Last week, I attended the Mercy Education Limited (MEL) Principal’s Conference. As Louise Rennie, CEO, highlighted in her speech at the OLMC Awards Assembly two weeks ago, the MEL theme for this year is ‘Walking Together’, inspired by Pope Francis. We have been engaged in discussions and thinking about what this might look like for all our schools. The power of the broader Mercy community and the legacy we continue has featured large in our focus.

In a year when we are about to launch our new Strategic Directions, ‘Walking Together’ along with the OLMC theme of ‘Don’t be afraid. Go and be….’ (Mark 5:36b), seem to have aligned. I am reminded that God works in mysterious ways and can’t help wonder if this alignment of hopes and strategy is His guiding us at OLMC. It is my hope that we can walk together unafraid to go and be.

On Tuesday this week, we held our Opening School Mass and Investiture of our College Student Leaders. The Year 12 leaders and Year 9 House Vice Captains were presented with their badges and pledged to our school community their commitment to honouring and living our school values. In addition, all students and staff made a commitment to each other to ensure that we continue to embrace our Mercy charism and College values.

The first three weeks have been very busy with events and activities celebrating our return to school for 2025 and welcoming all to our community. So many parents and guardians joined us over the last few weeks to meet with teachers and to continue our partnership in educating your children. One of the things that has been stressed at each event has been the value for students in participating in whole school events. Next week the Swimming Carnival will be held. This is always a great day for those who attend. It is a time when connections are formed or strengthened with other students. It is also when House Spirit is further developed and strengthened. We expect to see all students at the Swimming Carnival regardless of whether or not they will be swimming. This would be an excellent opportunity for students to ‘walk together’ with the students in their House to earn House points.

During our whole School Mass on Tuesday, our students offered the following prayer, inviting us to live our theme, ‘Don’t be afraid. Go and be…’ (Mark 5:36b). So, we pray together…

As we begin this new year together,
may we open our hearts to Your love.
Give us the courage to embrace new challenges,
the wisdom to lead with compassion,
and the strength to serve with love.
Help us to live out our calling with faith,
walking with each other, our families and staff,
knowing that You are with us each step of the way.
Amen.

On Tuesday, we gathered as a whole school community to thank God for our many blessings and to challenge each other to live the Gospel as one Mercy family. Fr Erick challenged us to ‘sing in the rain’. His profound message invites us to seek ways to be conscious of our blessings and express these gratitudes to God and others (singing), even when we are afraid or troubled. This message echoed our 2025 Scriptural theme, ‘Don't be afraid. Go and be…’ (Mark 5:36b).

Project Compassion

We thank our many students and staff who have participated in our social justice programs and who are living Mercy with our partners and friends. We are blessed to be able to walk with so many in our local community.

On Shrove Tuesday (4 March), the Social Justice group and Year 9 Students will make and sell pancakes to support the work of Caritas‘ Project Compassion. The same group will sell icy poles at the Swimming Carnival.

In addition to seeking financial support for Caritas, we will support their 2025 Theme, ‘Unite Against Poverty This Lent’. More information about their works, along with donations, can be found at https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/

Shane Taylor
Head of Faith and Mission

Exodus Christmas Dinner

Our annual Christmas Dinner was particularly memorable in 2024. Along with the 100+ guests who often come to the fortnightly dinners, the community was delighted to welcome three families who have recently immigrated to Australia as refugees. Brother Harry Prout welcomed the families and announced to the group his delight in sharing the dinner with them. The families received a warm round of applause, creating an emotional moment for all to share in.

We were lucky to have one of our College families singing Christmas Carols throughout the dinner, and Marie Jenkins delivered another outstanding Christmas dinner with lamb, salads lovingly made by OLMC staff, and sticky date pudding.

At the end of the dinner, each family was presented with a Christmas Hamper with products donated and wrapped by OLMC staff, and the boxes painted by Year 9 Horizon Students.

Star Camp

Star Camp is a two-day camp organised to provide a fun and nurturing experience for children with an intellectual or physical disability, as well as respite for their parents.

At the end of 2024, 20 Year 11 and Year 12 students volunteered their time as companions and assistants to these children. The students were supported by teachers who supervised a shift or two at the camp.

‘Star Camp allowed us to form a strong connection with our child camper as we guided them through all the various exciting activities on offer. We put in our hardest efforts to make this experience special for the kids as it was likely their first time away from their parents overnight.

While there were multiple barriers and challenges when communicating, the excitement on all of the kids’ faces when they got to play in the sand with the other children or watch a magic show made all of our efforts worthwhile. It was an experience that both the companions and the children will never forget.’

