I hope you found time over the Easter break to relax from the busyness of life, enjoy the beautiful sunshine we were blessed with and come together with family and friends.

Every day we often hear the word ‘amazing’ to describe a wide array of experiences, from a stunning sunset to an impressive accomplishment. We're also bombarded with messages about what constitutes an ‘amazing’ experience. We're told that the latest smartphone is amazing, that a blockbuster movie is amazing, or that a new restaurant serves amazing food. We might be amazed by the latest technological advancements. Sometimes I am told I am amazing, simply because I can recant my address to a telephone operator! ‘Amazing’ is a word used a lot for matters which are quite simply…ordinary and often mundane and hardly worthy of this adjective at all.

But when we consider the profound and incomprehensible miracle of Jesus rising from the dead, I can say without reservation this is astounding and most certainly amazing.

The eternal impact of the life of Jesus of Nazareth, and the subsequent call to action of persons in the early days after his death and resurrection, led to the universal Christian Church, which 2,000 years later is still in existence and profoundly present in all aspects of life… And this is nothing short of amazing. The eternal hope that Easter represents for all people, and most especially for those who believe in the resurrection, is what sustains us through our lives and what brings us comfort as we leave this world for the next.

So, I encourage you to capture and recapture a true source of amazement in Jesus’ resurrection, not only at Easter but at all times. We should be constantly amazed by God’s love for all people; God sent His Son to teach us how we should live and then died to redeem us, to offer us salvation and eternal life. I hope, like me, you are humbled by the enormity of this sacrifice and inspired by the hope that it brings…..it is truly amazing.

College Assembly

Yesterday, we were delighted to welcome the Hon. Bob Carr, former NSW Premier, to the College. Bob’s late wife, Helena, graduated from OLMC in 1964. She passed away on 25 October 2023 whilst she was travelling with her husband in Vienna.

Helena grew up in Malaysia and when she was approximately 15 years old, she sent letters to several boarding schools in Australia asking if they would consider taking her as a student. The Parramatta Sisters of Mercy responded to her call and welcomed her with open arms. Helena spent two years of her life at OLMC as a boarder, and she always spoke fondly about her time at the College. ‘The generosity of the Nuns, who took her in and the students who welcomed her, as well as the quality of the education’ (Hon. Bob Carr) made OLMC a wonderful time in her life.

Mr Carr gave an inspirational speech at our assembly and later joined the Leadership Team and me for morning tea.

Enrolments Year 7, 2026

Enrolments for Year 7, 2026, are now open. We invite families who share our vision and values to commence the enrolment process: please click here. Enrolments close on Monday, 8 April at 4.00pm.

If you have any questions regarding enrolments, please contact our Enrolments team on (02) 8838 1222 or via email registrar@olmc.nsw.edu.au. We look forward to welcoming new students into our Mercy family and continuing our journey of educational excellence.

Open Morning Tour

We welcome all prospective families to our Open Morning Tour on Thursday, 23 May, from 9.45 to 11.15am. Learn how your daughter will flourish while exploring our campus and discovering the benefits of a Mercy Education. Registration will be via the College website and will open soon. 

As our last newsletter of the term, I wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday and I look forward to seeing our students on Tuesday, 30 April.

Mary Mother of Mercy, pray for us.

Lucie Farrugia
Principal

I don’t know who Nanette Mathews is (and Google didn’t help much), but I read this quote by her during the week:

'If you're always racing to the next moment, what happens to the one you're in? Slow down and enjoy the moment you're in and live your life to the fullest.'

As I was living my best life over the Easter break, I appreciated the spectacular weather, swimming in the ocean, sharing dinner with my family, praying a prayer of thanks for the gifts I have, walking the dog on the beach… I hope you also slowed down and savoured our mini-break.

Back at work…well, it’s back to focus and delivery. While you can’t live in the past, I’ve decided to reflect on the many events the past few weeks provided. Each and every one contributes to the spirit, culture and learning that occurs at OLMC every day we are here, creating a community of shared experiences and instilling values that visitors to our College witness.

