple opportunities in varying contexts to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding. Examinations are one way in which students can demonstrate learning. At Year 12 most examinations are worth 50% of the final score, some are worth up to 60% and some are worth 34%. Therefore it is imperative that students prepare themselves for the expectations of Year 12. The practice of studying for and sitting examinations allows students to engage in the process of searching their memory and retrieving relevant information. As with all assessment, examinations are not only the opportunity to demonstrate what students know but also they have the power to enhance what they know.

Year 10 - Semester 2 Religious Education EnglishMathematicsSciencePhysical Education History / Commerce Year 11 - Semester 1 All Unit 1 subjects Year 11 - Semester 2 All Unit 2 subjects

All students are required to sit the examinations in full school uniform, except students sitting the GAT on June 13. No hooded tops are permitted. June 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are normal school days for students in Years 9 and 10 and therefore are to be in class when they do not have an examination. June 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are examination days for students in Year 11, therefore they are required at school only to sit examinations, no classes will be held on these days. Unit 3 classes will continue to take place therefore students enrolled in a Unit 3 are expected to attend these classes unless they have an examination at the same time. VCAL classes will also continue to take place for all Year 11 and Year 12 students during the examination period. Year 11 students are to remain at school between examinations and if they choose to bring a school bag it must be the College school bag or sports bag. June 13 (GAT day) is a study day for students in Year 11 however all Year 11 and Year 12 students enrolled in a Unit 3 subject are required to sit the GAT.

Please click HERE to access the Semester 1 Examination Timetable

Students in Years 9 - 11 will complete the following examinations: Year 9 - Semester 1 EnglishMathematicsScienceLanguage (Indonesian / Italian) Year 9 - Semester 2

Religious EducationEnglishMathematicsScienceLanguage (Indonesian / Italian) Year 10 - Semester 1 EnglishMathematicsSciencePhysical Education History / Commerce

Year Level Leader - Year 7Lauren PurcellYear Level Leader - Year 7Lauren Purcell

Camp Adanc The Year 7’s went to camp at Camp Adanac at Yarra Junction during Activities Week, a short 75 minute bus ride away. The sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky. There was a lot of excitement and we were ready to get the show on the road. Here are some reflections, about our experiences, from the Year 7 Leaders.

Indoor TreadwallOne of the six activities we were privileged to be apart of was the Indoor Treadwall. It was basically a vertically positioned conveyor belt with rock climbing holds stuck to it. I personally really enjoyed this activity and though some people didn’t want to go on at first they tried their best and did very well in my opinion. Overall I believe it was a really fun activity, in fact it was one of my favourites. Valencia Aziz 7B Camp CookingCamp Cooking was another activity that was fun and enjoyable. All Year 7s made damper, an Australian soda bread. It is usually made and eaten on camps. We cooked these mini dampers on the campfire wrapped in foil. Most dampers were fine to eat but some were really doughy and some were burnt and rock solid. We all participated in this activity and had something to do. Isabel Isho 7C ArcheryAnother activity we participated in was Archery. As apart of this activity we all got taught how to hold the bow and arrow. The instructor showed us how to shoot the arrow. We all went up in three’s and we gave it our best shot. We all tried to aim the arrow into the middle of the target. For bonus points, there was a yellow pool noodle in the middle of the target and if your arrow hit the pool noodle it was a huge 15 points. Some actually got to hit the noodle more than once! After all Archery was definitely on my top 5 for my favourite activities. Eva Brazzani 7B

