Thank you to the families who attended all of the events aimed at supporting the discernment for students regarding their pathways and subject selections. It was wonderful to see so many parents engaging with teachers and supporting their children through what can be a daunting time for students. The connections we build together enable our students to grow and thrive in the knowledge that we are working in partnership.

Today a number of students from Years 9-12 travelled to St Aloysius College in North Melbourne, to participate in the annual Frayne Speech Festival. The event is special to Mercy schools and one that is highly valued by all who attend. At the time of writing, the results were unknown, but regardless, we are proud of all the students who demonstrated courage just by their involvement. A big part of the festival is working as a team to achieve success. Successful teams also practice compassion. Congratulations to all involved.

Families should by now be aware that Thursday 13 August is our first night this semester for Parent Teacher Student Interviews. Thank you to those who have already made bookings. I strongly encourage attending the interviews because these are often opportunities to celebrate and affirm the successes of your child while also discussing next steps in their learning journey.

In our faith community, August is also a time to focus on Mary, especially with the Feast of the Assumption on 15 August. Mary's life, embodying courage, compassion, justice, and joy, inspires our values and those of the broader Mercy Community worldwide. This year, 15 August will be on a weekend; however, on Thursday 13 August, Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews will be held, and Friday 14 August will be a student-free day as our staff gather to focus on our faith and spiritual direction.

On Tuesday 18 August, the annual Celebration Concert will be held in the Nallejeering Centre. It is a wonderful evening where all students involved in our Music program showcase their talents. They demonstrate incredible courage to perform for a large audience, and their talents never fail to impress.

It is wonderful to be back at OLMC sharing in the joy of our students and celebrating their successes and I look forward to the many other opportunities that this term will present.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop (1842–1909), Australia’s first saint, was born in Melbourne and baptised at St Francis’ Church in the city. A woman of deep faith, courage and compassion, she co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and dedicated her life to educating children and serving people experiencing poverty. Despite facing many challenges, Mary remained faithful to God’s call and continued to respond wherever there was need. Her well-known words, ‘Never see a need without doing something about it,’ continue to inspire Australians today.

Like Mother Ursula Frayne RSM (1816–1885), Mary responded courageously to the needs of the young Australian community, trusting in God and making education available to those who might otherwise have been excluded.

God of hospitality,

open our hearts to the abundance of your love.

May we, like Mary MacKillop,

trust in your loving care for us in all the situations of our lives.

May we share this love in our wounded world.

St Mary of the Cross, open to God’s presence, pray for us.

To learn more visit Mary MacKillop Today

ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans) works to end modern slavery and human trafficking at every level, including here in Melbourne.

On Thursday 30 July, our Senior Choir joined students from St Kevin’s College, Xavier College and Genazzano FCJ College for Genazzano’s annual ACRATH fundraising concert. The OLMC students provided wonderful music and entertainment, and we are very proud of them. Many thanks to Ms Mileto and Ms Murone for leading our students, and to the parents who generously supported the event.

Donations to ACRATH can be made through the ACRATH website: Donate here.

Period poverty refers to when people don’t have access to, or can’t afford, sanitary products. In pastoral classes and assemblies, students have heard about how this affects girls in their education worldwide. In Australia, the cost of living has a big impact and makes for impossible decisions around hygiene, food, rent, etc. The aim of this collection drive, videos, and pastoral kahoot, is to break down the stigma, and take action to support those who are struggling.

Globally, 1 in 5 girls drop out of school after getting their first period, so the impact is quite significant. But here in Australia too, many women are experiencing financial hardship.

The Social Justice Club wanted to broaden the drive to more toiletries and create small bags to put together and give to McAuley for Women and Children.

All donations are welcome. Students in all year levels can donate any of the items mentioned below. We'd also love some toiletry bags (new, or newish and washed). Obviously, new / sealed packets of toiletries only. We'll be wrapping up the collection before the end of August.

Anita Galli
Social Justice Coordinator

‘Society is changing rapidly. Our social and economic future is becoming increasingly difficult to predict, which means we are educating children for a world we cannot reliably conceive’, (Independent Schools Victoria, Navigating the future of education, p18).

Education is increasingly influenced by a range of interconnected factors, including technological advancements, the rapid expansion of information, political and legal developments, evolving social and cultural values, economic and labour market demands. As the purpose of education extends beyond preparing students solely for employment, schools must equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to navigate and contribute to an increasingly complex, uncertain, and rapidly evolving future.

