Each year in Term 3 we arrive at a time when everyone is focused on their goals for the current year while looking towards the next. August marks a significant period of transition. As the final month of Winter, it brings early signs of Spring, although we seem to be waiting a little longer for this year. As we stand on the brink of a new season, both in nature and in life, August, with its blend of endings and new beginnings, reminds us that change is a constant and beautiful part of life. It's a time to reflect on our past, embrace the present, and look forward to the future with optimism.

Term 3 is an important time for students as the future looms large in their thinking. They are not just preparing for the next year academically, but they are also shaping their dreams and aspirations for the person they wish to become. It is a great time of hope for all our students as they think about what is next. A hopeful mindset cultivates a positive outlook on life. It encourages us to focus on possibilities rather than limitations, to see opportunities in challenges, and to maintain optimism even in difficult times. This positivity is contagious, spreading to those around us and creating a supportive environment. Our hope is that in making decisions about the future, our students are spurred on to achieve their dreams, motivating them to keep striving for excellence.

Many parents have supported their children through the process of making decisions about subjects and pathways by attending the Information Evenings and Subject Expo, along with important conversations at home. Thank you for your attendance and your partnership in working to support our students to navigate the challenges of making decisions about their futures.

In our faith community, August is also a time to focus on Mary, especially with the Feast of the Assumption on Thursday 15 August. Mary's life, embodying courage, compassion, justice and joy, inspires our values and those of the broader Mercy community worldwide. In Australia we also celebrate our first saint, Mary MacKillop, known as St Mary of the Cross, on Thursday 8 August.

On Friday 30 August OLMC will be hosting the Frayne Speech Festival. This is an amazing event held only for students of Mercy schools. It includes competitions in Public Speaking, Debating and Voice Choir. Over 100 students will be arriving at OLMC to compete in one of the three different components. While Year 7 and 8 classes will not be held here at school, students from these year levels will have the opportunity to be involved on the day in choir, as guides, support for judges and assistants helping the many Principals and distinguished guests who will be moving around the campus. As a long-time supporter of this event, OLMC has a wonderful track record of success and we wish those participating all the very best.

‘Be Fierce for Fair’

Yesterday we celebrated the feast day of Australia’s first saint, St Mary of the Cross (Mackillop). Her gift to the Australian church is profound, as is the loving service of all people who follow in her footsteps, especially her sisters—the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.

St Mary of the Cross, also known as Mary MacKillop, was born in Melbourne in 1842. She dedicated her life to education and helping the poor, co-founding the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1866. Her religious order established schools and institutions across Australia, focusing on the education of impoverished children.

One of the order's distinguishing features was its commitment to going where the need was greatest. The sisters often travelled to isolated communities, enduring harsh conditions to fulfil their mission. Their work was guided by a strong sense of social justice, aiming to uplift the disadvantaged and advocate for those without a voice.

May we, as people of Mercy and of the Gospel, live as Jesus did, loving God and all humanity.

God of the Pilgrim,
Mary MacKillop trusted your guidance in her journey of life
and deepened her confidence in your will.
May we renew our trust in your Providence
to lead us to hope as we bring our prayer before you.
May we grow in the fullness of your love
and the depth of your mystery.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Way,
our Truth and our Life.
Amen.

Prayer from: https://www.marymackillopplace.org.au/chapel/feast-day-resources/

Image from: https://www.mmhc.org.au/chapel/pilgrimages/st-patricks-cathedral/

Our sisters and brothers in Papua New Guinea continue to seek hope amidst various challenges. A quick Google search reveals numerous recent articles on their struggles, including natural disasters, spreading diseases, limited resources, political limitations and tribal violence. These issues often dominate the headlines, but what about those remote communities we rarely hear about?

The Sisters of Mercy, supported by many Mercy communities and individuals across Australia, continue to be a voice for the unheard and unseen. They support communities, such as the West Papuan refugees living along the Down Fly River and in the Iowara region. For more information, you can read a recent article from Mercy Works or visit the Mercy Works website to explore their programs in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Philippines.

Please support this ministry if you can. https://www.mercyworks.org.au/

Image from: https://www.mercyworks.org.au/

Young people today are heavily reliant on online platforms and the use of social media to stay connected with their peers. This dramatic increase in the use of technology in this way has many benefits but also challenges. To support our students to make good choices online, our Year 7-9 students have been completing their eSmart Digital Licence as part of our Pastoral program. The eSmart Digital Licence, which is supported by the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, includes modules such as: The Best Offence is Kindness, Building Your Shield, and Having a Digital Heart. This program also supports the many conversations we have with our students about the importance of being kind and respectful in their communication, whether it be online or face to face.