CanoeingWe also did Canoeing, which was a big roller coaster. Well, for some, because whilst everyone was canoeing happily, two people (Angelica and Alara) fell in! That is a memory we will all cherish. Before all of this happened we had to be safe, so we put on our life jackets and helmets. We also played a game, this game included one set of canoes that were the same colour and another set of a different colour. The objective of the game was to get the ball and pass it to the canoes that had the same colour as yours and if everyone from that team touches it then they win. Of course, not everyone knew how to canoe, some people had done it in previous camps but we were all taught how to hold, stroke and use the paddle. Canoeing is definitely something I would want to do again. Everything at this camp was a blast! Sasadi Jayalath 7B Hut BuildingHut Building was another of the activities we got to experience. It was an activity which helped improve our teamwork and built new knowledge as we had to build a hut and pretend that we had to stay there overnight. We got into two groups and had to construct a hut using natural sources from the site, could fit all of us inside and prevent us from becoming wet. Once we had all finished building out huts, both teams had to all fit inside the hut and each team got the chance to fill up a bucket of water and throw it over the top of the hut. The point of Hut Building was to see if we could survive in the huts overnight by seeing if we got wet or not. Even though we protected all the sides of our huts, most people ended up getting wet which was nice and refreshing. Camp was such a memorable and fun experience and I will treasure every single moment forever. Amelia Dell’Universita 7A

Year Level Leader - Year 7Lauren PurcellYear Level Leader - Year 7Lauren Purcell

WaterslideWe did the waterslide! It was spectacular! We had to wear our bathers and put on a helmet before we could go on the water slide. The teachers gave us instructions about how to go on it safely. Many people went down with a big splash, it was amazing. Some girls even went on it to 5-7 times, we all had so much fun even though we got a bit cold. Overall the experience of the waterslide was AMAZING! Risindi Batuvita Pathiranage 7C

Trampolining/Cage Soccer During camp, one of the enjoyable additional rotational activities included the Cage Soccer and Trampolines. Each day we participated in a different activity and we were lucky enough to have the cage soccer and trampolines as a rotation as well as something we do during free time. The cage soccer was entertaining and fun yet so competitive. The trampolines were a great way to show off your skills to everyone and even just having a fun bounce. Overall these two activities were one of the most fun ‘extra’ rotational activities. Liyana Hamza 7C

Thunder HockeyAt our time at camp, we had an opportunity to play Thunder Hockey. During these games we were split up into our teams and were encouraged to play indoor hockey versing another team. It definitely was very competitive and many of us strove to win even if it was our first time competing in hockey. Everyone took part and we all enjoyed it. Irish Carandang 7B

Nightwalk and Campfire SingingOn the first night of camp, we went out on a Night Walk. Using our torches we walked with all of our friends to see the night sky. The walk was about twenty minutes long and then we stopped by the campfire. Here we sang songs and roasted marshmallows. Ella even got marshmallow stuck in her hair! Manwella Zea 7C

Bombardment and GaGaOn the last day of camp, the six activity groups split into two groups. Each group had the opportunity to participate in the two games: Gaga and Bombardment. Gaga is a game where you are in a medium sized pit that fits up to 30 people and you have to hit the ball with your hand below the knees to hit another player to get them out. Bombardment is basically two different versions of dodgeball. The first version included a medic who saved the players who had been hit by the ball and the second version included three ways of winning the game. Elissa Mirabelli 7C Trivia and Liturgy One of the nights at camp we had a Trivia Competition. We got to bond not only with our friends but with our activity group. That night, as you could imagine we answered a variety of questions eg the history of Mercy or countries around the world. It was overall a great night. After our fantastic judges tallied up our scores it was time for the winner to be announced. The winning team was BASED. All girls did an amazing job trying to answer the questions as fast at they could. After the trivia we gathered together and took time to thank God and our teachers for the amazing experience of camp with a special liturgy. During the liturgy we got to make an entry for our time capsule which we will open when we are in Year 12 in 2023! Ebony La Ferla 7A

Talent Concert and House Dance OffOn our last night it was time for the Talent Concert and House Dance Off. We had some solo acts, duets and groups perform for us. We also had three singing acts, one including some dancing and a comedy group which made everyone laugh. The dance battle was a lot of fun even though some students were a little bit nervous before the performance. Everyone tried their best and gave it a go. In the end Kane came first but in my opinion everyone won. It was one of the best nights I’ve ever had! Emily Gaffy 7A

