Term 1 | Issue No. 2, March 10
College Leadership
Abundance of learning experiences
By Andrew Balkwill
Today we enjoyed the Year 7 to Year 12 Athlectics Carnival at the SA Athletics Stadium and celebrated the International Womens' Day breakfast with invited students able to hear from keynote speaker, Ambassador Caroline Kennedy. We are well into Term 1 and there’s an abundance of learning taking place right across our campus now, with more to come! From early learners adjusting to new routines, and senior students setting themselves up for assessment success, to inquiry based learning in the classroom as young minds explore issues and topics through a solutions lens, learning takes many forms.
At Mercedes College there’s also an abundance of outside experiences including mountain bike riding, erecting and dismantling tents ahead of camps, excursions to interesting museums and institutions, plus learning through play and time socialising with peers during breaks, and guest speakers sharing their insights too. There’s also a number of additional excursions due to the building project. Thank you to our educators for developing interesting and engaging opportunities, and a number of our volunteers for joining with us to deliver great experiences.
Underpinning all learning at Mercedes College are the Mercy Keys, or values, that we live and practice through our interactions, decision making and restorative practices. A key part of learning is making mistakes, and learning from situations and interactions that may not go as planned or intended. With consistency in how we guide and support students to reflect – as well as ourselves – we can all learn from these daily experiences that enrich our lives. There’s many an occasion when the best learning occurs through otherwise incidental moments and experiences.
Over the past 12 months significant investment has gone into monitoring students’ academic, social and emotional wellbeing. Our educators, together with our faculty and year level leaders, plus heads of school and college leaders, understand where to push harder, ease up, and guide students to achieve their best. It’s not always easy to find the balance between high support and high accountability, but in the science and art of teaching and the complexities of learning, it’s a privilege to work with so many talented people that do this well making the complex look simple, seamless and easy.
Using multiple forms of data also informs how we implement curriculum and extra curricular activities to extend and enrich learning opportunities for all ages and stages across our R-12 campus. This also creates pathways, be that from Petites Voix to Festival Choir and performing at college events, to drama productions and so on. Congratulations to all students participating in the arts, sports and leadership opportunities on offer this Term, and throughout 2023.
At our College Council Open Meeting later this month, we will share the work we are doing to shape learning experiences across the college to produce confident, ethical and successful global citizens ready to address the challenges of their time – in a world rich in change, opportunities and need for creative and critical thinkers.
During this one-hour session, together with our Council Chair, I will cover off on what we have achieved to date, and the priorities going forward across our five strategic goals, as well as developments across our campus. In addition I will update you on the evaluation now underway by the Council of International Schools, and how you can participate, and later this year, our International Baccalaureate evaluation that ensures we are delivering a contemporary education – both providing you rigours measure of our performance educating to international standards.
At this session you can also be ask us questions about our 5 year strategy and 10 year master plan plus the governance role of the group. Simply register to attend and share your interest areas with me to cover.
This month we’re also celebrating 55 years of international student learning at Mercedes College and I’m looking forward to seeing lots of families next Thursday – 16 March 2023 – at our International Food Fair. As a proud International Baccalaureate world school this is an excellent occasion for us to come together as a community and celebrate the richness diversity brings to our lives and community.
International Food Fair
Thursday 16 March 2023
Mercedes College | Rose Garden
4pm to 8pm
Pre-purchase a dinner voucher to receive a complimentary beer, wine or soft drink on arrival.
See you there!
Andrew Balkwill
Principal
Junior Journeys
Independence, responsibility, courage
By Kellie Osborn
Camp experiences solidify connections
Recent conversations with our Year 5 student’s indicated thier excitement about the Year 5 camp was at fever pitch!
While many bags have been packed weeks in advance, for some students that this was their first time away and there was some nervous anticipation.
The three day Year 5 camp at Glen Haven Park at Stockport enables students to develop their relationships plus essential life skills, such as resilience, independence, responsibility and courage - all of which can help them navigate future challenges with ease. Coping with their personal care and hygiene, organising clothing and belongings, sharing a dorm room with their friends and eating food prepared beyond the home are all sound learning opportunities.
