‘Reconciliation Week will run from 27 May to 3 June and the theme this year is “Be a Voice for Generations".
The theme encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise. For the work of generations past, and the benefit of generations future, act today for a more just, equitable and reconciled country for all.’

https://nrw.reconciliation.org.au/

As a school in the Mercy tradition, we are called to be reconciled with all people and I encourage all to continue to share in supporting the ongoing commitment to reconciliation with our First Nations people.

On Friday 12 May we celebrated Dare2Donate. The Year 12 Student Leaders prepared and led a wonderful Dare2Donate Day for which they must be commended. Teachers are dared in order to raise money and aside from lots of fun, some very authentic and amazing costumes, the day raised money for McAuley for Women and Children, who support women and families in crisis. Students engaged in the important work of reaching out to those in need whilst at the same time building community spirit. The success of the event is the way in which staff and students join together in raising money for something more important than ourselves. Teachers and students also model courage as they dress up in amazing costumes, dance, sing or perform. Congratulations must go to all students and staff for a very successful event.

Congratulations must also go to the staff and students involved in the M² Production of Rock of Ages on a very successful season. As I have said many times, the students from OLMC and Marcellin College continue to inspire us with their talents, courage, passion and joy.

The Parents’ Association Mother’s Day event was a wonderful success again this year. They must be congratulated for their hard work and dedication to bringing together members of our community to celebrate mothers. Over 200 people attended with some families represented by three generations of women. The evening was filled with laughter and conversation and was a fitting celebration for mothers.

Next week is the annual Athletics Carnival. We are once again looking forward to a wonderful competition as our Houses compete for the House Cup and the House Cheer Cup. If the Swimming Carnival is any indication, there will be fierce competition for both trophies.

As we prepare to commemorate and celebrate Reconciliation Week, we continue to seek ways of healing, justice, and joy for all who call the Great South Land home and as participate in and contribute to the conversations about the Voice to Parliament. Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ, the Melbourne Jesuit, writes:

We Australians are still coming to terms with the consequences of invasion, settlement and exclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Among the descendants of the later arrivals is a will for reconciliation, but not if it costs. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians desire recognition that they are the original Australians but insist that it must be accompanied by measures that give them an assured voice in shaping the policies, laws and administrative regulations that affect their lives.

Our land reflects your face, O God – Ever-ancient, always new.
We give thanks and praise to God.
Our land sounds with your voice,
O God – calling for justice and peace.
We give thanks and praise to God.
Our land breathes with your life, O God – the spirit alive in your people.
We give thanks and praise to God.

God of Holy Dreaming, Great Creator Spirit,
from the dawn of creation, you have given your children the good things of Mother Earth. You spoke, and the gum tree grew.
In the vast desert and the dense forest,
and in the cities and at the water’s edge, creation sings your praise.
Your presence endures at the rock at the heart of our Land.
When Jesus hung on the tree,
you heard the cries of all your people and became one with your wounded ones:
the convicts, the hunted, the dispossessed.
The sunrise of your Son coloured the earth anew and bathed it in glorious hope.
In Jesus, we have been reconciled to you, to each other and to your whole creation.
Lead us on, Great Spirit, as we gather from the four corners of the earth;
enable us to walk together in trust from the hurt and shame of the past
into the full day which has dawned in Jesus Christ.
We make this prayer through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

On Thursday 18 May we took the opportunity to meet with students from a number of Mercy schools across Australia and discussed the importance of constitutional recognition and representation for Australia’s Indigenous peoples.

We were lucky enough to hear from Professor Michelle Foster, who is the director of the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness at Melbourne Law School.

We learnt about the history of Indigenous Rights in Australia and are now inspired to look for ways in which we can encourage discussion around the Voice to Parliament, and an understanding of the Uluru Statement. As a result of what we’ve learnt today, our intention is to work with a wider group of students to create a statement on behalf of Our Lady of Mercy College in support of the Voice to Parliament.

Elena S. (9GTA), Hannah H. (10CTKI), Julia M. (12LSMI), Tiffany M. (9GTA) and Neha M. (11CMSM)

National Careers Week (15 May – 21 May) aims to celebrate careers, career development and services whilst promoting the economic, social and personal benefits of career development. Whilst there are many factors involved in career development, one key principle draws on the over simplistic, but useful statement by Founder and President of the Children’s Defence Fund, Marian Wright Edelman, ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’.

