Year 12 exams are well underway and we continue to keep our students in our thoughts and prayers and wish them all the very best.

In the coming weeks we welcome our Year 7 2024 families to their first information night. We hope the evening will be an exciting time for families beginning their journey with OLMC. For those families who are introducing another child to OLMC, we hope that it remains an exciting time for you too. The night marks the beginning of our partnership in the learning of each child.

As we move further into November, exams will begin for students in Year 10 and 11. Following this will be an Orientation program for both year levels as they prepare for the next phase of their VCE studies. The program has been developed with the specific future needs of the students at its heart.

The program will enable students to develop an understanding of the expectations ahead of them and offer some strategies that they may use over the break to prepare for next year. Work will be set for students in preparation for Units 3 and 4. Our expectation is that all students make this a priority.

November is a time of remembrance, during which we celebrate the Feast of All Saints and the Feast of All Souls. This is a time to call to mind all those who are no longer with us. It is a chance to remember and celebrate their lives and achievements. On Saturday 11 November it is Remembrance Day, a time to pause and remember those who have given their lives in the service of their country. This year as wars and conflicts rage around the world, we hold all who are living in fear, suffering the loss of loved ones, their home and their security in our prayers.

This weekend is a long one for many staff and students at OLMC. A number of Year 12 students will have an exam on Monday and a number of staff will also be working to ensure that all runs smoothly. Nevertheless, this is a significant weekend in Melbourne. It is Spring Carnival time and this year it appears to also be bringing some wonderful weather. We hope that, whether you celebrate the Melbourne Cup or not, this is a wonderful weekend.

Feasts of All Saints Wednesday 1 November and All Souls Thursday 2 November

We remember, we celebrate, we pray.

These ancient holy days allow us to celebrate the unconditional love of God where we remember and we celebrate the examples of so many people throughout time, both named and unnamed. During the month of November, we remember all those who have died; we give thanks for their example and love; we celebrate their life, and we pray for and with them.

We pray in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

We remember, we celebrate, and we pray for our deceased Sisters of Mercy – who faithfully walked in the footsteps of Jesus and Catherine McAuley in living the Gospel and serving those in need.

We remember, we celebrate, and we pray for our deceased alumni and past staff who shared the vision of Catherine McAuley.

We remember, we celebrate, and we pray for our deceased family members and friends. May we remember with joy and pray in thanksgiving for their example and love for us.

Let us pray in the words that Jesus taught us:

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.
Amen.

May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.

As the situation in the Middle East continues to worsen, I encourage you to read this letter from Cardinal Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem: Letter to the entire diocese.

Cardinal Pizzaballa says, ‘The whole world views this Holy Land of ours as a place that is a constant cause of wars and divisions. That is precisely why it was good that a few days ago, the whole world joined us with a day of prayer and fasting for peace. It was a beautiful view of the Holy Land and an important moment of unity with our Church. And that view is still there. On 27 October, the Pope has called for a second day of prayer and fasting so that our intercession may continue. It will be a day that we will celebrate with conviction. It is perhaps the main thing we Christians can do at this time: pray, do penance, intercede.’

Let us join our prayers with those of the world, in the words written by one of our Year 7 students:

God of peace and love,

We pray for the peoples of Israel and Palestine, whether Jewish, Christian or Muslim, as many suffer.

We may not fully understand the complexities of the situation, but we know that love and peace are what we should seek.

Holy Spirit, help us and the leaders of both sides understand that every human person is your child, deserving of dignity, safety, and peace.

May we show empathy, kindness, and unity to those in need, regardless of their background or beliefs.

We pray for all the children, mothers, fathers, and families who are affected by the conflicts. Please protect them, comfort them, and give them the strength to cope with these challenging times.

Amen.

In 2022 we had outstanding success at the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools STEM MAD (Making A Difference) competition with our team heading to Adelaide in April as guests of the Andy Thomas Space Foundation. This year we were able to enter three teams selected from a field of 300 entries to display their projects at the Showcase Day.

The Showcase Day was a great opportunity for our Year 8 teams to see the work of like-minded peers across the state and to spend a day with a wide community of STEM enthusiasts. Over the course of the day, we saw the students move from anxious to confident as they explained their projects – over and over – to teams of judges.

One team presented an innovative idea for roads that can capture kinetic energy from moving cars as piezoelectricity and use it to power communities. Another team explored how coffee grounds could be used to draw salt from soils that are too saline – a huge problem in Australia. The third team looked at the feasibility of using an energy neutral system to benefit the wellbeing of astronauts on the International Space Station. This project explored how exercising on bicycles could not only help the astronauts maintain muscle strength but also power special lights to grow fresh salad vegetables to supplement their unappealing astronaut foods.

