College Leadership

A Future of Untold Possibilities

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Dear Parents, Caregivers, Staff and Students,
On Friday 25 November we held the Graduation Ball for our 2016 Year 12 students and their families. It is always a wonderful occasion as, freed from the pressures of the year, these fine young women and men blossom in their finery when they go from school children to confident young adults excitedly preparing for a future of untold possibilities.

This evening is not laboured by many speeches as only the College Captains and the MOSA President formally speak. The College Captains for 2016: Jacob Rigoni (12EM ), Emma von Bardeleben (12SM ), Henry Baker (12SM) and Amelia Edwards (12SM ) all spoke from the heart and once again proved themselves to be people of the highest calibre.

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College Council

The work of our College Council this year has been challenged by the loss of a number of long standing members at the end of 2015. However, continuity issues aside, the current members are very committed and have done all possible to continue to provide strong governance and I sincerely thank them all.

I would like to thank Tim Prowse for his involvement on Council for the past two years. Tim has brought considerable experience and a variety of skills to work on Council and although he will not be continuing in 2017, I am hopeful that he will continue to make a contribution through working on at least one of our Standing Committees.

I am delighted to welcome Alf Ianniello who, with Louise Mathwin, was successful in the recent Council elections. Alf has been a very successful businessman over many years and will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to Council and I am looking forward to working with him over the coming years.

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Thank You to Our Volunteers

This College could not do all it does without the support of our many volunteers. Members of this very generous community volunteer to help in many ways including: on College Council, Parents & Friends, Old Scholar's and Mercureans (past parents) committees, as part of the Student Mentoring Programme, Inclusive Education Programme, Sporting Programme and Performing Arts Programme. Volunteers also help in the Library, on the Mimili Trek as well as other trips and excursions and as hosts of morning teas and class parties, in the Second-Hand Uniform Shop and in many other ways. 

On behalf of all members of our College community I sincerely thank you all for your commitment and the passion that you bring, it is greatly appreciated. 

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Farewells and Welcomes

At the end of the year we are farewelling a number of our staff. As a College we recognise the professional expertise, talent and contribution that each of these people have made to our community. I farewell Mrs Liz Bondar, Mr Ken Woof and Mr John Pfitzner who are retiring at the end of the year.

Liz Bondar
Liz has been a teacher at Mercedes for 26 years and has been an inspirational teacher throughout that time. She has taught in a variety of areas but has specialised in English, the faculty that she coordinated with great skill over many years. Liz’s presence as a teacher will be greatly missed but it will be her personal presence that will leave the biggest gap at the College. 

Ken Woof
Ken joined the College in 2009 and has taught Physics and Science throughout his time with us. Ken has been a dedicated Science teacher throughout his career and has always had the interests of his students as his focus.

John Pfitzner
John has been a member of the ground staff since 1994 and has been largely responsible for keeping the gardens looking so beautiful. John has taken tender loving care of the gardens and has taken great pride in their appearance. John was a fine footballer in his early days and remains a keen observer of the game. I will miss his Monday morning critique of the weekend games. 

Mavis Waddington
Mavis Waddington is retiring from classroom teaching but will continue in her role as Coordinator of the Year 2/4 production, which is a regular highlight of the College calendar. Although Mavis will be experiencing a change in pace she remains a key member of our staff.

I also farewell Ms Verity Dray, who is moving to a school in country SA, Mrs Stephanie Ray who is moving with her family to Queensland, Mrs Janine Crookes who is moving with her family to Canberra, Mrs Catherine Quinn who is taking up a new challenge in another school and Miss Melanie Harrison, Mrs Erin Hodges and Lisa Brookes who are leaving us to take on new challenges.

Mrs Sarah Brougham, Maternity Leave and Mrs Andrea Bishop, Special Leave will be away for 2017 and Mrs Jill Leahy (Semester One) and Mrs Melissa Buske (Term 1) are taking some well-earned Long Service Leave.   

We welcome the following staff who will be joining us in 2017:

• Ms Jade Lauer, comes to us from DECD and will teach Biology/General Science.
• Ms Jennifer Chan, an old scholar of the College, will teach Science and Biology/Chemistry.
• Ms Stephanie Bordignon, comes from St Marks in Pt Pirie, and will teach English, Humanities and RE.
• Ms Tanya Bahnisch, returns to the College and will work in our Middle School.
• Mr Lachlan Jones, an old scholar of the College, will work in our Middle School.
• Mr Andrew Khabbaz, an old scholar of the College who has already taken up a number of short term contracts at the College will teach in the Junior School.
• Ms Sarah Rance, from Muirden College, will teach Business and Enterprise.
• Ms Laura Bartholomew, from Pembroke School, will teach Mathematics.

We also welcome back, Ms Jodie Papadopoulos and Ms Teresa Pepicelli who return to us after periods of Maternity Leave.  

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Christmas is Coming

The end of the year is coming far too rapidly! There is still much for all of us to do at work before we can take a well-earned break. There are end of year functions to attend, gifts to be purchased and Christmas Day dinners to be organised.

During this busy time it is often easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas. It is a time for us to gather with our families to give thanks for the life of Jesus. After all it is the message that Jesus left with us that guides our lives and challenges us to be the best people that we can be.

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

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

Amen

This is our last Mercy Vine for 2016 and I extend my thanks to you all for allowing us to have the privilege of working with you in the education of your children. May you experience every blessing at Christmas and have a joyous New Year.

I look forward to working with you all again in 2017. 

Yours sincerely

Peter Daw
Principal