The Hedge
A weekly snippet of what’s happening ‘behind the hedge’ at Mercedes College...
The Hedge...
Term 4, Week 7 | Thursday 30 November 2023
Year 5 Graduation
Last night, our 76 Year 5 students attended their Graduation Ceremony in the Junior School Hall, surrounded by family and friends.
It was a wonderful evening that provided the opportunity for everyone to celebrate the students’ time in the Junior School, before they move up to the Middle School in 2024.
This important ‘rite of passage’ reinforces the important journey our students have had in the Junior School with the Primary Years Programme and we wish them all the very best!
Challenge accepted!
At the start of each year, hundreds of Mercedes College students take up the Premier’s Reading Challenge to read 12 books before September, using over 8,000 titles on the Challenge booklist, as well as their personal favourites.
The initiative, introduced in 2004, is a literacy engagement program designed to encourage more children to read and enjoy reading, whilst also improving their literacy skills.
Year 5 students Emma and Oliver represented Mercedes College at the Official Reception with former collegian and SA Premier, Peter Malinauskas last week, and bought home our award for ‘Outstanding Achievement’ in 2023.
Middle School in good hands for 2024
Congratulations to our 2024 Middle School Leaders, who will be representing their peers and gaining invaluable leadership skills across next year.
After well-contested campaigns, we are delighted to welcome incoming Year 9s Saskia, Alice, Johann and Hardy. We know you’ll be great Middle School ambassadors!
Advent family fun
Catholic School Parents South Australia have developed the perfect Advent calendar to bring your family together this season. With a different activity every day, you can write to Santa, bake cookies for a neighbour, follow a Christmas lights trail and more, all while learning more about the 4 candles of advent, and what the 4 weeks before Christmas day are all about.
Host an international student in 2024
In 2023, Mercedes College welcomed 45 students from 11 different countries, and many of these young people stay with local families just like yours.
Host families include singles, couples, families with children, empty nesters, and retirees – anyone ready to provide a home that’s welcoming, safe and supportive.
Hosts enjoy learning about another culture, their customs and traditions, as well as meeting other Homestay families and seeing the local sights through fresh eyes, as they share our great State with their international students. Hosts also receive $330 per week, per student, for the cost of food, hosting, and care; a reimbursement that is not considered taxable income by the ATO and Centrelink.
Even if your family is not at an age or stage to host an international student next year, we welcome you to share the opportunity with other family and friends who would welcome an international student into their home.
It’s a wonderful, fulfilling experience for everyone, which often forms lifelong friendships.
Year 2 Hahndorf Farm Barn
Yesterday, our Year 2 classes visited the Hahndorf Farm Barn, for a fun, informative and interactive experience. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to hold, touch and feed various animals.
Students have been learning how to write and structure an information report as part of their Literacy lessons this term, and were able to learn some interesting facts about farm animals, which they will be adding to their reports.
Arch D. Awards | Bringing home some golden mics!
Our Year 9 students are ‘Living Learning Leading’, finding success with their Arch D Radio podcasts this year.
Congratulations Annika, Zoe, Asia and Coco for winning 2023’s Most Creative Podcast award with Learning with Awes, an outside-the-box episode pushing the limits with ideas, scripting, structure, interview styles, and storytelling.
With further congratulations to Ava, Georgia and Ava for their work on Conspiracy Theories, which took out Podcast Artwork of the Year for their creativity, attention to detail, and understanding of attracting an audience through visual art.
Instrumentally Amazing
The music spaces across campus are forever busy, with 17 instrumental tutors giving private lessons to students of all ages.
These students took the opportunity to practise their performance skills by participating in a series of concerts, to highlight and celebrate their learning with family and friends.
Well done to all who bravely performed – some for the first time with an audience!
If you would like more information about instrumental lessons in 2024, please complete this form.
Thanking our Community and Year 12 Mentors
This morning our community mentors, Year 12 mentors, and their student buddies came together for an end of year Liturgy and morning tea. More than 50 mentors and mentee family members were able to attend this special event, and there was plenty of energy from this group, who have clearly formed wonderful bonds of friendship across the year.
If you are interested in becoming a community mentor in 2024, contact Program Coordinator Stephen Heuzenroeder on sheuzen@mercedes.catholic.edu.au.
That's a wrap! Year 8 Arts Experience
It was with a riot of colour and music that our Year 8 students completed their 2023 Arts Experience at Goodwood Theatre last week.
Having been involved in visual and performing arts workshops in Semester 1, students then worked in teams to complete the on-stage and behind the scenes magic of Disney’s Newsies JR, performed in conjunction with a full visual arts exhibition.
Featuring 3 performances across 2 days, students showcased their artistic endeavours in a display of talent, hard work, and creativity that we are very proud of.
Year 3 Strings - take a bow!
After completing the Year 3 String Immersion Program in Semester 1, several of our students opted to continue their lessons outside of regular music classes, and performed for our Year 2 classes as an introduction to the Program they will complete next year.
Science Superstar
A big Mercedes College congratulations to Jayne Taeuber, who retired from our Science Department earlier this year, for being honoured by the Laboratory Managers Association of South Australia with the 2023 LMASA Exceptional Science Service Award.
What a fantastic way to cap off her career – we are so fortunate to have had Jayne’s experience and expertise as part of our Mercedes College team.
Coming up
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Friday 1 December | Orientation Day
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Sunday 3 December | Year 5 and Year 7 Family Drinks in the park (speak with your Year Level Reps)
- Monday 4 December | Summer Celebration Concert
- Tuesday 5 December | Reception - Year 6 Sports Fun Day
- Thursday 7 December | Year 10 MYP Graduation | Year 11 End of Year Presentation
- Friday 8 December | Middle School End of Year Presentations | Whole of College Mass | End of the school year, early dismissal (12.30pm)