On camp, students were managing their emotions attached to being away from home and taking safe risks with new adventures.
They thoroughly enjoyed activities such as team tower challenges, high and low rope climbing, giant swing, giant ladder, group initiatives and the infamous Leap of Faith! These activities are designed so students step out of their comfort zone and conquer their fears, to gain more self-awareness of emotions, how they view themselves as learners and how to work together as a team.
At camp, children are often pushed out of their comfort zones and may encounter new challenges, trying a new activity for the first time, however, these experiences help build resilience - the ability to bounce back from challenges and adversity. It was wonderful to observe the increased confidence and sense of achievement as they pushed themselves beyond their perceived limits and encouraged each other every step of the way.
Our Year 5 students were exceptional ambassadors for the Junior School and we have been so proud of the way in which they have been kind and supported one another on camp and when they have found themselves ‘outside their comfort zones’. It is just so important for our students to develop the crucial skills of perseverance and resilience, and they have done this in spades this week.
As our Year 5’s returns home from this week, I warmly encourage families to talk about the activities and times they found rewarding, easy, challenging and difficult. Perhaps your children can also reflect on the things that they missed and the insights they have gained about themselves by being away from the creature comforts and support of home. Most probably ‘sleep banking’ will be needed with lots of down time and rest over this long weekend.
Kellie Osborn
Head of Junior School
Middle Moments
Embracing leadership opportunities
By Ben Dray
Welcome to the start of the 2023 academic year, especially families joining our community for the first time
Middle School Family Information Session
Thank you to everyone attended our Information Session - it was great to see so many families positively engaging with our educators. This information evening is one way we actively collaborate with families to enhance student learning and wellbeing, with further opportunities as the year progresses. Families are encouraged to make contact us to discuss any student learning and wellbeing opportunities and issues.
Year 6 Crossing Monitors
Our Year 6 students are proudly taking on supervising road safety as School Crossing Monitors, having recently completed training by officers from the South Australia Police Road Safety Centre.
Through this training students know how to safely stop vehicles approaching the school crossing, and facilitate the safe passage of pedestrians. All participants will receive a certificate issued on behalf of the Commissioner of Police that authorises them as official School Crossing Monitors. Please keep a look out for the lollypop stop signs on Delamere Avenue and follow our School Crossing Monitors' advice to keep everyone safe on their way to and from our campus.
You can read more information on school crossing monitor training and road safety here.
Year 7 bike and tent education
In Week 5 our Year 7 students began preparations for their upcoming camp experience with hands-on bike and tent education sessions. These lessons gave students the knowledge required to set up and sleep in tents - a first for some - and gave them the opportunity to develop important social skills that will serve them well in this tight-knit setting.
The Bike Education component is designed to develop students’ confidence using mountain bikes, and enhance their understanding of safe and responsible riding techniques, particularly in trail riding situations. Both sessions offered ways to create environmental awareness and provided a platform for students to develop independence outside of their comfort zone.
Middle School Leadership
We are blessed to have the support of students who eagerly undertake various leadership opportunities across the Middle School. Congratulations to everyone who nominated for a leadership position in 2023. The following students will work closely with Middle School SRC Coordinator, Mr Lachlan Jones, to enhance their capacity as leaders and develop student agency. I trust they will enjoy the opportunity and demonstrate outstanding service to the Mercedes College community.
| Middle School Leaders |
| Samuel Doan | Ava Barton |
| Annabelle Phillips | Thomas Stirling |
| Middle School SRC Executives |
| Pallas Hannan | Will Braddy |
| Harry Mills | Cara Dalzotto |
| Freya McBride | Claudia Patterson |
| Zara Van Der Linden | Qisen Wang |
| Hunter Wood | Ella Harvey |
| Violet Hille | |
| Middle School SRC Representatives |
| 6TB | Willow Hann | Gabrielle Lefevre |
| 6CO | Dionne Hnoudis | Aidan Thom |
| 6JF | Alexander Giannias | Lily Turner |
| 7JA | Zara de Bruin | Jensen Marold |
| 7LH | Henry McPhail | Milly Pfitzner |
| 7EM | Alexander Roccisano | Sophie (Yanqing) Shan |
| 7GB | Gilbert Pronk | Maggie Robinson |
| 7JM | Mitchell Chan | Charlie Park |
| 8TN | Francesca Fiocchini | |
| 8DC | Will Catinari | |
| 8LT | Frazer Agzarian | |
| 8AN | Alice Thompson | |
| 8FG | Johnny Manos | |
Ben Dray
Head of Middle School
Senior Stories
Starting Senior School with confidence
By Michael Francis
Senior leaders shine at events and prepare for a big year ahead
The year has started strong for our Senior School, and I have no doubt that their early enthusiasm will carry them through for a very successful 2023.
