Mercy Messenger - Term 4, Week 9 - Tuesday 6 December 2022

As this is our last newsletter for the year, may I take this opportunity to start by saying what a privilege it has been to lead the College this year together with our Leadership team.  I wish all our students, staff and their families a safe and Holy Christmas, filled with joy and the blessings of our heavenly father.

As the academic year came to a close, we had many opportunities to come together and celebrate the achievements of our students throughout the year. This was also a time to reflect on the history of Mercy College as we move to the new combined St Patrick’s College, Mercy Campus in 2023.

Annual Speech Night
Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2022 on their achievements which were acknowledged at our Annual Speech and Awards Night on Tuesday 22 November. We were very fortunate to have Miss Leesa Jeffcoat, Diocesan Director Catholic Education Rockhampton in attendance on the evening. Other special invited guests included past Principals, Mr John Browning and Mrs Cathy Quinn. It was a very special night and a wonderful celebration of Mercy College over the years. A fitting ending for our last Mercy College Speech Night.

While we congratulate all our award recipients, a special mention must go to the following award winners;

- The Long Tan Leadership & Teamwork Award:  Anthony Sorbello
- The P&F Cathy Quinn Award:  Melaki Day-Wailu
- Mercy Award: William Radke and Maggie Bath
- CQU Change Maker Award for Design: Flynn Steindl
- Christian Brothers Award for Vocational Education: Amy Goode
- Indigenous Achievement Award:  Javen Ramsamy
- Caltex All-Rounder Award – Gabrielle Ipson
- College Dux: Gabrielle Ipson and Jamison Mifsud

Year 7 Orientation Day
It was a pleasure to welcome over 200 Year 6 students from our district schools to our Orientation Day held on Thursday 24 November. These students will be the first Year 7 cohort of the new St Patrick’s College in 2023. We welcome each and every one of you to our St Patrick’s community and look forward to seeing you back at the Mercy Campus on Monday 23 January 2023!

2022 Graduation Mass
On Friday 25 November, we came together to celebrate our 2022 Graduation Mass. Special thanks to Father Don, Joe Kelly (AP Mission,) invited guests, parents/guardians, staff and the talented musicians for making this such a memorable occasion. 

I wish to acknowledge and thank Sr Denise Hinton for her support and reflection of the history of the Mercy connection with Mercy / St Patrick’s Colleges and the Mackay Community. Her presentation and support was greatly received by all attending.

It was wonderful to have our students gather for our last Mercy College Mass on Mercy grounds where education has flourished for over 50 years.  It was a time for the students to reflect on their wonderful years here and their schooling so far and to ponder where their journey would take them next.  

May their path of further education flourish and may they reach the highest goal possible – to be the best person they can be – to serve others and become active members of the community.  To acquire not only knowledge but the acquisition of values and the discovery of truth.

God Bless you and best wishes Year 10’s.

Leadership Camp
Our Year 9 Leadership Camp was held at Cool Waters Yeppoon last week and although a little wet, was a great success.  The camp’s activities focus on team development which enhances best leadership practices such as valuing people and building relationships.  Mercy College is proud to of the leadership collaboration that awakens the Leader in all our students.   

Congratulations to our St Patrick’s Junior Leaders for 2023. I look forward to working with you next year.

Junior House Captains - Argos - Declan Grady & Lars Gall
Homeroom Captain Argos 1 - Parker Porter
Homeroom Captain Argos 2 - Bethany Collis
Homeroom Captain Argos 3 - Tahlia Davey 
Homeroom Captain Argos 4 - Taylah Blaney  
Homeroom Captain Argos 5 - John Jones-Trifelly
Homeroom Captain Argos 6 - Madalyn Finch

Junior House Captains - Badila - Maya Quattromani and Ryan John
Homeroom Captain Badila 1 - Mia Spreadborough
Homeroom Captain Badila 2 - Samuel Anderson
Homeroom Captain Badila 3 - Chloe Zammit
Homeroom Captain Badila 4 - Braithan Vickers
Homeroom Captain Badila 5 - Mya Jamieson
Homeroom Captain Badila 6 - Riley Sellentin

Junior House Captains - Midas - Francesca Vella & Mikayla Green
Homeroom Captain Midas 1 - Charlize West
Homeroom Captain Midas 2 - Connor Germanotta
Homeroom Captain Midas 3 - Georgia Price
Homeroom Captain Midas 4 - Noah Williams
Homeroom Captain Midas 5 - Billy Cruden
Homeroom Captain Midas 6 - Francis Prado

