November is a season of remembrance and reflection. Through All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, we pause to remember those who have gone before us, to give thanks for the lives they lived and the gifts they shared, and to honour those whose deep faith called them to lives of service, particularly in support of those most in need.

This week we also marked Remembrance Day, a time to honour all those who have served in times of war and conflict. As we remember their courage and sacrifice, we are also reminded of our shared responsibility to work for peace, to seek understanding through dialogue and to bring healing and reconciliation where it is needed.

For OLMC and the broader Mercy community, 11 November holds a special significance as the anniversary of the death of Catherine McAuley. Catherine’s legacy continues to inspire us through the way we live our Mercy values and respond to the needs of others. Her example reminds us that small acts of courage, compassion, justice and joy can make a profound difference in the lives of those around us.

This is also an exciting week for the cast and crew of the M² Junior production, I Hate Shakespeare!, led by the team from Marcellin College. Our students have worked with great energy and commitment through rehearsals and preparations, and we are looking forward to seeing all of that hard work come together on stage. We wish everyone involved a wonderful opening night on Friday and every success for the performances ahead.

Across the College, students are now nearing the end of their formal assessments, whether through classroom-based tasks or examinations. Soon, attention will turn to Orientation and transition activities in preparation for the year ahead. This important period provides students with an opportunity to reflect on what they have achieved, while also beginning to look forward with confidence and optimism to the next stage of their learning journey.

The coming weeks have been carefully planned to help students understand the expectations, opportunities and strategies that will support them as they move into their next year level. Every part of the program has a purpose, and we expect all students to be present, engaged and fully involved. We greatly appreciate the support of families in ensuring students make the most of these important experiences.

As the year moves quickly towards its conclusion, we will soon enter the season of Advent and begin our preparations for Christmas. Before then, however, there is still important work to be done. I encourage every student to make the most of these final weeks: stay engaged, finish well, support one another and continue striving to achieve your personal best.

As we move through this season of remembrance, transition and anticipation, may we do so with gratitude for all that has been, confidence in what lies ahead, and a continuing commitment to living with Courage, Compassion, Justice and Joy.

As I do each year, I share this prayer for exams in the hope that you might also share it with your child. In a small way, it may help to bring calm in the exam room.

Prayer For Exam

Come still my heart,
O Lord, calm my nerves and focus my mind.
Father, I lay before you everything I have studied.
May I channel all I have learnt into this exam.
Please give me the faith to believe I can pass this test,
Yet the peace to know that all is well.
Thank you that you are with me no matter what the result,
Thank you that your friendship is eternal.

Amen.

(a prayer for students taking an exam from www.lords-prayer-words.com)

A Prayer of Remembrance and Mercy

Each November, our Mercy community pauses to remember. On 11 November, we mark the anniversary of Catherine McAuley's death in 1841, giving thanks for her life and the Mercy legacy she entrusted to those who followed. On the same day, Remembrance Day invites us to remember those who served and died in war and to renew our hope and prayer for peace.

Loving God,
this week we pause to remember.

We remember those who gave their lives in war and conflict,
and we pray for all who continue to long for peace.

We remember with gratitude Catherine McAuley,
whose life of faith, compassion and courage
continues to inspire our Mercy community.

And we remember those we have loved and lost,
trusting that they are held forever in your loving embrace.

May our remembering move us to live differently:
to choose peace over division,
compassion over indifference,
and Mercy wherever it is needed.

God of Mercy,
make us instruments of your peace
and signs of your hope in our world.

Amen.

Reconciliation Action Plan

As a Mercy community committed to justice, respect and reconciliation, OLMC is currently developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). This important work is being guided by local Elders, First Nations students and their families, and College staff as we seek to deepen our understanding, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful opportunities for reconciliation within our community.

We warmly invite members of the OLMC community who have a particular interest, experience or expertise in First Nations perspectives, cultures or reconciliation to become involved in this journey. If you would like to contribute, please contact Shane Taylor at staylor@olmc.vic.edu.au.

Together, we hope to continue building a community that listens, learns and walks respectfully with First Nations peoples.

