In recent years, global conflict and political unrest have taken centre stage. Wars in Europe, the Middle East, and other regions dominate headlines.

War leaves people broken in ways that are hard to comprehend. Loved ones are lost. Churches are destroyed. Fear grips entire communities. For those in war zones, the emotional and spiritual toll can be overwhelming.

During Pope Leo XIV's Prayer Vigil for Peace in the world, the Pope appeals to leaders of nations to stop and sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, ‘not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided!’ He also insists that the Church will always advance in calling for peace ‘even when rejecting the logic of war may lead to misunderstanding and scorn,’ and will always instil ‘obedience to God rather than any human authority.’

Described as a peace-seeking bridge builder, Pope Leo has already appealed to the world’s major powers to put an end to war. His first words to the world as pontiff were: ‘peace be with all of you.’

In his first address as Leo XIV in 2025, he reaffirmed his commitment to social justice, welcoming migrants, including marginalized communities, and combating climate change.

He stressed the need to listen to others, build bridges and listen without judging.

‘Peace begins with each one of us; in the way we look at others, listen to others and speak about others.’

His words invite us to reflect on the quiet yet enduring influence we each have in shaping the communities around us; not through grand declarations, but through everyday acts of compassion, patience and understanding that often leave the deepest impression.

In the busyness of daily life, how do we ensure that others feel truly seen, heard and respected? Do our words and actions reflect the care, dignity and kindness we hope to extend to one another?

During the month of May, the Church traditionally honours Mary, the mother of Jesus. As a College named in honour of Our Lady of Mercy, this month holds special meaning for our community. Mary’s example of faith, compassion, courage, and quiet service continues to inspire us in the way we are called to live and relate to one another each day. In the Mercy tradition of Catherine McAuley, we look to Mary as a woman of hope who responded generously to God’s call and stood alongside others with love and mercy. Let us pray…

Loving God,

During this month of May,
we give thanks for Mary,
the mother of Jesus
and Our Lady of Mercy.

May her example of faith,
gentleness, courage, and compassion
guide our College community each day.

Help us to live with open hearts,
to care for those in need,
to seek justice,
and to bring hope to others
through our words and actions.

May Mary continue to watch over our students,
staff, and families,
and inspire us to do all things
with all our heart.

Amen.

On Sunday 3 May, members of the OLMC community joined parishioners and guests in celebrating the 175th anniversary of the foundation of St John’s Catholic Church. The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli together with Fr Vinh Nguyen. OLMC was honoured to be represented by Sr Emma and a number of students as the community gave thanks for the long history of faith, service, and Catholic education shared between the parish and the College.

Last Friday 8 May, marked one year since the American-born Augustinian priest and Bishop of Chiclayo (Peru), Robert Francis Prevost, was elected the 267th Bishop of Rome, the second Roman Pontiff from the Americas (Pope Francis was the first) and the first Augustinian Pope of the universal Catholic Church.

On this day a year ago, Prevost took the name Leo XIV and greeted the world as the newly-elected Pope with these first words: ‘Peace be with you all!’ He went on to say: ‘I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world.’ In his first speech, Pope Leo XIV invoked and referred to ‘peace’ multiple times, and ‘peace’ has become the hallmark of his pontificate.

For more on Pope Leo XIV’s first anniversary, you might like to take a look at this Twelve Months with Pope Leo: A Video Retrospect from Vatican News and these articles from CathNews:

• Pope’s first words a preview of his first year
• Pope marks anniversary of election at Marian shrine in Pompeii

Just a reminder that St. John’s (across the road from OLMC) is celebrating 175 years in various ways throughout the year, as advertised in their 2026 Parish Calendar. Other upcoming events worth highlighting include:

• 175th Anniversary Gala Dinner on Friday, 29 May at 7.00pm in Ivanhoe Centre-Heidelberg Town Hall (ticketed event)
• Thanksgiving Mass for the Sisters of Mercy on Sunday, 13 September at 10.30am, followed by morning tea

Like Pope Leo XIV, may we pray for and promote peace; personally, communally and globally. In our pursuit of peace, and as members of our OLMC community, may we be inspired by our OLMC values of Justice, Courage, Compassion and Joy.