Navigating this space can also be challenging for our parents and guardians. Please find below a number of websites from various professionals we have worked with that also provide support for families:

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

https://www.cybersafetysolutions.com.au/parents/

https://jocelynbrewer.com/digital-nutrition/

A number of podcasts also tackle this topic and provide support for all those working with young people to make good choices online. Some of these include:

• Happy Families hosted by Doctor Justin Coulson
• Parental As Anything hosted by teen educator and author Rebecca Sparrow

Save the Date: Tuesday October 29

In Term 4, we will be having a Parent Night hosted by Dr Judith Locke. Judith is a clinical psychologist, author and former teacher who presents child wellbeing sessions to parents and schools. We look forward to her working with our school community. To find out more about Judith’s work, please follow the link below:

https://confidentandcapable.com/

The Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools School Improvement Survey (MACSSIS) will take place this year in the period Monday 2 September to Friday 20 September, the last three weeks of Term 3. MACSSIS is the primary method used by the Melbourne Archdiocese to gather feedback about schools from everyone involved in a school community – students, school staff, parents and guardians.

As the title of the survey indicates, it is an important component of the ongoing efforts to sustain and monitor improvements within schools, addressing areas such as:

• School climate
• Student safety
• Family engagement
• Communication
• Catholic identity.

When the survey opens on Monday 2 September, members of the OLMC community will receive an invitation to participate in the online survey and instructions on how to do so. Parent and guardian participation in the survey is voluntary but when you receive an invitation you are encouraged to complete it, as MACSSIS is a particularly reliable way in which to receive feedback from parents.

Further updates about MACSSIS will be provided in following Newsletters.

If you would like more information, or if you would like to volunteer for participation in MACSSIS, please contact me at the College: sconlan@olmc.vic.edu.au or 9455 2511.

Designing an Earthquake Resistant Building

In Science this term, our Year 9 class delved into the fascinating world of tectonic plates and earthquakes. As part of our unit, we were tasked with designing an earthquake-resistant building. Our challenge was to create a structure that could theoretically withstand an earthquake without breaking.

Given the constraints, we had one lesson to design and plan our buildings. Each structure had to be at least 45 cm tall, with a base of no more than 30 cm x 30 cm. We could only use spaghetti and Blu Tack as materials, each with a specific cost, and a hypothetical budget of $60.

In the following lesson, we constructed our designs. Interestingly, many of our final structures ended up quite different from our original plans. Once completed, our teacher tested each building by shaking it three times for ten seconds. The shakes varied in intensity: gentle, medium, and finally, a level eight on the Richter scale. It was intense, but most of our buildings stood strong and didn’t collapse.

This project gave us a practical understanding of how engineering can help cities near tectonic plate boundaries withstand natural disasters. We learned that the effectiveness of such designs also depends on factors like landforms, the earth’s crust, and the slow drift of the continents.

Overall, this hands-on experience was not only educational but also highlighted the importance of innovative design in disaster prevention and safety.

By Amelia B and Emmy B (9 NWA)

Year 8 students started a new topic, ‘Rates and Linear Graphs’ in Term 3. At the beginning, the students helped young Sheldon to solve his ‘life’ problem: Sheldon needs to get from his Linear Algebra class to his Physics class, which is 822 metres away in 10 minutes. The students helped Sheldon to determine the speed he must walk to reach his destination and demonstrated this in a linear graph. Further than that, Sheldon knows his stride is 23 inches and then the students helped him to find the number of strides he needs for his whole journey. The Year 8 students felt so proud to help young Sheldon!

Shirley Wu
Mathematics Learning Leader

August is always a busy time for activities in the Learning Commons and this year is no exception. A group of keen students have participated in the CBCA Shadow Judging Project since May, reading a range of nominated books and engaging in robust discussions. The goal is to critically analyse the books to determine which one is worthy of the OLMC student vote for Book of the Year. After much deliberation, Inkflower by Suzy Zail has been selected as our preference for the 2024 vote. This vote will be added to those from other schools across the country so that the student voice winner can be announced alongside the title chosen by the official judging panel. We thank all of the students who got involved this year and encourage them to participate again next year.

Coming up at the end of August is our annual Write a Book in a Day event. This year 24 students are involved and they have already been collaborating to determine their team names and the roles they will take on for the day. This event is an initiative of The Kids’ Cancer Project, with the entry fees going towards supporting their ongoing programs. The stories created are used after the competition as short, lighthearted reading options for children who have been admitted to hospitals.

Students who are keen to take part in these programs in future years are encouraged to join our Book Club and Creative Writing Club, which meet at lunchtimes throughout the year.

Anna Apfelstedt
Learning Commons Coordinator

Our annual High Tea in Heidelberg is on Sunday 8 September at 2.00 pm and we invite you and your friends and family to share in this special event.

The event will support the work of McAuley for Women and Children, an organisation committed to advocating for a better, safer and just society through working with women and children affected by family violence, mental illness or homelessness.

Sunday 8 September 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm

OLMC Nalleijerring Centre, Yarra St, Heidelberg

How to Book

Tickets are priced at $50 for Adults and $25 for Students.