Our Senior School leaders have already taken to their roles with confidence, ably assisting with the Shrove Tuesday launch of Caritas Australia's Project Compassion, Ash Wednesday Liturgy, as well as welcoming new families to tour the campus. Our seniors also stepped up and modelled fantastic school spirit, sportsmanship, and friendly competition at both their Swimming Carnival and Athletics Carnival (the tug-of-war was a particular highlight for me).
Recently our Mock Trial participants faced their first challenge and came out with the win. They will now compete in the next round of trials and we wish them the best of luck.
One of the highlights for many Year 12 students is the connections they make with buddies from the Junior School, and those relationships kicked off with many smiles and games. During possibly the most stressful years of their schooling, the buddy programme is an opportunity to decompress and embrace their inner child again, playing uninhibited with those who know how to do it best.
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For International Women's Day our senior leaders were invited to a breakfast with our Principal, Deputy Principal and Director of Mission to watch the live stream of Adelaide's International Women's Day event, DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality. After listening to an enthralling conversation with Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador to Australia, students shared their insights and hopes for the future, and acknowledged the power of one person making positive change; the ripple effect it can have on peers and the wider community. We look forward to seeing them put their learnings into action throughout the year.
Michael Francis
Head of Senior School
Director of Mission
Compassion marks the season of Lent
By Deborah Lubatti
The early weeks of 2023 have marked many important occasions.
Our Religious Education (RE) programming at Mercedes College uses our Catholic values as a lens for us to investigate faith and social justice, alongside our acknowledgement of Catholic service.
In the opening weeks of the academic year our community has reflected on the unnecessary suffering people have endured through history, including naming National Apology Day for the Stolen Generations, our Year 12 Spiritualities, Religion and Meaning students attending the Holocaust Museum, and acknowledging World Justice Day.
Caritas Australia | Project Compassion 2023
Through daily prayers and RE lessons we brought the beginning of the Lenten season to the forefront, beginning with an abundance of pancakes for Shrove Tuesday, a day when Mercedes College also had the honor of hosting the launch of Caritas Australia's Project Compassion launch for 2023.
This event, guided with confidence by our College Captains, and Social Justice and Middle School Leaders, was presided over by Archbishop O'Reagan, our own Deacon Andrew Kirkbride, and special guests Robert Fitzgerald, Caritas Australia Chair, as well as South Australia's Premier, Peter Malinauskas a proud Mercedes College old scholar. We were also joined by students from Mary MacKillop College, Blackfriars Priory School, Star of the Sea School, Sacred Heart College, St Martins de Porres School, and School of the Nativity, as well as Catholic Education South Australia.
Ash Wednesday
Deacon Andrew returned to campus for our Ash Wednesday Liturgy to mark the beginning of our Lenten journey as people of hope and ongoing faith.
Gathering as a whole community to bless our 2023 student leaders and their badges of honour, we also received the ashes. Deacon Andrew spoke meaningfully about the background of Lent and ways that we can renew ourselves through daily actions, which may include prayer and fasting, and encouraged us all to focus on our relationship with each other and with God, and reflect upon ways to better ourselves during this season before Easter.
In the Junior School students created personal Lenten Promises to display in their classrooms and homes.
Class Masses and Liturgies
Prayer and Liturgies are an integral part of our curriculum and each student from Reception to Year 12 has the opportunity to participate through song, prayer, and readings. Our masses reflect what students are exploring in their Religious Education lessons and important events in our Liturgical Calendar.