In a different STEM challenge, a team of Year 9 students are currently designing a fabricated coral structure embedded with salts that are endothermic as they dissolve and can form a buffering system to counter both increasing ocean temperature and acidity. These structures would be embedded with sensors that could provide live information on coral health to an app to help keep boats away from more vulnerable coral beds.

Our best wishes to the teams participating in the STEM MAD National Showcase on Thursday 9 November and the BrainSTEM Innovation Challenge on Thursday 16 November.

Dr Susan Long
Science Learning Leader

On Thursday 26 October, Curriculum Coordinator Mr Andrew Gibson and myself accompanied a small but enthusiastic group of students to the inaugural Careers for Net Zero Fair, a joint initiative powered by the Clean Energy Council and Energy Efficiency Council. With jobs relating to a ‘clean’ economy estimated to be around two million by the year 2050 globally, the Fair highlighted the multitude of jobs in industries beyond the stereotypical ‘hard hat’ roles.

Students heard from keynote speakers including the Premier of Victoria - the Hon. Jacinta Allen MP, Federal Minister for Skills and Training - the Hon. Brendan O’Connor MP and Boundless Earth Chair - Mike Cannon-Brookes along with a panel focusing on future opportunities from LinkedIn, Jobs & Skills Australia, CPB Construction, AI Group and the Australian Power Institute. Students were inspired by the scale of roles which will see opportunities in the green economy be at the cutting edge of policy, law, technology, science, environment, finance and construction. The event highlighted predictions that for every fossil fuel job lost, as has been seen in every age of development and transition, more than two clean energy jobs are expected to be created.

As well as these seminars, which offered great scope for reflection and imagination, students spent time speaking with various exhibitors about employment, training, projects, processes and a plethora of other opportunities related to their own future goals.

‘My favourite aspect of the day was the engaging discussions I had with many people from different companies. I didn't realise that my hopes to have a career in graphic design or business could tie into a Net Zero career!’

Alana P, 10CSGP

‘As someone interested in design, communications, and education as possible career paths, the speeches, panel discussion, and diverse group of stalls encouraged me to think that there is a way to make a difference in these industries, not just in STEM areas.’

Bethany H, 11LRJO

‘I found it inspiring as someone looking to go into the electrical industry, that there is a big push for making women, and other marginalised communities, feel more welcome in the workplace. The Careers for Net Zero Fair was really beneficial to me as someone passionate about the environment, that my career path will have a place [in supporting this cause].’

Niamh C, 11LJVA

‘The Careers for Net Zero Fair was so useful for me in choosing how I might want to spend my time after school pursuing and trying to achieve . . . there are thousands of engineers and electricians needed to fulfil the Net Zero commitment, and reassured me that my career goal of being an engineer will still be viable when I finish studying.’

Charlotte W, 10MECO

For students or others within our community interested in learning more about the employment possibilities related to the green economy, please see the following links:

Careers For Net Zero

Terra.do - Climate Education, Green Skills and Climate Careers

Global Green Skills Report 2023

The Clean Energy Generation

Melinda Williams
Careers Coordinator

We are thrilled to share the remarkable success of our recent Caldow Collection and Design, Art and Technology (DAT) Show, an event that showcased the incredible talent, creativity, and dedication of our students. It was an evening filled with wonder and inspiration, and it highlighted the tremendous potential that resides within our student body.

The Caldow Collection and DAT Show, held on Thursday 12 October, was a testament to the vibrancy of youth and the power of artistic expression. The hallways and classrooms were transformed into a visual feast, displaying an incredible array of work, including paintings, drawings, photography and food. The talent exhibited by our students was awe-inspiring, leaving a lasting impact on all who attended.

The Exhibition served as a platform to nurture and support the budding talents in our school. Many of our students bravely shared their work with the public for the very first time, marking a significant milestone in their artistic journeys. The positive feedback and encouragement they received from teachers, fellow students, and visitors reaffirmed the importance of fostering creativity and self-expression.

We congratulate the Subject Award winners and students selected to feature in the 2023 Caldow Collection. Additionally, we congratulate Alessia K (12MJBA), the 2023 Jane Sutherland Award recipient.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to the dedicated DAT teachers who have nurtured and mentored these talented students. Their guidance and encouragement have played a pivotal role in helping our young artists flourish.

