Tomorrow we will be celebrating Caritas Day across our Campus, raising funds for Project Compassion. This is a great annual tradition at Mercedes, and we are looking forward to all the activities, stalls and excitement.
This year, we are asking all students (and staff) to wear white and denim – and to bring a gold coin donation. So get out your white t-shirts and jeans!
Some reminders for all families:
Caritas Day is the last day of Term 1, with a regular dismissal time of 3.20pm.
On Holy Thursday, the Mercedes College community gathered for a Gospel Reflection, Journey with Jesus – The Way of the Cross.
Through student led tableaux, Gospel readings and contemporary reflections, students and staff walked with Jesus through key moments of Holy Week: his entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and his death on the cross.
This marked the conclusion of our Lenten journey and invited the community to enter the Triduum with faith, compassion and hope.
As part of our visual arts CEA programme, we are running a 9-week Clay Workshop for students from Years 7 – 12.
This is a great opportunity for students to get to spend time learning various skills working with clay, and will get the chance to develop hand-building and glazing skills. Students are encouraged to bring along their own ideas for what they’d like to create.
Students interested in signing up for this unique Clay Workshop, can register by emailing our Head of Visual Arts, Jane Finnimore (jfinnimore@mercedes.catholic.edu.au)
Years 7–12
Term 2 (from Wednesday 6 May)
Wednesdays 4:00–5:30pm
Cost: $100 for 9 weeks (All materials supplied)
Last night, we invited families and Coaches to the Launch of our Winter Sport Programme.
This was a great opportunity for parents and coaches to meet each other and hear from our Director of Co-Curricular Sport, Brodie Atkinson, and meet members from our Sport Department. We also heard from our specialist Coaches in Football, Netball, Soccer and Basketball
Brodie and our Sport Directors shared their vision for the upcoming season, including our standards and expectations of students at each age and stage of their sporting journey at Mercedes College.
Interest in all co-curricular sports has grown significantly this year, with extra teams in netball, volleyball, tennis and soccer – great to see our sport is alive and thriving.
On Wednesday, our Year 2 and 4 students graced the Gleeson Theatre stage for a dance performance for families and peers.
Dance is a growing and important part of our Mercedes Junior School curriculum. Each Term, two year levels work with Natalie Goodair our Dance Teacher on pieces related to their IB Unit of Inquiry.
Students learn how to use their bodies to express themselves, while also learning core performance and confidence skills to support them to perform on stage.
The Year 4 students performed “We’re All in this Together” from High School Musical. This upbeat and joyful song was about teamwork, friendship, and supporting one another.
The Year 2 students performed to a compilation of songs “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen and “Love is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane.
Following the solemnity of Holy Week, our Community Prayer on Tuesday was a joyful celebration, bringing the whole College together.
Led by Junior and Senior School students, the prayer reflected on Easter as a season of new life, hope and renewal. We replaced the red cloth and crown of Holy Week with white, and the Paschal Candle and water were presented as signs of light, baptism and new beginnings.
Grounded in prayer at the statue Catherine McAuley, the gathering reminded us that we are called to bring joy, hope and light to others.
We also welcomed Caritas Kaz, a representative from Caritas Australia to help launch Caritas Day ahead of this Friday. She introduced this year’s Project Compassion campaign, encouraging us to continue showing generosity and compassion to people around the world who are facing hardship.
Yesterday, our Year 12 students held their Walk for Water initiative, by walking laps in our Yitpi Centre, as the rain poured down outside. The walk aimed to raise awareness of the daily challenges faced by many children around the world, who have to travel long distances to access clean water, often at the expense of their education.
Our Social Justice Leaders set up a Project Compassion fundraising page, to encourage parents and students to support this important cause – they would really appreciate your support.
Students and staff on our French immersion tour have landed safely in Paris, and now begin their three-week experience throughout France.
The Tour starts and ends in France’s capital, Paris, with visits to its iconic monuments. The trip will also take in the history of Joan of Arc in Rouen, enjoy the landscapes of the Loire Valley, explore the Chateau de Versailles, and more…
This is a wonderful opportunity for students to spend time in France as part of their French studies, and immerse themselves in the culture, history and of course, food of this beautiful and historic country.
We will share more photos and stories of their adventures when they return in Term 2.
Week 9 was a busy one for many of our swimming and track and field athletes, as they took part in two SAPSASA swimming events and the City South Track and Field Day.
We had 30 students taking part in the swimming carnivals representing Mercedes. Everyone did an amazing job, with congratulations to Isabella (Dalton) who won gold in all four of her races in the Multiclass division. Oliver (Barry) also won the Year 3 Boys Age Champion. All of our other students showed great improvement in all other races and divisions and had a great experience.
Away from the pool, Mercedes took 33 students to the Athletics Stadium to gain a spot in the District Team, who will compete against the best in the State later in the year. Mercedes came 2nd overall, which is a brilliant achievement.
We had a lot of individual successes across the day with several students winning their races. Special mention to Xavier (McAuley) who came first in all three of his individual events as well as in the 11-Year-old boys Relay team.
We are introducing Clipboard in time for Term 2 Winter Sports and all other Cocurricular Extension Activities (CEAs) – whether they be for Sport, Performing Arts or Clubs and Societies.
Clipboard will replace StackTeam App – which has primarily been used as a Co-curricular sport communication platform.
The update to Clipboard will provide improved functionality, clearer communication and better access to relevant information for families, for all our CEAs, from Reception to Year 12.
All families were sent an email on 31 March with a link to set up and log in to Clipboard. Please check your Junk folder for this invitation from Clipboard.
Please complete your registration today, as the original email has a ten day expiry.
Further instructions are available here or email ictapplication@mercedes.catholic.edu.au.
This year, the College is staging a drama production of one of the most loved classics – Little Women.
The piece is based on Louisa May Allcott’s famous story about four sisters in the midst of the civil war in America.
The story was based on her own family experience and became one of her most famous pieces of work. The story portrays the life of a family struggling through difficult times and also challenges the expected norms in society, which still resonates strongly today.
We look forward to sharing this important story with our College community in Term 2. There will be three shows – so book early and get your tickets here.
Friday 29 May, 7pm – 9pm
Saturday 30 May, 2pm – 4pm
Saturday 30 May, 7pm – 9pm
A reminder that next Term, we switch to our Winter uniform for Terms 2 and 3. We encourage families to check their winter pieces and if you need any new items, to book an appointment with The Uniform Shop which will be open during the school holidays.
Our Second-Hand Uniform Shop for pre-loved options will also be open in Week 1 of the holidays.
The Uniform Shop
Wednesday 22 April 8am – 3pm
Thursday 23 April 8am – 3pm
Second Hand Uniform Shop (Strathspey House)
Friday 17 April 10am – 1pm
A reminder of our Winter Uniform Standards can be found here.
More upcoming activities can be found on the College Calendar.