At OLMC we have taken the focus of this week to launch our inaugural OLMC Industry Insight Series, welcoming alumni and other professionals connected with the OLMC community on campus to share their experiences and knowledge with our current students who are beginning to explore, visualise and make decisions about their own futures.

The series will run throughout Terms 2 and 3 mostly during the breakfast hour of 8.00am-9.00am with students across all year levels offered the opportunity to join as audience members in a Q&A Panel Discussion.

We were so pleased to host two Industry Q&A Panels this week; a ‘Health-focused’ and a ‘Media Industry-focused’ session. Both were well attended by students keen to learn more about careers in Medicine, Nursing, Paramedicine and Medical Research, as well as Radio and Journalism.

OLMC Alumni Laura McKinley (Class of 2002), Kelsey Hibberd (2013), Laura Gatto (2018), Loren Barry (2007) and Sarah Abo (2003) along with friend of OLMC, Rachel Annetta, shared inspiring personal insights whilst offering useful information and advice to their engaged audience.

Future Industry Insight Q&A Panels on Tuesdays from 8:00am – 9:00am include:

Please see session flyers on PAM for information regarding our panellists and encourage your young person to attend.

Students will need to register their attendance via the link provided on SIMON and parents/guardians keen to join us are welcome to attend.

If you or someone you know holds an interesting job title or has an inspiring career story and would be happy to be a panellist for a casual Q&A discussion, particularly in the areas of Business, Sport, Emergency Services, Primary or Early Childhood Education, Psychology or Politics and Community Service, please email Careers Coordinator, Melinda Williams mwilliams@olmc.vic.edu.au

Please note all panellists will need to hold or apply for a Working with Children Check.

The Trades Fit: Women in Trades Expo
On Thursday 11 May, 25 eager students attended The Trades Fit: Women in Trades Expo held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

With over 100 exhibitors boasting hands-on, interactive experiences, informative seminars and merchandise galore, the students were exposed to a wide array of industries and job roles within the trades and STEM industries, which they had never contemplated before.

Students spent hours talking with professionals, engaging with VR experiences, trying out hands-on tasks and watching practical demonstrations. They climbed in trucks and diggers, built jewellery stands using power tools, laid bricks and unpicked locks just to name a few experiences.

The event left a lasting impression on all who chose to attend:

I gained an interest in plumbing and electrical trades.
Greta R. (10AJGU)

For someone who feels a bit lost and stressed about what to do for the future, this was an awesome opportunity to learn about careers I’ve never even heard of. I learnt about mining as well as aviation. These were highlights for me and are definitely careers I’m now interested in doing in the future.
Jasmine P. (10AHRA)

I loved the VR headset and being able to experience what it would be like to work on the electrical internals of an elevator. I learnt there are lots of amazing, useful pathways that I never thought of doing which I now would consider, such as project management and flying.
Madeleine K. (10AJIN)

It was great seeing so many girls getting involved.
Scarlett F. (9GTA)

The experience was very enriching and I can’t wait to hopefully go again next year to try bricklaying, horticulture and virtual reality!
Alana P. (10CSGP)

Melinda Williams
Careers Coordinator

Two weeks in and the Design, Art and Technology (DAT) team have been busier than ever.

On Wednesday 26 April, our Year 12 Media and Visual Communication Design students went to Melbourne Museum to view the 2023 Top Designs Exhibition. The Exhibition showcased sixty-nine works created by students who completed design subjects including Media and Visual Communication Design in 2022.

In Media, to create their final production design, students are required to research the characteristics, narratives, styles and genres of a range of media forms. The narrative and final product is made to target a specified audience. The productions on display at Top Designs inspired our students, as they demonstrated strong conceptualisation and a high level of technical skill.

In Visual Communication Design, students rely on drawing as the primary component of visual language to support the conception and visualisation of ideas. The works on display enabled our students to see how clever selections and manipulation of design elements, media, materials and methods can be used to respond to a brief in innovative ways.

