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2021 Annual School Performance Report

Mercedes College CIS accredited R-12 International Baccalaureate world school with a global mindset Renown for educating young people to serve as school and community leaders, Mercedes College is an International Baccalaureate (IB) world school from Reception to Year 12, with a proud academic record of excellence. Through our progressive, internationally focused curriculum supported by our values, we provide opportunities that enable students to reach their full potential.

Mercedes College is South Australia’s only Catholic school offering the IB curriculum from Reception to Year 12, and one of just a handful of schools delivering the programme at all three levels. Our students are inspired to become lifelong learners with the skills and confidence to flourish in their academic, extracurricular and personal pursuits. For more than 30 years, students at Mercedes College have studied the IB curriculum. From Reception to Year 5, students participate in our IB Primary Years Programme. Then, from Year 6 to Year 10 they study our IB Middle Years Programme. Students in Years 11 and 12 may choose to complete the IB Diploma Programme or the South Australian Certificate of Education. Regardless of their choice, having studied the IB programme students are well equipped for success. Each programme enables students to make sense of global complexities and equips them with contemporary skills and qualities. The programmes provide an education that crosses disciplinary, cultural, national and geographical boundaries, championing critical engagement, stimulating ideas and effective relationships. At all three levels of the programme - Primary, Middle and Diploma - students develop strong academic, social and emotional characteristics as they: • are encouraged to think independently and drive their learning • build a sense of identity and cultural awareness • stimulate curiosity and foster a spirit of discovery and enjoyment of learning • become equipped with the skills to learn, individually or collaboratively, and apply these qualities across a broad range of areas • participate in programmes of education that can lead them to some of the highest ranking universities around the world • become more culturally aware through the development of a second language, and • engage with people in an increasingly globalised, rapidly changing world.

30 June 2022

In 2021, 100 per cent of our Year 12 students graduated, and of these one in five were in the top five per cent of their national cohort Australia wide. More than a third (36.2 per cent) of our graduates gained an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of 90 or higher with an impressive 19.7 per cent achieving 95 or more. Our strong values-centered Catholic education is based on the Mercy Keys – our core values – of Compassion, Loyalty, Justice, Integrity, Responsibility and Mutual Respect. These values are an integral part of the way of life for all members of our community. As part of an organisation-wide review, we have developed our Strategic Direction to 2025. It outlines our goals and priorities, as well as initiative and investment areas. With five strategic and enabling goals supported by clear and decisive actions, we have a clear path for our students, staff and community to continue to flourish into the future. Our Strategic Plan paves the way for our students, staff and community to flourish and realise their full potential by making a positive difference in the world, both now and into the future. As part of our Strategic Plan, we have set down three points of differentiation. World class education | CIS Accreditation R-12 International Baccalaureate provides students and staff with a global mindset

It is our ambition to be:

Consistently at our maximum enrolment capacity of 1,263 students

100 per cent Mean scores for academic performance exceeding similar schools

100 per cent of children developmentally on track

Competitive and fit for purpose facilities

Long term financial sustainability

Industry leading wellbeing

High expectations | Mercy Keys uality relationships | A diverse and generous community of Q mutual benefit

Our five strategic and enabling goals are to: 1. Nurture our students to flourish and reach their full potential. 2. Shape our learning experience to produce confident, ethical and successful global citizens ready to address the challenges of their time. 3. Support our staff to flourish and reach their full potential. 4. Build enduring partnerships with parents and the community. 5. Revitalise our operating model to enable long term sustainability.

High performing Vision | To be a sustainable, internationally minded world-class school, providing a holistic educational experience for our students within a unique culture and community where we honour tradition and live the Mercy Keys.