In our Catholic and Mercy tradition the month of November is a time during which we especially pray for and with the living and the dead, which is one of the Spiritual Works of Mercy. All Saints’, All Souls’ and Remembrance Days provide more intentional opportunities to pause, ponder and pray. We remember all those who have gone before us, especially our loved ones and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of peace during conflict and wars, and we pray for their eternal rest. Lest we forget. The Catholic belief in the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting (cf. the Apostles’ Creed), offers consolation and hope in that we will be united with God and with each other in life after death.

On Remembrance Day we also remember Catherine McAuley who died on 11 November 1841. On this day each year, Sisters of Mercy gather and pray in remembrance of Catherine and all Sisters of Mercy who have died. You might like to read more about Catherine’s death and burial here, or engage in this reflection. You might also like to view and listen to this version of the Suscipe of Catherine McAuley, which features images of Catherine’s tomb and the bright yellow rose named in her honour.

‘Pray for and with the living and the dead: The living out of this command can be seen in Mother Clare’s evocative image – the Sisters gathered with the grieving family. Throughout the years this has been continued by Sisters in hospitals and schoolrooms of countries spread across the globe, in refugee camps, in parish and eucharistic communities, in the care of the young and the old, the homeless and those in danger. Through our prayer, the presence of God becomes a reality in our world into which all can enter and this will continue to be so as we ‘pray for and with the living and the dead.' (Sr Anne McMillan RSM, in reference to the line drawings by Elizabeth (Mary Clare) Agnew RSM of the early Sisters of Mercy engaged in the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy in Ireland in the 1830s. Source: https://www.mercyworld.org/about/works-of-mercy/)

‘Each day is a step we take towards eternity, and we shall continue to step from day to day until we take the last step, which will bring us into the presence of God; let us always walk before [God] in anticipation of that day.’

~ attributed to Venerable Catherine McAuley (founder of the Sisters of Mercy), taken from According to Catherine: Words of Wisdom from Catherine McAuley, A Thematic Approach by Sr Bonaventure Brennan RSM (Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy Dublin, 2003).

In her letters, Catherine McAuley looks towards eternity and refers to life after death. Sadly, death was a prevalent part of Catherine’s journey, even before she founded the Sisters of Mercy: she lost her father, James, in 1783 when she was five years old; her mother, Elinor, in 1798 when she was 20 years old; and her sister, Mary, in 1827, just prior to her opening the House of Mercy on Baggot Street. She also lost a number of Sisters of Mercy during her ten years as a Sister of Mercy. It is said that from a young age Catherine feared death as a result of being by her mother’s deathbed. Over the years, Catherine sat by the bedside of so many members of her family and Sisters of Mercy and, consequently, this fear gradually subsided to the point that when the time came she welcomed her own death with peace, calm and trust in God.

Seeds of Justice

Selected Year 7 and 8 students were accompanied by Sr Emma to St Aloysius, who hosted this year's Seeds of Justice Junior Conference. The theme was homelessness and inequality in Melbourne, with a presentation from staff at St Mary's House of Welcome. Students shared ideas and opportunities to continue this work of Mercy back at OLMC into next year.

Young Mercy Links

We had a visit from Angela at Young Mercy Links, the vibrant and active group that allows Mercy students to continue their journey after secondary school. We're proud to say that OLMC alumnae make up a significant part of this group, who contribute to sustainability actions, run a Cambodian immersion, participate in faith and social gatherings, and support refugee and reconciliation activities. Each year, Year 12s hear about this group so they can join, and this year we also hosted a small fundraiser towards our St Jude's School sponsorship at the same time.

Exodus Community Christmas Hampers and Gifts

We are again creating 50 hampers for the families in the Exodus Community, which will be given at our annual Christmas dinner. We are also buying gifts for the children, largely fundraised by the Horizon class at this term's stalls. Well done 9G and 9H!

We ask that families please support this drive by bringing the following items to the tub at their Co-ordinator's office.

Anita Galli
Social Justice Coordinator

The digital world our young people inhabit is changing rapidly. One emerging concern is the growing influence of the “manosphere”, a network of online spaces and influencers that can promote rigid ideas about masculinity, misogyny and the relationships between women and men. Australian researchers are increasingly seeing these attitudes move beyond social media and into the everyday experiences of young people and schools. Monash University, together with Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), has recently produced guidance specifically to help secondary schools understand and respond to this influence.