Year Level Leader - Year 8Caitlin Lamont

Hello, my name is Mikayla and I had the opportunity on Year 8 Camp to test my limits in several different ways. Even though being on Camp is a bit like being on a huge sleepover with my friends, it was an opportunity to practice my resilience and push my own personal boundaries. The big test for most of us was Tree Surfing. Being suspended several meters above the ground is not many people’s ideal place to be, but add wobbly robes, swinging platforms, and kookaburras laughing at you into the mix and you have a recipe for mixed emotions. Whilst some girls took to Tree Surfing like a fish to water and even attempted free fall activities, others were a little more cautious. We banded together to help those who needed support and some girls who were scared managed to prove to themselves that they could do it. Other ways that we were able to practice resilience was in the ocean. Surfing remains a highlight on Year 8 Camp but this year we were able to try Stand-Up Paddleboarding as well. Stand-Up Paddleboarding is much harder than it looks! The best part was when we were able to use a board big enough to fit seven of us on as you will see on the video behind me.

Mikayla Scarfo 8C

Hi, my name is Taylah and I was able to spend quality time with those in my year level because we were constantly mixing with others. Being put out of our comfort zone with a group of girls in the same boat was an enriching way to get to know each other and bond as a year level. We also had more free time than we did in Year 7 so we could find like-minded people who wanted to spend their time doing the same things. Some girls even found new talents for things like pool, foosball, and soccer penalties.Our beautiful Liturgy lead by Ms Callery was a good opportunity to stop and reflect on what we had achieved on Camp. The symbol of the ocean was very fitting given our Peninsula location.The teachers told us that there were so many outstanding efforts and achievements that the Camp Champ tally was very close. Congratulations to Bianca Garcia, Claudia de Rosayro, and Maddie Moffit who came out top three for the week. Thank you so much to our teachers Mr Moss, Bu Moore, Ms Pirani, Miss Susanty, Ms Callery, and Ms Lamont for being our support for such an excellent camp. Taylah Caputo 8C

Year 8 Camp Reflection During the College Life Assembly this week, Year 8 students Mikayla Scarfo and Taylah Caputo shared an insight into their week at Don Bosco Camp in Dromana. Here is what they had to say.

Year Level Leader - Year 11Jane Stiles

Year 11 Canberra Reflection

On Monday 30 April, the Year 11s had a gruelling, early morning for an eight hour long trip to Canberra. We were ready to begin our adventure and learn about the capital city of Australia. Once we got there, we were

exhausted so it was time for us to rest up, and prepare ourselves for the next big day.

On Tuesday morning we visited the National Gallery of Australia and their visiting Cartier Exhibition, that helped us to understand people’s views and experiences on migrating to Australia and the life of art. They all

had a special meaning and it was great to learn about the stories behind each piece of artwork. From there we headed off to Parliament house and learned about how the government works. We were privileged enough to

enter both the House of Representatives and the Senate. We also took part in our own political debate. Each of us got a particular role and had to work as a team to create a ‘new law’. Later that night, we rugged up and

headed off to the Telstra tower and saw an amazing view of Canberra.

We had another big day on Wednesday. We started off at the National Museum and soon after, we headed off to the Electoral Education Centre where most of us enrolled ourselves to vote and learned the process of how votes are counted. We were soon at the War Memorial where authentic items were on show from Australia’s involvement in various conflicts including World War I and II. We had a guided tour where our guides pointed

out a variety of items that had particular stories attached to them - for example, there was a soldier’s uniform on display from World War I that was covered in mud. The mud is the original mud from the trenches in France

as the soldier was asked to take his uniform off by C. E. W. Bean who saw him in a trench towards the end of the war. He placed his uniform it in a bag for preservation, strange but true! It was astounding how many names are actually placed on those walls in memory of the soldiers that fought and died for our country and

the freedom we have today. Even some related to our very own staff members and students here at Mercy. We also had Kayla and Krystal lay a wreath on behalf of Mercy College during the last post service.

It was finally time to come home, the whole eight hours back, and we were all so exhausted but somehow conjured up enough energy to stand in a park, in the middle of nowhere, and wish Krystal and Reta a very

happy birthday, where some local onlookers thought we were a bit odd. Overall it was an awesome trip. And it’s safe to say that we all learnt something new.

