The Hedge
Week 7, Term 4 | Thursday 28 November 2024 A weekly snippet of what’s happening ‘behind the hedge’ at Mercedes College...

Co-Curricular Activities for 2025

Now is a good time to start thinking about co-curricular activities for the 2025 school year.

We will be calling for nominations in late January – and will send out more information at that time.

Activities are grouped into the Performing Arts, Sport, and Clubs and Societies, including a growing number of STEM-related opportunities.

These Curricular Extension Activities (CEAs) are a great way for students to try something different, discover new passions and meet students from other year levels.

So, download our new brochure and discover something exciting to get involved in for 2025.

Booklists and Orientation Day

Booklists and stationery requirements for 2025 are now available for ordering through Campion Education.

Create your account under Mercedes College South Australia from the drop-down menu and use code QM6W (note: this is a new code to previous years).

  • Orders for Reception to Year 5 will be delivered directly to the College.
  • Orders for Year 6 to Year 12 will be delivered to your nominated address.

Orientation Day is tomorrow, Friday 29 November and is a great opportunity for students to get a sense of how next year will look for them.

All students are welcome to wear neat, casual clothing with fully enclosed shoes for this day, and lunch will be provided for those students entering Year 10 and 11 in 2025.

Podium Finish

Congratulations to Year 5 Tennis enthusiasts Josh (Fitzpatrick) and Owen (Dalton). They were part of the runner up City South team in last week’s SAPSASA Tennis Carnival!

Each student played ten games across three days, facing off against players from five other teams from around the state, with Josh just missing out on a clean sweep, taking victory in nine of his ten games.

Congratulations to you both on this great achievement!

Life is a Cabaret!

Last week our choirs, bands, and ensembles celebrated the ‘year that was’ with family and friends at our 70th Anniversary Highlights Showcase in Gleeson Theatre.

Our space was transformed into a ‘supper club’, with round tables and gold lamps, and guests were invited to bring food and drink to enjoy during the performance.

Some of our dance students kicked things off with the ‘Tribute to 70 years’ number – featuring school uniforms from across the last seven decades.

Then our musicians and vocalists took to the stage and performed numbers ranging from musical theatre to contemporary ballads, classical composition and, of course, our new Mercedes College song, which ended the night on a high!

What a great way to celebrate our Performing Arts and 70 years of the College.

IB Primary Years Programme Graduation

Last night, our Year 5 students gathered in Gleeson Theatre to celebrate their graduation from the Junior school.

Next year, they will move up to the Middle School and start the next phase of their learning here at the College.

All students were presented with a certificate and badge from the Head of the Junior School, Kellie Osborn, and Principal Andrew Balkwill.

We wish them well… and look forward to welcoming them to the Middle School in 2025!

Vacation Care

The end of the school year is in sight, and so are all the fun activities being planned for Vacation Care!

All primary aged children are welcome to share in a festive fortnight of games, crafts, and tasty treats, leading up to Christmas.

Then take a look ahead to January, for a full programme to keep everyone busy in the new year.

Full details and booking forms are available now to download and with some activities having limited spaces, you’ll want to lock in your favourites quickly!

A+ Piano Stars

We have some outstanding pianists in our midst at Mercedes College, with three students recently receiving an A+ High Distinction at the Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) piano exams.

Congratulations Nicholas (Year 7, Barry), Zara (Year 5, Barry), and Caitlyn (Year 4, Fitzpatrick) on this remarkable result!

And well done to Wendy Lee, their piano teacher, for tutoring these three talented musicians.

Mentor Connections

More than 30 of our valued community mentors came to our the Campus this morning for our Student Mentoring Programme end of year celebrations.

Joining their mentees for a special liturgy, mentors were then treated to a thank you morning tea in appreciation of their time to help students across all year levels during 2024.

If you are interested in becoming a community mentor in 2025, contact Programme Coordinator Stephen Heuzenroeder for more details.

Special Junior School Concert

There was a special live concert for our Junior School students last week, when they welcomed beloved Australian performer Peter Combe to perform songs featured on his latest album.

Our Year 4 and 5 students, who sing backup vocals in one of the recordings, also got to stand up front and perform their hit live for their peers.

A great experience for some of our youngest musicians to see a music legend perform – and to be involved in the show!

Coming up…

  • Friday 29 November | Orientation Day | Class of 2024 Graduation Ball, Adelaide Entertainment Centre
  • Sunday 1 December | Advent Begins
  • Monday 2 December | Year 10 and 11 End of Year Awards and MYP Graduation
  • Tuesday 3 December | Year 7 Social, 6pm, Junior School Hall
  • Tuesday 3 to Wednesday 4 December | Year 10 First Aid Sessions
  • Friday 6 December | Middle School End of Year Awards Ceremony | Christmas Mass | Last day 2025, early dismissal (12.30pm)
  • Monday 9 to Friday 20 December | pre-Christmas Vacation Care
  • Monday 6 January – Friday 24 January | Summer Vacation Care
  • Monday 27 January | Australia Day Public Holiday observed
  • Tuesday 28 January | Pupil Free Day (Vacation Care available)
  • Wednesday 29 January | First day Term 1, 2025