Community protocol praise

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Thank you for your continued support of the College and each other in adhering to the  COVID-19 protocols that apply to school settings across South Australia.

Adhering to SA Health Advice
Mercedes College, like all Catholic Education SA schools, continues to follow the advice of the SA Government, through SA Health, to minimise the entry into and transmission of COVID-19 in our school environment. Consequently, all members of the College community are subject to set protocols and requirements and we’re doing our best to apply these protocols transparently, fairly and appropriately.

Protocols for Weeks 5-8
The staged ‘Return to School’ plan, put into place by SA Health for a safe return to school continues to evolve, and we’re thrilled to have our students back on the College campus and back into face-to-face teaching and learning.

The Education Minister, on the advice of the Chief Public Health Officer, has confirmed that a number of school activities on hold until now, may resume from Week 5 with a further easing of activity restrictions expected to be announced for Week 9.

From Monday 28 February 2022, we look forward to the following activities resuming:

- Interschool sporting competitions

- Extra-curricular activities including but not limited to choir, band practice and instrumental lessons

- Day excursions and incursions (some excursion venues may have vaccination requirements)

- Work experience and work placements

- Outdoor assemblies and masses

Parents and Volunteers
We’re pleased that from next week, volunteers approved by the Principal may return to the school and parents and visitors may attend for specific outdoor events, including yet not limited to sports days and weekend sport.

Interschool sport will begin again onsite from Week 5 and we look forward to parents attending the upcoming Years 3-6 Athletic Carnival (8 March, Mercedes College) and Years 7-12 Athletics Carnival (11 March, SA Athletics Stadium).

School Camps
Unfortunately, school camps (except those required as part of the curriculum for SACE/IB subjects) remain on hold through to the end of Week 8. This has resulted in the Year 5, Year 6 and Year 7 Camps being postponed. We will inform parents of re-scheduled dates as soon as possible.

Please note, with all schools re-scheduling, we may need to host some camps later in the year than would otherwise be the case.

Protocols still in place
A number of COVID controls will remain unchanged as follows:

- Face masks are required indoors for all adults and Year 7-12 students, plus encouraged for Year 3-6 students

- Testing, isolating and quarantining remains unchanged including managing / notifying classroom close contacts

- Natural ventilation will continue to be maximised

- Parents and visitors are asked to avoid attending the College site (except for specific outdoor events as above)

- No events involving parents or visitors may be held indoors (except school tours for prospective families)

- All adults attending the school site, continue to check in using our COVID Safe QR code

If unwell, stay at home
The most important ongoing control against COVID-19 impacting our school community is for students, staff and visitors to stay home if they’re unwell.

If your child displays even mild symptoms associated with COVID-19, please arrange for a PCR test and follow SA Health directions. If your child is confirmed as COVID-19 positive, please contact the College immediately. If we are notified that a person who attended school subsequently learns they are COVID-19 positive, we will communicate this with classroom contacts in line with the approach approved by SA Health.

If your child is absent from school due to COVID-19, the College will, as is usual, make best endeavours to support their learning continuity.

Vaccinations
Once again, we remind you that all children aged 5 and older are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, all aged 16 and older who have received two courses of the vaccine, are now eligible to receive a booster. Families are encouraged to make arrangements for your child to be vaccinated if not already, by visiting https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/booking/.

Please note: Some venues have vaccine requirements that are out of our control. For example, Year 12 events at the Convention Centre, a venue that requires proof of full vaccination.

Thank you
Thank you for your understanding as we apply the protocols set by the State Government and SA Health. Your continued support in keeping our community safe is very much appreciated and we look forward to having you visit our campus and participate in class, Year level and College events as restrictions ease.

Paul Wadsworth
Deputy Principal

Rainforest fun

By Debbie Goss

The end of the 2021 school year and beautiful friendships forged was celebrated with party activities and reflection on the sense of belonging and special role we play in the lives of our OSHC children.

We also received lots of positive feedback from our families who completed our OSHC survey, as well as how we can further improve our service. Thank you!

Excited faces greeted us during our Christmas Vacation Care program where children enjoyed activities plus an afternoon of making, baking and decorating donuts. The kits were provided by Hungry Homer Donuts with each purchase contributing to the Food for Change charity who provide nutritious meals for hungry Australians through their farms and food rescue service.

