The Hedge
Week 4, Term 1 | Thursday 20 February 2025 A weekly snippet of what’s happening ‘behind the hedge’ at Mercedes College...

Uniform Standards... The Mercedes Way

Uniform standards and the way our students present themselves is a key focus in 2025. 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.

To this end, we are introducing an updated Uniform Policy, which clearly outlines the personal presentation and grooming standards that we expect to see in all our students.

From Monday, lunchtime detentions will be enforced for breaches of this Policy, and continual breaches will lead to discussions with that student, their families, and their Home Group Teachers or Heads of School.

We appreciate there will be a transition period for uniform items that might need adjusting (eg: dress/skirt length) and there will be a week's grace period for these changes to be made. A tailoring service will be available on Campus to assist parents with any uniform alternations. However, our personal grooming and presentation standards can be addressed immediately.

We know through feedback gathered during the review of our Strategic Plan that pride in the College is important to families, and we appreciate your support in meeting the standards of this Policy.

Join the Party!

Next Friday 28 February, our Rose Garden will be filled with music, laughter, and great food and wine, as our community comes together for our Garden Party.

With SOONTA bringing their Big Red Van, and free delicious gelato on offer, you’ll have dinner sorted for the whole family, plus a range of vino from Small Gully Wines thanks to the Black family, from our College community.

We'd love to see you there - it is a great opportunity to meet new families and catch up with old friends.

Find out all the details and get your tickets today.

Taking Art to the Streets

In recent Visual Art classes, Year 6 students have been investigating ‘the Element of Form’. Inspired by the street art installations of New York artist, Akash Nihalani, students designed and mapped out a mind-bending 3D form on the pavement that they could then interact with, leading to some pretty amazing visual effects.

Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

In Week 6, our community will begin the season of Lent, a time to ‘renew’ with prayer, reflection, and a strengthening of our relationships with God, ourselves, each other, and our world.

Students and staff will share pancakes on Shrove Tuesday 4 March, in acknowledgement of the traditional Christian fasting period that will start with Ash Wednesday.

On Ash Wednesday, we will gather as a Reception to Year 12 community for Mass, marking one of the most significant and holy days in the liturgical calendar with Father John Shanahan.

On Ash Wednesday, and each Friday during the Lenten period, the Café menu will be altered to offer non-meat alternatives in respect of this important time.

Instrumental Opportunities

Students will soon be able to explore a new musical talent without the cost of buying an instrument, with our Music Team arranging instrumental hire as part of the private tuition offerings at the College.

We have a number of current instrumental tutors providing individual and duo tuition on Campus, and they will be joined by some new tutors with a variety of musical experience.

Anthea Mur will be taking on students looking to learn Saxophone and Clarinet

Gemma Vice will teach the Flute

Harriet Davies will tutor students in Cello

A Drum tutor is on the radar, with several students ready to sign on.

If your child is interested in exploring private instrumental tuition, which also includes voice, please complete this short form and our Music Team will get in touch!

Performing Arts CEAs starting in the coming weeks:

  • Percussion Ensembles – Tuesday Week 6
  • Drama Company – Wednesday Week 6
  • Petite Voix – Thursday Week 4
  • Concert Band – Wednesday Week 4

If students missed out on nominating for a Performing Arts CEA and are still interested in joining, please contact Jayan Mace through SEQTA Direqt Message.

Winter CEAs

CEAs for Term 2 and 3 will open through the online portal tomorrow (Friday 21 February). Parents and caregivers will receive confirmation and the portal link via SEQTA Direqt Message and can log in to confirm student nominations until Friday 7 March, noting that Secondary Netball must close early on Friday 28 February to allow for grading.

Parents and Caregivers interested in taking on coaching or team management opportunities can register your interest here, and a member of our Sport Team will be in touch.

Primary Sport

All Primary sport is available to both girls and boys.

  • Auskick
  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Football
  • Netball
  • Soccer

Secondary Sport

  • Basketball (boys)
  • Cross Country (mixed)
  • Football (boys and girls)
  • Netball (girls)
  • Soccer (boys and girls)
  • Strength and Conditioning Training (mixed)
  • Table Tennis (mixed)

Clubs and Societies

  • Art Club (Junior and Middle Schools)
  • Being You and Break Free (Year 9)
  • Chess (Primary and Secondary)
  • Debating (Year 5-12)
  • STEP Trek to Mimili (Year 9-10)

Building Confidence in the Water

This week, our Year 2 to Year 5 students have been developing their water confidence and swim safety skills at the Unley Swimming Pool.

Engaging lessons and a variety of tasks have seen them practice survival techniques, rescue strategies, and safe water habits that will give them assurance that they can take to the water with confidence.

We look forward to seeing their water skills on display, during the upcoming Junior School Swimming Carnival on Friday 21 March!

Dr Judith Locke | Time for them

to climb

This week we share the second article from Dr Judith Locke, with some great insights and guidance for helping build children’s agency and resilience.

With a particular focus on upper Primary and older students, Dr Locke dives into the dangers of becoming your child’s Sherpa.

Read the full article here.

Celebrating our 2024 Laureates

Last week, we welcomed back the Class of 2024 Laureates – graduates who achieved outstanding academic success.