Today, OLMC had the privilege of hosting the Hon. Bob Carr, former NSW Premier. More importantly, Mr Carr was here representing his late wife and OLMC Alumnae Helena Carr (nee John). This College, as I heard time and time again from Alumnae students I’ve met, has left an indelible imprint on not only their memories but their beliefs, values and attitude towards life. Mr Carr expressed the profound gratitude that Helena repeatedly shared with him about her OLMC experiences. He delivered a powerful message of leadership to our community and challenged your daughters to be ready and willing to stand up when opportunities inevitably arise. It was one of those times when you could feel an audience hold its collective breath and hang on to the words being spoken. Ask your daughter about this assembly – I’d be fascinated to hear what they have to say and what they took away.

Mr Carr remained for the entire assembly and was treated to our College Student Leaders facilitating and presenting the 'news, sport, and weather' from around the grounds. He spoke afterwards of the outstanding display of talent, confidence, humour, and generosity that he witnessed and experienced, saying these were all the attributes that Helena spoke of during her life.

We slowed down and enjoyed some peaceful and reflective moments last week in our Easter liturgy. Once again led by OLMC students, the liturgy was a gentle yet poignant commemoration of Jesus’ last supper and crucifixion. We know we have students from all walks of life and belief traditions, but what you would have seen and heard was a respectful and compassionate participation and response.

It was a thrill (and just a little intimidating) to attend the Rostrum Public Speaking competition on Monday, 25 March, in the Brigid Shelly building. I had the opportunity to listen to five speakers in the senior division, including Neha Sharma and Kiara Dasgupta. The quality of each speaker’s argument was very high – something that this humble mathematics teacher could not adjudicate! The next round was the intermediate division, with seven speakers, including Ellie Sibir. Again, amongst a field of high-quality speakers, Ellie delivered a powerful speech entitled 'Building Bridges' and was placed second. As Mr Ostrowski has written, OLMC’s participation was high, and the results were rewarding.

Finally, and to step out of the College, last week I visited another school with two colleagues – Mr Joe Lee and Mr Darren Barker – to listen to and learn about their approach to teacher professional learning. It was a very useful and educative discussion. What I didn’t expect was our guests’ perception of OLMC – that they held the College in high regard and saw it as a reference point for innovative and successful learning and wellbeing.

I share these few reflections with you as an insight to the many 'moments' of each passing week. While these often race by, we are not just 'racing to the next moment' but rather collecting experiences along the way. As members of our wider community, you will see and experience those activities in which your daughter(s) are involved, but there is a rich array of events that fill every week. We can’t be at all of them, and I can’t share all of them here, but the cumulative effect of this busy and bustling place provides experiences for our students (and staff) to watch, learn and have a go at learning new skills, strengthening interpersonal attributes, and to 'live life to the fullest'.

Venerable Catherine McAuley, Pray for us

Anthony Blomfield
Deputy Principal

In an exploration of innovation and hands-on learning, Year 7 and Year 9 TAS students recently participated in a workshop conducted by the University of New South Wales Engineers Without Borders Team. The team included two OLMC alumnae who graduated in 2022. The workshop, 'Appropriate Housing', was designed to introduce students to the principles of engineering design.

Students were divided into teams and tasked with designing and building their own structures within a predetermined budget using their choice of simple materials. The workshop provided a platform for students to apply theoretical concepts to real-world problems, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a collaborative environment.

The engineering workshop not only ignited students' passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) but also provided valuable insights into the diverse field of engineering.

In the artistic heartland of Bundanon, OLMC Year 11 Visual Arts students embarked on an enriching journey on the banks of the Shoalhaven River for their annual Art Camp. Nestled amidst the serene beauty of the Australian bush, Bundanon provided the perfect backdrop for our talented artists to immerse themselves in challenging creative learning.

Throughout the camp, students delved into various facets of artistic expression. They had the opportunity to visit the Art Museum, where they critiqued and assessed the exhibition ‘Tales of Land & Sea,’ which explores cross-generational experiences of migration and the movement of people and goods across the sea. Drawing from personal narratives and Eastern mythologies, the exhibition highlights age-old themes of longing, displacement, cultural connection, and belonging. Could this be the topic of their next assessment? (Hint, hint…)

In the evening, their exploration extended beyond the canvas as they delved into the rich tapestry of First Nations culture and its profound connection to Country. Guided by a visiting Indigenous artist, Jaz Noor, students gained invaluable insights into local artistry and the significance of this Country and heritage.

