A weekly snippet of what’s happening ‘behind the hedge’ at Mercedes College.
This week, our Year 5 students presented their IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) Exhibition to family, students and staff, sharing the results of months of research, problem solving and creativity.
Small student groups selected topics of personal, local, national, and international importance and worked on a presentation to explain the issue but also highlighted the solutions that can be influenced through action.
There was a wide range of topics including wellbeing, climate change, homelessness, pollution and endangered animals.
Students enjoyed sharing their extensive learning process, with displays and interactive activities incorporating craft, audience participation, dioramas, posters and more – a great representation of the traits of our IB Learners.
This annual event is a wonderful celebration of the learning our students have committed to during their Junior School years.
Over the past two weeks, our Year 8 Home Groups have descended on Sprout Cooking School for hands-on learning about nutrition, food safety, recipes and safe kitchen practices.
In small groups, students followed recipes to create a delicious three-course meal featuring corn fritters with fresh salsa and guacamole, saucy pasta, and a home-baked cake, making for a very tasty day out of the classroom!
Our annual Christmas Picnic is just around the corner and we’re bringing back our ever-popular Joy Boxes to sell on the day.
Families can fill a Joy Box with items up to $25 in value – toys, craft, food, stationery, personal care – the list is endless.
The Joy Boxes will be for sale at the Picnic – it’s a great way to get a little early Christmas shopping in while also supporting future projects at the College!
Kits will be delivered to our Junior School classrooms, with additional kits available at Strathspey and McAuley Receptions for any Middle and Senior School families who would like to participate.
It’s a fun, voluntary activity that adds to the spirit of the day – we hope you’ll join us there!
2026 Christmas Picnic
Sunday 15 November from 2.00pm – 4.00pm
Rose Garden
Click here to let us know to expect you!
Last week, Mercedes College participated in the inaugural Senior Catholic Girls’ Water Polo Carnival.
Powering through five games across one day, our girls competed strongly, showing significant improvement as the competition progressed and recording a fantastic win against Loreto College.
It’s a fast and competitive sport, and our team did a brilliant job – in and out of the water!
Last week, a group of our Middle School students participating in the Adelaide University STEM Girls Academy Programme attended the first of three Creative Challenge Days.
The programme, which is designed to connect students to university academics and industry partners, helps participants develop creative thinking, problem solving, collaboration and communication skills through authentic STEM challenges.
In this first session, students were introduced to the ‘Design Thinking’ process, which they used to explore an industry-set real world problem, considering how innovative STEM solutions can address complex challenges.
They also heard from Darcy Dawson, the young CEO of the Andy Thomas Space Foundation, and explored the important role of space technology in addressing climate change and supporting responses to natural disasters.
Our girls enjoyed working and learning alongside other young STEM enthusiasts and are looking forward to the next Creative Challenge Day with this innovative programme.
Last week, our Year 2 students had a sleepover at the Adelaide Zoo… and for some this was their first night away from home – and what a place to do it!
With special access after gates closed, students explored diverse animal habitats and took a guided night walk to learn more about nocturnal animal behaviours.
The next morning, the day began with sounds from all of the animals – a truly unique alarm clock for our young adventurers.
Over the weekend seven Mercedes College students competed in the All Schools Athletics Championships at SA Athletics Stadium.
We have always had a strong track record in athletics at the College and four of our students all put in brilliant performances which qualified them to represent Mercedes at the Australian All Schools Championships in Perth later in the year.
Congratulations to Jasmine (Dalton) U/14 400m, Maggie (Fitzpatrick) U/17 800m, Hayley (Dalton) U/18 100m, U/18 200m and Surani (Dalton) U/15 Long Jump, U/15 Hurdles, U/14 200m Hurdles
Bravo to Hayley who also set a meet record for the 100m (11.85)!
Great to see that athletics is alive and well at Mercedes. We wish you all the best in Perth.
Each year, we conduct Mock Interviews with our Year 10 students, to help prepare them for job interviews and we are looking for volunteers on Monday 16 November from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
Each ‘interviewer’ will spend about 10-15 minutes with a student, interviewing them for a role. It’s a lot of fun, and importantly, you pass on some ‘real life’ advice and experience to our Year 10s.
If you can make some time and want to interview our students for jobs in a bakery, surf shop or retail outlet, please contact Sarah Hartlett at vet@mercedes.catholic.edu.au.
We provide all the materials and refreshments…we’d really appreciate your support!
Last week, our Year 9 Art students had the privilege of participating in a full-day incursion with Adelaide artist, Rebecca Hastings.
Students explored how light, shadow and tone create depth and realism, developing skills in tonal scales, still-life studies and a self-portrait using the wipe-out painting technique.
Working alongside a practising artist encouraged students to experiment, built on their confidence, and extended their creative skills.
Another great creative experience for our arts students.
At the end of Term 3, our Reception to Year 6 students were challenged to a Fun Run around Maryvale and the Main Oval, raising funds in support of Mercy Works and Circle of Friends.
With incredible efforts from everyone – whether seasoned distance runners or just giving it a go – our community raised nearly $8,000 that will now support local refugee families and Mercy Works projects both local and abroad.
As for the number of laps achieved, congratulations… Barry!
Barry House only just out-paced Dalton, taking out this year’s title by only six laps…
1st – Barry (1,155 laps)
2nd – Dalton (1,149 laps)
3rd – McAuley (1,003 laps)
4th – Fitzpatrick (985 laps)
Well done to everyone who took part and thank you to our community for your generous sponsorship of our young runners.
Over the weekend, 170 Old Scholars reconnected at the 2026 MOSA Night of Reunions, celebrating 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 years since they graduated from Mercedes College.
Coming together in their own Suite overlooking the hallowed turf of Adelaide Oval, Old Scholars reminisced about memories of school, and caught up on everything they’ve tried and achieved in the years since they moved beyond the hedge.
This is a fantastic night, supported by the Mercedes Old Scholars’ Association, and we look forward to welcoming our reunion cohorts in 2027 – get ready Classes of 2022, 2017, 2007, 1997, 1987, and 1977!
Make sure we have your most up-to-date contact details – email mosa@mercedes.catholic.edu.au or fill out our Old Scholar web form to make sure you don’t miss out when next year’s event is confirmed!
A friendly reminder that Term 1 2027 Curriculum Extension Activity nominations are due soon:
Term 1, 2027 CEA nominations close:
Summer (Term 1) Sport – Due 5pm Friday 30 October
Clubs and Societies – Due Friday 27 November by 5pm
Performing Arts – Due Friday 27 November by 5pm
The following guide, A Guide on Clipboard Portal Basics for Parents.pdf can support you in accessing the platform if you have not used Clipboard before.
Alternatively please contact ictapplication@mercedes.catholic.edu.au if you need some technical support – they’d be happy to help.
More upcoming activities can be found on the College Calendar.