These changes have important implications for what and how teachers teach. We need to help students develop the knowledge and skills they need to adapt to an uncertain and changing future. The changing environment brings about differences in the way young people think, behave and learn.

Over the years, the skills underpinning effective learning and capabilities have evolved. According to the OECD Skills Outlook 2017, strong cognitive skills are not enough on their own to achieve academic and future success. The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) has identified five essential skills for learning - critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and self-regulation. This alongside cognitive processes that underpin effective learning.

While this skillset is critical to the modern classroom, these skills cannot be gained without identifying and exploring the underlying cognitive processes that underpin effective learning. Referred to as, metacognition, it is the act of planning, monitoring and evaluating one’s own learning process.

The LEARN Instructional Model provides the framework that will most effectively support collaborative, creative and innovative learning. It also acknowledges the shifting pedagogy to address the new skillset.

On Tuesday 30 June, seven senior French students accompanied by three teachers had the amazing opportunity to go on a study tour to France. Over fourteen days, we visited Paris, Tours, the Loire Valley, Lyon and Annecy. We immersed ourselves in French culture and language and enjoyed some incredible experiences.

We flew into Paris and began our trip with four busy days of sightseeing. We visited all the key Parisian monuments including Sacré Coeur (where we attended a lovely church service), Notre Dame, L’Arc de Triomphe where we climbed to the top and enjoyed breathtaking views, le Louvre where of course we saw la Joconde (Mona Lisa) and le Musée Picasso which holds over 5,000 of the artist’s works. We enjoyed a cruise along la Seine, taking in all the wonderful monuments and Parisian history from a different vantage point and we even went up to the top of la Tour Eiffel at sunset before enjoying the amazing light show as night fell.

We left Paris to visit the Château de Versailles, the immense palace and grounds which served as the residence of the French royal family in the 17^th and 18^th centuries. The palace interior and the extensive grounds with statues and ornate trees showed off the vast wealth of the French royals before the revolution.

Next, we were off to Lyon, with a petit stop in Tours with its beautiful old town and through the Loire Valley, where we visited some gorgeous châteaux including le Château de Chenonceau, also known as le Château des Dames for the remarkable women associated with its history. We then went on to le Château du Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci himself, lived and worked and where we saw an impressive collection of his inventions.

We then spent a week in Lyon and completed a five-day language immersion course at Lyon Bleu Language School where we expanded our vocabulary and improved our French speaking skills. In the afternoons we were lucky enough to participate in a range of activities further immersing ourselves in French life and culture, including a day trip to the beautiful medieval city of Pérouges, a guided tour of Lyon, a food tour of Lyon (the proclaimed gastronomic capital of the world), and a trip to le Musée de Confluences. 

Before heading back to Melbourne, our final day was spent in the city of Annecy in the south-east of France, known for its beautiful views of the alps and its cobblestone streets which did not disappoint. 

Overall, it was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience, with plenty of croissants, ice-cream, memories, and life-long friends. Merci beaucoup à Madame Lachal who organised the tour for us, Mr Adalin and Sr Emma who came on the tour, Mr. Stavretis for his help in the lead-up and Ms Vitadello for her support back home! We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the French language and culture and we can’t wait to bring all this learning to the classroom.

Veronica H (12 M6) and Evie C (10 L1)

James Stavretis
Languages Learning Leader

On Wednesday 29 July, the two Year 9 日本語 (Japanese) classes had an incursion where we were able to try on traditional Japanese clothing. We were given the opportunity to wear the classic Yukata which is made from a thin, patterned cloth, most commonly worn during the Summer Festivals in Japan. These outfits look similar to the kimono but are made with a much more breathable fabric (cotton), making them perfect for hot weather.

Firstly, we learnt how to wear a Yukata which was fascinating. The Yukata is tied with a thin ribbon called ‘koshihimo’ before a wider, decorative ribbon called an ‘obi’ is tied over it and used to create the signature bow at the back. Then, we got to try one on ourselves!

There were a number of beautiful designs to try on and we had two different types of obi to choose from: the lightweight, easy to tie one and the traditional slightly harder obi. Once we got into our dresses, we were given hand fans to hold and took lots of photos. This experience was so fun and interesting and it was so cool to try on this traditional clothing!

We would highly recommend this experience for everyone!