At OLMC, we are committed to the ethical, secure, responsible, and equitable use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. Our recently established AI Policy (March 2026) provides a framework for integrating these emerging tools into our learning environment to enhance student outcomes.

We view AI as a powerful tool to support learning and one that may help students develop essential skills, such as problem solving and digital literacy. As with any tool, we recognise there are advantages and disadvantages to its use in different contexts. Teachers may utilise AI to support lesson planning and resource creation. In line with our established standards for educational materials, staff will continue to review these resources for content, accuracy, and pedagogical suitability.

Further, we recognise that we have a role in supporting students in their use of AI. This includes extending our existing digital literacy practices, ensuring students remain critical consumers of information who can identify inaccuracies and bias in AI-generated content just as they would any other source. We encourage the SIFT method for validating information, which is a four-step digital literacy strategy: Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, context or confirmation, and Trace claims back to the original source.

To ensure our assessments remain robust and relevant, the introduction of AI has fostered discussion around how we can best assess student achievement. In some cases, assessment may be moved to incorporating more feedback on the process of the knowledge or skill development, rather than just the product of learning. We have also had the opportunity to engage with experts in this field, such as Leon Furze, who worked with teachers at the end of last year. This led to the adoption of the AI Assessment Scale.

The scale is reproduced below and can be viewed in our AI Policy.

Source: https://aiassessmentscale.com/

So, what may this AI assessment scale look like in practice?

Level 1: No AI

At this level, students must rely solely on their own skills and knowledge in a controlled environment.

• Performing Arts: Students choreograph or generate music in preparation, but the final performance must demonstrate their own physicality and expressive skill without AI assistance.

• Visual Arts: Under exam conditions, students compare physical artwork without digital access to ensure they are demonstrating their own visual analysis skills.

Level 2: AI Planning

AI may be used for 'pre-task' activities such as brainstorming or initial research.

• Religious Education: Students might use AI to outline a narrative or transcribe a complex passage to improve their comprehension before completing the final task independently.

• Science: Students can input their own notes into a Large Language Model (LLM) to generate flashcards or dot-point summaries to assist with their revision.

Level 3: AI Collaboration

Students use AI to help complete the task, but they must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content.

• Performing Arts (Preparation): Students may use AI to generate backing music or take suggestions for choreography that they then evaluate and incorporate into a final performance.

• Science (VCE): Students can ask AI to summarize complex academic journal articles into 'plain English,' which they then synthesize into their own scientific report.

• Design, Art and Technology (DAT): AI can be used to compile research on various art styles, which students then cross-reference against other evidence to challenge the AI's accuracy.

Level 4: Full AI

AI is used extensively, allowing the assessment to focus on higher-order skills like delivery, critique, or directing the AI.

• English: To isolate public speaking skills, students use AI to generate a speech script. The assessment then focuses entirely on their delivery, such as tone, voice, and non-verbal communication.

• Health and Physical Education (HPE): Students use AI to generate a full response to a health inquiry and are then tasked with grading that output, identifying gaps, and fact-checking its claims.

Level 5: AI Exploration

Students and teachers co-design assessments to explore unique AI applications creatively.

• Humanities: Students use iterative prompting to create a historically accurate Roman scene via an AI image generator, refining the prompts based on their historical knowledge.

• Drama: Students generate a script segment using AI, perform it, and then feed their critique of the flow back into the AI to generate an improved version.

The College’s AI Policy may be accessed via PAM, and it is in the Learning and Teaching folder of the Parent Handbook.

Languages

It has been a busy time for the Languages Area with various activities occurring recently. A group of OLMC students and staff recently returned from a successful Japan Tour where the group visited our sister school, Seirei Gakuen High School. Back at home, the Year 10 Japanese students participated in an excursion to Monash University to learn about using the Japanese language and the Year 8 French students enjoyed a West African drumming performance.

