The Hedge
Week 10, Term 2 | Wednesday 3 July 2024 A weekly snippet of what’s happening ‘behind the hedge’ at Mercedes College... and our last edition for Term 2!

Our Netball teams take on the world

Three of our Netball teams (Year 9, Year 10, and Open As) travelled to Melbourne earlier this week to take part in the Waverley International Schools Netball Championships.

Players, staff, and coaches will face teams from around the country, as well as from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore. Courtside updates have been coming in... our Open As have won all their matches so far, Open B defeated New Zealand in one match, but lost one to Singapore, and 9A has had one win and a couple of losses.

Everyone is doing really well and there is some great netball on show. We’ll include the final wrap up in our Week 1 issue of The Hedge next Term.

Play well girls – we know you’ll do the College proud, both on and off the court!

Braving the Elements

Last week, our Year 9 Break Free and Being You students ventured out into the chilly weather, testing their resilience and putting to use the friendships and camaraderie forged throughout Term 2.

Around 20 students and chaperones from Being You went to camp in the scrub at McLaren Flat, engaging in team building exercises, taking on cooking duties, and finding comfort in solitude and reflection. The highlight of the trip was a paintball competition, where one staff member narrowly avoided ending up in ‘the cage’ after it was leaked that he was celebrating a birthday…

In Middleton, our Break Free girls didn’t let the cold and wind stop them from hitting the surf ahead of a twilight soccer competition (congratulations to the victors: the Sharks). Time was also well spent sharing affirming conversations about what they’ve learned about each other and themselves over the Term, as they broke down clique dynamics and made lifelong bonds.

New groups of Year 9 students will experience Being You and Break Free in Term 3 as part of our Wellbeing Programme.

Tiny Dancers

Our newly refurbished Gleeson Theatre was the perfect venue for a recent Junior School showcase, where students watched three energetic performances from Year 1 and Year 2 classes, as well as our Primary Dance Troupe – made up of Year 4 and 5 students..

In Year 1, students explored tempo and rhythm, while our Year 2 students showed plenty of character and humour with a number from the smash hit ‘Matilda’. To wrap up the show, our Primary Dance Troupe changed up the tempo and dance style with a hip-hop routine.

It was a fantastic display of student dance talent across four year levels, and highlighted the different dance genres on offer at the College.

Life Beyond the Hedge

This week, our Year 11 students have been busy doing work experience and undertaking service roles as part of their SACE and IB Diploma studies.

SACE students have taken up roles within the community across industries as diverse as Human Relations, Engineering, Marketing, Health, and Education, embracing the opportunity to experience ‘real-life’ scenarios in careers they are interested in.

Meanwhile, our IB Diploma students are exploring the elements of Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), which is part of the Core of the Diploma, through exposure to service-based learning and reflecting on their experiences.

A big thank you to those Mercedes College community members who were able to provide our students with these valuable lessons, which take our students beyond ‘the hedge’ and offer them real life work and service experiences.

Pathways of Joy and Hope

Last week, eight of our Year 10 students represented Mercedes College at the Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association (AMSSA) Conference in Victoria.

This special event, connecting young people from Mercy schools across Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania, had a focus on Mercy as ‘Pathways of Joy and Hope’, in line with Catherine McAuley’s words, “we should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us”.

Students networked with like-minded peers, exploring how passionate young people can make a difference in the spirit of Mercy, whilst also taking the opportunity to experience the rich history of Central Victoria, including stories of First Nations people, the Dja Dja Wurrung clan, the impact of the goldfields, and the largest stupa in the Western World: the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion.

Combined with Mass in Australia’s third-largest church, Sacred Heart Cathedral (built in 1897), and time to deepen their spirituality and connection to the Mercy tradition, our students were inspired to bring this experience home to our community.

Challenge Accepted!

Six of our Middle School students recently stepped up to the challenge of building their own robot, and their team was Runner-Up for the Innovation Award at the SA Power Networks VEX Robotics Challenge – a brilliant effort!

Rhys (Year 6, McAuley), Harry (Year 6, Dalton), Xander (Year 6, Fitzpatrick), Jack (Year 6, Dalton), Matti (Year 7, Barry), and William (Year 7, Fitzpatrick) represented Mercedes College at the Thebarton Community Centre, impressing the judges and narrowly missing out on the top prize.

We are looking forward to seeing more from our robotics team in the future!

Immortalised in song

This week, our Festival Choir and key singers from Year 3 and Year 4 were invited to contribute to a song on a new album by renowned Australian children’s singer and songwriter, Peter Combe!

Zara (Year 3, McAuley), Eleanor (Year 4, Dalton), Year 5s Grace (McAuley), Julan (McAuley), Kiara (McAuley), Millicent (Dalton), Nate (McAuley), Ruby (Barry), Samaira (Dalton), Zara (Barry), and Year 6s Emma (Dalton), Patrick (McAuley), Mary (Dalton), and Oliver (Fitzpatrick) have been selected to feature in five of Peter’s new songs, giving them a unique opportunity to collaborate with an established artist in the music industry and experience the recording process.

Rehearsals are underway, and we look forward to hearing the finished product later in the year!

We love pre-loved uniforms

If your young one has grown out of a uniform item that still has lots of life left in its folds, please consider donating it to the Second Hand Uniform Shop. All items are welcomed in good, clean condition, with consignment available on formal blazers.

These reduced-price pieces help families save on their uniform needs whilst also helping the College with future innovations and initiatives to benefit all Mercedes College students.

Have a chat with our friendly volunteers, Wednesday mornings and Friday afternoons during Term, or on Friday 19 July from 10am to 1pm ahead of Term 3.

