Tomorrow is International Women’s Day, celebrated annually around the world with the global theme for 2025, ‘Accelerate Action’. At OLMC, we celebrate with a breakfast shared with students, parents and friends of OLMC. The keynote speaker this year was Lauren Szigeti, former Sports Captain and member of the Class of 2018. Lauren is an outstanding sportswoman, was co-captain for the Sydney Swans AFLW team, is a paramedic and champion of all elements of health and wellbeing. It was our privilege to listen to her story, glimpse her passion and understand what drives her to accelerate action. She was inspirational for all of those present.

Lauren shared with us her journey through the AFLW and also as a paramedic. She helped us understand that although we have AFLW and women working in fields that have, in the past, been seen as traditionally male, we still have work to do. She reminded us of all that has been achieved by the women who have gone before us and the responsibility we share to help ensure that the way for those who follow us is better. She called on all of us to raise up those women who are doing something amazing by supporting them and cheering them on. The history of improved lives for women is paved by the actions of those who dared to meet the challenge. Lauren reminded us that the fight is not over and we all have a role in contributing to accelerating action. We thank her very much for continuing to share her life and skills with OLMC and for all that she has done to pave the way for young women who aspire to AFLW.

The first half of this term has been characterised by student and parent engagement in a range of events designed to both share information and build or strengthen good learning relationships. Building a connected OLMC community serves us all well. Research tells us that when we get this element right it can have a strong positive impact on student learning outcomes. We have been delighted with the attendance at our events, along with the positive development of relationships between teachers and families. We look forward to going from strength to strength throughout this year.

It has been another very busy two weeks at OLMC and one where our students have excelled. On Tuesday 25 February we hosted the annual Swimming Carnival. It is the last for the Year 12 Class of 2025. The Year 12 students embraced all elements of the celebration and enthusiastically encouraged students from all year levels to share in the joy of the day. The costumes were once again creative and fun as they modelled authentic participation and support for OLMC. It was wonderful to see all the students embracing the spirit 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.

On the evening of Wednesday 26 February, Fr Erick led the celebration of our Welcome Mass for Year 7s and their families. Fr Erick shared with us possibilities for thinking differently about our worries. He encouraged us to recognise that we can trust in God and others who may also be able to help us in times of worry. Each Year 7 student was presented with a candle. Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, instructed the Sisters to ‘be shining lamps to all’. At OLMC, and in all Mercy communities, the candle symbolises the light each student will shine as they journey through OLMC.

We are now at the end of the big events for the students and families and we are ready to settle into the steady rhythm of the term. We are halfway through the term and have greeted Autumn this week. On Wednesday our Pastoral Leaders, students and staff participated in an Ash Wednesday service. Easter is a time of hope gifted us through the resurrection of Jesus. It is also a time for renewal. We hope that now that we have settled into the term everyone is feeling settled and ready to commit to their hopes and goals for 2025.

International Women's Day

As we celebrate IWD today at OLMC, we are challenged with the theme ‘Accelerate Action’, highlighting the urgency of expediting efforts to achieve gender parity. At the current pace, full gender equality is projected to be reached by 2158, emphasising the need for immediate and decisive actions.

We are collectively called to renewed dedication to ensuring that all women and girls enjoy equal rights and opportunities, and that proactive measures are taken to eliminate existing disparities. So, we pray…

A prayer for women

Lord God, we are gathered together today
to give you praise and thanks
for your loving kindness to us.

Make us aware that it is not just what we do that is important
but how we do it.

Help us to be courageous, strong, caring,
passionate and compassionate
whatever our age, race or circumstances.

Let us bear witness to your love for all people
so that we may be
peaceful and joyful women.

Amen.

Written by Diana Ng and Catherine Gorman

https://cafod.org.uk/pray/prayer-resources/prayer-for-women

A Reflection for the First Sunday of Lent
Written by Michael McGirr for 2025 Project Compassion.

Deuteronomy 26:4–10 | Ps 90:1–2. 10–15. R. v.15 | Romans 10:8–13 | Luke 4:–13

The desert plays a significant part in Scripture: it is a place of both discovery and of getting lost. You may recall that Moses encountered God in the wilderness when he hears a voice from the burning bush.

