This is the final Newsletter for the term and so it is fitting to celebrate all that has been achieved so far this year.

We always hold so many events in Term 1 to celebrate and welcome our community to the new year and for many the start of a new journey. Some have started Year 7 and the beginning of secondary school, some Year 9 students have started in the Horizon program, VCE has begun for some Year 10 and all Year 11 students and the final stages of secondary school have begun for Year 12 students. Many of the milestones for students are as important for parents and guardians. They mark transition from one stage of life to the next. They also signal the new challenges and opportunities for growth and development in learning.

In partnership with the Parents’ Association, this year we included a social opportunity into some of our functions, particularly for Year 7 families. Research suggests that when families are connected to school in a variety of ways, including in the development of learning opportunities, student learning is improved. Building connections within our community is a priority for the College and the Parents’ Association leads many events to support this. We will continue to work with our community over the coming years to ensure that we learn and find new ways to connect.

Staff and students have also experienced successes in the academic program as they embraced new challenges in learning. This week was the first of the Horizon presentation evenings for Year 9. Thank you to the many parents who attended to support not only your own child but all presenting. It takes a great deal of courage to present your ideas and research to an audience of adults who you may or may not know. The program also supports the building of skills that the OECD Future 2030 Report outlines are the skills of the future: critical and creative thinking, collaboration, communication and problem solving. It is heartening to see how much our students have developed in one term.

Last week all students involved in the Instrumental Music program, Choir and Ensembles performed, for a full house, songs from the musical Hairspray. The evening was so much fun and all present were impressed with the growth and development of students in just one term. We are blessed to have such talented students who have a willingness to share and perform. They have truly demonstrated courage and resilience.

I hope that in the next few weeks families have a chance for a well-deserved rest. We are in the season of Lent, a time for renewal and hope in The Resurrection. As we approach this Easter we pray for the renewal of peace, health and safety for all in our world. May all who live in fear or poverty enjoy the hope of The Resurrection. May leaders in our world find wisdom to end conflict and suffering and may we all find hope in our hearts in order that we experience compassion, justice, courage and joy; the OLMC values that we hold so dear.

I would like to congratulate and thank our students and families for a great term and wish all a wonderful Easter. I hope that you find this is a time of renewal as you come together with family and friends. We look forward to a successful Term 2.

A reminder that Term 2 will commence for students on Monday 28 April.

A 14-year-old student’s prayer for Holy Week this year.

Dear Jesus,

It’s the school holidays, and everything feels a bit slower—no uniforms, no rushing to class, no homework. But in this quiet, I have more time to think about You.

This week is Holy Week, and even though I’m not at school or in RE class, I still want to be close to You. I remember how You entered Jerusalem, knowing what was coming but still choosing love. That kind of courage inspires me.

When I hear about Your pain, the way You were treated, and how You gave everything for us, it’s hard to take in. But I’m so thankful. Thankful that You’d do that for me, for all of us.

Even on holidays, when it’s easy just to chill out and forget, help me take a moment to be with You each day. Help me show love to my family, patience when things are annoying, and kindness—even in small ways.

Thank You for dying for us. Thank You for the hope of Easter morning. Help me to carry that hope in my heart, even when life gets messy or uncertain.

Amen.

A Reflection for the Fifth Week of Lent, Year B

Written by Michael McGirr for 2025 Project Compassion.

Sunday Readings: Jeremiah 31:31–34; Psalm 50:3–4, 12–15; Hebrews 5:7–9; John 12:20–33

The word ‘heart’ occurs almost a thousand times in the Bible, more than three times as often as the word ‘soul.’ Perhaps this is just another item of trivia but surely it gives us a clue about Christianity. It is a religion of the heart. It gets our blood pumping.

As we approach the climax of our Lenten journey, this week’s readings ask questions about our hearts. The psalm begs ‘a pure heart create for me, O God.’ Those words invite the Lord to come right inside us, into the very core of our being. The prophet Jeremiah quotes the Lord as saying, ‘deep within them I will plant my Law, writing it on their hearts.’ In other words, we won’t find God’s most intimate whisperings to us just in books or lectures. We will find it when we are genuinely in touch with our core, our most intimate space. God’s love is inscribed on our hearts.

In his letter Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis speaks against ‘a culture of walls.’ He asks us to treasure the hope found in every heart:

Hope ‘speaks to us of something deeply rooted in every human heart, independently of our circumstances and historical conditioning. Hope speaks to us of a thirst, an aspiration, a longing for a life of fulfillment, a desire to achieve great things, things that fill our heart and lift our spirit to lofty realities like truth, goodness and beauty, justice and love… Hope is bold.’

