Welcome back to Term 3. It has been a little colder than normal, but it is lovely to see all the students back and getting straight into the business of the term. It will also be a busy time for parents with Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews, the Celebration Concert and the Father’s Day breakfast all happening this term. Friday 15 August this year will also be a student free day to allow our staff to participate in a faith and spirituality experience.

This week, we once again have the privilege of hosting 17 students from Seirei Women’s Junior College High School, our sister school in Japan. Accompanied by their teachers and tour guide; the students have fully immersed themselves in this experience. They have all spent the last two nights with their host families settling in to life in Melbourne. I would like to thank the teachers from Japan, who have accompanied the students, for their generosity and participation in all of the programs offered.

Thank you to families who have hosted the students from Japan. I hope that your family has gained some enrichment through learning about Japanese culture and language. Without your generosity this would not be possible and so we are truly grateful.

Mr James Stavretis, Ms Cenza Basile and Ms Sally Durant have also given very generously of their time in both supporting and organising the program and host families. The OLMC students and their Japanese guests greeted each other with such excitement. This same excitement is evident amongst all students as they welcome our Japanese friends into classes with their host sisters.

Along with a variety of activities organised by OLMC, the students will also spend a weekend enjoying all that Melbourne has to offer, except maybe good weather.

Term Three is an important one for making decisions. Almost everyone is contemplating where they want to be and what they hope to achieve in 2026. It is also a term with so many important community events. House Arts and the Celebration Concert will be upon us soon, as will Mercy Day. These are all occasions when we share in an enormous amount of fun as we watch so many of our students shine. These are important events in our calendar and ones that enable the development of community connections amongst students and parents. We expect to see all students, particularly on Mercy Day, fully immersed in the joy of our Mercy Community.

We have certainly hit the ground running this term and look forward to another busy but successful and rewarding term.

During the holidays, we celebrated NAIDOC Week. Let us take a moment to reflect on the significance of this time. NAIDOC Week invites us to celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It also challenges us to listen deeply, walk humbly, and work for justice in our school, our communities, and our nation. Let us now pause in prayer.

Loving Creator,
You are present in the deep roots of this land
and in the oldest stories ever told.
As we pause at the end of NAIDOC Week,
we honour the wisdom, strength, and resilience
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We give thanks for the custodians of this country
who have cared for land, sea, and sky for generations.
May we walk together in truth,
with hearts open to listening, learning, and healing.
Guide us to be people of justice and reconciliation,
inspired by your Spirit and grounded in love.
We make this prayer in Jesus’ name,
Amen.

What do students need to navigate the future and be the best versions of themselves?

This question was posed in developing the OLMC strategic plan for 2025-2029. Excitingly, education is at a crossroads where systems and practices are facing major shifts in preparing our students for the future. With the changing nature of the workforce, there are key skills and character traits that our students need to develop to thrive in the future.

OLMC will facilitate Professional Learning in the next 4 years based on the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) document Essential Skills for Learning. As a result of ongoing research, ACER has identified five essential skills for learning - critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and self-regulation.

Adopting the ACER Essential Skills for Learning will provide OLMC with a shared focus, a shared language and shared strategies.

The additional ACER’s skill development frameworks define the five essential skills and provide a continuum of observable behaviours expected to be demonstrated by students when applying the skills.

The approach by ACER is an alignment between curriculum, assessment, and pedagogy. It is important to understand that the development of these skills will enhance student learning and therefore outcomes.

‘Skills are central to learners developing increasingly sophisticated knowledge and deeper understandings in learning areas. Skills are essential tools for supporting learning and increasing proficiency in each learning area.’

Under the Australian Education Act (2013), schools are required to participate in various tests be they national, or international in scope. For example, the annual national NAPLAN tests in Numeracy and Literacy falls under this act. It also includes international tests such the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).

OLMC has been selected this year to participate in PISA. This test is held every three years and involves students who are 15 years of age. Schools and students are randomly selected by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), the organisation responsible for carrying out the PISA test in Australia.

PISA measures student performance in reading, mathematics and science. The test also involves a questionnaire that seeks to find out from the selected students their aptitudes and dispositions towards school and learning. Teachers involved in teaching Mathematics and Science to students in Years 9 and 10 are also randomly selected to complete a questionnaire. The focus for teachers is providing feedback on their training, professional development and teaching practices.

Originally undertaken by the 32 countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), it has now expanded since 2000 to have included 81 countries in 2022.

In 2022, 743 Australian schools were involved in PISA. The results of these tests provide important information to state and federal education departments for policy and programs, with PISA having an influence on mathematics and science in particular. The test also highlights issues of educational equity and provides one form of benchmarking against other education systems.

This year 26 students from OLMC, and some of their teachers, will be contributing to this important aspect of education. They will form part of an international assessment involving over 600,000 students. We thank them in advance for their contribution to developing policy makers understanding of learning in different contexts and the subsequent analysis that will to help inform improvement in education systems.

eBooks and Audiobooks

Reading is highly valued at OLMC as we wish for all of our students to be lifelong readers and learners. Reading helps students to develop academically by enhancing their reading comprehension and critical thinking skills, but also emotionally by fostering creativity, empathy and a more nuanced understanding of the world.