He discovered something vital to us all that day: God points us in a direction we may not choose for ourselves. Later, however, Moses and his people are lost in the desert for 40 years. We read the finale of that story in today’s first reading.

First Australians have also had an intimate connection with the desert. Many Indigenous cultures danced in time with the desert for countless generations. When the so-called Pintupi Nine made ‘first contact’ after emerging from the Gibson Desert in 1984, they were in excellent health. The same desert could kill Europeans in thirty-six hours or less.

In today’s Gospel, we learn that the Spirit led Jesus to a lonely place. Up to this point in Luke’s Gospel, we have seen Jesus as a member of his family and community. We have met Mary and Joseph and Elizabeth and Simeon and Anna and John the Baptist. Now Jesus must stand on his own and decide what really matters in life. Is he going to rely on material things? Is he going to want power at any price? Is he going to put himself rather than God at the heart of his decision making? These are the temptations of the devil.

Lent presents us with the same choice. Are we going to find our direction or just be lost in the swirling confusion of choices with which life presents us? Project Compassion helps us to find direction by offering us the opportunity to Unite Against Poverty. Are we content for the world to become more and more fragmented. Or would we prefer to stand up against voices of opportunism and exploitation? Every year, Caritas Australia is overwhelmed and grateful that our Catholic communities are so clearly on the side of justice and life.

If you can support Project Compassion 2025 “Unite Against Poverty This Lent” Please donate here.

https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/

Photo: Samoan primary school students dance during their lunch break. Credit: Caritas Australia.

On Tuesday, Year 9s and students involved in social justice activities prepared and sold pancakes to raise awareness and funds for Project Compassion. As part of our tradition, this day reminds us and helps prepare us for the sacred time of Lent.

This year, all Pastoral Groups celebrated the beginning of Lent in their class. This more intimate liturgy invited the students to consider their relationships with God and to ‘Unite Against Poverty this Lent’.

Photo: https://www.pickpik.com/aschermittwoch-ash-cross-sign-of-the-cross-cross-forehead-religious-118492

On Thursday 27 February, a group of five OLMC representatives visited Mercy Hub, where we learnt about the School of St Jude in Tanzania. We heard from the Founder, Gemma Sisia, who created the school with her dream to build a school for underprivileged children in 2002. She shared her experiences helping thousands of Tanzanian children get an education. Her goal for these children is not just to create a school but a community where they can all flourish into students who want to help their community and the wider world. John and Winnie, past students of St Jude's, shared their experiences of how one spot at a school can change someone's life. John shared how vital support and education are in moving families from poverty-stricken lives. The justice groups will now work towards finding a way for the OLMC community to help sponsor and support a child going to St Jude's. Seeing two 2024 Year 12 students (Ana and Caitlin) participating in Young Mercy Links was so great.

Donations may be given via this site: https://www.schoolofstjude.org/

Gabriella B (11 M2) and Lily A (11 C3)

Saturday 8 March is International Women’s Day. It is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. This year’s theme is ‘Accelerate Action’.

This International Women’s Day, we are reflecting on the commitment of OLMC to empowering our students to develop grit, resilience, and courage to ‘Accelerate Action’.

Inspired by Catherine McAuley’s vision for empowering our students through education she was courageous and always seeking to find innovative ways to approach works of Mercy. What would ‘Accelerate Action’ look like for Catherine McAuley? In classrooms, on sports fields, in auditoriums, on camps and other activities, as a college we:

• develop diverse talent
• promote student leadership
• build infrastructure that meets the need for innovative learning experiences
• help our students make informed decisions about their health
• provide our students with access to quality education and training
• elevate our students’ participation and achievement in sport
• promote creative and artistic talent of students
• address further areas supporting the advancement of our students’ interests.

International Women’s Day highlights the power of community and unity. It is a time for us to not only call for change but reflect on the progress that has been made so far, to celebrate the courage and determination of the women who have changed history, and those who will advance gender equality into the future. So, together, let's Accelerate Action to speed up the rate of progress worldwide.

What a huge six weeks it has been in Year 7 for our newest members of OLMC. From figuring out those tricky combination locks to navigating their way around the school with 1200 of their friends, the Year 7s have made a brilliant start to secondary school.

This cohort of Year 7s are participating actively in the life of OLMC. Their attendance at the Swimming Carnival was near perfect and so many of the students helped to earn House points by participating. They have signed up for GSV in huge numbers with over 150 Year 7s trying out for the Volleyball team.