We are delighted to welcome Father John Shanahan, the Parish Priest of Emmaus, into our classrooms again this year for mass, as well as visits from Parish Priests of St Paul of the Cross, in particular Father Pastor, and our dedicated Deacon Andrew.
Sacrament Programme
The Emmaus Sacrament Programme 2023 will soon begin, with some of our Sacrament Candidates being presented to the church community in coming weekends. Congratulations to Lachlan Everett, Leo James Swift, and Zoe Aywald.
The First Sacrament Programme begins with the Sacrament of Reconciliation, followed by Confirmation, and concluding with Holy Communion.
The Sacrament Program 2023-24 at St Paul of the Cross, Glen Osmond, will begin later this year and conclude in 2024. Enrolment forms will be distributed on 27 March via the Year 3, 4 and 5 Seesaw blog, and will be available from Strathspey reception.
We wish these children and their families all the best as they prepare for their First Sacraments.
'During this season of conversion. Let us renew our faith and open and receive with open hearts the love of God.’
Pope Francis
Deborah Lubatti
Director of Mission
with Sister Duyen, Teresa Pepicelli, Therese Wilson and Helen Ayliffe
Catholic Identity and Mission Team
Good Sports
Sporting achievements
By Josh Archer and Tamae Ninos
Welcome back to Mercedes College Sport for 2023!
Hoping you're as excited as we are to get back into sport at Mercedes College, with teams this season with girls and boys team across 4 summer sports. The girls have 2 teams in Water Polo, 4 in Basketball, 6 in Volleyball, and 8 in Touch Football, and the boys have 2 teams in Water Polo, 6 in Volleyball, 1 in Tennis, and 4 in Cricket.
There are also 8 Tennis teams in the Southern Districts Tennis competition (which began October 2022) and we're thrilled to see 7 of these teams competing in the upcoming finals; a huge effort -- good luck!
We are both looking forward to continuing the development of sport at Mercedes College, particularly watching as more students join sport each Term. The winter sport season is fast approaching and more information will go out on Stack TeamApp over the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
Student Achievements
We love celebrating participation and the successes of our athletes, and we're off to a stellar start in 2023.
Our swimming team blew the competition out of the water at this year's Catholic Co-Ed Swimming Carnival, winning 5 age group shields: 13 and Under, 14 and Under, and 15 and Under Girls, and 16 and Under and Open Boys. A special mention has to go to Claire Dewar, Isobel Black, Isobel Langman and Madison Childs, who smashed the 13 and Under Girls Freestyle Relay by a whopping 7 seconds.
Summer Hudswell (Year 10) has been selected to participate in the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) Talent Development programme for rowing. Summer was actually selected for 4 different sports after participating in SASI's talent search last October, but it was rowing that that won her over. SASI’s talent search programme identifies high school aged students that have the potential to represent Australia in Olympic and Paralympic sports, so we're looking forward to following Summer's future on the water!
Ava Barton (Year 9) won bronze for the Heptathlon in the 2022-23 State Multi Championships in January. She is bound to be a huge asset for Dalton House in their athletics for years to come.
Charlotte Devey (Year 10) and Saskia Kellaway (Year 8) have been selected in their respective age group for State Water Polo and will be competing at the National State Water Polo Championships later this year. Saskia and Charlotte both play Water Polo for the College in the Open A competition and show great leadership in and out of the pool.
Claire Warburton (Year 12) has been selected to represent School Sport SA at the School Sport Australia 18 and Under Girls Softball Championship to be held in Werribee, Victoria, from Saturday 13 to Friday 19 May 2023.
William Mathwin (Year 11) put in a great effort at the recent School Sport SA Cycling Championships, whilst Oliver Dixon (Year 9), Ava Barton (Year 9), Maggie Robinson (Year 7), Christian Whitwell (Year 10), Max Swift (Year 8), and Hayley Fuss (Year 8) competed commendably at the recent Athletics SA State Track and Field Championships.
Special mention also to old scholar Jessie Grenvold (Class of 2000), our talented Open A Netball coach, who has been selected as a training partner for the Adelaide Thunderbirds!
Sporting achievements can be shared with us via SEQTA or phone so we can celebrate their successes with the College community -- and plesae include a photo.
