Mercedes Old Scholars finding success

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SA Top 40 under 40 Business Leaders

Congratulations to Lauren Whiting (nee Springbett, Class of 1999), Adam Maney (Class of 2001) and Davie Fogarty (Class of 2012) who have been named in the InDaily Top 40 Under 40 Young Business Leaders in SA.

	Lauren is an oncology physiotherapist who is the founder of Lift Cancer Care Services. She has made an amazing difference to cancer patients' overall well being and survival.
	Adam is the CEO of Cabana Productions. He has done wonderful work directing and producing a documentary for Reconciliation SA and the Department of Child Protection, exploring the impact of Indigenous child placement on children and communities.
	Davie is the CEO of The Davie Group responsible for The Oodie and Calming Blankets. With The Oodie becoming a "lockdown essential" Davie has since acquired new brands to build The Davie Group which has over $400 million in sales.

* Photos by Davie Fogarty

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Old Scholars on College Tours
It is fantastic to see a growing number of Old Scholars attending our College Tours with a view to enrolling their children at Mercedes College.

Old scholar and current parent Jenny Norris (nee Meehan, Class of 1999) was welcomed by Year 12 student Isabelle at our most recent tour.

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Anne Morse
MOSA Executive Officer

School Holiday Tennis Coaching Clinics

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Coaching Clinic sessions for children aged 5 to 16 years

Come and have some fun learning tennis, or refining your skills, at Coaching Clinics these holidays.

Colonel Light West Tennis Club (45A Penang Avenue, Colonol Light Gardens)
Week one: Tuesday 12, Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 July
Week two: Tuesday 19, Wednesday 13 and Thursday 21 July

Session	Time	Cost
Red Ball Approx. age 5-8yrs	10:30am to 11:30am	$60/week for all clinics (Tue, Wed, Thu) $25/clinic (casual)
Orange/Green Ball Approx. age 9-11yrs	11:30am to 12:30pm	$60/week for all clinics (Tue, Wed, Thu) $25/clinic (casual)
Yellow Ball Approx. age 12-16yrs	12:30pm to 1:30pm	$60/week for all clinics (Tue, Wed, Thu) $25/clinic (casual)

Please bring a racquet (one can be provided one if you don't have your own), drink bottle and hat.

Enquiries and bookings to Damien Page: 0407 184 781 or damien@dptennis.com.au

To book simply send email Damien your child's name and date of birth, parent/guardian's name and phone number.

Payment is required prior to the first lesson.

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Damien Page
Director of Tennis

Stop the flu before it stops you

By Mercedes College

Free flu vaccinations available but only until 31 July

In addition to the ongoing awareness of COVID-19 and its variants, we all need to remain vigilant about the influenza virus (commonly known as the flu).

Flu can spread very easily and quickly through coughing, talking, and contact with contaminated hands, and tissues etc. It can cause serious illness in anyone, but some people are at higher risk of serious infection, complications and hospitalisation.

Consider taking advantage of SA Health's free flu vaccines - available until 31 July 2022.

More information can be found on SA Health's website.

Move Learn Grow at Mercedes College

By Mercedes College

A movement clinic for pre-schoolers

MOVE LEARN GROW is a program for 4 year olds that combines Physical Education with paediatric Occupational Therapy to promote growth in movement skills, body awareness, and fine and gross motor skills.

Weekly 45 minute sessions are coming to Mercedes College next semester, with the option for a free come-and-try first session in Term 3. If you're interested in joining this program, call us on 8372 3200 to book your place.

Term 3	Term 4
Fridays Junior School Hall Session1: 8:15am to 9am Session 2: 9:10am to 9:55am Session 3: 10am to 10:45am	Fridays Junior School Hall Session1: 8:15am to 9am Session 2: 9:10am to 9:55am Session 3: 10am to 10:45am
Total package $460 (incl. a motor proficiency assessment) Continuing students $280 You may be able to claim sessions on your private health fund.	Total package $460 (incl. a motor proficiency assessment) Continuing students $210 You may be able to claim sessions on your private health fund.
Starting Friday 5 August 2022 Week 2 to Week 9	Starting Friday 28 October 2022 Week 1 to Week 6

Year 11 work experience

By Bill Deegan

Placements provided across a variety of industries

Our Year 11 students completed a week of work experience in Week 9 of this term and we were thrilled, as we are each year, to have placements provided by current and past parents/caregivers. The time, effort, and generosity shown by these organisations in accommodating our students is highly valued, and greatly appreciated.

