Dear Mercedes College Families
Welcome back to Term 3. I hope our community enjoyed a restful break and found time to recharge ahead of another exciting term at Mercedes College. Classes and routine paused over the holidays, but our campus certainly did not. Across the College, significant maintenance and capital works were undertaken to ensure our learning environments continue to be safe, welcoming and inspiring for all. I extend my sincere thanks to our dedicated admin team, whose work often takes place behind the scenes. It has such a positive impact on the daily life of our community.
During the first week of the break, a group of our Media students travelled to Queensland as part of the Bond Media Tour, participating in workshops at Bond University and learning alongside industry professionals. Experiences such as these extend learning well beyond the classroom, allowing students to develop new skills while creating lasting memories. We are incredibly proud of the way our students represented Mercedes College throughout the tour.
The holidays also saw our Beauty and the Beast cast, crew and production team hard at work as rehearsals intensified ahead of opening night on August 21. Members of the Senior Leadership Team were fortunate to attend portions of the rehearsals, and it is clear our students are preparing something truly special. Their talent, enthusiasm and professionalism are extraordinary, supported by staff who have generously dedicated countless hours to bringing this production to life. I encourage our extended community members to secure tickets, using the discount code BEOURGUEST. Join us in celebrating the incredible performing arts opportunities available at Mercedes College. Tickets available HERE.
One of the highlights of the holiday period has been the incredible response to our limited edition 180 Anniversary Scarf release. The engagement from our community has been overwhelming, with the first release selling out in just three hours and the second release selling out in only 45 minutes. It has been wonderful to see so many members of our community eager to own a special piece of Mercedes history as we celebrate this significant milestone year. The first release has now been distributed, and we look forward to seeing the second release in the hands of our community very soon. My sincere thanks to our Alumni Committee, whose vision and dedication helped bring this commemorative initiative to life for our community.
A particular highlight of the break was the opportunity for staff to come together in celebration of our shared 180 Mercy Heritage. Staff from Mercedes College joined colleagues from Santa Maria College and St Brigid’s College for a combined professional learning day marking 180 years of Mercy education in Australia. It was a wonderful occasion to reflect on our shared history, strengthen connections across our Mercy schools and celebrate the values that continue to guide and shape our communities today. Guest speakers included the Leader of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea, Sister Karon Donnellon RSM and Jesuit Priest, Adjunct Professor in ACU, Lawyer, Human Rights Advocate and Author, Father Frank Brennan SJ. The theme for the collaboration was Walking Forward Together as People of Mercy.
Our Year 10 cohort continue their important career counselling and subject selection conversations over the last two weeks. Choosing senior school pathways is an exciting milestone, and we are grateful to the staff who guide students and families through this process with such care and expertise, ensuring every student is supported as they envision and plan for their future.
Our Music students have commenced another exciting Catholic Performing Arts Festival season following the Spirit of the Arts Opening Mass last week. Mercedes College will participate in more than 50 performances across the festival. We look forward to celebrating the commitment, creativity, and dedication of our talented performers over the coming weeks. I encourage our community to support our students by attending performances throughout the six-week festival. There are many opportunities to see our students perform across a range of music, drama and dance events, showcasing the remarkable talent and dedication they have developed through months of preparation. Tickets and performance information are available through the Catholic Performing Arts Festival website.
This week also marked the launch of Voices from 180 Years, a special storytelling campaign celebrating the people and experiences that have shaped Mercedes College across generations. Earlier this year, during our 180 Anniversary High Tea, we invited alumni, current and former staff to share their memories of Mercedes. These reflections have now been brought together into a short video reflection that captures the spirit, traditions and connections that define our College. We look forward to sharing additional stories with our community over the coming weeks as we continue to honour the remarkable legacy of those who have contributed to Mercedes College.
We were delighted to welcome more than 100 prospective family members to campus for our Principal’s Morning Tea and Tour this week. It was a pleasure to share our College grounds and showcase our wonderful students and staff. The strong interest in enrolment reflects the confidence families place in our community, and we are grateful to everyone who took the time to visit and experience firsthand the opportunities available at Mercedes College.
The energy of Term 3 has continued in flow into sport, with students representing the College at the SAS Senior Winter Carnival and the Year 10 AFL Carnival. We also acknowledge our dedicated rowers, who continue to spend their Saturdays representing Mercedes College at regattas. Participation in sport builds resilience, teamwork, and school spirit and creates experiences that students will remember long after they leave Mercedes.
Term 3 marks a significant milestone for our Year 12 students as they begin their final school term at Mercedes College. It is a time filled with excitement, reflection, and anticipation as they prepare to close out the last experiences of secondary education. We look forward to celebrating this special chapter with them, supporting them through the challenges ahead and recognising the many contributions they have made to our College community over the years.
Over recent weeks four staff members have reached discernment about their retirement plans. We wish to acknowledge these long-standing highly valued members of our community. As shared last term, Mrs Adams will be finishing at Mercedes at the end of the year after 48 years of dedicated service. Joining Mrs Adams in retirement from 2027 is Mrs Johns, Mrs Harrington, Mrs Davis and Mrs Foley. Collectively, these staff members represent an extraordinary 196 years of service at Mercedes. We are so grateful for their commitment and for the contribution they have had across generations of Mercedes College staff, students and families. We wish them every blessing and happiness as they prepare for this next chapter of their lives. We will have an opportunity to celebrate their remarkable service later in the year.
As we look ahead, Term 3 promises to be another vibrant and rewarding term of learning and activity. Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support. Together, we continue to build a community that honours our rich history while inspiring the generations of Mercedes students still to come.
Warm regards
Dr Lucie McCrory
PRINCIPAL
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)
All Australian governments implement an annual national data collection on school students with disability. This data collection does not apply just to students with an identified disability, but for all students in the College community that receive learning adjustments. Please click here for detailed information on NCCD.
Parent Code of Conduct
Our Parent Code of Conduct helps us identify how we interact and engage in partnership whilst keeping the best interests of students at the centre of our decision-making and care. Details of which can be found by clicking HERE.
