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ISSUE 2-2 15th May, 2009

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Our Vision Mercy Regional College serves a wide rural community which values growth and diversity in Catholic Education in

the Mercy tradition.

Our Mission In the Spirit of the Gospels we commit ourselves to the core values of community, inclusiveness, learning, care,

justice and mercy, excellence and achievement.

Our Focus for 2009 Learning: Through the Mercy tradition we encourage our community to seek knowledge,

to nurture curiosity and to love learning. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mother’s Day Last Sunday we celebrated Mothers Day. I have provided the following reflection from Michael McGirr:

Every year in Australia, the second Sunday of May is celebrated as Mother’s Day, the day on which most florists work around the clock to keep up with demand. It is a day upon which children might think more deeply about the person who has often been the most important in their lives. An ancient image of the church is of the pelican, which draws its own blood to feed its young. Many mothers can relate to that image. Motherhood is seldom a painless experience. Mothers might think more deeply about the surprising, mysterious, confusing and wonderful gift God has given them in their children. They might recall the blessing that was given to them when their child or children were baptised: God the Father, through your Son, the Virgin Mary’s child, has brought joy to all Christians mothers, as they see the hope of eternal life shine on their children. May he bless the mother of this child. She now thanks God for the gift of her child or children. May they be one in thanking him forever in heaven, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Open Night The College’s Open afternoon and evening was a wonderful success. We had in total 90 families that toured the facilities at both campuses. All in attendance spoke very positively about the College’s facilities and programs. We are expecting high demand for places in 2010. It is important that all applications are received by the closing date, Friday 26th June, 2009. Thank you to all students and staff who prepared the College for this important occasion and for making prospective families feel welcome. Your efforts were very much appreciated. Letter from Bishop Peter Connors You will find attached to this newsletter a letter from Bishop Peter Connors to the Parish of Camperdown. Bishop Peter advises that the successor to Fr Denis Dennehy will not be appointed until later in the year and no later than January 2010 and that Fr Neville Stanislaus will continue as Administrator of the Camperdown Parish for this period of time. Bishop Peter also advises that in this interim period Fr Eugene McKinnon will be the sole governor of Mercy Regional College. Library Hours As from Monday, 25th May, the College Library at the McAuley Campus will be open each afternoon until 4.30pm. This will provide students with a quiet place to study or complete homework at the end of the day, especially as exams approach.

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Feast Day Mass Next Thursday the College celebrates its Feast Day, which is held on the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians. Mass will commence at 9.30am in the deChantal Stadium. A warm invitation is extended to all members of the College community to attend this celebration. At the conclusion of our Eucharist, Year 7 & 8 students will be taking part in Feast Day celebration in the Camperdown Gardens, Year 9 students will travel to the O’Keeffe Campus to undertake their annual retreat and Year 10 – 12 students will resume normal classes – exams are just around the corner!

NAPLAN results provide a measure of how all Australian students are performing in Literacy and Numeracy. The performance of your child on each test is shown on National Achievement scales from Year 3 to 9. Six bands are reported for each year level. One of these bands will represent the national minimum standard for students at each year level. A result at the national minimum standard indicates that the student demonstrated the basic Literacy and Numeracy skills needed to participate in that year level. The performance of your child can be compared to that of other students in your state or territory and across Australia. For more information about the NAPLAN, please refer to the following website:

NAPLAN This week our Year 7 & 9 students took part in the annual National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) that was held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The NAPLAN tests are conducted at schools and administered by class teachers. Expert, independent markers will mark the tests. The content of each test is informed by the National Statements of Learning in English and Mathematics, which underpin state and territory learning frameworks. Test questions cover aspects of Literacy (Reading, Writing, Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling) and Numeracy. Questions are multiple-choice or require students to write a narrative or story. The College will issue a NAPLAN report later in the year. The same report format is used for every student in Australia. Your child’s results are strictly confidential. The report is only one aspect of the school’s assessment and reporting process, and does not replace the more extensive and informed judgments made about your child by teachers.

www.naplan.edu.au

You will find attached to this newsletter an invitation to attend the Official Opening of the refurbished O’Keeffe Campus on Tuesday 2nd June commencing at 10.00am. Bishop Peter Connors will celebrate Mass and officially open and bless the new and refurbished building. Morning tea will follow. For catering

purpose, I would ask that if you are likely to attend the opening please let the College office know by Friday, 22nd May.