Japan Study Tour 2026

On Thursday 9 April 2026, eighteen OLMC senior Japanese students joined three students from Sacred Heart College and four teachers for an unforgettable study tour across Japan. Over seventeen days, we travelled through Tokyo, Miyajima Island, Hiroshima, Kyoto and Akita, gaining first-hand experience of Japan’s culture, traditions and daily life. Throughout the journey, we practised our Japanese language skills, explored famous landmarks and enjoyed a wide variety of traditional foods and local experiences.

The first part of the tour was spent together as a group in Tokyo and Kyoto. In Tokyo, we explored many well-known attractions, including Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo Skytree, Akihabara, Harajuku and the iconic Shibuya Crossing. Our days were packed with sightseeing, shopping and discovering the energy of the city. Seeing the cherry blossoms in full bloom was especially memorable, adding colour and beauty to the busy streets. Tokyo’s vibrant atmosphere, particularly the bright lights, made a lasting impression on all of us.

Following Tokyo, we travelled to Miyajima Island where we stayed overnight in a traditional Japanese ryokan. This experience allowed us to immerse ourselves in Japanese customs, from wearing yukata robes to sleeping on futons and enjoying authentic Japanese cuisine. Whilst on Miyajima Island, we explored Itsukushima Shrine and enjoyed the island’s beautiful scenery.

On our way to Kyoto, we stopped in Hiroshima and visited the Peace Memorial Museum. Learning about the devastating impact of nuclear warfare was both emotional and thought-provoking, and it encouraged us to reflect on the importance of peace.

During our time in Kyoto, we visited a range of historic temples and shrines, including Kinkakuji, the famous Golden Pavilion and the Kiyomizu-dera temple. The stunning scenery and traditional architecture highlighted Japan’s rich cultural heritage. We also visited Nara, where we saw the famous deer roaming freely through the park and explored Todaiji Temple, home to the impressive Great Buddha statue.

While staying in Akita, we were given the chance to experience everyday Japanese life through our homestays and time at Seirei Gakuen High School. The students welcomed us warmly, which helped ease our nerves about meeting our host sisters for the first time. Living with our host sisters allowed us to learn more about Japanese culture and daily routines in a way none of us had ever experienced. During our time at school, we attended classes such as music and politics and joined club activities. We also took part in cultural activities, including a tea ceremony and a calligraphy class. Outside of school, a highlight among some of the students was travelling to Kakunodate with their host families, where they wore traditional kimonos and explored the beautiful historic samurai neighbourhood. By the end of our time in Akita, we had created meaningful friendships and unforgettable memories with both our host families and the students at Seirei High School.

Our exchange tour in Japan was filled with fun, laughter and many new memories. Over the course of the tour, we learnt so much about Japanese culture and improved on our Japanese speaking skills, while also creating strong friendships that we will always remember. We would especially like to thank Stavretis Sensei, Durant Sensei, Thomson Sensei and Conroy Sensei (from Sacred Heart College) for supporting us throughout the exchange and helping make the tour such a memorable experience. This opportunity has helped us grow in confidence and further develop our Japanese skills, and it is an experience we will cherish for many years to come.

Isabelle D (11M5), Ineka D (11A6), Isabella L (11C1)

Year 8 French Drumming Incursion

The French Drumming incursion was an interactive and highly energetic experience for all Year 8s studying French. We learnt about the history of West Africa and their culture as well as learning how to play the Djembe (West African drum). We also did cultural dances to traditional West African music.

At first, we were all hesitant but after a while we saw how much fun the ensemble and others were having and decided to join in. Even our teachers were enjoying it and dancing along. We were all given a Djembe to play along with the dun dun (base drum) which was being played by Mohummad and Simon. Whilst we were playing a song, Mitzi showed us the dance moves and got everybody involved. Overall, it was a super engaging and fun incursion.

