.This is the first newsletter of Term 2. A very big welcome back to everyone. We hope that you all had a great break and a wonderful Easter spent with family and friends. We also hope that it was a time to rest and rejuvenate ready for all that is ahead. The Easter Liturgy held on our first day back was led by our students from Year 7 to 12. Congratulations must go to all who were involved; it was a wonderful liturgy. Easter brings with it the hope of the Resurrection. As we embrace our own personal hopes, we are also reflecting on how we are called to share our hope. We remember those who are struggling to find hope, who are living with war, poverty and displacement and pray that they find peace.

Last night it was with great joy that the Parents' Association hosted the annual Mother’s Day celebration. We were delighted that so many students, mums, grandmothers and significant women were able to join us to celebrate the joy of motherhood. The liturgy was beautifully led by Shane Taylor and a number of students. It was very moving to be part of the blessing of mothers by the students present. There was great conversation, wonderful food and lots of fun. Congratulations and thanks must go to the Parents' Association for their hard work and commitment to such a successful and important community event.

The next few weeks are busy for students in the OLMC calendar. Next week the student leaders are holding the annual Dare to Donate. This year we are raising money for McAuley Community Services for Women. It is so fitting that coming into Mother’s Day the students have chosen this as the charity they are supporting. McAuley Community Services for Women provides much needed accommodation and support for women and children who are homeless and victims of domestic violence. Dare to Donate sees teachers asked to commit to a dare set by students. Each dare has a fundraising target and will only be performed if that target is reached. It is an important way that OLMC can work together to support others in the community who need our help.

The OLMC Athletics Carnival will be held next week, weather permitting. Once again it will be exciting to be engaging in something where we are all free to participate. If the Swimming Carnival is any indication, it will be a great day for all students regardless of the events in which they are involved. It is another important chance for Houses to come together.

As you are no doubt aware there was some easing of restrictions over the break. I have included an outline of some of the changes that apply at OLMC for your information.

Screening requirements
Students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19, and have completed their 7-day isolation period, now do not need to undertake rapid antigen test (RAT) screening for 12 weeks after their release from isolation.

Household contacts
Students and staff who are household contacts of a COVID-19 case are no longer required to quarantine. They can return to school as long as they undertake rapid antigen tests (RAT) 5 times within their 7-day period and wear face masks indoors if they are aged 8 and above unless they have a valid exemption.

If any household contact returns a positive RAT result during this period, they must isolate for 7 days and not attend school.

RAT screening program extension reminder
The supply of RATs will continue for the first 4 weeks of this term. The screening recommendations remain the same:

• mainstream schools – recommended to test at home twice a week

Tests for the next fortnight will be distributed this week. A reminder that students who are ill should not attend school. Thank you to everyone for doing your part to help with the management of COVID-19 at OLMC.

Not all of us are able to celebrate with our mothers or significant women who have helped nurture us in our journey, this weekend. However, our hope is that there is a space to reflect with gratitude on the people in our lives who have helped form us. The blessing shared at the Parents’ Association Mother’s Day event is shared with you in this newsletter.

As we continue in this great season of Easter time of 50 days until the feast of Pentecost, we continue to challenge each other to be people of the light, love, justice, peace, courage, compassion and joy. So we pray…

Draw us forth, God of all creation.

Draw us forward and away from limited certainty

into the immense world of your love.

Give us the capacity to even for a moment

taste the richness of the feast you give us.

Give us the peace to live with uncertainty,

with questions,

with doubts.

Help us to experience the resurrection anew

with open wonder and an increasing ability

to see you in the people of Easter.

We make this prayer in God’s holy name.

Amen.

This Sunday we celebrate the gift of motherhood and those women in our lives who love, inspire and bless us in a motherly way. In our Catholic tradition, there are many women who model God’s love and call us to God’s loving presence in our world. Naturally, we think of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who in the annunciation responds to God, with joy and awareness of her part in the future incarnation.

In our Mercy story, we recall how in 1829, Catherine McAuley become the legal guardian and mother to nine children, including her five nieces and nephews following the death of her sister, the two Burn children and two orphans from Coolock, all of whom she welcomed and loved. This was before she opened her House of Mercy on Baggot Street.

