Over the last two weeks we have held the Opening School Mass, which included the Investiture of the Year 12 Student Leaders, and the Welcome Mass for Year 7 students and families. Both eucharistic celebrations were wonderful opportunities to reaffirm the theme of the year, ‘Varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit’ (1 Corinthians 12:4). Last week, Fr Erick led the student Mass and shared with us powerful advice; ‘To fall is an accident, to get up is a choice’. He also challenged us to see that sometimes we need help to get up and that accepting help is so important.

On Tuesday evening Fr Kevin led the celebration of our Welcome Mass for Year 7s and their families. Fr Kevin reminded us of the gifts we all share and the possibilities that can come from joining in that sharing. Each Year 7 student was presented with a candle. The foundress of the Sisters of Mercy instructed the Sisters ‘to be shining lamps to all’, so the candle symbolises the light each student will shine as they journey through OLMC.

Today we hosted the Annual House Swimming Carnival, the last for the Year 12 Class of 2024. They led the parade with enthusiasm and modelled authentic participation and support for OLMC. It was wonderful to see all the students embracing the joy of the day whether that was participating in the novelty events or the competitive program. The cheering was outstanding as each House vied for the Cheering Cup. It will be with great delight that we acknowledge individual and team achievements during morning Pastoral on Monday.

The school year will now settle into the normal routines, with most of our major events for this term complete. Our students have been wonderful ambassadors as they shared in all of the celebrations of student success and the sharing of our gifts. The growing involvement of students in leading or preparing events has been outstanding and is enhancing the experience of all. The voice of young people and their leadership enables us to grow as a community responding to the ideas and hopes of our current students.

This year we are scheduled to participate in the School Review process. This involves a number of elements including compliance. The most significant outcome of the review is the establishment of the next Strategic Directions 2025-2029. Over the coming weeks invitations will be extended to families and students to participate in opportunities to provide feedback as part of this process. If you are able and could spare time to help support us in the School Review, please look out for the invitation which will be emailed in the coming weeks.

We have entered the time of Lent, a time of invitation and hope as we await the Resurrection of Jesus. It is also a time when we are called to go beyond ourselves and to think of others. This year we especially include all those who live with war or devastation from natural disasters and keep them in our prayers. We pray for peace, just outcomes and unending generosity and support for all who need it both near and far. As is the case every year, OLMC will focus on the work of Caritas and Project Compassion throughout this season of Lent.

As we continue our Lenten journey until the great celebration of the Triduum, here is a brief article exploring the role of Cinderella and what might be our experience offered by that great theologian, Ron Rolheiser, an American priest of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and a down-to-earth and amazing human being.

We enter the season of Lent by putting ashes on our foreheads

To put on ashes is to say publicly and to yourself that you are in a penitential mode, that this is not ‘ordinary time’ for you. Smudging oneself with ashes says that this is not a season of celebration for you and that some important work is going on inside you.

There’s something innate in the human soul that understands that every so often, one must descend, be smudged, lose one’s lustre, and wait for ashes to do their silent work. Ancient traditions, be they religious or mythical, abound with stories of having to sit in the ashes.

The story of Cinderella is an old, wisdom tale that speaks about the value of ashes in life. The name Cinderella itself speaks to this. Literally, the name Cinderella means, ‘the young girl who sits in the cinders, the ashes.’ As the tale makes plain, before the glass slipper is placed on her foot, before wearing the beautiful gown, before going to the ball, before dancing with the prince, and before marrying him, there must first be a period of sitting in the cinders, of being humbled, of waiting patiently, while you are being readied for a sublime joy and consummation. In the story of Cinderella, we can see a spirituality of Lent.

Native American traditions too have always had an important place for ashes. In some Indigenous communities, there was the concept that occasionally someone would have to spend time in the ashes. Nobody knew why a specific person was called at a particular moment to sit in the ashes, but everyone knew that this was a natural thing, that ashes do an important work in the soul, and that eventually that person would return to his or her regular life and be better for having spent time in the ashes.