During the holidays, we visited Wallis Cinemas at Mitcham and enjoyed Encanto, as it totally captivated all our friends. We also ventured to Hahndorf to visit the Farm Barn and played mini golf at West Beach.
A visit from Magic Mike added a special spark as he entertained all the children with his wonderful magic show, balloon making and later a disco party. This day alone exceeded all expectations.

Despite a curb to excursions and incursions we had great fun delving into our cupboards to see what we could find to amuse our friends with the children just loving our Wheels Days navigating their way around our route.
We were so thrilled when one of our youngest riders had his trainer wheels removed and successfully rode his bike all by himself – a magic moment!

Term 1 is well under way with our OSHC room decorated to be a rainforest complete with fairy lights illuminating the forest, with colourful snakes, sloths, butterflies and birds hanging from the vines.

And a reminder, our Vacation Care each school holiday period is open to children 5-12 years of age from far and wide, so invite friends, cousins, brothers and sisters to share in the range of fun activities on offer at Mercedes!

Debbie Goss
Out of Hours School Care

Sailing in the Sunken Garden

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With the challenges and constraints in the early weeks of Term 1, our Year 12 Outdoor Education students ‘Set Sail’ in our Sunken Garden near the Strathspey building.

Learning the finer points of rigging the College’s 420 sailing dinghies in the garden and guiding our Outdoor Education students in the basics of hoisting the sails and practicing setting sails to the various courses and wind directions presented has been fun, and dry!

It’s also been a great exercise in peer teaching, teamwork and problem solving, while making the most of sailing the green waters of the Sunken Garden.

Both Year 12 and Year 11 classes will be heading for Goolwa South Lakes in March for further sailing skills in the River Murray, leading to a one day journey up Currency Creek for our Year 11 students, and 3 day circumnavigation of Hindmarsh Island by dinghy for our Year 12s, including overnight lightweight camping at Clayton Bay and on the Coorong shores.

Year 10 Outdoor Education
Our Year 10 Outdoor Education classes started online covering navigation and map reading skills.
Students were excited to be able to test their skills back on campus, with Compass Bearing skill activities around the grounds.

Future classes will further test their skills and knowledge with orienteering and bushwalking on Brown Hill and surrounding natural environment ahead of a 3 day skills camp near Belair National Park.

Peter Thornton, Jimmy Grant and Martin Richards

Volunteer to mentor

By Adrian Chiarolli

I’m Stephen Heuzenroeder, the Student Mentoring Programme Coordinator at Mercedes College. I have a long association with Mercedes College as an Old Scholar (Class of 2008), an OSHC Educator and Mentor with the Student Mentoring Programme and I've worked in many schools for nearly 10 years as a teacher and Youth Support Worker.

Currently we are seeking new mentors from our Mercedes College community. Community Mentors are an integral part of our diverse Programme. As a mentor you'll spend one lesson per week across the school year connecting and building a positive relationship with a student from Reception to Year 12, providing them with opportunities for growth in their wellbeing, self-esteem, and confidence.

Community mentors may be former or current parents, grandparents, carers, Old Scholars, or from the wider community. Mentors make a positive difference in the lives of our students so please contact me via SEQTA, email (sheuzen@mercedes.catholic.edu.au) or by phoning the College directly on 8372 3200, if you would like more information.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Stephen Heuzenroeder
Student Mentoring Programme Coordinator

Surprise!

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Surprise! On Friday 4 February 2022 former school captains and old scholars surprised our former Assistant Principal Administration and Student Leadership, Alessandra Miles, at The Torrens Arms Hotel with a special event to acknowledge and farewell her.

Old scholars who remain grateful for Alessandra’s guidance, teaching and mentoring spanning some 30 years, eagerly participated to pay tribute and say thank you.

On behalf of the group, 2021 school captains Josh Antony and Henry Baker presented Alessandra with flowers and personally thanked her for her outstanding service to Mercedes College.

MOSA Annual General Meeting
The MOSA AGM will be held on Wednesday 16 March 2022 at The Torrens Arms Hotel, upstairs in The Loft at 7pm, with light refreshments served.

Reports will be presented by MOSA office bearers and representatives from old scholar sporting clubs.
All old scholars and members of our Mercedes College community are most welcome to attend.

Wellbeing resources for parents

By Anne Way

Mercedes College has a rich tradition of working in partnership with families to ready our students to address the challenges of their time – to flourish.

