Mercy Messenger Week 6 Term 4 – Friday 14 November 2014
Week 6 Term 4 – Friday 14 November 2014 Mercy Messenger Date Reminders Contents November Principal .......................................................................... 1 Thu 20 .............................. Maths Tutoring (Yr 10 only) 8.00am Rm D12 Academic Awards Evening .......................................... 1 Thu 20 ...................................... Maths Tutoring 3.00 – 4.00pm Rm D12 Assistant Principal Mission ............................................. 4 Thu 20 .......................................English Tutoring 3.00 – 4.00pm Library The Lord’s Prayer ........................................................ 4 Wed 26 ..................................................................... Yr 10 Semi-Formal Thu 27 ....................................................... Yr 7/8 2015 Orientation Day Speech Night ................................................................... 5 Thu 27 ...................................... Maths Tutoring 3.00 – 4.00pm Rm D12 Finance Office ............................................................... 12 Thu 27 .......................................English Tutoring 3.00 – 4.00pm Library A bit of a laugh .............................................................. 12 Fri 28 .................................................................. Yr 10 Graduation Mass Religious Education....................................................... 13 Science .......................................................................... 13 December Mon 1 .................................................................................... Yr 9 Camp Tue 2 ...................................................................................... Yr 9 Camp Special Children’s Christmas Party ............................... 14 Wed 2 .................................................................................... Yr 9 Camp Mindfulness Challenge.................................................. 14 Thu 3 ...................................................................................... Yr 9 Camp Robots show no Mercy ................................................. 15 Fri 4 ........................................................................... Last day of Term 4 Mercy College Wins ...................................................... 16 Mackay Cycle Challenge ‘Love to Ride’ ..................... 16 Mass Times – Southern Cluster Parishes Second hand uniforms .................................................. 17 Tuckshop ....................................................................... 17 Year 10’s Leaving Mercy College .................................. 18 2014 Yearbooks ............................................................ 20 Cook’s Corner................................................................ 21 St Mary’s St Francis Xavier St Patrick’s St Therese’s St Michael’s Saturday 6.00pm Saturday 6.00pm / Sunday 9.00am Sunday 7.00am Sunday 7.00am Sunday 9.00am Position Vacant ............................................................. 22 State Election 2015 ....................................................... 22 Community Notices ...................................................... 23 Music Ministry Front cover: Staff in attendance for Mercy College Speech Night at the MECC. Students are invited to lead the music ministry at St Mary’s Church, 6.30pm every second Saturday of the month. Please come along and sing on Saturday 22 November and 6 December. Be inspired…. ‘Let us thank all those who teach in Catholic schools. Educating is an act of love; it is like giving life.’ - POPE FRANCIS Word on the Street ……. Comeuppance – Noun. Deserved reward or just deserts, usually unpleasant. Sentence: Many action movies end with a wild chase and an over-the-top fight sequence in which the bad guys finally get their comeuppance. Source: Dictionary App Principal Academic Awards Evening – Principal’s Address (Aspiring to Greatness) Is it too grand and completely unrealistic to encourage our students to aspire to true greatness? We are in truth a fairly remote, semi-rural community that in most cases would prefer to go fishing than agitate on life’s big issues. We’re laid-back, fair-minded, independent and wary of extreme views. All good really, and probably in large measure why the ‘kids from