For OLMC, this raises important questions about our responsibility as educators. Our role is not simply to shield students from difficult ideas. It is to equip them to recognise, question and respond to them. The ANROWS guide emphasises the importance of helping young people develop critical digital media literacy, understand how online platforms and influencers shape what they see, and make informed choices about the content with which they engage.

This is particularly important because harmful content does not always announce itself as harmful. Recent Australian reporting highlights how young men can encounter increasingly narrow or misogynistic messages through algorithms even when they initially engage with seemingly unrelated material such as fitness, self-improvement or motivational content. Young women, too, need the language and confidence to recognise when messages about relationships, appearance, gender or power diminish their dignity or normalise disrespect.

At OLMC, this responsibility is deeply connected to who we are as a Catholic school in the Mercy tradition. Our own formation material describes Mercy as something experienced through relationships and made credible through action, calling us to honour the dignity of each person and to act with compassion, courage and justice.

In the spirit of Catherine McAuley, education must therefore be about more than academic achievement. It is about forming young people who can think critically, recognise injustice and have the courage to respond. For our students, that means developing the confidence to challenge narratives that diminish women, resist stereotypes about gender and relationships, evaluate what algorithms place before them, and recognise that respect and equality are fundamental to healthy relationships.

Schools cannot address these influences alone. Families have an important role in maintaining open conversations about what young people encounter online, while schools must provide safe opportunities for students to question, discuss and critically examine what they see.

For OLMC, this is ultimately a Mercy issue. Compassion asks us to listen carefully to young people's experiences. Justice calls us to challenge attitudes that diminish the dignity of others. Courage asks us to speak when something is normalised but not acceptable.

In an increasingly complex digital world, one of the most important things we can give our students is not simply protection from harmful ideas, but the knowledge, values and courage to recognise them and choose something better.

Our Year 7 students recently completed a physics unit on Earth and Space Sciences. During this time, students were required to create an engaging product aimed to communicate their understanding of the Earth’s natural resources and energy sources. Our Year 7 Science Teachers were so impressed and proud of these creative products, that these are now on display in the Science cabinets in the Centenary Building.

Thank you to the students from Miss Nicole Kellam’s Year 7D Science class and Ms Deb Daly’s Science 7F for writing the following accounts:

Guess Who - Natural and Unnatural Resources Edition

The highlight of this Science assessment task was that we got to create a version of our favourite childhood board game that also reflected our learning in a unique way. It was fun to mould the air-dry clay, create the face cards using examples of both natural and artificial resources and work together as a team.

Carly W, Vaska N, and Kyla D (7D)

ECOPOLY - Renewability Monopoly

I was inspired to create this board game to teach people about renewable and non-renewable energy sources and why choosing sustainable energy is important for protecting our planet.

A highlight of our board game is learning about renewable energy while competing with friends, making strategic decisions and having fun along the way.

We probably enjoyed creating the pieces the most, from water droplets to a nuclear explosion figure. We also had fun designing the game itself, including our own twists to make it fun and enjoyable.

Hannah M (7F)

Bioluminescence

Ruby is one of our keen Year 7 Scientists in Miss Breanna Farrugia’s Science class. Ruby is enchanted with bioluminescence and created a website during her Digital Technology class on this remarkable chemical process. Her description below explains how this fascination started and teaches us a bit about this incredible phenomenon:

Since I was little, I have always loved science, especially anything related to biology. Marine life has always fascinated me. I first became interested in bioluminescence when I was 11. My cousins and I were on a holiday, and we were obsessed with trying to observe bioluminescence in the ocean. We visited different beaches looking at the weather and unusual disruptions in the water. One night we received a call from some friends at the beach and from the excitement in their voices we knew they had found some. So, my cousins and I ran down to the beach as fast as we could and saw the bright blue flash in the water where the waves crashed. It was so exciting. From that moment I was hooked.