Monday 1 May saw many little visitors to the Frayne Building for our annual Visual Arts Workshop. This workshop was for primary school students in Grades 4 and 5, aimed at inviting prospective students into the College to use our facilities and get a taste of secondary school. It was here that they learned all about mastering the basics of painting, including how to mix colours and when to use different brush types.

On Tuesday 2 May, our Year 12 Art Creative Practice students went to the National Gallery of Victoria at Federation Square to view the Melbourne Now and Top Arts Exhibitions. The aim was to inspire and help them gain insight into the work and practice of other young artists from schools across Victoria. Top Arts 2023 showcases extraordinary works of art and folios that achieved outstanding results in VCE Art or VCE Studio Arts in 2022.

Our students were inspired by the wide range of creative processes and mediums, innovative ideas and proficient use of materials.

The Year 11 Media City Photography excursion took place on Thursday 4 May and provided our VCE Media students with an opportunity to utilise their technical photography skills developed in class as well as apply their understanding of good composition into a real-world context. The students were encouraged to experiment with their cameras by completing a series of Amazing Race-style challenges throughout the day. They met their teachers at different checkpoints, such as the Princess Theatre, RMIT University and the State Library, whilst taking creative street and portrait photographs along the way.

On Friday 5 May, Year 10 Food Production and Design students participated in either the catering or service for the opening night of the School Production, Rock of Ages. Students involved in catering were required to prepare and plate food that they had cooked ready for service. Students participating in service were required to discuss with guests the food items they created, including any potential allergens that the food may contain.

Many guests are still raving about the unique flavours of the lemon myrtle and pepperberry used in the chicken sausage rolls and the delightfully crumbly nature of the yo-yo biscuits.

What a two weeks, well done DAT students and staff.

Alexandra Seit
Design, Art and Technology Learning Leader

On Thursday 11 May, a group of talented and brave Year 7 and 8 guitar students travelled to St Pius X Primary School to perform at their annual Mother’s Day afternoon tea.

The girls played a range of pieces, with a special rendition of Happy Birthday to conclude the event for a special grandmother in attendance.

OLMC has a long-standing relationship with St Pius X Primary as our Year 10 students travel there every Tuesday afternoon for the Reading Club Program, run by St Vincent De Paul.

Student Reflections:
The Mother's Day Performance was a way to gain confidence for not only myself but everyone else that came as well. It was a way to show off all our hard work put towards not only learning guitar but putting in our best effort. St Pius was a very welcoming school with very friendly students, teachers and mothers.
Grace H. (8SLO)

I really liked going to St Pius to perform. It was great to see the smiles on everyone's faces, and to know that we helped make their Mother's Day afternoon even more special. It was also a good opportunity to practise.
Olivia J. (8BFA)

Thank you so much to all the girls who practised over many weeks and to their guitar teacher Mr Luke Streeter and Ms Jo-Anne Mileto for her support.

Lauren Marquet
Social Justice Coordinator

Year 9 Humanities continues to help students make sense of their world
Year 9 Humanities offers a point of difference as we venture from the semester structure of Years 7 and 8.

Instead of enjoying a year of Humanities - with all the variation and world-focus that this brings, our Year 9s rotate through the top hits of the Learning Area. Not only does this allow a change of study scenery for the Year 9 student, but it also allows them to discover the wonders of History, Geography and Economics in discrete, standalone terms.

They also have the chance to choose three electives, to complement their Humanities experience; ‘Change Makers’ (Geography focus) ‘Rights and Freedoms’ (History focus) or ‘Shop Smart’ (Business and Economics focus). By the end of the year, our students have an insight into the areas they enjoy in the rich and diverse field of Humanities.

Year 9: Australian History’s Mysteries
Caution: Historical Detectives at work! Is that Enola Holmes we see?

The Year 9 History curriculum has changed in 2023. With the arrival of the new Victorian curriculum imminent, the team decided to cast a fresher narrative over the Making of the Modern World timeline of 1750 - 1918.

We had three thoughts in mind; to engage the 21st century learner and help them connect history to modern times, to abide by the spirit of the curriculum, and to allow some student voice, giving the learner some say over what they are learning about!