Lent is a season for each of us to sit in the ashes, to spend our time, like Cinderella, working and sitting among the ashes, grieving some of the things we’ve done wrong, refraining from the dance, refraining from the banquet, refusing to do business as usual, but rather waiting in patience as some silent growth takes place within us.

Lent is a time to be still so that the ashes can do their work.

Rolheiser, R. (2022) Lenten Ashes, Ron Rolheiser, OMI, accessed 22 February 2024.

So, we pray….

Loving God,

Strengthen and guide us in this Lenten journey. The days ahead invite us inward to that silent, holy space filled with your Spirit. During this time, we are called to see our life through your eyes. Give each of us the grace to enter into this time with an open heart and mind. Let your loving kindness flow over us and be evident in our thoughts, words and actions.

Amen.

Last Wednesday we began our Lenten journey together as our Faith community, with Mass for the whole school, celebrated by Fr Erick Niriyagira CP. In his homily, Fr Erick challenges us this Lent to consider this statement… ‘To fall is an accident, to get up is a choice’. A message that students connected with, understanding its importance. At the end of Mass, we blessed and commissioned our 2024 Student Leaders. These young women then pledged the following:

Ms Weir: Elected student leaders, your school community has chosen you to be the 2024 leaders. Do you accept the responsibility for which you have been chosen?

Leaders: We do.

Ms Weir: Will you maintain the College values of justice, compassion, courage and joy and demonstrate these in your day-to-day leadership role, being God’s love in action?

Leaders: We will.

Ms Weir: Will you serve this faith community with energy, enthusiasm and respect for others as Catherine McAuley did in her following of Jesus?

Leaders: We will.

Ms Weir: I invite you to place your badge on your uniform as you now lead our faith community. Let us offer a round of applause as we congratulate these leaders.

On Tuesday evening, the College Staff and the Year 12 Student Leaders welcomed all Year 7 Students and their families into our Mercy Family during our Mass. This ritual reminds us of the Light of Christ shining into our hearts, and as Catherine McAuley did, share that light with those who suffer, a ritual shared with Mercy people everywhere. Fr Kevin Hennessy CP invited us to be God-loving people in action as we live Mercy each and every day. Welcome Year 7s and your families to OLMC.

We are grateful to the College Choirs, led by Ms Russo and accompanied by Ms Mileto, for leading our singing so beautifully.

OLMC is so blessed to be able to walk with our friends of the Exodus Community in West Heidelberg. Last week, students in Years 8 and 11 began our regular Bread Run, accompanied by the ever-energetic Mrs Kirley. This experience gifted our students with the opportunity to meet, and chat with our local friends, and be entertained by many beautiful children.

Lauren Marquet
Social Justice Coordinator

On Shrove Tuesday, a group of wonderful Year 10s accompanied by Mrs Walker and Mrs Marquet represented OLMC at the Launch of Project Compassion, hosted at our sister school, The Academy of Mary Immaculate Fitzroy. At this launch organised by Caritas Australia, Archbishop Peter said, ‘I want to say to all of you here today, and to myself, to all of us: we are all called, chosen and sent. And we can do this by our love that is in service to others. Project Compassion is a way, it’s one way, but a way of saying that we have been called and chosen and sent to love and serve those in need.’

‘Attending the launch of Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion at Academy College was a great experience where we were able to interact with students from other Mercy schools. During the Mass I was inspired by the Caritas volunteers who shared their journey with us. They expressed the huge impact of this project and how they see our donations change lives as it provides immediate aid to those in need but also long-term solutions to break the cycle of poverty. Their profound dedication to alleviate poverty and injustice worldwide was moving. This ignited a sense of purpose within me, prompting me to now take an active role in the fundraisers that we will hold in our school to raise not only money but awareness of Project Compassion.’