Chloe Hocking and Pia Taylor

Year Level Leader - Year 12Jane Stiles

Year 12 Retreat ReflectionA bright Autumn morning greeted all of us as we arrived at school. The sun shone brightly on that day, almost as if it signalled that a fantastic week was ahead.

The first thing we did was settle into the library to listen to Anne Mitchell, a GAT, or General Achievement Test, assessor for the English components. She provided us with valuable tips and advice for the upcoming GAT in June, and gave insight into what it was like being an assessor. Did you know that these assessors have to mark over 100 essays everyday? That’s pretty incredible if you ask me!

After sharing morning tea time with the Year 9s, we set off on our buses for Pallotti College in Millgrove! It was situated just a few kilometres from the Year 7 camp, which meant it was filled with luscious green spaces and farm animals roaming the fields. There were incredible views to take in, and the smell of nature was refreshing.

The main activities we did at Retreat revolved around looking inwards, at ourselves. We had group discussions about our spiritual, personal lives, and everyone was very respectful of each other. This created a positive and safe environment for people to share their experiences. Retreat allowed us to, ‘retreat’, away from the hard work of VCE, to take a step back and reassess where we are going, readjusting ourselves and spending time with our friends and teachers, who would be with us on the rest of the journey.

At Retreat, we had the opportunity to listen to several guest speakers, the main two being the amazing Sam Clear and the wonderful Michelle Newland. Sam Clear spoke about his experiences - he travelled the world as he walked for unity - unity in Truth and Love. It led him to pain and hardships on his journey, as well raising awareness for his mission. And Michelle Newland told us her experiences from her life changing injury sixteen years ago. At the age of 19, she suffered from a severe asthma attack that left her severely damaged, with

her only able to blink after the event. Now, she was there before us, talking about her journey of recovery and her mission to remove young people from nursing homes.

On the second night, we were finally able to enjoy what we had all been waiting for - the trivia night! The SMGs split up into groups to duke it out in knowledge of sport, entertainment, Disney and Geography. There were also some spectacular lip sync battles to be had, which left everybody cheering and overall having a blast. Congratulations once more to SMG1 - the group that has gone undefeated for many years - without Ms Toll actually being there!

Our final day was lovely and sweet. We were able to write letters to our future selves at the end of the year, and we participated in a joyful and reverent mass. Over the course of the camp, we made Affirmation Packets, where you would put in an affirmation, akin to a letter, thanking the person for something that they have done and praising them. It was fantastic to see everyone reading their beautiful affirmations.

Once more, we thank the teachers who came with us, the staff at the College who were so caring and considerate, and finally, to Ms Kitch, who organised the Retreat and made it as excellent as it was. Katherine Dawn Manalo SMG1

SportAngeline Barberi

Indoor Soccer Competition On the 26th of April, the Senior Indoor Soccer team alongside the junior and intermediate teams set off to Albert Park Indoor Sports Centre to compete in the SCSA Indoor Soccer tournament. We were fortunate enough to have a team of incredibly talented and eager young women who fought their way through the day.

The tournament started well as our first game was against Catholic Ladies College (CLC) who we defeated with a score of 2-1. We then drew in our next game against Academy, and gained a great win against Sacred Heart College, Oakleigh, with an amazing score of 6-1. However, we knew we were up against some tough competition in the next few games. Unfortunately we experienced a few losses, yet we never gave up. This ongoing perseverance lead us to the semi-final, where we worked tirelessly to beat Sacred Heart Geelong with a score of 5-1 (even though we had previously lost)! Our team then made it into the senior grand final!! We each put in all that we had left to give, yet we sadly conceded a couple of goals and weren’t able to take home the flag. Overall it was a tiring but brilliant day, and one that we will not forget. I’d like to thank our players, Erin Saliba, Claudia Montesano, Melissa Koulis, Sara Beccia, Tara Papotto and Alyssa Pizzi for their efforts throughout the tournament as they played their absolute best in each game. I would also like to extend this gratitude to Ms Mazzone for coaching and supporting us, as well as Ms Barberi for her ongoing commitment in organising the event. Nicole Nabbout Yr 12

SportAngeline Barberi

Performing ArtsCaitlin Lamont

Hello, Dolly!The cast of the Parade and Mercy College co-musical production of ‘Hello, Dolly!’ has been hard at work since the end of 2017. The story of Dolly Levi takes us to late 19th century New York as the matchmaker extraordinaire goes about her business professionally meddling in the love lives of others. But will Dolly herself have a happily ever after? It’s not too late to get your tickets for this Friday or Saturday!!!!!