And so, ‘Australian History’s Mysteries’ was born.

Piloted in Term 1 and slated to continue in Terms 2 - 4, students delve into the world of 1750 - 1918 Australia. They select a key area of focus (for instance, Federation of the colonies, The Victorian Gold Rush or the Frontier Wars) and dig. During this deep dive, they are confronted with stories, facts and figures. They present and write and ultimately posit a history mystery to their classmates of Historian Detectives.

And yes, all the while they are developing historical skills, practising their literacy and presentation skills, firing up their critical and creative thinking. It is fabulous to teach and wonderful to watch.

Students are also ticking off these fundamentals of the Victorian curriculum:

• sequencing chronology
• using historical sources as evidence
• identifying continuity and change
• analysing causes and effect
• determining historical significance.
  

We hope they enjoy it as much as we love listening to the mysteries they unearth.

Rosemary Jones
Humanities Learning Leader

The Learning Commons is busy every lunchtime with clubs and activities on offer for students. All students are welcome to join in at any stage as there are a range of competitions happening throughout the year too.

The current schedule includes:

• Craft Club - Monday
• Creative writing - Tuesday
• Book Club - Wednesday - fortnightly
• Junior Debating - Wednesday - fortnightly
• Makerspace - Thursday
• Anime Club – Friday.

In addition to lunchtime activities, students are also encouraged to utilise the various homework/tutoring supports on offer in the Learning Commons after school.

• Homework Help is for junior students (Years 7-10) Mondays and Wednesdays after school. Students can receive assistance with their homework or classwork, study for upcoming assessments or receive tips with their organisation from OLMC Learning Support staff. No bookings are required for this option.
• A number of Year 11 students are also offering tutoring for Year 7s focusing on English, Maths, Science and Languages. This occurs Mondays and Thursdays after school and Year 7s must pre-book spots via the Student Tutoring Canvas course.
  

Anna Apfelstedt
Learning Commons Coordinator

In 2022, a small group of students looking for some more co-curricular science activities decided to submit a quick entry into the Victoria STEM MAD Showcase.

In STEM MAD, the MAD stands for Making a Difference and the goal is for primary and secondary students in Catholic schools to use science and maths, technology and design thinking to work on a problem with real world application.

Heidi C. (10LAGA) roped in some friends to make a team: Alice P. (10LAGA), Katiya S. (10LAGA), Sephora K. (10CCTR). Stefania P. (10CCTR) came along and helped out the team with their preparations.

The entry did well at the State showcase and we were invited to attend the National showcase and took out the prize for the ‘STEM in Space’ category, which was a trip to Adelaide to visit the 15^th Australian Space Forum as guests of the Andy Thomas Space Foundation.

The group of five headed to Adelaide on Monday 8 May after school and the next morning attended a Careers Passport Session with a range of space industry providers to learn about the wide range of space careers and what that means for earth bound industries.

We had a private visit and presentation at the Australian Space Discovery Centre watching the engineers who were in contact with an experimental satellite.

The Space Discovery Centre has augmented reality and interactive displays highlighting the history of space travel, innovations in understanding weather, improved communications across the earth, understanding life at zero gravity and all the benefits of this knowledge that have come with space programs.

The group moved on to the Planetarium at Hamilton Secondary College where we had a student-led presentation on the constellations. The group split up and some went to Mars, complete with space suits and some were controllers for the mission to mars. The students had a great time and the experience stretched their knowledge about Australia’s engagement with space through the coming decades.

The ‘Mission to Mars’ was a highlight for all but student feedback included:

• The highlight of the trip was the whole thing.
• I enjoyed the whole experience because every part showed me something new and different.
• The highlight of my trip was being a part of mission control and guiding Heidi during her assignment.

Susan Long
Science Learning Leader

On Friday 12 May Dare2Donate was once again held at OLMC to raise money for the McAuley Community Services For Women.

The Senior House Coordinators were dared to make a dancing TikTok to show the whole school for the fundraiser. A couple of students in the senior level (including myself) helped the coordinators learn the 'Cupid' dance and then film and edit it. The teachers were very keen, showing lots of enthusiasm throughout learning the TikTok dance, whilst the students had a laugh with the teachers watching them try to figure out each move.

