From the Principal
From the Principal
From the Principal
Dear Families
More often than not I have begun each newsletter this year with something around COVID-19. Today I feel it is important to address an issue that precedes the pandemic and may possibly continue long after we see the end of COVID-19 in its present form - namely the social unrest that is occurring around the globe.
I want to start with the following words of wisdom:
If we love God,
We will undoubtedly love our neighbour also; they are as cause and effect.
- Retreat Instructions (p 147, Sisters of Mercy)
These words of Catherine McAuley seem particularly appropriate at this time of social distancing and the challenges brought by the pandemic. They are also good words and values to live by when we view the concerning scenes of social fracturing in the United States and the protests spreading around the globe, and around some parts of Australia. It is hard not to be moved by the indignity suffered by marginalised groups of people all made in the image of God – all our “neighbours.” We must ensure that we treat each other with dignity, respecting each other’s worth in our relationships with them. Surely this transcends national boundaries and binds us in our common humanity. I know our students are trying to understand why this unrest is happening and what they might be able to do – how should they respond? Our Mercy Action Leaders have been thinking about these issues and, supported by our College Director of Mission, Mrs Gabby Scanlon, have been working on prayer and reflection resources that help our students to process the issues of the Black Lives Matter Campaigns and centre our students on engaging in dignified conversations around the way we treat others.
In their words:
“… also what we can do to ensure that ALL people are given an equal chance at life
because as people of God we are all created equal and good.”
Our Mercy Action Leaders are to be commended for starting the conversation and for contributing in any way they can to a positive change. Sometimes social change is hard to effect but initiating the dialogue and raising awareness is a good place to start.
Last week I had the opportunity to speak with Year 12 during one of their Learning and Curriculum sessions. I spoke to them about their experiences of Continuous Learning and the importance of controlling their thinking around their HSC. Rather than thinking they had “missed out” on something because of COVID-19, I challenged them to reflect on the positives in all that they had experienced. What did they learn about themselves and what tools would they use going forward in this experience of their HSC? Reflecting on these transferrable dispositions, for example, prioritising and self-discipline, will help them to make sense of the pandemic’s impact, reinforce their capacity to deal with unfamiliar challenges and build their confidence that they do have the skills to navigate their HSC in 2020 – valuable life lessons for the future too. I am immensely proud of our Year 12 students and the diligent way that they have engaged with and completed their recent Assessment program and indeed the way that they have conducted themselves throughout our Continuous Learning Program experience. Well done Mercy girls!
The Year 11 Leadership Process has commenced since last I wrote. The new four College Executive Student Leaders have been voted in for 2020/2021.
| Head Girl | Yasmine Alwakal |
| Assistant Head Girl | Kyah Day |
| SRC President | Isabella Barakat |
| Vice SCR President | Riley Rodewald |
Congratulations to these four fine young Student Leaders. They will bring many gifts and thoughtful initiatives to us and we look forward to their leadership year. The voting process continues this week when the Portfolio Leaders are elected, and it culminates in the Student Leadership inauguration at the Leadership Assembly in the final week of this term. I very much look forward to working with all of these young women – they are following strong role models in the examples of the outgoing 2019/2020 Student Leaders whom I also sincerely thank for their many and varied, significant contributions to our Mercy community during their time of leadership.
I will be communicating briefly at the end of this week with any updates as usual, however, would ask you now to take a moment to complete this brief Family Check-in Survey - click here.
Your feedback is really useful in guiding us to review and refine our practices in response to any issues or trends emerging in our community during our Phased Return to School Plan. Thank you for taking the time to complete it.
Finally, I would like to remind you all that you can always stay connected virtually to what is happening in our OLMC community via social media - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. Remember to like OLMC on your favourite social media pages for regular updates.
For now, please stay well, healthy and safe.
Warm regards
Mrs Marie Wood
Principal (Acting)
Teaching And Learning
Music and Dance
Music and Dance
The Music Centre is once again alive with the sound of music! There is much energy and enthusiasm as all of our budding musicians have returned. The dulcet tones of groups starting to rehearse and performing classes are filling the air. '5, 6, 7, 8…' is once again being chanted as students break into dance routines that they have been working on at home, and which they are finally able to showcase to their teachers and peers. Students have shown how music and dance can bring our community together and raise the spirits of all who participate through watching and listening to our talented performers.
The Year 12 Dance and Music classes have continued to refine their performances and compositions throughout the Continuous Learning Program. The Music faculty, and indeed the College, are so proud of how they rose to the challenges they faced while off-site, showing resilience and self-discipline in maintaining their practice regimes. With the introduction of some modifications to the HSC requirements this year in both Music and Dance, the students have been very flexible in managing and adapting to the implications of these changes in a dignified and positive manner. In doing so, they are wonderful role models for the younger members of the College.
Our Year 11 students have been excited to come back to see each other and engage in some ensemble performance work that does not have the 'zoom delay'. The musicians have been performing and analysing music from the gaming world and put together some impressive covers of the Super Mario Bros. theme. Dancers have been watching the work Sweet Dreams by Jiri Kylian, which has prompted engaging discussions in the dance studio around this work that takes an ironic look into the complex world of the human subconscious.
