Pizza, Paella and Pinot…
We are counting down the days to our Food and Wine Night which is our official Welcome to the Year event!
All the action will be happening on Thursday 22 February, 3.30pm – 7.30pm in the Rose Garden. Drop by after the school bell, and enjoy some fine food and wine – and catch up with old friends, as well as welcome our new families.
We have booked two foodie specialities for you to enjoy – both of which will be cooked fresh on site. You can choose from a range of Wood Oven Pizzas (GF and vegetarian available) or Paella straight from the pan (vegetarian available).
Take the night off from cooking, and enjoy supper with us!
Tickets include a full 10-inch fresh Pizza or a full bowl of Paella… and a special 70th anniversary wine tumbler – for that glass of Pinot!
All the details are here, so please book your tickets, come along and enjoy a lovely evening in the garden, to kick start our 70th anniversary celebrations.
We’d love to see you there!
Connecting in your Year Level
Thank you to our wonderful volunteers who have put their hand up to be a 2024 Year Level Representative – we’re still seeking Reps for Year 3 and Year 4, so if you’re interested in getting to know your year level families better and helping to make connections throughout the year, please let us know. We’d love to hear from you!
Year Level Reps share information, organise casual get togethers outside of school hours (only 1 or 2 per year – it’s not too onerous) as well as being a great contact point and source of information for our new families.
If you are happy for us to share your contact details with your Year Level Rep, so they can keep in touch with you, please complete this short form. As we celebrate 70 years, it’s a great time to get involved with your Year Level and the broader College community.
PEG Meeting Minutes
Last week, we had our first Parent Engagement Group (PEG) meeting for the year. We had a great turnout, both in person and online! Our Deputy Principal, Narelle Sandercock, and new Director of Co-Curricular Sport, Nathan Bassett addressed the group and shared their ideas, innovations and new curriculum offerings for Sport, the Arts and more…
Click here to download the meeting minutes and get all the updates from the day. The next PEG meeting will be in Term 2.
A special Liturgy
This week, our community marked the end of Shrovetide and start of Lent this week. On Tuesday, all students enjoyed sharing some pancakes for Shrove Tuesday, and then yesterday, all students and staff gathered together for a special Ash Wednesday Liturgy.
Students from Reception through to our Year 12s took part in the event, and it was wonderful to see whole College sharing and celebrating this occasion.
This Lenten journey is a time for reflection, prayer, sacrifice, and generosity, and we wish our community well in how you choose to observe this time.
McAuley makes a splash!
Last Friday, our Middle and Senior school students were off Campus for the 2024 Swimming Carnival!
Students participated in competitive races and novelty games that showed off their swimming prowess and their sense of adventure. Our Year 12s outdid themselves in the ‘dress up’ stakes and used their synchronised swimming talents to commemorate their last Mercedes College Swimming Carnival!
Congratulations to McAuley for taking out the overall trophy, and to Barry for taking home the Spirit Shield. Cam the Camel made a special appearance, just in time for the shield presentation… has a great sense of timing for a Camel!
Celebrating our Year 12s
As part of our Ash Wednesday Liturgy yesterday, we took a moment to acknowledge our Year 12 students. In this year of our 70th anniversary, we invited our Class of 2024 to receive their commemorative Year 12 Badge from Principal Andrew Balkwill and Deputy Principal, Narelle Sandercock.
We asked them to wear the badge with pride, and to also enjoy their final year of schooling, hoping that it is one of excitement, purpose, discovery and possibility! We are always proud of our Mercedes College Graduates, and we look forward to a year of learning and leadership from our Class of 2024! Bravo…
Hats off to 70 years!
Show your support for our athletes and the College this summer with our new supporter's baseball cap - a great initiative from our Parent Engagement Group.
Though not part of the official uniform, parents and friends are encouraged to don a cap as a nod to our 70th anniversary, we look forward to seeing many 'M' caps on the sidelines of summer sports, and at our community events!
These highly sought after items are available from Jenny at Strathspey Reception for just $15, while stocks last - get yours soon!
Year 7 – Year 12 Netball Trials
Netball trials will be held at Netball SA, Mile End, during Week 4 and Week 5 from 3.45pm to 5.45pm.
Participants will be bused to Netball SA, where parents can collect them once concluded. One bus will be available to transport students back to campus on Thursday 22 February only, if families are attending the Food and Wine Night.
Students who have not submitted a Netball Trial Form will be allocated a team without trialling.
Year 7 and Year 8
Monday 19 February (Week 4)
Thursday 29 February (Week 5)
Year 9
Thursday 22 February (Week 4)
Tuesday 27 February (Week 5)
Year 10 and Opens
Tuesday 20 February (Week 4)
Monday 26 February (Week 5)
School TV – helping to navigate transitions
The start of anything new can bring many mixed emotions. Whether students are new to Mercedes College, transitioning from Junior to Middle School, or simply from one Year Level to the next, these changes can be challenging, but there are resources to help students and families to better manage these changes…
School TV is an online parent Wellbeing resource available on the College website. If the new school year is bringing some additional challenges, parents are encouraged to access the School Transitions module for reliable and valuable information, tips and resources.
Dance FUNdamentals
This week our Year 4 and Year 5 students started the new Junior School Dance Experience.
Focussing on dance fundamentals, and working as an ensemble, students are increasing their body awareness, gross motor skills, and coordination and developing their sense of space and pro-social behaviours. Dancing is not only fun, but targets the proprioception sensory centre - which can calm the central nervous system!
