Mercy Messenger Term 3 Week 4, 6 August 2021

Last week, we celebrated Catholic Education Week with the theme "A Spirited Tomorrow". This year is a special year for Catholic Education, as we mark 200 years since the first Catholic school opened in Parramatta. A special Mass was held in St Patrick’s Church which was presided over by Fr Don White on Wednesday and was livestreamed throughout the Diocese. Our Diocesan Director, Ms Leesa Jeffcoat was in attendance, along with other Catholic Education Office representatives.

I often ask the students "What makes Catholic Education different?" The answer I seek, is that a Catholic school has Gospel values at its core, and Christ's mercy in its actions. As we strive to acknowledge and serve others, through God's mercy, we ‘Serve Christ’ - our college's motto. Our compassion for those in need and the dedication to go that extra mile - that is our mission, one that demands action.

COVID Update

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is continuing to be a growing concern for health authorities in Queensland once again. A reminder that if any member of your household has been in any of the Local Government Area (LGA’s) identified since 1:00am Saturday 31 July, the same lockdown protocols are required as those who are in the LGA’s. In regard to school attendance, students of families who have had household members in the eleven LGA’s since 1:00am, Saturday, July 31 are to only attend school if they are the students of essential workers. The school will supply work upon request for those students who will be staying at home. If any essential workers child/children are attending school, they must wear masks while at school, and socially distance where possible.

Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton is actively planning to manage the implications of this virus for our schools, kindergartens and services. While we hope to be spared the worst aspects of this health emergency, we must nevertheless be prepared for the challenges ahead. Advice has been provided to all schools, kindergartens and services on the measures that we are taking as part of our duty of care and commitment to the safety of all members of our communities.

Effective Hand Hygiene Is Vital

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, it is important to remember that effective hand and sneeze/cough hygiene is the best defence against viruses and can help prevent the spread of illness.

Lead by example and encourage your children to:

• wash their hands regularly with soap and water, before and after eating, and after going to the toilet
• use alcohol-based hand sanitiser if soap is not available
• cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of their elbow
• dispose of tissues in the bin immediately
• if they’re unwell, stay at home and avoid contact with others such as touching, kissing or hugging.

Check out the 20 second routine  video for effective handwashing.

P & F / Board Meeting 11 August

A reminder that our next P & F Meeting will be held next Wednesday 11 August in the College Library. The P & F Meeting will commence at 6:00pm and be followed by the Board Meeting at 7:00pm. All interested parents are invited to attend either of these meetings.

Sporting Success

Congratulations to our five combined Mercy College and St Patrick’s College cricket teams who entered the Secondary Schools Cricket Competition across 4 divisions. Good luck to the four teams who have now progressed to the second round in your upcoming games. All teams are to be congratulated on their dedication, effort and great teamwork. I would also like to thank and acknowledge the coaches and parents who support our teams.

I would also like to wish our AFL team all the best as the travel to Townsville next week to compete in the StreetSmarts AFLQ School cup

All teams are to be congratulated on their dedication, effort and great teamwork. I would also like to thank and acknowledge the coaches and parents who support our teams.

Mrs Janelle Agius

The song Don’t Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin comes to mind as I read this Sunday’s gospel. It was an easygoing song that still often appears in film and television soundtracks. I even listen to it from time to time. To a certain extent, the song became the catch cry of a generation who were overwhelmed by the pace of change that was taking place in society, technology and the world generally. This Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 6:25-34) may leave us thinking that Jesus, too, is essentially conveying to us, don’t worry, be happy. But the message of Jesus is not as simplistic as that. Rather, he says to us, set your hearts on God’s kingdom first and on following God’s will for justice in the world and, then, don’t worry, be happy. It’s not the same throwing of one’s hands into the air as the 1980’s song. It is not an abandonment of responsibility. Jesus says to us, trust in God, work to bring about the kingdom in our lives and in our world and only then leave the rest to God.

This gospel passage was suitably chosen to mark the feast of St Mary of the Cross – Mary MacKillop. The teaching of Jesus, conveyed through the gospel passage, characterised much of the life and work of Mary MacKillop. Mary was an avid writer, sending messages to her sisters in the schools and communities across Australia. Fortunately, many of these letters have been preserved and provide an incredible insight into the attitude of Mary MacKillop. One of the quotes credited to Mary MacKillop that captures the essence of today’s gospel is, “Do all you can with the means at your disposal and calmly leave the rest to God.” (1891) Surely this is a more energising and empowering motto for life than don’t worry, be happy?