Mackay’ have an excellent base to go on and in their own many diverse ways, achieve a measure of true greatness. Great people over the period of recent history have made an enduring contribution to the welfare of their communities. Their efforts, while specific and often directed to their particular responsibility, have reverberated throughout the world. It was never about money or recognition. These things, if they came at all, came incidentally. In part you could attribute their greatness to being the right person in the right locality at the right time. More correctly their capacity to act and persist against the odds was due to a life of formative experiences that equipped them for the trials they needed to overcome. The formation of our young people can aspire to the same capacity to act, courage to act and intellect to know if to act. One enduring and highly credible award that acknowledged true greatness over the last century, has been the Nobel Prize. This highly prestigious award was initiated in 1901 and is announced annually in the discipline areas of Economic Science, Physics, Literature, Chemistry, Peace and Physiology and Medicine. Dedicated to persons who ‘make a proven contribution to the advancement of mankind’. A maximum of three persons can share any particular award category (and the million dollar prize). It is usually the culmination of decades of dedicated and highly uncertain work. Many who are deserving miss out but those carefully selected are indeed worthy of the recognition that comes with being invested with the title ‘Nobel Laurette’. 1 So who was Alfred Nobel and how did the award come about? Alfred was a highly successful industrialist in the late 19th Century who brought a bright and enquiring mind to the technological revolution engulfing Europe at the time. A self-made man from a large and initially poor family that subsequently built an industrial empire through invention and investment. Alfred was responsible for hundreds of patents in the course of his life but is most remembered for the invention of Dynamite. His family company was into construction and this safe explosive represented a massive commercial opportunity. Toward the end of his life Alfred was very wealthy but conflicted due to criticism that his explosive inventions ushered in a new military capacity for mass destruction. He subsequently dedicated 90% of his wealth to an ongoing award that would encourage peaceful contribution to the advancement of mankind. Hence the award that has only grown in importance over the decades. About a decade ago, Australian Nobel Laurette, Dr Peter Doherty wrote a book titled “How to win a Nobel Prize”. Best interpreted as a little ‘tongue in cheek’ as the author is quick to acknowledge that no one sets out to win a Nobel Prize. It simply happens. But like the famous sporting adage “The more I practice the luckier I get”, the author recounts his meandering pathway to greatness and the vital qualities that had to be there all along to even make it possible. And it is here that the relevance to middle adolescents at Mercy, somewhat begrudgingly making their way to school, becomes obvious. Peter was just a typical kid from the backblocks of Ipswich who did well at school and went on to do Veterinary Science at Queensland University. You'd have to read the book to find out how he ended up in Medical research and Immunology in particular. But that’s how life develops with its inherent unpredictability. In the final chapter of his book, Peter elaborates on the qualities that would equip an individual to achieve their potential for greatness. It is indeed a prescription for a successful life. While he addresses many points, I have identified the six most relevant to our young students struggling with direction and identity – 2 Acquire basic skills and work with the right people (give school your best effort. It’s important) Find and cultivate your true passion (try new things and challenge yourself) Think outside the box (creativity and new ways of thinking are vital) Be persistent & tenacious but be prepared to fail (never give in, never give up) Your time is precious (how do you spend your time?) Have fun (enjoy what you do and you can excel) These are simple yet insightful directions that can be addressed now in our education and Pastoral programs. If we can see