College Leadership

Flourishing at Mercedes

By Andrew Balkwill Email this article

As a values-centred International Baccalaureate R-12 Catholic College we support every student to develop academically, socially and personally. With 100 per cent of our Year 12 students in 2021 completing their studies and graduating, it’s clear that our individualised focus delivers results.

Every graduating student at Mercedes College can be rightly proud of their achievements. Of our 156 SACE and IB Diploma students, 20 per cent achieved an ATAR of 95 or more, 36 per cent an ATAR of 90 or higher, and 59 per cent an ATAR of 80 or better. Ahead of us celebrating at our Laureate Assembly, I congratulate Olenka Smolicz our College Dux, Anna Nixon and Alana Spirou our joint 2021 IB Diploma Duces.

With the Class of 2021s achievements shining brightly, our focus shifts to ensuring those who follow this year reach their personal best.

Thanks to our diverse group of experienced teachers and support staff, our adaptive students, and their parents/caregivers, Term 1 is well underway. Everyone’s effort is appreciated, and I sense a shared thankfulness that all students can enjoy the fantastic learning environment we provide on campus.

Having welcomed more than 20 new staff to Mercedes College this year, 17 in teaching and education support officer roles, it’s terrific to see everyone across the Junior, Middle and Senior schools readily sharing information, supporting one another and not missing a beat as they provide great learning opportunities to the students.

This is an excellent demonstration of how we live and role model our Mercy keys, with our focus for 2022 on Loyalty: affirming the Mercy spirit, supporting and promoting the College and its activities, as well as each other, plus seeking ways of being of service more widely.

Throughout the year, we’ll keep developing our curriculum delivery plus our progressive wellbeing programmes, so our students continue to flourish. Overseen by our educational psychologists, these programmes, along with school camps, reflection days plus major events like our annual Athletics and Swimming Carnival, provide students the opportunity to learn more about themselves and what they enjoy, as well as to be open minded, take risks, reflect and grow.

While continued COVID-19 constraints are likely across the year, our shared focus as a College community – staff, College Council, students, parents and caregivers, MP&FA, MOSA and our Mercureans – is firmly on our students and providing them a wide range of opportunities to learn beyond the classroom, form friendships and be exposed to experiences that challenge, reward and develop them.

This year construction of our new Arts and Sports Precinct will get underway, supplementing our existing facilities with purpose-built spaces for sport, the performing arts, and greater community connection. There will be opportunity for you to contribute to this project, including philanthropically through our Annual Giving Programme. More about this in the months ahead.

Andrew Balkwill
Principal