Each House Coordinator has different traits that each student loves about them, they are all very welcoming and kind-hearted and are always willing to listen to students when in need of help or even just for a quick chat. The House Coordinators are very keen to see the students attend Athletics Day next week in their House colours and to cheer on their teams to earn points to win the house trophy or the cheering trophy!

Alysia B. (12AJIN)

On Tuesday 4 April, 70 Grade 3 students from St Clement of Rome Primary School visited OLMC as part of their ‘Pack your bags’ multicultural inquiry unit. The Year 12 Senior VCAL students planned out a day's activities to showcase the way different cultures celebrate together, with a focus on Easter. They ran a range of activities for the students in rotating groups, with the support of the Year 11 VCE VM students. The children decorated Easter cookies, learnt Latin Dancing, participated in a Drama Workshop, and enjoyed some fun in the sun competing in a ‘mini-Olympics’.

The children had a fantastic day, they were so excited when they were leaving, saying how much fun they had, and have since written the VCAL/VM students beautiful cards of thanks. ‘Best day ever’ apparently! Their teachers commented that it was one of the best excursions they had been on, and that they'd never experienced one that was so well-planned.

Well done to the VCAL students! It was great to watch their skilful management of the day, their communication skills as they interacted with the little ones, and to see them demonstrate such leadership with their Year 11 teams. It was wonderful to have the VM students’ help, and great for them to work alongside the Year 12s, to see how an event such as this comes together, before they start planning their own events and projects later in their learning program.

Helen Hamblin
Senior Vocational Program Coordinator

OLMC’s new Italian Language Assistant, Ludovica Casarino, has been busy meeting all the Italian classes from Years 7 to 12 since the start of this term.

Students have loved being able to ask her questions about life in Italy. In one Year 9 Italian class, Amelia and Aprila interviewed Ludovica about her life and transcribed that conversation to share with the wider school community. It has been reproduced below.

Ludovica is currently looking for rental accommodation close to school or to public transport from the end of May until December (and hopefully not too expensive!). If anyone knows of any options that might fit the bill, please contact her by email: lcasarino@olmc.vic.edu.au.

Interview with Prof Ludovica

Where Ludovica was born and where she grew up?
Ludovica was born in Carrara, but grew up in Lerici, Liguria.

Lerici is near the border of Tuscany. Her village is quite small and it is right by the sea. During summer, Ludovica spent a lot of her time at the beach. After she completed middle school, she and her friends from kindergarten all went to different high schools. Ludovica went to one in Sarzana. In Italy they have different types of high schools depending on what students want to study. Ludovica’s high school was called Liceo Classico. At her high school she studied ancient languages such as Latin and Ancient Greek. She also learnt her basics of English there.

A little bit about her childhood?
She went to kindergarten when she was only one and a half. She started so early because her mother worked. Through her kindergarten, she met a group of friends who moved with her to primary school and to middle school. She grew up playing gymnastics, basketball and volleyball. Her favourite sport was basketball and she was quite tall for her age, dominating the game.

The differences she's noticed between the Australian and Italian school system?
There are no uniforms, the Italians always wear free dress. The school day in Australia is longer, in Italy it usually finishes at 1.00pm or 2.00pm. In Italy there are no single sex schools that she saw, Ludovica says that our school is humongous and she often gets lost as most schools in Italy are just one big building that is very overcrowded.

Why did she come to Australia and to OLMC?
Ludovica applied for this position three years ago. She was supposed to go to a school in Doncaster, she had all her flights and visas ready, but then Covid hit. She reapplied in November last year and she got the job again. Her main reason she wanted to come to Australia was to experience another school system and to experience a new country. She loves travelling and Australia was somewhere she always wanted to visit. From Australia she can also explore all the countries nearby.

How is she liking Australia?
Since her move, she’s stayed in Carlton, Ivanhoe and the CBD in Docklands. She loves Melbourne and how everything is always moving. There are always things to do. There are so many new people you meet every single day. One thing that Ludovica does not like about Australia at all, are the spiders. Before coming to Australia Ludovica was worried about wildlife and all the poisonous animals. She was also worried about how far Australia is from Italy.