A big thank you to all workplace providers, a large number of whom are part of our Mercedes College community, and a warm welcome to three new providers – SIS Systems, RSL Care SA, and Karkoo Nursery – who between them placed 15 students! 

Bill Deegan
Student Pathways Coordinator

Changes to Campus access from Term 3

By Mercedes College

Building high performance 

With construction of our new $25 million high performance Arts and Sports Precinct to start soon, Kennett Builders will fence the Precinct build site during the winter school holidays, temporarily changing access to Mercedes College from the beginning of Term 3. This information has been provied to all families via SEQTA Direqt Message.

Key notes:

• On-site parking will be significantly reduced, with around 50 per cent of staff, and all students who drive to school, needing to park off-site and walk into the campus.
• Kiss-and-Drop will be available in the mornings only, and restricted to Reception to Year 3 families (including siblings).
• The Carrick Hill Drive/Fullarton Road entrance will be reduced to pedestrian access only.

Click here to download the full details about what to expect, including a map of the campus.

College Leadership

The halfway point

By Andrew Balkwill

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

Junior Journeys

Finding some time for balance

By Kellie Osborn

Reflecting on achievements and events

Active learning develops our students' autonomy and abilities that help them become lifelong learners. It also gives students a greater involvement and control, increasing their desire to learn and their ability to retain information. By placing our students front and centre in their own education, and by making learning both relevant and fun, they want to know more and explore, ask questions and seek answers. It is an enormous privilege for us to join our students on their learning journey and to facilitate their inquiries.

During the holidays, our IB Learner Profile attribute of ‘Balanced’ comes to mind. After a busy Term, I encourage you and your families to counter this dynamic and active learning process with a period of rest, relaxation, restoration, and rejuvenation. Looking ahead, Term 3 will be filled with a plethora of inquiries and adventures, and so time spent balancing this practical learning with rest is essential.

Have a wonderful break and we look forward to seeing you all again from Monday 25 July 2022.

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Inspiring learning opportunities at Brownhill Creek
Our Year 4 students have been undertaking fortnightly excursions to Brownhill Creek as part of their Unit of Inquiry ‘Who we are’. Through this unit they consider what it is to be a global citizen, the rights and responsibilities of humans as global citizens; and how we can take action and contribute locally.

During the course of the Term, and with the support of experts, teachers and our supportive Year 4 parents, these afternoon excursions have provided them with a plethora of activities and experiences.

• They worked with the inspiring Jeremy Gramp from Green Adelaide who spoke to students about the local flora and fauna. His passionate delivery ensured complex topics remained interesting and students remained engaged. He has also supported us on excursion at Brownhill Creek in investigating insects, bugs and the wider environment.
• They met Andrew Tilley who spoke about the history of the area, the Kaurna Tree, and the viewing platform he was building.
• They have been thrilled to recently begin learning about the Bolstering Bandicoot project. Our thanks to the Environment Institute’s Dr Jasmin Packer and her ‘Bandi Bunch’ team (including Hayley Jose and university volunteers) who have led this project.
• They have explored the habitat (by the blackberry and habitat enclosure).
• They have learned how to identify animal signs (scats and tracks).
• They are discovering how bandicoots are important for the ecosystem – diggings, eating fungi.
• They have had a focus on the habitat and the importance of dense vegetation, helping with bush care (removing broom weed).

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A French Day to remember!
French Day is always a highlight of our calendar and each year it exceeds expectations, providing a wonderful celebration of the French language and culture.

With uniforms swapped for costumes and all things tricolore, the day opened with an assembly, where students could showcase their learning in ways as diverse as French songs, dance, and comedy.

Further to this, each year level experienced a unique French activity (below), then the older students engaged in a friendly petanque tournament.

Reception	Making French monuments with recycled materials
Year 1	Making French perfume
Year 2	Tour de Scooter, complete with replica landmarks
Year 3	French cooking with Monsieur LeFevre
Year 4	Making French monuments with edible materials
Year 5	Making parachutes and French fashion with recycled materials

The day was a great success with students, staff, and parents embracing the spirit of the event.