Stack Team App
Keeping up to date with your child's teams, fixtures, training information and any last minute changes is easy with Stack Team App.
Find 'Mercedes College Girls' Sport' and/or 'Mercedes College Boys' Sport' and 'Access Groups' for any sport relevant to your family.
Download the free app now for Apple iPhone, or Android now.
Attendance | Training and games
Student attendance is compulsory at all trainings and games.
If unable to attend a training or game day commitment plese inform your coach before training starts, or with at least 24 hours notice (where possible) before a game. You can find the contact number for your coach on Stack Team App under ‘Training/Coach Information’.
First Aid
Student medications (including puffers and epi-pens) must be clearly labelled and provided to coaches prior to training and games so they are easily in reach if needed.
Sports ESOs
Welcome back Matt Smith after a year of leave, joining our second Sports ESO, Amanda Langton. It's great to have Matt’s 20 years of knowledge and enthusiasm back on campus with us.
Josh Archer and Tamae Ninos
Sports Coordinators
ARTStanding
Junior artists shine
By Mercedes College Arts Faculties
Colour and music fill the campus
Primary Years Programme | Visual Arts
Many exciting things have already been happening in our new art room.
Art journeys across the Junior School have encompassed a variety of themes and techniques:
| Reception | Experimented with collage murals. |
| Year 1 | Created collaborative ink and watercolour fantasy gardens. |
| Year 2 | Took inspiration from the illustratinos of Allison Lester to create beautiful line drawings of 'a special place', to be painted later. |
| Year 3 | Ventured into self portraits in collage. |
| Year 4 | Undertook life drawing in the Rose Garden and creation of Worry Dolls. |
| Year 5 | Investigated the works of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, whose exhibition they will have the chance to visit later this year. |
Students are exploring a large variety of media and are excited to be learning and inquiring through an art lens.
Our focus of independence and agency in the art room is beginning to blossom, with all students developing their confidence.
I can’t wait to see where their creativity leads us!
Jane Finnimore
PYP Visual Arts Teacher
Innovative Music Making
Year 4 and Year 5 students really found their rhythm recently with a visit from Jon Madin of Marimba Music.
Armed with some familiar and less familiar instruments, students threw themselves into exploring echo-cellos, musical bikes, marimbas, drums, and musical boxes with curiosity and enthusiasm. After a day of learning, they showcased their learnings to the remainder of the Junior School, even getting the teachers up for an impromptu performance!
Students worked collaboratively, explored and inquired to successfully learn new songs and build their confidence as performers.
Bec Pfitzner
Junior School Music Key Leader
Surprising STEM
Forensic science in action
By Jennifer Chan
What makes a claim scientific?
Our Year 9s have been studying 'what makes a claim scientific?', using the scientific method to investigate whether relationships exist between suggested claims, and use evidence to construct explanations.
In one, very splashy investigation, students designed their own experiment to test factors affecting blood splatter analysis, a tool used in forensic science. Students developed a recipe for their artificial blood, then tested their hypothesis about examining the size, shape, and spread of blood droplets.
Later this Term students will participate in a forensic science incursion with Education Interactive's ‘Case of the Identity’, where they will get hands-on experience with forensic science techniques and tools. After being presented with a case that needs to be solved, students will collect and use evidence to assess claims made, and evalutate scientific data to construct an explanation of the scene, using their knowledge and understanding of using claims to acquire scientific understanding.
Jennifer Chan
Science Leader
Fabulous at 55
Lifelong friends
By Guest Author
Lifelong connections forged through the International Student Programme
In 1980, Jeffrey Yong travelled from Malaysia to study at Mercedes College, which is where we met and became lifelong friends.
After graduating, we stayed in touch through good old fashioned snail mail for years, while he attended the University of Hull, England, studying Law, and I attended University of Adelaide studying Psychology. Jeffrey visited Adelaide a number of times during our university years.
As our lives moved forward, Jeffrey went on to practice law in England while I moved to Sydney, and we both travelled the world, even nearly crossing paths by pure chance in Kuala Lumpur.
