Wellbeing 

Dear Parents / Guardians,

Victoria's Minister for Education has now signed Ministerial Order 1515.  The Order sets out new requirements for how Victorian schools manage student use of personal electronic devices.  All registered schools must have a local policy that restricts student use of personal electronic devices during school hours, and the definition extends beyond mobile phones to smart glasses, wearable devices and personal audio devices.  It is scheduled to commence and take effect on 28 January 2027.  However, existing schools won't need to demonstrate compliance until their next scheduled review after 1 July 2027. Schools without a compliant policy risks losing its eligibility for registration.  The Order is concerned with child safety, privacy and workplace health and safety, as well as the learning environment.  For Academy, this means reviewing and updating (if necessary) our current Mobile Phone Policy against the Order’s definitions and exemption categories and then communicating the changes to students, staff and families in due course.

Year 10, 11 & 12 Exams and Orientation Week

Well done to all our Year 10, 11 & 12 students for the manner in which they approached their respective examination periods over the last few weeks.  As I write this article, the Year 12s are approaching the end of exams, and the Year 10s and Year 11s are about to commence theirs.

Year 10s and Year 11s will then begin their Headstart lessons for 2027 on Monday, 23 November.  We have reminded them that the Headstart Program is an opportunity to really lay some solid foundations over the holidays in preparation for their VCE journey. 

I would like to acknowledge and thank all staff in the preparation and execution of Headstart lessons as well.

Final Weeks

As the final few weeks of the year approach, students have been asked and reminded to remain focused on finishing well and with the same vigour and attitude with which they have applied themselves throughout the course of this year.  There are still Orientation classes scheduled for Years 10 &11 and Year 7, 8, and 9 students still have tasks to complete.  The expectations do not change, nor should we allow standards to decline. Students have been asked to continue to work to the very best of their ability, and in doing so, live up to the talents and gifts that God has given them.  The active involvement of our students in all aspects of College life engenders the very spirit of the community of which we are a part and truly represents the Mercy values which we work and live by each and every day.

Please do not hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions concerns. 

As always, thank you for your continued support.

Kind regards

Mr Sam Di Camillo

Deputy Principal - Wellbeing & Operations