kids excited by what they are doing in class, actively contributing to the community, developing capacities beyond the adult mentors and really pushing the envelope of the present, then we are laying the foundations for greatness. It’s not about winning a Nobel Prize. It’s about empowering young people to take responsibility for their own lives and exceeding the limitations of generations past. Greatness is about making in your own way, an enduring contribution to the advancement of mankind. Mr Jim Ford, Principal Back to home 3 Assistant Principal Mission The Lord’s Prayer Jesus gave the Apostles direct information concerning prayer and how to pray effectively. Jesus gave them (and us!) the words of the Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father. Some weeks ago I approached a number of the male College Captains, SRC representatives and Committee Chairs, to invite them to deliver the opening prayer at the Mercy College Annual Speech Night. However the invitation involved them singing the prayer; the reaction from the students and a couple of parents, was of absolute fear at the thought of singing, let alone singing the prayer, in front of approximately one thousand College students, staff, parents and special guests. Reactions such as “I can’t sing” and “There are plenty of others in the school who can actually sing” were presented to me by the students. My response was, “It’s a prayer, the prayer itself is the perfect prayer which encompasses all we are called to as Christians, I don’t want perfect singing anyway.” However the students accepted my invitation and during the first practise I had tears in my eyes as I listened to these ‘brave’ students and the accompanying male staff sing ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. They brought new life to such a familiar prayer. Pondering on the words as they were sung, I thought about how this prayer has helped me in the past. Maybe you can identify how the Lord’s Prayer might carry you in the future. The power of prayer and the Lord’s Prayer in particular is the perfect prayer every day. Special thanks go to Will Cairns, Lachlan Bulmar, Matthew Stewart, Nicholas Brownsey, Liam Meng, Grant Cordwell, Will Orrah, Will Landbury, Astin Leotta, Campbell Behan and to the following staff Jim Ford, Val McKenzie, Matt Anderson and Scott McSherry. Mrs Jeanette Refalo, Assistant Principal Mission Back to home 4 Speech Night And Awards Presentation 2014 5 - Speech Night Programme Acknowledgement of Country Jackson Armstrong The P&F, Cathy Quinn Award Opening Prayer Mrs Jeanette Refalo Welcome Dance Performance Year 9 students - Miss Cassie Gillespie (Coordinator) Guest Speaker Most Reverend Michael McCarthy (Bishop of Rockhampton - Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton) Assistant Director’s Mr Michael McCusker Address (Assistant to the Director, Schools Northern Region) Awards Year 8 Mr Tim Mulherin (MP, Member for Mackay) and Mr Chris Sorbello Choir Performance Miss Libby Courtice (Conductor) Mr Stephen Gibbs (Board Chair) Ms Janice Quadrio (P&F President) Board & P&F Report Awards Year 9 Mr Eamon Hannan (Principal, St Patrick’s College) and Mr Peter Scott College Captains’ Address Presentation to Mr Michael McCusker and House Coordinators College Captains Awards Year 10 Mr Michael Stewart (Principal, St Mary’s School) and Mr Jim Ford Principal’s Address Mr Jim Ford Special Presentations ‘The P&F ,Cathy Quinn Award is awarded to a student who has faced challenges in their time at Mercy College and has managed to overcome these obstacles and shine in Academic, Social and Spiritual areas. ™ Mercy Award The Mercy Award recognises the male and female student of the graduating class who demonstrates respect for self and others, shows personal responsibility for their actions and their relationships are typified by Love, Mercy and Forgiveness. These students embody the College Mission Statement. This award is dedicated in the memory of Mark Burridge, Caleb Woodland and Matthew Glennon, three (3) remarkable young men who passed away during 2011. Cultural Award The Cultural Award recognises a student who has contributed towards the cultural aspects of the College. Brother Tom Higgins Award The Brother Tom Higgins Award recognises a student who has achieved and performed to an excellent level in Work, Education and