Venturing into the great outdoors, students embraced the concept of en plein air, engaging in material practice amidst the breathtaking landscapes surrounding Bundanon. Waking up to the gentle melodies of our native bush, they found solace and inspiration in the natural world, fostering a deeper appreciation for the environment and its influence on artistic expression.

Adding to the allure of the experience was the remarkable setting of the Boyd Education Centre, a heritage-listed building designed by the renowned architect Glenn Murcutt. Here, students found opportunities for meaningful reflection, further enhancing their creative journey.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to BundanonTrust for providing yet another awe-inspiring and thought-sparking experience. Their commitment to fostering artistic growth and cultural understanding is truly commendable, shaping the minds and talents of our budding artists.

We have had a great response to our upcoming Artificial Intelligence (AI) workshop for parents and families on Thursday, 4 April from 4:30pm. We expect over 90 people to attend this first exploration of AI and its impact on education.

If you have registered but can no longer attend, please email hayley.baker@olmc.nsw.edu.au so that we can ensure all registered parties are accounted for.

We are also running workshops for students throughout the year to increase their awareness of the potential and pitfalls of using AI for learning. These are advertised internally to students and hosted by Mr Esterman and the Library team.

You can also see our SMART AI guidelines for students as a series of posters later in this newsletter. Please talk with your daughters about if, how and why they either do or don’t use AI tools at the moment, using these posters as a talking point.

In other AI news, Mr Tony Tang and Mr Matthew Esterman attended the Generative AI for Educational Leaders Summit, where we learned about current research and policy developments in higher education, what industry partners are working on, and how other schools are adapting to this space. Happily, we came away knowing that OLMC is in a great position to support our students as we navigate the possibilities.

We look forward to remaining at the forefront of AI in education and working with you to help our students thrive in an AI-infused world.

Matt Esterman
Director of Innovation and Partnerships

Congratulations to Akanksha Gowda (Year 11) for her entry into the Royal Easter Show Art Competition. Her artwork (pictured below) exudes warmth and beautiful attention to detail through this masterful study. She dedicated countless hours to the creative challenge and recently learned her piece has been sold. No doubt, we will be seeing more of her remarkable work soon.

MASSH is our afterschool students’ study, homework, and assessment support. We offer general study support and subject-specific support every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3.30 to 5.30pm.

Subject-specific support is available on the days below.

• Monday: Science and Maths
• Tuesday: Every Subject
• Wednesday: Maths, TAS, and Engineering
• Thursday: Science and Maths

English support is available upon request every day.

If you would like small group or individual academic support, please contact Mrs Rugg, cheryl.rugg@olmc.nsw.edu.au with the following details:

• Name and Year group
• The subject they want to work on with a MASSH Supervisor
• Preferred afternoons

We are committed to ensuring that our students have the opportunity to meet most major universities during our 'Lunch and Learn' sessions at lunchtime.  At the time of publication, Notre Dame University is due to visit us. These sessions are wonderful for our students and the Careers team to stay up to date with course information and key dates. 

As Term 1 draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our newest members of the College, Year 7 to Year 11, on all their efforts to settle into a new school. We hope their time at the College so far has been truly rewarding.

Congratulations to all the girls for their hard work and effort this term. Their teachers have appreciated their perseverance. I reminded the girls this week that it is always good to remember to thank their teachers at the end of the term for all that they have done to support them.

Term 2 Winter Uniform

Your daughter may wear either her full summer uniform or her full winter uniform in Weeks 1 and 2 of Term 2. No combinations of the two uniforms are allowed. It is compulsory for students to wear their blazer to and from school in Term 2 and Term 3.

Your daughter will be expected to wear her winter uniform from Monday, 13 May.

I ask for your assistance in ensuring your daughter’s winter 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 College blazer is to be worn as the outer garment to and from school in Terms 2 and 3. 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.
• Please also note that that blazers are to be worn to House Assemblies in the Chapel and College Assemblies in Terms 2 and 3.
• Full-length 70 denier pantyhose are to be worn with the winter uniform.

I appreciate your support in ensuring that your daughter wears the correct uniform. When I speak to the girls, I emphasise that wearing the uniform correctly is a show of respect. When they wear it with pride, they show respect for themselves and the College. I also appreciate the financial commitment parents make to purchasing uniform items, and it is for this reason that I ask that all uniforms be labelled with the student’s name so misplaced items can be returned to your daughter.