18 ,19 May 2018Rivergum Theatre Parade College, Bundoora

Tickets are on sale now at: www.trybooking.com/TIAQ

Adult: $25, Concession: $20, Family: $70

HumanitiesJemmah Ind

Year 10 Guest Speaker - Boori Monty Pryor As a part of Year 10 History and English, we had the privilege of listening to Indigenous author, Boori Pryor, talk about his journey. Boori spoke of his rough childhood and how he discovered his passion lay in words, and how he used words instead of his fists to take a stand. He spoke of the minimal rights he had in his childhood but how he saw past them and took every opportunity to make positive choices in his life. Even though Boori shared his tough childhood with us, he still made us laugh at his childhood stories and we enjoyed the traditional music that he played for us with a didgeridoo. Through the inspirational and thoroughly engaging talk, we did not only learn more about him and his life, but also learnt more about rights and freedom for Indigenous Australians at the time of his youth, and today. Nirgun Kaur and Rawan Yaqoob

Counsellors CornerNicole Burratin and Christina Leonardis

Mindfulness Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now, without wishing it were different. Enjoying the pleasant without wanting it to change (which it will) Being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t) - James Baraz

Put simply, mindfulness is simply ‘noticing without judgement’.Mindfulness has amazing benefits and is fantastic for assisting with management of stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health problems.

So how do we do it? Try this task: For one minute focus entirely and only on your breathing, nothing else! Did you notice yourself getting distracted as you tried it? This is normal, your goal is to just bring it back to your breathing. It’s hard and it takes practice. Smiling Minds is a free app that you can download on your phone which has a variety of mindfulness exercises. Give it a go and see how mindful you can be!

13 Reasons Why Season 2 of 13 Reasons Why is due for release on Friday the 18 May 2018. It is a fictional drama that tells the story about a teenage girl who committed suicide after a series of events and a deterioration of her mental health. It explores topics including substance use, sexual assault, depression and mental health. Given the sensitive nature of these topics, the graphic scenes in Season 1 and the release of Season 2 it is important the impact of 13 Reasons Why is readdressed.

It is important to be open and honest and encourage conversation about the topics of suicide and mental health. We would recommend parents and guardians to visit the following link for comprehensive information on how to talk to young people about 13 Reasons Why

https://www.headspace.org.au/assets/School-Support/Talking-to-Young-People-about-13-Reasons-Why.pdf

It is important to note that while conversations about suicide can be uncomfortable we should not be afraid to talk to someone about suicide. It does not increase the risk of suicide but is in fact helpful in inviting open conversation about thoughts and feelings.

Lifeline – 13 11 14Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800 or http://kidshelpline.com.au/kidsHeadspace – 1800 650 890 or http://headspace.org.au

If you are struggling with thoughts about suicide, the Wellbeing Team at Mercy can assist and can be contacted at nburattin@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au (psychologist) or cleonardis@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au (social worker).

Counsellors CornerNicole Burratin and Christina Leonardis

Careers @ MercyVicki Harvey and Ellen Ryan

Year 10 Work ExperienceA famous lesson from Confucius around 450 B.C. illuminates the importance of active engagement and real time experiences in learning:

“TELL ME, AND I WILL FORGET. SHOW ME, AND I MAY REMEMBER. INVOLVE ME, AND I WILL UNDERSTAND.”

