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The Hedge
Week 4, Term 4 | Thursday 6 November 2025 A weekly snippet of what’s happening ‘behind the hedge’ at Mercedes College...

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Taking Action in Week 5

This term, our students will begin collecting House points, as our House focus for this Term is Social Justice.

Next week, families are encouraged to bring donations for the Brother Michael Christmas Hamper Appeal, to support families in need this season.

We will also be asking students to take part in "Wear it Again Day" on Friday 14 November. This will be a casual clothes day, asking students to wear something they've worn before, or something they bought from an Op Shop, in their House colours if possible, to help combat the fast fashion industry.

Brother Michael Christmas Hamper Appeal

Please bring donations to the College, from Wednesday 12 to Friday 14 November only.

Different donations will accrue different levels of points for your House:

  • Toiletries | 5 points
  • Rice, tuna, pasta and coffee | 4 points
  • Vegemite, jams, and pasta sauces | 3 points
  • Canned food and small packets of cereal | 2 points
  • Any other items | 1 point

Our Social Justice Leaders will then tally the points earned by the donated items per House, with points going to the overall Term 4 House Shield.

At each drop off location there will be four coloured boxes - simply match your donations to your House colour!

Donations can be dropped off to Strathspey House, the Carmel Bourke Library, McAuley Office, Junior School Hall, or Senior Study.

Wear it Again Day

On Friday 14 November, students are invited to come to school in casual clothes - specifically wearing items that are already in their wardrobes, or from an Op Shop - to bring attention to the harmful effect of the fast fashion industry.

Gold coin donations will be collected and tallied towards House points, contributing to the Term 4 House activity winner. All money raised will go towards charitable works in Cambodia.

Students will also take part in a Walk of Solidarity on the Main Oval during Lesson 1.

Seeking Sustainable Fashion

In a serendipitous turn of events, our Year 5 students received a visit this week from Ainsley Simpson, CEO of Seamless.

Her company seeks to increase sustainability in the fashion industry by working with brands, retailers, and consumers to create a more responsible system.

Students heard about small actions that can lead to big change globally, reducing waste by making informed decisions about what they buy, wear, and throw away.

It was a special discussion for Eliza (McAuley), Izzy (Dalton) and Zyla (Dalton), who studied the impacts of fast fashion for their PYP Exhibition.

Bringing the Joy

Thanks to all our families who have filled up Joy Boxes and delivered them back to our Christmas No. 1 Fan - Jenny at Strathspey House reception

These Joy Boxes will be sold at our upcoming Christmas Picnic on Sunday 16 November, 2.00pm - 4.00pm... the week after Father Christmas officially arrives into Adelaide - let us know you're coming by registering here.

Please remember to get your full Joy Boxes back to Jenny by Tuesday 11 November so we can get them ready for the Picnic.

If you'd like another Joy Box to fill, Jenny has some spares, and if you are not able to take part, please return your package, so we can pass it on or keep it for next year.

Thank you for bringing the joy!

Political Insight

This week, our Year 10 Politics, Power and People students spent time with our Education Minister, The Hon. Blair Boyle, and local Member for Waite, Ms Catherine Hutchesson, as part of their studies.

Students ran a Q&A and had robust discussions about the recent Royal Commission into inclusive education, and access to education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The responses shared real-world insights into politics, education, access, and inclusion, and will be a valuable primary source for their next assignment, as they explore the United Nations' Quality Education goal.

Spirited Runners

Last week, Mercedes College was represented by students from Years 3, 4 and 6 at the SACPSSA Athletics Carnival, competing with seven other Catholic Primary Schools from around the State.

Our students did themselves and our College proud, with our team receiving the Overall Spirit Award on the day.

There were some outstanding group and individual achievements, too, with special congratulations to Jasmine (Dalton), for being named the Year 6 Girls' Age Champion, and Xavier (McAuley) for being the Year 4 Boys' Age Champion.

Recent Cross Country star Zoe (Year 6, McAuley) also shone, breaking the Carnival record in her age group's 1,500m competition.

Well done to all of our participants, and a big thank you to our parent volunteers for helping on the day!

Get the H-Edge at our Business Lunch

Tickets are selling fast for our upcoming H-Edge Lunch, being held at Adelaide Oval on Friday 14 November, 12.00pm - 2.30pm

Guests will enjoy lunch and chance to listen to our Guest Panel of Speakers as they talk about resilience - in work, business, relationships, and life.

Our Panel will be moderated by College Council Chair and current Mercedes dad, Sam Dighton, CEO of Committee for Adelaide. He will be speaking with:

Old Scholar and South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas MP, and current Mercedes dads SAS Ex-Special Ops Doctor and bestselling author, Dr Dan Pronk, and Bali Bombing Survivor and Co-Founder of the Burton Foundation, Julian Burton OAM.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to enjoy lunch with members of our community and listen to inspiring tales from these excellent speakers. Book your tickets now.

Rhapsody in Motion

Join our Performing Arts community in a cabaret-style evening enjoying dance, music and drama in our final student performance for the year.