Aprila D (10AJIN)

‘Going to the Caritas Launch of Project Compassion was definitely an enjoyable experience. We had pancakes for morning tea courtesy of the Academy. It was definitely better to go with friends because we got to talk during morning tea and it made the whole thing more fun. During the launch, I learnt that Caritas helped out about 800,000 people last year due to Project Compassion. I also learnt more specifics about what Caritas actually does and how much they’ve helped people, and that there are a lot more ways to help out than you think.’

Rianna J (10CCTR)

These OLMC students are now planning our Project Compassion. Watch this space!

Lauren Marquet
Social Justice Coordinator

The Overview of the 2024 Year 7-10 Curriculum can be found in the Parent Handbook, under Year 7-10 Programs. It is also available on the College website 2024 Curriculum Overview.

The Overview of the 2024 Year 7-10 Curriculum document provides a summary of the subjects, the number of lessons a cycle, as well as the strands taught in each subject. The strands are key 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.

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

Information regarding the curriculum for VCE and VCE Vocational Major can be accessed through the publication Course Guide 2024 Senior Programs. It can be found via PAM in the Parent Handbook, in the Subject Selection folder. It is also on the College website Senior Course Guide 2024.

The Languages Learning Area staff welcome all language students back to school for an exciting year of language learning. We especially welcome the Year 7 students who have begun classes in either Italian, French or Japanese. We wish the Year 7 students and all of our language students the best of luck on their language learning journey in 2024.

Bocca Al Lupo! Bonne Chance! Ganbatte!

Year 7 Languages

The Year 7 students have now had a few weeks of learning a new language, or in the case for some students, continuing their learning from primary school. The Year 7 Italian students have been busy learning how to introduce themselves in Italian and how to use some common greetings. Here are some thoughts from the Year 7 Italian students on their language journey so far at OLMC:

‘I really enjoy being introduced to Education Perfect and our Italian conversation practice on greetings we can use with our new classmates.’

Gemma S (7RTH)

‘I like how we play games that are fun but they also teach us how to speak Italian.’

Molly F (7AAP)

‘At OLMC I can learn Italian at a pace that I am comfortable with.’

Adele L (7RTH)

In 2024 we are excited to recommence overseas exchanges that have not occurred since 2019. These exchanges will provide our students with the opportunities to interact in their target language and culture beyond the classroom. Please read below about some of these activities.

French Long-Term Exchange

Amelie V in Year 12 recently returned from a language exchange organised privately by Southern Cross Cultural Exchange over the Summer holidays to France. She lived with a typical French family, attended the local high school, explored the Brittany region during the Christmas holidays and soaked up the culture, food and habits of French life. This is what she had to say about her experience:

‘A highlight was definitely celebrating Christmas in Winter in a different style to what I'm used to, as well as eating an endless amount of traditional foods and dishes local to the region such as fondue. It was an incredible experience which has enhanced my language skills, as well as broadening my cultural knowledge of France. It was an opportunity that has left me with lifelong memories and connections around the world.’

Amelie V (12CPSE)

Japanese Exchanges

In April this year 23 students from OLMC will be participating in a Japan Study Tour. The group will firstly spend some time travelling to some well-known sights before making their way to Akita City to visit Seirei High School, OLMC’s Japanese sister school. During the week at the school our students will do home-stays and participate in language and culture lessons. Through this they will be able to experience everyday school and family life. The group are currently having weekly lunchtime meetings in preparation and are very excited! Below is a quote from one of our participating students.

‘I am excited to utilise my knowledge of the Japanese language learned over the years at OLMC. Japanese language and culture are just some of the things that I will be able to learn more about in Japan. I am also really excited about meeting the students from our sister school, creating new friendships and memories with them.’

Allegra M (11AASE)

Another exciting event that will occur in late July is when OLMC’s Japanese sister school, Seirei High School will visit OLMC. The Japanese students will be experiencing OLMC life during their one-week visit whilst doing home-stays with our families. There will be further information about this exchange in an upcoming Newsletter.