Dinara D (9H) and Liza H (9F)

James Stavretis
Languages Learning Leader

Whilst learning about energy, our Year 9 students transformed into mechanical engineers and worked collaboratively in teams to design and build model race cars from recycled materials. At lunchtime on Tuesday 21 July, McAuley Hall held our inaugural OLMC Grand Prix, the following accounts are from the students who achieved spectacular results on the day.

After careful research, our team designed and built an elastic band-powered car using recycled materials, including skewers, milk bottle caps and CDs. We tested a few different prototype designs before choosing the best one. At first, the milk bottle cap wheels spun too quickly and didn’t have enough traction, so we added hair ties to the wheels. Even then, the wheels were too small, so we attached CDs to make them larger. The bigger wheels, combined with the hair ties, gave the car much better grip and helped it travel further. We really enjoyed working together, testing different ideas and improving our design until we created a winning rubber band racer. Also, big shout out to Natalie’s dad for helping us with the car!

Jessica H, Amelia H, Natalie M, Charlie R and Zara S (Year 9A students who won the race. Science Teacher: Mr Jonathon Broughton)

During our Energy Unit, my team built a rubber band racer using recycled cardboard, straws and wooden skewers. We tested our prototype several times and made changes to improve how far it travelled. We made sure the wheels and axles were straight, reduced friction so the car rolled more smoothly, and adjusted the rubber band to store more energy. These changes helped our racer travel much further. I really enjoyed building and testing the car because it was exciting to see how each improvement made a difference. Working together as a team allowed us to share ideas, solve problems and create the best racer we could.

Annie T (Year 9G who was awarded second place. Science Teacher: Ms Assimina Semertjis)

I really enjoyed taking part in the first ever OLMC Grand Prix and building my rubber band racer using recycled materials. I used cardboard for the body, cardboard for the wheels and wooden skewers for the axles. After testing my first prototype, I made a few changes, like making the wheels spin more smoothly, reducing the weight of the car and making sure everything was lined up properly. These adjustments helped my car travel much further. I really enjoyed designing, building, and testing my racer and it was exciting to see all of my hard work pay off. Working with my team was also a big part of our success because we shared ideas, helped each other solve problems and encouraged one another throughout the project. It was such a fun experience and I'm really proud of what we achieved.

Gemma P (Year 9H who made the top three racers. Science Teacher: Mr Darcy McLean)

Assimina Semertjis
Science Learning Leader

Gracie R (10A2), one of our keen STEM students, recently completed work experience in two hospitals. The following is an account of her rewarding experience during this time.

During the second week of the recent school holidays, I completed work experience placement at Northern Private Hospital and La Trobe Private Hospital after contacting the hospitals to express my interest. I was motivated and passionate to apply through my goal to pursue a career in radiography after high school and through my interests in physics. I am also eager to further explore how imaging technology is applied in healthcare and patient-based settings. Throughout my placement, I observed a number of key imaging modalities, including X-ray, CT and MRI. I spent time in nuclear medicine, attended four procedures in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory (cath lab), and was fortunate enough to observe a live urology procedure in theatre. The cath lab was one of the most memorable experiences, as I observed how advanced imaging technology can assist medical specialists during highly technical and complex procedures. This placement has again strengthened my understanding of the connection between the science I learn in the classroom, complex technology and patient care. It also showed me how concepts studied in physics can be applied in real clinical settings to support patient diagnosis and treatment.

Gracie R (10A2)

Assimina Semertjis
Science Learning Leader

The start of Semester Two brings new learning opportunities for Humanities students. Some students have started Year 10 Civics and Year 9 Humanities while others have started Year 9 and 10 electives. Our Year 7 and 8 students have also started their History units.

Next week the Year 10 Civics students will join together and become members of fictitious political parties to learn about the legislative process. Each party will meet to consider the hypothetical Future Voters and Digital Footprint Bill 2026 through the lens of their party before re-joining their class (the House of Representatives) to debate the bill and deliver their findings as an oral presentation.

Year 7 students have begun a new unit called ‘Southern Stories’. This History unit examines Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ knowledge and understandings (Deep Time to the modern era) and the Polynesian expansion across the Pacific. The Year 7s have become time travellers and will be creating a time traveller’s journal to imagine they are witnessing various significant events from the past, including the land bridges of Sahul, extinction of megafauna and Moa, the discovery of Mungo Man and the building of the moai on Rapa Nui. Keep an eye out for examples of their travels in future newsletters!

