This is the term during which we have many different kinds of celebrations or recognition for our students and our community. In two weeks, we will celebrate the graduation of the Year 12 class of 2022. We will recognise them for their academic efforts and achievements, but more importantly we will celebrate a cohort of students who have exemplified what it means to live the values of Justice, Compassion, Courage and Joy. Over the last two years they have been tested but they have returned this year determined to make the most of every moment. It will be with a great deal of pride and pleasure that we will celebrate with them.

This Friday is opening night of the Junior Production, Lyrebird at Marcellin College. Congratulations to the many students from Year 7 - 9 who are involved as performers or supporting backstage. This year the production has also been a traveling show with students performing in some of our local Primary Schools. We wish them all the very best for their performances on Friday and Saturday.

Next week on Thursday 13 October, The Art Show will open and we will recognise the students whose art works have been displayed as part of the Caldow Collection. The Design Art and Technology team have worked very hard to continue to provide the opportunities for our Visual Art, Design, Media and Food Studies students to grow and develop their skills and talents and we are honoured to be able to share them with our community. Congratulations to all students for their continued commitment to their art and design.

Throughout the term we will also celebrate many endings and beginnings. Each year level will reach the end of another year and begin preparations for the next. We will welcome our Year 7 Class of 2023 and begin their OLMC journey with them. This term can also be a little confusing as we start to have one foot in 2023 along with a very busy period of study. Students will be finalising assessments and in Year 10, 11 and 12 preparing for exams.

We are looking forward to a joyful term where the talents and skills of our students are recognised and celebrated with our community.

On Wednesday we celebrated the feast of St Francis of Assisi and the closing of the 2022 Seasons of Creation, where we challenge each other to care for our Earth and its poor. As Mercy people, we are especially challenged to live this work of Mercy.

So we pray…

We Hold the Earth.
We hold brothers and sisters who suffer from storms and droughts intensified by climate change.
We hold all species that suffer.
We hold world leaders delegated to make decisions for life.
We pray that the web of life may be mended through courageous actions to limit carbon emissions.

We pray that love and wisdom might inspire my actions and our actions as communities so that we may, with integrity, look into the eyes of our brothers and sisters and say we are doing our part to care for them and the future of their children.

This we know all things are connected, like the blood which unites one family. Our God is the same God, whose compassion is equal for all.
For we do not weave the web of life, we are merely a strand to it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
Let us give thanks for the web in the circle that connects us. Thanks be to God, the God of all.

It was tremendously exciting to gather in person for our celebration of Mercy Day 2022.

Our Eucharistic celebration centered around the gifts and circle of Mercy, giving thanks to God for all our many blessings and challenging each other to support our Mercy friends in Papua New Guinea.

Some comments from our students.

"After two years of not being together, there was a true sense of celebration at the Mercy Day Mass and a feeling of empowerment, as the homily encouraged us to use our voices to make an impact on those who are less fortunate than us"
Julia, Year 11

"Mercy Day; a day of celebration, commemoration and charity as we join in harmony to support our fellow Mercy Friends"
Chantel, Year 9

“The celebration of Mercy Day was an opportunity for our school to gather to show our support and love for our community in Papua New Guinea and celebrate and reunite in joy as a school for our first Mercy Day since 2019.”
Abbey, Year 12.

We are so grateful to Fr Kevin, who gently walks with us, calling us to follow the Gospel and to our students who lifted the roof with their singing and participated in our Eucharist which was outstanding.

Shane Taylor
Faith and Mission Coordinator

Year 10 and 11 exams will commence on Monday 21 November and conclude on Monday 28 November and there will be a Correction Day (Student Free Day) on Tuesday 29 November.

Friday 18 November is a Study Day for Year 10 and 11 students. A letter regarding the exams, including the exam timetable, will be sent to parents and students in early November.

There are a number of resources currently available for students through the Learning Commons Catalogue, under the tab of Study Habits. These resources provide templates for constructing a study timetable, as well as videos on goal setting, navigating exams, and revision tips. Students are able to access the Learning Commons Catalogue through SIMON.