We invite you to give thanks to God for either your gift of Motherhood, or for those people in your lives who gift you, and we pray…

Good and Gentle God,

We pray in gratitude for our mothers and for all the women of history who have joined with you in the wonder of bringing forth new life. You who became human through a woman, grant to all mothers the courage they need to face the uncertain future that life with children often brings.

Give them the strength to live and to be loved in return, not perfectly, but humanly.

Give them the faithful support of partners, family and friends as they care for the physical and spiritual growth of their children.

Give them joy and delight in their children to sustain them through the trials of motherhood. Most of all, give them the wisdom to turn to you for help when they need it most. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

As we move into Term 2 we know that for many students they are seeking to find ways to extend themselves and prepare well for their mid-year exams. With exams just over a month away, students will be building revision time into their homework and study routines, as the evidence indicates that frequent spaced repetition leads to greater memory retention than cramming the night before.

In order to support students to feel confident in their own abilities, organise and manage their time effectively, as well as challenge themselves to achieve their best, we have set aside some time to continue the development of their revision techniques and exam skills.

Year 10 students
On May 19 Year 10 students will have three lessons designed to prepare for their first set of exams. Presenters will be both OLMC staff and external presenters. Students will not only have the opportunity to develop the exam preparation skills, but also how to manage stress and often an important skill, how to move on from an exam, even if it did not go as well as planned.

Year 11 students
Year 11 students experienced the Year 10 program in 2021 so now is the time to refine their skills even further. Their focus will be on reviewing their revision strategies from previous years and managing their worries in the assessment, as well as in the lead up to exams.

We encourage parents to ask their young person what they are hoping to learn on this day that will support them, as well as checking in with them afterwards. Parents may also want to ask students to show them the OLMC Study Skills website on SIMON so they can help in the planning of revision.

Andrew Gibson
Curriculum Coordinator

Brooke Kilborn
Head of Student Wellbeing

Recently, the Year 9 Pastoral Program has been looking at ways to boost motivation and help students develop positive perceptions about their abilities to learn.

While it is often easy for students to identify their mistakes or things they are not very good at yet, and constructive feedback and reflection is an essential element of learning, dwelling on these things can lead to the development of unhelpful negative feelings.

Through the Pastoral Program, Year 9 students have been exploring strategies to help them train their brains to focus on the positive progress they are making and to believe they can continue to improve. These strategies include developing a growth mindset and “Success Journaling”.

Developing a growth mindset involves seeing mistakes or failures as ‘setbacks’ from which students can learn and the belief that one’s intelligence, talents and qualities can be developed through endeavour. It requires students to change their thinking from “this is too hard” to “this will take a bit of time and effort”.

Our aim in keeping a “Success Journal” is to help students to focus on the good things that are happening in their lives by taking time to identify and acknowledge their “small wins” on a regular basis.

In her article “Science Explains How Writing Down Tiny Achievements Every Day Changes Our Brains” Rebecca Beris, a wellness and lifestyle writer notes: “Any accomplishment, no matter how small, activates the reward circuitry of our brains. When this pathway is opened some key chemicals are released that give us a feeling of achievement and pride. In particular, the neurotransmitter dopamine is released which energizes us and gives us a feel-good aura. This chemical enables us not only to get that sweet feeling of reward but also motivates us to take action and repeat what we did to trigger its release in the first place.”

Two of our Year 9 Pastoral Leaders, Ms Shagun Maheshwari and Ms Emily Scott, designed an impressive journal based on the image of the success iceberg (an image that shows how, like an iceberg, success is made up of many trials, actions and small wins that usually happen below the surface, out of sight of others). Each Year 9 Student has their own “Success Journal” and will have time to reflect on their accomplishments in Morning Pastoral on a regular basis.

We hope our Year 9 students will enjoy the satisfaction of many, many small wins this year and that this process will encourage a good habit to help them feel more positive and empowered in life!

Sarah Nash
Year 9 Level Coordinator

In Year 7 and 8 English students are given the opportunity to experiment with different forms and types of writing.

This term in Year 7, students are reading the classic story The Secret Garden. It is about a young girl called Mary Lennox who becomes an orphan and goes to live with her uncle in England. She experiences loneliness but also growth and change.