Zoe G 8G

Year 10 Japanese Excursion to Monash University

One of the most memorable experiences of Year 10 Japanese has been the Mirai (‘Future’) event, held at Monash University Clayton campus on Friday 13 March. The day was jam-packed with interactive activities and thought-provoking tips and possibilities regarding the learning of Japanese.

Firstly, we had the privilege of experiencing the talented Wadaiko Rindo drumming ensemble perform traditional Japanese Taiko drumming, which beautifully set the tone for the event.

We were then introduced to several in-country opportunities in Japan, along with accessible ways to pursue them. In particular, we looked into how to study Japanese, high school exchange, working holidays, and university semester exchanges. The presentation was engaging, informative, and inspiring.

During the day, all schools participated in several kahoots, which consisted of questions about Japan and the various topics discussed. Two students per school competed against each other for an assortment of prizes. Many bags consisting of tasty authentic Japanese snacks were given out to many schools, and we were lucky to be one of the winning schools.

After the event we filled our stomachs with a delicious obento meal. We were given the choice between a vegetarian or non-vegetarian meal, providing options to suit all tastes. Enjoying flavoursome bentos with friends easily became one of our favourite memories from the day.

Overall, the day was highly informative and educational, offering an array of Japanese language tips and opportunities. This seminar was a great way to learn more about the Japanese language and how we can apply it now and in the future. It was a worthwhile experience and we would highly recommend it to others.

Alessia S (10A4) and Olivia B (10L5)

James Stavretis
Languages Learning Leader

There has been an exciting buzz in the Year 7 Humanities classes this term. Students have been continuing to learn about different electorates around Australia and evaluating their liveability. For example, there have been conversations about the connections to places people have in the remote regions of Durack in Western Australia, floods in the Northern Territory’s seat of Lingiari, drought and fuel shortages in the Mallee and the impact inflation is having on housing affordability in electorates like Wentworth in New South Wales. Students have also been learning about how members of the government, opposition and crossbench try to represent their electorate in parliament and to improve liveability for their electorate.

Over the coming weeks, the students will be creating a magazine about their electorate, highlighting what makes it a liveable place. We are looking forward to seeing what they produce!

The Year 10 Innovation and Enterprise students are also preparing for their Market Day Stalls. These students are using the $20 Boss program to apply their understanding of what it takes to create, market, and operate a business. They will be preparing and marketing their businesses over the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for their progress in future newsletters.

Jemmah Ind
Humanities Learning Leader

Late last term, my Year 12 VCE VM Personal Development Skills (PDS) students completed an inaugural ‘Keep Cup Social Enterprise Challenge’ as part of Unit 3 Outcome 1. I designed the challenge to provide students with a creative, authentic and student driven learning experience that combined social awareness, teamwork and entrepreneurship within a real-life fundraising context.

Working in teams, students were each given a set of THE 7TH LAB keep cups and a starting budget before developing their own unique fundraising concepts and promotional strategies. Across several weeks, students planned campaigns, designed marketing materials, created raffle initiatives, practised sales pitches, negotiated with others and managed transactions while promoting the charitable purpose behind their work.

What made the challenge particularly impressive was the creativity and initiative shown by the students throughout the process. Rather than following a set formula, each group approached the task differently, developing original ideas to engage the school community. Students demonstrated confidence, adaptability and innovation as they responded to challenges and refined their approaches along the way.

The challenge provided an authentic opportunity for students to apply communication, teamwork, leadership, problem solving and organisational skills in a practical setting. It was wonderful to see students engaging respectfully and confidently with staff and peers while taking ownership of their projects and contributing positively to the wider school community.

A highlight of the challenge was the outstanding support shown across the school. Funds raised through the Casual Clothes Day totalled more than $1200 for McAuley Community Services for Women, while the Year 7 raffle raised over $200.

Congratulations to all students involved for their creativity, teamwork and commitment throughout the challenge. Their efforts reflected the values of community engagement, initiative and social responsibility that sit at the centre of VCE VM PDS and THE 7TH LAB.