We have a diverse and interesting collection of print books in our school library collection to meet the interests and reading needs of all students. In addition, we have a collection of eBooks and Audiobooks available through the Wheelers Platform. An app is also available to allow for these resources to be accessed on the go. An even wider collection of online books/audiobooks are available for free from local libraries including the Yarra Plenty, Darebin, and Manningham services.

The Learning Commons staff are always available to assist students with reading recommendations and to set up access to the online collection of resources.

Anna Apfelstedt
Learning Commons Coordinator

Welcome to Term 3! We are off to a great start with exciting learning ahead. A major highlight this term is the Australian Maths Competition (AMC), taking place in Week 3. The AMC is a fantastic opportunity for students to challenge themselves, apply problem-solving skills, and experience maths beyond the classroom. It is open to all year levels, and we encourage everyone to get involved - whether you love puzzles or want to boost your confidence. Please see your maths teacher to sign up by the end of Week 2. Let’s give it a go and represent our school proudly!

Shirley Wu
Mathematics Learning Leader

Past Student Brings Theatrical FX to Life!

Last term on Thursday 26 June, our Year 10 Live Production students were treated to an exciting workshop with past student and professional make-up artist Alyssa C (Class of 2022). Alyssa, who now runs her own successful make-up business, returned to OLMC to share her expertise in Special Effects (FX) make-up.

Students had the opportunity to get hands-on and learn how to create realistic scratches, cuts, and theatrical injuries, all using industry techniques. The students then got the chance to practise these techniques in class.

Alyssa also spoke with our Year 12 VCE VM class, sharing her journey as a young entrepreneur and offering valuable insights into what it takes to run your own business.

It was inspiring to see a former student making her mark and sharing her work with the OLMC community.

Hayley Gamble Curran
Loreto House Coordinator

Term 3 Overview

Term 3 offers engaging and diverse learning experiences in Health and Physical Education for students in Years 7 to 9.

Year 7
Physical Education classes will complete both a Rhythmic Gymnastics unit and an Invasion Court Games unit. In Health, students will continue the unit exploring the effects of Alcohol, Smoking and Vaping, followed by a unit on Identity, encouraging self-awareness and the development of personal values.

Year 8
Students will participate in an Invasion Games unit in Physical Education, building skills in teamwork, strategy, and gameplay. Health classes will begin a unit on Mental Health and Wellbeing, aimed at fostering resilience and self-care.

Year 9
Depending on Horizon groupings, students will either continue the Design a Game unit or begin Target Games in Physical Education. In Health, students will explore either Respectful Relationships, or begin a Drug Education unit.

We look forward to another positive and productive term ahead.

Thanks to Swinburne University of Technology for hosting our Year 10 students as they participated in Future Bound: OLMC Subject Selection Program. Students explored aviation, astronomy, nutrition, law, media & communications and fashion design through hands on workshops designed to introduce them into future study and work options. As part of the program, students also attended an onsite Tertiary Expo which included representatives from a number of providers and employers who engaged the minds and ambitions of our Senior School students.

Melinda Williams
Careers Coordinator

The OLMC Parents' Association invite you to a

OLMC DECADES DASH Trivia Night

OLMC Nalleijerring Centre

Yarra Street, Heidelberg

Friday 8 August 7.00pm – 9.30pm (Doors open at 6.30pm)

Tickets $25

Join in with others from the OLMC College Community for a fun night of laughter and frivolity!

This is an adults only licenced event with drinks available for purchase. BYO snacks only.

To book please go to trybooking.com and search OLMC or enter the link https://www.trybooking.com/DCWKV

Tables will seat 10 people.

To book a group/table: Purchase the whole table in one booking or purchase a ticket on an available table and notify your fellow guests of the table number so that they can then book on the same table. If you want to rename the table so that your fellow guests can identify the table easily, please contact Marie Jenkins (see below).

To book individual tickets: Purchase the required number of tickets on any available table.

Bookings close Thursday 7 August.

For assistance with booking or table allocation please contact Marie Jenkins.

T: 9455 7571 E: mjenkins@olmc.vic.edu.au

We do hope that you will join us.

On behalf of the OLMC Parents' Association

Our annual High Tea in Heidelberg is on Sunday 31 August at 2.00 pm and we invite you and your friends and family to share in this special event.

The event will support the work of McAuley for Women and Children (McAuley), an organisation committed to advocating for a better, safer and just society through working with women and children affected by family violence, mental illness or homelessness.

Sunday 31 August 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm

OLMC Nalleijerring Centre, Yarra Street, Heidelberg

Booking Arrangements

Tickets are priced at $50 for adults and $25 for students.

You can purchase tickets online by going to Trybooking and searching OLMC.

OR by entering the link https://www.trybooking.com/DCVCT

OR by contacting Marie Jenkins T: 9455 7571 E: mjenkins@olmc.vic.edu.au

To book a group/table, you can either purchase the whole table in one booking or purchase a ticket on an available table and then notify your guests of the table number they should specify when booking. If you want to rename the table so that your fellow guests can identify the table easily, please contact Marie Jenkins. Tables will seat 10 people.

To book individual tickets, purchase the required number on any table.

Follow the official Our Lady of Mercy College accounts on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. We’ll be sharing regular news, student achievements and stories from around the College.