Junior House Captains - Oraya - Cooper Cavell & Keeley Logan
Homeroom Captain Oraya 1 - Lucy McKendry
Homeroom Captain Oraya 2 - Estelle Appo 
Homeroom Captain Oraya 3 - Sophie Greaves
Homeroom Captain Oraya 4 - Zanthia Noon
Homeroom Captain Oraya 5 - Alice Camilleri
Homeroom Captain Oraya 6 - Trinity Sturdy

Junior House Captains - Pindar - Lance Allan & Elisha Holdsworth
Homeroom Captain Pindar 1 - Sophie Harp
Homeroom Captain Pindar 2 - Sophie Brown
Homeroom Captain Pindar 3 - Jake Battaia
Homeroom Captain Pindar 4 - Charlotte Stevenson
Homeroom Captain Pindar 5 - Sophie Hodder
Homeroom Captain Pindar 6 - Reagan Tame

Junior House Captains - Triton - Tenille Cotter & Gracie Bell
Homeroom Captain Triton 1 - Wil Schmidtke
Homeroom Captain Triton 2 - Addyson Moohin
Homeroom Captain Triton 3 - Sophie Searle 
Homeroom Captain Triton 4 - Briannon Kaddatz
Homeroom Captain Triton 5 - Amelia Crouch 
Homeroom Captain Triton 6 - Sophie Durelli 

Committee Chairs
Indigenous - Kingston Grigg
Cultural - Shaylee Noy & Jaxon Anderson
Social Justice - Elena Mathew
Sport - Shaylah Pershouse

Club Coordinator
St Vinnies - Kyana Van Kerkwyk
E Sport - Clayton Woodrow
Photography - Evelyn Ford
Book Club - Cayden Smulders
AUSLAN - Isabella Hellwege
Justice @ Mercy - Charlotte Mau
Interact - Annabelle Brown
Social - Libby Arnold

Year 7 and 8 students enjoyed a wonderful week of activities and fun. I wish to thank all staff who assisted and volunteered their time for these events.

Departing Staff
I wish to farewell and thank the following staff who have contributed positively to our Mercy community and wish them all the best on their further pathways:

Joseph Kelly, Tanya Bugeja, Angela Wright, Roselynn Marino, Abbi Johnson, Bevan Little, Lisa Norris, Ashley Miles, Rachel Kendle, Amaya Walz, Stacey Brazil, Damon Grinwood, Danielle Beck, Max Moroney, Anthony Ciantar.

Commencing Dates for 2023
Monday 23 January 2023: Year 7 and new students in Year 8 - 10
Tuesday 24 January 2023: All students

College Office
The office closes Wednesday 7 December and will reopen on Monday 16 January 2023. If you have any queries during the time the office is closed, please email:  spcm_enquiries@rok.catholic.edu.au and staff will get back to you.

Michelle King - Combined P & F Association
During 2022, the P&F Committees of St Patrick’s College and Mercy College combined to start the process of what the P&F would look like once the Colleges came under the umbrella of a new St Patrick’s College Years 7 - 12. 
 
Although the two P&F Association’s had different policies and processes in place, they had the same goal of providing support to the Colleges and to offer the parents a voice.   

After discussions and advice from the Catholic Federation of Queensland, it was decided to move away from the existing P&F model and look towards a new structure that allows more parent engagement. At a special meeting held in October, the P&F moved to dissolve the current St Patrick’s College P&F Association and Mercy College P&F Association and move forward with a new charter, name and model.  The group will be called the St Patrick’s Engagement Committee. 
 
As from 1 January 2023, it was moved that both P&F Association’s will dissolve. It was also moved that the Parent Levy reimbursement for volunteering at the Colleges, will no longer be financed.  The Mercy College Mackay Expenditure of Parent Funds funding for Sporting, Cultural or Academic Activities will also cease.  
 
A meeting will be held early in 2023 to finalise the new charter and establish ideas for parent engagement. If you have any ideas or suggestions, or if you are interested in becoming involved in the St Patrick’s Engagement Committee, please email:  SPCM_PandFSecretary@rok.catholic.edu.au
 
We look forward to continuing a strong partnership between parents, carers and St Patrick’s College.  

From Tuesday to Friday of Week 7, Year 9 Economics and Business students sold their products as part of the $20 Boss program by Young Change Agents. The market stalls were part of their assessment for the unit which also involved writing an individual business report about their business. The Mercy College community got behind the 20 small businesses and all students learnt a great deal from this experience. Each individual student was given $20 of start-up capital from Young Change Agents to get their original business up and running. After the market stalls were complete, all students were required to return their $20 loan with $1 interest and were able to keep their profits.  They were encouraged to donate to the charity their business supported.