New Caledonia Study Tour

A French Study Tour will occur in late June. A group of OLMC students will experience French culture in the tropical setting of French-speaking New Caledonia. This will be a wonderful opportunity for them to expand their knowledge of the French language and culture.

James Stavretis
Languages Learning Leader

Our History, Our Complex World, Our Now!

Each year, the Humanities staff assemble at the commencement the year - it’s on that day, often hot and harried in late January, where a group of colleagues meet for the first time to discuss the intricacies of school life, the calendar, curriculum and the road ahead. The Humanities team of teachers is switched on and firing on all cylinders, and it isn’t long before we start talking about the Learning Area focus for the year.

Despite Humanities working across an array of studies - History, Politics, Business Management, Accounting and Legal Studies - I like to propose a theme that imbues our dealings with our classes and young people no matter the course content.

2024’s concept is ‘sorting fact from fiction in a complex world.’

As a Learning Area, we know that lingering at the cusp of all our work is the desire to assist students as they navigate this time and place. Whether they are reading a legal case study, discussing managerial styles or considering the causes of World War II, we hope to help them sort the real from the fabricated, the truth from the chaos.

In a world bracing for a sustained AI avalanche, this will become increasingly difficult, but we continue to try and sort.

With this theme in mind, Year 9 History students have been starting to think and write about their family’s origin stories as the basis for their study of key events in Australian History. In the following words, we can certainly see students sorting fact from fiction in a complex world as they retell stories passed to them from their own families. This is not AI-generated prose. It is not fake news from TikTok or a social feed, nor is it something they feel pressured to know the answer to by ‘Googling it’. This is fact and family-based information that cuts through the conjunction. These stories are something to treasure.

From the pens of Year 9s

‘History means quite a lot to me, especially knowing that history is what brought me and my family here today. The life-changing events that occur over time make us the way we are. Hearing my ancestors’ stories from their time just shows how much the world has changed over time but also shows me how important these events were. The fact that they remember every single detail shows that history really does change a lot.’

‘Stories are one of the biggest aspects of history and can be highlighted in many different ways, such as letters, drawings, images and teachings from someone. These stories are extremely important as they provide us with relevant information about the past. We are then able to explore how life was previously and issues that older generations faced and how they were dealt with.’

‘My Nonna migrated to Australia from Italy when she was 11. She came by a big ship with her whole family consisting of her parents, sister and brother because her mother’s family had migrated previously and with a bit of encouragement, they ended up moving. She came from a family that primarily spoke Italian and no English whatsoever so she had to learn English and as it is one of the hardest languages to speak, she found it really challenging.’

‘My Dad was born in Tehran, Iran. At the age of 13, just a year younger than I am now, he fled the country due to the signal that a war was going to commence in a few months. One morning my Dad woke up and turned on the TV as he would every morning, and all over the news were signs letting everyone know that a war was starting between Iran and Iraq. They were thinking of moving to Australia because it is surrounded by water, most likely to not get affected by the war. This makes up a big part of me because when my Dad came to Melbourne he didn’t know anybody, couldn’t speak English, and was moved into a whole different and new environment. This made me feel less worried when I had my own problems to deal with, because I always remember what my Dad had to go through, and it makes me feel more grateful because I now always think that what may seem like a really big deal, may not be as big as I think it is.’

Rosemary Jones
Humanities Learning Leader

VET qualifications provide industry exposure and opportunities for experience in the workplace. VET, which stands for Vocational Education and Training, can strengthen a student’s education by giving them the opportunity to gain practical skills and knowledge.

Completing a VET subject as part of a student’s program is a great way to experience more hands-on learning, with the opportunity to work towards a nationally recognised vocational qualification while still at school. VET adds variety to a student’s subject load whilst still contributing towards their VCE or VCE VM program.

In 2024, we have 57 students across Years 11 and 12 completing a VET qualification as part of their program outside of OLMC. Some of the subjects studied include: Acting, Hospitality, Design Fundamentals, Beauty Services and Engineering.