Placement. Indigenous Achievement Award This is awarded to the student who proudly promotes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture through attendance and participation in school academic and community Cultural activities. Caltex All-Rounder Award Most Reverend Michael McCarthy (Bishop of Rockhampton - Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton) and Mr Jim Ford Closing Prayer Awarded to the Year 10 student who, throughout the year, achieved significant outcomes in academic, sporting, community service & leadership endeavours. College Dux College Dux is based on the highest achievement across all subject areas. Dance Performance Year 10 students - Miss Cassie Gillespie 6 The Long Tan Leadership & Teamwork Award The Long Tan Leadership & Teamwork Award has been created to acknowledge the achievements of young people, who have demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership and teamwork within our College or the wider community. Felix Hadok-Quadrio Diligence Awards Kori Bosma YEAR 8 Sarah Agius Samuel Andersen Abbie Beard Lois Beckingham Kade Beldan Leah Belzer Natasha Bennett Gabriel Besa Jasmine Bezzina Lily Bowditch Clancy Bowen Leia Brook Hayden Brownsey Lachlan Bryan Jonathon Buckeridge Tahlia Camilleri Aiden Chapman Hayley Clancy Mason Clifford Jack Climpson Emily Connolly Keyra Danastas Kara Daniel Bree Davies Paolo Dela Cruz Jed Dixon Brydon Edwards Kirsty Edwards Amber Fenwick Harrison Finn Tia Flohr Caleb Galea Ashley Gall Kye Gaviglio Nathan Giles Maddison Goulevitch Telhia Grech Erica Hamilton Jed Hunt Zachary Hunt Caroline Jacob Tia Johnson Hannah Jorgensen Hesharth Kumarasinghe Thomas Lando Isaac Lange Paige Lewis Zoe Lindemann Jun Liu Bridget MacDonald Rhys Mackenzie Emma Manzelmann Amber May Darcy McAllister Nicholas McCann Erin McCartney Connor McLeod Rhiannon McLennan Brayden Mifsud Cody Nicholas Riley Nicholas Tyler Nicholas Shania Niemi Jessica Norton Benjamin OliverArnold 7 Sophie Osborne Olivia Parsons Brittany Pattemore Gabrielle Perkins Madison Pittaway Bailee Poyner Montana Poyner Hithyshini Prasad Mariska Pretorius Taylor Purcell Tamika Rawson Grace Renouf Jarrod Ross Isaac Sant Angela Schatkowski Jesse Schmidtke Brock Scholte Colby Sehl Jasmin Sehl Bianca Sorbello Natasha Stewart Bryce Thompson Madonna Tomerini Livanna Turner Josie Valigura Annie Van Lint Joel Van Moolenbroek Bianca Van Vuren Taylah Verri Vince Vinzon Chloe Wale Khobe Weller Kiralee Welsh Emily Whitson Jordan Williams Britney Worbey YEAR 9 Micayla Abela Georgia Acutt Dana Allen Shannan Ashwood Demi Baker Rina Bascuguin Logan Bella Billi Berzinski Monique Best Jasmin Blucher Martin Borg Megan Born Nicholas Butler Emma Carroll Sarah Chisholm Alice Climpson Timothy Colwill Hayden Connor Claudia Cristaldi Brianna Davis Rakayla Davies Samantha Ferris Chiquita Fickling Samantha Galea Naomi Gallaway Michael Gibbs Kahtia Gooch Ethan Goode Jessica Gunning Grady Hamilton Danielle Hankinson Georgia Harris Zachary Houston Kaitlyn Hyde Kayla Jago Jack Johnson Logan Kaddatz Jorja Keltie Claire Knight-Braniff Aiden Krause Kugathira Krishnadeva Madison MacDonald Amber-Lee Malone Erin Maloney Lisa Manzelmann Peita Marsh Anais' Martin Brianna Martin Lachlan McCall Georgia McDonald Anna McLeod Joshua Minter Zali Molnar Annabelle Morgan Angela Muddle Shenae Murphy Emma Muscat Kate Muscat Chelsea Newton Isobel Odger Dominique Poots Clare Pullen Anna Randazzo Matthew Reynolds Ebony Rix Brodie Rogers Kate Ross Amy Saward Lucy Short Amelia Strang Madeline Suner Camryn Sutton Brock Thomas Lucas Tomerini Lana Turner Stephanie Vella Nicole Vicary Alice Westwood Elleni Williams Nicholas Williams Ashlee Willis Emma Wilson Chloe Wright Adam Zurvas YEAR 10 Fraser Anderson Amy Armstrong Hayden Bamford Sarah Bartolo Arni Bascuguin Campbell Behan Bianca Bennett Amy Benson Tahlie Blackburn Patrick Blakeney Chandra Sowmya Bolla Jacob Boswell Shania Brown Chloe Burke Gabrielle Burton Kyle Cavanagh Carlie Christopher Grant Cordwell Billy Cronin Laura Crowley Shevy-Jean Zerner Camille Delfin Lincoln De Thomasis Ellie-Jayne Dumigan Bailey Dunbar Kylie Duncan Kit-Julia ElliottO'Brien Kate Finger Jezane Funtanar Isaac Galea April Godfrey Chloe Godfrey Tia-Che Gostelow Breanna Graham Chelsea Graham Kelly Gray Samuel Griffin Conor Harris Nicholas Hilder Ashlee Hodda Taylah Hubon Madison Irvine Asten Jago