Ever generous God, You inspired Saint Mary MacKillop to live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and constant in bringing hope and encouragement to those who were disheartened, lonely or needy. 

May our faith and hope be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit so that we too, like Mary MacKillop, may live with courage, trust and openness. We ask this through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Mrs Jeanette Refalo

This year has seen some very busy Mercy College Year 10 students working towards completing their Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways. As a culmination of this, on Wednesday 28 July an ‘AMAZING RACE’ was held around Mackay. The students partook in activities and tasks that involved core skills necessary for preparing them for their future, and increasing their value to future workplaces. The ‘DETOURS’ and ‘ROADBLOCKS’ required students to use their skills in creativity, critical thinking, complex problem solving, people management, communication and decision-making. Tasks included performing WHS inspections and completing checklists, using map reading skills, filling out job applications and timesheets, investigating digital safety and security, and being exposed to the costings involved in purchasing a car. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative day for everybody involved. We would like to thank the following businesses for giving their time and enthusiasm with assisting our students to learn in such a fun and engaging way: 

• Mackay Toyota 
• Matilda Internet Services 
• St Patrick’s College 
• Mackay Information Centre 
• Parkside Shopping Plaza 
• Ma’s Pizza Kitchen 
• Baskin Robbins Ice Creamery 
• Mackay Leisure Centre 

An especially big THANKYOU to Kelly Cooke, our ‘AMAZING RACE’ bus driver who did so well to follow instructions given by the students, while managing to get us to our destinations on time!!! 

Mrs Shaunagh Bella

Mercy College had the opportunity to once again compete in this years Lions Rock Pop Mime Show. With a change of venue due to COVID, it was great to be able to take to the stage and perform. The wonderful group of 19 students gave up two of their Sundays to create their piece entitled "I am Woman!"  Women have faced many obstacles throughout time in society and at each turn have continued to develop in power. From being given the power to vote, the first international Women's day in 1911, equal rights in the workplace to our first female prime minister here in Australia. In 2018 we celebrated the year Woman fought back. Using dance as a platform, our group of talented young ladies took to the stage to continue celebrating Women and their empowerment within an ever growing and changing society.  Thank you to Billie Little and Lexi Illguth for coming up with the idea and working with Sana Campbell to cut music. Thank you to Sana Campbell for choreographing the piece and to our awesome Year 10 students Taylah Green, Ashleigh Meng and Jacinta Franettovich for leading this group during rehearsals. Thank you to Adrianna Soncin who worked with myself to support the team. It was a great experience and so nice to be able to participate again after 2020 was cancelled.

Miss Cassandra Gillespie

Week 5 is the first week of the Schools section of the Mackay Eisteddfod. It is very exciting to be able to perform at this newly formatted competition. Our choir is the first to take to the MECC stage on Wednesday and Thursday next week in the following sections: 

Wednesday 11 August 3:30 pm Session 2C

Folk Singing for Secondary Schools – Section 14

2 Mercy College Junior Voices

Jazz/Modern for Secondary School – Section 15

1 Mercy College Junior Voices

Thursday 12 August 6:30pm Session 6

Choral Singing for Secondary Schools – Open – Section 11

4 Mercy College Junior Voices

Tickets are available for purchase through the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC) box office. 

Students in our instrumental ensembles will perform at Mercy College in the new format where the adjudicator will come to the College for our performance evening on Thursday 19 August at 6:00pm. This is a free event and open to the community, it would be wonderful to see people come along and enjoy an evening of music. We will also have St Patrick's College Ensembles performing during the evening. We hope to see you there!

Miss Cassandra Gillespie

The Environmental Committee has been slowly working towards bringing sustainable and green changes to the forefront of students' minds. This was embodied at the end of last term when a DIY Lip Balm Workshop was held during lunch time in week 9. This saw over 30 students attend and learn how easy it is to make a low waste lip balm which we hope they will use in the future. 