2026 Australian Geography Competition

Last term, our Year 9 Changemaker Geography students put their geographical knowledge and skills to the test by participating in the 2026 Australian Geography Competition. More than 47,000 students from over 600 schools across Australia took part in this prestigious competition, which is a joint initiative of the Australian Geography Teachers Association and the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland. The competition challenges students to apply their geographical knowledge and skills to a range of questions covering Australia's environments, global issues, sustainability, mapping, spatial thinking and current geographical events.

We congratulate all students who participated and are especially proud to recognise the outstanding achievements of:

• Isabell Z 9B - High Distinction
• Asher M 9B - High Distinction
• Zoe B 9E - Credit
• Mithra R 9B - Credit

Congratulations to these students on their excellent results and for representing the College so well.

Jemma Ind
Humanities Learning Leader

Our Year 11 VCE Vocational Major students have been putting learning into action by running their healthy food projects through THE 7TH LAB cafe at lunchtime over two days last week.

As part of their studies in Unit 1: Healthy Individuals, students have been exploring the importance of health and wellbeing, and the role individuals and communities play in promoting a healthy life. Their healthy food projects provided a practical opportunity to apply these concepts in a real-world setting while developing valuable employability and teamwork skills.

The students were divided into two groups to plan, prepare and promote their project. One group chose to do a ‘Blend Bar’, serving delicious berry and tropical smoothies, with an additional ‘push-up’ challenge rewarded by a banana muffin; the other group’s choice was ‘Yo-Bae’, fruit bowls with mango sorbet or a frozen strawberry yogurt. The students worked collaboratively to create their menu, sort out their ingredients and shopping list, organise their lunchtime event and manage the logistics on the day including workflow, role allocation and customer service.

In addition to offering a healthy food option for OLMC students, the project helped students build confidence in communication, organisation and problem-solving, and demonstrated how they can positively influence both individual wellbeing and the wider school community. Plus, it was fun!

‘I enjoyed running the Blend Bar as it was fun doing a hands-on task as well as well as working with a group. I learnt how important it is to plan for these events beforehand, so everything is organised for the day.’

Georgia L (11A1)

‘I really enjoyed running the event! I demonstrated good teamwork, customer service and management skills and I learned that I am confident at helping customers and encouraging people to try challenges.’

Olivia B (11L5)

By combining classroom learning with hands-on experience, our VCE VM students are developing practical skills that prepare them for future education, training and employment, while making a positive contribution to our school.

Congratulations to our Year 11 VCE VM Personal Development Skills students for their enthusiasm, teamwork and commitment to their healthy food projects!

Helen Hamblin
Senior Vocational Program Coordinator

In Year 11 VCE VM Work Related Skills, our students are keenly exploring a variety of working roles and career paths as they interview professionals in all kinds of industry areas. Our current Year 11 VCE VM class are completing VET studies in a range of different areas:

Certificate III in Allied Health

Certificate III in Early Childhood Education

Certificate III in Community Services

Certificate III in Makeup

Certificate III in Beauty Services

Certificate III in Screen & Media

Certificate II in Salon Assistant

Certificate III in Sport & Recreation

Certificate II in Hospitality

Certificate III in Entrepreneurship & Innovative Business

With so much variety in our own classroom, students are relishing the opportunity to hear from others through this Industry Insight Guest Speaker Series. Students have already heard from alumni who are working or studying in real estate, zoo-keeping and the justice system. We are looking forward to welcoming guest speakers in the next semester who are working in early childhood education, the fitness and nutrition industry, construction and project management, hairdressing, the aviation industry and more.

As part of this series, students will reflect on the employability ‘power’ skills and link this with their current unit of study focused on recognising and developing transferable workplace skills.

If you have career experience in any of the following areas and are willing to share your story with a group of eager and interested students, please email Year 11 VCE VM Work Related Skills teacher, Melinda Williams (mwilliams@olmc.vic.edu.au):

• Flight Attendant
• Restauranteur/Café Owner
• Midwife
• Social Media Marketing/Content Creation
• Policing
• Beauty Therapist

Melinda Williams
VCE VM Work Related Skills Teacher

Students recently visited Monash University’s Clayton campus and the MUMA Gallery to experience the exhibition Syncretic Wilds: Phasmahammer and Natasha Tontey. Through mixed media works including costume, video, sculpture and multi-part installations, the exhibition explored Southeast Asian storytelling and the complex relationship between humans and the natural world.