Through the topic of Music for Radio and TV, Year 9 and 10 students engaged in the Continuous Learning Program where they worked towards developing a performance and engaging in experimental practice techniques. Students reviewed the psychology of different practice techniques through researching musical child prodigies. This week, students have held an in-class concert to showcase and peer review their performances. Some students had even written their own music for a film! These were debuted in front of the class and will be recorded later in the term for a class album.
Year 8 students have delved into the interesting world of Film music. During this unit, we explored and analysed music from blockbusters such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter and Jurassic Park. The students were excited to showcase the musical talents they had developed on virtual keyboards during their online learning experience.
Year 7 have been consolidating their learning this week and refining their understanding of musical notation. They have been most excited to bring their own cup to class to demonstrate their rhythmic prowess. We were amazed by how creative the girls could be when creating different sounds from a humble plastic cup! The music staff wishes to apologise to those parents who had to listen to us demonstrate our cup rhythms last week in our zoom lessons!
Mrs Sharon Eldridge
Leader of Learning Music and Dance
OLMC Connect
From The Uniform Shop
College Notices
The Mercy Music and Performance Academy Co-curricular Ensembles
The Mercy Music and Performance Academy Co-curricular Ensembles
During Term 2 at The Academy, students have been invited to be involved in small Music Ensembles from either the Junior School (7-9) or Senior School. We have created a Junior and Senior (socially distanced) Choir, as well as various groups of String, Woodwind, Brass and Percussion players. Each of these groups are preparing a piece to record during Weeks 7 and 8, in preparation for a ‘virtual’ performance in Week 9.
A big thanks to all the girls for their willingness to be involved in this project.
We look forward to seeing the results of their hard work over the term.
Other Careers Event
Brianna El-Bayeh
Brianna El-Bayeh
Holy Father, God of Love, You are the Creator of all things.
We pray for your strength and grace to forgive, accept and love one another, as you love us and forgive and accept us in the sacrifice of your Son.
Teach us to respect all cultures.
Teach us to care for our land and waters.
Help us to share justly the resources of this land.
Help us to bring about spiritual and social change to improve the quality of life for all groups in our communities, especially the disadvantaged.
Help young people to find true dignity and self-esteem by your Spirit.
May your power and love be the foundations on which we build our families, our communities and our Nation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reconciliation Week
The prayer above is one written to remember and celebrate Reconciliation Week which was celebrated nationally from 27 May - 3 June. It was written by the Wontulp Bi-Buya Indigenous Theology Working Group and reminds us of the need to love and show respect for all living things. It also highlights the necessity to work toward social change so that we can live as equals where the experience of one is the experience of all.
Over the course of the past week, students have had the opportunity to see, judge and act through various activities and displays around the College. The Aboriginal Studies class looked at the topic of 'What reconciliation means to me', created posters and gave oral presentations.
A group of junior students took part in an Aboriginal art project as part of the Reconciliation Australia Challenge. The theme was 'Caring for Country' with a focus on how we can reconcile with the land. Students collected native objects such as gum leaves, seedpods and flowers to include in the artwork. Thank you, Ms Plummer and Mrs Chippendale for overseeing this project.
Winter Appeal
The Mercy Action Reps have launched our Winter Appeal for 2020. As the weather cools down, it would be good to see each student bring in a donation for our Vinnies Appeal.
This year we are collecting new or second-hand jumpers, jackets, coats and beanies. These can be dropped to the Staff Common Room verandah any time until the end of Term.
Thank you in advance for your support!
Friday Morning Mass
Friday morning Mass will resume next Term. We look forward to once again opening the doors of our Chapel and thank Father Walter for his continued support and guidance as College Chaplain.
Feast of the Sacred Heart
This year, celebrated on 19 June, we remember the boundless love that God has for each of us especially when we experience challenges and suffering. It is timely to remember this unconditional love shown to us all and to remember that it is God’s love which holds us and allows us to be the hands and feet, the gentle voice and the listening ear of Jesus to others.
Wishing you all a happy week ahead.
Mrs Gabby Scanlon
Director of Mission
Junior Mercy 6 Day
On 3 June, student representatives from Our Lady of Mercy College took part in a Mercy 6 Junior Leadership day. The day explored themes of Eco-Justice where students reflected upon the current challenges they faced in their school environment.
'The best part of the workshop was being able to meet with students from other schools and hear their views and initiatives for dealing with the environment. I liked hearing about the waste audit and the vegetable gardens other schools had created.' (Charlotte Edwards)
'My favourite part was interacting with other schools and discussing how we can be stewards of Eco-Justice. I enjoyed looking at the interrelation between religious ethics and environmental stewardship and reflecting on how we could develop initiatives to benefit the school community.' (Katherine Baker)
'I liked the design challenge activity where we had to redesign an existing item that was less Eco-friendly. It taught us how to be careful about what we consume in society. This taught me to think about the sustainability of product choices. I enjoyed designing a new Eco-friendly package for Caramello Koalas.' (Mikayala Simpson)
Overall, it was a great day and we cannot wait to continue serving the broader community through engaging school initiatives!
Ms Julia Plummer
Social Justice Coordinator