Save the Date – Year 7 Study Skills Evening 6.00pm – 7.30pm

The Year 7 Study Skills Evening, presented by Dr Prue Salter, will be held on Tuesday, 11 June. This interactive evening is for students and their parents/carers and provides an opportunity to explore a range of study skills. Year 8 students who missed the evening last year or would like a refresher are also welcome to attend.

eSafety Resources for Parents – timely support for the holiday break

As the holiday break starts, it is always a good time for parents to make themselves aware of the resources available from the eSafety commissioner to help keep their daughters safe online. The Parent section, Issues and Advice, provides practical information and support around sensitive online issues.

Finally, on behalf of the Wellbeing Team, I hope that the break provides you with plenty of rest, relaxation and quality time with family and friends.

Ann-Marie Herd
Director of Wellbeing

To help build House spirit and to celebrate Easter, Mercedes had a fashion runway during our House Assembly on Monday to show off their Easter bonnets and celebrate outstanding examples of creativity. Designs included Easter chicks, a straw bonnet, a large chicken, some rabbits and iconic bunny ears and tails. The House cheered and encouraged the models as the music pumped. Students were awarded chocolates and lollies for putting themselves out of their comfort zones and were rewarded for trying something new. Go Mercedes!

         Madeleine Ede, Amaayra Rehan and Sherene Zaballa (Year 7) 

Rostrum Voice of Youth

Last week, OLMC hosted a heat of Rostrum Voice of Youth, one of the most challenging of competitions. Only the winners of each heat progress to the Regional Finals and once again, our girls performed most impressively. Of the six heats we contested (the maximum number allowed), we congratulate Year 12 student and DAPS Leader, Neha Sharma, who was successful in winning her heat. Two other students, Ellie Sibir and Amariah Tamaro (Year 9), were runners-up, while Siona Trivedi (Year 11) was third in her event. Well done to Year 8 entrant Mia Siemsen and Year 12 DAPS Leader Deeya Vashi, who were well prepared and should be proud of their efforts. A big thank you to our amazing volunteers, who once again received the highest praise from Rostrum. Thank you to Mrs Virginia Arundell, Mrs Susan Giacomelli, Ms Veronica Mouawad and Mr Mark Shipley, who were on hand to ensure our guests were looked after and all went smoothly.

World Titles

As announced earlier, two of our outstanding speakers, Gabby Fleming and Siona Trivedi, have qualified for the Australian team to contest the World Independent Debating and Public Speaking Competition to be held in Canberra in the first week of the holidays. Both girls are well on the way to finalising their preparation in the categories of Prepared Speaking, Interpretive Reading and Impromptu Speaking. Special thanks are needed for those providing Gabby and Siona with two practice debates next week. On Monday afternoon, ex-students Tijana Pavlovic and Freya Scothern are coming to the College to provide opposition, while on Wednesday, our girls are travelling to James Ruse Agricultural College, who have kindly arranged for two of their students to debate against us. This is a particularly difficult form of debating which allows the opposite sides to interrupt and challenge the other team. 

CSDA Debating

All twelve Interschool Debating teams now have coaches and training is already beginning in preparation for the start of preliminary rounds on the first Friday evening of Term 2. We are eagerly awaiting the draw to see which schools are in our district. Best of luck to all teams but if the past is anything to go by, our teams have the ability to match it with anyone.

I want to thank the many members of our College community who are becoming adjudicators at CSDA workshops being offered. At OLMC on Tuesday this week, the workshop was for Junior adjudicators, and it is noteworthy that of nine attendees, four are representatives of OLMC: ex-students Freya Scothern, Tijana Pavlovic, Riley Rodewald and teacher Mr Ben Walsh. Thank you to Ms Carolyn Matthews, who is helping to supervise on that evening, and especially to Year 9 and 10 students who gave up their evening to perform a sample debate for the workshop. CSDA appreciates the efforts of A’ishah Ali, Vishnu Gude, Bianca Mina, Sofia Tong and Matilda Webb. The contribution of Year 9 student Mira Sharma deserves special mention. A last-minute withdrawal meant we urgently needed a replacement two hours before the event began. Mira came to the rescue on the shortest of short notice. Next week, ex-student Priyanka Sangar and parent, Mrs Ann Kumar, will be upgrading to Senior adjudicator status at Marist College, Parramatta. This excellent response means that our adjudicators will share in adjudication responsibilities each week, enabling the girls who are also coaches to watch their teams’ performances.