The word ‘caritas’ means love. The work of Caritas Australia is a heartfelt response to the needs of the world, one that gives expression to our shared hope. Caritas always works in partnership with others. During Lent, as we have listened to the experience of people we have helped through our support of Project Compassion, we will have noticed that life-giving partnerships with groups on the ground in many countries make this possible.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of the grain of wheat that must die to create a rich harvest. Of course, he is referring to his own passion. But there is a message here for us all. ‘Anyone who loves their life will lose it.’ We are called to wear our hearts on our sleeves. To be led by love for others.

You can help end poverty, promote justice, and uphold the dignity of all people by making a donation through Project Compassion boxes and envelopes, visiting caritas.org.au/project-compassion or phoning 1800 024 413.

With thanks to Caritas Australia.

This morning, all students and staff gathered to celebrate the mystery of Holy Week through music, art, and ritual action. May we all enter this sacred time holding the brokenness in our world in our hearts as we prepare for Jesus' resurrection.

A Day of Faith and Fellowship

On Friday 21 March, ten students, Br Tri and two staff had the privilege of representing our school at the annual St Patrick’s Day School Mass held at St Patrick’s Cathedral. Surrounded by students from Catholic schools across Melbourne, our group joined in prayer, song, and celebration, honouring the life and legacy of St Patrick and deepening their connection to our shared faith. We also witnessed the unveiling and blessing of the new St Patrick Icon.

Following the Mass, students enjoyed lunch together at Melbourne Central, sharing stories and laughter in the spirit of community. The day concluded with a peaceful visit to St Francis’ Church, where each student lit a candle in the Ladye Chapel, offering quiet prayers and intentions.

It was a meaningful and memorable day that brought faith to life beyond the classroom.

EcoJustice Day

The Year 9 Horizon class worked on designing a single-use plastic free event, which we hosted for all students on Wednesday 26 March. It was also a money-free event, just to focus on building sustainable habits and enjoyment of the stalls in our community.

Students earned tokens to spend over the week by bringing in plastic free lunches, recyclable cans, and donating books and clothing. They spent these tokens on homemade brownies, cookies, painting pots, a ‘guess the lolly jars’ competition, coaster decorating, and some games. With increased days to earn tokens and games, lots more students could join in!

Exodus Community Excursions

This term we have packed and delivered bread, prepared and enjoyed many dinners, and read with the students at St Pius X. Thank you to students and staff who have volunteered their time to join these regular activities in our local community.

Anita Galli
Social Justice Coodinator

On Wednesday 23 April we will be holding our second date of Parent/Student/Teacher interviews via Google Meet. Bookings can now be made for the interviews via PAM.

An email communication regarding these interviews was sent on Thursday 3 March, as well as instructions as to how to join the meets and a support phone number for the interviews.

We ask that your daughter is present for the interviews as it is about her and her learning. These meetings are an important opportunity to discuss learning and an opportunity to acknowledge both effort and achievement. It is also an opportunity to consider current challenges and to discuss strategies to support future growth.

Bookings will close at midday on Tuesday 22 April, so as to allow time for teachers to prepare for the interviews.

We look forward to the opportunity to have these conversations about learning on Wednesday 23 April.

Wednesday 23 April is a student free day.

Semester Two Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews for Years 7-12 will be held on Wednesday 13 August and Thursday 21 August.

Parent and Guardian Webinars for Term 2

Our work with Elevate Education across the year also includes access to free webinars for parents and guardians on a range of topics.

The webinars typically run for 60 minutes and are held on Wednesdays. The schedule for Term 2 is below:

• How to Get (And Keep!) Your Child Motivated - Wednesday 7 May, 6:30 - 7:30 pm
• How You Can Help Your Child Prepare for Exams - Wednesday 21 May, 6:30 - 7:30 pm
• How You Can Support Your Child During Exams - Wednesday 4 June, 6:30 - 7:30 pm
• Ask Me Anything (Live Q&A) - Wednesday 18 June, 6:30 - 7:30 pm
• How to Help Your Child Alleviate Stress - Wednesday 2 July, 6:30 - 7:30 pm

Please use the link here: https://go.elevateeducation.com/auschoolwebinars to register for one or more of the webinars listed above.

The Year 8 students have had a great start to the year, displaying their enthusiasm, resilience and growing connection. The House Swimming Carnival in late February provided a fantastic display of teamwork, determination and House spirit. Whether in the pool competing or cheering on their peers, students embodied our values of participation and encouragement, strengthening their ties to their House and school community.