Tilly Z (12C5)

Anita Galli
Social Justice Coordinator

On Friday 7 February we welcomed back our 2024 Year 12 Outstanding Student Achievers and recognised their great efforts and celebrated the pathways they are about to embark upon. We particularly acknowledged Sharanka P and Amelie V, 2024 College Duxes with an ATAR of 98.15, and Jasmine G, the College VCE VM High Achiever. Sharanka’s speech was inspirational and reflected her commitment to her studies and passion for learning. The Assembly was a wonderful celebration of students’ success with family and friends in attendance. We also acknowledged the academic excellence of the following High Achievers.

2024 VCE Subject Dux

2024 VCE Top 10

The 2025 Year 7-10 Curriculum Overview is an important document at the College.

This document provides a content summary of each subject, the number of lessons a cycle, as well as the strands taught in each subject. The strands are ways that a subject curriculum is organised according to skill or content. For example, English has three strands: Reading and Viewing, Writing, and Speaking and Listening.

In the Course Outline section, you will find more detail on the subjects being studied at each year level. In this area of the Curriculum Overview, each subject area lists the topics explored, as well as the associated assessment tasks with that subject. An indication of subject areas where the four capabilities are assessed is also provided in the course outline. There is also indication as to the type of assessments that are undertaken in each subject.

It is a handy resource to consult over the course of the year, and it may help with initiating conversations about learning at home.

It can be found in the Parent Handbook, under Year 7-10 Programs. It is also available on the College website, on the ‘Learning and Teaching’ page, under ‘Curriculum/Subject Handbooks’.

Information regarding the curriculum for VCE and the VCE Vocational Major can be accessed through the publication Course Guide 2025 Senior Programs. It can be found via PAM in the Parent Handbook, in the Subject Selection folder.

Buon pomeriggio tutti! Bonjour à toutes et à tous! Mina san, konnichi wa.

The Languages Learning Area staff welcome all Languages students to 2025. We look forward to an exciting year of learning that will enable our students to further improve their Italian, French and Japanese skills. It will be an exciting year ahead of learning and interacting with the languages through various activities. One of these will be the upcoming Italian Tour in April (see the separate article for details). We wish the group a safe and rewarding trip. We look forward to hearing about the tour upon their return in early Term 2. We will also update you in future Newsletters about other exciting events that will occur in 2025.

We would like to especially welcome our Year 7 Languages students. They have spent the first few weeks at OLMC beginning their journey of learning one of the languages, whether it is learning how to greet each other in the second language or learning about the culture and geography of that country. In French and Italian, the girls have been conversing through speaking activities such as ‘speed dating’ and in Japanese the students have learnt basic greetings and begun to learn the Hiragana writing script. Here are some thoughts from our Year 7 language students:

‘Learning Italian at OLMC is engaging because it is interesting and fun and we get to play games, like Kahoot and Blookit.’

Zara D 7C, Gen D 7C, Samreen E 7H and Vivian D 7H

‘French has been très bien as they say. We have been learning introductions and greetings. I have enjoyed the little conversations we have been having.’

Shamalka K 7C

‘In Japanese I have really enjoyed learning the new writing script called Hiragana. It is something completely different and it’s lots of fun to learn.’

Zoe D 7G

Finally, we would like to wish our Year 12 cohort of Languages students the best of luck as they begin their final year of language study at OLMC. Over the coming weeks they will begin to attend language conversation practice sessions with their respective conversation tutors. These sessions, that run out of the normal lesson times, enable our students to improve their speaking skills as they prepare for oral assessments that will occur throughout the year and the end-of-year external oral exam.

In Bocca Al Lupo! Bonne Chance! Ganbatte!

James Stavretis
Languages Learning Leader

Italy Study Tour

Italian students from Years 10-12 will be heading on a nearly three-week immersion into Italian language and culture over the April holidays. After a week at the Monash campus in Prato where our students will attend Italian classes, we head north to Verona, Venezia, Le Cinque Terre, Firenze, and Roma. We are especially looking forward to participating in cooking demonstrations, visiting a textile museum and the the Baci factory. We are also looking forward to spending a special Easter together.

Anita Galli
Italian Teacher

‘I am excited to experience and have the opportunity to interact with the Italian culture and use the language I have learnt in a real-life scenario, such as in cafes and when we visit the local high school, as it will help me further improve my Italian skills.’

Ayesha B 12A1

Cross-Curricular Chemistry Combustion

Imagine the joy associated with overhearing a student conversation about making connections between subject areas. It is quite the buzz.