You can purchase tickets online by going to https://www.trybooking.com/CTBND

OR by contacting Marie Jenkins T: 9455 7571 E: mjenkins@olmc.vic.edu.au

To book a group/table, you can either purchase the whole table in one booking or purchase a ticket on an available table and then notify your guests of the table number they should specify when booking. If you want to rename the table so that your fellow guests can identify the table easily please contact Marie Jenkins. Tables will seat 10 people.

To book individual tickets, purchase the required number on any table.

High Tea Raffle

We will also run a raffle to support McAuley. You can purchase tickets at the event or, if you are unable to attend but still wish to offer your support, you can purchase tickets online prior to the event.

1 ticket for $10, 3 tickets for $20 or 10 tickets for $50

To purchase a raffle ticket please go to https://www.trybooking.com/CTBNO

• 1st Prize Two nights accommodation in the penthouse suite of Wytonia Beachfront Accommodation in Port Fairy. Donated by The Wilson Family.
• 2nd Prize $250 voucher for your choice of restaurant in the Scott Pickett Group. Donated by the Pickett/Harris Family.
• 3rd Prize $250 voucher for your choice of restaurant in the Scott Pickett Group. Donated by the Pickett/Harris Family.
• 4th Prize Natio Cosmetic Pack valued at over $150. Donated by Natio.
• 5th Prize Hamper from Miles Real Estate, Ivanhoe. Donated by Miles Real Estate.
• 6th Prize Heide Museum of Modern Art - Twin Art Pass valued at $50.00. Donated by Heidi Museum of Modern Art.
• 7th Prize Baby Blanket and Hamper.

Raffle will be drawn on 8 September 2024 at the High Tea in Heidelberg.

Winners will be notified by phone and/or email and results will be in the College Newsletter.

We do hope that you can help us to support the work of McAuley for Women and Children by joining us for this very special event or by purchasing a raffle ticket.

Marie Jenkins
Community Development Coordinator

The Parents’ Association invites you to a breakfast to celebrate Father’s Day on:

Wednesday 28 August 7.30 am – 8.30 am

Heagerty Room, Yarra Street, Heidelberg

This is a chance for all students to do something special for Dad, Grandad or a special person in their life by enjoying a delicious breakfast together and sharing a special time. All are welcome.

Tickets $35 per family

Book via Trybooking.com: https://www.trybooking.com/CUGJN

If you are unable to attend but still wish to support the work of the Parents’ Association, we invite you to purchase a raffle ticket.

You can do this by going to: https://www.trybooking.com/CUGXZ

Tickets are 1 for $5, 3 for $10 or 10 for $30 and the array of prizes is outstanding.

Prizes

1^st Prize: Piccoli Portraits Photographic Portrait Gift Offer Value: $1000

The photographic gift certificate includes an initial inspiring 30 minute planning session, a 60-90 minute creative portrait session and a finely crafted matted and mounted portrait.

2^nd Prize: Snap Fitness Father & Daughter Fitness Package Value: $598

Get in shape for Summer with this amazing offer from Snap Fitness Heidelberg who have kindly donated two three-month Gym Memberships.

3^rd Prize: Heidelberg Golf Club Value: $250

Enjoy a game of golf with friends or family at the beautiful 18-hole golf course at Lower Plenty (Voucher for golf for four people, conditions apply)

4^th Prize: Men’s Fragrance Gift Pack One Value: $270

Perfect office scents for the modern man! (Calvin Klein Euphoria 50ml, Burberry London for Men 50ml & Issey Miyake Pour Homme 40ml)

5^th Prize Farm Vigano Dining Experience Value: $200

Enjoy a delicious and elegant lunch or dinner at Farm Vigano, South Morang

6^th Prize Men’s Fragrance Gift Pack Two Value: $195

More bold yet sophisticated masculine scents captured in a bottle! (Guess Seductive Homme Noir 100ml, Montblanc Legend 50ml)

7^th Prize Chocilo Hamper Value: $80

A delicious assortment of chocolates kindly put together by Chocilo Ivanhoe

8^th Prize Heide Museum of Modern Art Twin Pass Value: $50

OLMC Parents' Association

St Martin of Tours Parish is hosting an information evening for Dads called 'Raising Fathers' on Wednesday 21 August from 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm. It will be facilitated by menALIVE, an organisation with over 20 years’ experience of engaging with men in Australia and New Zealand. menALIVE offers practical advice on fathering in current times.

menALIVE will also host a retreat weekend in mid-November 2024 for those who would like to attend. Please see the flyer below for more information.

Further information can also be found at the following sites:

• General Information on menALIVE Victoria: menALIVE
• Raising Fathers Evening Event: Raising Fathers
• Parish Men’s Retreat: Fathers' Weekend Retreat

Follow the official Our Lady of Mercy College accounts on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. We’ll be sharing regular news, student achievements and stories from around the College.