In 2009 we connected further through a little thing called Facebook, and never stopped chatting, even as my work took me to Perth and then, finally back to Adelaide ready for my eldest child to start high school at Mercedes College in 2017. Jeffrey considered a return to Australia, but ultimately settled in Singapore just prior to the onset of COVID-19.
During the height of COVID lockdowns Jeffrey and I would chat daily, as he was very isolated and unable to go outside for weeks at a time. It was a blessing that we had remained so close and I was able to offer this support.
These days our family hosts our own international student while my children finish their schooling. I hope that their connections to current international students remain as strong as my connection to Jeffrey.
We remain checking in on each other most days as he looks for his next international assignment.
Perhaps he'll return to Adelaide after all.
Helen Smith nee Blesing (Class of 1985)
Old scholar, current parent and Homestay host
If you have memories of time with an international student at Mercedes College, share your stories and photos at newsletter@mercedes.catholic.edu.au and help us celebrate 55 years of the International Student Programme at Mercedes College.
Beyond the Classroom
Building capability
By Mercedes College
In Term 2 and Term 3 the Curriculum Extension Activities 'Break Free' and 'Being Boys', will run. These wellbeing programmes are tailored to address contemporary challenges faced by our students.
Based on femininity and masculinity, students choose the programme that resonates with their personal feelings and experiences, partcipating in activities with a mentor across 8 weeks and culminating with a 2 day camp at Aldinga or Douglas Scrub.
Topics explored in each group include the pressures of social media, risk taking, self defence, informed decision-making, positive sharing of emotions, and gender roles.
Through the programme, students build a mutually respectful relationship with their peers and teachers that is established through openness and trust. This builds capacity to face challenges successfully throughout the current academic year, and well into the future as they are valuable life long skills.
To find out more, or join, please contact Isabella Hartley or Damian Vahlis via SEQTA.
Enriching Experiences
Mentors ready to offer support
By Stephen Heuzenroeder
A new year with new mentoring opportunites
This year we are delighted to welcome new community members to work alongside our Year 12 students as mentors supporting learners across the College .
Community mentors are drawn from our community of old scholars, OSHC educators, past parents, staff members, and TAFE and University students studying education, teaching, or psychology who have something positive to offer and enjoy building a connection with our community.
At a welcome and briefing session our new mentors had an opportunity to speak with returning members, who shared their insights about mentoring and the positive connections they've made with students.
Thank you to our mentors who volunteer to share their time with our students, and make a wonderful contribution to Mercedes College.
If you would like to join, or find out more about mentoring, please contact sheuzen@mercedes.catholic.edu.au.
Stephen Heuzenroeder
Student Mentoring Coordinator
Wellbeing
Introducing our College Psychologists
By Anne Way
Welcome to all of our Mercedes College families, especially those who are new in 2023.
Both full-time Educational and Developmental Psychologists working with College staff, students, parents and external providers to ensure that our community flourishes, we are responsible for:
- designing and delivering staff professional development relevant to student psychological health and wellbeing,
- ensuring that our pastoral care practices and teaching programmes address student need, informed by evidence based best practice,
- supporting students through individual, confidential counselling from Years 4 to 12,
- conducting individual assessments to identify a range of learning and social-emotional challenges,
- identifying key findings and recommendations from diagnostic assessment reports to inform individual learning plans,
- supporting access to external providers and with consent, liaising with providers to ensure that relevant strategies and support are provided at school,
- analysing student achievement and wellbeing data to inform intervention,
- assisting teachers with strategies to support the learning and wellbeing of each student in the classroom and in the school yard,
- facilitating parent information and education opportunities
As Psychologists registered with the Psychology Board of Australia, through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and Fellow Members of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), we undertake our work within professional practice regulations and ethical requirements governing confidentiality, informed consent, information gathering and sharing and record keeping.
On a needs-basis we provide time-limited student counselling and case management. Teachers and parents can request contact, or students may self-refer. Where more intensive support may be required, we assist families with accessing external providers. We utilise a comprehensive process to ensure that requests for support are relevant and responded to in a timely manner.
The foundation for wellbeing and flourishing is laid when a sense of belonging and positive relationships are formed, so to that end, we strongly encourage parents to raise relevant student and family information which may impact academic progress, social interactions, health and wellbeing with the Class or Home Group Teacher in the first instance.