Major highlights In 2021, our young people at Mercedes College were truly inspirational. While navigating COVID restrictions could be challenging, there were many memorable moments during our Year of Standing Up for Justice. On the sporting field, our students performed at very high levels, and admirably, never chased success at the expense of fair play. Our students are extremely creative and thrilled us with their dramatic and musical performances, as well as through their artwork. The Class of 2021 demonstrated leadership in so many ways, including a level of resiliency that will serve them well in life, as they did more than manage the challenges. They flourished amidst the anxiety faced on a global scale. After a brief period of online learning during the mid-year lockdown in 2021, we returned to our classrooms, owing thanks to staff, students, parents and caregivers for adapting and supporting each other through this period. In the Junior School, online learning has its own set of challenges, while our older students are more established in their self-directed learning and following their timetable. Many households were juggling student learning from home as well as working from home, and it was great to get such positive feedback from parents about their experiences. Returning to the classroom saw our Year 6 to Year 12 students and their teachers, required to wear facemasks indoors for the first time. As restrictions lifted across the year, most events and excursions proceeded as scheduled. In Craft Club, some of our students made their own reusable cloth masks, normalising the experience of wearing a face mask and promoting environmental sustainability. Beyond the classroom we continued nurturing the creative, physical, social, emotional and spiritual attributes of our students. On the sporting field, especially in athletics and cross-country, we continued to out-perform larger schools across numerous carnivals and events in all age groups – reflecting the commitment of our students. This included 23 first place ribbons within the SAPSASA City South District – more than ever before. Our students’ competitive spirit was on show, whilst maintaining the highest respect for fair play and displaying graciousness in victory and defeat during our annual Intercollegiate competition hosted by St Ignatius’ College. Congratulations to Saint Ignatius’ 3

College who won this year with the final shield tally 13-8. After 17 competitions, the overall tally currently sits at Mercedes 11 to Saint Ignatius’ 5 and 1 draw. I was inspired by the quality of our musicians and their confidence to perform at our major musical showcase, Converge, in Term 4. The Year 8 Musical, AIDA, was equally impressive and again the culmination of hard work from everyone involved be they on stage, crew or support functions. We were wonderfully entertained by musical performances throughout the year, including performances at our first outdoor Mercy Day Mass – featuring a performance from some of our dance students. For the second year, we exhibited in the SALA Festival (South Australian Living Artists) online. Our Old worlds, new worlds, other worlds, featured art, media and design work from students across the college. It was also terrific to be able to return to physical exhibitions with visitors for the Year 12 IB and SACE Art and Design Exhibitions. In drama, we established the Years 6-12 Mercedes Drama Company to further our curriculum extension opportunities in theatre, with a spectacular performance of The Railway Children at the beginning of Term 4. The MP&FA Committee was active across several friend and fundraising activities, including matching donations to our Year 12 Café Annual Giving Project, that is now benefitting students in their final year. The MP&FA raised $20,000 for that project, and hosted some fantastic events in 2021. This included starting the year with an outdoor Movie Night, and concluding with a Christmas Picnic, our first whole College social event in light of COVID safe requirements. The Mercedes Old Scholars’ Association maintains a valued connection between our current and past students, including our very popular Career Mentoring Programme. More than 40 old scholars returned to speak with our Year 11 and Year 12 students about their chosen field of work or tertiary study, informing and inspiring a new generation. The sporting clubs continued their strong traditions, and the reunion programme welcomed back old scholars 1, 5, 10, 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50 years after graduation. Many old scholars remain connected, a testament to the welcoming culture and long-lasting relationships fostered at Mercedes College. Andrew Balkwill Principal

Well governed and managed

Strategic and enabling goals • Build enduring partnerships with parents and the community • Revitalise our operating model to enable long term sustainability Our Strategic Plan 2021-2025 encourages active participation from across our community so that together we build on our strong foundations to support students to flourish, and position Mercedes College for continued excellence. Five enabling strategic goals guide our priorities, with initiatives focused on delivering an ever-better world class education for students. While the Archbishop of Adelaide is the ultimate authority, responsibility for strategic management at Mercedes College is delegated to our College Council and operational management resides with our Principal. The College Council membership comprises: • one member appointed by the Archbishop. • three members elected by our parent body. • five members recommended by the Council and appointed by the Archbishop.

Our 2021 College Council – Chairperson Alf Ianniello Deputy Chairperson of Council Deborah Dickson Members Deborah Dickson Jane Swift Jock Duncan Danielle Finnimore Andrew Kirkbride Scott Hicks Helen Strachan

Executive Officer of Council Andrew Balkwill Invited Guest (non-voting) Barry Roberts Minute Secretary Amanda Dyson Archbishop Representative Jane Swift

Our standing committees – Finance Standing Committee Chair, Alf Ianniello This committee oversees fiscal decisions to ensue the financial stability of Mercedes College so we can continue to provide high quality education services well into the future. As directed by Catholic Education South Australia, the Committee supported a 1 per cent fee reduction in support of the Master Plan. They also committed to investing capital ($20-30 million) into the construction of a new high performance Arts and Sports Precinct, and the refurbishment of existing campus facilities.