Students are coming and going from music lessons and choir practice, some even putting their skills to use in the Year 12 lead showcase of Hairspray next term. Year 7s were again well represented at the Aerobics tryouts earlier this week and there is a lot of chat about, with the Elite Dance auditions still to come.

It has also been so lovely to see the communities developing in Pastoral Groups. This week during extended Pastoral, the students competed against each other in a trivia contest and finished up by creating a class anthem for each Pastoral Group.

We are so proud of the wonderful start that the Year 7s have made this year.

Felicia Taine
Year 7 Coordinator

A Few Words from the Year 7s

Year 7 has been a blast, especially Pastoral. All Year 7 classes did a Kahoot (a quiz), Celebrity Heads, and we even made our own class cheer.

Michela S 7C

The transition from primary to secondary school was really challenging, but OLMC helped me with everything and I've never felt so welcome! I love my friends and the strong community built on from the Sisters of Mercy. The Swimming Carnival was so much fun and most likely one of my favourite events already! OLMC has helped me find my interests and people who share them and I already have learnt so much from it. This school really made us feel at home already!

Methuli A 7F

The best part of OLMC so far is definitely meeting new friends and teachers. I have loved meeting new people and learning new and exciting things.

Rachel M 7H

The start of Year 7 was a rollercoaster of emotions. I was really scared of starting Year 7 because I was stressing about where to go, or if I looked cool enough. Another difficulty I had was that I was scared about meeting new friends. However, I realised that all I had to do was just be me, go with the flow, and I will naturally make friends with people. I must say that it worked out pretty well!

The best things about OLMC so far is definitely making new friends, I have found so many people who like the same things as I do.

April W 7B

The best part so far of Year 7 is the palpable atmosphere filled with laughs, joy and independence. I love being able to step into a new exciting journey and chapter of my academic journey. It is amazing and different and I love it. All the teachers and new friends have been amazing. Not to forget about the amazing Father Erick and all of his fun music and songs. I have so far enjoyed and looked forward to coming to school every morning.

Ava D 7B

These six weeks have been a blast, I have learnt more than ever, this is the best school ever.

Ava B 7A

OLMC has been such an eye opening experience to how many more opportunities high school presents. We have all loved making new friends and seeing so many amazing girls with different personalities. I personally loved the Swimming Carnival as I got to experience one of OLMC's traditions. We have learnt so many interesting things already such as using a Bunsen burner and a new language. We are excited to see what else OLMC has to offer!

Mietta S 7B

The best part about OLMC so far is all the classes. They have been so fun and exciting.

Everyone has made so many new friends this year and it has been a blast.

We have learnt about how to safely use a Bunsen burner in science, How to play the ukulele in music and best of all, learning some new languages. And that is how OLMC has been so far.

Bea F 7B

The best part of being at OLMC so far is making new friends and getting to spend breaks with them.

Layla H 7B

This term in Religion, our new Year 7 students are learning what it means to belong to our OLMC community. We have been studying our College values of courage, justice, compassion, and joy in our everyday lives and visiting some sacred spaces and artworks around the College. Students are commencing their first assessment on Belonging in their Religion classes.

Our Year 11 students have been studying Aboriginal Spirituality in Religion and Society. They have been blessed to have Aunty Shelley work with all Year 11 Religion classes to explore Indigenous Spirituality. Aunty Shelley Ware, a proud Yankunytjatjara and Wirangu woman from South Australia, is a teacher, a mum and a wife. She has been a trailblazer in Australian rules football broadcasting, breaking barriers as a commentator and presenter. As an Australian media personality, educator, and advocate, she is best known for her work in sports media and Indigenous education. Shelley is also a passionate advocate for First Nations voices, women in sport, and cultural education, regularly contributing to discussions on diversity and inclusion.

Grace Austin
Religious Education Learning Area Leader

Year 12 Foundation Maths students are mastering data analysis, learning to spot bias and misleading visuals like distorted graphs. They are comparing surveys—which sample subsets for speed and cost efficiency—with censuses, which collect comprehensive population data for accuracy. Through case studies, they evaluate trade-offs: surveys risk sampling gaps, while censuses demand more resources. Next year, they will participate in Australia’s 2026 Census, and will be able to apply their skills to analyse real datasets. This practical experience will deepen their understanding of how national statistics inform critical policies, from school funding allocations to infrastructure planning—a vital lesson in responsible data literacy.