Christopher Ostrowski
Debating and Public Speaking Coordinator

PDSSSC Basketball

On Friday, 22 March, OLMC competed at the PDSSSC Open Basketball Championships at Penrith. The team consisted of Juliana Merioles, Claire Giffney, Chloe D’Sa, Stella Puletua, Avleen Waraich, Lily Collimore, Rebecca Uy and Mary Massih. Despite being quite a young team, the girls played exceptionally well and showed some great teamwork throughout their matches. After a close battle with Marion College in the first round, the girls versed two very strong teams, St John XXIII and Caroline Chisholm. To finish off the day, the girls finished strongly to defeat Cerdon and Penola to finish 7th overall. Well done girls.

Thank you to Mrs Ashurst for helping with the team.

Saturday Netball

Good luck to all our OLMC Netball teams this year. The season starts this Saturday, 6 April, at Meadowbank Park. You can view all game fixtures on OLMC Connect and the ERNA website by clicking here.  

Rounds 1 and 2 will be held this term before the school holidays. Please note, there are no games on 20 or 27 April. Round 3 will resume on 4 May 4 (Week 1, Term 2).

Please arrive 30 minutes before your game, as parking is limited.

Athletics Carnival 

The 2024 Athletics Carnival will be held at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre (main arena) on Friday, 17 May. This event provides a wonderful opportunity for staff and students to participate in a range of track and field events while enthusiastically supporting their House. Students are encouraged to show their House spirit by dressing up in their House colours and cheering at the carnival. Students will earn House points simply by attending the carnival. Every point earned will go towards winning the coveted Spirit Cup, the winner of which will be announced at the end of the day.

All students are required to attend the carnival as it is a compulsory event. 

Students will be transported to and from the Athletic Centre at Homebush. All students are expected to be at the College by 8.00am on the day of the carnival. Students will assemble in their House areas with their Homeroom Teacher, then move out to the buses. Students will be leaving the Athletic Centre at approximately 2.15pm, with an approximate arrival time of around 3.00pm at OLMC Parramatta. Students will be dismissed upon arrival back at College.

Students who wish to be considered for selection in the PDSSSC Athletics Carnival must register via the entry form on OLMC Connect. Entries close on 5 May. Students must register if they wish to compete seriously in any events. If they wish to compete for fun, they can just turn up to the sprint events, long jump or 800m walk on the day.

Students who want to compete in the javelin will need to register and ensure that they are on the first bus leaving OLMC on the day of the carnival. Once at the venue, they are to go straight to this event as it will be conducted from 9.00am prior to the official start of the carnival.

The carnival will be a traditional athletics carnival and students will need to listen for when their events are called. Students are encouraged to have adequate water, food and sun protection. Students who compete in spikes must wear 7mm spikes.

No student is to bring their notebook to school with them on the day. All mobile phones will be required to be left at school. 

A canteen will be available on the day, however, students are encouraged to bring their own food to the carnival. Parents are most welcome to attend the carnival.

If your daughter is unable to attend the Athletics Carnival, please contact OLMC on 9683 3300 after 8.00am on the day. A medical certificate is required for all absences. As the track is a wet-weather track, the carnival will still go ahead in rain. If there are extreme weather conditions, a final decision will be made on the morning of the carnival. 

Stuart Guthrie
Sport Coordinator

Opening Hours  

The Uniform Shop will be open Monday to Thursday, from 8.00am – 9.30am and 3.00pm – 4.00pm on Monday and Wednesday (school days only). No booking appointment is necessary. 

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. If parents/carers have completed an online purchase, please remind your daughters to collect the items from the Student Centre.

Terms 2 and 3 - All girls are to wear the full winter uniform.

Please note: After the April school holidays, there will be a transition time during which students can choose between a summer or winter uniform. However, from 13 May 2024, all students must be in winter uniform.

Winter Uniform Fittings 2024

Junior Uniform Fittings for Year 7 

Appointment times for junior uniform fittings are now available online from the beginning of March until early April. Appointments can be booked online via the uniform tab on the College website. 

Senior Winter Uniform

Tights and optional long-sleeve blouses will be available to purchase from the Uniform Shop.

Please remember to label all uniforms. If an item is lost, please check with the Student Centre to see if it has been handed in.

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