Bioluminescence is produced by a microscopic organism that is classified as a type of algae. It is a single celled plankton that flashes a bright blue almost green colour when disturbed. Unlike what you would expect, bioluminescence is a chemical reaction of something called chemiluminescence which is an enzyme in the body. Many fish and jellyfish possess bioluminescence, such as the well-known Anglerfish and Comb Jellies. A couple of interesting fun facts about bioluminescence is that there are no living things that live in freshwater that possess this ability and bioluminescence is used in cancer research.

Ruby S (7B)

Image from: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/bioluminescence-ocean-beach-waves-8794192/

Assimina Semertjis
Science Learning Leader

Our Year 11 students once again participated in the annual Alliance Française Berthe Mouchette French oral and written competitions. Both competitions are based on the structure of the external Year 12 VCAA oral and written examinations. It is a fantastic experience for our Senior French students to practise their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in an authentic way.

Well done to all of the students! This year we were pleased to have two students make it through to the finals of the oral competition: Celeste F (11C2) and Katelove M (11L2). Well done girls!

The Alliance Française Berthe Mouchette competition is a great opportunity to develop students’ fluency. For Year 11s, the nine minute oral exam consists of a four minute general conversation about their world and their interactions with the French language and culture followed by a four minute discussion on a chosen topic. As a class, we were able to approach our unit on technology and its impact on young people in a very engaging and interactive way as we also prepared for the discussion part of the oral. After the oral competition, one of the most rewarding moments is seeing students realise just how much they can achieve. Holding an eight minute conversation entirely in French, discussing their world and their chosen topic with an examiner, is a remarkable accomplishment and a real confidence boost for our students.

The written exam is a challenge which the class also elected to participate in. The format mirrored that of the VCAA end of year exam, so it is an incredible opportunity to build listening, reading and writing French skills and exam techniques.

This experience has given the students essential additional practice to become more confident in their French studies.

Mme O’Brien et ses incroyables élèves de Première 😊

Language Learning in the Holidays

As the end of the school year approaches and the summer holidays draw near, our students of French, Italian, and Japanese are encouraged to maintain and strengthen their language skills beyond the classroom. Melbourne is home to vibrant French, Italian, and Japanese communities, offering various authentic language and cultural experiences.

Students can attend cultural events and festivals, as well as visit restaurants and cafés where they can experience different cultures, enjoy authentic cuisine, and use their language skills in real-world contexts. Why not challenge yourself to order your favourite food or drink in your target language? These experiences help build both linguistic proficiency and cultural confidence.

For students travelling overseas, take every opportunity to use the language you have learnt at school. Whether it is ordering a meal, asking for directions, or greeting someone, don't be afraid to give it a go. You might be surprised by how much you can communicate!

At home, students can enhance their language learning by watching films and TV shows, listening to music and podcasts, or reading books, magazines, and online articles in French, Italian or Japanese.

Whether using their language skills with others or engaging with French, Italian, or Japanese through media, students who make an effort to practise over the holidays will hopefully return to school next year with greater confidence and some stories to share.

Bonne Chance! Buona Fortuna! Ganbatte!

James Stavretis
Languages Learning Leader

For their final unit, our VCE Vocational Major Personal Development Skills (PDS) students participated in Stories From My Life as their Community Project. This meaningful experience connects young people with older generations through the sharing of personal stories. Working in partnership with residents at Ivanhoe Grand Care Community, the program provided students with an authentic opportunity to plan, implement and reflect on a project that makes a genuine difference to others.

Over a series of seven interviews, our students partnered with residents to explore their childhood memories, education, family life, careers, significant life events and the experiences that have shaped their lives. Students gathered photographs, asked thoughtful questions and listened carefully as residents shared stories, memories and reflections from their past.

The culmination of the project was the presentation of a personalised hardback book to each resident, carefully written and compiled by their partners. These books captured each resident’s unique life story, preserving precious memories for residents and their families to revisit and share.

The presentation celebration was a particularly moving occasion. The room was filled with warmth, laughter, reflection and genuine connection as residents received their books. Some had invited their adult children and friends to attend, adding another layer of meaning to the celebration as families came together to revisit and honour their loved ones’ lives.

For our students, the experience proved just as valuable as the books themselves. Reflecting on their involvement, students spoke about being inspired to travel, make the most of their youth, appreciate their parents and value the experiences and wisdom of older generations. Listening to stories of resilience, opportunity, love, loss and change encouraged students to reflect on their own lives, relationships and future possibilities.

