Last week, it was a privilege and a joy to celebrate with the Year 12 students and their families, the end of their school journey. On Monday, they opened their time capsules full of items they saved for themselves in Year 7, along with surprising amounts of money. They reminisced with fondness about the last 6 years. They went into these celebrations with a great unity of spirit. On Tuesday, the celebration continued with a moving Mass and a joy filled dinner at the Events Centre in Essendon Fields.

Exams are now well underway and we wish all Year 12 students the very best for the coming weeks.

Cup week always seems to feel like it has arrived too soon. The four-day break, I hope, will bring with it an opportunity to rest and prepare for the remainder of the term. The exam period for Year 10 and 11 students will begin soon, followed quickly by the Orientation Program, designed to help prepare them for the next phase of their VCE studies. The program has been developed with the specific future needs of the students at its heart. It will be a chance for students to gain some understanding of the course content and will prepare them for their study routines for the holiday break and the beginning of Year 11 and 12 in 2026.

November is a time of remembrance. On November 1, it is the Feast of All Saints and November 2, the Feast of All Souls. On these days, we call to mind all those loved members of our families and communities that are no longer with us. It is a chance to remember and celebrate their lives and achievements and the blessings that they brought to our lives. On Thursday 11 November it is Remembrance Day, a time to pause and remember those who have given their lives in the service of their country. As wars and conflicts rage around the world, we hold all who are living in fear, suffering the loss of loved ones, their home and their security in our prayers.

Today in Australia we celebrate World Teachers’ Day. The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) has a program for ‘Hats off to Teachers’. We celebrate teachers both here and all over Australia. We hope you can join us in also celebrating and recognising our teachers and perhaps tip your hat for someone.

All Saints' and All Souls' Days

It's hard to miss the Halloween celebrations, or as we know it in our tradition, the Eve of All Hallows. This night precedes two great Catholic feast days: All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2).

• All Saints' Day calls us to remember and celebrate all the canonised saints who offer us ways to see the Kingdom of Heaven made present in our world.
• All Souls' Day invites us to remember and celebrate all people who have died - both named and unnamed, and especially those close to us.

In the Catholic and Mercy tradition, praying for the living and the dead is one of the spiritual works of mercy. While this is something practised all year, it holds a special significance throughout November.

We invite you to remember and celebrate all those gone before us, and to pray for and with them. You may also like to light a virtual candle at the tomb of Venerable Catherine McAuley and ask her to join you in your prayer to God.

Click here to light a virtual candle

So we pray…

Loving God,
source of all goodness and light,
As the world around us bursts into Spring and the days grow longer,
we pause in this season of Allhallowtide to feel the powerful connection of your entire family.

We thank you for All Saints' Day, celebrating all your holy people,
those with famous stories and those known only to a few.

We ask you to inspire us, the Mercy community of OLMC,
to be everyday saints: to choose courage over comfort, kindness over judgment,
and to embrace the new life and hope of this season
by working for justice in our local community and in our world,
modelling the generous spirit of Jesus in everything we do.

We then turn our hearts to All Souls' Day,
remembering with deep love everyone who has completed their life on Earth,
especially our family members, friends, and all the faithful departed who are dearly missed.
We pray that they are resting fully in your peace and in the embrace of your endless mercy.
Strengthen our faith in the Communion of Saints, reminding us that whether on Earth or in Heaven,
we are one community, bound together by the unbreakable promise of Christ's love.
Help us to live in a way that honours their memory,
carrying forward their love and legacy until we are all united with you forever.

We ask this in the name of Jesus, who makes all things new.

Amen.

Venerable Catherine McAuley - pray for us.

Mother Ursula Frayne - pray for us.

Mother Basil Emoe - pray for us.

Image: https://www.mercyworld.org/catherine/introducing-catherine/tour/?srsltid=AfmBOopqRcMOT0d1XpkM3S8BSYCe3wMOitHfoFzMhbniobaPc02k8-hI

Used with permission.