Georgia James Abbi Johnson Josie Kendall Chelsea Lamb Taylor Lamb Lleyton Lamont Alison Larcombe Astin Leotta Julia Lourie Kelsie Marino Bridget McAllister Anna McClanachan Ella McMurtrie Grace Metten Shanya Milburn Zoey Mills Sonia Munro Tessa Neivandt Riley Norris Baedon Oliver-Arnold William Orrah Lucy Osborne Summer Palmer Jaidin Pineda Louella Place Hollie Richards Nina Rillera Kimberly Roper Amelia Sant Monique Sant Brock Schmidtke Mikaela Scholte Ellie Shanks Lachlan Stevens Madison Stewart Matthew Stewart Quewen Sweet Chelsey Thompson Alexander Van Lint Marissa Van Moolenbroek Hayden Vassallo Dylan Vella Mignon Viljoen Grace Vipen Ebony Walker David Wood Georgia Worbey Academic Awards YEAR 8 Flynn Acutt Sarah Agius Abbie Beard Lois Beckingham Leah Belzer Natasha Bennett Gabriel Besa Jasmine Bezzina Clancy Bowen Leia Brook Hayden Brownsey Tahlia Camilleri Aiden Chapman Mason Clifford Jack Climpson Emily Connolly Keyra Danastas Kara Daniel Bree Davies Paolo Dela Cruz Jed Dixon Brydon Edwards Kirsty Edwards Lucy Eyles Amber Fenwick Ashley Gall Kye Gaviglio Nathan Giles Maddison Goulevitch Erica Hamilton Zachary Hunt Caroline Jacob Hannah Jorgensen Hesharth Kumarasinghe Thomas Lando Isaac Lange Paige Lewis Jun Liu Bridget MacDonald Rhys Mackenzie Amber May Erin McCartney Nicholas McCann Rhiannon McLennan Riley Nicholas Tyler Nicholas Jessica Norton Tyler North Sophie Osborne Olivia Parsons Brittany Pattemore Gabrielle Perkins Madison Pittaway Hithyshini Prasad Mariska Pretorius Taylor Purcell Tamika Rawson Jarrod Ross Marco Ruggeri Angela Schatkowski Jesse Schmidtke Brock Scholte Bianca Sorbello Hannah Steindl Natasha Stewart Bryce Thompson 8 Madonna Tomerini Livanna Turner Josie Valigura Annie Van Lint Bianca Van Vuren Kimo Viljoen Vince Vinzon Khobe Weller Kiralee Welsh Jordan Williams Sophia Woodman Britney Worbey YEAR 9 Georgia Acutt Dana Allen Shannan Ashwood Logan Bella Taylor Bell Billi Berzinski Jasmin Blucher Nicholas Butler Rhys Cappello Emma Carroll Sarah Chisholm Alice Climpson Keeley Colleton Timothy Colwill Claudia Cristaldi Rakayla Davies Brianna Davis Samantha Ferris Chiquita Fickling Joshua Francis Samantha Galea Naomi Gallaway Michael Gibbs Kahtia Gooch Jessica Gunning Felix Hadok-Quadrio Grady Hamilton Danielle Hankinson Georgia Harris Kaitlyn Hyde Jack Johnson Logan Kaddatz Claire Knight-Braniff Aiden Krause Kugathira Krishnadeva Armaan Kundal Georgia Legge Erin Maloney Peita Marsh Brianna Martin Joshua Minter Sophie Miranda Annabelle Morgan Angela Muddle Emma Muscat Kate Muscat Chelsea Newton Tristan Niemi Isobel Odger Dominique Poots Clare Pullen Chrysel Reynolds Ebony Rix Brodie Rogers Kate Ross Amy Saward Amelia Strang Madeline Suner Camryn Sutton Brock Thomas Zachary Thompson Lucas Tomerini Holly Van Wyk Smith Stephanie Vella Nicole Vicary Darcy Webb-Smith Alice Westwood Elleni Williams Chloe Wright Adam Zurvas YEAR 10 Fraser Anderson Amy Armstrong Sarah Bartolo Campbell Behan Amy Benson Tahlie Blackburn Patrick Blakeney Chandra Sowmya Bolla Kori Bosma Chloe Burke Gabrielle Burton Carlie Christopher Grant Cordwell Laura Crowley Camille Delfin Lincoln De Thomasis Kylie Duncan Kit-Julia ElliottO'Brien Clara Friswell Jezane Funtanar April Godfrey Kelly Gray Samuel Griffin Riley Head Ashlee Hodda Hannah Hoyes Taylah Hubon Madison Irvine Asten Jago Georgia James Abbi Johnson Raina Keliher Josie Kendall Chelsea Lamb Taylor Lamb Lleyton Lamont Alison Larcombe Bridget McAllister Grace Metten Zoey Mills Claire Moffat Sonia Munro Tessa Neivandt Riley Norris William Orrah Lucy Osborne Summer Palmer Jaidin Pineda Nina Rillera Kimberly Roper Amelia Sant Brock Schmidtke Mikaela Scholte Ellie Shanks Jake Smith Lachlan Stevens Matthew Stewart Chelsey Thompson Alexander Van Lint Marissa Van Moolenbroek Hayden Vassallo Bryce Veitch Dylan Vella Mignon Viljoen Grace Vipen David Wood Community Awards Honour Awards Subject Awards Back to home 9 Captains Argos House - Mignon Viljoen & Grant Cordwell Badila House - Grace Metten & Campbell Behan Midas House - Matthew Stewart & Lachlan Bulmer Oraya House - Abbi Johnson & Will Lansbury Pindar House - Kylie Duncan & Will Cairns Triton House - Tia-Che Gostelow & Chelsey Thompson Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea Mr Tim Mulherin (MP, Member for Mackay) Uniforms Solutions Mackay & PSW Pty Ltd - Technology , Textiles Award