Shirley Wu
Maths Learning Leader

So far in these first few weeks of Year 7 Science we have learnt how to use a Bunsen burner and even got our Bunsen burner licence. We have also done different types of measuring using things like measuring cylinders, stopwatches, thermometers and metre rulers. We have also learnt how we can be safe in the laboratory by not eating or drinking, not running, and wearing lab coats, safety glasses and gloves. This week we have learnt how to do bar and line graphs and we've just done our first practical experiment where we heated two different volumes of water and recorded the temperature every minute for 10 minutes. We are excited about our next unit called Living Things Living Together where we will work with a partner and explore classification and ecology for a particular Australian animal.

Kara C and Clara H 7A

‘You can’t be what you can’t see’

At OLMC we continue to offer experiences and activities to our students that encourage them to dream big and explore widely as they navigate the many possibilities and decisions that will lead them towards their future goals.

In 2025, we are planning a number of career-related events and programs with the goal to inspire and inform our wonderful students and we would love your help and expertise! We know that our parents and alumni are engaged in interesting and successful careers, some via direct paths while others have been born out of unexpected and unpredictable scenarios.

Our Career Engagement Activities planned for this year are:

• Career Podcasting Interviews led by students
• Student Mock Job Interview Program
• Industry-focused Q&A Panels
• Work Experience and Structured Workplace Learning Placements.

To support our work with students and the offering of these activities, we would be grateful if you would join our Career Engagement Database for those who are open to being contacted about participating in career-related events. If you are willing to share your details and note the activities you may be in a position to support, please fill in this Form: https://forms.gle/e7opQVWjuA26T5ym7.

Please note responses will only be seen and used by Melinda Williams and Anna De Rosa, College Careers Coordinators. More detailed information regarding each activity is explained within the Database Sign up Form linked above.

Should you have any questions at all, please contact Careers Coordinator, Melinda Williams mwilliams@olmc.vic.edu.au.

Melinda Williams
Careers Coordinator

In the next few weeks, we will be hosting two events that are run by the organisation Time and Space. Year 8 students and their fathers or significant male figures are invited to join us next Wednesday 12 March. Our Year 7 students and their mothers or significant female figures will have their night on Wednesday 19 March. Both evenings will be held in the Nalleijerring Centre from 7.00 pm. These evenings provide a wonderful opportunity for our students to have time with these significant adults in their lives. The night involves small group discussions and a Q&A panel format involving the larger group. Each year we get excellent feedback from those who attend on what a wonderful experience this is and how appreciative the participants are to have this designated time with their significant other. Please see the flyers below for more details.

Year 11 students and families: SAVE THE DATE

We are excited to share that our Time and Space evenings will no longer be limited to our Junior school. This year, a Time and Space Evening will be held for all Year 11 students and their parents or mentors on Tuesday 2 December 2025. This evening will acknowledge our partnership with families as the Class of 2026 begin their final year at OLMC. Please save the date as this is a compulsory event for all our Year 11 students and their families.

On Tuesday 25 February the OLMC school community participated in the 2025 House Swimming Carnival held at Boroondara Sports Complex in Balwyn North.

Students had the option to participate in activities including Competitive Swimming Races, House Cheer, Diving, Novelty Events and Indoor House Volleyball.

On a sunny day, students at the carnival had a great time trying many of the activities on offer. A highlight of the day was the always popular Year 12 Parade full of colour, noise and fun.

The results of the day:

Year Level Champion and Runners Up:

School Results:

Overall Results:

What a fantastic day we had at the Bunnings Sausage Sizzle on Sunday 16 February! We want to extend a huge thank you to all our dedicated volunteers—some new and others who've been with us for several years—and everyone who came out to support us, making this fundraising event such a success with a $3,500 profit.

The day was filled with energy and excitement, and we were delighted to see so many faces, with long queues serving as a reminder of the incredible support we have from our community.

A heartfelt thank you once again to everyone involved for helping us make this such a fun, memorable, and successful day!

Nikki Reynolds
OLMC Parents’ Association

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