What are some tips for students studying languages?

• Watch movies with subtitles
• Read easy books in that language
• Practise as much as you can
• Travel
• Make friends from that country
• Do the poetry competition
• Consistency.

Fleur Davison
Languages Learning Leader

The Mid Year Music Concert is fast approaching on Monday 29 May at 7.00 pm.

The concert will feature performances from all our ensembles, some VCE music and classroom music student performances.

Tickets are complementary but must be booked through TryBooking.

Please follow the link to reserve your tickets: Purchase Mid Year Music Concert Tickets Here

For any further information on this event, please contact either:

• Jo-Anne Mileto jmileto@olmc.vic.edu.au
• Anne Couch acouch@olmc.vic.edu.au

We look forward to sharing a wonderful evening of music with our OLMC families.

Jo-Anne Mileto
Instrumental Music Coordinator

On Thursday 11 May Esther H. (9LDA), Tiffany M. (9GTA) and Nathasha J. (11CRIV) competed in the 2023 Ainger Peck Public Speaking Award.

The event was held at Melbourne Girls College and over 100 students from schools throughout Melbourne participated in the prestigious public speaking competition.

Students were invited to present a speech that they were passionate about in four minutes. Students were adjudicated on the theatrics and the delivery of the speech including tone, pace, timing, projection, eye contact, confidence and memorisation of the speech.

The standard was extremely strong and very impressive. This is the first time OLMC has participated in the Ainger Peck Award and Esther, Tiffany and Nathasha represented OLMC beautifully. It was a wonderful opportunity and experience and we look forward to competing again next year.

Deb Butterworth
Debating/Public Speaking Coordinator

OLMC celebrated Mother’s Day in the McAuley Hall on Monday 15 May. It was a sell-out event and the community spirit in the hall was very evident. The night started with a liturgy celebrating women in the Mercy tradition. We thank the many students involved. It was inspiring and the readings and music just made it more special. This was followed by a supper, a lot of talking, fun at the photo booth, a raffle and many amazing door prizes. We watched as many special memories were made. This was a wonderful way to acknowledge our mothers, grandmothers or a special person in our life.

Georgia Gilmour, the Parents’ Association President, welcomed everyone and shared her thoughts on what being a mother means to her:

Welcome to our Mother’s Day celebration; it’s so lovely to see our community come together.

Behind the success of every great person, there is the inspiration of their mother. She is our first teacher, first guide and first friend.

The relationship we share with our mother cannot actually be replaced. A mother’s love which is truly unconditional, her support that always remains with us - whether they are here or in heaven - along with her forgiving nature makes her a very important person in our lives. There are certain bonds that are very strong and cannot be broken, and I believe the bond of a child and a mother is one of them.

We will always be daughters to our own mothers, just as our girls will be our daughters, even when they become mothers. It's really quite beautiful, the way we women get to play two very different roles at the same time. I think that's part of why the love between daughter and mother is so strong. We are each other.

Happy Mother's Day to everyone and hope you all had a lovely day yesterday.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the OLMC Parents’ Association committee for volunteering their time to organise this event and to our fundraising committee for sourcing the amazing raffle and door prizes.

We would also like to thank all of the sponsors for their generous donations including the major sponsors Fernwood, Snap gym, Thalassea store and Bivianos & Sons for donating the fresh fruit for tonight.

Congratulations to all the Raffle winners.

A huge thank you to all our sponsors for helping us to make the 2023 Mother’s Day Celebration and Raffle such a success.

Biviano and Sons

Hypoxi by Fernwood Bulleen

TKG & Co

Mounts Pharmacy

Thrive Revive Northcote

Melbourne Naturopathy Northcote

Snap Fitness Heidelberg

Thalassea

Bunnings Northland

Vasko Ivanhoe

Manhattan Beauty

Chemist Warehouse

Chocilo

Bulleen Art and Garden

Heide Museum

Kaiser Physio

Core Plus Ivanhoe

Barkly’s Hotel

Old England Hotel

Hecho en Mexico

The Alleyway

Flowers on Plenty

OLMC Parents' Association Committee

Over 50 students from OLMC and Marcellin have been rockin’ out on the stage at the M² Production of Rock of Ages. Opening night began with a bang and VIP guests were treated to some amazing food delights from the OLMC student catering team. Parents, families, friends and staff were entertained by the students’ amazing talents, which were on display throughout the night. The audience were taken on a journey back to the 80s as the band and vocalists sang and danced along. We also witnessed the comedic talents of our students; there was never a dull moment throughout the night!