Official Opening of the O’Keeffe Campus

Uniform Shop The College has reviewed the trading hours for the Uniform Shop after it first 2 months of operation. To allow students from all year levels to access the uniform shop during either recess or lunch the following trading hours will apply from next week.

New Uniform Shop Trading Hours (effective from Tuesday 24th March)

Tuesday 9.30am to 11.30am Wednesday 1.00pm to 3.30pm

Parents are reminded to make all cheques payable to Fashion Clubwear NOT Mercy Regional College. Please find attached the uniform price list. Mercy Dinner Last year at the Annual Mercy Dinner was held where the College welcomed back and honoured past student, Dr Lauren Bourke and I am sure that all those in attendance would agree it was a great night. This year the fourth Annual Mercy Dinner will be held on Friday 22nd May commencing at 7.00pm at the Noorat Community Centre. Our guests this year will be Sara Tindley and Peter Daffy. Peter a well renowned local musician reunited with Sara last year in Camperdown when they performed at Court a’Fair café. From all accounts this was a wonderful evening of entertainment. This will provide a unique opportunity for the College to promote the performing arts by being able to recognise two past students have been able to achieve great success in this area. They are both very inspiring artists. If you wish to attend the dinner, please fill out the form attached to page 11 of this newsletter and return to the College Office by no later than Monday 18th May. Congratulations Last weekend Elise Bant and Connor Saunders competed in Victorian Rock & Roll Dance Championships and won the Youth Beginners Under 18 division. Congratulations Elise and Connor! Along the Track I have attached to this newsletter, for your interest, on page 7, a reflection title “Keeping Our Dream Alive” written by Jim Quilinan from the Diocesan Catholic Education Office in Warragul. I hope you enjoy this reading.

Andrew Watson PRINCIPAL

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Mercy Awards VCE (Yr 11 & 12) Mercy Award

Jake Lee for helping Mr. Walsh’s recycling Program. Middle School (Yr 9 & 10) Mercy Award

Connor Saunders and Elise Bant for winning the State Rock & Roll Dancing Championships. Junior School (Yr 7 & 8) Mercy Award

Samantha Molan for looking out for the well-being of other students. CHOCOLATE FUNDRAISER The Chocolate fundraiser commences today with every family receiving a box of chocolates distributed through the youngest member of each family. The chocolate bars cost $1.20 each. Money collected is to be returned to the College office in the envelope provided by no later than Friday 12th June. Remember: that for each full box of chocolates sold, your family’s name will go into the draw to win a $200 Coles/Myer Gift Voucher. We thank-you for your support of this fundraiser on behalf of the College. Julie Keough – President PTFA COMMITTEE

TERM 2 Monday 18th May HSSSA Cross Country Thursday 21st May Mercy Feast Day Mass de Chantal Stadium 9.30am Year 9 Retreat @ O’Keeffe Campus 10am – 7pm Friday 22nd May Year 7 Retreat – Noorat Community Centre Monday 1st June Year 9 Camp begins Tuesday 2nd June Mass & Official Opening of O’Keeffe Campus Wednesday 3 rd June Year 9 Camp concludes Monday 8 th June Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend Tuesday 9th June VCE Exams Year 7, 8 & 10 Exams Board Meeting @ 7.30pm Wednesday 10th June VCE Exams Year 7, 8 & 10 Exams Thursday 11th June General Achievement Test Friday 12th June School Holiday – no classes Monday 15th June PTFA Meeting @ O’Keeffe Campus – 7.30pm Year 9 & 11 Exams Tuesday 16th June Year 9 & 11 Exams Wednesday 24th June Ministry Retreat Thursday 25th June Ministry Retreat Friday 26th June Term 2 concludes at 2.30pm