Students in Years 10 and 11 also attended a presentation from Elevate in Term 2, prior to the Semester One exams. Elevate provided a range of strategies that students may use to assist in revision and exam preparation.

Andrew Gibson
Curriculum Coordinator

Year 12 Drama - Solo Performances

In VCE Drama the students complete a performance exam as well as a written exam and on Friday morning, the Year 12 Drama students will be heading off campus for their solo examination. The VCE class have been diligently crafting, rehearsing and refining their solo performances for the last term.

The students have a list of 10 characters that they may choose from to create their performances. Their solos go for up to seven minutes and combine research and creativity. On Monday evening the students presented their work for a panel of assessors, receiving valuable feedback. The students have worked very diligently on their performances and we wish them all ‘chookas’ for the exam.

Felicia Taine
Year 12 Drama Teacher

The Betty Amsden Youth Scholarship Course is a week of drama workshops at the famous Melbourne Theatre Company.

This course provides an opportunity for young people to develop their drama skills and gain confidence, whilst building friendships and a passion for theatre.

This year our Year 10 student Emily B. (CSGP) was accepted into this fantastic course.

Emily's reflection:

I got a scholarship for this course called the Betty Amsden Youth Scholarship Course 2022. It took place during the first week of the holidays at the Southbank Theatre, also known as MTC. It was a five-day course.

I had to wake up at 7:30am to get the train at 8:30am from Nunawading station, and from there the train would take me to Flinders Street Station at around about 9:15 am. I would have to walk 15 minutes to MTC. We did not start everything until 10:00am.

The first workshop we did was Welcome & Ensemble Building. The second workshop that we did was physical theatre. After lunch, we did storytelling. I told a very interesting story, then it was another break and the last workshop we did was composition.

During the next few days, we had guest artists come in and we did improvisation and brainstorming. The days also included physical theatre, lunch, creative writing, more composition, rehearsal and we watched a play that went on at MTC called SLAP. BANG. KISS. We also had dinner there, we had yummy pizza. It was good.

On the last day we started with rehearsals, tech/dress rehearsal, pre show/warm up, and then we started our performance. We did Taylah’s story of how she got bullied by her big friend group, since it was her story she was herself and I was one of the bullies.

We could invite teachers to come, so the teachers that came were Ms. Boemo and Ms. Burke. I was backstage and I peeked my head out. I saw Ms. Boemo and when the show was over everyone started to cry. Then we said goodbye to everyone I went out to go see my Nan and Papa and I said hello to Ms. Bomeo and Ms. Burke.

At the end of each of the days at MTC we had to summarise our experiences in three words.

My three words of my experience at MTC are “Made New Friends”.

So here is a little challenge for you to try with your friends or family. Can you try to summarise your day in three words?

Hayley Gamble-Curran
Year 10 Drama Teacher

Finally! The OLMC Art Show, combined this year with the launch of the 2022 Caldow Collection is back.

To add to the excitement, the Art Show will be held this year in the new Frayne Building (formally known as the DAT building). Not only is this a chance to come and see the excellent work of the Design, Art & Technology students at OLMC- families and other visitors can also see the wonderful new spaces that we have to create and learn!

When you come and visit please enter the Art Show via Visitors Reception on Cape Street to ensure that you do not miss out on first seeing the Caldow Collection- the curated exhibition of the finest works of 2021. This will then take you across the new walkway into the Frayne building and the rest of the Art Show.

The Year 10 Food Production and Design students have planned a menu of delicious canapes and non alcoholic drinks on Level 2. Speeches and Subject Award winners will be announced at 5.00pm in the break out space on Level 1.

Make sure when you are here that you vote in the people’s choice award.

We are really looking forward to seeing everyone back on campus to celebrate the awesome work of our talented students.

