The Hedge

Week 5, Term 1 | Thursday 27 February 2025 A weekly snippet of what’s happening ‘behind the hedge’ at Mercedes College...

Year 9's on the RISE

Last night…our Year 9 students and their families gathered together in Gleeson Theatre, for the launch of our RISE Programme. This is a new initiative of the College, focussing on our Year 9 cohort.

Students and families learnt more about RISE and spent time in small groups, exchanging letters, and sharing aspirations and goals for the year.

The night ended with some cheese and wine and time for all Year 9 families to connect with each other, as well as spend time with all Year 9 Home Group Teachers and the Head of Middle School, to learn more about the year ahead.

This year, the programme for Year 9 students includes RISE, STEP and the core curriculum. It also incorporates the Being You and Breaking Free initiatives and Camp - certainly a big year for self discovery, growth, resilience and change across all areas of learning, in and outside of the classroom.

We look forward to hearing more about RISE from our Year 9s this year… and wish them well on their final journey before they enter our Senior School.

Meet our Netball Coaches

Netball is alive and thriving at Mercedes College.

Cassie Lange has returned to the College as our Netball Coordinator. Cassie started playing Netball when she was five years old and still plays the game. She has five children with three girls who all play Netball, and two boys who also love sport!

Cassie has represented SA and NT in the U/16s and U21s and Opens at a National level and has played in the Premier League for over 10 years. She is the current Coach at Contax Netball Club, where she has coached for the past seven years. Last year, Cassie was appointed as Netball Coordinator for the College, and has taken our Netball programme from strength to strength.

Peter Economou, a current parent and father of four daughters, says it was inevitable that Netball found its way into his life. He has been involved with the Contax Netball Club through his family and was Vice President for seven years. Peter was invited to coach our Open A team last year, and says Netball has the power to shape character and bring families together – which are both wonderful outcomes for life.

We look forward to a great 2025 on and off the court – and welcome Cassie and Peter back for another year!

Formal... what a night!

Last Saturday night, we held our Year 11 and Year 12 Formal. Held at the Adelaide Convention Centre, our students enjoyed a night of food, photos, lots of dancing and of course, ice cream! It was a wonderful night for our students to celebrate this important stage of their schooling and enjoy a night together – ahead of the learning that is to follow.

Secondary Netball Nominations and Grading

If students intend to nominate for secondary Netball, but haven’t done so, Netball nominations close 4pm tomorrow (Friday 28 February). Students must also complete this grading form before the weekend.

Students nominating for Secondary Netball are required to attend preliminary sessions so they can be graded into our various teams.

All grading sessions will be held in the Yitpi Centre.

Middle (Year 7 - Year 9)
Week 7 - Tuesday 11 March, 3.45pm - 5.15pm
Week 8 - Tuesday 18 March, 3.45pm - 5.15pm

Open (Year 10 - Year 12)
Week 7 - Wednesday 12 March, 3.35pm - 5.45pm
Week 8 - Monday 17 March, 3.35pm - 5.45pm

Open team training will begin on Tuesday 25 March and Thursday 27 March, 3.35pm – 5.45pm.

MYP Parent Information Evening

Parents and caregivers of students in Years 6-10, who are doing their IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) are invited to an information evening, to learn more about this Programme with our new MYP Coordinator. Helen Hopping.

The session will be held at the College on Tuesday 25 March from 6pm – 7pm.

Adrian Chiarolli, Assistant Principal, Teaching and Learning, will introduce the evening, and Helen will provide an overview of the MYP curriculum framework, including information about learning, assessment, service, projects and interdisciplinary study.

There will be an opportunity for a Q&A session with Helen. This session is recommended for families who are new to the College and those interested in the MYP and their child’s learning in the Middle School.

As the new MYP Coordinator at the College, this is a great opportunity to hear from Helen and ask any questions about the critical learning years in the Middle School, as part of our IB framework.

Click here to RSVP.

Year 7's on the Move...

Last week, our Campus was alive with the sights and sounds of bike riding and tent pitching!

Our Year 7 students participated in Bike and Tent Education, as preparation for their Camp at Woodhouse Activity Centre in Week 8 of this term.

This programme helps them develop key outdoor skills, including setting up tents, handling camping equipment, riding bikes safely and basic bike maintenance, helping them to be 'Camp ready'!

As our students progress through their time at the College, they have the opportunity to experience many outdoor adventures. The skills learned in the Year 7 Bike and Tent Education, serve as a stepping stone, helping them become more self-sufficient and comfortable in outdoor environments.

Becoming a Student Voice for SA

Congratulations to Eva (Year 12, Fitzpatrick) who has been selected from 150 students to sit on the South Australian Student Representative Council (SA SRC).

This has been set up to provide a collective voice for South Australian students in Years 10, 11, and 12, with an interest in taking action that will bring about positive change.

Students across the State were invited to represent their communities and work collaboratively to achieve shared goals that address the needs of young people.

The SA SRC is an initiative of South Australia’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, and Mercedes College Old Scholar, Helen Connolly and also supported by the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA).

Eva will be campaigning for schools to design and implement policies, procedures and practices that support diversity and inclusion and address different forms of discrimination in the schooling environment.

Eva’s long-term goal is to work with the United Nations after studying International Relations and Law, and working alongside Commissioner Connolly and representatives from local government is certainly a step in the right direction.

We know you'll make a great Student Representative Eva!

2025 SACE Art Show

Two of our 2024 graduates have had their art selected to feature in the SACE Art Show during March and April.

Congratulations to Laura Seach (Strangers in Nature) and Noah Hannon (Myself and I), on this brilliant achievement.

Our community can see Laura and Noah’s pieces alongside the works of more than 130 other SACE students at the Adelaide College of the Arts.

2025 SACE Art Show
18 March – 10 April
Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 4.00pm
Saturday, 10.00am – 3.00pm
Light Square Gallery, Adelaide College of the Arts
39 Light Square, Adelaide
Bookings essential

Student Mentor's Morning Tea

On Friday, the College hosted our annual Student Mentoring Programme (SMP) Welcome Morning Tea and Information Session.

Over 30 guests and mentors, along with our Year 12 SMP Leaders attended, including several new volunteers including Old Scholars, tertiary students and parents.

This was a great opportunity to share information about this unique programme and the valuable wellbeing support it provides to our students.

For those who were unable to attend, but would still like to be involved, please contact our SMP Coordinator, Stephen Heuzenroeder.

CEA Sport, Clubs and Societies Reminder

Secondary Netball nominations close tomorrow Friday 28 March.

New additions - Intro to Sport (Year R - 1) and Year 2 Basketball.

All nominations for other winter sport, clubs and societies including Debating, Chess and Art Clubs close on Friday 7 March.

Check your SEQTA Direqt Message or click here to nominate.

Coming Up...

Friday 28 February l Garden Party, 4pm – 7pm l Rose Garden
Tuesday 4 March l 3-6 Athletics Carnival
Wednesday 5 March l Ash Wednesday Mass
Friday 7 March l 7-12 Athletics Carnival
Friday 21 March l Junior School Swimming Carnival
Friday 28 March l Yr 6-Yr 12 Swimming Carnival
Monday 10 March l Adelaide Cup Public Holiday
Monday 17- Wednesday19 March l Year 7 #1 Camp
Wednesday 19- Friday 21 March l Year 7 #2 Camp