• Mercedes College Principal (ex officio). Appointments are for three years with the right to re-election or re-appointment. The College Council met on 10 occasions and discussed matters of policy that influence all elements of Mercedes College development. In keeping with established practice, the College Council extended an invitation to our current parent, staff and wider community to attend an Open Meeting of Council. This provides transparency and inclusivity, with Council members available for consultation and to gain feedback. In 2021 the Council authorised educational policies that direct the academic programmes delivered and released our 2021 – 2025 Strategic Plan that will guide us in the years ahead. 5

Marketing and Development Standing Committee Chair, Deborah Dickson This committee has responsibility for building the public profile of Mercedes College and sense of community within, ensuring the array of activities on offer are acknowledged, celebrated and showcased. In 2021, the Committee supported development of a strategic action plan, further to KPMG’s Organisation Review (2020). This will see new initiatives implemented in 2022. The Committee was also focussed on fostering a culture of philanthropy in 2021, including the promotion of transformational and transaction fundraising programmes.

Strategic Goal 03 Support our staff to flourish and reach their full potential

Strategic Goal 04

Strategic Goal 02

Build partnerships with parents and the community

CATHOLIC TRADITIONS

Shape our learning experience to produce confident, ethical and successful global citizens ready to address the challenges of their time

Strategic Goal 01 Nurture our students to flourish and reach their full potential

GUIDING PRINCIPLES Student and family-centric

Well governed and managed

Strategic Goal 05 Revitalise our operating model to long term sustainability

High performing

Collaborative and accountable

Efficient and sustainable

Evidence-led

MERCY KEYS Loyalty

Integrity

Compassion

Mutual Respect

Justice

Responsibility

Faith and Spirituality Standing Committee

Capital Development Standing Committee

Chair, Andrew Kirkbride

Chair, Jock Duncan

This committee is responsible for organising our highly successful Mercy Week celebrations, as well as monitoring the delivery of Religious Education, the Made in the Image of God human sexuality programme, as well as faith and spiritual development across our Reception to Year 12 campus. It also supports the work of the student Social Justice Committee.

The Committee ensures appropriate rigour and risk controls are implemented across capital expenditure projects and practices.

By providing ongoing support for our Chaplaincy and Youth Ministry programmes, and staff retreat at the Jesuit Monastery at Sevenhills, this committee continues to strengthen Mercedes College’s ongoing relationship with the Sisters of Mercy. On 24 September 2021, Mercy Day was celebrated with the entire school sitting together on the Terraces, and in the courtyard, looking to Adelaide’s coastline. Presided by Archbishop O’Regan, everyone enjoyed a beautiful service acknowledging more than 140 years of service by the Sisters of Mercy in South Australia.

Risk Management Standing Committee Chair, Helen Strachan The Committee has oversight of the effectiveness of the College’s Enterprise Risk Management practice. In 2021, the Committee reviewed the risk management program and decided to engage CompliSpace to enhance the risk and compliance culture, lowering administration and increasing productivity.

The Master Plan was approved by Catholic Education South Australia in 2021, with the Committee focussed on preparing for the building of the new Arts and Sports Precinct. This included participation in the extensive selection process to award a contract to an architectural firm who could meet the brief and deliver the vision of Mercedes College. In early 2021, JPE Design Studio was appointed as the architect. Since that time, Mercedes College has worked closely with them to develop the design.

Education Standing Committee Chair, Jane Swift This Committee monitors our educational programmes that flow from our Policy on Learning. It also provides a valuable parent voice that informs our educational practices. This Standing Committee provides support for the Out of School Hours Care service and monitors policy development to ensure we are consistently meeting the expectations of the IB, SACE and the Australian Curriculum.

Mercedes College Parents and Friends Association (MP&FA) The Mercedes College Parents and Friends Association (MP&FA), meets two times per term to progress matters to the Principal via the Executive Officer of the group who is a member of the College’s Communications and Marketing Team. Working across the school to friend and fund raise, the association supported a number of events in 2021 including our First Day Morning Tea and the ever popular Middle School BBQ, despite COVID-19 impacting a number of these. MP&FA members are highly valued for their contribution and like our founding Sisters of Mercy, renowned for their hospitality. The work of the MP&FA also extends to our parent run Second Hand Uniform Shop.

