The Hedge
Week 1, Term 3 | Thursday 24 July 2025 A weekly snippet of what’s happening ‘behind the hedge’ at Mercedes College...

Our Next Strategic Direction

Those members of our community who were able to attend the Open Council Meeting last term, received an overview from our Council Chair, Council Member and our Principal on the past five years - covering our financial position, academic outcomes and governance structure.

Mercedes College is now stepping confidently into the future with a new Strategic Direction that outlines our intentions for 2025 and beyond.

We encourage you to review the video and booklet, below, to familiarise yourself with our plans for the coming years - we look forward to sharing them with you all.

Countdown to Quiz Night

We're just a week out from our annual Quiz Night, with marvellous M-themed team names rolling in! We already have the Mad Hatters, M&Ms, Men in Black and Mercedes Vice... what could go wrong?!

We have four tables left - and would love to see them filled!

Grab one of the final tables and join the fun - there will be a raffle to win, table games, prizes for the best dressed table and the best dressed team... you won't want to miss it!

Netball Excellence

During the mid-year break, 34 of our best Netballers travelled to Melbourne and represented Mercedes College at the Waverley International School Netball Championship.

Competing against teams from South Australia, Victoria and Queensland, as well as Sri Lanka, Singapore and Hong Kong, our girls did us proud, finishing with results that outshone our 2024 efforts.

As part of their experience, our players gifted Mercedes College pins to all international teams, as a friendly memento of their visit to Australia.

Well done to our teams, coaches and staff on such a successful and enjoyable competition.

Celebrating All Things French

The last day of Term 2 was French Day across the Junior School, and students turned up in very chic red, white and blue outfits, ready to celebrate.

This annual day of activities began with a concert, with each year level performing something in the French language for families to enjoy.

We saw a lot of talent on show, enjoying poetry, songs, history, and even X-Factor France!

After a break, classes built French monuments from iced biscuits, created their own version of French perfume, competed in 'Tour de Scooter', cooked meringues and more, as everyone practiced their knowledge of France and the French language.

As an IB world school, French is a central element to our student learning and engagement.

Bravo à tous!

Welcome New Families!

This term, we welcome several new students and their families to our College community, including a brand new mid-year Reception class - welcome RSD!

It's wonderful to add more friendly faces to our Campus, and we look forward to
the next Semester with you all.

Snow Camels

We returned to international travel this year, with our Year 11 Snow Trip crew heading to New Zealand during the mid-year holidays.

Whether experienced skiers or snowboarders, or just starting out, our students made life-long memories together on and off the slopes as they traversed new experiences and shared exciting adventures that only being in the snow can offer.

Welcome home - we look forward to hearing all of your snow stories!

State Finalists

At the end of Term 2, five teams of Year 12 Chemistry students participated in the Royal Australian Chemical Institute's Titration Competition.

The objective was to standardise a sodium hydroxide solution with a known mass of potassium hydrogen phthalate and use their results to determine the potassium hydrogen phthalate in an unknown sample.

Two of our teams qualified for the South Australian Final, which will be held in the Hetzl Laboratories at University of South Australia East next month.

Congratulations Amitej (McAuley), Gina (Fitzpatrick), Jia (McAuley), Austin (Fitzpatrick), James (Fitzpatrick), and Christian (McAuley).

We wish you all the best for the Finals!

Volleyball and Judo

Two Mercedes College students are performing at a national level in each of their respective passions.

Qisen (Year 11, Dalton) will be travelling to Perth in September to compete in the Australian Youth Volleyball Championships, which will determine the best Youth Volleyball team in the country.

After a two-phase tryout process, Qisen was selected to play Setter in the Under 18 division, and his team has high ambitions of securing a medal. Good luck, Qisen!

In other competition news, Isaac (Year 9, Barry) was selected to represent Australia as a member of the National Judo Team on an international tour.

He is currently competiting in the Hong Kong Asian Cup and Macau Asian Cup as part of the 2025 Australian Cadet and Junior Judo Tour - we look forward to hearing your results!

Coming up...

  • Monday 28 July | Year 9 Reflection Day
  • Tuesday 29 July |  Year 10 Vaccinations
  • Wednesday 30 July | Year 9 - Year 12 Career Expo: register your attendance
  • Thursday 31 July | Playgroup
  • Thursday 31 July to Friday 1 August | Year 10 Industry Focus Days | Year 11 Retreat
  • Friday 1 August | Quiz Night: secure the last tables!
  • Monday 4 August to Friday 8 August | Catholic Schools Open Week | Languages Week
  • Wednesday 6 August | International Languages House Quiz
  • Thursday 7 August | AMT Australian Mathematics Competition | Playgroup
  • Friday 8 August | Year 11 and Year 12 Career Insights Breakfast: students nominate industry interests today | Vinnies Winter Sleep Out

Save the Date: 2026 Student Orientation Day | Friday 28 November

More upcoming activities can be found on the College Calendar.