School staff are more than accustomed to catching snippets of chat about a gamut of topics ranging from social activities to unusual language, from part-time work to celebrity gossip, but (be still my beating heart) I recently encountered a discussion at the end of a Year 11 Politics class that was about Chemistry.

About how these two subjects were drawing parallels in students' thinking, informing their conversation and generating excitement… well, from me, anyway!

Working in Humanities, we often hear about links between the disciplines within our Learning Area. Students will regularly speak politically in History, historically in Legal Studies, legally in Politics, ‘accountingly’ in Business Management and apply business understandings in Accounting.

We are also used to strong, viable connections between English and all Humanities subjects, whether through an emphasis on literacy skills and all this entails, or the historic context of a novel, the legal perspective of an argument analysis or the political motive for a letter to an editor.

But Chemistry? This hit from left field, and for a moment I was so taken aback, I didn’t know my isotope from my atomic mass, my covalent bonding from my metalloids!

That lesson, we had been learning about power in the Asia-Pacific region and discussing, more specifically, Indonesia’s rich resources and minerals. The reading and conversation was based around Indonesia’s economy and how it might generate wealth to become a powerful actor in the Asia-Pacific via its vast amount of nickel. Australia is our focus at the moment, so we have been chatting about all things neighbourly - the Pacific Island nations, Australia’s influence, the balance of power in this theatre, how states create wealth.

Upon overhearing the conversation about Chemistry and connections to using the Earth’s precious resources to generate coin, I asked the students what they were referring to specifically. They spoke about how, in Science, they had discussed the ethical use of minerals and that VCE Chemistry had touched on resource use already.

How fabulous!

In VCE Politics, we always remember that the key strategic pursuits of the state are national security, economic prosperity, regional relationships and international standing, and sometimes when trying to ensure the country is prosperous, leaders will make decisions that place the earth and its resources in jeopardy.

And this is where the connections flooded in - how Indonesia may have to increase mining to develop its power via prosperity, and yet what price will this have on the delicate balance of ecosystems and minerals and chemistry, biology, ecology…?

Although this particular conversation occurred at the Senior end of the school, we are hearing equally wonderful connections being made in Years 7 and 8 Humanities. Year 7 students are learning about what makes a place liveable and are considering climate and environmental concerns. Year 8 humanitarians are focusing on business and economics, all the while thinking about impacts on the environment and the responsible use of resources.

What an important time to be developing our thinking about the world and trying to discern the facts from the nonsense. What a critical moment to be learning these skills, and what an opportunity to make meaningful connections between vibrant subject areas.

Rosemary Jones
Humanities Learning Leader

Welcome to a brand new year at OLMC! We hope you all had a restful, refreshing holiday and are feeling energised for another year - one filled with new opportunities, growth, and fun.

To start off, in light of embracing our College theme for 2025, ‘Don’t be afraid, go and be…’ (Mark 5:36b), we encourage all students to get their House Spirit riled up and T-shirts ready for the first school event of the year……the Swimming Carnival! We are really looking forward to seeing everyone showing up and trying something new; whether it be volunteering on the day, entering a swimming race or novelty event in the pool, or playing a match of volleyball. We want you all to share the unique gifts we know you all have, engage your courage to give something a go, and have fun!

We also encourage you all to take on new challenges and step into leadership with courage. At our college, Student Representative Council (SRC) is one of the most powerful platforms for student voice. As representatives, SRC members do more than represent their year level - they advocate for their peers' ideas, opinions, and concerns, provide student perspectives, and actively contribute to shaping a positive learning experience for everyone. They ensure that all students have a voice at this college, no matter how loud or quiet they may be. We are looking forward to hearing from our applicants in their upcoming speeches and interviews - we can’t wait to learn more about you and your vision!

We hope you are all transitioning well into 2025, and we are so excited to see you all really put yourselves out there and be you boldly!

Jasmine P & Bianca C
College Captains 2025

Building Connections - Pastoral

The first Lesson 3 Pastoral on Tuesday 18 February was a special occasion for both students and staff at OLMC, as it provided an opportunity for Pastoral Groups to reconnect, welcome new Year 10s, and set a positive tone for the year ahead. With an emphasis on building community and supporting one another, this Pastoral session was filled with activities that fostered a sense of belonging, encouragement, and growth.

Welcoming New Year 10s

Students gathered in their Pastoral Groups, excited to spend time together and share in the warmth of the community. This first Pastoral session was especially significant as it marked the official welcome for the Year 10 students, transitioning into senior school. To create a warm and inviting atmosphere, students brought in a variety of shared lunch items, including baked goods, sushi, and pancakes. The shared lunch was not only a chance to enjoy delicious food but also to connect with each other and begin building connections.