In front of their proud families, as well as our Year 8 to Year 12 cohorts, Laureates received Certificates of Distinction and Merits, with Douglas Rigter officially awarded the 2024 College Dux medallion.

Our 2024 graduates have confirmed a great variety of pathways they are undertaking, with every student seeking tertiary education receiving a university offer in careers including medicine (27 per cent), commerce (21 per cent), engineering (12 per cent), and law (10 per cent).

A number of graduates are opting to defer their studies and spend 2025 travelling and gaining work experience, and others have taken a different path, including careers in outdoor activity instruction, professional dance, and even free diving and scuba.

Attendees at our Laureate Ceremony heard from guest speaker Lauren Whiting, CEO of LIFT Cancer Care and Mercedes College Old Scholar (Class of 1999, McAuley), who shared her journey from graduation to today. Espousing the value of having the Mercy Keys as part of her education, Lauren shared that compassion led her to a variety of professional and personal experiences, turning empathy to action with people affected by cancer.

We congratulate all of our graduates on their collective successes, and look forward to seeing where you go, beyond the hedge.

Volunteer with us

There are many ways that community can be actively involved with life behind the College hedge. From chaperoning our junior students on excursions, supporting a child through the Student Mentoring Programme, or coaching or managing one of our sporting teams, to helping out at our many community events and activities... families are invited to participate and volunteer!

It’s easy to get involved, with three steps to complete. Full details are on our website, or you can find out more by contacting volunteering@mercedes.catholic.edu.au.

Year Level Reps

Thank you to our amazing Year Level Representatives (YLRs) who have put their hand up to volunteer to represent their Year Level in 2025.

This is a rewarding role, which helps you connect with families across your child's year level, not just their class. 

The role isn't too onerous, but means you can help share important College information, be a connection point for new families, and get year levels together for social catch-ups a couple of times a year.

We still have a few years that don't have Year Level Reps - so would love to hear from any families in these year levels:

  • Year 1
  • Year 4
  • Year 8

Next week, YLRs will receive their Year Level contact list from those families who have opted in to be contacted, so make sure your details are locked in.

Hoping to hear from some Year 1, 4 and 8 families soon and to working you this year! Please email Jennie Bell and let her know if you can help!

Show your True Colours

Every family and staff member at Mercedes College is allocated one of four Houses when they join our community. These Houses, named after Sisters of Mercy, are designed to build friendly competition, increase vertical connections across year levels, and allow students to revel in House Spirit.

We have eight House Leaders for each House, from Junior, Middle, and Senior Schools, who meet regularly to discuss plans for 2025. There will also be a few changes to our key athletic carnivals. This year we will combine the results of our Primary and Secondary Athletics and Swimming Carnivals to have one overall Winner and a winner of House Spirit. This will be the first time that the entire College, from Reception to Year 12, will contribute to a single House outcome.

We can’t wait to see what else our House Leaders come up with this year, with House competition to extend to music, academia, and social justice, giving everyone a chance to use their unique gifts to support their House.

  • Years 3-6 Athletics Carnival | Tuesday 4 March
  • Years 7-12 Athletics Carnival | Friday 7 March
  • Reception-Year 5 Swimming Carnival | Friday 21 March
  • Year 6-12 Swimming Carnival | Friday 28 March

Girls Sport Joins the Fray

Our Secondary Girls’ Sport Competitions commenced last weekend with a real mixed bag of results. It looks like it’s going to be a tough competition this summer!

Basketball

Open 1 team 27 defeated Loreto College 20
Middle 1 team 15 drew with Sacred Heart College 15

Touch Football

Open 1 team defeated Seymour College, 2-0
Open 2 team defeated Loreto College, 1-0
Middle 1 team drew with Marryatville High School, 3-3
Wilderness College defeated our Middle 2 team, 4-3
Wilderness College defeated our Middle 3 team, 5-1

Volleyball

Sacred Heart College defeated our Open 1 team, 2 sets-1
Open 2 team defeated Mary Mackillop College, 2 sets-1
Cabra College defeated our Middle 1 team, 2 sets-1
Middle 2 team defeated Norwood International High School, 2 sets-0

Tennis

Open 1 had a forfeit
Middle 1 defeated St Aloysuis College, 4 sets-2

Coming up...

  • Friday 21 February | Student Mentoring Programme Welcome Morning Tea | Year 7 Bike and Tent Education
  • Saturday 22 February | Year 11/12 Formal
  • Tuesday 25 February | Year 10 BDO Career Guidance (Group 2)
  • Wednesday 26 February | R-12 House Meeting, Athletics | Year 9 RISE Programme Launch
  • Wednesday 26 to Friday 28 February | Stage 12 Outdoor Education Camp
  • Thursday 27 February | Year 11 Abrahamic Faith Seminar
  • Friday 28 February | Mercedes College Garden Party
  • Monday 3 March | Year 10 Sport Excursion
  • Tuesday 4 March | Shrove Tuesday | Year 3-6 Athletics Carnival | Year 10 BDO Career Guidance (Group 2 and 3)
  • Wednesday 5 March | Ash Wednesday, R-12 Mass
  • Friday 7 March | International Women's Day Breakfast | Year 7-12 Athletics Carnival