Recognising that it has never been a more challenging time for families to raise confident, healthy and resilient children and young people, we continue to honour our commitment to our parent community through renewal of our SchoolTV license.

This valuable online resource provides easily accessible, clear and fact-based information from a variety of professionals, across the range of child and adolescent health and wellbeing matters.

Each Module and Special Report promoted through the Mercy Vine addresses a cotemporary topic through expert interviews, fact sheets, quizzes, recommended Apps, books and links to relevant web sites including Beyondblue and ReachOut. This single stream of independent, factual information will save parents and caregivers time and the confusion often associated with searching online, across multiple sites for reliable parenting information.

All SchoolTV modules and Special Reports can be found on the College website.

Whether it is starting school for the very first time, starting in a new school, moving to a new sub-school or embarking on the final year of school, there is no doubt that any school transition is a very exciting and potentially challenging time. We particularly commend to all parents the School Transitions module, which provides practical information and tips for every parent, regardless of the age of their children. Also highly recommended are the Special Reports on Moving to a New School, Starting Year 7, and Surviving the Final Year

We know that families will find valuable information on relevant and current topics of concern at SchoolTV. And welcome feedback on any potential topics of value.

Anne Way
Director of Wellbeing | College Psychologist (R-12)

Andrea Fairlie
College Psychologist (R-12)

Move Learn Grow at Mercedes

By Mercedes College

Our leading programme, Move Learn Grow at Mercedes College, developed by a Paediatric Occupational Therapist and specialist Physical Education Teacher, uses evidence-based practise to support students develop a range of fundamental movement skills.

Move Learn Grow helps children’s strength, academic and movement outcomes, enhancing their ability to be school and sport ready from Reception to Year 5.

Literacy and numeracy are richly embedded, with student:staff ratios of around 1:5.

Move Learn Grow runs for 45 minutes and starts again from Thursday 3 March at 8:15am in our Junior School Hall.

Find out more by contacting admin@movelearngrow.com.au or visit movelearngrow.com.au.

Kelly Kroeger
Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Tracey Cramond
Physical Education Teacher

College Leadership

Flourishing at Mercedes

By Andrew Balkwill

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

Junior Journeys

Junior School journey

By Kellie Osborn

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of our Junior School students and their families to our new school year – those returning and those joining us in 2022. A special welcome to all our new students and their families this year, we are delighted you've joined the Mercedes College community.

Harnessing the enthusiasm and optimism of the new school year cannot be underestimated. In the Junior School we begin the year by opening the dialogue between home and school through our Junior School Parent Information meetings this week. These meetings are living example of the commitment we have to each family and student – we are a community of families working together.

This year we welcome several new teachers to the Junior School. We welcome Karen Lintern (Year 3), Kane Hetherington (Year 4) and Melissa Belton (Year 5). We are excited to also welcome Belinda Zieleniecki as our Junior School Visual Art teacher in 2022. We also warmly welcome Nicole Borowicki (Learning Enrichment Director) and Britta Jureckson (Learning Enrichment Assistant Director) who will be leading the Learning Enrichment Team across the College at all levels of school.

In our Junior School Office, we warmly welcome Elle Marschall who’ll be working with Anne Watson this year, in support of students, families and staff.

At the end of last week, we farewelled Sharon Rigoni. Sharon has worked in various roles in the Junior School in her 15 years at the College, most notably as Executive Assistant to Julie Hann (our former Head of Junior School) and myself. Sharon's been a much loved member of our team and community and will be greatly missed by all. We wish Sharon and her husband, Paul well as they fly to the United States to spend time with their son, Jacob, a Mercedes College old scholar who has been playing College basketball there for the past four years. We thank Sharon for her amazing contribution to Junior School life.