During some of their writing sessions students were asked to describe in their exercise books a time when they felt lonely.

The following is an example of our Year 7 students’ writing:

I stare at the wall, thoughts rushing through my head. The downstairs door closes, and now I know… I’m all alone. I replay the fight I had with my mum earlier that night. My heart begins to pound. My hands begin to sweat. My eyes begin to feel heavy as though I haven’t slept in years. I blink my eyes, but when I wake up the time has changed. It was now three am. My feet pick me up and drag me down the hallway. With all hope, I peek into my parents’ room. It was true. They really are gone. I fall to the ground with fountains or tears dripping down my cheeks. If only the government didn’t declare world war three they may be still here. I stay on the floor, clutched up in a ball for hours and pray. But it’s no use. They will never come back. And it’s all my fault.
Mia (7CCR)

In Year 8, students have explored gothic writing inspired by their study of the play Frankenstein.

“I have never seen such a thing. Something so completely unusual. Ugly. Terrifying,” stated a villager by the name of Jacob.

“Oh my. No words can describe my fear”, stated another villager.

I stood stiffly and could not process my thoughts or build up enough courage to speak. I was panic-stricken.

“What is this thing?” I thought to myself, then turned to the villagers.

“It's a MONSTER. A living creature. A threat to mankind”, stated Jacob.

I ran into my carriage and slammed the door shut. However, reality approached me. I couldn’t leave. I had nowhere to go. I couldn’t go anywhere at all.

The Monster knocked on the carriage door. My face turned red and blotchy. My eyes were bloodshot, my eyelids puffy. My voice was croaky and I couldn’t let out a word. Not a single word. I held my breath, long and hard.

The Monster punched his hand through the window. Glass shattered and exploded onto the footpath. It was the end for me and a new beginning for the Monster. He wrapped his arms around my throat and refused to let go. I couldn’t let out a word as my world turned to black….
Tiffany (8MKY)

At a shadowy and murky lake where the sun never shone, Frankenstein’s little brother, William, was playing in the grass with the fat and ugly toads. From the shadows the monster saw him and wanted to join him…

“Hello child. What are you doing here alone by the dark and gloomy lake?” the monster asked as he approached the boy.

“I’m just playing and waiting for my big brother, Frankenstein!”

“Your brother is Frankenstein? What is your name, little boy?”

“My name is William! I can’t see who you are. Do you want to play with me?”

The monster slowly walked closer to William, but as he moved into the light, William backed away, scared by his disturbing and terrifying facial features. The monster’s face was ugly. He had stitches on his neck, face, arms and legs. He looked like a human sized doll that had adjustments. The monster interrogated William for information about Frankenstein before grabbing him by the arm and dragging him towards the lake.

“Heeeeeeeellllppppp meeeeeee!” William screamed with horror as his life flashed before him.

The monster pulled William into the greenish coloured lake. “HEEEEEEELLLPPPPP!!!” William screamed again, but only the monster could hear him.

William was too weak to fight the monster. After a couple of minutes the monster pulled the lifeless body of William out of the water.

“Now I have all the secrets I need.”
Chloe (8MKY)

A lady stood there. Still. Scared. Shocked. She was holding an empty bucket. It was supposed to be filled with water, but in her fright, it had all spilt out. Across from the lady stood a tall, muscular and ugly creature, it looked like a Monster. The lady was pale, pale as anyone could be at the sight of a Monster. The alleyway was dark, it smelt like rotting food and as she stood there the lady felt a shiver run down her spine. During the day this dark, wet and haunted street would be full of busy people but at night it turned into an empty alleyway, a place where the darkest secrets hid.
Loren (8MKY)

Anne Morrison
English Learning Leader

In the final week of Term 3, Year 12 students set off for their Year 12 Retreat for 2022. We began by celebrating Mass in the Nalleijering Centre with Fr. Kevin Hennessy CP, accompanied by the Year 7 students, while the rest of the school community joined us remotely.

After the celebration of Eucharist, the Year 7 students presented the Year 12s with a “Journey Stone”, on which they had each written words of encouragement and decorated. The stones were a beautiful reminder that the OLMC community were keeping the Year 12 students in their prayers while they took part in this special experience.