Dance and drama students, along with bands, choirs, and ensembles will celebrate their Semester 2 creative learning on Friday 21 November, 6.00pm to 8.30pm.

Bring your own drinks and nibbles and share a table with friends.

Book your tickets today.

Powering Up

Early this term, four of our Year 10 students participated in SA Power Networks' Power Up Robotics Challenge.

Participants were called upon to use their critical, creative and computational thinking skills to solve four key issues that could affect SA Power Networks in a small, rural town.

Challenges included undertaking cyber investigation to capture a hacker, practise using AI and robotics, and becoming energy detectives, looking into future house and business energy consumption.

Our team put their skills to the test and overcame several hurdles to acheive a successful outcome.

What a great 'em-powering' experience for them!

Make a Racquet for Georgia!

A big congratulations to Georgia (Year 5, Barry) who recently competed in the inaugural U10 Green Ball Nationals Tennis Competition, as one of only three girls selected from South Australia.

With more than 60 students from around the country competing in singles, doubles and mixed doubles over five days, Georgia did a fantastic job representing our State.

Georgia has also be selected to attend the Super 10s National Camp in Melbourne early next year, with another 63 of Australia's top performers in her age group - good luck, Georgia!

Game, Set, Match!

SMS is Not an Option

Farmilies are reminded that the SMS number from which you have received notices of unexpected student absence has changed. 

Please check your phone contacts for our old SMS number - 0419 914 398 - and delete it from your device.

Please enter the College's current SMS number - 0477 098 537

Please note: this number is only able to send out messages about your child's absence from school.

You cannot reply to any texts from this number, so please don't send through the reason for the absence, as it can't be read by our staff.

This number is a one-way only communication tool.

To report absences, please use the Absences section of SEQTA Engage, or call +61 8372 3200.

These are the only two ways to report absences to the College.

Cooking up a Storm

This week, our Year 8 students are spending time in the kitchen at Sprout Cooking School.

These day-long sessions introduce students to nutritional information, and safe food handling practises, before launching them into the kitchen to create three different recipes from scratch.

And on the menu was... a bean and tomato goulash with toasted sourdough, roasted fennel and pesto pasta with brocollini, and a tray of apple crumble muffins to finish!

This is a great opportunity for students to build their knowledge and skills in the kitchen, and also boosts their confidence in trying new food combinations and working with fresh ingredients.

Bon appétit!

Colour Our World

Last night, 35 SACE Visual Art, Media, and Design students attended the Opening of their Exhibition, in front of family, friends, and special guests.

From sculpture to photography, video to corporate packaging, there is a huge variety of mediums and themes on display.

Congratulations to our 2025 award winners:

  • Ethan (Year 12, Fitzpatrick) - Mavis McBride Award
  • Daisy (Year 12, McAuley) - Principal's Award, Design
  • Layla (Year 12, Fitzpatrick) - Principal's Award, Art
  • Michael (Year 12, Dalton) - Principal's Award, Media

The Exhibition is open to our community during school hours until Wednesday 12 November and can be explored throughout Gleeson Theatre and the Coolock Atrium.

Last PEG Meeting of 2025

Join College leadership on the evening of Tuesday 11 November for our last meeting of the Parent Engagement Group for 2025.

Hear from Deputy Principal Narelle Sandercock, and after the formalities, stay on for a glass of wine and light refreshments to share in further conversation with staff and other parents.

Thank you to everyone who attends these meetings - in person or online - your insights and feedback are valued and welcomed...

Register your attendance here - we'd love to see you to finish out the year!

Nominate Now for Term 1 Co-curricular Sport

Summer sport nominations are now open for Term 1, 2026.

Students participating in sport this term need to re-nominate for the new year.

Parents, please enter your email address here (the one linked to your SEQTA Engage app), and you will receive an email with a link to your family's details, which you can then access to make your nominations online.

Only sport nominations are required at this time, to meet Association deadlines. Nominations for performing arts, clubs, and societies will open early in Term 1.

Term 1 Sport nominations need to be submitted by Friday 28 November 2025 (Week 7).

Coming up...

  • Thursday 6 to Wednesday 12 November | SACE Art Show
  • Monday 10 to Friday 14 November | Year 10 Outdoor Education Surf Camp
  • Tuesday 11 November | Community Prayer, 8.45am (Remembrance Day) | Term 4 PEG Meeting, 5.30pm
  • Thursday 13 to Friday 14 November | Year 4 Camp
  • Thursday 13 November | Playgroup
  • Friday 14 November | H-Edge Business Lunch
  • Sunday 16 November | Christmas Picnic
  • Wednesday 19 November | Year 10 Mock Interviews | PYP Graduation
  • Friday 21 November | Rhapsody in Motion
  • Thursday 27 November | Playgroup
  • Friday 28 November | Orientation Day | Class of 2025 Graduation Ball
  • Thursday 4 December | Playgroup (last for 2025)
  • Friday 5 December | College Christmas Mass | Last day Term 4, early dismissal 12.30pm

More upcoming activities can be found on the College Calendar.