Our Junior School team for 2022

• Reception LC, Libby Coughlin
• Reception BP, Tori Beers and Teresa Pepicelli
• Year 1DB, Dani Braddy
• Year 1DG, Jessica De Luca and Emma Grant
• Year 2NM, Nicole Manley
• Year 2FI, Franca Iskra
• Year 3PL, Sarah Pfitzner and Karen Lintern
• Year 3NB, Natasha Berri
• Year 4KH, Kane Hetherington
• Year 4HM, Irena Hollis and Simon Munn
• Year 5MB, Melissa Belton
• Year 5AK, Andrew Khabbaz
• JS Primary Years Programme Coordinator, Simon Munn
• Learning Excellence Coordinator and JS Digital Learning Coordinator, Melissa Buske
• JS Religious Education Coordinator, Teresa Pepicelli
• JS Visual Art Teacher, Belinda Zieleniecki
• JS French Teacher, Belinda Roberts
• JS Music, Rebecca Pfitzner and Loretta Bowshall-Freeman
• JS Physical Education, Tracey Cramond, Simon Munn, Jeff Wray, David Carosi
• JS Teacher Librarian, Melissa Buske and Anne-Marie Flaherty
• College Psychologists, Anne Way and Andrea Fairlie
• Learning Enrichment Director, Nicole Borowicki
• Learning Enrichment Assistant Director, Britta Jureckson
• Learning Enrichment co-educators, Kirsty Esvelt-Allen, Julie Moretti, Jodie Hamilton-Melhuish

Working together
This year we maintain our focus on individuals to achieve a sense of belonging and purpose and connecting with others to build and strengthen meaningful relationships. We believe strongly that the quality of teacher-student relationships builds confidence and can strongly impact and influence a student’s engagement within the classroom and with their peers

In the Junior School we make every effort to ‘know and see’ the whole child and be sensitive to their individual needs. The partnership between us, you and your child, encourages each student to grow intellectually, spiritually, morally, socially, emotionally, physically and creatively.

Recognising that in daily life there will inevitable be bumps along the way, and sometimes these are unpleasant, they do help students to develop the essential life quality of resilience. The strength and resilience demonstrated across our community continues to be inspirational, and we have great hope for our young students as we foster their love of learning, build growth mindsets, have fun and develop positive and respectful relationships.

It is our intention to have a strong partnership between home and school, underpinned by open, honest communication that supports student education. I am confident the year ahead will be full of exciting and enriching experiences for our students. Within our learning spaces we are establishing the culture of a ‘learning community’ and our ‘essential agreements’. As an International Baccalaureate world school offering the Primary Years Programme, and as a Mercy school, we connect the IB Learner Profile with our Mercy Keys.

Kellie Osborn
Head of Junior School

Middle Moments

New beginnings in Middle School

By Adrian Chiarolli

I feel very blessed to be welcomed into the Mercedes community and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to positively engage with our families as we make our way through the year together. Welcome also to our new families, and I trust your association with Mercedes College will be an exciting and enjoyable experience. As we begin a new year together, we undertake the year of Loyalty as we affirm the Mercy spirit, support each other and seek ways of being of service to our community.

Middle School Leaders and Home Group Teachers for 2022
I would like to introduce our new Middle School Home Group teachers this year: Sophie Brownwood (Year 7), Kathryn Yeates (Year 8), Sarah Kim (Year 8), Alice Healy (Year 9), Belinda Sziller (Year 9), and those our two new leadership roles: Matthew Andrigo, Year Level Leader in Year 7, and Josh Wigmore, Year Level Leader in Year 8. We also have David Carosi and Bell Hartley undertaking Year Level Leader roles for the first time in 2022 and welcome back Caroline Guirguis who is sharing a Home Group in Year 7. Rest assured student education is in good hands with these passionate professionals.

The Middle School structure at Mercedes College places significant importance on the pastoral care of students, with Home Group teachers playing a key role in monitoring student wellbeing by developing a good relationship with everyone. Home Group teachers are well placed to help students manage issues as they arise and are the first port of call for parent/caregivers.

Mercedes College Middle School Staff for 2022
Year 6: Dave Carosi – Year Level Leader
6BZ – Belinda Zieleniecki
6CO – Colleen O’Connell
6TB – Tanya Bahnisch

Year 7: Matthew Andrigo – Year Level Leader
7BG – Ilinca Bocse / Caroline Guirguis
7EM – Erin McPheat
7JA – Josh Archer
7LH – Logan Hill
7PB – Julia Penn / Sophie Brownwood

Year 8: Josh Wigmore – Year Level Leader
8DC – Daniel Caire
8KY – Kathryn Yeates
8LT – Lane Trenorden
8SK – Sarah Kim
8TN – Tame Ninos

Year 9: Bell Hartley – Year Level Leader
9AH – Alice Healy
9BS – Belinda Sziller
9DV – Damian Vahlis
9JG – Jimmy Grant
9LJ – Lachlan Jones

Transition and the Online Environment
For our Year 6 and 9 students, the first few days of schooling for 2022 started at home on their computer screens while our Year 7 and 8 students had the run of the Middle School campus. Our Year 6 and 9 students demonstrated adaptability to this format of learning by displaying an openness to learn, problem solving skills and having a genuine care for how they wanted to start the year. Thank you to our teachers who planned and conducted lessons online, providing vibrant and engaging learning whilst getting to know the students and building repour.