Stabler and Howlett Veterinary Surgeons Mackay - Science Award Sinn Mining Supervisor Services Pty Ltd - Indigenous Award Mercy College Mackay P&F - Mercy Award; Cathy Quinn/P&F Bursary; Brother Tom Higgins Awardees Male & Female Dux Mercy Award Mercy Award Nominations Brother Tom Award College Captains Cultural Caltex Award Indigenous Award P&F / Cathy Quinn Award Long Tan Leadership & Teamwork Award 10 Grant Cordwell Matthew Stewart Gabrielle Burton Sowmya Bolla Matthew Stewart Shevy-Jean Zerner Kit Elliot O’Brien Asten Jago Nicholas Hilder Fletcher Vassallo Argos: Grant Cordwell & Mignon Viljoen Badila: Grace Metten & Campbell Behan Midas: Matthew Stewart & Lachlan Bulmer Gabrielle Burton Abbi Johnson Jackson Armstrong Nicholas Hilder Matthew Stewart Nina Rillera Mignon Viljoen Grace Falt Jackson Armstrong Chloe Godfrey Mignon Viljoen Grant Cordwell Astin Leotta Pindar: William Cairns &Kylie Duncan Oraya: Abbi Johnson & William Lansbury Triton: Chelsey Thompson & Tia-Che Gostelow Shanae Best Speech Night 2014 11 Finance Office Thank you to all the families who have paid their Term 4 fee account. A reminder that fees are due for payment on or before Friday 28 November. If you did not receive an account or if you are having difficulties with the payment of these fees please contact the Finance Office on 4969 4180 or 4969 4147. A bit of a laugh 12 Religious Education Year 9 students were keen to take up the offer for some revision work during study class this week in preparation for their upcoming Religion exam next week. Thanks to Mrs Judith Hodge and Miss Maxine Neaton for assisting the students. We wish all the Year 9 students the best of luck with their test on The Sacraments of Healing. God Bless. Mrs Carmen Bennett Head of Department, Religious Education Science Year 9 students in Physics have been studying light. In order to understand how light is reflected and refracted they dissected a cow’s eye and were able to investigate the role of the cornea, lens, vitreous humour (fluid) and the retina. Students enjoyed the practical experience which helped to consolidate their knowledge of lenses. Colourful Retina-at the back of the eye Vitreous Humour Iris Lens Mrs Teresa Hackney, Head of Department Science Back to home 13 Special Children’s Christmas Party On Saturday 8 November, Mackay celebrated the Special Children’s Christmas Party. This annual local event is sponsored by many local organisations to assist children who come from four major groups: the terminally ill, the intellectually impaired, physically impaired and also the underprivileged. It provides a wonderful day filled with entertainment, food and Santa. This year Mercy College Mackay was invited to be part of the entertainment. The dance troupe opened the section by performing their most recent routine that featured at the close of Speech Night. Students from the dance classes also provided three small ensemble routines choreographed by themselves. Each group performed a Christmas routine giving the audience the opportunity to groove along to tunes such as Hi-5. It was a wonderful experience for the students, sharing their talent with other children from the Mackay District who were captivated by the movement. What a wonderful way to start celebrating the Christmas Season. Thank you to everyone who supported the students on the day, and well done to the students who performed. Miss Cassie Gillespie, Dance Teacher Mindfulness Challenge We hope you have enjoyed the Mindfulness Challenges over the last weeks and that they have been beneficial in some way. Can you take ‘one moment’ for the last of the Mindfulness Challenges? The Student Wellbeing Committee Back to home 14 Robots show no Mercy On Friday 31 October we welcomed forty Year 6 and 7 students from our local Catholic Primary schools to participate in an Extended Learning Program in Robotics. Our College has had a very successful year in 2014 in the Robotics program and we were keen to show the group an exciting and challenging day of workshops and activities. Students worked in pairs to build a basic robot and then complete a Mexican wave. The next challenge was Robot Sumo, where students built their own robot. Two robots were back to back in the centre of a black ring with a white strip around the edge. Using light sensor to detect the white strip they were programmed