A special thanks needs to go to the Marcellin staff who have expertly directed the show. It was especially great to see an OLMC Performing Arts past student, Isabella Gangi, leading the choreography.

The students have been rehearsing and working behind the scenes in earnest since the beginning of the year and we would like to congratulate you all on your success. A special mention should go to our Year 12 students who have managed to balance rehearsals, SACS, jobs and homework. Your dedication to the Performing Arts is admired and greatly appreciated by us all and we hope that your journey after Year 12 will continue to see you enjoy and be part of the world of musical theatre.

OLMC Students

Year 12
Mia B., Lauren B., Rose C., Isla C., McC., Charlotte C., Amelia D., Sachi F., Immogen H., Isabella K., Alessia K., Tiara L., Syeria L., Grace L., Lily L., Sammie M., Olivia P., Sara T. and Lily V.

Year 11
Natasha A., Caitlyn A., Monique C., Charlotte D., Lara F., Indra L., Ashlee M., Olivia S., Olivia S., Kristiana T. and Olivia V.

Year 10
Heidi C., Zara C., Elizabeth C., Jessica C., Marissa D., Alessia D., Chloe F., Rosie F., Magdalen G., Hannah H., Madelein K., Georgia L., Tabatha M., Grace N., Noemi P., Jasmine P., Anabelle R., Stephanie T., Ruby Y. and Tilly Z.

The 2023 M² Rock of Ages Production was an unforgettable experience for the whole cast and crew. Everyone worked so hard to make this production come to life. The leads, ensemble and backstage crew were so talented and supportive to others. This production was like a second family to me because the cast, directors and producers brightened up my day when I was feeling down, anxious and unmotivated. When I was on the stage performing with my friends to the audience there was this chemistry that I’ve never felt before from previous performances. It's like we’re destined to perform together. Without this experience I would never have met this wonderful cast, crew and directors. Everyone deserves to feel accepted and that’s what this production is all about. Before that we were strangers to one another and our own group of friends and personal lives. Then when we got to know each other we all automatically clicked. I was nervous before performing onstage but people told me not to worry and just have fun. Their encouragement gave me confidence to perform with all my heart out and I’ve never felt so free in my entire life after Covid lockdowns. Auditioning and performing in the production has improved my personal development.

So many people loved and commented on how well our performances went. I’d thank the directors and producers Ms Bellis, Mr Liistro, Ms Mackellin, Mr Mackenzie, Isabella Gangi, Ms Maloney and Mr Blackman for making this production come true and encouraging all of us.

As a Year 12 student I am happy that my high school production days ended with a bang. For the Year 12s cast and crew whose high school productions are ending, you are so talented and have grown so much throughout this production journey. Through Rock of Ages, we have made our mark and we’re all going to long after we graduate from high school. I’ve never worked with such a talented, inclusive and caring cast and someday I hope we’ll reunite together and make more awesome memories.

Sammie M. (12MAMN)

Madalena Broadbent
Performing Arts Learning Leader

On Saturday 20 May there will be a ‘Movie Munchie Night for M2- Maddy & Mikaela’ to raise money for our young parishioners, Mikaela Mc. and Madeleine K. (10AJIN), to go to World Youth Day with Catholic Youth from all over the world and Pope Francis in Lisbon, Portugal in August this year.

This will be a wonderful opportunity to support a young person in their faith and also a chance to get to know other people in your parish and surrounds.

We thank you for your support and look forward to a fun night out together.

Double Feature - ‘Movie Munchie Night for M2 Maddy & Mikaela’

Movie 1: 7.00pm - 9.00pm
Soul Surfer (PG)
A true story of faith, family and fighting to get back on the board by Bethany Hamilton.

Movie 2: 9.15pm - 10.45pm
I Confess
Alfred Hitchcock suspense about a priest and his commitment to his vocation.

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.