After completing their week of Work Experience the Year 10 students now have time to reflect on their experiences. In their Next Step classes each student will hand up their work booklet and share a little bit about their time in their chosen workplace with their class members, what they did, what they learnt and what might be their next step of exploration in their career pathway. Work experience has enabled some students to develop a passion for a particular career, has formed contacts for future career choices/directions and even given some students part time work. The feedback from employers has been very positive about the work ethics and positive attitudes that our Mercy students have shown. Each student should be very proud of what they have achieved throughout the week of work experience, whether it be challenging themselves to travel to the workplace by catching public transport, overcoming the shyness they may have experienced in being in an unfamiliar environment or undertaking tasks where they needed to have a belief that they were more than capable. Congratulations to the Year 10 students.Here are a few reflections: I went to Jetstar Headquarters. The main reason why I went there was because I had an interest in Administrative and Assistance work. The experience I have gained from Jetstar Headquarters included social skills, I spoke and met new people everyday, especially people who weren’t my age. Another were independent skills. I was able to complete task on my own and not rely on other people. I also learnt organisational skills. I spent my mornings in the reception organising files, emails and packages. My supervisor is an executive assistant for her team, so she showed me how she organised her work and day to day life as well as giving me tips. Overall I had an amazing time. Evonia DaLuz 10A

I attended Embracia which is an aged care facility. At Embracia, I got the opportunity to meet and get to know many different people and pick up many new life skills. During the week, I was lucky enough to participate in many lifestyle activities with the residents such as playing many rounds of bingo, assisted feeding, mass, walks round the block, painting the residents nails, music therapy and chit chats and coffee at the

cafe. I spent a lot of time with residents with dementia which was really eye-opening to me. The week flew by very quickly leaving me upset to have to say goodbye to the many friendly residents and staff that I had met but also opened my eyes to a new career possibility for the future. Lilliane Abi-Haila 10C

This year for Year 10 work experience I got to go to an orthodontist. After many attempts to find a placement to do my work experience, I was approved to go to my own orthodontist in Footscray. I learnt multiple things while doing my placement at the orthodontist. Most of the things I learnt were filing which consisted of me finding patients folders and understanding where certain papers were kept. But I also learnt the method of placing and removing braces, which I did while observing the process. While at the orthodontist I found myself becoming more curious but also coming out of my comfort zone as I attempted to ask questions. I overall enjoyed my work experience at the orthodontist and now am seriously considering this as a future career path. Juanita Mususu-Zambrano 10C

Careers @ MercyVicki Harvey and Ellen Ryan

UMAT - For Medicine & Health Science Students - Year 12 UMAT Registrations close Friday 1 June at 5pm. Test is Wednesday 25 July 2018. For further information visit http://umat.acer.edu.au

Career Interviews A number of Year 12 students have been requesting interviews to start the process of career planning for 2018. All students will be seen at least once throughout the course of Term 3 by a Careers Counsellor to have a discussion about future pathways, however, many students will have a number of interviews. If you are requesting a time to meet with either Ms Ryan or Ms Harvey, please email us with a few possible options of suitable times and we will book you in for an interview time. We are available before and after school, during lunchtimes and when students may have a private study lesson and we are not teaching.

Ms Ellen Ryan: eryan@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.auMs Vicki Harvey: vharvey@mercycoburg.catholic.edu.au

Exploring Career Options - Years 10-12 Now is the time to start exploring options as when students research their options they are able to make a well informed choice. Refer to CareerNews in this newsletter to see dates for Universities, TAFES and Private Providers of their ‘Experience Days’ and featured sessions on particular courses.

CareerNews The featured Industry in this week’s CareerNews is Interior Designer & Interior Decorator. If you are looking for a career in this field, this is an important read. To date CareerNews has featured the following careers and pathways:

NutritionistIT Multimedia DeveloperParamedic/Ambulance OfficerEarly Childhood/Pre-Primary TeacherOsteopath & Physiotherapist

Keep reading the CareerNews for further industry focuses

Goodness is indeed strength! Diane Psaila

Alumni PresidentDiane Psaila

Alumni Greetings!

A great majority of Mercy College students have a career plan by the time they hit their final years.

