‘…some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together...’ – Queen Elizabeth II

Most of us, myself included, have never witnessed the reign of any other monarch but Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Coronated in 1953, the Queen was a symbol of loyalty, leadership and devotion to Britain. Perhaps the most famous woman in the world, her ubiquitous presence is observed within our currency, her annual Christmas broadcasts and her symbolic importance within Australia.

Throughout her life, she carried the hopes of the British people, fulfilling her initial promise that her ‘whole life, whether it be long or short, be devoted to…service.’ We, as a Mercy community, pay our respect to the life of Queen Elizabeth II. Living for 96 years, she assumed the throne at just 25. Her legacy of power and humility has impacted the entire world, and her passion for serving the Commonwealth resonates with the OLMC community as we strive to embody her leadership and her ability to defy the impossibilities. 

Mercy communities across the world celebrated Mercy Day on 16 September. Reflecting upon Catherine McAuley’s opening of the House of Mercy in Ireland, we held a beautiful Mass where College Chaplin, Father Walter, introduced the theme of Mercy Day, ‘Women of Courage’. Celebrating everything that empowers women, special guest Leila Abdallah, who lost her three children in a horrific car accident in 2020, spoke about the importance of choosing to forgive over harbouring feelings of revenge and hate. Revealing the role of faith in her personal forgiveness journey, Leila revealed that ‘faith will make you courageous’, a message that I encourage all Mercy Girls to apply within their lives. Following an enthusiastic rendition of the Alma Mater, special guests and staff attended a morning tea in the Convent Garden, and students engaged in fun activities for the remainder of the day.

The finalities of Term 3 are bittersweet for the Graduating Class of 2022. I am looking forward to the Graduation activities during this week, including Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Graduation Assembly and Graduation lunch at Oatlands House. I am so proud of the young women that these girls have become throughout their time at OLMC, and I wish them the very best in all their future endeavours. May they strive towards limitless possibilities, while keeping the Mercy Values close to their hearts. 

Saluting Sydney Women

Several Year 10 students were given the exciting opportunity to attend the Saluting Sydney Women event at the Sydney Opera House on 9 September, where they assisted at the event. They were privileged to hear from Ann Sherry, a leading Australian business executive. Ann is well-accomplished in both government and banking, driving change as she instigated the first corporate paid maternity leave scheme at Westpac in the 1990s. The girls listened to a number of speakers, including Ukrainian refugee, Marta Artmenmko, who is leading initiatives for the Ukrainian Council of NSW to support Ukrainians who have fled to Australia. 

R U OK Day

R U OK Day is integral to raising awareness about mental health and normalising conversations that ask the simple question ‘Are you ok?’ The SRC distributed yellow wristbands to students and staff, aiming to strengthen the Mercy community and encourage each other to reach out if they are struggling. There is help readily available at OLMC and students can discuss any concerns with College Psychologists, their Head of House or their teachers. 

Shaun Micallef's Brain Eisteddfod

In other exciting news, four Year 11 students were tasked with thinking on their feet, working together and solving problems in a variety of disciplines while being broadcast on national television. Olivia Eastern, Tijana Pavlovic, Nicolette Anastasio and Freya Scothern represented OLMC on Shaun Micallef’s Brain Eisteddfod, testing their knowledge of English, Mathematics, Biology and Japanese in the quest to find Australia’s ‘smartest school’. I’m sure that like me, many Mercy girls were watching with pride as these students tackled difficult questions and represented our College admirably. Congratulations girls! 

OLMC Alumnae Reunion Day

I was privileged to attend my first Alumnae Reunion Day on 18 September since I commenced as Principal at the College. We were fortunate to have glorious weather on the first Reunion Day celebration in three years. Commencing with Mass in the Chapel and followed by tours through the Stanley Rooms and the hallowed halls of the Brigid Shelly Building where alumnae reminisced about their days as Mercy Girls. Our guests made their way to Lauchlan’s at Old Government House in Parramatta where they were treated to a delicious high tea. 

Foundation

I am very excited to tell you that the College now has a Foundation. The Foundation has been established to help donors ensure their funds are well-directed to financially support the College in its commitment to excellence in delivering a Mercy education, now and into the future.

The Foundation activities are focussed on the following:

• Scholarship Fund
• Bursary Fund
• College Building Fund
• Gifts in Wills
• Fundraising
• Philanthropy

More information on the Foundation will be on the College website in the coming days.

To launch the Foundation, we are running our first fundraising campaign - Sponsor a Seat. For $250 you can sponsor a seat in the new Brigid Shelly Auditorium. In recognition of your donation, a small plaque will be placed at a seat in your honour. You might wish to donate as an individual, family, or in honour of someone.

CLICK HERE for more information.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact our Development Officer, Susan Giacomelli susan.giacomelli@olmc.nsw.edu.au

As we near the end of the term, I wish Year 12 all the very best in their HSC exams and remind them that all their months of preparation will serve them well in their final exams at OLMC. To the entire Mercy community, may your holidays be relaxing and happy. I look forward to seeing you all back and reenergised at the start of Term 4.

