Mercy Messenger - Term 1, Week 6 - 4th March 2022

The year is now well underway and students should be establishing their routines for study and homework. Routines need to be flexible enough to accommodate the events that normally occur such as family birthdays. The routines should prioritise homework, but also allow for working on assignments steadily over time and for advanced revision for assessment at the end of term.

Lent

We are now in the first week of the Lenten period. Sometimes we think of Lent as a time to make sacrifices and certainly we are encouraged to give to the poor during this time. This year, Mercy College are supporting Caritas and we are encouraging students to give. Lent offers us a time to reflect more deeply on our lives and to enact positive change. As I have mentioned to the students, there is so much power in the action of giving, not just our money, but of ourselves to those who are in need of hope and encouragement. Jesus calls us to be present and live in the present. To open our eyes to what is around us. To be blessed and enjoy each moment of our day. We must remember the importance of community. Care, integrity and looking after each other. We need to extend this care to the wider community and all can contribute during Lent. May the lent season be a time of reflection, prayer, self-denial and helping others.

New St Patrick’s College Logo – Feedback Requested

One of the many tasks of the Combined College Steering Committee during 2021, was to work with a graphic design company to create the new college logo for St Patrick’s College Years 7-12, due to commence formal operation in 2023.

The committee discerned a number of design options, taking into consideration the rich history of both college communities and the connection this has to the logo design. The new logo needs to be recognisable to both the college community, and the wider community, clearly identifying the defining features of a Catholic college.

Another important consideration was the variety of ways the logo would be used on both campuses across the life of the college – college iconography, college advertising, letterheads, website, social media presence, uniform, etc.

The committee utilised the following criteria when identifying the logo design for consultation and feedback:

1.       Simplicity (easily recognizable, memorable and effective)
2.       Timeless / Distinctive (won’t date)
3.       Versatile (has to work across all mediums: horizontal; vertical; one colour; small scale; large scale)
4.       Appropriate (reflective of the combined college and its values)

After careful consideration, the committee has identified two logos that are presented to the college communities for your feedback.

Parents, students and staff are invited to provide your preference by completing the google form available in the following link by Monday 14 March. Voting form -St Patrick's College Logo - Preferred Option Feedback.

The Steering Committee and the combined College Leadership Teams will consider the feedback before making a recommendation to myself as Principal of St Patrick’s College for final approval. It is hoped that the new logo for the combined college in 2023 will be announced to the College communities of both Mercy College and St Patrick’s College before the end of Term 1. 

Thank you for your involvement in this consultation process and I look forward to unveiling the new logo for St Patrick’s College (Years 7-12) before the end of Term 1. 

St Patrick’s / Mercy College School Board 

As we move to a combined college in 2023, the establishment of one School Board will commence operation this year. The school board will consist of four (4) parent positions. 

If you are interested in holding a parent position on the School Board, you are invited to attend the School Board Preservice on Tuesday evening, March 8 commencing at 7:30pm at the Mercy College Library. 

Mr Michael McCusker (Assistant Director Schools Northern Region) will explain the roles and responsibilities of a School Board and answer any questions that parents may have. If you would like to attend the preservice, please contact either Ruth Van Lint (Mercy College Campus 4969 4199) or Juliene Benson (St Patrick’s College Campus 4994 8700) or by Monday March 7.

St Patrick’s / Mercy College P & F

As we move to a combined college in 2023, the establishment of one College P&F will commence operation this year.

On Tuesday 8 March, the first P & F Meeting for the year will be held. This meeting will be the Annual General Meeting and I would like to invite any parents interested in becoming a member of our P & F Committee to attend this meeting. The meeting which will be held at the Mercy College Library will commence at 6:00pm and finish at 7:30pm. The formation of our new Committee will decide the most suitable day and times for future meetings.

Why be involved in our combined College P & F?

• The P&F is an integral part of our college community and provides a formal structure and support network for parents to participate in the activities and decision making processes at the College, and to work for the benefit of the College and our students.
• The P&F represents the interests of the whole parent body. 
• It helps parents engage with the College and the education of their children.
• It works to support the College.

I encourage any parent to come along on Tuesday evening and help make a different in our college and in your child’s education. If you have any questions in relation to our P & F Committee, please contact our College office.

Meet The Teachers BBQ Evening

I look forward to welcoming our Year 7 parents at our Meet The Teachers BBQ Evening on Thursday 10 March, commencing at 5:15pm. 

