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The Hedge
Week 3, Term 1 | Thursday 13 February 2025 A weekly snippet of what’s happening ‘behind the hedge’ at Mercedes College...

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The Standard we set...

Some of our Senior and Middle School Captains were 'on set' yesterday with our Marketing Team and we are looking forward to sharing the finished product soon. They got right into the spirit of the film, themed around uniform standards, and it was great to hear from the students themselves that we can all raise the bar when it comes to student presentation.

Uniform standards and the way our students present themselves will be a key focus in 2025, with more updates on their way to you soon. We believe that raising these standards shows brand pride in our College, and importantly, teaches students a great life skill about personal presentation and pride in their appearance.

A great motto we can all adopt this year is “The standard you walk past, is the standard you accept”… and we’ll be accepting only the best!

Teach your child gratitude

Dr Judith Locke, Clinical Psychologist and child wellbeing specialist, spoke with Mercedes College parents and teachers last week, sharing advice and strategies to help our students become more confident and capable people, to positively impact family life.

Over the next two weeks, we will be sharing an article from Dr Locke that builds on her message. This week, she shares ways to teach your child gratitude.

Click here to read the full article.

Meet our Wellbeing Team

Our first Parent Engagement Group (PEG) Meeting for the year is next Wednesday 19 February, 8.40am - 9.40am in the Staff Room and we'd love to see you there.

You will hear from our Wellbeing Team. Director of Wellbeing, Anne Way, will be joined by our other College Psychologist, Rhianne Bacon and Counsellor, Jesse McGowan. This will be a great chance to meet the Team who are supporting your children, and learn more about our Wellbeing programmes.

Our Deputy Principal, Narelle Sandercock will also join the meeting and give an overview of the year ahead, including our uniform standards and opportunities to volunteer with our community.

The full Agenda is available here, please register to attend either in person or online

Catch Australia’s Best Athletes this weekend

This Saturday evening, the SA Athletics Stadium will be abuzz with the Adelaide Invitational, showcasing Australian athletes, including Paris ’24 Olympian and Mercedes College Old Scholar, Olivia Sandery (Class of 2020, Fitzpatrick).

Spectators can see the best of Australian athletics, as competitors chase a qualifier or World Athletics ranking points in a bid to make the World Athletics Championships.

Tickets are available online only, with children 9 and under free.

Toes to start tapping in Week 4

Our Year 6 to Year 8 Dance Club will begin on Tuesday next week (Week 4).

Practice sessions will take place in Gleeson Theatre at lunchtime, so students interested in taking part need to meet in the Theatre at 1.15pm to get their groove on!

School Sport Underway

SA School Sport Competitions started last weekend with the Secondary Boys’ teams making a great start in the opening round. Keep up the good work, boys, and we look forward to seeing how our girls fare when their competition opens this week.

Cricket

First XI 5/109 defeated Prince Alfred College 9/106
Nazareth College 9/126 defeated our Second XI 9/60
Year 7/8 B 3/156 defeated Christian Brothers College 7/50

Tennis

Drive Tennis 8 defeated St John’s Grammar School 1

Volleyball

St John’s Grammar School 3 defeated our Open A2 team 0
St John’s Grammar School 3 defeated our Open B2 team 0
St John’s Grammar School 3 defeated our Middle A2 team 0
Our Year 7 team 3 defeated St John’s Grammar School 0

Water Polo

Immanuel College (Open B) 13 defeated our Open C team 5

A Colourful Route

At the rear of our Dalton Building, where our art studios are located, you can catch a glimpse of some of the amazing visual arts being created by our students right across the College.

Named as an homage to the location of Catherine McAuley's home in Dublin 1824 - 1841, Baggot Street Walkway is a riot of colour and talent that makes your journey from one side of the building to the other a truly wonderful experience.

Pop by and brighten up your day!

2025 Fees

Families will be able to access their 2025 annual fee statement from Saturday 15 February on the CESA Community Portal.

Anyone yet to activate their Portal will be sent an invitation to do so today (Thursday 13 February) from ‘noreply@civicacloud.com.au’, please check your Junk or Spam folder if you don’t see it in your Inbox. The activation link will be valid for seven days.

Fees paid in full before 15 March 2025 will receive a 3 per cent discount. Alternatively, fees can be paid by instalments, to be paid in full by 30 November 2025.

Please check your SEQTA Direqt Messages for more information from our Director of Finance.

Coming up…

  • Friday 14 February | Class of 2024 Laureate Ceremony | Year 5s return from camp
  • Monday 17 February | Year 10 Outdoor Education Excursion | Year 10 Health Excursion #2
  • Monday 17 February to Thursday 20 February | Year 2 to Year 5 Swimming Safety Lessons
  • Wednesday 19 February | Term 1 Parent Engagement Meeting (please register to attend in person or online)
  • Thursday 20 February | Year 7 Bike Education
  • Friday 21 February | Student Mentoring Programme welcome and information session
  • Saturday 22 February | Year 11/12 Formal
  • Monday 24 February | Year 11 Abrahamic Faith Seminar
  • Tuesday 25 February | BDO Career Guidance Assessment
  • Tuesday 25 to Friday 28 February | Stage 2 Outdoor Education Camp
  • Friday 28 February | Community event, our Garden Party