College Leadership

The halfway point

By Andrew Balkwill Email this article

Marking the achievements of the year so far

And just like that, Term 2 comes to an end. Across the College there’s been a hive of activity in all our classrooms, on excursions and camps, as well as sporting competitions and carnivals, exam preparations and work experience.

This Term started with the annual assessment for our students in Year 3, 5, 7 and 9. NAPLAN tests skills in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy. Results will be available from August, with all testing from 2023 to be held online and scheduled nationally in March.

In our Senior School, students had fun together singing and dancing at the Senior Social. Through SA Health’s immunisation program, Year 10 students received their Meningococcal vaccines – they’ve also been on camp and undertaken their BDO Australia Career Guidance assessment. The Year 10 dance performance was a new and exciting addition to the College performance calendar, with congratulations to everyone involved.

Year 11s have completed community service and one week of work experience, with placements across multiple industries and sectors providing valuable insight.

A number of our very talented Year 12 students performed their assessed music recitals this month after weeks of practicing and honing their craft. It was an auditory treat to have the parlour in Strathspey House filled with their playing, and I know everyone who attended enjoyed each performance. Well done.

On the sporting field win, lose or draw there have been some great contests, games and amazing individual and team performances. Well done to all of our teams competing.

Earlier this month the entire Middle School joined together in an Assembly – the first time the entire cohort had enjoyed this experience in 2022. Our Year 9 students have also been on camp, and participated in our 10 week programme questioning stereotypes, reflecting on relationships, and discussing issues as wide ranging as bullying, media and social influences and how to build resilience.

Students who participate benefit from switching-off from the pressures of adolescence through conscious and intelligent discussion and activities. For example our Year 9 boys join together to manage their journey into manhood in a positive and respectful way, with a strong focus on health and social education, with their weekly workshops a place of open, authentic conversations, where important topics are explored, and life skills developed.

The benefits of an indoor swimming venue were celebrated mid-June with our Year 6 to Year 12 Swimming Carnival at Marion. Students competed in individual events, relays and loved the aquatic obstacle course.

Throughout the Term our Year 4 students in our Junior School have had a rich experience learning about the environment by regularly visiting Brownhill Creek. Then, just last week our Junior School turned tricolore, marking a very special day as students visited France through fun activities. Congratulations to everyone who wore their highly creative costumes to school for French Day!

Activities across the day included visiting amazing French monuments created from recycled materials (Reception) and enjoying edible treats (Year 4). Our Year 5 students flew their parachutes from their classroom balcony while Year 3 students made sticky – and delicious –meringues with Monsieur Lefevre. Year 2 students participated in the Tour de Scooter, traversing a replica course of well-known landmarks, yet never tiring!

Thank you to everyone who has kindly and generously supported our 2022 Annual Giving Appeal. By continuing to invest in technology, and facilities, our  learning spaces evolve to meet our students' changing needs.

With modifications to the Dalton Building our new state-of-the-art 3D Printer and Laser Cutter will be installed, creating a Design Tech Hub for our students to use as they learn across the curriculum.

This month Kennett Builders will start work on our $25 million high performance Arts and Sports Precinct. This marks a significant and exciting period for Mercedes College, as we build contemporary and flexible learning spaces where students can flourish:

• By performing in our new arts centre.
• Learning and competing in our new indoor sports complex.
• Training and playing on our new outdoor netball and tennis courts.
• Celebrating achievements in our new community plaza.

The Precinct is due to be complete in early 2024 – a fitting milestone to celebrate 70 years of students flourishing at Mercedes College.

Kennett Builders will fence the Precinct build site during the winter school holidays, with temporary changes to how you can access the College from the start of Term 3.

From Term 3 on-site parking will be significantly reduced, with access temporarily restricted. Around 50 per cent of staff will park off-site and walk onto campus via our two pedestrian entrances. Students who drive to school will also need to park off-site and walk onto campus, using either the Delamere Avenue pedestrian gate or Carrick Hill/Fullarton Road entrance.

Students in Year 4 and above will need to walk into the campus grounds via a pedestrian entrance, as Kiss-and-Drop will be reserved for Reception to Year 3 students (including siblings) only, and only in the mornings. The main car park will be reserved for staff use only from 8am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Regular school bus services and buses to off-site sports training/games will arrive and depart in a newly-formed bus zone inside this entrance. Please remember to slow down when passing school buses stopped to set down or pick up children.

We will continue to supervise the Delamere Avenue Emu Crossing and Kiss-and-Drop zone each morning and afternoon, as well as the Carrick Hill Drive/Fullarton Road pedestrian access entrance, and immediate surrounds.

We will regularly communicate with you as the build progresses. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience as we bring this major development to fruition.

Wishing all our families a restful winter break. We look forward to seeing everyone on campus ready for more learning from Monday 25 July 2022.

Thank you

Andrew Balkwill
Principal