This informal evening is a wonderful opportunity to meet your student’s teachers and to introduce yourself. Homeroom and Classroom teachers, Heads of Department, along with our Pastoral Team, will also be happy to answer any questions you may have. There will be a number of brief information sessions also running during the second part of the evening in the areas of: Maths, English, Languages and Leadership opportunities for all our students at the College. 

As your child settles into life at Mercy College, we welcome this valuable opportunity to give you feedback on how your child has settled into high school here at Mercy College. 

Please see the attached flyer with further details regarding the evening and I ask that you kindly RSVP by clicking on this link https://forms.gle/Tgz4raZN6hK8

COVID-19 Update

Mercy College wishes to advise you that, during the past fortnight, we have been notified of positive cases of COVID-19 in our college community.

Mercy College regularly consults with the Catholic Education Office and relevant authorities and continues to follow the advice of Queensland Health regarding cleaning requirements.

Queensland Health has advised that no quarantine of students or staff is required.

As COVID-19 remains active in our community we ask you to continue to monitor your child’s/children’s health and if they develop any flu-like symptoms:

• Keep your child/children at home
• Seek a PCR or Rapid Antigen test where it is recommended and notify the school of positive results. Please be aware, a negative COVID test does not change the requirement to be symptom free to attend school.
• Follow the advice of Queensland Health

As we continue to navigate the pandemic, please remind your child/ren to:

• Maintain good hand hygiene at all times
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of their elbow and dispose of tissues in the bin immediately.
• Practice social distancing from others where possible
• Wear masks when required

We will continue to work closely with health authorities to keep our school community informed of any developments and advice. Thank you once again for your ongoing support.

Mackay Catholic Debutante Ball – Amended Date

Due to COVID regulations and the delayed start to the school year, I am sad to advise that there will be no Mackay Catholic Debutant Ball in 2022. In 2023, the Mackay Catholic Debutante Ball will be open to Year 11 and 12 Catholic school students and will be held on Friday 26 May. I encourage students to keep this important event and date in your calendar for next year.

St Vincent de Paul Qld Flood Appeal 2022

We have all seen the impact that the recent flooding in South-East Queensland has had on families and their communities. While we keep these people in our thoughts and prayers, you may also wish to assist with fundraising. The Vinnies Qld Flood Appeal 2022 are doing wonderful work for these families in need. The following link will provide information on how you can assist.

St Vincent de Paul Inc : Vinnies QLD Flood Appeal 2022

People of Ukraine

As a community, I know we are all deeply saddened and concerned about the conflict in Ukraine and the Russian invasion. I ask you to remember and pray for the vulnerable in this war torn country. The young who would be terrified, not understand the reasonings for this conflict and the old who are seeing their beloved homeland destroyed. Pope Francis and the Australian Bishops have asked us all to pray for peace and justice in Ukraine. Following is a prayer that has been composed for us all. I ask you all to take a moment, reflect and pray for the people of Ukraine.

A friend of mine, Sir John Jones, wrote a book called “The Magic-Weaving Business” which should be compulsory reading for all teachers.  In it he describes how powerful an impact teachers have on young people and how learning can make a profound difference in their lives.

When I look back at my own secondary education, I believe I was an inconsistent student over those years. I excelled in some areas and struggled in others. I have come to realise that the teacher often made the difference.
One year I had a brilliant Mathematician teaching me Maths, but he had no patience in explaining the steps necessary to learn the concepts because it came easy to him. It remained inaccessible to me because of that. He couldn’t see what I didn’t understand, and he could therefore not explain how to do it.  There was no fun or sense of accomplishment. I felt he didn’t want to be there as much as I didn’t. Maths was no fun for that year. On the other hand, my teacher in English loved to read and write. She found books students our age enjoyed reading and encouraged spirited discussions. She had us writing every day, printed our work, had us read it aloud to the class, and patiently helped us improve our technique. We were having as much fun as she did. That pleasure of reading has stayed with me, and the satisfaction writing gives remains an integral part of my life today. I have also learned that teaching encompasses more than imparting knowledge and skills. Example, enthusiasm, and respect of the subject from the teacher can make a student not just a learner but also a disciple. Often, the disciple will become a teacher as well. We can teach theology, but we help people learn what faith really means by how we live our lives as disciples of Christ.