After a fairly long bus ride (which was very quiet - students used the time to catch up on sleep!), to the Alexandra Adventure Park staff and students had lunch and settled into their cabins. They were introduced to the scripture passage that was at the core of our time on retreat - the story of the disciples on the Road to Emmaus, after the crucifixion of Jesus.

Staff facilitated retreat sessions exploring this theme, and students were invited to use the scripture story to reflect on their own journeys; where they have been, who walks with them and where they are going.

In between retreat sessions, students took part in a range of outdoor activities, including rock climbing, flying fox and on the giant swing. Students enthusiastically participated in these activities with their peers and teachers.

On the final day of retreat, we were very fortunate that Fr. Ignatius Vu SSS was able to travel from Melbourne for the morning to celebrate Mass. During this special celebration of Eucharist, students led different parts of the experience.

Bernadette Hogan
Religious Education Learning Area Teacher

We are delighted to see the smiling faces around the OLMC campus. As a Student Leadership Team, we really want to focus on celebrating OLMC – this was the focus for our first student-led assembly of the year this morning!

Last term, we set the challenge for students to try something new, whether that was anything from sports to arts. We are glad to see many students have taken up that opportunity and see just how rewarding it can be to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and see how it goes. For those students who are hesitant to join a new club or try out for a new sport, remember it’s never too late to put your hand up and give it a go.

Dare 2 Donate is coming up and our goal is to raise $4000 for McAuley Community Services for Women! Dare 2 Donate is an opportunity to have fun with our teachers, but it is also an opportunity to have a greater understanding of how we can act with justice beyond OLMC.

Plus, this year we are celebrating 10 years of dares! Remember to bring a gold coin donation to school to help out this great cause and experience some amazing dares - including the mega dare!

In line with this year's Student Leadership theme of courage and empowerment, we want everyone to BE that person who says congratulations to your peers even if you haven’t talked to them in ages, be that person who asks someone how their day really is and listen. Be that person who even though you aren’t having the best day, volunteers to help out, sets foot outside the box and tries something new. By lifting each other up, we are truly unstoppable.

Carla D. (CBRY) and Jasmin B. (LMGL)
2022 Communications Captains

During the recent school holidays, seven students were able to experience the real world of work, undertaking work placement in a number of different settings. Work placement at OLMC is available for students to undertake during school holiday periods. It may be Work Experience, arranged with employers in industries and professional roles that a student is considering for the future, or Structured Workplace Learning, arranged with employers in industries and professional roles that are directly related to Certificate level qualifications being studied by a student in either a VCE or VCAL program. There are some Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications that require students to undertake compulsory work placement to successfully complete a unit or units and gain the full qualification while other VET courses recommend students participate in work placement in order to apply learned concepts and skills in a real world, professional environment.

The students who undertook work placement in April are all enrolled in VET courses this year; 6 in the Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance run within the school timetable onsite at OLMC and 1 in the Certificate III in Kitchen Operations being offered at William Angliss Institute. Their placements were in the following workplaces and we are grateful for the support, insight and experience offered by these generous employers:

Kieser Heidelberg

Leith Park Aged Care

Heritage Care, Epping Gardens Aged Care

Austin Hospital Dialysis Unit

Austin Rise Bed and Breakfast

Students who are undertaking a VET study as part of their senior school program, or students in Years 10 - 12 wanting to undertake work experience are encouraged to speak with Mrs Williams, OLMC Careers Coordinator to discuss the requirements and options of undertaking a work placement during future school holiday periods.

The reflections below highlight the powerful impression of work placement on a student:

In the first week of the school holidays, I had the opportunity to undertake work placement at Kieser Heidelberg, which is next door to OLMC. Before going there I didn't know what to expect nor much about what the company does. Over the four days I got to experience a variety of things including overseeing physiotherapy and assisted training sessions as well as getting the chance to try out many of the strength machines myself. One of my favourite highlights of this experience was getting quizzed on what part of the body the machine C7 works and being able to answer correctly thanks to the staff who would spend their time going through each machine and explaining in detail its focus for the body. As a result of my placement, I now know what frozen shoulder is and how to treat it. I enjoyed the four days a lot and it give me a good insight into what a potential career in physio or exercise science is like. Gianna G, 10MSHO