As part of the experience, students participated in an eco-dyeing workshop with artist Raf McDonald, exploring the concept of 'the exquisite line'. They created a series of hand-dyed artworks that will be combined into a collaborative class piece to be exhibited at this year’s Art Show.

Students left the experience inspired by the expressive possibilities of textiles and the ways fabric, like painting and drawing, can be used to communicate ideas and stories. It was a creative and inspiring day for all, and we look forward to sharing their work with you at the Art Show in October!

Mark Jenkinson
Design, Art and Technology Learning Leader

The beginning of Term 3 has been a busy and exciting time in Senior school with students embracing so many opportunities on offer both inside and outside the classroom. This term has already been filled with significant milestones and community events, with still so much to look forward to later this term including House Arts and Mercy Day.

Year 11 Formal

On Thursday 23 July our highly anticipated Year 11 Formal was hosted at Leonda by the Yarra. The students arrived dressed to impress, ready to create a memorable night with friends and peers. Many OLMC staff were in attendance at the event and enjoyed celebrating this special occasion with students.

We know that Formal is an important rite of passage for our students, and so much preparation goes into this event. It was wonderful to see the year level socialising outside of the classroom, strengthening friendships and making lasting memories together as a cohort.

Learn a New Skill

On Tuesday 21 July our Senior Pastoral Program had almost 600 students in Years 10, 11 and 12 participating in our second ‘Learn a New Skill’ wellbeing session. Students were able to select from a wide range of sessions including learn to play chess, pickle ball, how to play Italian board games, self defence and creative writing. These sessions provided students with the opportunity to explore new interests, challenge themselves and develop skills beyond the traditional classroom setting.

This program was only made possible through the support of both external presenters and our very own OLMC teachers. We are so grateful and appreciative of our teachers who gave up their time to prepare and facilitate these sessions for our Senior students.

House Arts

House Arts was officially launched on Tuesday 4 August in House Assembly, with the theme for 2026 being ‘Around the World’. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to become involved in performing arts while building House spirit and strengthening connections across year levels. There are so many different ways to participate, we strongly encourage students to get involved whether it is performing, dancing, backstage crew, marketing, costume design and choreography.

Lara Tierney
Carmel House Coordinator

Matthew Sweeney
Mercy House Coordinator

Benjamin Hodges
Loreto House Coordinator

Rachel Lang
McAuley House Coordinator

Jemma Banfield
Assistant House Coordinator

Our annual High Tea in Heidelberg is on Sunday 30 August at 2.00pm 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, 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 30 August 2.00pm – 4.00pm

McAuley Hall, OLMC, Cape Street, Heidelberg

Booking Arrangements

Tickets are priced at $55 for Adults and $30 for Students.

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

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

OR by contacting Monica Agius T: 9455 7571 E: magius@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 Monica Agius. Tables will seat 10 people.

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

OLMC Raffle for McAuley for Women and Children 2026

In addition to booking tickets for this year's High Tea, members of the OLMC community are invited to support the event by participating in the OLMC Raffle for McAuley for Women and Children 2026 which includes a fantastic range of prizes generously donated by loyal supporters and local business owners.

Friends, family and members of the wider community who are unable to attend the event are also warmly invited to purchase raffle tickets online and support the important work of McAuley for Women and Children.

Raffle Tickets: 1 ticket for $10, 3 tickets for $20 or 8 tickets for $50
Purchase Raffle Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/DOCUD

Full Prize List:

All proceeds from the raffle will support McAuley for Women and Children. Winners will be drawn at the High Tea on Sunday 30 August and notified after the event if not present.

Father's Day Breakfast - Save the Date!

Mark your calendars for the OLMC Parents' Association annual Father's Day Breakfast, to be held in the Heagarty Room on Wednesday 2 September from 7.30am to 8.30am.

This special event provides an opportunity for students to celebrate and spend quality time with their father, grandfather, carer, or another significant person in their life while enjoying a delicious breakfast together.

Tickets: $35 per family.

Ticket Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/DOFSQ

Ticket Bookings Open: Friday 21 August at 9.00am

We look forward to welcoming families to this much-loved community event.

For enquires please contact Monica Agius T: 9455 7571 E: magius@olmc.vic.edu.au

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