Rudolf Steiner wrote of the calling of the teacher: ‘There is no craft more privileged – to awaken in another human being powers and dreams beyond one’s own; to induce in others a love for that which one loves; to make of one’s inward present their future. This is a threshold adventure like no other.’ 

For those students who were absent on our School Phot Day on Thursday 3 March, a catch-up day will be held on Thursday 10 March, 2022.

Photos will be taken from 8:00am - 10:00am.  Students are reminded to wear Formal Uniform for the photos.

It’s that time of the year again when students start preparing to compete in the Mackay Junior Robotics Competition coming up in June at the MECC. As part of the Whitsunday STEM Challenge, a locally run not for profit organisation promoting STEM in our region, 3 competitions are being run on the one day.  The F1 in Schools Challenge, Mackay Junior Robotics Challenge and the newest edition, Drone Racing. Our students at Mercy have the opportunity to compete in the Robotics and Drone competitions. Students have been asked to nominate this week to begin preparations for the big day by creating robots and coding devices. See the flyer below for further details.

Since the pandemic started, life has been filled with uncertainty and restrictions.   Now that the borders are open and COVID is in our community, anxiety has increased not only for us as adults, but also for our young people.  We have to get through this period the best we can by putting in place good self care practices not only for us, but for our whole family.

Here are some tips to help deal with anxiety surrounding COVID and how to look after our own and our young people's mental health:

• Listen to your chill.  Give them time and space to talk about how they are feeling.
• Give them all the facts and get these facts from reliable sources such as The Department of Health.  Discourage them from trusting what they read on social media, as this may contain misinformation.
• Try to focus on what you can control.  We can’t control the pandemic or having to isolate ourselves when we are sick, but we can control staying safe by wearing masks and what we do with our time in isolation.
• When in isolation, don’t spend too much time scrolling through social media and encourage your teen not to as well.  Seeing friends out and socialising can have a negative impact on your mental health.
• Try to stick to a routine as much as possible when isolated.  Get up on time and get dressed. Allowing your teen to sleep in and stay in their pj’s all day, then stay up late is going to make it more difficult to get back into normal routine.
• Put short periods of exercise into your daily routine.  Exercise releases oxytocin which aids in lifting our moods and improving our mental health.  This is hard to do when you are stuck inside, but not impossible.  Do some yoga, or put on some Just Dance and have some fun as a family.
• If your teen is learning from home, make sure they also take regular breaks.  You too!!!

If you are concerned about your teens or your own mental health during isolation, contact one of the school counsellors through the front office on 4969 4199, or email me directly at donnetta_trannore@rok.catholic.edu.au

We are all here to support each other.

Information sources from Orygen.org.au and reachout.com

Maths Tutoring/Homework Help is available at Mercy College every Monday. 

There is no need to book!  Students just need to present themselves to Room D04 at 3pm.

There are a variety of teachers to help with homework, assignments, study or any concepts that may need to be revisited.  Not all Maths teachers are available to assist.

As this is not a one on one tutoring session, students will need to bring their own work along and ask questions.  

Ways to help students at home: Ref: J Boaler, youcubed.com

It’s my pleasure to welcome new and existing staff and students back into the Science Labs. Below is an outline of what each year's level is studying and some resources that are available to support students as they explore the Scientific world. If you need any further information and support please don’t hesitate to contact myself or your students' teacher.

Areas of Study:       Yr 7  - Chemistry Substances, Mixtures and Separation techniques

                              Yr 8  - Biology Cell Biology and Human Systems

                              Yr 9  - Chemistry Atomic Science and Chemical Equations

                              Yr 10 - Invest. Science Scientific Process and Forensic Science

                                         Chemistry Atomic Structure and Chemical Reactions 

                                         Biology Ecology 

                                         Physics Kinematics

Supporting Resources: 

Each year has access to a web based interactive learning resource “STILE”.  It is available via the Stileapp website on their Ipads. While each teacher will utilise this resource differently, each student should be able to access the relevant class and lessons. In many situations Stile offers an excellent platform to review topics covered in class. Students are encouraged to see their teacher if they have not got access to the class lessons.  Google Classroom: Every class will have a Google classroom, where teachers will post Resources and messages. Students should ensure they have joined each relevant classroom and teachers are currently in the process of inviting all parents to their classroom so that they can opt to receive frequent updates of their students activity in the classroom. 

Other Exciting Events coming up in the Science Department!