Fiesta Time!

Last week, our senior Spanish language students attended the Spanish Film Festival at the Eastend Cinemas to see Spanish box office hit, CHECKMATES, a feel-good movie about fairness and overcoming differences inspired by a real-life teacher from Zaragoza.

By watching a film in Spanish, students used subtitles to make connections to their knowledge of the language, and the immersive experience complements their classroom learning.

Oro de taquilla!

Space Innovation Wins

A huge congratulations to Chelsea (Year 4, Barry), Nate (Year 5, McAuley), Kiara (Year 5, McAuley) and Kingsley (Year 5, Fitzpatrick) for their incredible performance at the Makers Empire, Kids in Space Competition, held this week at the Australian Space Discovery Centre at Lot Fourteen in the city.

A culmination of nearly two full Terms of work, these creative and passionate students were selected to represent Mercedes College after demonstrating a particular interest in STEM activities early this year.

One of 26 South Australian teams in this National competition, we took on the question “how might we create a less stressful and isolated experience in space for astronauts in the future?”.

To our great pride, the Mercedes College Team took home the CESA Prize for Innovation for their clever idea and excellent presentation to the judges – congratulations to you all – what a fantastic achievement!

The Great Outdoors

Our Year 10 Outdoor Education students have been participating in their final experience for Semester 1: a three-day camp in Deep Creek Conservation Park.

Applying their navigational, communication, and lightweight camping skills in the field, students hiked with their provisions across rugged and beautiful landscapes.

They were responsible for the planning, preparation, and leadership of the camp, and each completed a personal reflection of their experience as they reached the end. A great way to learn some valuable life skills and enjoy the great outdoors.

Ciao, Bonjour, Ola…

Keep an eye out early next Term for our inaugural College celebration of Languages Week!

Held in Week 2, activities will be arranged to entertain, think in Language, and connect us to our community. The programme will be a chance to highlight the cultural and linguistic diversity of Mercedes College, and will include language games, a whole-of-school mural, international menu options, live performances, Pétanque competitions, a treasure hunt, and more!

Thank you to our Language and International Student Programme teams for bringing your contagious energy to this great initiative, and highlighting our connection to languages and cultural diversity

Gleeson Theatre comes alive

Last night, our Arts and Sports Precinct was full of energy, basketball, music, and dance performances! It was the first time both the Atrium and Gleeson Theatre were used for formal shows, and our students shone!

A Winter Strings Concert included performances from our two violin ensembles, as well as our classical and modern guitar groups, who ended the evening on a high energy rendition of the theme song from Jurassic Park.

Following this aural delight, our MYP students delivered a Performing Arts Showcase featuring dance, drama, and music reflecting the concept of Joy and Happiness. The refurbished Gleeson Theatre was a great space to profile our students’ talents to an appreciative audience.

The performing arts are alive and thriving at Mercedes College!

Vinnies Winter Sleep Out 2024

On Friday 9 August – the end of Week 3 – several Year 12 students will be sleeping rough as part of the Vinnies School Sleepout programme. With more than 7,400 people experiencing homelessness in South Australia, this night away from the comforts of home is a small gesture of empathy for those without a home to return to.

If you would like to support these students, and the work of St Vincent de Paul, you can make a donation here.

Continuing with Strings

Our Year 3 students have recently completed their Strings Immersion Programme, trying their hand at violins, violas, and cellos. If any of these students would like to continue with private lessons, parents can contact our specialist strings tutor, Caroline Schilling, on 0424 624 213.

Other individual tutoring is available for a variety of instruments, including voice. Contact Raff Rascella via SEQTA if you would like to enquire about these opportunities.

Ready for the Holidays?

If you’ve got some gaps in your child’s holiday activities, you might like to check out what’s on offer with our Mercedes College Vacation Care team.

There are a great range of excursions and onsite activities planned to keep children engaged and active, utilising their creative and social skills. Book your favourite days now (note, a late booking fee applies).

2024 Mimili Trek | Mechanical Experience Wanted

The team behind the 2024 Mimili Trek is seeking an additional volunteer crew member to support mechanical and logistical aspects of the trip to the APY lands.

This year’s Trek will run from Saturday 7 September to Friday 13 September. If you are interested in learning more about this trip and have some mechanical experience and a Working With Children Check, please contact Lachlan Jones via SEQTA.

Coming up...

  • Thursday 4 to Friday 5 July | Pupil Free Days
  • Saturday 13 to Friday 19 July | Year 11 Snow Trip
  • Monday 22 July | Pupil Free Day
  • Tuesday 23 July | First Day Term 3
  • Friday 26 July | Term 3 PEG Meeting, Year 9 e-Safety Police Guest Speaker | Year 11 UniSA visit | Year 10 Parents’ Social: Feathers Hotel 6.30pm
  • Monday 29 July to Friday 2 August | Languages Week | Year 8 Sprout Cooking Classes
  • Tuesday 30 July | Reception excursion to Superluminal, SA Museum | Year 10 to Year 11 and Year 11 to Year 12 Subject Information Evening
  • Wednesday 31 July | Year 11 University of Adelaide presentation
  • Thursday 1 August | Year 12 University of Adelaide presentation
  • Thursday 1 to Friday 2 August | Year 11 Retreat
  • Friday 2 August I Quiz Night
  • Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 August | Legally Blonde JR.

 

The College Shop | Holiday Opening Hours

  • Thursday 4 July | 8am to 1pm
  • Thursday 18 July | 11am to 3pm
  • Friday 19 July | 11am to 3pm

Please book an appointment before visiting.