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Year 3 Cultural Experience Day
Another important IB Learner Profile attribute is being open-minded. In the classroom students are reminded of the importance of listening to the opinions, ideas and perspectives of others, understanding that it is only through listening to others that we are able to expand our view of the world around us.

This culturally diverse day marked the finale of their current Unit of Inquiry. We welcomed parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and cousins, who attended to share a traditional activity that is special to their family. Many cultures were represented through Greek sweets and desserts, Italian pasta, Persian writing, Japanese origami, Chinese lanterns, Dutch biscuits, and Indigenous games.

We are so thankful to these volunteers for giving their time so generously in support of our students' learning.

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Kellie Osborn
Head of Junior School

Middle Moments

Reflecting on a semester completed

By Ben Dray

Some highlights from our busy start to 2022

Semester 1 Report 
In recent weeks, Middle School students been finishing their assessment tasks and teachers have been finalising grading for end of semester reports.

The Semester 1 Report includes a detailed academic summation for the end of Term 2 which provides students with the levels attained in each criterion, and a grade (1-7) for each subject. Home Group teachers supplement the academic report with a summary pastoral comment.

During the break, please talk with your child about their report, and reflect together on the learning undertaken so far this year.

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Online Safety 
An essential aspect of global citizenship in the 21st century is to be safe online. At school, we have regular discussions with students around making safe choices about their online reputation and positive interactions with peers. We understand the continued need for us to support our families and College community to use technology safely in all aspects of their lives.

Focusing on the Mercy Value of Mutual Respect, we encourage our students to: 

• Treat others as they want to be treated online; always using care and respect in order to be a good online citizen. 

• Never use their device to bully, intimidate, or upset someone. Respect other’s digital property and space. 

• Before sending a photo or video of themselves or others, think about how they would feel if parents, teachers, or peers saw it. If in doubt, don’t send it.  

• Talk with parents and teachers about what they are doing online. 

• Help to create a culture of digital respect at school and among their peers. 

I recommend eSafetyparents, a great resource for advice about helping children have safe experiences online. There's also an eSafety guide that includes helpful information about the latest apps and games, and how to report abusive content. 

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Year 9 Break Free and Being Boys Programmes 
In Week 9 a number of students embarked on the Break Free and Being Boys Camps.

In the Break Free Programme, there were great discussions about issues, inlcuding body image, self-esteem, and the media. The programme aims to challenge some of the ideas the media presents about and enables our students to make further connections with each other.

In the Being Boys programme, students are provided opportunities to deal with their journey into manhood both positively and respectfully. The programme aims to deconstruct some of the contradictory expectations being placed on young men in today’s society, and empower them through the use of conversation and coping strategies. 

Both camps were hugely successful and the students gained a greater understanding of themselves and others. A special thanks to Sarah Hartlett and Damian Vahlis for their strong commitment to our Year 9 students in coordinating these programmes effectively.

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I hope the term break enables families to enjoy spending extra time together, and I look forward to seeing the students again at the beginning of Term 3, re-energised and ready to progress with their learning in the second half of the year.  Have a safe and well-deserved break. 

Ben Dray
Head of Middle School

Senior Stories

A focus on health, innovation and critical thinking

By Michael Francis

Building thoughtful, resilient learners

Health Education – a valuable pursuit
In the previous issue of Mercy Vine, I spoke about Paul Dillon's visit as a nationally recognised voice in the area of Drug and Alcohol Education. Part of his message to students highlighted the growing prevalence of vaping in our society, with young people increasingly exposed to the risks of vapes or e-cigarettes. Since this time, there have been several media reports about this issue in our society.

At Mercedes College we continue to challenge students to respond to these issues by drawing upon the Mercy Keys. Students are aware that the using vapes and e-cigarettes breaches our Drug Education Policy, and that as a College we are committed to granting everyone access to a safe and healthy learning environment.

You can find out more, and sort vaping fact from fiction, by visiting Paul's website.

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Innovative students
Year 10 students Chloe Dowd, Violet Salvemini, Sara Elleway, and Claire Davies represented Mercedes College at a recent Future Thinkers Innovation Summit. Throughout this experience, students were challenged to develop innovative thinking skills, problem solving tools, and collaboration techniques to identify aspects of health and wellbeing that could be improved. As a result, several ideas were explored to bring to Student Representation at Mercedes College and we look forward to seeing these leaders build on these skills in the coming months.