My placement at Leith Park Aged Care was a truly amazing and eye-opening experience. I learnt many different things about the Aged Care Industry and interacted with so many lovely residents. Their staff kindly educated me on the purpose of many activities and gave me an insight into resident behaviour and conditions like dementia and osteoporosis. I made great connections with both staff and residents of Leith Park and I was even lucky enough to go back to assist in their ‘Family Fun Afternoon’. This placement opened my eyes to the numerous careers available within Aged Care and was an overall excellent experience that I am very grateful to have had.
Madeline M, 11AMJE

And for our local Bed and Breakfast owner, Beverley Sheppard of Austin Rise Bed and Breakfast, her work placement student (Ella K, 11AGGL) made such an impression that she felt compelled to share the following to her business Facebook page:

May I introduce Everlasting Ella?
I’ve even shown her my secret cellar.
Ella has been my work experience girl,
She’s worked around me in a whirl.
I love her beautiful long dark hair,
Her gentleness and flexibility is rare,
Ella can draw and create art,
Her health is good and so is her heart.
She can make a perfect poached egg,
I didn’t need to ask twice or beg.
I’ve loved having Ella here this week,
Happiness, fun and acknowledgment we seek.

Parents and friends of the OLMC Community who are willing to host a student for work placement, either as Work Experience or Structured Workplace Learning are warmly invited to contact Melinda Williams via email – mwilliams@olmc.vic.edu.au In particular, we are desperately seeking placements for our Allied Health Assistance students who require 80 hours of work placement to complete their Certificate course. I would love to hear from any allied health professionals who may be in a position to host a student for a working week sometime in 2022.

Melinda Williams
Careers Coordinator

OLMC and Marcellin College present "Matilda the Musical"

PERFORMANCE DATES
Friday 20 May
Saturday 21 May
Thursday 26 May
Friday 27 May and
Saturday 28 May

LOCATION
OLMC
Mercedes Hogan Theatre
39 Yarra Street, Heidelberg VIC 3084

A STUDENT REFLECTION
As the first M2 Senior Musical since COVID cancelled the 2020 production of "We Will Rock You", Matilda has been both a welcome challenge and gratifying experience.

Being able to spend rehearsals, with the most loving and dedicated cast is something you could never find outside of the theatre. From dancing and singing, to figuring out our British accents, we learned so much and really became one big family! During one of our impromptu lunchtime singalongs around the piano, I realised just how important the arts is to our community, and how robbed we have been over the past few years during the time of COVID. Missing that connection and togetherness that is found in backstage shenanigans, brief vocal harmonies and Woolworth's sushi! We found it again in this production of Matilda, and we are so grateful to our wonderful creative team who made it possible. The teachers who spend their time with us and give us their all. Thank you for being our very own "Miss Honeys" - we have loved every minute of being your "Revolting Children' '.

I cannot wait to see how the show evolves over the next few weeks!
Isabella K. (AGLE)

Felicia Taine
Hayley Gamble-Curran

TICKETS
Grown up Adult Ticket: $27.00
Revolting Child Ticket: $20.00(concession ticket)
Revolting Families (Good for 4): $90.00 (includes tickets for 2 adults and 2 children)

Tickets are Selling Fast !

In Term 1, OLMC in partnership with AFL Umpiring Academy delivered a five week training sessions involving students in Year 8 and 9s.

The training sessions focused on the skills and knowledge of being an AFL Umpire.

All our students completed the course and have the opportunity to umpire junior games in local leagues on the weekends, making pocket money and staying fit at the same time

Another experience unique to the AFL Umpiring Course is the opportunity to umpire AFL Auskick Grid matches at halftime of fixtured AFL matches.

Last weekend five of our graduating students of the AFL Umpiring Course participated in the AFL Auskick Grid matches at the the Western Bulldogs v Essendon game at Marvel Stadium.

This experience provided an opportunity for the students to showcase the skills and knowledge learnt in the course in particular, decision making, positioning and controlling play.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and additional opportunities are planned for later this month.