Middle School Parent Information Evening
In mid-February, we hosted our Parent Information Evening online. Teachers facilitated various Teams meetings with our families with Year Level Leaders and Home Group teachers discussing Middle School expectations, policies and procedures. Importantly, we also connected with families, providing an opportunity to put a face to a name. Information evenings are just one way we actively seek collaboration to enhance student learning and wellbeing.  At Mercedes College we prioritise connecting and collaborating with families as much as possible because we know it contributes to positive outcomes for our students.

Safer Internet Day
The Mercedes community joined the global initiative on Tuesday 8 February that brings families and schools together to raise awareness about online safety. The College used the Mercy Keys to help guide our students and families through our lives online.

Students were provided a family online safety contract to discuss with their parent/caregivers and this will help support open discussions about the importance of online safety and each student’s digital footprint.
The contracts and family pledges were sent to families via SEQTA direct Message, and we encourage you to discuss the importance of online safety and how individuals are represented in this environment.

Attendance
Consistent attendance is vital for academic success, pastoral care and the development of positive relationships. Research suggests that students who attend school regularly perform up to 50 per cent better than those who are regularly absent (Hattie, 2009).
That’s why, we encourage our families to support their child attend and to swiftly raise any issues or concerns with your child’s Home Group teacher.

Ben Dray
Head of Middle School

Senior Stories

Adaptability in Senior School

By Michael Francis

In the staged start to the year, I’ve been really impressed by our senior students. Our Year 12 students welcomed each other and new staff back to campus in week 1, and most significantly welcomed many of our new students in Years 7 and 8 to the College too. This sense of welcome was again evident when our Year 10 and 11 students returned to campus, with a great sense of hospitality.

This is wonderful to see in our Year of Loyalty, where we can all demonstrate loyalty to our Mercy Tradition through the quality and authenticity of the welcome extended to those new to our community. It is a challenge I extend to our students to maintain throughout 2022.

Adaptability in the Senior School
Adaptation has been a key theme and this sense of being nimble and adaptable sits well with me from my experience with the SACE Business Innovation courses taught at Mercedes College. Widely applied in our approach to 2022, I encourage all students to focus on making the most of their time in classes, the relationships with their teachers and their abilities to readily engage with and access the curriculum.

Parent communication and collaboration
At our recent Parent Information Evening (15 February) for Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12, we were delighted to see so many parents join us online to engage with our vision for the year ahead and to explore some of the key aspects ahead for our students. A great deal of information was shared with presentations by our Year Level Leaders in the Senior School. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s Home Group teacher, Year Level Leader or me. This image is a handy reminder of the key people and primary channels of communication for your student, and the depth of support provided by experienced people in the interest of your child.

Helpful online resources include:

• HeadSpace
• Managing transition from school to post school life fact sheet
• Advice for Families from the Commissioner for Children and Young people

Restorative Practices
As part of our Year Level Leaders and Home Group teacher presentations, we talked about our Restorative Practices approach when communicating with young people. This approach fosters a structured conversation about our shared responsibility in living and working together in the school, and how this shared experience can shape our relationships together.

The Restorative Practices approach seeks to build an understanding of different perspectives in conflict resolution and build capacity in us all to maintain positive and respectful relationships. Restorative conversations may be held between students and staff in response to matters of personal responsibility, and these conversations may also take place with parents if matters remain unresolved. You can learn more about restorative practices by watching this clip.

Active academic support for students
A variety of Academic Support services are available for our Senior School students. These will be available from mid-Term 1, providing support for students. A combination of access may be beneficial.
Information about each follows, with After School work sessions detailed information available online. (add parent info doc for After school work sessions)

Homework Club
Monday to Friday at lunch time in Room F303, students may choose to come along for help/a quiet place to work or students may be directed to attend by their subject teacher if work for a class needs completing. These sessions are an opportunity to catch-up and remind students that set work needs to be completed. 

Maths Help
Also in Room F303 Monday to Friday at lunch, students can access Maths faculty staff for some support or to assist in preparing for pending assessment.