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International Student Programme
Five of our current international students, Amin (Iran), Katrina (Hong Kong), and Ginevra, Riccardo and Benedetta (all from Italy), developed their critical thinking and research skills recently in preparation for their Research Project in Stage 2 SACE.

Intensive workshops on developing research questions, recording and evaluating research methods and determining validity in sources will help these students as they develop their project in Semester 2. Some teamwork and problem-solving activities were also part of the week, led by Year 11 Leader James Burdon.

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Enjoy your mid-year break and we look forward to seeing you for Term 3.

Michael Francis
Head of Senior School

Director of Mission

Taking our Mercy Keys into the community

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Living our Mercy values

“Living in community means living in such a way that others can access me and influence my life. It means that I can get 'out of myself' and serve the lives of others. Community is a world where kinship with each other is possible.”
Richard Rohr

There are so many ways we work in the community, promoting our sense of College community, and reaching out to people, assisting those who appreciate our care, time, and Mercy spirit.

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Year 11 Community Service
Year 11 Community Service (for SACE students) has come to an end, and the feedback from local communities and the students themselves articulates the authentic way that we live  the Mercy values.

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Year 8 Reflection Day
The Year 8 cohort recently enjoyed a wonderful Reflection Day at St Paul’s Monastery, Urrbrae. Students wrote their versions of the ‘Our Father’ using modern terminology and expressions. The students' efforts working together, being loyal to God, and the spirit of our Mercy community were all on display, with creative visual expressions of faith, peace, love and loyalty created in groups using their bodies or the natural world.

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Year 12 Seminar Day
Healthy relationships, a part of our Made in the image of God (MITIOG) programme, were a focus at the Year 12 Seminar Day at St Francis Xavier Cathedral Hall in Adelaide. SACE Religion Studies students also attended morning mass in the Cathedral led by Father Dean Marin, our current Vicar General.

Student observations:

• On our second Seminar day, we further explored consent, effects of alcohol on consent, healthy relationships, first love, peer pressure, societal pressure and stereotypes. – Jett
• We discussed what a healthy relationship can be like and how viewing pornography impacts the way people think [about relationships]. – Rodger
• I really enjoyed the interactive and group activities. – Eric
• We enjoyed most of the activities, as we were able to bond as a year level and think critically about the challenges we faced in relationships, platonic and romantic. – Amelie
• I really appreciated when we were put into groups and given envelopes which contained scenarios which we would then label media, real life and ideal society which we would have to discuss with the group where to place, to check if all were in agreement (or not). – Evan
• My highlight of the day was the relaxed environment of the day which allowed people to feel comfortable to contribute to group discussions. – Maddie
• I found it beneficial to hear other people's perspectives on relationships and know that we all had similar ideas of how we should treat each another. It was nice to be able to talk in smaller groups too, for the ideal world activity, because it helped us to realise some existing issues in our society. In all, they were all relevant topics. – Maisie

Thank you to Therese Wilson, Director of Mission, Michael Francis, Head of Senior School, Holly Potter, Year 12 Coordinator, and all the wonderful Year 12 tutors and Life and Faith and Religious Education teachers, for coming along to support our Class of 2022, as well as their personal input, generosity of heart and Mercy spirit on the day.

Helen Ayliffe
Learning Area Leader | Religious Education Years 10-12

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Therese Wilson
Director of Mission

Good Sports

Girls secondary sport a knockout

By Tamae Ninos

Recent achievements and Term 2 results

Pink Round
In support of Australians affected by breast cancer, Mercedes College joined SAAS and SACSSGSA to raise awareness for the Pink Round across all sports in Week 8 (22 to 25 June 2022).

Our teams were provided with pink ribbons to wear in their hair and were encouraged to wear as much pink as they could in a way that positively represented the school and it was great to see so many players, coaches and parents supporting the initiative.

The Pink Round aims to generate discussion around breast screening and show support for the 20,000+ women and men diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia every year.

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Open Girls Netball Knockout Report
In late May the Open A Netball team travelled to St Michael’s to compete in the first round of the SA School Knockout Competition. Mercedes College has, in the past, been well regarded in this competition and even won the grand final in 2018, but in recent years we have struggled to regain this title. The Open As team was therefore eager to return to the finals day and begin a new legacy of excellence within the Mercedes College netball community.