Another meaningful event this term was the Father Figure and Daughter Evening, facilitated by Dr Kelly Harris from Time & Space. This program provided a structured opportunity for students and their father figures to engage in open conversations and was designed to deepen their understanding of each other's experiences. The activities on the night encouraged participants to share stories and reflect on their journeys, fostering empathy and strengthening bonds. The evening highlighted the importance of relationships and support within families and has become a treasured memory for all who participated.​

Following on from the Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews earlier this week, students are encouraged to take time to reflect on the feedback discussed and use it to set meaningful goals for Term 2. This is an important opportunity for students to take ownership of their learning and strive for continued growth. A reminder that the second round of Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews is scheduled for Wednesday 23 April, and bookings are still open.

As we approach the Easter season, we wish all our students and families a joyful and safe break. May this time be filled with rest, reflection, and renewal, ready for a wonderful Term 2 ahead.

Kylie Willis
Year 8 Coordinator

On Wednesday 12 March our MBS classes took part in an incursion with Think Set Go, a program focused on student wellbeing, mindset, and goal-setting. The workshop aimed to build resilience, self-awareness, and goal-setting skills, helping students develop a positive mindset and effective strategies for personal growth. Think Set Go is a curriculum-aligned program that helps students improve resilience and goal-setting. Throughout the workshop, students learned how to set clear, achievable goals and create action plans, which are crucial for both academic success and overall wellbeing.

This workshop was held just before the introduction of our second assignment for the semester, a ‘Self-Change Journey’. In this assignment, students will choose a goal related to health, wellbeing, or physical education to work on throughout the term. They will track their progress and reflect on their personal growth by the end of the term. The Think Set Go workshop provided a solid foundation for students as they begin their Self-Change Journey. With the tools and mindset from the workshop, students are better equipped to overcome challenges and achieve their goals, fostering personal growth and long-term success.

In addition to the Think Set Go workshop, students also had the opportunity to attend a session at Strong Pilates Studio in Heidelberg. Strong offers a unique, pilates-inspired workout. The session focused on using the Pilates reformer to improve strength, flexibility, and endurance. This experience gave students a chance to engage in physical education outside of the traditional classroom and experience a different way to exercise.

Jemma Banfield
Carmel House Coordinator

Student Reflections

The Think Set Go workshop helped us learn how to set goals and stay motivated. It gave us useful strategies for building a positive mindset and overcoming challenges. The strong Pilates session was a great opportunity and experience to try a new form of exercise. Using the Pilates reformer challenged our strengths and it was also really enjoyable and fun. Both experiences taught me important skills for personal growth and staying healthy.

Mayra G (10 A1)

The Think Set Go workshop taught us how to set personal goals and learn that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I really enjoyed doing the Strong pilates lesson as it was something I had never tried before. The reformer pilates challenged us to try new things and it was really fun and enjoyable.

Amelia W (10 A5)

Over the last few weeks, OLMC has hosted two Time and Space Evenings. The first was for our Year 8 students and their fathers or significant male mentors and the second was for our Year 7 students and their mothers or significant female mentors. Thank you to those families who attended these nights. These evenings provide a wonderful opportunity for our students to have time with these significant adults in their lives. The nights involve small group discussions and a Q&A panel format involving the larger group. The feedback we received on the night from those that attended was excellent and expressed how precious it was to have this designated time with their significant other.

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.

Partnership with Real Schools

This year, OLMC begins a three-year partnership with Real Schools. Real Schools is an Australian organisation that was established in 2012 and now works with over 300 schools across the country. Through their partnerships, Real Schools work with schools to continue to improve student wellbeing and outcomes through restorative practices and positive relationships. OLMC will begin our partnership with Real Schools with our whole staff Professional Development Day which will be held on Tuesday April 22. To find out more about this partnership, please visit their website https://realschools.com.au/ or read through the article from Real Schools below.

Music has the power to inspire, heal, and bring people together and this has certainly been witnessed through OLMC’s Instrumental Music Department throughout Term 1.

The year commenced with students, new and old, commencing lessons with their inspiring teachers. Music lessons are an exciting step for any aspiring musician and judging from the smiles of students as they leave their lesson each week, this is true at OLMC. Walking down the Roma corridor you can feel the energy and hear the progress made by students each week.