As a VCE VM PDS Community Project, Stories From My Life provided an authentic learning experience at every stage. Students planned and organised their interviews, communicated respectfully, adapted to the needs of their resident, collaborated with others and saw their project through to completion. Equally important was the opportunity to reflect on what they had learned about themselves, their community and the impact of meaningful human connection.

The project is a powerful reminder that everyone has a story worth telling and that taking the time to listen can build understanding across generations. While the finished books are lasting gifts for residents and their families, the relationships formed and perspectives gained are equally significant.

We are incredibly proud of our students for the maturity, empathy and care they brought to this experience. Stories From My Life demonstrates the very best of applied learning: students using their skills and knowledge to create something purposeful, personal and lasting for others.

Perhaps the most meaningful reflections on the project came from Marshall, the son of one of our residents and a former teacher; Michael, a resident and Karam, the Wellbeing Manager at Ivanhoe Grand Care Community. Their words beautifully capture the value of authentic learning, genuine connection and giving young people opportunities to make a difference:

Today reminded me of why I love teaching, teachers and the kids they teach. All I kept thinking about that session was how much it matters that students like yours stay connected, involved, do stuff that’s real, but above all, be themselves. They are a credit to you, the school, and everyone in the program. I loved the presentation, as did Mum. A heartfelt thanks to all.

Marshall

The experience for the students and myself during the Stories from My Life project was authentic and meaningful. The reflections they shared were inspirational and powerful, bringing to life many memorable moments. I trust that meeting with residents provided students with an opportunity to recognise the importance of relationships beyond their own lives, connect with an older generation and appreciate how life has changed since I was their age. All the residents were moved by the experience and thoroughly enjoyed sharing their stories with the students.

I hope this project continues for many years to come, as I witnessed both students and residents embracing an authentic experience that left everyone feeling moved and inspired.

Michael

Stories From My Life is a wonderful program that we are privileged to deliver in collaboration with OLMC. It is incredibly moving to witness the meaningful connections students build with our residents in just a few short weeks.

Our residents genuinely enjoy sharing their life stories, and seeing these transformed into a beautifully presented hard-copy book often brings tears of joy. The students bring fresh energy, curiosity and enthusiasm to the experience, making a positive impact on everyone involved.

The program is a testament to the dedication and commitment of the College’s teachers and students, whose contributions make it such a success. We look forward to welcoming the next group of students and continuing this special partnership next year.

Karam

Suzie Bradmore
VCE Vocational Major Personal Development Skills Teacher

Need a quiet space to focus or extra guidance with your study? Join us for Homework Club every Monday and Tuesday from 3:30pm to 4:30pm in the Discovery Lab (located in the Library). Led by our dedicated Learning Diversity Team, Homework Club is open to all students across all year levels. Whether you need help with a tricky question or just want to finish your assignment before heading home, it’s the perfect place to get ahead on your schoolwork.

Come along and make study time stress-free! Everyone is welcome!

Learning Diversity Team

Our Lady of Mercy College and Marcellin College have been working tirelessly since August to bring together our Junior Production I Hate Shakespeare! I have had the great privilege of being a part of this play and seeing it all come together. I Hate Shakespeare! is a comedic mash up of famous Shakespearean plays where the audience members declare that they hate Shakespeare, so an actor proceeds to show them how Shakespeare is still relevant today through skits and sketches with modern twists and shortened versions of Shakespeare’s famous plays. The play is lots of light fun with zombies, a talking cow, a dating show for Juliet and even an appearance of Jerry Springer.

I was cast as the Director that gets more stressed the longer this play goes on, while getting increasingly annoyed with the actors and starts to question their life choices that led her to this moment. The rehearsals have been a highlight of my week and I have enjoyed being a part of what my character would call a ‘glorious experiment’. Production has meant I have met so many new people from Year 7 all the way to Year 9 and developed my confidence and presenting skills such as projection and tone.