Game 1 vs Cedar College | Cedar proved to be a fast opposition, posing a challenge for our defenders to slow down their ball movement. As the girls began to take control of the tempo of the game, they also took a convincing lead by the end of the first quarter. From there the task was to maintain and build on this lead, particularly as it was likely that the day's results would come down to percentage. Mia Tuhou-King provided composure within the goal circle demonstrating excellent accuracy, proving herself to be a pivotal element in what became a convincing win.

Game 2 vs St Michaels | The girls entered game 2 with confidence following their win and, with only 30 minutes recovery, were able to come together to play four great quarters. St Michaels had a strong defence that made it difficult to transition down the court, leading to their six-goal victory. Despite the result, our defensive pressure worked tirelessly to break down their attack line. Special recognition goes to Laura Spicer, who was our last line of defence in GK and provided relentless defensive effort to consistently turn ball and allow opportunities to score goals. The girls left everything out on the court and we look forward to facing this team in our Saturday morning competition.

Game 3 vs Westminster | Our final match was undoubtedly the most challenging game of the day. Westminster is one of the most regarded school teams in the state, and our girls faced them with the pressure of added fatigue of prior games. Our opposition cemented their position on the scoreboard early, however our girls adapted to their challenging defence and at times were a match for the Westminster team. Emerson McDougall proved to be an asset with her agility, ball handling and decision making. I commend her tenacity and her willingness to maintain her best netball despite the score.

Westminster ultimately took out the game however, it was a privilege to watch the girls develop their skills and connections both on and off the court. While we were unsuccessful in progressing to the next round of knockout, I am immensely proud of the girls hard work and resilience. As a team we look forward to refocusing on our Saturday morning competition and hopefully continuing to find success in our so far undefeated season.

Jessie Grenvold
Open A Coach

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Open Girls Football Knockout Report
Our Open Girls Football team were faced with a cold and windy day for their SA School Knockout Competition at Blackwood High School. With a number of team members graduating last year, the team had a fresh look about it with several girls making their debut.

Game 1 vs Henley High School | Henley proved to be too strong, playing a level above in both skills and work rate. Our team showed plenty of heart against the stronger opposition, with plenty of players having some really important moments throughout the game. The midfield trio of Maddie Box, Violet Patterson and Sophia McArthur were outstanding, winning plenty of contested football and getting forward momentum. Millie McCarthy was dominant in the air and stopped many Henley attacks and, in her debut game, Emma Fox played fantastically and built her confidence as the day went on. Our captain Grace Kemish played her typical physical game and provided plenty of rebound from the backline in what ended as a six-goal loss.

Game 2 vs Blackwood High School | The girls had a point to prove in their second game and from the opening bounce played with a great balance of hardness and skill. The girls played a fantastic team-first brand of football, winning by six goals with plenty of special moments throughout. Clementine Miller played her best game for the school, with a dominant performance in the ruck, along with Phoebe Holliday who stood out in the forward line. Phoebe was well supported by the talented duo of Coco Taylor and Zara Downes, who were dangerous all game and finished with some classy goals. Ava Barton and Paris Young were everywhere around the ground and had plenty of attacking plays with the football in hand. Lily Braddy and Sophie Kennedy were excellent in the backline with their dour defence and intercepts being the highlights of their individual games.

Despite not progressing in the Knockout Competition, our team took away many positives from the experience, with plenty of confidence now instilled in the younger girls who had their first taste of senior football. We now turn our attention to Intercol where we are aiming for a fourth consecutive victory against our archrivals St Ignatius.

Go the Camels!

Logan Hill
Coach

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Student Achievements
Congratulations to Laura Fitzgerald (Year 10) who competed in the Australia Diving Open Championships – Commonwealth Games Trials in Melbourne on 3 June. It was Laura’s first Open level competition where she was competing against the best in the business, including recent Olympians, in the 3m springboard event. Laura came 14th overall and only missed the final (top 12) by 5 points. This means that Laura is in the top 14 divers in Australia! Well done Laura on qualifying to compete at the event, you should be extremely proud of yourself; we certainly are.