Study Skills
This is where for students can talk with recent Old Scholars with a record of achievement. It is an opportunity to meet after school from 3:30pm to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and get some study advice, time management tips, subject specific assistance and overall support in completing senior school assessment tasks. Students access the Senior Study space (Room GA305) for this support.

After School work sessions
These sessions follow a formal request for a student to attend between 3:30pm and 5pm, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, if a summative deadline is missed or continued issues arise in the completion of formative work to prepare for assessment.

Parents will be notified via SEQTA Direct Message if their child is expected to attend, and this forms an early intervention for students at academic risk.

Reminders: Parking and Uniform
Students have been asked to remain very mindful of their interactions with our neighbours when driving and parking in the surrounding streets. This is particularly important this year as we embark on our building project which will impact parking on our campus. Please talk with your child about the importance of respectful interactions, car parking rules and working collaboratively with our community. Some advice has been shared directly with students through ManageBac about this.

To guard against the impact of UV radiation, students are asked to wear a hat when they’re outside in Terms 1 and 4 during their recess and lunch breaks. This applies to all Mercedes College students. Please remind your child of the need to wear a hat and ensure they have it with them each day.

Clarification – students at home
With some students needing to study from home while quarantining or isolating, just a reminder they can remain connected to their studies by accessing lesson information, task sheets, assessment tasks and class notes via ManageBac.

While teachers leading students learning on campus are not expected to also deliver an online class for anyone at home, students can engage with their teacher/s via email and ManageBac.

Michael Francis
Head of Senior School

Director of Mission

Reflection | Mercy Key of Loyalty

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This reflection was written by our liturgist, Sister Duyen Nguyen on the readings chosen for our Staff Liturgy which also launched our Mercy Key of Loyalty for 2022.

The first reading is a quote from Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, and the Gospel reading is John 15:5-8,12. 

“I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit…” (Jn 15:5).

What a powerful image, which beautifully reflects our Mercy key of Loyalty – Being Loyal to our Global Family – that we are focusing on this year.

There are many stories in the Gospels telling us about Jesus, a great model of loyalty. This particular teaching, according to John’s Gospel, Jesus is speaking with his friends around the last supper table, a few hours before he is to be arrested, and is crucified on the cross. Jesus’ death on the cross is a great example of his loyalty to his Father, to God’s will and love for the world. Before leaving this world, Jesus commands all of us “Love each other as I have loved you”.

Therefore, loyalty needs to go with Love. A committed married couple can’t be fully loyal to each other without having love for each other. We can’t fully commit ourselves to teaching if we don’t love children or don’t love teaching at all. If we see teaching as a job and do it because we have to, we will soon be drained out, but if we see it as a call or a vocation, we will do it with passion, with love, joy and fulfilment. 

The image of the vine and the branches also gives us a sense of team, of interconnection. All are important, all have a contribution to make, something to offer to the bigger community. In order to bear much fruit, we must be active parts of the vine, open to seeing and nurturing the gifts of others. All the branches are different. Embracing diversity is also a part of our call to Being Loyal to our Global Family.

How can we, the branches, stay connected to Jesus, the vine? Prayer! Prayer will help us stay connected to Jesus, the vine, and God’s words in the Scriptures is our study manual. Being a branch of that vine, means becoming one with God. Therefore, God is the centre of our lives.

This will lead us to our second symbol of Loyalty, the compass, from a quote of Catherine McAuley: “We should be as the compass that goes round its circle without stirring from its centre. Our centre is God, from whom all our actions should spring as from their source”.

As a Catholic and a Mercy school, being a branch of Mercedes College community, we need to abide (to be loyal) to our Mercedes Catholic identity and Mercy tradition. Our teaching programs and our treatment and relationship with one another need to reflect the core value of our College.

Our College motto is: Loyal En Tout – Loyal in all things. Also, at Mercedes, we use Mercy Keys to help set what is important to us. We celebrate Class Mass/ Class Liturgy every Friday, and Morning Prayers daily. We also celebrate Mercy Week with various activities to raise funds for charity and end the week with the whole school Mercy Day Mass celebration.

Learning from Catherine McAuley – as the compass always sticks to the centre, and its centre is God – we are called to place our trust in God, to ask for God’s guidance, and to learn from Jesus, in order to produce our work, our teaching and learning and our actions that always reflect God’s love.