to move around the ring to attempt to push their opponent out. The knock-out competition continued until there was only one robot left. A brilliant day was had by all thanks to supervising staff and assisting Mercy students. Back to home Mr Michael Denman Head of Department Technology Mr Brendan Gunning Triton House Coordinator 15 Mercy College Wins Mackay Cycle Challenge ‘Love to Ride’ Throughout October, workmates and organisations across Mackay competed to see who could get the biggest percentage of staff riding a bike. Mercy College staff took out several of the top positions including first place in the 5099 Staff category with 87% participation. Triton House was first in the 7-19 Staff category (100%) with Badila very close in third place (92%). Our IT Manager, Chris Vella took out the main prize of a new bicycle! Chris now rides almost every day, and several of our staff won cinema tickets, coffee vouchers, massages and other great prizes from local businesses. Oh, and we also got this awesome chocolate mud cake - sorry it’s all gone… Mr Peter Robertson, Guidance Counsellor and Mercy Coordinator for this event Back to home 16 Second hand uniforms Great news!!! There will be a second hand uniform shop opening at the College in 2015. If you have uniforms in good condition that you would like to give away or sell, please contact Cassie Deas on 4969 4177 or email cassie.deas@mercymackay.qld.edu.au Ms Cassie Deas, Second Hand Uniform Coordinator Science Quiz Questions: 1. If molten rock erupts from volcanoes, what comes out of a cryovalcano? 2. How many sides does a nonagon have? 3. What is a circadian rhythm? Is it a) a loud thudding of the heart, b) a sound made by cicadas, or c) a biological process that follows a 24 hour cycle? 4. What is a turtle’s plastron? 5. True or false? Baleen, the filter-feeder system in whales, is made mostly of the same protein that makes up the shells of curstaceans. Tuckshop The end of the year is approaching fast and it’s time for our Christmas luncheon to say ‘thank you’ to all the volunteers. Thank you all for a wonderful year, your assistance is greatly appreciated. I have posted out your invitation, if you haven’t received one by next week please ring me for details. Looking forward to seeing you all there. Below is the next fortnightly tuckshop helper roster:Monday 17 November Tuesday 18 November Wednesday 19 November Thursday 20 November Friday 21 November Monday 24 November Tuesday 25 November Wednesday 26 November Thursday 27 November Friday 28 November Shirley Butler, Tracy Symonds, Mickaila Dobbie, Assunta Di Francesco Patricia Anderson, Fiona Bragg, Annamaria Cappello Selina Bowgett, Judy Orr, Robyn Moschino Amanda Tomerini, Marianne Sondergeld, Jade Johnson, Kerry Gallaway Warvie Preson, Annette Sammut Sue Shannon, Stacey Brazil, Janet Van Vuren Deanne Bartolo, Karen Bezzina, Mary Borg Tracey Davies, Robyn Moschino, Christine Weller Lorraine Marino, Madonna Blackburn, Deb Weston, Lynette McCall Lisa Clifford, Nicole Sanders, Katrina Dunbar, Michelle Simpson Mrs Margaret Floyd, Tuckshop Convenor 17 Year 10’s Leaving Mercy College 18 Back to home 19 2014 Yearbooks Your dedicated Yearbook Students have been busy designing this year’s fantastic, colourful yearbook. …………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………….. STUDENT NAME:____________________________________________ YEAR 8/9/10 HOMEROOM: _______ Number of Yearbooks:______Money Enclosed: ___________ Please choose from the following three options: 1. Deliver the Yearbook to student/sibling’s homeroom. HOMEROOM: __________________ 2. Deliver to my Year 11 student at St Patricks College.____________________ 3. I will collect the Yearbook in February 2015 from the Front Office. If so, please supply email address or phone number so we can contact you when the yearbook is ready for collection. EMAIL:__________________________________________________________ PHONE NUMBER:__________________________________________________ Back to home 20 Cook’s Corner Apple Crumble Filling 4 Cooking apples 2 tblsp sugar 1 tblsp butter ¼ tsp cinnamon 1 tblsp water Topping ½ cup plain flour ½ cup coconut ½ cup oatmeal ¼ cup sugar 1 tsp cinnamon (optional) 50g butter Method 1. Preheat oven to 180°C, spray baking dish with cooking spray. Filling 2. Peel and slice apples. 