We also applaud the success of Yeon Sue Choi (Year 8) who competed last month for SA for the 2022 Australian Judo National Championsip. Yeon Sue's Gold Medal for Under 44kg Senior Girls makes her the Australian Judo Champion. Congratulations on an incredible achievement Yeon Sue!

Grace Morton (Year 8) has been selected to represent School Sport SA at the forthcoming School Sport Australia 13 to 19 years swimming championships. The championship will be held in Brisbane in August 2022. Congratulations and good luck Grace!

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Finally, catch up on all of the girls' results from across the Sports Desk for Term 2 here.

Tamae Ninos
Secondary Girls Sport Coordinator

If your daughter, or someone you know in the Mercedes Community, has achieved highly in her chosen sport/activity please contact me via email or phone. Include as much detail as possible and include a photo if you can. The Mercedes Community would love to hear about it.

Good Sports

Goals for our secondary boys sport

By Josh Archer

And a farewell to Gleeson Hall as a sporting venue

Winter Sport Update
The secondary boys' winter sport season has seen it all - already this year  - and believe it or not, we have now passed through the halfway point. Overall it has been a successful start to the season, having displayed some great performances on the field and achieved many great things off the field also. I would like to thank everyone involved in the Boys Sport Programme for their hard work and commitment to their respective teams. We have many impressive coaches and staff who dedicate plenty of time and effort into their teams each week, so it has been great to see them reap the rewards through their teams’ performances so far this season.

We now enjoy a mid-season break for the school holidays, with the return of competition from Week 1 next Term. Please check Stack TeamApp when notified to ensure you can stay up to date with all the happenings of the programme.

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First XI Soccer |Mid-Season Report
The First XI have had a successful first term of soccer, with many moments to remember. The team is currently sitting fourth on the Division 1 table. Coming into this year, the boys knew it was going to be tough being a part of Division 1, however they have stepped up and represented Mercedes College with class and passion. As a result, we have gone the last five games undefeated, and have conceded the fewest goals in the league (four goals in six games); an incredible achievement.

The team has beaten Saint Peters, Sacred Heart and Immanuel, drawn with Saint Michael's and Rostrevor, and conceded to Saint Ignatius. We have two games remaining in Term 3, against Christian Brothers College and Prince Alfreds College – three points should secure us a finals spot.

Intercol is also on the boys' minds, as the excitement for the match up against Saint Ignatius is always at a high.

David Carosi
First XI Soccer Coach

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Farewell to Gleeson Hall
We farewelled Gleeson Hall on Saturday 2 July with our three senior basketball teams coming up against Norwood International High School. These were the last ever sporting fixtures to take place in Gleeson Hall which has been used for nearly five decades as a venue for our students to compete against other schools in sports including basketball, netball, volleyball, table tennis and badminton.

it is sad to be saying farewell to the Hall as a sporting venue, we are very excited about the new high performance, double court sports precinct that will be built right alongside. This new facility will transform the way we deliver our sports programmes; exciting times ahead!

In light of this construction, a reminder to all Secondary Boys Basketball families that we will be training at the Blackwood Recreation Centre starting from Week 1 next Term. More specific details will be placed onto Stack TeamApp.

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Intercol 2022
The time of year is fast approaching where we begin to prepare for our Intercollegiate competition against Saint Ignatius College. For those new to the programme, Intercollegiate (Intercol) is an annual competition between the two colleges held at the end of the winter sports programme. There are shields up for grabs in a variety of sports and extra-curricular activities across the span of a week or so. This year Mercedes College is hosting the event, however due to our landmark building project, we will not be hosting as many of the fixtures on the College campus.

More information, including fixtures, will be released via TeamApp and other channels in the very near future -- stay tuned!

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Old Scholar | Harry Barnett

Congratulations to Class of 2021 student and current Year 7 Mercedes College Football Coach, Harry Barnett, on his selection in the State Under 18 Football Team. Harry put together an outstanding performance in Game 2 against Victoria Country at Thebarton Oval on Sunday 26 June where he was named best on ground for South Australia. Congratulations to Harry on this achievement and we look forward to watching him in action against Victoria Metro in Geelong (Sunday 17 July) and Western Australia in Perth (Sunday 24 July).

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Team App
Team App is where you can access the most recent news, events, fixtures and results for Mercedes College Boys Sport.

Please select ‘Mercedes College Boys Sport’ and then the access groups that relate to your son.