To our OLMC community, thank you for being a part of this remarkable celebration of young artistic talent. We eagerly await the new heights our students will achieve in their artistic pursuits as we enter 2024.

Alexandra Seit
Design, Art and Technology Learning Leader

As we move into the second half of the term, students will be required to complete their final assessments. Our Year 10 and 11 students will also be preparing for their end of semester exams which begin on Wednesday 22 November. This can be a challenging time for students, but we encourage parents and carers to reinforce the following as we move into this busy period of the school year:

• Research demonstrates the effectiveness of working with focus for a period of 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Encouraging students to set up a routine at home where they organise their workload into more manageable chucks can assist learning and help students stay motivated;
• Our memory best stores knowledge by transforming information into a new form. This might be achieved by creating a mindmap, completing practice questions, or by having a conversation with a friend or family member to share one’s understanding of the topic with them;
• Exercise can be a great way to maintain focus and increase concentration levels so that students can work more efficiently;
• Sleep is vital. Students need at least 8 hours of sleep each night;
• Stress in itself, is not a bad thing. Stress can help raise our motivation levels and help us keep focused on the task at hand. In fact, without any stress, we may not have any motivation to do too much at all! This type of stress which helps us in a positive way is called eustress. It is when stress levels become too high that eustress turns into distress and we can feel overwhelmed. Please encourage your young person to monitor their stress levels and look at ways that stress can benefit us to achieve our goals;
• When studying, avoid having the phone close by. Our devices can prove to be a powerful distraction making it very difficult to use study time effectively. Some apps that can be used to help us avoid being distracted by our devices include Cold Turkey, Serene and Freedom.

Additional resources including tips on note taking, making cue cards and using Quizlet, can be found on the OLMC Study Habits website here.

Our senior students have had the opportunity to hear presenters from Elevate, a Melbourne based company that focuses on developing effective study skills in students. A number of resources for parents and carers can also be found on Elevate’s website below:

Effective Study Skills - Parent Resources

Young people today are heavily reliant on online platforms and social media to stay connected with their peers. The dramatic increase in the use of technology in this way has many benefits but also challenges. In recent years, we have had a number of experts in this space present to our students. Please find below some websites from these presenters that may be helpful when having conversations with your young person regarding their use of social media and how they present themselves as digital citizens.

Cyber Safety Solutions

Parenting in a Digital World

Digital Safety Tips For Parents

In recent weeks, we have also received the attached flyer from the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation. We hope that it might also help guide discussions with your young person on this important topic.

Sextortion Flyer

Finals of Term 4 weekly GSV are fast approaching with only three rounds remaining for intermediates and junior teams.

Our Senior Cricket and Basketball teams have concluded with our senior cricket team finishing fourth in our pool and not qualifying for finals. Our Senior A Basketball team played off in the finals on Wednesday 25 October at Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre. The team led by Olivia P (12AJIN) made it through the preliminary round, beating Fintona - OLMC 34 def Fintona 26.

The final was played against Sacre Coeur and although trailing for most of the match, OLMC fought back to within four points. It was a skilful and determined effort by all OLMC players but unfortunately the team were defeated by 4 pts in a close encounter - OLMC 37 to Sacre Coeur 51.

Congratulations to all OLMC students who finished runners up and zone winners for Senior A Basketball.

Trevor Robertson
Sports Coordinator

Each year the Parents’ Association run a Lucky Fees Raffle to raise funds that support and enhance educational opportunities and the community life at OLMC. First prize is $4000 off your school fees for 2024 – wouldn’t that be amazing?

Tickets are $10 each,10 for $70 or 15 for $100

To purchase tickets please click here

1st prize $4000 Voucher for 2024 School Fees
Or Shopping Vouchers to the value of $4000

2nd Prize Travel Managers Voucher valued at $200

3rd Prize Travel Managers Voucher valued at $100

4th Prize Farm Vigano Restaurant, South Morang Voucher valued at $100

5th Prize Farm Vigano Restaurant, South Morang Voucher valued at $100

6th Prize Noone Uniform Voucher valued at $100

7th Prize Chocilo Hamper

The raffle will be drawn on Friday 17 November at the College. Winners will be notified by phone or email and results published in the Newsletter.

Your support in the sale of the raffle tickets is gratefully appreciated.

OLMC Parents’ Association

Follow the official Our Lady of Mercy College accounts on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. We’ll be sharing regular news, student achievements and stories from around the College.