Wellbeing 

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Welcome back to the 2026 academic year!  A warm and heartfelt welcome to all new families joining the Academy community.  I hope that the Christmas and New Year’s break provided you with the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones while also finding time to rest and recharge.

I am very pleased to share that the school year has begun exceptionally well, with our students returning at the end of January, their faces beaming with enthusiasm.  They were greeted at the front gate by our Senior Student Leadership Team with applause and lollies! — an inspiring display of the strong sense of community and Mercy spirit that defines and is visible in the Academy community each day.

We have been truly impressed by our newest 4 classes at Year 7 and the seamless manner in which they have embraced this new chapter of their educational journey.  The Year 7 team has worked diligently to ensure their transition is as smooth and welcoming as possible.  Likewise, our Wellbeing Leaders and Mentor Group Teachers for Years 8–12 have extended their warm support to an additional 25 new students, ensuring they feel a strong sense of belonging and a confident start to their time at the College.

Ms Lucy Neil, Deputy Principal of Learning & Teaching, and I, using our Educate for Excellence Model as our driver, along with the MACS Vision for Instruction and Vision for Engagement Frameworks, have continued to work in close collaboration to ensure that our Learning & Teaching initiatives seamlessly integrate with our Student Wellbeing Programs.  One great example of this for 2026 is our Positive Education Program, focussing on ‘Learning how to Learn’.  Our goal is always to create a cohesive and enriching educational experience that nurtures both academic excellence and personal development.  I believe that by fostering this synergy, we strive to empower our students to reach their full potential, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and confidence to achieve their aspirations and grow into exceptional young women who can go out into the world, be successful and make a difference. 

Consent2Go

As you are aware, Consent2Go has replaced Operoo to assist us in managing our event and excursion processes.  If you have not already done so, we ask that you create a Consent2Go profile for your daughter.  The sooner we have your daughter on the system, the more information we have in ensuring her safety and wellbeing.  Moreover, if your daughter does not have a Consent2Go profile, it will impede her capacity to attend any excursion/event that is planned.  This change has been fully integrated and implemented into our day to day operations and parents are asked to monitor emails regularly to see if there is an event your daughter needs to attend and requires your permission.  Parents are also able to download the ‘Consent2Go’ app for ease of use.  

If you have any questions or require assistance with Consent2Go, please contact our College Business Manager, Mr Andrew Baker.

Student Planners

Your daughter’s Student Planner is a key avenue of communication with the College. There are several important aspects of the Student Planner and they include:

Statement of Acknowledgement and College Policies and Procedures

On the first page of the Student Planner, we have included a statement which we ask you and your daughter to sign.  In asking you to sign this statement, it is an expression of your support of the College’s Policies and Procedures and the expectations and standards that we seek to uphold.

We thank you for your support in signing this statement and ask that if not already signed, that this is done by Friday, 20 February.

With reference to the College Policies and Procedures (pp.8-11), please take note of the General College Rules and Uniform Requirements.  Becoming familiar with this information may alleviate the potential for any confusion about what is expected at the College.

Student Wellness Plan (pp.15-16 and beyond)

Another aspect of the planner is the Student Wellness Plan which we hope to use as a reference tool in supporting your daughter.

The plan asks students to consider when they are happy, calm or frustrated and from what they draw strength.  The plan is taken from the Resilience Project Model that focusses on Three Pillars.  These are:

1. Gratitude - Practising appreciation for the positive things in life, both big and small. This includes keeping gratitude journals, sharing what you're grateful for, or simply noticing good moments throughout the day.
2. Empathy - Understanding and connecting with others' feelings and perspectives. This involves active listening, showing compassion and building meaningful relationships.

3. Mindfulness - Being present in the moment rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.  This can include meditation, breathing exercises or simply paying attention to your current experience.

    

The Resilience Project Model emphasises that these aren't complex psychological interventions, but rather practical, everyday habits that anyone can build into their lives to improve mental health and resilience.

Our primary purpose of using the Student Wellness Plan at Academy is driven by a desire to better understand your daughter’s mindset at any given stage throughout the year.  We encourage parents/guardians to engage with their daughter in talking about and contributing to the plan.  Mentor Group Teachers will also be working with your daughters in talking about this wellness plan.

The more we can engage your daughter and encourage her to develop a clearer understanding of herself, the better able she may be to navigate the sometimes murky waters of adolescence.

Uniform

While the vast majority of students have returned to school wearing the correct uniform, there are still a number of students who need to remember the following:

• there should only one earring in each lobe of the ear
• nose rings are not part of the uniform
• dress length should be at mid-knee length or longer
• fake eye lashes and make up are not part of the uniform

I would also ask you to encourage your daughters to ensure their uniform looks its best at all times.   Additionally, in travelling to and from the College each day, please remind your daughters to be on their best behaviour and to carry themselves with dignity and pride.

The students are often the start and end of what the public see and how they present themselves with their uniform and their behaviour should reflect the very highest of standards.  The students are ambassadors for the Academy each time they step outside the school gate and, as such, they should be mindful that they are representatives of the College.

Wellbeing Leaders and Mentor Group teachers have been giving the students a very small ‘grace’ period with regards to uniform and/or lateness etc, with the issuing of infringements having commenced this week.

Mentor Group Time

This is a very important part of the day that will allow the opportunity for the development of a strong rapport between Mentor Group Teacher and the students, and in doing so, students are looked after in the best possible pastoral manner. 

 It is also a period of time where some administrative tasks can be undertaken and Mentor Group Teachers can really set a positive tone for the day ahead.  Attending Mentor Group is not an optional activity, nor is arriving late.   All students are be expected to be punctual in the morning and there are procedures in place for any students who are late or do not attend this important part of the school day.  We ask for full parental support with all of the above.

Parents’ Association Meeting 

Approximately once a month, the Parents’ Association conducts a meeting in which parents are offered the chance to contribute to the life of the College.  It is an opportunity to continue an ongoing partnership between the College and the parents of the students in our care.  

I invite parents/guardians to play an active and crucial part at Academy, and should you be so inclined, you are most welcome to attend our first meeting of the year on Monday, 23 February beginning at 7.00pm.  Term 1 & Term 4 Meetings are on Campus and Term 2 & Term 3 Meetings are conducted online. 

If you would like to attend the first meeting, please email me directly at: Sam.DiCamillo@academy.vic.edu.au or Ms Camilla Dighton, President of the Parents’ Association on dightonc@hotmail.com and we will add you to the email and distribution list.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you need any assistance or to raise any points of concern.

I look forward to working with all in the community throughout year.

Mr Sam Di Camillo

Deputy Principal - Wellbeing & Operations