We are also hoping to attend a beach clean up on the 28th of August and it would be fantastic to see as many of our Mercy community there. More details will come in the following weeks so keep your eyes peeled.'

Mrs Madelaine Kelso

The Mercy College Year 7 and 8 Boys Rugby League Program came to a very successful conclusion last week. Over 60 boys signed up to play Rugby League for the College this year, and attendance at training was exceptional. We entered three teams into the local Division 2 Schoolboy competition, split evenly to give all players an opportunity. All three teams were very successful in making the final, with Mercy Blue playing in the grand final against North Mackay SHS. After the conclusion of the Division 2 competition, we moved on to the Division 1 competition where schools were invited to enter their best side. Sarina SHS, Holy Spirit College (HSC), and Mackay SHS (MSHS)  joined Mercy College in this competition. The Mercy College side were undefeated in this competition, defeating HSC 38-0, Sarina 52-0 and then played MSHS in the grand final where they ran out winners 40-0. This meant that Mercy was once again Division 1 champions and winner of the Barry Blanchfield Shield, without conceding a single try. This impressive group of young men will now have a break while finishing off their club competitions before we look forward to go on a tour in Term 4. Personally I would like to thank staff and helpers that have made the boys Year 7/8 season a successful one: Teachers Mr Chris Sorbello, Miss Abbi Johnson, Mr Steve Mortimer, Mr Tom Gaviglio, and parents Mr Pat Daly, Mr Maurie Fatnowna and Mr Andrew Battaia. We can't wait to see what these boys can achieve over the next five years at Mercy & St Patrick's Colleges.

Mr Scott McSherry

Year 7/8 Boys Coach

Year 10

Pineapple Upside Down cupcakes

Ingredients:                             

• 4 pineapple rings
• 3 tablespoons syrup                                                                                    
• ¾ cup caster sugar                                              
• 185g butter; softened
• 2 eggs
• 1teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1 cup Self Raising flour
• 6 Glace cherries

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 180*C. Lightly spray muffin pan.
2. Spread 1 teaspoon of syrup in the base of each muffin hole and then arrange pineapple pieces and place halved glace cherry in the centre. 
3. Place sugar and butter in a mixing bowl and cream using an electric beater until light and fluffy.
4. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Beat well after each addition. 
5. Add vanilla essence and sifted flour. Beat until well combined.
6. Spoon cake mixture over the pineapple pieces.
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Year 9

Chicken & Mushroom Pies

Ingredients: 

• 1 sheet short crust pastry
• 1 sheet puff pastry
• 2 teaspoons oil
• 1 spring onion
• 120g button mushrooms
• 1 chicken breast 
• 2 bacon rashers, diced
• 2 teaspoons flour
• ⅓ cup chicken stock
• ¼ cup peas
• ¼ cup cream
• salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Cut chicken and bacon into neat even sized cubes, slice mushroom and chop onion.
2. Heat half the oil in a fry pan and cook chicken till brown.
3. Heat the remaining oil then fry the onion, bacon and mushroom until soft.
4. Stir in the flour and cook for a minute. Add the chicken, stock and bring to the boil.
5. Reduce heat and cook stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes until chicken is cooked through and sauce thickens. 
6. Add peas and cream and stir to combine. Season and place on a plate to cool.
7. Preheat the pie maker and cut out the pie bases from the short crust pastry and tops from the puff pastry. 
8. Assemble pies the cook for about 4-5 minutes then remove from the pie maker. 

Year 7

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cup self-raising flour
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• 125g butter
• ¾ cup chocolate chips
• 1 egg
• ⅓ cup caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
2. Beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. N.B. if butter is hard, heat in microwave for 20 seconds.
3. Whisk egg and vanilla in a small jug then add to butter mixture. Stir in the flour mixture. 
4. Sift self-raising flour and cocoa into a bowl. Stir in the brown sugar.
5. Add to butter mixture and mix until well combined.
6. Add chocolate chips and mix well.
7. Roll a tablespoonful of mixture into balls and place onto baking tray.
8. Leave space between cookies to allow for expansion.
9. Flatten balls with a floured fork.
10. Bake cookies in the oven for 15 minutes. Allow to cool on tray before moving.

https://www.qld.gov.au/recreat...