Our contributions to the Mercy Vine feature information about resources, programmes and services that support the challenging task of parenting, which we supplement with School TV modules and Special Reports available on the College website. We particularly commend the School Transitions module.
It is a privilege to work in our unique roles at Mercedes College, and we extend to all families our very best wishes for a safe, happy and productive 2023.
Anne Way
Director of Wellbeing
Andrea Fairlie
College Psychologist
Old Scholars
Old scholar updates
By Mercedes College
Art, sport, Class of 2018, and an AGM
Artist recognition
Congratulations to Rosie Lewis and Olivia Connelly (both Class of 2022) on being nominated to exhibit their Stage 2 Visual Art pieces in the 2023 SACE Art Show at Light Square Gallery. The SACE Art Show showcases pieces from a range of students that study SACE Art and Design each year.
Rosie Lewis’s work The Biophilia Hypothesis explores humans’ innate connection with the natural world. As human activity escalates and its consequent environmental implications devastate Australian ecosystems, art holds a critical role in re-engaging this connection, to promote an awareness of and appreciation for the natural world and our role and responsibility in conservation.
Olivia Connelly’s work Untreated Mental Illness explores the reality of living with an untreated mental illness and how this can be represented in art. Olivia was interested in expressing thoughts, dreams, and sensations, transforming realistic objects and subjects into abnormal concepts.
You can go and see the SACE Art Show at Light Square Gallery, Adelaide College of the Arts from Tuesday 21 March to Friday 14 April.
Rebecca Sharpe
Visual Arts Key Teacher
Sporting success
A big congratulations go to 2 old scholars whose stars continue to rise on the netball court, Jessie Grenvold (Class of 2020) and Lauren Frew (2019). Jessie and Lauren have both been selected as a training partner for the Adelaide Thunderbirds, which means that they train full time with the squad and are available to step up to this elite level in case of injury or illness.
We were also delighted to see Darcy Miller (Class of 2021) excelling at the Athletics SA State Track and Field Championships, where 6 of our current students also performed well.
Josh Archer and Tamae Ninos
Sports Coordinators
5 Year Reunion | Class of 2018
The Class of 2018 are invited to attend their first official reunion since graduation!
We’d love to see as many of you there as possible – MOSA will shout the first drink at the bar, and there will be cocktail food to enjoy throughout the evening.
Please remember to send photos from the night to mosa@mercedes.catholic.edu.au, or directly via Facebook, so we can celebrate your 2018 Reunion with the full Mercedes College Old Scholars' Association.
RSVP essential before 9am, Friday 17 March 2023.
AGM 2023
Notice of the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) has been made for the Mercedes College Old Scholars' Association and all old scholars are invited to attend and vote.
Monday 20 March 2023, 7pm
The Loft, Torrens Arms Hotel
95 Belair Road, Kingswood
At this meeting, members will have the opportunity to:
- Learn about MOSA's operations and finances
- Ask questions about MOSA's operations and finances
- Speak about any items on the agenda
- Vote on any resolutions proposed
Members will be asked to vote to:
- Accept the minutes of the last AGM
- Accept the annual report
- Accept the annual financial statements
- Elect Committee Members
Please RSVP to let us know you're attending the meeting.
College News
Assessing concussion
By Guest Author
Your Brain Health is a collaboration between Adelaide neurological physiotherapy clinics and other health professionals involved in assessing and managing concussion.
With approximately 30 per cent of children in Australia suffering a concussion by the age of 13, the team are working with schools and sports organisations to better inform families about concussion with baseline testing available for individuals providing data to compare in the event of a concussion injury occuring.
Baseline testing for concussion is not new, rather Your Brain Health is providing a best practice mode to guide optimal care in the event of a concussion using key domains of
- mental health well being
- previous history - concussions. migraine etc.
- sleep
- vestibular
- ocular
- processing speed, and
- balance
With the help of NeuroFlex® technology these baseline tests are time efficient and help with targeted treatment and decisions about return to learn or play.
To find out more visit Your Brain Health, NeuroFlex® or contact info@yourbrainhealth.net.