3. Place butter, apples, sugar, water and cinnamon in a saucepan over low heat and cook for 4 – 5 minutes. Topping 4. Sift flour into a bowl and rub in the butter until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. 5. Add sugar, coconut and oatmeal and combine well or process all ingredients in a processor. Assembly 6. Spoon apple mixture into a prepared baking dish then top with crumble topping. 7. Bake for 10 minutes at 180°C until golden brown Back to home 21 Position Vacant A Secondary Catholic Co-educational College – Years 7 to 10 in 2015 POSITION VACANT INDIGENOUS EDUCATION LIAISON OFFICER 20 hrs/week SO Level 4 Applications are invited for the abovementioned position at the College We are seeking applications from suitably qualified persons for this permanent part-time position which requires a capable individual with a high interest and proven ability in the care and guidance of indigenous students and families. Applicants will also be able to demonstrate the following criteria – -to work comfortably and directly with adolescents -to promote all aspects of educational achievement for indigenous students -to organise cultural and promotional events -to develop personalised learning plans -to liaise with parents -to work with teaching and support staff Supporting the aims of quality Catholic education is highly important. It is necessary for applicants to have a current Blue Card (working with children). A letter of application detailing past experience and resume can be forwarded The Principal Mercy College Mackay Email: principal@mercymackay.qld.edu.au Phone: 07 4969 4199 to: Applications close Friday 21 Nov 2014 State Election 2015 Towards the State Election 2015 - Key Issue 1 Annual per student funding that keeps pace with the rising costs of education Catholic schools in Queensland, on average, receive only about 81% of the government funding per student received by state schools. According to the latest figures available, Catholic schools, on average, receive $9,238 per student in government funding while state schools receive $11,440 per student (MySchool website 2012). Any additional government funding for Catholic schools helps relieve pressure on school fees and assists more families to choose a Catholic school. This also relieves pressure on state schools and also saves government money. Catholic education is seeking to work with the next Queensland Government to achieve consistent budget outcomes that will: o assist Catholic schools to keep pace with rising operating costs o ensure that the gap in resourcing between Catholic schools and state schools does not widen. Click here to read more information about the annual recurrent funding of Catholic schools or visit www.qcec.catholic.edu.au or www.pandf.org.au and follow the state election links to find out more detail. 22 Community Notices The Townsville Defence Force Careers team will be conducting an information session at the Sarina RSL in Central Street, Sarina on Friday 5 December at 6.30pm. Please phone 4956 1814 for further information. Sunday 30th November, 1 – 4pm Walkerston State School BBQ provided Slushie Machine Jumping Castle Water Slides Trophy presentation Lucky Door Prize Girls vs Boys Shoot Out Competition… Please RSVP to your manager by 24th November for catering purposes New club polo shirts will be available for purchase - $25 Like us on facebook A Once in a lifetime opportunity to be at Gallipoli next ANZAC Day. You can win a trip for two to Istanbul and Gallipoli in April 2015 by visiting the Australia in the Great War Facebook and just clicking to enter. Competition closes 11 November 2014 so hurry to enter Anzac day 2015 will be a special time as we commemorate 100 years since the Gallipoli landing and being there will be an amazing experience. www.facebook.com/AustraliaGreatWar Competition Closes 11 November 2014 Science Quiz Answers: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Back to home 23 Volatile materials such as water or methane come out of a cryovolcano. A nonagon is a nine-sided polygon. c) A circadian rhythm is a biological process that follows a 24 hour cycle. A turtle’s plastron is the shell covering its entire underside. False. The baleen in whales is made up mostly of the protein keratin, while the shell of crustaceans is mostly made of the protein chitin.
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