A Focus on Bravery and Growth: Our Year’s Theme

As part of the Pastoral session, students engaged in an activity centred around the theme for the year: ‘Don’t be afraid. Go and be….’ (Mark 5:36b). This scripture served as a powerful reminder to embrace courage and step into new challenges with confidence. The activity encouraged students to reflect on what they wanted to achieve in the coming year and how they could be brave in trying new things. Students were asked to write down a personal goal on a flower which will be displayed in the four House areas.

Year 12s Giving Back: Mentoring Year 7s

A particularly heart-warming aspect of this Pastoral session was the interaction between the Year 12s and their Year 7 buddies. Throughout the week, the Year 12 students had been busy crafting personal cards, which they presented to the Year 7s on Tuesday. These cards, along with House T-shirts, were gifted to the Year 7s in time for the upcoming House Swimming Carnival, taking place on Tuesday 25 February.

The connection between the Year 7s and Year 12s was truly special, as they spent time laughing, asking questions, and sharing their experiences. The Year 7s, who had only just begun their journey at OLMC, felt a genuine sense of welcome and inclusion. Many of them expressed how much they appreciated the kindness and encouragement shown by the Year 12 students, which helped them feel more connected to the school community.

For the Year 12s, it was a rewarding experience to hear how their Year 7 buddies were settling into life at OLMC. They were able to offer advice, share their own experiences, and provide support as the younger students navigate their first year.

Jemma Banfield
Carmel House Coordinator

Top Class Drama - Season of Excellence

In Units 3 and 4 Drama, the students are required to complete two end-of-year examinations. One is a written exam and the other is a performance exam. VCAA prescribes a list of 10 potential characters with a range of theatrical conventions and stimulus that needs to be included and then the students can write, rehearse and perform a seven-minute solo performance that is assessed externally.

Once the exam results and ATARs are released, VCAA then runs auditions for their Season of Excellence performances, which take place at the Melbourne Recital Centre in March. Approximately 3000 students across the state undertake Drama as a Units 3 and 4 subject and out of those students, 52 students who received outstanding results in their solo examination are invited to audition for the Top Class performance season. This year, OLMC was very excited to receive three invitations to audition for Top Class. Charlotte Daffey, Matilda Butterworth and Natasha Agati from the Class of 2024 all received an invitation to audition. This is a wonderful achievement.

Natasha Agati has gone on to be selected to perform her solo performance at the Top Class performance. She is one of only 19 students in the state to have this opportunity!

Natasha’s solo performance was based on the character of Rosie of the North, a woman who worked in a factory during WWII while men who were ordinarily in these kinds of roles were away fighting in the war. Natasha’s solo performance drew parallels between other male dominated industries and had a powerful message about female empowerment. We wish Natasha all the best for her performance at the Recital Centre next month.

Felicia Taine
Drama Teacher

Please join us for the

2025 International Women’s Day Breakfast

Friday 7 March

7.30 am – 8.45 am

Heagerty Room, Yarra Street

We come together to celebrate women in our community who actively choose to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions and help create a more gender equal world by

inspiring inclusion. Our breakfast will be a morning full of lively conversations and delicious food.

Together, let's #AccelerateAction for gender equality

We are pleased to welcome Lauren Szigeti (Class of 2018) as our guest speaker.

Lauren was a key member of the Student Leadership team in 2018 and her positive outlook on life and her desire to embrace all opportunities was very evident even then. She completed a Bachelor of Paramedicine in 2021 and a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health in 2024. She has worked as a paramedic, a disability support worker and is now an education presenter at the Black Dog Institute and Sport Integrity Australia.

Whilst doing all this she has also made her very successful mark in the world of AFLW. She played in the VFLW for three seasons, representing the Darebin Falcons, before signing with Hawthorn in the AFLW in 2020. She moved to Sydney Swans in 2022 where she took on the role of inaugural co-captain, and has spent the last three seasons giving her all to the Swans.

Tickets - $25 Adult, $10 Student

Please go to https://www.trybooking.com/CYWWO

Bookings close Thursday 6 March

By attending you will be supporting the work of McAuley for Women and Children in providing much needed support for women and their children who are escaping family violence.

Enquiries: Marie Jenkins T: 9455 7571 E: mjenkins@olmc.vic.edu.au

Teens, this one’s for you! Invite your friends and explore the Gallery after-hours with art, dancing, music and activities. For one night only, get exclusive access to the world-premiere exhibition, Yayoi Kusama, featuring infinity mirror rooms, larger-than-life dancing pumpkins, and immersive Kaleidoscopic installations. Please see the attached flyer.

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.