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Assessment Planner 2009 Semester 1 / Term 2

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Week Subject Assessment Item 5 w/e 22/5

Science Maths Information Technology Physical Education/Health Drama

Test – Classification Decimals & Percentage Assessment Word Processing Test Analysis of fitness report Journal Check

6 w/e 29/5

Home Economics SOSE LOTE English Graphics

Design Brief ‘A Stir-Fry Meal’ Landforms of The Asian-Pacific Region – Group Task Test: Grammar – Nouns & Adjectives Boy Overboard Task 3 Completed Model

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Week Subject Assessment Item 5 w/e 22/5

Drama English Maths

Journal Check Chronology – “Facts of Seabiscuit” Rates & Ratio’s Assignment

6 w/e 29/5

Graphics Religion SOSE LOTE Art

Completed Model Personal Choice / Relationships with God Life Beyond School Assignment Test: Grammar – Nouns & Adjectives Individual Artist Study Task Due

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Week Subject Assessment Item 5 w/e 22/5

Information Technology Science SOSE English PD PE

Database Production Research Assignment Research Assignment Text Response to Film Stand By Me Resume and Cover Letter Assignment

6 w/e 29/5

Food Graphics Media

Design Folio 2 Rendering Task Due Completion of Web Page Production

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Week Subject Assessment Item 5 w/e 22/5

Drama PE History

Journal Check Assignment Biographical Exercise

6 w/e 29/5

VCAL Robotics Science Graphics VCE Psychology

Driving Conditions Mindmap Completion & Programming of the Freestyle Robot Prac Reports Architectural Instrumental Drawings Due Unit 1 Outcome 3 Assessment Task – Development of Individual Behaviour

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Week Subject Assessment Item 5 w/e 22/5

Chemistry 1 Business Management1 Methods 1 General Maths 1 Visual Communications 1 English 1 Outdoor Education 1 Physical Education 1

PP Presentation Business Evaluation (Outcome 3) Test Test-Chapter 3 Clothing Label Design Outcome 2- Jindabyne; (Creating and Presenting) SAC 2 Test 3

6 w/e 29/5

Health/HD 1 Chemistry 1 Studio Art 1 Physic 1 Outdoor Education 1

SAC 3-Challenges facing Youth-Research Task Summary Report Artist study (outcome 3) Research Assignment /Test Research Task

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Week Subject Assessment Item 5 w/e 22/5

Accounting 3 Biology Unit 3 Physics 3 Psychology 3 Studio Art 3 English 3 Further Maths 3 Design Technology 3

Test 4 SAC practical Task – Area of Study Two SAC 2 Assessment Test – Area of Study 3 (revision) Essay – Outcome 3 Outcome 2-Creating and Presenting Chapter 20 Test Folio Check

6 w/e 29/5

Legal Studies 3 Accounting 3 Biology Unit 3 Psychology 3 History-Revolutions 3 Outdoor Education 3 Maths Methods

SAC 3 SAC 2 Test - Chapters 7 – 9 SAC – Area of Study 3 SAC 2-Essay Research Task SAC – Analysis Task

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ An invitation to the

Official opening and blessing of the

O’Keeffe Campus Redevelopment

Mercy Regional College request the pleasure of the company of

Our Parent Community

on Tuesday 2nd June, 2009 at 10:00am

Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Peter Connors followed by the official opening and blessing

of our new and refurbished buildings.

A Light luncheon will be served in the Home Economics Centre following the ceremony.

Please RSVP by Monday 25th May, 2009 to Sue Bohm

(email: sue@mercy.vic.edu.au or phone 5593 2011)

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Bishop of Ballarat

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