On Friday 24 October, three of our Year 11 students — Lily, Alyssa and Veronica — attended the Principals’ Association of Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools (PAVCSS) meeting to speak about Camp Heide, OLMC’s long-running partnership with the Exodus Community in West Heidelberg.

The students shared how the camp brings together young people from Exodus and OLMC to build friendships, trust, and hope through play, conversation, and shared experiences. Their presentation was warmly received by principals and by Sr Brigid Arthur CSB, in whose honour the 2024 Sr Brigid Arthur Award was granted to OLMC to help fund this year’s camp.

We are proud of Lily, Alyssa and Veronica for representing our College with such grace and gratitude, and for helping others see how Mercy continues to be lived through the hands and hearts of our students.

On Thursday 23 October, our Year 11 students gathered for their Reflection Day here at school, led by Fr Luke and the Passionist Youth. The day invited them to pause and consider who they are becoming as young adults and leaders within our Mercy community.

Through fun, prayer, problem-solving, personal reflection, and group activities, students explored themes of connection, purpose, and integrity, guided by our Mercy values.

Some student comments about the day included:

• ‘It was good to be able to work with our friends throughout the day-- it made me feel more engaged with the activities’
• ‘The day was much better than I thought it would be’
• ‘Can't wait for them to run year 12 retreat’
• ‘Better than I thought, good job’
• ‘Fun, engaging, a good opportunity to connect, relevant in my life’

Thank you to the staff who supported the day and helped create an atmosphere of openness and reflection. It was a valuable opportunity for students to step back from the busyness of school life and look ahead to their final year with renewed focus and hope.

We welcomed Nahla and Shereen to join us for lunch on Wednesday 22 October. They have settled in the local area as refugees from Palestine, and we shared local Lebanese food from 5 Sisters, as well as students bringing Australian treats such as ANZAC biscuits, hedgehog slice, party pies, and fairy bread.

Nahla enjoys creating art, so we worked on a canvas together using a tree of life as our symbol, with fingerprints and names of students. She is keen to take and finish this artwork, and we look forward to welcoming our visitors back to see this art work and continue our hospitality.

Thank you to Ms Rima Ibrahim for introducing us, our staff member who is also a PARA (Palestine Australia Relief and Action) volunteer.

Anita Galli
Social Justice Coordinator

Semester 2 exams are fast approaching for Years 10 and 11 students. Families and students often ask, ‘Why do we have exams?’ At OLMC examinations are one part of a student’s academic journey and they help to develop a range of skills. In particular:

Time management: Exams require students to manage their time effectively, both during the process of preparing for the exam, and also during the actual exam. During the exam students are being tested on their ability to complete the exam questions in a specified time frame.

Memory and recall: In order to achieve success in exams, students need to retain, recall and apply information that has been taught to them.

Critical thinking: Exam questions often move beyond the simple recall of facts, and require students to think more deeply and analyse, evaluate, and synthesise information. This assists students in developing critical thinking skills.

Communication: Often exam responses require students to communicate their ideas clearly and in a logical manner. Performance exams, such as oral exams for languages, require students to articulate their thoughts on the spot as they respond to the questions from the assessors.

Problem-solving: Depending on the subject and exam, students may be required to solve problems or apply their skills and knowledge to real-world contexts, rather than simply recounting facts.

Organisation and planning: In the lead up to and throughout the exam period, students need to organise their time effectively in order to be thoroughly prepared for each exam they will undertake.

Resilience: We know completing exams can be a stressful experience. However, exams provide an opportunity for students to learn to cope with stressful situations, and to develop resilience and perseverance.

(adapted from https://tokyo.globalindianschool.org/blog-details/what-is-the-importance-of-exams-for-students-in-schools)

Elevate Education's Term 4 Parent Webinar program is underway and there are three more webinars this year.

The next webinar, on Wednesday 12 November, is focused on ‘How to help your child alleviate stress’ and it will be starting at 6.30 pm.

