The Hedge
Week 7, Term 3 | Thursday 4 September 2025 A weekly snippet of what’s happening ‘behind the hedge’ at Mercedes College...

Divine Dads!

This morning, our Mercedes Dads shared breakfast with their children at our annual Father's Day Breakfast.

The College Coffee Cart was busy, and the delicious fare from our Cafe, handed around by our Senior Students was eagerly consumed by old and young alike!

We wish all of our fathers and father-figures in our Mercedes College community a wonderful Father's Day on Sunday!

Celebrating Father's Day

SchoolTV is a great resource for families, with a wide range of topics delivered through interviews, fact sheets, quizzes, and recommendations.

In honour of Father's Day, SchoolTV has released a special report about the benefits a present and engaged father can have on their children.

Fathers influence sons and daughters in different ways, especially during their transition to adolescence, and this report explores the positive impact fathers can have on their child's mental health and wellbeing.

Further, engaging in regular physical activities can play a key role in influencing children to learn self control and resilience, regulate their emotions, and take manageable risks.

Learn more and watch this special report on SchoolTV now.

Premiership Stars!

Last night, our Girls' Middle Soccer team finished their 2025 campaign undefeated, winning their Grand Final against Wilderness College 3-1.

Coached by Old Scholar Charlotte Henderson-Whitehead (Class of 2024, Barry) and her dad Marc, this is the first time our Middle Girls have brought home the flag since joining the IGGSA School Girls Competition.

What a mighty effort... go you Camels!

Year 9 French Competitors

Some of our Year 9 students recently competed in the SA French Teachers Association French Quiz Night, with one team taking out second place!

Sophie (Dalton), Jade (Fitzpatrick), and Imogen (McAuley) did a great job, but the biggest smiles were from our runners-up, Elsie (Barry), Adelaide (Dalton), Holly (Barry), Amelia (Barry), and Izzy (McAuley).

Congratulations to you all for putting your language skills to the test against other South Australian students.

Our Lady of Mercy Mass 2025

Our Mercy Day Mass, the culmination of Mercy Week, is one of the most important dates on our College calendar, and we are delighted to share it with our community.

Friday 26 September
Yitpi Centre
9.30am - 12.30pm

Please let us know if you'd like to join this special event by confirming your RSVP by 9am, Wednesday 24 September.

Commendable Chemists

Earlier this year, two teams of Year 12 Chemistry students qualified for the State Final of the Australian Chemical Institute's Titration Competition, held in the Hetzel laboratories in Uni SA City East.

This competition gave finalists the experience of engaging in experimental work within a university laboratory.

Three of our students achieved individual Gold Standard, meaning that their results were within 1 per cent of the true mass. Congratulations Amitej (McAuley), James (Fitzpatrick), and Lachlan (McAuley) on this remarkable achievement.

Mercedes College Team 1 was also Highly Commended, for collectively finding results within 2 per cent of the true mass.

Well done Team 1, Amitej, Jia, and Gina (Fitzpatrick), and Team 2, James, Christian (McAuley) and Austin (Fitzpatrick) on your brilliant work!

Leaping onto the National Stage

Last week, three of our students competed in the FISAF Australia Sport Aerobics National Championships on the Gold Coast.

Mila (Year 3, McAuley) and her team placed sixth in the Mini National Fitness Teams category, with Sienna (Year 3, Barry) and her team taking the top spot!

Sienna's team also placed fifth in the Cadet National Sport Aerobics Team category, whilst Murphy (Year 7, McAuley) and her team took home second place in the Cadet National Petite Aerobic Teams category.

Congratulations girls, what a fantastic achievement!

Taking to the Heights, and the Deep...

Our Year 9 STEP students recently explored the value of taking calculated risks at Beyond Bouldering, where they tested their mettle on the various climbing walls.

They have also been engaging in insightful conversations about how their individual actions can impact groups or teams, recognising the power they have to influence others and how to use that responsibly and wisely.

Meanwhile, our Year 10 STEP students travelled to Curramulka on the Yorke Peninsula to explore the Cora Lynn Cave System.

Challenged to adapt in a frequently intimidating environment, students supported each other through the caves. Remaining safe and providing clear communication in these spaces is a great way to build up resilience and to back yourself!

Our STEP programme regularly pushes students out of their comfort zone to show that embracing new opportunities and taking risks are great foundations for personal growth.

Shifting Conversation to Action

This Sunday marks the beginning of National Child Protection Week, when we are encouraged to take action against child abuse and neglect.

The safety of our students is paramount both at school and at home, and it is important that they are reminded how to keep themselves safe when travelling to and from these places.

Families are reminded to be wary of approaches from strangers, and be careful not to respond to an approach, or accept offers of rides, or gifts. Any incident such as this should be reported to a parent or teacher at school as soon as possible.

Keeping our children safe is everyone's business, and we pledge to do our part.

Fun in the Bug House

The end of the winter co-curricular season has arrived, and our Primary and Secondary Chess teams celebrated with one last training session together.

Working in teams, players tested their months of learning in a variation of Chess known as 'Bug House', which moves across two boards, and allows captured pieces to be replaced at any time...

All of our teams had a challenging and enjoyable season, and they encourage anyone interested in Chess to consider nominating in 2026.

Developing Leaders

Early this week, our student leaders from across the Middle School dedicated a day to build their leadership and teamwork skills, and develop their understanding of personal responsibility.

Working together in teams, students participated in a series of engaging activities focused on collaborative problem-solving, visioning, and team-building, all as part of their leadership journey.

Celebrating our IB Diploma Visual Arts Students

Our three Year 12 IB Diploma Visual Arts Students, Naomi (Dalton), Melissa (Dalton), and Gemma (Dalton), are proud to exhibit the culmination of two years of dedicated work for our community to enjoy.

RSVP to join the Opening Night on Friday 12 September, or take in the exhibition at your leisure between 8.30am and 4.30pm from Monday 15 September until Thursday 18 September. Their work will be on display in The Parlour in Strathspey House.

You will not want to miss this exhibition! Bravo girls...

Staying Safe Online

This week, our Year 7 students heard from the South Australian Police about e-safety and how to combat cyberbullying.

Students learned about their rights to set boundaries about how their photos are used online, myths about who could be a danger to them, and the profound impact of online trolls and bullying campaigns.

This information will empower and support our students to make good choices online that will protect them now and into their futures.

Coming up...

  • Friday 5 September | Pupil Free Day
  • Saturday 6 to Friday 12 September | 2025 Mimili Trek
  • Monday 8 to Friday 12 September | Year 8 Camp
  • Tuesday 9 September | Year 1 'Step Back in Time' Day
  • Thursday 11 September Playgroup
  • Monday 15 September | Winter and Summer Sport Team Photos
  • Tuesday 16 September | Community Prayer, 8.35am
  • Wednesday 17 to Friday 19 September | Break Free and Being You Camps
  • Thursday 18 September | Receptions go to Paris | Playgroup
  • Friday 19 September | Encore: Senior Performing Arts Showcase
  • Monday 22 September to Friday 26 September | Mercy Week
  • Monday 22 September | Winter Sport Presentations (Primary and Secondary)
  • Tuesday 23 September | Mercy House Colour Day (everyone) and R-6 Mercy Fun Run | Catholic Schools Music Festival Choir performance
  • Wednesday 24 September | Year 1 Grandparents Day
  • Thursday 25 September | Playgroup
  • Friday 26 September | Mercy Day Mass | Last day Term 3, early dismissal, 12.30pm

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

More upcoming activities can be found on the College Calendar.