Music Ensembles are another area of Instrumental Music where many students can get involved. These ensemble members participated in a Music Camp Experience at school. Attending a music camp is a wonderful way for students to enhance their musical abilities while connecting with like-minded peers. This experience offered all in attendance a vibrant atmosphere where they could immerse themselves in intensive training, workshops, and group performances under the guidance of their experienced tutors. Apart from improving their musical and technical skills, the students also worked on the skills of collaboration, perseverance and discipline. The focus for ensembles on this day was the music from Hairspray.

The pinnacle of the term was performing in a sold-out concert in our Mercedes Hogan Theatre. Hairspray in Concert. The evening showcased the hard work and dedication of every student and the atmosphere was electric for both performers and the audience. It was wonderful to see special Year 12 ensembles come together for the night, showcasing their growth in courage and dedication. A special shout out to our performing arts leaders Magdalen G (12 A4) and Chloe F (12 M2) for running fun and engaging senior rehearsals. The night was a great success and we would like to congratulate every student, especially our Year 7s, who performed on the night.

We look forward to continuing the busyness in Term 2 when we return from holidays with many opportunities for students to refine their skills through lessons and performances. The journey of music is a rewarding and enriching one and we welcome any students who would like to join us in Term 2 as we continue to bring joy to ourselves and others.

Jo-Anne Mileto
Instrumental Music Coordinator

Hi everyone! We are your 2025 Arts Captains Magdalen and Chloe. Over this first term, we have already seen so much enthusiasm and involvement in our arts programs. We had our first music concert, Hairspray, which was greatly successful and had a lot of new faces participating. Rehearsals for our Senior Production, The Addams Family, are in full swing, ready to perform next month so keep an eye out for tickets! DAV has officially started, and our Senior and Intermediate Debating Teams have attended their first competition and seen amazing results!

Above all, we have started working with a group of talented and passionate students who have been elected to represent their areas in the arts. You will see them a lot throughout the year, so here they are to introduce themselves!

Magdalen and Chloe
Arts Captains

Senior Production

Our names are Grace N (12 C6) and Ruby Y (12 M2), and we are super excited to be the Senior Production Captains for 2025! The productions at OLMC have definitely been some of the highlights of our time at school, as we have made lots of new friends, learnt more about the world of theatre and had lots of fun. The M² productions, performed by OLMC and Marcellin students, are an amazing opportunity to get to know other people, become more confident performing and have some fun. This year we hope to encourage others to get involved, and create a supportive environment where everyone can shine and have some fun with their friends!

Visual Arts

Hi everyone! Our names are Jess and Olivia and we are your 2025 Visual Arts Captains! We are so excited to implement our ideas and share our love of photography and film with everyone in our school community! This year we are hoping to spread awareness of the Camera Club through fun ideas such as a ‘photo of the month’, mini tutorials on how to use a camera, and opportunities for those who want to learn more about photography to take photos at school events!

Drama Captains

Hi everybody! We are your 2025 Drama Captains, Hannah and Esther. We are sooooo excited to be working with OLMC staff and students to really bring all that jazz to everything drama at OLMC. We have both really loved drama since Year 7 and are so happy that we can lead OLMC in everything drama related. One of our main plans for 2025 is to implement a drama club for the community!

Junior Production

Hi! We're Olivia and Lara and we are your 2025 Junior Production Captains. We are so excited to work with a range of students and aim to encourage many people to participate in the performing arts. We have both participated in multiple school productions over the years and rehearsals have always been the highlight of our weeks. Performing on stage helps build confidence as well as talent in the performing arts and this is why we want more people to take part in school productions. We also aim to showcase to members of our community how much talent we have at this school. Whether you're on stage, behind the scenes, or trying something new, we can’t wait to see all the amazing things we’ll create together this year!

Dance

Hi, we are Mikayla and Stephanie, we are the 2025 Dance Captains. We are so excited this year to further promote and grow the Elite Dance program, and have a fun time creating and performing dances for the school. This year we are hoping to participate in dance competitions and display to the school the amazing dancers we have at OLMC. We want to make sure every dancer at OLMC feels confident in their abilities, but also foster an environment where every dancer feels supported and encouraged to give their best.

Debating

Hey guys! We are Aarchi and Sophie, and we are your 2025 Debating and Public Speaking Captains. We are so excited to work with you all this year and introduce more people into one of the best activities that OLMC has to offer. This year we are intending to run more workshops, teach the Year 7s and 8s, and provide you guys with the opportunity to improve your writing, speaking and debating skills. As Captains, our goal is to encourage and support all students in building their confidence, refining their skills, and finding their voice. We look forward to working with you all and making this a successful and rewarding year for our Debating and Public Speaking community!