Ms Lucie Farrugia
College Principal 

What a wonderful community celebration Mercy Day was! With the Mass theme, ‘Women of Courage’ we started the day in prayer and reflection. Mrs Leila Abdallah, our guest speaker, was one of the women of courage highlighted in our Entrance Procession. Leila shared with us her touching story about when courage and her strong faith pulled her through the darkest days.

The Mass was complemented beautifully by music and I wish to thank the Music staff who, under the leadership of Mrs Belinda Angilletta, worked tirelessly with the students to ensure that all involved were able to share their talents to the best of their ability.

Thank you also to Ms Lonergan and the many students who were involved in the planning of the liturgy and all those who had a special role on the day - there are many people who work together to ensure that a Mass is well planned and runs smoothly.

The Wingara Student Leadership Program hosted by AISNSW, was held at UWS Parramatta Campus. Students participated in three workshops, one being run by Aunty Theresa Ardler who has a strong association with the Sisters of Mercy. It was a wonderful opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from around NSW to join together and learn more about culture, leadership possibilities and post-school options. The day finished with a tour of the UWS Campus where students were invited from local schools to share the facilities and library spaces.

Ms Gabby Scanlon
Director of Identity

Year 8 Science 1 participated in the inaugural National Schools Citizen Science BioBlitz this month. A BioBlitz is a community science event where people are asked to photograph the plants and animals within a certain area to obtain a snapshot of the organisms that are found in that environment.  The National Schools BioBlitz asked students to explore their school playground and take photos of their environment. This fits in perfectly with the topic of ‘Sustaining Life on Our Planet’.

'In Year 8 Science, we have been learning about the adaptations of flora and fauna in Australia. One of the activities we had to do was to take photos of plant and animal adaptations in the garden. We took photos of different plants to show the adaptations the plants had developed. Some of us took photos of plants that had a fluffy texture, for example, so that the plant wouldn’t get eaten by animals. We entered some of our photos into the BioBlitz Competition to demonstrate our learning.'

Alena Stivala (Year 8)

Year 9 and 10 Language students have been busy applying their skills in a variety of creative ways.

In Term 3, Year 9 Japanese students used Minecraft to create a dream house. These will be used to produce their assessment task, presenting a detailed description in Japanese of their house, and incorporating Western and Japanese style features. Year 9 French students produced a video presentation of our College and our daily school life. They created the video to present to future visiting French students. Year 10 French students had to create a Vlog following the completion of the topic on Grocery Shopping. They included finding a recipe, making a shopping list using quantities and demonstrating how to follow the steps, using the grammatical feature of the imperative form. Some impressive videos were created!

Upcoming School Holiday Workshops (Sep-Oct)

These workshops are organised and delivered by external providers.

Save the date! The OLMC Dance Extravaganza will take place early next term on Friday, 21 October from 6:00-7:00pm in Edith Angel Hall. This fabulous night will showcase a range of works that have been developed this year by our Elective Dance students and the Co-Curricular Dance ensembles. These groups are currently working hard to finalise and refine their choreography in preparation for this event. The students involved are excited to return to the stage and share their talents with you! To RSVP please click here.

As the Term draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the girls for their hard work and effort this term. Our celebrations on Friday for Mercy Day were a testament to the spirit of collaboration and unity that our students display and a true celebration of the meaning of Mercy.

As you read this, we are in the middle of the celebrations to mark the end of Year 12's time at the College – a time of great joy tinged with sadness as they get ready to leave us and start the next part of their life journey. So, I ask that as a community we keep them in our prayers as they sit their HSC examinations.

As we finish up for the term, I have asked the girls to remember to thank their teachers for supporting them this Term.

I would like to thank the Wellbeing Team for everything they do to assist our students, and to our parents/carers for all you do to support us as we work in partnership to help your daughters achieve their potential.

Thank you and take care

Ms Ann-Marie Herd
Director of Student Wellbeing 

This week, it is optional for your daughter to wear either her summer uniform or her winter uniform. From Week 1, Term 4, all students must wear full summer uniform.

I ask for your assistance in ensuring that your daughter’s summer uniform complies with the College dress code. In particular:

• The junior dress or senior skirt is to be worn at the correct length (at least 2cm below the bottom of the knee cap).
• The jumper/cardigan is not to be worn to or from school unless under the blazer. Year 12 jerseys are also not to be worn under the blazer.
• College socks are to be worn with the summer uniform and sports uniform.
• To avoid any uniform infringements, please also ensure that your daughter adheres to the College standards for hair, make-up, jewellery and nails.

When I speak to the girls about their uniforms, I emphasise the respect factor. When the girls wear the uniform with pride, they show respect for themselves and for the College and I thank you for your support in ensuring that your daughter wears the correct uniform. I appreciate the financial commitment you as parents make in purchasing all items of the uniform, and it is for this reason that I ask that all items of the uniform be labelled with the student’s name so lost property can be returned quickly to your daughter.