Benjamine G (Director) 9G

I was cast as Lady Macbeth who plots to kill King Duncan to make herself queen and her husband king. After her husband kills King Duncan she goes crazy believing that her hands are covered in blood. I loved bringing her character to life along with my cast mates from both OLMC and Marcellin. It's been a joy to work with people from both schools, make new friends and gain experiences I’ll keep forever. Being a part of the productions the past three years has been the experience of a lifetime. I encourage everyone to give production a go, try something new and meet new people. I’ve met some of my best friends through production that I’ll have with me for a lifetime. I am so grateful to the cast, crew and staff that have put so much effort, passion and determination into the production, we wouldn’t have been able to do it without them. Overall, production is a magical experience of which I’ll forever hold near and dear to my heart.

Georgia O (Lady Macbeth) 9G

It’s been an absolute blast working with Marcellin to bring the play 'I Hate Shakespeare!' to the stage. This show is jam-packed with hilarious skits retelling iconic Shakespeare plays through a modern lens, as well as traditional Shakespearian monologues exceptionally performed by our cast. I’ve loved bringing my character, ‘Unhappy Person’ to life – the heckler of the show. I’ve made so many lifelong friends and connections across different year levels, (and even schools!) through taking part in the school productions, and I encourage anybody who might be interested to give it a go, as it is an experience I know I’ll never forget. I’ve loved working with this cast and crew, and I can’t wait to see what the future will bring for us all! Thanks to the staff who've helped us through every step along the way to put this show together.

Genevieve D (Unhappy Person) 8B

This year’s junior production 'I Hate Shakespeare!' is a funny, unpredictable and all together fun play based on classic Shakespeare plays like 'Hamlet', 'Macbeth' and 'Romeo and Juliet'. Production is personally my favourite time of year. It gives me something to look forward to and really brings our OLMC and Marcellin communities together. It's so wonderful to bond with and make friends with those I may have otherwise never interacted with, doing something I love. This specific play is so enjoyable to be a part of and I can’t wait for everyone to see our hard work!

Taya G (Juliet) 9C

Production is a great opportunity on offer at OLMC and we are thankful for all the work, time and money that both schools put in to make productions happen. As we are in tech week with opening night approaching, we would like to say a big thank you to our peers working backstage which have made this possible as they do not get enough praise for what they give to this production. Production is a great way to get involved with the school whether it be on stage or backstage and is a lot of fun. We hope to see you at the show!

Benjamine G 9G
Georgia O 9G
Genevieve D 8B
Taya G 9C

Madalena Broadbent
Performing Arts Learning Leader

On Tuesday 24 November we have Time & Space facilitating an evening for our Class of 2027 and their families. OLMC have worked with Time & Space over many years. These evenings are designed to look at ways parents, carers or mentors can support the journey of our young people through secondary school and they also assist the College in building our partnership with our families.

This night is also designed to increase a sense of belonging for our students to their College community. In a recent research paper from Monash University, it was stated that belonging has been declining in many Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries over the past two decades (OECD, 2017, 2019, 2021).

The paper from Monash University highlights that research consistently links school belonging to lower rates of mental health problems (Allen, Kern et al., 2018; Allen, Greenwood et al., 2024; Arslan et al., 2020), greater academic motivation (Allen, Kern et al., 2018), improved wellbeing (Arslan et al., 2020; Rincon et al., 2024), and positive life outcomes that extend well into adulthood (Anderman, 2002; Boston & Warren, 2017). At the same time, the evidence indicates that wellbeing and flourishing are not only outcomes of belonging, but also conditions that shape it.

Allen, K.-A., & Dong, S. (2026). The science of belonging: Exploring the concept, drivers, barriers, and evidence-based solutions to cultivate belonging in K–12 education. Monash University, Faculty of Education, in collaboration with the International Baccalaureate® (IB).

These nights are always well received by the families that attend. Here is some feedback we received from participants from the Class of 2026 evening:

It was good as a student to hear what the parents had to say as it really displays that both the students and the parents are in this together for the whole year.

Year 12 student

Great opportunity for honest conversation. To have a night to talk about and talk to our young person is highly valued. Great initiative and opportunity.