Recently, you may have heard about the death of Sr Janet Mead, a Sister of Mercy in Adelaide. She was best known for recording a pop-rock version of The Lord’s Prayer and won the Golden Gospel Award in 2004. Her life and work is an excellent example of loyalty to God’s call in her, as a follower of Jesus Christ and Catherine McAuley.

Sister Duyen Nguyen, RSM
February 2022

Good Sports

Developing through sport

By Tamae Ninos and Josh Archer

Welcome to Sport for 2022! It is great to see so many of our students participating in sport.  Across our Girls teams alone we have 4 Water Polo teams, 5 Basketball teams, 5 Volleyball teams and 8 Touch Football teams competing this season. We're all looking forward to the continued development of all students through sport.

A warm welcome to our new Sport/PE ESO’s, Amanda Langton and Scott Tunbridge.
Amanda’s been with the College for a number of years, working in our Junior School Office, McAuley Office and now our Sport Office.

Scott joins us with great enthusiasm and a wealth of sport knowledge, having played Soccer at a high level for many years. Please contact Amanda or Scott with your sport queries.

Stack Team App
To stay up to date with training and fixtures, please use the Stack Team App (Mercedes College Girls’ Sport / Mercedes College Boys’ Sport) and join the ‘Access Groups’ for the sports your child plays. All sport / team information is available on Stack Team App.

Training and games

Student attendance is compulsory for all team training sessions and games.

If you’re unable to train or play, please contact your coach as early as possible in advance of sessions / games. The contact number for your coach is on Stack Team App under the ‘Training/Coach Information’ tab.

Where students are absent from the College, you must inform the College. Please also let us know if they will miss any training sessions or games – this is particularly important if absent on a Friday.

A reminder that morning training sessions start at 7.15am.

Athletics and Swimming training
Swimming and Athletics training is available for all students from Year 7-12.

Athletics trainings is each Tuesday and Thursday morning from 7.15am with specialist coaches on Monday morning for Javelin and Pole Vault. With our Athletics carnival in Week 6 it’s a great time to prepare, as well as providing sound pre-season fitness for our Winter sport students. Our Athletics Coordinator is Werner Geldenhuys.

Swimming training is each Tuesday and Friday morning at Unley Swimming Centre from 7:15am. A bus transports the students to school just after 8am once training has finished. We look forward to seeing as many students train as possible – it’s a great way to meet new people and keep fit.

Our Swimming Coordinator is Laura Bartholomew.

Winter Sport nominations
Winter Sport nominations will open from next week so please check your SEQTA inbox for the nomination form and complete it as soon as possible.

Please talk with your children about the sports they wish to play, as it is important that you're aware of their participation commitments.

Parents of students in Reception to Year 6 will need to complete the Winter Sport nomination form online by following the link.

Students in Years 7 to 12 will need to complete the nomination form with their parents. The Winter Sport nomination form link will be sent to parents via SEQTA direqt message and require the student’s Mercedes log in details to be completed.

Netball trials will be held from Week 6-8. Please refer to Stack Team App for details, with further information updates to be provided.

Student Achievements

South Australian Track & Field State Championships
Ava Barton (Year 8 - pictured) has been selected to complete at the Athletics National Championships in Sydney. Recently Ava competed at the South Australian State Track and Field Championships and won Bronze medals for the 200m, 200m Hurdles and Javelin. Congratulations Ava and all the best for Nationals in late March.

Hayley Fuss (Year 7) achieved silver medals in the Under 14 100m final and the 200m final at the South Australian State Track and Field Championships.

Layla Kinnane (Year 11) won three gold medals at the South Australian Track and Field Championships coming first in the 100m, 200m and 400m finals. Well done Layla!

Olivia Sandery (Class of 2020) competed at the South Australian State Track and Field Championships coming first in the Women’s Under 20 5000m Walk Final, breaking the State record with a time of 21:49.41. Olivia also won a gold medal in the Open Women’s 10000m Walk final and has been selected in the Australian team to compete at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championship in Muscat, Oman.

Oliver Dixon (Year 8) won a gold medal in the U/15 200m final and won a bronze medal in the U/15 100m final.

Hayden Howard (Year 12) won a gold medal for the U/20 men javelin with a throw of 44.85m.

Darcy Miller (Class of 2021) also competed, winning a gold medal in the U/20 men’s shotput (6kg) recording his best throw at 14.63m. He also won gold in the U/20 men’s discus (1.75kg) throwing 55.56m.

Congratulations on your achievements and we look forward to watching you perform for years to come!

