International Women’s Day
Last week, our campus was dotted with purple balloons in acknowledgement of International Women’s Day (IWD), a day to stop and reflect on ways to improve gender equality and the lived experiences of women everywhere.
At the Adelaide Convention Centre, 18 student leaders attended the official IWD Breakfast, hosted by Penny Wong with guest speaker Annabel Crabb. Our students were enlightened and inspired to bring their learnings back to their peers. Reflections touched on the importance of diversity for successful groups and businesses, the reality of women feeling invisible and unheard in their workplaces, and the empowering stories of speakers who gave hope for change.
We also celebrate women in leadership at Mercedes College, including our Deputy Principal, Head of Junior School, and Directors in HR, Finance, Learning Enrichment, Wellbeing, Marketing and Communications and our Acting Director of Mission, continuing the legacy of our original women in leadership: the Sisters of Mercy.
Barry for the win…
Last week, our Year 7 – Year 12 students descended on the SA Athletics Stadium for our annual Athletics Carnival. It was fantastic to see so much red, blue, green and yellow around the venue, as our four Houses outdid themselves in dressing up to show their true colours! This is a great occasion to show House spirit, by participating in sports, cheering from the sidelines and wearing House colours with pride.
Congratulations to Barry for taking home the overall winners trophy, and cheers to Dalton for securing the Spirit Shield – with their brilliant energy and spirit on and off the field.
Photo Day | Reception to Year 11 + Siblings
On Tuesday and Thursday of Week 10, class photos will be taken of our Reception to Year 11 students, as well as pre-ordered photos of siblings.
Tuesday 2 April | Year 6 – Year 11 Home Groups
Thursday 4 April | Reception to Year 5 classes, plus all pre-ordered sibling photos
Online sibling photo orders must be submitted by midnight, Tuesday 2 April. To order these and any other school photographs, please visit advancedlife and enter our school code: ZMK HD5 QQB.
Middle School Percussionists Wanted
This year, we have launched a new drumming group for our Middle School students. Rehearsals are Tuesdays at lunch (1.15pm – 1.50pm) in MD201, the Music Centre. No instruments are needed as all equipment will be provided, so if you’ve got a budding Middle School percussionist or drummer in your house, send them our way!
For more information about this Curricular Extension Activity, please contact David Talens in our Music Department via SEQTA Direqt Message.
Resilience across Year Levels
We are now in the middle of three days of NAPLAN testing across Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, which will look at how our students fare across reading, writing, and numeracy in relation to a State and National average.
This can be a stressful time for students (and families) – and we wish everyone the best for the coming days…
Downhill and onto the Podium
Congratulations to Floyd (Year 8), who over the long weekend completed the Auscycling Australian Downhill Mountain Bike Championship Series, finishing third overall!
This is a mammoth effort in a nation-wide competition and we look forward to following Floyd's success in the future.
Class of 2024 – Jumpers for Joy
A popular and significant rite of passage for all Year 12 students is receiving their official Year 12 Jumper. Worn with great pride, even on the warmest of days, each jumper features the name of every student of the Class of 2024, along with the wearer’s family name on the back, and a sneaky Mercy Key on one cuff, and a camel on the other, as a nod to our heritage and values.
SRC Leaders from our Junior and Middle Schools were on hand yesterday to officially present each Year 12 student with their jumper – and it was difficult to tell who was smiling the hardest. A wonderful moment for our Class of 2024 students, shared with our younger leaders, who one day will receive their own unique Year 12 jumper.
Congratulations to all our Year 12s – they look great!
Winter Sports nominations
New or updated nominations for Winter Sport Curriculum Extension Activities (CEAs) are open now until Wednesday 20 March – so please get your nominations in!
The unique WebCode you will need for logging in to the Edval nomination platform, can be located in accordance with student Year Level as listed:
- For students in Year 2 to Year 6 in 2024, parents received the WebCode via SEQTA:
- at the start of Term 1 2024 for new students
- in mid-November 2023 for continuing students
- For students in Year 7 to Year 12 in 2024 (new and continuing), students received their WebCode via their College email address at the start of Term 1 (from "Mercedes College, SA")
Any questions about technical concerns (for example, lost WebCodes, glitches with Edval Choice) should be directed to Sean Quirke: squirke@mercedes.catholic.edu.au
Questions about the winter sports programme can be directed to:
We would also love to hear from families who can volunteer to be Coaches or Team Managers for their children’s sports – so as soon as we have all nominations in, we can finalise our teams.
Always Welcome
Our Mercurean community is made up of parents of Mercedes College graduates, and whether they still have a child at the College or not, they remain supportive of and connected to the College.
Last week, more than 40 Mercureans met in Strathspey Parlour for a Cheese and Wine Evening, sharing updates about their families, and laughing about shared memories at the College. They also ran a fantastic raffle, which raised money that goes towards the 2024 Mercurean Award: an Annual Award presented to a Year 11 student that will partially fund their final year at Mercedes College.
Thank you to our Mercureans for continuing to support and advocate for our College – it’s always a pleasure to welcome you back.
Notice to Families: Rectory Walk
Thank you to our families for your patience with our traffic arrangements as we come closer to our new-look entrance on Carrick Hill Drive and Rectory Walk.
If dropping a student off on Rectory Walk to access the upper pedestrian gate, please be mindful of parking restrictions and no standing zones, and considerate of our neighbours.
Woodland Road is a more suitable location for pick up and drop offs for this entrance, or consider students' use of the Fullarton Road pedestrian gate as an alternative, to ease congestion in this area.
We thank you for your support.
Coming up
- Sunday 17 March | St Patricks Day
- Monday 18 – Wednesday 20 March | Year 5 Camp
- Monday 18 – Friday 22 March | Year 7 Camps 1 and 2
- Thursday 21 March | Harmony Day
- Friday 22 March | Junior School Swimming Carnival
- Saturday 23 March | Year 11 and Year 12 Formal – tickets close Monday 18 March at 5pm
- Sunday 24 March | Palm Sunday
Plus! The Autumn school holiday Vacation Care Programme will be available soon!