Mark Jenkinson
Design, Art, Technology Learning

This week the M2 Junior Production, created and hosted by Marcellin College, began it’s tour of local primary schools.

Twenty One OLMC students along with the Marcellin College cast members, excitedly presented their performance for the first time to a very eager audience of Grade 3 & 4 students from St Johns Primary School. The performance is called Lyrebird and it is a Musical Performance based on bushfire awareness in the Australian bush.

The show will be touring to several local primary schools this week with the season concluding at Marcellin College this weekend.

Tickets are available for the public to these shows at Marcellin College.

Congratulations to all of the students involved in what we are sure will be a fabulous performance. We cannot wait to see it!

Hayley Gamble-Curran and Felicia Taine
Drama Teachers

For the first time in three years 38 excited students represented OLMC at the National Aerobic competition on the Gold Coast on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 September.

A lot of hard work, dedication and commitment has been demonstrated by the students, with the squad training twice a week since the beginning of Term 1. To even make it through to Nationals is an achievement in itself.

Many students from all over Australia competed and overall OLMC received 2nd place for the highest scoring school.

OLMC students received many placements however, the highlight was receiving first, second and third place for Aerodance.

The squad is to be congratulated for all of their impressive achievements for 2022 and can now have a well-deserved break for Term 4.

Trials will begin again later in the term for the 2023 OLMC Aerobic Squad.

2022 Aerobics Captains reflection:
During the last week of Term 3, 38 girls travelled to the Gold Coast to participate in Gymnastics Clubs National Championships.

After qualifying at the States Competition in July, the team could not wait to attend Nationals, as we had all been working hard all year to make it this far. The National Championships event took place over two massive days, the 15 and 16 September at Gold Coast Sport and Leisure Centre, where everyone arrived with big smiles, ready to compete.

Throughout the year, the girls worked very hard at training to refine their skills and perfect their routines in the leadup for this competition. All of the hard work was displayed when they performed their routines and quite a few teams placed.

Our Division 1 Aerodance teams placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd. A clean sweep! We are also proud to announce, for the third year in a row, OLMC placed second overall, as the best Aeroschool in the country. This would not have been made possible if it wasn’t for all of the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm shown by the squad throughout three terms of training.

As the Aerobics Captains for 2022, we are very proud of all the girls who participated in aerobics this year. We have seen the team's skills grow throughout the year, and love watching how determined the girls are to achieve the best in their performance. We wish all the girls the best of luck for next year and the other years to come, as we know that they will absolutely smash it.

Ashleigh, Angelique, Indi and Bella.

Results

Deb Butterworth
Aerobics Coordinator

AFL Victoria School and Inclusion Manager, Nick Holloway recently informed us that as part of the 2022 Herald Sun Shield Senior Girls Competition, 22 of the very best players are acknowledged in "The Team of the Tournament".

Our Lady of Mercy College talented Senior Division 2 Winning Team was acknowledged with four students identified in their positions in the Team of the Tournament.

Reflection from OLMC AFL Senior Coach - Taylah Lambert

Half Back: Annabel B.
Annie was outstanding in the backline, offering us plenty of run and carry. She was solid in defence and was able to use her speed and hit targets in the centre of the ground.

Wing: Annabel G.
Bel was able to play a defensive midfield role, shutting down one of the opposition’s best players whilst creating lots of opportunities for us to score too. She didn’t stop running all game.

Centre: Ava J.
Ava was a ball magnet, getting many clearances out of the centre. She used her strength, speed and elite kicking and handballing skills effectively around the ground all game.

Forward Pocket: Madeline E.
Maddie ran and tackled hard all day. She was rewarded for all of her efforts with plenty of the ball and she was able to hit the scoreboard too.

We congratulate all players in this year successful Senior Team and especially our four representatives in the 2022 Herald Sun Shield Senior Girl, Team of the Tournament (please see the URL link below).

AFL Victoria - 2022 Herald Sun Shield of the Tournament - Senior Girls

Trevor Robertson
Sports Coordinator

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