The two remaining webinars for the year are:

• How you can build resilience in your child – Wednesday 26 November

• How you can set your child up for success – Wednesday 10 December

The webinars typically run for 60 minutes.

If you would like to attend one or more of the webinars, then please register via the link below.

https://go.elevateeducation.com/auschoolwebinars

A Look at Learning in Religious Education

We've been very busy and engaged in the Religious Education (RE) classrooms!

Our Year 8 RE students have started a fascinating unit as they delve into all things Christmas. Specifically, they are studying the Nativity stories as presented in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. This close examination helps them understand the similarities and differences between the two stories and their impact on how we celebrate Christmas today.

Meanwhile, our Year 11 Religion and Society students have been showcasing their historical understanding and presentation skills. They are currently delivering their Socratic Circles Oral Presentations on the compelling topic of how religion has changed throughout history in Australia. The level of research and thoughtful debate has been outstanding.

Year 11 Reflection Day: Preparing for Leadership

On Thursday 23 October, our Year 11 students participated in their special Reflection Day. It was a valuable opportunity for them to step away from the usual classroom structure and focus on community and personal growth. The day was spent connecting with each other and, significantly, focusing on their crucial role as Year 12 leaders for the upcoming 2026 school year. We look forward to seeing the positive impact they will have on the school community.

Grace Austin
Religious Education Learning Area Leader

Some exciting efforts and activities have emerged in Civics and Citizenship at Year 7 and 8 in 2025, and we look forward to developing them in line with the new Victorian Curriculum 2.0 next year.

The focus of Year 7 Civics is Australian democracy, and students and staff have been immersing themselves in the continually evolving nature of Local, State and Federal government. Rather than simply looking at the structure of parliament and the responsibilities associated with it - important though this is - students consider what it means to represent a community and how they might go about pursuing this role.

They run a simple campaign to promote a figure. They experience the ups and downs associated with this pursuit. They develop candidate values, thinking and reasoning for representation. They vote in a compulsory election and witness the outcome of preferential voting.

In this way, we try to make it as realistic and skills-based as possible.

Similarly, in Year 8, students are contemplating the Australian legal system as they learn about the rights and responsibilities involved in citizenship. Although they consider the history behind the law, the rule of law and the theoretical aspects of it too, we are attempting to construct a more skills-based approach as we implement the Victorian Curriculum 2.0. Thus, a mock court will be on the horizon. Students will be involved in the intrinsic routine of court as they unearth the role of judges, juries, legal professionals and Australian citizens.

It promises to be a dynamic and fascinating learning environment in 2026.

Rosemary Jones
Humanities Learning Leader

We have had a busy and rewarding year competing in various public speaking and debating competitions. Over 50 students from Year 7 through to Year 12 have participated in a range of activities - the Senior DAV Debating competition, the Junior DAV Debating competition and the annual Frayne Festival. I would like to congratulate and thank our Public Speaking and Debating Captains, Aarchi K of Year 11 and Sophie B of Year 12, for all their hard work, enthusiasm and fantastic ideas.

Senior DAV Debating

In Terms 2 and 3, students from Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 debated in five rounds at Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar against a range of schools in our region. While we did not make the finals, all teams won a number of debates and various OLMC students were awarded Best Speaker in several debates. Special mention must be made of Eva D, Ellie T, Aarchi K and Esther H who were named Best Speaker on more than one occasion. The Year 11 team finished at the top of the B Grade ladder but missed out on getting to the finals by one point in a ‘power paired’ final round. Thank you to Ms Rhonda Brislin and Ms Rima Cilmi for their support and assistance in preparing our students.

D Grade debaters - Anh T, Ellie T, Emilia F, Evie C, Agnese B, Eva D, Philippa M, Stephanie A-R, Claire W and Sienna V.