Suzie Bradmore
VCE VM Personal Development Skills Teacher

Senior Vocational Program Coordinator, Helen Hamblin congratulating Ruby H (7G) on her raffle win.

‘Keep Cup Social Enterprise Challenge’: Student perspective

As part of our Year 12 Personal Development Skills class, we recently completed a ‘Keep Cup Social Enterprise Challenge’. In small groups, we were given THE 7TH LAB branded keep cups and challenged to create a fundraiser that would raise money for McAuley Community Services for Women.

My group decided to organise a whole school Casual Clothes Day where students donated a gold coin to participate. The keep cups were used as incentives, with pastoral classes competing to win a cup for their teacher if they raised the most money within their year level and House colour.

Planning the event involved promoting the fundraiser across the school through posters, announcements and communication with staff and coordinators. Throughout the process we developed important skills including teamwork, leadership, organisation, communication and problem solving.

One of the most rewarding parts of the challenge was seeing the school community come together to support such an important cause. We are extremely proud of the support shown by both students and staff and grateful for the opportunity to be involved in a project that made a positive contribution to the community.

Sophie C (12L6)

It has been a busy start to the term for our wellbeing program, with many events already filling the calendar.

We recently held our Year 12 Parent Information Evening, where families received important information about the year ahead, including assessments, SACs and the GAT. A highlight of the evening was hearing from a panel of past Year 12 students, who shared their experiences with honesty and humour particularly around the ‘unknowns’ of being both a student and a parent navigating the final year.

Our annual Athletics Carnival was held on Tuesday 5 May at the Box Hill Athletics Track. This continues to be a significant event on our calendar, providing students with the opportunity to form new relationships and step outside their comfort zones by participating in a wide range of events. The day began with each of our four Houses - Carmel, Mercy, McAuley and Loreto hosting vibrant House stalls. Students gathered in the morning to build house spirit, adding colour and energy with ribbons, zinc and hairspray in support of their House.

Congratulations to McAuley House for winning the House Trophy, a very fitting way to farewell the incredible Ms Williams. All students celebrated McAuley’s win with three cheers for Ms Williams in recognition of her dedication and contribution to the school community. Also well done to Mercy House for winning the cheering trophy, with a fantastic display of House spirit and enthusiasm.

It was impressive to see our school theme, ‘Whatever you do, do it with all your heart’ (Colossians 3:23a) brought to life throughout the athletics carnival. Many students challenged themselves by trying events for the first time, including high jump, javelin and triple jump. Opportunities like this continue to strengthen students’ sense of belonging within the House system and encourage active participation in College life.

We look forward to many more events on our wellbeing calendar this term including the Year 12 Lunch, Year 11s Fit to Drive Session, Red Frogs, Learn a New Skill and Dare to Donate.

Lara Tierney
Carmel House Coordinator

Matthew Sweeney
Mercy House Coordinator

Benjamin Hodges
Loreto House Coordinator

Kathryn Williams
McAuley House Coordinator

On Monday 11 May 2026, McAuley Hall once again came alive with warmth, laughter, and lively conversation as our community gathered to celebrate Mother’s Day — a special evening dedicated to honouring mothers, grandmothers, and the many amazing women who enrich our lives with their love, care, and support.

The evening began with a warm welcome from Acting Principal Joanna De Bono, followed by a touching liturgy prepared by Sister Emma Llewellyn and prayers beautifully read by students.

Rachel O’Keeffe then extended a heartfelt and uplifting welcome on behalf of the Parents’ Association, warmly greeting guests and creating a wonderful celebratory atmosphere for the evening ahead.

This year, we were delighted to hear several of the students share heartfelt words about their mums. It was truly lovely to listen to them speak with such warmth, admiration and emotion.