What if you don’t? That uncertainty can exhibit insecurities in many forms and lead to settling for a path that is unfulfilling. This edition’s newsletter features an interview with Nancy Di Grande, class of 2007 who has found her vocation in Shining the light of Mercy as a qualified paramedic in Queensland. A story of determination and courage; inspirational in its steps to succeed! In Nancy’s words:

‘My biggest fear was leaving school as I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. Everyone else seemed to have a pathway sorted except for me.

‘What I took away from Mercy was to always work hard and stay positive.’

‘There’s always a way and you will eventually work out what you want to do.’

‘Sometimes it just takes a little longer.’ I asked Nancy to give us a ‘snapshot’ of what it is like working as a paramedic.

‘I completed my Graduate year on the Sunshine Coast. I am currently working in a small regional town in Queensland by the name of Miles with a population of just under 1800. Both areas work slightly different, so I’m going to give you a quick snapshot of both.

We work a roster of 4 days on 4 days off on the Sunshine Coast. Days on will be a combination of 12-hour day shifts, 10-hour afternoon shifts and 12-hour nights. For example, you may be rostered on Monday 0600-1800, Tuesday 1200-2200, Wednesday and Thursday 1800-0600 followed by Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday as days off.

Each shift begins with a complete vehicle check. The truck is thoroughly checked over to ensure that all our equipment works, is in date and that we have all the correct equipment on board. Once you log on at your shift start time, it is very common on most days that you will receive your first job right away and not return back to station until your finish time, or even after.

The Sunshine Coast has a high population of elderly residents as it’s a great retirement location, along with many adventure/outdoor sport opportunities plus plenty of beaches. Therefore, the work on the Sunshine Coast varies from any medical cases especially those relating to the elderly population including falls, to sporting and recreation injuries, which range from dislocated knees to mountain biking/ dirt bike injuries and those that get into trouble on our mountains and then there’s the water related incidents.

Out here at Miles it’s all a little bit different. We work on an 8 on, 6 off roster. Therefore, we work 8 days straight working 10 hour shifts at Station (0800-1800) then we are on what we call emergency availability during the night, which is essentially on call. So, at 1800 we both take an ambulance to our residents and if a job comes in we both will be dispatched and meet at the job. Six days off then. Great especially when I still live on the Sunshine Coast and travel back there on my days off.

The workload and type of work is very different in a country town. We are not as busy as the cities; however, we may have longer travel times as we service towns such as Condamine which is an hour north. We still get a lot of medical cases but we also get a lot of farm work and machinery accidents. Another major difference out west is that we don’t have an intensive care paramedic, therefore if we go to a patient that has a life threatening or potentially life threatening illness/ injury it’s up to us to stabilise the patient until the Helicopter with an intensive care paramedic and doctor arrives, if it’s available.

Working out west is a great experience as we use a lot of the skill set that doesn’t always get used in the cities due to all the resources available. The hospital is also small here; if we bring in a sick patient we are often required to assist the hospital staff which has been a great learning experience...’ Read more of Nancy’s story by clicking HERE

Catholic Education MelbourneTime to Shine 2018

In the Community

There has been a lot of research coming out relating to the benefits of exercise recently. Studies proving the impact exercise has on our lifestyle and even assisting in treatments of illness all the way through to cancer.

From all my time in the fitness industry I have found there are still two underlying reasons the majority of people want to exercise: fat loss and to improve their health/lifestyle. These two go hand in hand and I have a more holistic approach instead of focusing on a number on the scales.

Being able to complete day to day activities easier, have more energy to run around with the kids and feel happier with yourself are just a few main benefits we can find from committing to an exercise program.

This is quite daunting for many, maybe even you, and at Efm we are experts at helping you to realise these benefits. Having a qualified fitness coach to guide you through every aspect of training means you spend less time worrying about if you are doing the exercise correctly or even getting any results from your effort.

I have included a graphic below highlighting some of the perceptions regarding fat loss. For further information on this or to discuss any aspect of exercise or general health and wellbeing, feel free to give me a call on 0432 037 781.

John Hiatt Fitness Coach Efm Health Clubs Coburg On-site at Mercy College