Trevor Robertson
Sports Coordinator

A fun introduction to learning French and Italian for Grade 4 and 5 girls.

Date: Monday 16 May
Time: 4.00pm – 5.00pm
Location: Level 2, Centenary Building, OLMC Heidelberg (enter via Cape Street)
Who is it for: Girls in Grades 4 and 5 interested in studying French or Italian in secondary school
Cost: Free
RSVP: Book online by Thursday 12 May

This workshop will introduce students to some of the languages offered at Our Lady of Mercy College Heidelberg, and give those currently studying a language a chance to practise speaking French and Italian. Students will take part in a half hour session of fun activities in each language, experiencing what it’s like to study at OLMC Heidelberg:

• French – Learn some French vocabulary through gestures and games.
• Italian – Learn about Carnevale through poems, songs and games, and decorate a Carnevale mask!

Year 7 students at OLMC Heidelberg study two languages, with French, Italian and Japanese on offer.

Experience OLMC Heidelberg offers girls in primary school a chance to try subjects they can study at the College. Together we can learn, lead and be the best we can be. We are empowered together.

Anzac Day
The Parents Association ran a Sausage Sizzle at Bunnings Preston on Anzac Day that raised $1,247 on the day which is a fantastic result.

A special thank you to Bunnings Preston for the donation of sausages, bread and drinks.

Also to a special thank you to Biviano & Sons for their donation of the sliced onions.

Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who helped out and to everyone that came to support us on the day, we really appreciate all your support.

Mothers' Day Celebrations
Mother’s Day was started in 1907 by Anna Jarvis in West Virginia. Anna wanted to honour her mother’s passing with a public memorial in her hometown. Anna did not attend the event but sent 500 white carnations - her mother’s favourite flower. And it took off from there!

Here at OLMC we celebrated Mother’s Day in the McAuley Hall on Thursday 5 May. The night started with a liturgy celebrating women in the Mercy tradition. We thank the many students involved. I was inspiring and the readings and music just made it more special. This was followed by a supper, a lot of talking, fun at the photo booth, and a raffle with many amazing prizes. We watched as many special memories were made. This was a wonderful way to acknowledge our Mothers, Grandmothers or a special person in our life.

Gemma Hose, the PA President, welcomed everyone and shared her thoughts on what being a mother means to her.

Every Mother’s day it’s awesome that our daughters get to tell us how much they love and appreciate us mums, but nights like tonight also give us as mothers a chance to reflect on how to be the best mothers for our daughters. Because at the end of the day that’s the job we signed up for, to raise our daughters to be mentally, emotionally and physically healthy.
Upon my personal reflection today, for me it came down to being mindful of these few things.
Firstly to have all our thoughts and words come from the heart, leading by example to show our daughters on how to be heart-centered.
It is also to use our intuition and teach our daughters how to listen and use their own intuition.
To always be compassionate, forgiving and accepting of our daughters.
And most important is understanding and listening to our daughters because at the end of the day they are the ones really teaching us, they have given us the opportunity to grow and learn more about ourselves in this most important role of being a mother.
So thankyou daughters for being such delights “most of the time” and I’m sure all of us mothers are looking forward to being truly appreciated and spoilt rotten on Sunday

Raffle Winners
1st Prize Mary Grant
2^nd Prize Eydokia Frangoulis
3^rd Prize Dani Seabrook

Thank you to our sponsors
We would like to thank all our sponsors for their support.

Chemist Warehouse - Heidelberg
Biviano & Sons
Oroso Poultry
Fernwood - Bulleen
Manhattan Beauty
Daniella Seabrook Photography
Gemma Donnellan Visual Art for Today

So if you're celebrating Mother’s Day with your Mum, Grandmother, or someone special we hope that you have a wonderful day - Happy Mother’s Day

OLMC Parents Association Committee

Parents/legal guardians holding a Concession Card and being successfully validated with Centrelink will be entitled to a payment of $225.00 per year for each Secondary School student and $125 per year for each Primary School student.

Parents please refer to the 2022 Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund (CSEF) Application Form https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx

Please complete this application and return it as soon as possible to Visitor Reception at OLMC along with a photocopy of your relevant Concession Card.

Ms Susan Gepp
Accounts Receivable Officer

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.