C Grade debaters – Livia P, Winnie Q, Alexandra K and Charlotte M

A and B Grade debaters – Liandra J, Esther H, Aarchi K, Sophie B, Katie B

Junior DAV Debating

It was fantastic to see so much interest in Junior DAV Debating this year. Over 40 students expressed interest in participating. The following students became members of the four OLMC teams: Meher R, Charlotte N, Stella W, Olivia L, Maddison H, Abbie T, Kate Y, Elina L, and Aisling T of Year 7, and Vienna D, Imelda B, Honora P, Jessica H, Harsha S, Felicity B, Dona W, Matilda G, Natalie M, Charlie R and Clara S of Year 8.

In Term 3, these students competed in three rounds of debates and participated in various training sessions at Ivanhoe Grammar. Out of the total of 12 debates that OLMC competed in, we won 9 - such an impressive achievement! The following students also were awarded Best Speaker in at least one debate: Stella W, Harsha S, Honora P, Felicity B, Jessica H, Meher R, Kate Y and Clara S.

I know that all team members will join me in thanking the four teachers who coached each of the teams - Ms Marie Spyros, Ms Helen Lachal, Ms Lefterika Verghese and Ms Rima Cilmi. Their support and guidance were invaluable.

The Frayne Festival

Twenty OLMC students travelled to Sacred Heart College in Kyneton to compete in this year’s Frayne Festival. The Frayne Festival is an important annual event that celebrates public speaking and debating skills of Mercy students from across Victoria.

Alana P and Hannah H of Year 12 competed in Public Speaking. All students were given a list of six topics to choose from. Alana chose to respond to the prompt ‘Change begins with listening’. Hannah’s speech was based on ‘History has its eyes on us’. Both speeches were very thoughtful and delivered with confidence and flair.

Aarchi K, Esther H, Katherine B, Liandra J of Year 11 and Sophie B of Year 12 were the members of the Debating team, participating in two debates over the day. All students presented great speeches that included clever rebuttals. Both teams won their first debate but in the second round were just beaten. Congratulations to all our students for a great day of debating.

A huge thank you to Ms Rhonda Brislin for her support of the debaters and the public speakers.

Our Voice Choir was made up of 14 students from Years 9 and 10. Eva D, Stephanie A, Emilia F, Lara P, Agnese B, Philippa M, Madeleine L, Claire W, Eva K, Ave T, Jiawen Q, Olivia B, Sienna M and Isabella L spent over two months preparing a performance of two poems, Breath by Maxine Beneba-Clarke and The Sunshine Kid by Harry Baker. They are to be commended on the commitment, teamwork and creativity they put into creating this fantastic contribution to the Festival. It was very exciting to be awarded second place.

All our students should be very proud of their achievements and the way they represented OLMC. Fantastic work!

Suzanne Lake
Debating and Public Speaking Coordinator

Each year the Parents’ Association run a Lucky Fees Raffle to raise funds that support and enhance educational opportunities and the community life at OLMC. First prize is $4000 off your school fees for 2026 and second prize is $2000 off the fees – wouldn’t that be amazing!

Tickets are $10 each, 10 for $70 or 15 for $100

To purchase the tickets please click here - https://www.trybooking.com/DFNTT

1st prize: $4000 Voucher for 2026 School Fees

Or Shopping Vouchers to the value of $4000

2nd Prize: $2000 Voucher for 2026 School Fees

Or Shopping Vouchers to the value of $2000

3rd Prize: Snap Fitness Heidelberg Performance Pack 3-month membership

plus unlimited group fitness classes, a personal training session, a 12 week nutrition personal program and workout plan via the app Value $499

4th Prize: Noone Uniform Vouchers valued at $400

5th Prize: Mystery Melbourne Hotel Stay to the value of $300 Donated by Meridian Travel Heidelberg.

6^th Prize: Christmas turkey Donated by Oroso Poultry & Meats

The raffle will be drawn on Friday 21 November at the College. Winners will be notified by phone or email and results published in the newsletter.

Your support in the sale of the raffle tickets is gratefully appreciated.

OLMC Parents’ Association

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.