Congratulations to –

Violet Patterson (Year 11) debuted for Glenelg Football Club in February, playing against Norwood Football Club. Violet joined our Girls Football programme in Year 6 and is a strong member of our team. Violet has also recently been selected in the Under 18 State Squad.

Sophie Whitwell (Class of 2021) debuted on Saturday for WWT Eagles in the SANFLW against Sturt Football Club. Sophie was a member of our Girls Football programme from Year 8 and a strong defender.

Georgia Emes (Year 8), Rosie O’Neil (Year 8), Zara Downes (Year 8) and Millie Park (Year 9) for being selected into the Aish Football Academy. Selected on their previous performance and club nominations, these students will now train three times per week with the academy. This seems them engage in two skills sessions plus one gym session per week, supplemented with a mindset and nutrition zoom meeting twice a month.

Well done Georgia, Rosie, Zara and Millie, and we're really looking forward to seeing you play for our Mercedes College Football team during the Winter season.

First Aid
Before training and games please provide your coach with any personal medication (including puffers and epi-pens) so they’re close to hand if required.

Cheer you on ...
Share your achievements via email or phone us, so our Mercedes Community can cheer you on!

Tamae Ninos
Middle School Teacher
Secondary Girls Sport Coordinator
T 8433 1322
E tninos@mercedes.catholic.edu.au

Josh Archer
Middle School Teacher
Secondary Boys Sport Coordinator
T 0406 249 459
jarcher@mercedes.catholic.edu.au

Wellbeing

Family Matters

By Anne Way

It has been lovely to finally have students back on campus, after a very different start to the school year. We welcome all families, especially those who are new to our College community this year, and extend every best wish for a rewarding 2022 school year.

Mercedes College is the only South Australian school employing two full-time Educational and Developmental Psychologists on staff.  In order to ensure that our community flourishes, we work in consultation and collaboration with College staff, students, parents and external providers to:

• ensure our pastoral care and teaching programme planning addresses student need and is informed by evidence based best practice
• identify key findings and recommendations from diagnostic assessment reports for teachers and specialist staff, in order to shape appropriate learning  programmes, adjustments and accommodations
• conduct assessments to identify a range of learning and social-emotional challenges
• participate in the development and review of Personalised Plans for Learning
• design, implement and evaluate programmes of intervention to address identified student wellbeing concerns
• design and deliver staff professional development opportunities relevant to student psychological health and wellbeing
• facilitate parent information and education opportunities
• support students through individual, confidential counselling from Years 4 to 12
• support referrals to external providers and with consent, liaise with providers to ensure that relevant strategies and support are provided at school
• support teachers to implement accommodations to support the learning and wellbeing of each student in the classroom and in the school yard

As Psychologists registered with the Psychology Board of Australia, through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and Members of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), we undertake our work within professional practice regulations and ethical requirements.

We ensure that we confidentially manage sensitive, personal information, as well as counselling contact. As necessary, and with informed consent, this information can be shared with relevant staff and external providers, strictly on a need to know basis.

Written records of our contact with students are kept for our professional use and these are maintained in secure files. We ensure that students understand the confidential nature of the counselling relationship and the circumstances under which information must be shared with parents and relevant others.

Given the size of our community and the diversity of needs at any given time, we can provide time-limited individual student counselling and case management support, determined on a needs-basis. Teachers and parents can request contact, or students may self-refer. Where support that is more intensive may be required, we can assist families with accessing external providers. Please note that there is a wait list for our service, however we utilise a comprehensive process to ensure that requests for support are relevant and seen in a timely manner.

The foundation for wellbeing and flourishing is laid when a sense of belonging and positive relationships are formed, so to that end, we strongly encourage parents to raise relevant student and family information which may impact academic progress, social interactions, health and wellbeing with the Class or Home Group Teacher in the first instance. This can include changed family circumstances, student or family health issues, or emerging psychological health concerns.

Our Family Matters column will continue to feature information about a range of resources, programmes and services that can support the challenging task of parenting, which we will supplement with modules from School TV which are available on the College website. As we commence the new school year, we particularly commend the School Transitions module located at: https://mercedes.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/school-transitions

It is a privilege to work in our unique roles at Mercedes College, and we wish all families a safe, happy and productive 2022.

Anne Way
Director of Wellbeing | College Psychologist (R-12)

Andrea Fairlie
College Psychologist (R-12)