Here is what some students had to say about $20 Boss:

The Milkshakers:
“$20 Boss was a great experience. It was very stressful and fast-paced, but it was worth it for a good cause. We have learnt important business skills we will use in the future.”
Bethany Collis, Shelby Campbell and Zoe Kirkpatrick
 
Jello-Shots and Ice Cream:
“$20 Boss was fun and exciting! We made a good profit and it was very different from every other assignment we have done.”
DeJay Russell

The Sweet Bakery:
“$20 Boss gave us an opportunity to feel what it’s like to run a business. In the end, everyone had fun and everyone loved our sweets and we made a good profit.”
Annabelle Brown

I would like to thank all the students and staff volunteers who assisted in making sure our Brekky Van ran consistently this year. As you can imagine, we did have a few hiccups along the way, but with our great sense of Catholic teachings and community awareness, the Brekky Van managed to survive the 60 shifts with students and 12 shifts in the shorter school holidays, in which staff from both Mercy and St Patrick’s College attended. This incredible service-learning opportunity for the students made them aware of those in our community who are suffering in many ways with the current inflation crisis. And our lovely friends are always welcoming with their smiles, stories and music. I encourage the Year 10 cohort of 2023 to engage in this service-learning opportunity which gives so much more to our community than a hearty breakfast.

On Tuesday 22 November, Mr Kelly and Mrs Wallace accompanied 11 Year 7 students to the Stella Maris Office to help with their Annual Christmas Shoebox appeal. Stella Maris is the largest ship-visiting network in the world.  Apart from providing a physical location for sailors to relax and spend some time ashore, it also provides transport services for sailors flying in and out of Mackay, those who need medical attention and visits for those in hospital off the ships.  It is run by the Church and operates with a manager, two drivers and a team of volunteers. Their annual Christmas Shoebox Appeal makes sure that the Seafarers who are aboard a ship on Christmas day, receive a gift of donated goods to make their day a little brighter. Everyone had a great time, packed over 120 boxes in less than an hour and the Christmas Music got everyone in the spirit.

Today the St Vinnies Committee presented numerous Vinnies Christmas Hampers and $2000 to Annamaria Cappello and Richard Calligan from St Vincent de Paul Mackay. Frank Caruana from Stella Maris was also in attendance to receive a $1000 donation towards the Stella Maris Christmas Appeal. A huge thank you to the Mercy College community for their generosity.

Chocolate Cup Cakes

INGREDIENTS 

• 2 cups self-raising flour
• 250g soft butter
• 1 cup caster sugar 
• 2 eggs
• 4 tablespoons cocoa
• 2 teaspoons vanilla essence
• 190ml milk
• 12 cupcake paper cases

Glace' Icing

• ½ cup icing
• 1 tablespoon warm water

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Line cupcake tin with paper cases.
2. Sift flour together with the cocoa.
3. Add sugar, butter, vanilla essence, eggs and milk and beat well.
4. Spoon mixture into prepared patty tin.
5. Bake for approximately 15-20minutes or until skewer comes out clean when inserted in the middle. 
6. Cool and decorate as desired.

Fruit Smoothie

INGREDIENTS 

• 1 cup fruit 
• 1 cup milk (250ml) 
•  1 cup ice 
•  2 tablespoons honey 
•  1 tablespoon malted milk 

 To Serve 

•  2 disposable cups and straws

METHOD

1.  Blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.
Serve and drink immediately.

Honey Comb

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup caster sugar
• 2 tablespoons golden syrup
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon bicarbonate of soda

METHOD

1. Combine sugar, honey, water and golden syrup in a medium saucepan. Place over low heat and cook, stirring, occasionally brushing down side of the pan and spoon with a pastry brush dipped in water to remove any sugar crystals, for 5-7 minutes or until sugar dissolves. 
2. Increase heat to high and bring to the boil. Cook, without stirring, for 5-7 minutes or until the syrup starts to caramelize (turn light brown)
3. Add the bicarbonate of soda and quickly stir with a wooden spoon until combined (mixture will bubble and foam). Pour onto the tray and set aside to cool completely.
4. Turn the honeycomb onto a clean surface. Break into large pieces. Drizzle chocolate over honeycomb pieces and put aside to set. Store in an airtight container.