Music

Hi everyone, we are Madeline, Lucia and Leia, your Music Captains for 2025! We are so excited about everything happening in music at OLMC this year, from our weekly ensemble rehearsals to highlights such as the recent Hairspray concert. This year we also hope to bring new opportunities for anyone interested in music, such as a music expo or even a competition (with prizes!). We hope to make OLMC music the most joyful and enriching experience it can be, so feel free to send any one of us an email if you have any questions, ideas or suggestions!

On Friday 21 March, 40 OLMC students participated in the Division 3 GSV Swimming Carnival at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC), showcasing their exceptional talent and teamwork in the pool. The day was filled with intense competition, but OLMC's swimmers rose to the challenge, dominating several events, particularly the 50m freestyle where the team secured consecutive first-place finishes.

OLMC finished third in the competition, an impressive feat that highlights the school’s strong swimming program. The Juniors finished third in their division, while the Seniors placed seventh. A big congratulations to our Intermediate team for finishing first in their division and claiming the Intermediate Trophy.

The success at the GSV Swimming Carnival is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and talent of all OLMC swimmers. A big congratulations to all participants, and special recognition to those who qualified for the finals.

Trevor Robertson
Sports Coordinator

OLMC had a total of ten students qualify for the GSV Finals Night (Swimming Competition) on Tuesday 1 April at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre in Albert Park. All OLMC Students who qualified in events are in the Top 10 Swimmers / Teams in GSV Competition.

Results:

Amelia G (9F) - Placed 5^th with a PB Time of 37.15 - Year 9 50m Breaststroke.

Sienna C (10 A6) - Placed 7^th - Year 10 50m Breaststroke.

Year 9 Relay Team – Amelia G (9F), Mia C (9G), Annie T (9G) and Olivia C (9C) finished 9^th in the 4x50m Freestyle Relay

Year 10 Relay Team – Karina T (10 C6), Lucy C (10 M4), Sienna C (10 A6) and Isabelle D (10 M5) finished 8^th in the 4x50m Freestyle Relay.

Congratulations to all students and a special thank you to the parents in attendance.

GSV Triathlon

The 2025 GSV Triathlon was conducted on Sunday 23 February at Altona Beach. OLMC was represented by twenty- seven students, many competing for their first time.

OLMC students faired very well competing against students from a variety of GSV schools.

Results:

Individual Events

Lucy C (10 M4) - 1^st Intermediate Individual Event

Olivia C (9C) - 3^rd Intermediate Individual Event

Team Relay

Natalie M (8A), Aleisha S (7C), Eva R (8G) - Placed 2^nd in the Junior Teams relay event.

Congratulations to our overall team.

Trevor Robertson
Sports Coordinator

Thank you to all students for your commitment to your GSV Volleyball and Softball Teams this term. OLMC had two teams make it through to the GSV Finals in Softball. The Senior Softball team played the GSV Finals on Monday and won the Division B Softball Premiership.

This week the Junior Softball team played in the GSV Softball Finals at Waverley Softball Centre. The competition was very even, playing against Ruyton Girls School in the qualifying final.

Both teams had ups and downs with our students playing well but unfortunately we lost by one run to end the finals campaign.

Congratulations to all students involved.

Please see below our finishing positions on the respective GSV Sport ladders:

Senior: Volleyball: A - 5^th, B - 8th / Softball: 1^st Div 2 Senior Softball Premiers

Intermediate: Volleyball: A - 7^th, B - 7^th, C - 9^th, D - 7^th / Softball A - 6th

Junior: Volleyball: A- 4^th, B- 4^th, C - 4^th, D - 3^rd / Softball: A - 2^nd

Trevor Robertson
Sports Coordinator

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

Mother’s Day Celebration 2025

Thursday 8 May 7.00 pm

in the McAuley Hall, Cape St, 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.

To book a group/table, you can either purchase the whole table in one booking or purchase a ticket on an available table and then notify your guests of the table number they should specify when booking. If you want to rename the table so that your fellow guests can identify the table easily please contact:

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

Tables will seat 10 people.

To book individual tickets, purchase the required number on any available table.

Tickets: $15 per person or $40.00 per family

Book at Trybooking.com and search OLMC or enter the link

https://www.trybooking.com/CZZHS

We do hope that you can join us for this very special event.

Please find attached an invitation from St John's Parish Heidelberg. It also contains the schedule for St John's Holy week & Easter celebration.

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.