‘This year I am completing my second year of a Hospitality VET course at William Angliss, which is a scored VCE subject that counts towards my ATAR. So far, I have found the first year of my course enjoyable and would highly recommend it to anyone who would like to gain some training and experience in this sector. Since starting the course, I have undergone barista and hotel training which I found interesting and has helped me get my current job as a barista at a café. VET also gives me the opportunity to connect with likeminded people who I get to see every Wednesday. VET has also been a good experience to know what life beyond OLMC may look like and what career opportunities may be available to me in the future.’

Justine L (12MMZI)

‘This year I am completing my second year of Beauty Services. I have loved my course so far and learnt a lot about different types of beauty services like lash extensions and spray tanning. The course focuses on many different elements which will help me form a good basis for my future career in beauty as I would like to be a future lash technician. I would highly recommend this course to anyone as it has helped me grow my skills through the practical and hands-on work I complete and allows me to express my passion for different types of treatments and services. I'm very excited to continue exploring the opportunities offered in the course this year and in the future.’

Hanna F (12LSMI)

OLMC also offers two VET courses here at the College, currently studied by 86 students: Certificate III in Sport and Recreation and Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance (partial completion).

‘Second year VET Health students have started the year learning about taking clinical measurements. Students are developing their skills in taking and recording clinical measurements such as vital signs and blood pressure, as well as communicating important clinical information between patients and practitioners. These skills, along with anatomy and medical terminology are preparing our VET Health students for potential careers in the Health Sciences as well as contributing to their VCE program.’

Fiona Koenig-Doig
Student Leadership Coordinator

Year 9 and 10 students may wish to consider a VET subject as an option in their Senior years. More information on selecting VET subjects will be available during the subject selection period towards the end of Term 2 and beginning of Term 3.

Cody Miller
Pathways Coordinator

The Learning Commons Team is looking forward to an exciting 2024 with the students of OLMC.

Reading

Struggling to find something good to read? Why not try one of the books in our general recommended reading lists? We also have ebooks and audiobooks available for students to borrow. Year 7 and 8 students also visit the Learning Commons fortnightly as part of their English program to discuss books and participate in various activities.

• Year 7 General Reading List
• Year 8 General Reading List
• Year 9 General Reading List
• Year 10 General Reading List
• OLMC eBooks and Audiobooks platform

Lunchtime Clubs and Activities

All students are welcome to get involved in the lunchtime activities on offer in the Learning Commons this year. Activities begin at 1.30pm each day and further information will be available for students on SIMON.

• Makerspace - Monday
• Creative Writing - Tuesday
• Book Club - Wednesday
• Anime Club - Thursday
• Craft Club - Friday
• Junior Debating (coming to alternate Wednesdays soon)

Anna Apfelstedt
Learning Commons Coordinator

As we move further into the school year, it brings us great joy to witness the smooth transition of our Year 7 students into our school community. The move from primary to secondary school can be daunting, but our Year 7 cohort has gracefully embraced this change, embodying the values of courage and compassion that characterise our OLMC family.

One of our key commitments is to foster a nurturing environment that ensures that every student feels a profound sense of inclusion and belonging. The recent Year 7 Welcome Mass provided a heartfelt introduction to the warmth and fellowship that define our College community. Guided by their College Captains and Year 12 House Buddies, our newest members have been warmly welcomed into the fold, forging connections that will continue to be strengthened throughout the year.

While many students have already found their footing, we acknowledge that navigating new friendships and connections takes time. We reassure both students and parents that it is natural to take a while to 'find your people', and our commitment to fostering an environment where every student feels valued and supported remains unwavering.

As we look towards the future, one area of focus will be instilling a sense of responsibility and organisation among our students. It is essential that students come to class equipped with the necessary materials and equipment. Through gentle guidance and reinforcement of expectations, we aim to empower our students to take greater ownership of their learning journey.

