Dear Mercedes College Families,
As we come to the close of the Semester, it is an opportune moment to reflect on a busy and enriching fortnight across our College community. This final report of the term captures a wide range of experiences across service, academics, sport and the arts, each contributing to the vibrancy of life at Mercedes College.
To our students who just completed examinations and end of semester assessments, I extend sincere congratulations on your effort, focus, and perseverance throughout this period. The final weeks of term have asked much of our students, and I commend the way in which they have approached their learning with commitment and resilience. I hope the upcoming three-week break provides a valuable opportunity to rest, reset, and reconnect before we begin Semester 2.
Across the term, we have continued to see students actively engage in experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom. Our Year 10 Futures Day and excursion to Curtin provided students with valuable exposure to careers and pathways for senior school and beyond. The experiences covered mentoring and hearing from alumni and industry professionals. These reflective days encouraged students to think more broadly and confidently about their future aspirations and directions.
We saw students participate in the event ADF Aspiring to Lead: Young Women Shaping the Future, gaining insight into leadership and service within the Australian Defence Force. Year 10 students engaged in the Brain Bee Challenge at UWA, where they explored neuroscience through hands-on laboratory experiences and museum collections.
Our Interhouse Athletics Carnival was a wonderful celebration of House spirit, participation and collective energy across the College. It was particularly pleasing to see students from all year levels contributing fully across track and field events, supporting one another and earning valuable House points through their commitment and effort. Throughout the day, students demonstrated impressive skill and determination, clearly reflecting their training and preparation for the carnival. It was equally encouraging to see the enthusiasm across novelty events, which added to the sense of connection and enjoyment throughout the day. We thank all students for the way they represented their Houses, and we look forward to sharing the final results at our end-of-term assembly tomorrow.
In the Arts, the Music Eisteddfod was the largest in its history, with record participation and exceptional performances across ensembles and solo items. The event once again highlighted the depth of musical talent within our community and the dedication of our Music staff in nurturing student growth.
The Ponytail Project during Week 9 demonstrated the extraordinary generosity and courage of our students, staff and wider College community. The girls fundraised extensively in support of Cancer Council. Now in its sixth year, in 2026 the initiative saw 44 students and two staff members bravely ‘Rocking the Chop’, by donating their hair and chopping their ponytails. The participants gathered a combined total of 990cm of hair to support the creation of wigs for those undergoing cancer treatment. The event this year achieved a record-breaking fundraising total of over $50,000, reflecting the collective commitment of families, friends and staff who supported individual and group fundraising efforts. The willingness of students to contribute in such a meaningful way, alongside the generosity of those who supported them, speaks strongly to the values of compassion and service within our community. We sincerely thank all who contributed, donated and supported the initiative in any way, helping to make this such a significant and impactful event.
Our NAIDOC Assembly on Wednesday this week provided an engaging and culturally rich celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People as the original landowners of our country. We recognised their contributions, vision and legacy through the ages. We honoured First Nations histories, cultures and achievements across indigenous communities. The theme for 2026 is ‘50 Years of Deadly’, which acknowledges an important milestone of five decades of impressive advocacy from NAIDOC. The theme represents 50 years of commitment to truth-telling, calling for correction of injustices and acknowledgment and thanks to the original landowners of this country. We extend our sincere thanks to Whadjuk Elder, and Grandmother of Mercedes students, Aunty Robyn and to all First Nations students and support staff who organised and led aspects of the NAIDOC Assembly. Highlights of the event included the smoking ceremony, the Welcome to Country by Aunty Robyn, the three traditional dances by Mercedes and Trinity First Nations students and the reconciliation week video production of our students sharing their perceptions and insights. The presence, contribution and generosity of our First Nations community was deeply valued and appreciated.
Tomorrow, we will gather for our final whole-school Assembly for the Semester. This will be an opportunity to come together and acknowledge student achievement, share the results of the Athletics Carnival and celebrate the many contributions of our community throughout the term. The Assembly will be a fitting recognition of the breadth of excellence across academic, sporting, cultural and cocurricular life.
Looking ahead, we extend our best wishes and farewell to our Bond Media Tour Group students and staff, who will be travelling to Queensland over the holidays for an immersive experience at Bond University. Opportunities such as these provide students with real-world insight into post-school industry and pathways and broaden their aspirations and understanding of future possibilities.
We also look forward to the continued development of our College Production of Beauty and the Beast the Musical, with cast members and production teams working throughout the break. The ongoing commitment and enthusiasm of the whole cast and crew are already evident, and we are excited to see this much-loved production continue to take shape.
As we move into the holiday period, I encourage students to take time to rest and recharge whilst reflecting on the many achievements and experiences of Term 2. It is through balance, restoration and perspective that we are best able to begin a new term with clarity and purpose.
Thank you to our staff for their dedication, to our families for their ongoing partnership and to our students for the energy, commitment and spirit they bring to every aspect of College life. This shared commitment allows Mercedes College to continue to thrive as a connected and caring learning community.
Wishing you all a safe and restorative holiday break.
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.