TUTORING    Every Tuesday afternoon, in SO4. 3pm - 4pm

Yr 10 Science and Engineering Challenge    Friday 22nd April, 2022.

32 invited, high achieving students will form a team, to compete in STEM challenges throughout the day, against other local schools. Winning teams have the opportunity to compete at state and national challenges.

Steven Covey’s 7 Habits is a great way to learn to take initiative in our everyday lives. The habits promote greater productivity, effective communication, strengthened relationships and focus on key priorities.  At Mercy College we promote the 7 Habits for staff and students. Our focus over the past couple of weeks has been Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind, as students have been setting learning goals in each of their classes.

This would be a great time as a parent or guardian to sit down with your child and discuss where they want to head over the next 6 months with their academic learning journey. Goal setting considers both their academic progress and behavioural habits in achieving results.  It’s never too late to ensure effective study and work habits are in place. Your child’s goals are located in their student diary (p36).

These are used over the semester by staff and students to reflect on their progress in classes, and again at the Student Led Conferences as students share their progress towards their goals with their parents.
Thank you for supporting your child’s learning journey at Mercy College.

The Breast Care Cushion project has been an endorsed service project in all ZONTA districts in Australia since 2001 and thousands of women (and men) have benefited from receiving a cushion - by early 2013, over 50,000 cushions had been made and delivered across Australia!

The ZONTA Breast Care Cushion aids recovery by allowing the woman/man to sit, sleep and rest comfortably, as well as by preventing hurt from bumps while walking around and any discomfort from wearing seat belts. Mackay ZONTA club undertake to keep our hospitals supplied with the Breast Care Cushions and the staff ensure that each person undergoing breast surgery receives a cushion to take home.

While some clubs make the cushions from beginning to end using the work of club members, many clubs are assisted by club supporters and a variety people in their local community. Students from both St Patrick’s College and Mercy College are coming together on 20 March to lend a hand to stuff, stich and pack breast cushions for women/men who are diagnosed with breast cancer in Mackay. This event will take place at St Patrick’s College from 10am – 12pm. If you wish to attend, please collect a permission form from student reception next week.

This week, homerooms participated in an Ash Wednesday liturgy to mark the beginning of the Lenten season. Lent is a time of reflection and preparation before the celebration of Easter. 

To put our faith in action, the Vinnies Committee are supporting Caritas Australia in Term 1. All homerooms in the school have been invited to raise money for this worthwhile cause to help change the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people who are living in poverty. The following is a story about how Caritas Australia uses the money they receive to help those in need:

Janice lives on Jawoyn country in Arnhem Land. Like many remote communities in the Northern Territory, Janice’s faces a range of challenges – low employment and education, financial hardship, poorer health and lower life expectancy.

With your help, Caritas Australia supports Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation, which operates a centre for traditional and contemporary Aboriginal arts and culture, providing employment and generating income for local communities.

Elders run workshops and share their knowledge with the younger generation, and with visitors. Local guides run bush cultural tours and architect-designed tourist accommodation is available for visitors.

Djilpin Arts provides employment and training for young people, a place for elders to pass on traditional knowledge, an art museum and authentic cultural experiences for tourists. 

Janice has been a Djilpin Artsworker since 2015, performing traditional dances, as a host for performances and as a tour guide in the art museum.

With your support, Caritas Australia was also able to fund the launch of a Djilpin Arts shed in 2021, to display and store artworks for shipping to online customers. COVID times have been particularly tough on remote communities, however, Djilpin Arts has been able to build up the online element of its business during the pandemic, helping communities to continue to make an income.

Your generosity today can help First Australian communities to share intergenerational knowledge between elders and the younger generation - to promote healing, and to keep culture alive.

Together, we can make a difference now, and for all future generations. For more information, you can visit https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/

Thank you for supporting Vinnies.

I am still seeking volunteers. If you are able to assist us this year, we would love to hear from you. Volunteer hours are from 9am until 2.30pm. Our busiest times are in the morning and serving the lunch break. Even if you can only come for a short time - it would be very much appreciated. Please remember all volunteers need to provide their COVID vaccination certificate.

If you are interested in helping out, please contact Margaret Floyd on 4969 4199 or email margaret_floyd@rok.catholic.edu.au.

Maths Tutoring                              Monday 3:00pm to 4:00pm             D04

Science Tutoring                           Tuesday 3:00 to 4:00pm                   S04

English Tutoring                            Monday 3:00pm to 4:00pm             Library