College Leadership

Final Words for 2017

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Dear Parents, Staff and Students of the Mercedes College Community,
On Friday 24 November we held the Graduation Ball for our 2017 Year 12 students and their families. It is always a wonderful occasion as freed from the pressures of the year these fine young women and men blossom.

In their finery they go from school children to confident young adults excitedly preparing for a future of untold possibilities.

There was a wonderful sense of community in the room and it was a pleasure to be able to share this joyous occasion with our newest old scholars and their families. Thank you to Karen Walpole, the other members of the Marketing and Development Office, Year 12 Coordinator Ms Jessica Zotti, Head of Senior School Mr Michael Francis and the Ground Staff and all who worked so hard in the preparation of the evening.

Congratulations to Ada Parker-Minniecon (pictured above performing with her father) who has successfully auditioned for Elder Conservatorium of Music, The University of Adelaide. She has been accepted into a performance degree, and we look forward to hearing great things about her music career in the future.

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Thank You to all Volunteers

This College could not do all it does without the support of many volunteers. Members of this very generous community volunteer to help in many ways including; the College Council, the MPFA, MOSA, the Mercurean Association, the Student Mentoring Programme, the Inclusive Education Programme, the Sporting Programme, the Resource Centre, the Performing Arts Programme, the Mimili Trek and other trips and excursions, as hosts of morning teas and class parties, the Second-Hand Uniform Store and in many other ways. 

Quite simply the College could not function without the work of our volunteers and I sincerely thank you all for your commitment and the passion that you bring, it is greatly appreciated. 

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Some Farewells and Welcomes in our Staff

At the end of the year we are farewelling a number of our staff. As a College we recognise the professional expertise, talent and contribution that each of these people have made to our community. For a vale for each of these staff I refer you to the 2017 College Annual.

I farewell Miss Charlotte Winters, Mr Daniel Micklem and Mrs Andrea Bishop. Charlotte is returning to Belgium to get married and continue her life there and Andrea has been successful in gaining the Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission (APRIM) and Leader of Learning position at Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School (OLQP). Daniel will be leaving us to teach Indonesian at Concordia College.

Andrea Bishop taught at Mercedes College for 20 years before she left in Term 4 2016 to take on the acting APRIM role at OLQP. She continued in that acting position throughout 2017 and has just recently been successful in gaining the permanent position at the school. Throughout Andrea’s tenure at Mercedes College she made significant contributions to the Science and Religious Education programmes. The students Andrea taught were left with no doubt of her desire to assist them to gain the best results possible.

Charlotte joined the College in Term 3, 2016 in a replacement position teaching French. Charlotte is a dedicated teacher who has not only been able to share language expertise with the children but also first hand cultural understandings. I wish Charlotte every happiness as she enters an exciting new phase in her life. 
    
In 2017 Daniel Micklem has been working in our Mercedes Language Centre and previously in the Indonesian faculty. This year Daniel has been working closely with our newly arrived students in our International Student Programme and we wish him well as he takes up a new position next year at Concordia College.

I also farewell Ms Jennifer Trijo who is taking leave to pursue her personal artistic passions, Mr Eoin McEvoy who is taking leave in Semester 1, Mrs Tori Beers who will be on maternity leave, Melanie Harrison who is moving to Sydney and David Knott who has resigned due to health concerns.

We welcome the following staff who will be joining us in 2018;

• Kate Schinckel – (0.7 FTE replacement French Teacher)
• Holly Hershman (FT replacement 1 Semester English and History Teacher)
• Julia Mander (Year 4 Teacher 0.8 FTE)
• Nathan Holdinghausen (FT Mathematics/Science Teacher)

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Christmas is Coming

The end of the year is coming far too rapidly! There is still much for all of us to do at work before we can take a well-earned break, there are end of year functions to attend, there are gifts to be purchased and there are Christmas Day dinners to be organised. During this busy time it is often easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas. It is a time for us to gather with our families to give thanks for the life of Jesus. After all it is the message that Jesus left with us that guides our lives and challenges us to be the best people that we can be.

So in all the busyness of the weeks ahead my challenge will be to find some time to reflect upon what Christmas really means and I suspect many of you will feel the same.

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A Christmas Prayer

Lord, in this holy season of prayer and song and laughter, we praise you for the great wonders you have sent us: for shining star and angel's song, for an infant's cry in a lowly manger. We praise you for the Word made flesh in a little Child. We behold his glory, and are bathed in its radiance.
Amen

This is our last Mercy Vine for 2017 and I extend my thanks to you all for allowing us to have the privilege of working with you in the education of your children. May you experience every blessing at Christmas and have a joyous New Year. I look forward to working with you all again in 2018. 

Yours sincerely

Peter Daw
Principal

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Term Dates 2018

Term 1
Thursday 1 February – Friday 13 April
Term 2
Tuesday 1 May – Wednesday 4 July
Term 3               
Monday 23 July – Friday 28 September
Term 4              
Monday 15 October – Friday 7 December