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Sport Association for Adelaide Schools (SAAS) Website
The Sports Association for Adelaide Schools continually updates their website which includes all fixtures, results and ladders for school sport. Please follow the links below for more information.

http://www.saas.asn.au

http://www.saas.asn.au/fixtures-results

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Josh Archer
Secondary Boys Sport Coordinator

Good Sports

Podium finishes in state cross country

By

Success across the field

In late June Mercedes College hosted the All Schools Cross Country Relay Championship at Waite Oval. Students from Years 4 to 12 competed against other Adelaide schools and represented the College fantastically.

Our Senior and Middle Boys Divisions both took out first place, whilst our Primary and Middle Girls Divisions placed second, and Senior Girls third.

Congratulations to all of our runners who gave their best on the day.

Jimmy Grant
Year 9 Teacher

Good Sports

Multiple records topple in the pool

By Jeffrey Wray

All the results from the Year 6-12 Swimming Carnival

What a fantastic Year 6-12 Swimming Carnival - with seven records being broken on the day.

Hamish Langman (Year 10) broke three records, Bowen Zhang (Year 10) broke two, and Grace Morton (Year 8) broke two, including the 50m Backstroke record of former Olympian Hannah Davis from 1999.

With great efforts put in by all participants, it was McAuley House who walked away with the win.

Jeff Wray
Carnival Coordinator 6-12

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FULL RESULTS

First	McAuley
Second	Fitzpatrick
Third	Dalton
Fourth	Barry

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	Age Champion	Runner-up
Year 6 Female	Isobel Langman	Lily Hamlyn
Year 6 Male	Joshua Hicks Ethan Bailey	N/A
Year 7 Female	Saskia Kellaway	Charlotte Tibbott
Year 7 Male	Aiden Bonney	Tyler Stone
Year 8 Female	Grace Morton	Eleanor Wood
Year 8 Male	Nil	Nil
Year 9 Female	Summer Hudswell	Kiara Coscarella
Year 9 Male	Samuel Glasson	Eddy Martins
Year 10 Female	Nil	Nil
Year 10 Male	Hamish Langman	Bowen Zhang
Year 11 Female	Layla Kinnane	Charlotte Cooper
Year 11 Male	Aidan Langman	Eamon Sibly
Year 12 Female	Sascha Spoor	Lily Walsh-Brien
Year 12 Male	Jack Braddy	Jordan Lewis

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	Female	Male
100m Freestyle Champion	Grace Morton	Hamish Langman
50m Freestyle Champion	Grace Morton	Hamish Langman
50m Breaststroke Champion	Grace Morton	Bowen Zhang
50m Backstroke Champion	Grace Morton	Hamish Langman
50m Butterfly Champion	Grace Morton	Hamish Langman

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	New Record	Previous Record
14yrs Female 100m Freestyle	Grace Morton 01:08:15	Juliana Lanzilli (2020) 01:15:64
16yrs Male 100m Freestyle	Hamish Langman 00:58:91	Jackson Pike (2015) 00:59:25
15yrs Male 50m Freestyle	Bowen Zhang 00:26:66	Jake Biddle (2004) 00:27:37
14yrs Female 50m Backstroke	Grace Morton 00:36:03	Hannah Davis (1999) 00:38:27
16yrs Male 50m Backstroke	Hamish Langman 00:31:97	Nick Dolphin (2002) 00:32:05
15yrs Male 50m Butterfly	Bowen Zhang 00:30:29	Harry Manolopoulos (2020) 00:31:01
16yrs Male 50m Butterfly	Hamish Langman 00:27:86	Nick Dolphin (2002) 00:28:57

ARTStanding

Students embracing the arts

By Lauren Vilanova

A big song and dance

Student Performances
This term our Year 9 and 10 music classes performed to their peers at assemblies. The Year 10 class presented to the Middle and Senior Schools Assembly, performing the well-known song 'Don't Look Back In Anger' by Oasis - featuring one of our new exchange students Axel Meyer, and students Chloe Dowd and Angelie Ho.

The Year 9 music class has been exploring video game music this term. As a class, the students learnt an arrangement of the gaming music 'Sweden' from the popular game Minecraft. Performed by Gina Barreto, Lauren Goricki, Theodore Sweeney, Angus Renfrey and Zedekiah Fielding, and coupled with reflective lyrics and a melody line composed by Summer Dealtry, 'Now and Then' was a great example of students working collaboratively as artists, and taking risks to share their original work with others. Well done!

