Dear Mercedes College Families
Welcome to Week 8 of Term 3. I have been reflecting on the many moments that have made this term so special across our College community. It has been wonderful to see our students continue to make the most of the opportunities around them, support one another, and contribute so generously to the life of the College.
Looking back to Week 6 we saw our Year 9 and Year 10 students strengthen their connections with brother cohorts at Trinity College. Our Year 9 students took part in the annual Amazing Race Social, working together through a series of challenges that encouraged teamwork, communication and problem-solving. Our Year 10 students enjoyed the Dynamic Duo Social, embracing the opportunity to dress up, dance, and celebrate their friendships. These occasions are always a highlight for our students and provide valuable pockets of time to build memories beyond the classroom.
Our Year 10 and 11 students attended the Zero2Hero In Your Head Conference at the Perth Exhibition and Convention Centre. The conference brought together more than 1,600 students and teachers from across Western Australia and provided students with practical strategies and a greater understanding of adolescent mental health and wellbeing. I was pleased to see our students engaging so thoughtfully with the speakers and the activities throughout the day.
We concluded Week 6 with our Book Week celebrations. The theme, A Symphony of Stories, provided a springboard for students to celebrate their love of reading and showcase the imagination that books inspire. The Character Costume Parade was a particular highlight, with our largest parade on record bringing plenty of creativity and enthusiasm to the College. The Book Week Scavenger Hunt had students exploring the College in search of clues and completing challenges together. I thank our English Learning Area, Learning Hub, Book Club and Academic Prefects for the time and creativity they contributed, making Book Week such an epic celebration across the College.
Six of our aspiring engineers took part in the Creative Edge Challenge at Curtin University recently. The challenge encouraged students to think creatively, work collaboratively, and respond to problems in innovative ways. It was wonderful to see them embrace the experience with openness, resilience, and a willingness to think outside the box.
We celebrated The Arts Learning Area during Week 7, which showcased and celebrated creativity and play across the College. From Music and Dance to Drama, Visual Arts and Media, students had opportunities to perform, create, participate in workshops and open rehearsals, and share their talents with others. It was inspiring to see the College come alive with creative displays and performances throughout the week. I thank our Arts staff and students for the energy, commitment and the imagination they brought to the celebration.
Our Year 11 students presented their Prefect Speeches for nominations last week. It is always an exciting time in the College as students put themselves forward for leadership and share their ideas, ambitions and vision for the year ahead. I look forward to interviewing the candidates in the coming week for Head Girl and hearing more about what they hope to contribute to our College community. I wish all students involved the very best and look forward to announcing our new 2027 Student Leaders later this term.
Our Year 12 Children, Family and the Community students welcomed young visitors to the College for their Culture Playgroup. Students created interactive environments for children aged 18 months to five years, applying their learning in an authentic and real-life setting. It was wonderful to see their care, confidence and planning as they engaged in activities with our tiny tot visitors.
Selected students from Years 10, 11 and 12 represented Mercedes College at the Perth Young Leaders Policy Dialogue, where they had the opportunity to contribute to policy discussions and hear from members of the Federal Government. Experiences such as this encourage our students to engage thoughtfully with the world around them and to recognise the role they can play in shaping their communities and their future.
At the end of Week 7, we were delighted to welcome members of our Alumni Community back to Mercedes for our Alumni Tea and Tour. It was a pleasure to spend time with our former students, hear their stories and memories, and share afternoon tea. The opportunity to welcome Alumni from different generations was a lovely reminder of the enduring spirit of Mercy and the lifelong connections that continue to link our past, present, and future students.
Our Year 8 Academic Challenge and Extension English students recently were involved in the KSP Spooky Story competition, exploring the theme of ‘glitch’ through creative writing. It was wonderful to see their work recognised through the competition and included in the 2026 KSP Spooky Story Anthology.
Health and Physical Education Week has been in full swing, providing yet another opportunity for our students to celebrate learning, participation, movement, health and wellbeing across the College. The week began with our annual McGrath Netball Game against the Trinity College Perth Prefects, which brought plenty of school spirit and enthusiasm to the College. While the result did not go our way this year, the day was about so much more than the final score. Our Year 12 students worked tirelessly in the lead-up to McGrath Day to raise funds and advocate for the McGrath Foundation, and I congratulate them on their ongoing efforts and tremendous commitment to this important cause. Their collaboration, enthusiasm, sense of fun, and role modeling shined brightly for all to see. It has been fantastic to see the advocacy for healthy lifestyles and participation in sport woven throughout the College this week, with students encouraging one another to get involved and make positive choices.
Over the past few weeks, I have been reminded once again of the breadth of opportunities available to our students. I continue to be impressed and inspired by how the manner in which they authentically and whole-heartedly embrace each experience. With only a couple of weeks remaining in Term 3, it is hard to believe how quickly the term is coming to a close. There is still much to look forward to as we move towards the final weeks of the term, including the opportunity to come together as a College community to celebrate Mercy Day, which marks the beginning of the festival of farewells to our fabulous Class of 2026.
Best wishes for the weeks ahead.
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.