The Strings Ensemble gave up their lunchtimes to practice for the mothers and daughters while supper was being served. Performing Arts students from OLMC Senior Production Midnight – The Cinderella Musical, gave a sample of Breathe, a song from the upcoming show. The evening concluded with the much-anticipated raffle draw, led by several of our Year 12 students as they celebrated their final Mother’s Day Evening at OLMC.

Guests enjoyed a delicious supper and had fun with the photo booth, which again was a hit among the students. A highlight at the end of the evening was the gorgeous GOAT products given to each special guest and thoughtfully organised by Lia Heim.

Events such as this are only possible through the dedication and generosity of our wonderful Parents’ Association volunteers. A heartfelt thank you to the fundraising committee for sourcing the raffle and door prizes for their tireless efforts in organising and assembling the gifts for the raffles and door prizes.

A huge thank you to Julie from Balloons by Julie Maree for generously donating the stunning balloon display, which added a vibrant and joyful touch to the evening’s celebration and provided a beautiful backdrop for many family photo opportunities.

We extend our sincere gratitude to our local businesses for their generous support, donating over $5,000 worth of prizes. Proceeds from the raffle and related activities will ultimately benefit the College. We are deeply appreciative of this outstanding contribution.

Autobarn Preston, Glenferrie Butcher Hawthorn, Sandra Lee Eyebrows Bundoora, Transcend Skin, East Ivanhoe. Elite Training, Bulleen. Copper Butterfly Hair Salon Eltham, Tahnee Raine East Ivanhoe, Ruggles Drycleaner Heidelberg, Your Body Osteopathy Macleod, Styled By Zampera Watsonia, Longevity Chinese Medicine, Lower Plenty, Verve Photography Richmond, Chicken Depot, Heidelberg, Bodyline Health, Lower Plenty, Isabel Alessi Kinesiology Carlton North, Hencho En Mexico Heidelberg, Café 130 Templestowe, At Muse by Jessica Taylor Ivanhoe East, The Nice Guy Eddie Café, Heidelberg Heights, Curves Strong, Fairfield, Macleod Café, Macleod, Woolworths, Heidelberg, Chemist Warehouse, Heidelberg and Heidelberg West, Maryan Javevski Photography, Ferguson Plarre Bakehouse Heidelberg, Vascular Ultrasound Specialists (VUS) Heidelberg, Charme Nails Shop, Heidelberg Heights, Deeva Warringal, Heidelberg, Eli Jae

The evening was filled with a strong sense of community and heartfelt appreciation for the remarkable women in our lives. We look forward to welcoming you to our next Parents’ Association event.

Thank you again to all those that supported the raffle and congratulations to the winners!

1st Prize: Health and Wellbeing Pack 1 – Marina Giatrakos

2nd Prize: Health and Wellbeing Pack 2 – Wendy Hernandez

3rd Prize: Wellbeing, Luxe Hair & Body Indulgence – Matt Wood

4th Prize: Pamper My Wardrobe – Matthew Wicking

5th Prize: Bat Your Lashes & Cosmetics Beauty – Jasmine Horkos

6th Prize: Wellness & Coffee Recharge – Vivian Janevski

7th Prize: Home Beautiful Pack – Sandra Salamone

8th Prize: Head-To-Toe Wellness & Hair Indulgence – Vassie Catalano

9th Prize: Dinner at Home Pack – Shamona Jasic

10th Prize: From Dinner to Desert (Coffee!) - Marina Giatrakos

11th Prize: Dinner and Coffee Pack – Mae Caddy

12th Prize: Time Just for You – Katrina Howden

Nikki Reynolds
On behalf of the OLMC Parents' Association

Applications for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) 2026 are now open and remain open until the end of Term 2 - Friday 26 June 2026.

Parents/Legal Guardians holding a Concession Card and being successfully validated with Centrelink will be entitled to a payment of $400 per year for each Secondary School student.

Parents, please refer to the 2026 Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund (CSEF) Application Form attached.

Please complete this application and return it as soon as possible to Visitor Reception at OLMC along with a photocopy of your relevant Concession Card.

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