Goal Setting for Success

Success is impossible without focus, direction and specifically a goal to achieve. To experience success, it is important to learn how to set realistic and relevant goals. Realistic goal setting starts with careful consideration of what you want to achieve, that is, a long-term goal, and multiple short-term milestones which allow opportunity for evaluation and celebration. Goals that feel unattainable, or unachievable usually fail to come to fruition as they are the victims of procrastination.

Soroptimist International

Last week saw the return of the Soroptimist International Public Speaking Competition at Glenhaven Community Centre. This event has been suspended for two years and it was a welcome return. No fewer than 15 of our girls were involved.

Always, our girls were well prepared and performed very well. Notable achievements include Ysabel Daelo (Year 7) who took out first prize in her division with a speech where she adopted the character of a koala calling out to help save her environment. There were also several second placings: Mira Srma (Year 7), Lizzy Butler and Matilda Webb (Year 8) and Mia Fogolin (Year 10). Bianca Mina (Year 8) was awarded third prize in her event.

One praiseworthy outcome of the competition was the invitation to Mia Fogolin to speak at next year’s International Women’s Conference to be held in Sydney. Congratulations to Mia for this recognition of her speaking skills.

Well done to all girls who took part in the competition. We are proud of all of them.

Christopher Ostrowski
Debating and Public Speaking Coordinator

In Terms 2 & 3, students in the French and Spanish Club have been busy making bookmarks with inspirational quotes written in both languages. The bookmarks have now been finalised and they look great! They have been given to the library for distribution among students just in time for that holiday book read. Any donations collected will be given to Mercy Works. Merci! Gracias!

Wednesday Touch Football

The Wednesday Touch Football season has now commenced. The draw and results can be found here – https://touchfootball.com.au/Competitions/Competition/2022-open-real-estate-15-girls-421051

There will be no games during the holidays. Round 5 will start Wednesday, 12 October.

National Health and PE Day

This year, OLMC celebrated National Health & Physical Education Day on Tuesday, 6 September. The day started with the PDHPE department and Sport Leaders handing out a free healthy breakfast of fruit and yoghurt which was received with gleeful smiles. The Sports Leaders prepared a Health Kahoot for all students to participate in during Homeroom to help raise awareness of Australia’s health status. During lunch on Francis Kearney Playground, girls were able to participate in the annual Rowing Challenge and group skipping games. Congratulations to Alicia Welsh who was crowned the OLMC Rowing Challenge Champion for 2022!

PDSSSC Oz Tag

The PDSSSC Oz Tag Championships were held at Whalan Reserve on Wednesday, 7 September. OLMC was represented by Maria Saad, Jemima Scothern, Matilda Webb, Sophia Lees, Giselle Al-Mir, Jayda Isaia, Alannah Moujalli, Chiara Borthwick, Zahra Niumata, Lucie Francis, Sophia Menassa, Stephanie Saab, Mia Kerr and Lucy McSweeny. The girls competed in the Intermediate Division and finished third in their pool in a very close battle between a number of schools. The girls should be proud of their efforts as they all played exceptionally well and showed great teamwork. A big thank you to Mrs Bushell for her help with the team.

NSW Ultimate Frisbee

NSWCCCC Athletics

On Monday, 12 September, the NSWCCC Athletics Championships were held at SOPAC. OLMC was represented by Lucie Francis, Matilda Webb and Amelia Johnston. The girls all performed exceptionally well with Amelia finishing 5th in the 12yrs 80m Hurdles, Matilda finishing 3rd in the 12-14yrs 1500 walk and Lucie finishing 2nd in the 16yrs 1500m. Well done girls! We wish everyone competing at the NSW All Schools Athletics Championships during the holidays the best of luck.

Stuart Guthrie
Sports Coordinator

Uniform Fittings 2023

Appointment times for Year 7 2023 and Year 10 2023 will soon be available online and can be booked via the uniform tab on the College website.  Please note there are separate times and dates for junior and senior fittings.

Senior Uniform Fittings for Year 10 2023 will begin from Saturday, 29 October 2022 until Wednesday, 23 November. Please ensure your booking is made between these times.

Junior Uniform Fittings for Year 7 2023 will begin from Saturday, 26 November 2022 till Monday, 12 December 2022. Please ensure your booking is made between these times.

Opening Hours and Purchases  

The Uniform Shop is open Monday to Thursday from 8.00am – 9.30am and 3.00pm – 4.30pm on Monday and Wednesday (school days only). 

Online purchases can be made via the Online Uniform Shop https://shop.olmc.nsw.edu.au/ and all orders will be delivered to the Student Centre for collection by students. 
 
Term 4 - All girls are to wear the summer uniform.  

If you have any concerns regarding uniform items, please don't hesitate to contact the uniform shop on 8838 1275 or uniformshop@olmc.nsw.edu.au