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Karaoke for a Kause
Building on the success of last term's Karaoke on Caritas Day, our four Year 12 Arts Leaders (Raff Raschella, Marianna de Tullio, Liv Sampson and Isabelle Stein) organised 'Karaoke for a Kause'. Held in the Library, this lunchtime event included students from the Junior School and Middle School, supporting the St Vinnies Winter Appeal.

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Year 10 Dance Showcase
Our inaugural dance students put on their showcase evening this term, performing a group number and individual pieces choreographed by the girls themselves. Congratulations to Jemma Wigley, Angelle Miles, Emma Ielasi, Eveyln Cant, Maddie Wyman, Asia Colombi, and Abigail Furness on your efforts to create this fantastic performance.

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Lauren Vilanova
Key Teacher - Music R-12

Wellbeing

Wellbeing and resilience

By

The keys to child mental health development

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg is a highly regarded Australian psychologist who has written books and presents in the media about child development and supporting children and adolescents with wellbeing challenges. He also contributes substantially to SchoolTV, a resource available to all Mercedes College parents which provides parenting advice on a range of relevant wellbeing topics. I was fortunate to hear Dr Carr-Gregg present recently about supporting young people in today’s world where they face a myriad of wellbeing challenges.

Dr Carr-Gregg provided evidence-based strategies for parents to help them to foster the wellbeing of their children. He said he is often asked “how do I know if my child is ok?” and reported that there are several indicators of childhood wellbeing, including:

• Having a group of friends
• Beginning to emancipate themselves from parents/carers at a developmentally appropriate level
• Understanding and enjoying school
• Having a spark, that is, something they feel passionate about

He said that these factors mean that children are on the path to becoming well-rounded young adults.

Dr Carr-Gregg also identified that wellbeing is not just about surviving, but about thriving, and young people need to develop skills in resilience to help them the face the challenges of our world. He suggested five characteristics of resilient young people:

1. A strong attachment with a charismatic adult
2. Good social-emotional competencies (such as problem-solving, anger management, and conflict resolution)
3. Optimistic self-talk
4. Having interests
5. Feeling a sense of meaning or purpose in their lives

We strive towards instilling these qualities in all our students, by embedding the Mercy Keys throughout their educational experiences, and exposing them to a range of opportunities including camps, the social-emotional learning and GPS programme, and Reflection Days. We encourage you to also support your children to develop resilience and positive wellbeing.

If you are concerned about your child’s mental health and wellbeing, we encourage you to speak with their Class/Home Group teacher for guidance and utilise the range of resources on our SchoolTV website.

Andrea Fernandez
College Psychologist R-12

Finance News

Expert's Choice for a child's saving account

By Credit Union SA

School Community Rewards Programme

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Credit Union SA's  Children's Savings Account has taken out Mozo's Expert Choice Award three years in a row and received a 5-star rating from Canstar. 

And that's why Credit Union SA officially say it's one of the best in Australia!

This account is for anyone under 18 years of age.

• Bonus interest applies each month you make a deposit of any amount and make no withdrawals
• Bonus interest helps teach children the benefits of regular saving
• No monthly fees or transaction fees

Click here to read full T&Cs.

To join School Community Rewards or Credit Union SA call us on 8202 7777 or visit Credit Union SA online.

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Credit Union SA

Mercedes College is a proudly part of the Credit Union SA School Community Rewards programme.

Finance News

2023 school fees

By Mercedes College

Stable fees for 2023

In partnership with Catholic Education SA, Mercedes College fees for the 2023 academic year will be the same as for 2022.

While families will benefit from stable fees, the College will continue investing in learning resources and infrastructure, due to our collaborative partnership with Catholic Education SA and good governance.

In 2023, Catholic Education SA are freezing fees across more than 80 diocesan schools reflecting the felt impact of COVID-19.

Annual fee statements for 2023 will be available later this year.

You can access your fee statement using the SEQTA Engage ‘Finance’ tab. In the mobile app, you can view your most recent statement, with all past statements and receipts best accessed using a web browser.

If you have any questions about your account balance or payment plan, please contact Karen Ashton-Swift for more information