Students have started to receive homework in their Mathematics, English, and Language classes. Parents and guardians can actively monitor this through the Parent Access Module (PAM), ensuring a collaborative approach to student learning.

On a note on digital citizenship, we kindly remind students to place their mobile phones in their lockers during the school day. It is imperative that students refrain from taking photos or filming videos of each other unless explicitly instructed by a teacher for educational purposes. Upholding respectful and responsible behaviour in the digital realm is essential to maintaining a safe learning environment for all.

As we continue on this journey together we look forward to working in partnership with families to support and empower our students to shine.

Kylie Willis
Year 7 Level Coordinator

Parent Information Nights

Thank you to those families who were able to attend the Parent Information Nights that we have held over the last fortnight at the College. These are important events on the College calendar and help us focus on our commitment to the partnership we have with our families. We hope that they provided parents and guardians the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the learning and wellbeing programs offered here at OLMC. The presentations will be made available to all families via PAM or will be directly sent to you by your child’s Pastoral Leader. These events are reviewed by the College. We welcome your feedback, so please email any comments or suggestions to your child’s Pastoral Leader or to the email below:

meedwards@olmc.vic.edu.au

Time & Space Evenings

In the next few weeks, we have the organisation Time & Space visiting OLMC to facilitate evenings for our Year 8 students and their fathers or male mentors, and for Year 7 students and their mothers or female mentors. The evening provides precious time for these significant adults to connect with our young people. The night is facilitated by Dr Kelly Harris, who works in both primary and secondary schools as a psychologist and who has contributed to the Time & Space program over many years. We hope many of you can take up the opportunity to attend. Details of how to book your place for these evenings will be emailed out to our Year 7 and 8 parents and guardians.

Elevate Australia

At the College we work with Elevate Education, who provide tips and strategies for our Senior students regarding exam preparation, time management in the Senior years, as well as revision tips and motivation. On Thursday 1 February our Year 12 students had a session with Elevate regarding time management, and left the workshop with a range of strategies to be effective in using their time, whilst having a balanced Year 12.

Elevate Education also provide parents and guardians with access to online webinars. You do not need to have a student doing VCE to attend. There are three remaining webinars for this term listed below:

If you are interested in attending one or more of the webinars, then please register via the link School Webinars.

Banyule Council

In recent weeks, we have received information from Banyule Council regarding a free session on positive body image for parents and guardians. Please see flyer below. To book go to: Positive Body Image.

Megan Edwards
Head of Student Wellbeing

Please join us for the

2024 International Women’s Day Breakfast

Friday 8 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.

#InspireInclusion and forge a more inclusive world for women

We welcome Christabelle Adjoyan (Class of 2003) as our guest speaker.

Christabelle is a Director at mRNA Victoria, a government agency leading the development and supply of mRNA based vaccines for future pandemics and treatment for conditions like heart disease, cancer and rare genetic disorders. She has previously led significant policy reforms within government including public health policy and communications, health service planning and community engagement. In 2021, she received an IPAA Top 50 Public Sector Women Award. Christabelle is passionate about promoting gender equity for women and girls, as well as greater equity in health and social outcomes.

Tickets - $25 Adult, $10 Student

Please go to: 2024 International Women's Day Breakfast

Bookings close Thursday 7 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: 9459 2511 E: mjenkins@olmc.vic.edu.au

Marie Jenkins
Community Development Coordinator

SAVE THE DATE!

The OLMC Parents’ Association invite all students to come along with their Mother, Grandmother or a special person in their lives to our

Mother’s Day Celebration 2024

Thursday 9 May, 7.00 pm

McAuley Hall, Cape Street, Heidelberg.

This is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the wonderful women in our lives and to get to know others in the OLMC Community. The evening will commence with a short liturgy and will be followed by a delicious supper served by the Parents’ Association Committee.

So please save the date! Further details will be sent out early in Term 2.

Marie Jenkins
Community Development Coordinator

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.