Parent of Year 12 student

Booking details have been emailed to our current Year 11 families, but please find further information on the night below:

Real Schools Partnership

Last week, our facilitator from Real Schools, Jemma Rust, joined us for our in-class support days. During her visit, Jemma interviewed some of our students in regard to their experience of restorative practices here at OLMC, worked with Learning Area Leaders and House and Year Level Coordinators, met with the 2027 Student Leadership Team and held conversations with staff about how circle architecture can be used in a secondary school setting. This visit helped shine a light on what is working well and what can be areas of future focus as we move into our third and final year of our partnership next year.

Jemma’s visit also included hearing stories from both staff and students of situations where our restorative practices are working well. These stories are mentioned here as a recent post about our College by the founder of Real Schools, Adam Voigt:

More information about Real Schools can be found at the link below:

https://realschools.com.au/

Student Leadership Day

The Student Leadership Day for our 2027 Year 12 leaders will be held on Friday 20 November. This day provides an opportunity for our Year 12 leaders to explore how the scriptural theme for 2027 will inform their work next year. The day also gives them the chance to look at what kind of leader they would like to be and what is required to be an effective team. The role of the Restorative Practices model from Real Schools will be explored and the students will look at their responsibilities to their particular portfolios. We wish our Year 12 leaders well for this day.

OLMC Parents' Association Lucky Fees Raffle – Win a $4,000 Contribution Towards Your 2027 School Fees

With the 2027 school year just around the corner, now is the perfect time to secure your tickets in the OLMC Parent Association Lucky Fees Raffle. With a $4,000 contribution towards 2027 School Fees as the major prize, along with several other fantastic prizes regularly being added to the list, this is an opportunity not to be missed.

1^st Prize $4000 Voucher for 2027 School Fees or Shopping Vouchers to the value of $4000

2^nd Prize $2000 Voucher for 2027 School Fees or Shopping Vouchers to the value of $2000

3^rd Prize Every Teen Girl’s Dream Prize Pack to the value of $500

4^th Prize Designer Fashion & Fragrance Pack

5^th Prize Noone Uniform Vouchers to the value of $400

6^th Prize Italian Language Lessons to the value of $305

7^th Prize Mystery Melbourne Hotel Stay to the value of $300

8^th Prize Ultimate Coffee Experience Pack to the value of $300

9^th Prize Learner Driver Starter Pack to the value of $150

10^th Prize Platinum Mini Car Detail Voucher to the value of $120

11^th Prize Christmas Goodies Hamper

12^th Prize Pamper and Pause Pack to the value of $75

Get your tickets today!

Purchase your tickets here: https://www.trybooking.com/DQYIC

Raffle will be drawn at the College on Friday 20 November. Winners will be notified by phone and results will be in the College newsletter.

Thank you for supporting the OLMC community and good luck!

Monica Agius
Community Development Coordinator
On behalf of the OLMC Parents' Association

OLMC Second-Hand Uniform Sale - A fundraising opportunity for the Exodus Community, West Heidelberg

Bookings now open

Each year OLMC Parents' Association supports the Second-Hand Uniform Sale, raising valuable funds for the Exodus Community in West Heidelberg, while providing families with an affordable and sustainable way to purchase quality pre-loved uniforms. The sale features a wide range of Summer, Winter and PE uniform items in various sizes, generously donated by graduating students and OLMC families. All items are sold at approximately 50% of the retail price, making this a great opportunity to purchase any uniform items your daughter may require for 2027.

2026 Second-Hand Uniform Sale

Friday 27 November
4.00pm - 7.00pm

Saturday 28 November
9.00am - 1.00pm

Venue
Heagerty Room
OLMC Heidelberg
39 Yarra Street, Heidelberg

Bookings are essential, with appointments available every 15 minutes.

To book an allocated time please go to https://www.trybooking.com/DQLEJ

Please note - preferred method of payment is by EFTPOS or credit card.

Uniform Donations Welcome

We warmly welcome donations of OLMC Summer, Winter and PE uniform items that are clean, freshly laundered and in good condition. Donations help support OLMC families while supporting fundraising initiatives that benefit the Exodus Community.

For enquiries, please contact Monica Agius, Community Development Coordinator.

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

Monica Agius
Community Development Coordinator

St. John's Catholic Parish Heidelberg invite you to join with them in celebrating their 175th Anniversary Weekend on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November 2026.

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.