FIRE Carriers

We are excited to announce our involvement in and support of the St. Joseph’s Primary School Fete on Saturday, 16 November, 2024, from 10.00am until 4.00pm with a Christmas Stall and Musical Performances. Our students will be hosting a FIRE Carrier Stall, where they will advocate for and raise awareness about the FIRE Carriers program, which promotes reconciliation and cultural recognition within our community.

Additionally, one of the Academy's bands will be performing a set from 12.30pm to 2.30pm, adding to the festive atmosphere of the day. We will also be hosting a Christmas stall to raise funds for the Opening the Doors Foundation. The stall will be selling a vast range of products including:

* Indigenous designed mugs, pens, purses, jewellry, lanyards, stationery, scrunchies, headbands

* Handcrafted Christmas baubles

* Knitted dolls

* Homemade jams

* Indigenous flower seeds

* DIY Christmas card kits

* Baked goods and much more!

This event provides a wonderful opportunity for our school and its students to connect with our wider Mercy community, fostering a spirit of service and social justice. We encourage everyone to come along, support our students, and enjoy a day filled with fun and meaningful engagement!

Seeds of Justice Conference

Recently, members of our Justice Group had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Year 7 & 8 Seeds of Justice Conference. This one-day event brought together younger members of social justice groups from various Mercy schools, allowing them to connect, collaborate and share ideas.

Throughout the conference, students engaged in a variety of activities alongside peers from more than eight other Mercy schools, including both city and rural institutions. They reflected on the journeys of Catherine McAuley and Ursula Frayne, exploring what it means to be a Mercy school and how different schools embody their Mercy values.

A significant focus of the day was on understanding homelessness and the perceptions surrounding it. Students learned about the important work being done by St Mary's House of Welcome** and participated in hands-on activities that made a real impact. In groups, they created blankets and packed hampers for those who sleep rough and access support services like St Mary's House of Welcome. Additionally, all participating schools contributed non-perishable food items that were packed into hampers and delivered to St Mary's at the end of the day.

For almost two decades, Seeds of Justice events have provided rich formation in Mercy for students and staff alike. Each event addresses issues of social and environmental injustice through the lens of the Mercy charism. This particular formation day aimed to inspire our Year 7 and Year 8 students to become agents for change and young people of Mercy.

We are proud of our students for their enthusiasm and commitment to social justice, and we look forward to seeing how they apply what they've learned in their own communities!

Learn more about St Mary’s House of Welcome and how you can help those in need. Visit their website at https://www.smhow.org.au/

A Year of Service

Over the past year, our school community has had the privilege of supporting St Mary’s House of Welcome by volunteering to serve breakfast every Friday morning. This initiative has seen both staff and students generously giving up their time and arriving at school early to participate in this rewarding experience.

A typical morning begins at 8.00am at the Academy, where students meet their teacher before walking to St Mary’s House of Welcome. Upon arrival, they set up tables, prepare thermoses of tea and coffee and help get the hot breakfast items ready. As clients walk in, they are greeted with smiles and a warm welcome from our Academy students, who serve breakfast, hot drinks and engaging conversation.

The breakfast served is one of dignity; our students ensure that clients are waited on, their tables cleared and dishes washed. Throughout the year, St Mary’s House of Welcome has served an impressive 40,272 meals, highlighting the vital role volunteers play in sustaining this essential service. Without the dedication of volunteers like our students, St Mary’s would struggle to continue its important work.

This opportunity not only allows our students to give back to the community, but also serves as a lived expression of their Mercy values. By engaging directly with those in need, they embody the spirit of service and social justice that is central to our mission.

We are incredibly proud of our students for their commitment and compassion in supporting St Mary’s House of Welcome and look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership in the future.

Christmas Food Drive

The Justice Group is hosting its annual Christmas Food Drive in support of St Mary’s House of Welcome, running from 18 November to 06 December. We are collecting non-perishable food items to help create food hampers for clients in need, particularly those who are experiencing homelessness. We invite all students and families to contribute the following items:

Your generous donations will make a significant difference in the lives of those served by St Mary’s House of Welcome. This initiative not only helps provide essential food supplies but also embodies our commitment to social justice and community support. Let’s come together as a school community and bring a smile to someone's face this Christmas season!

Cambodia Immersion Update

The Cambodia Immersion 2025 program is gaining significant interest, with over 20 expressions of interest submitted by students from both the Academy of Mary Immaculate and Our Lady of Mercy College. On Monday, 11 November, a well-attended parent information evening was held, bringing together families from both schools to learn more about this wonderful opportunity for our students. There was a great sense of excitement and interest among attendees, highlighting the transformative nature of this experience.

Applications for the immersion are due today, Friday, 15 November, with interviews scheduled for Tuesday, 19 November at both schools. Successful candidates will receive offers on Wednesday, 20 November.

Participating in an immersion program offers students an unique opportunity to engage in an expression of faith through various enriching experiences:

Global Awareness and Cultural Immersion: Students will be exposed to pressing global issues such as poverty and injustice while experiencing the rich cultures and environments of Cambodia.

Active Service and Community Engagement: The program includes direct service activities that embody the Mercy Education values of Compassion, Service and Hospitality.

Faith-Based Experiential Learning: This immersion serves as a lived expression of the Gospel, promoting the dignity of all God's creation and fostering solidarity with others. Holistic Personal Growth: Students will combine experience, contemplation and action to develop a socially engaged spirituality, nurturing values such as Justice, Respect, and Courage.

The shared immersion experience exemplifies the collaborative spirit among Mercy schools, which have a rich history of working together in areas like sports, music, debating and social justice. Each year, students participate in various social justice camps and conferences, including the Seeds of Justice camps and the Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Conference. This collaboration not only strengthens our community but also fosters meaningful connections among students and staff, providing enriching opportunities like this immersion program for our students.

Ms Mel Sachanandani

Justice Leader

Community

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Host a Japanese Student

Class of 1974 Reunion

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