2020 MP&FA Executive Committee – Chair, Jo Cowain Deputy Chair, Christine Kenny Treasurer, Alex Davies

Mercedes Old Scholar’s Association (MOSA) MOSA thrives thanks to our enthusiastic executive who is passionate about enabling old scholars to reunite and rekindle friendships. Reunions continued to be well attended with old scholars regularly welcomed back to Mercedes College to participate coaching sport, as well as tutoring and mentoring our current students. MOSA sporting teams continue to enjoy success. Mercureans, our valued past parents, also enjoy building on the friendships formed while their children studied at Mercedes College. All past parents of graduates are invited to participate in regular activities.

Community Engagement Through our website we offer feedback opportunities for parents and the wider community to engage with us. The Mercy Vine is published online three times per term (twice in Term 4) for our community, as well as people eager to learn more about Mercedes College. Achievements are also shared through our full colour printed newsletter, Fleur de Lis and MOSA Matters, distributed to thousands of letterboxes, including current families and old scholars. Families joining Mercedes College, and leaving for various reasons, including interstate relocations, are invited to share their feedback with us about their experience. This information is used by us to improve our processes and make best better.

Efficient and sustainable Strategic and enabling goal • Revitalise our operating model to enable long term sustainability

2021 Annual Income Source 9% 6%

55%

Tuition Fee Income

30%

Australian Government Grants

State Government Grants

Other Income

55% 30%

2021 Annual Expenditure Source 11% 7% 4% 2%

72%

Employee Benefits

Maintenance Expenses

Levies

Depreciation

Tuition Expenses

11%

Administration Expenses

72%

Collaborative and accountable

Our 2021 Mercedes College team comprised: Workforce Composition Teaching

117

Non-teaching

Total

200

Identify as Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander

Of our 117 teaching faculty: • 63 per cent identify as female • 37 per cent identify as male • 55 per cent have been with Mercedes College for more than five years. All of our teaching and non-teaching personnel participate in professional development activities that enable them to deliver the educational programme to a high standard. Professional development activities comprise a combination of local and international events and met local, national and International Baccalaureate expectations.

Qualification

Number

Doctorate

Master’s Degree

Bachelor Degree

170

Graduate Diploma in Education

Diploma of Teaching

Other Graduate Certificates

Other Diplomas or Certificates

Evidence led

Teaching and Learning

Primary Years Programme

In 2021 we developed greater shared practice and commitment to student growth and school improvement. To achieve this, we have drawn upon Catholic Education South Australia’s A BluePrint for Step Change, and worked together with Dr Lyn Sharratt, author of Clarity – what matters most in learning, teaching, and leading.

Building and sustaining engagement by better connecting students with their learning has come through sharing the purpose, further to Lynn Sharratt’s Clarity work that identifies learning intentions and success criteria, with students. Through this process, students have been more involved in the co-construction of learning experiences and pathways. The use of success criteria has given direction and guidance to students to support them in achieving successful outcomes in their learning.

The strong alignment of this with our guiding principles, particularly being evidence-led, collaborative and accountable with a focus on high performance, has seen us develop experiences that enable our staff and students to flourish. This includes using data to inform and improve our teaching instruction. Plus identifying individual student strengths and challenges and data trends within and across cohorts. This provides greater student insight – individually and as a cohort – enabling us to better their learning experience. Throughout 2021, we have analysed literacy and numeracy data using NAPLAN and ACER PAT results. While our students’ results continue to be strong and generally well-above national norms, there are specific areas we will target to further improve. Building on principles of inquiry embedded in the practices of an IB world school, we are refining the language of teaching and learning to encourage student agency and ownership of learning. Further guided by Lyn Sharratt’s Clarity work, we are developing explicit statements of learning intentions and identifying success criteria to guide progress and reflection. Refreshed staff teams have also increased focus on leadership and the inclusive nature of learning experience enrichment. While each team has a particular focus area, the introduction of a Lead Learning Team reflects the complex interactions that shape teaching and learning experiences and enable the building of collective capacity and shared ownership of student learning across pastoral and curriculum areas. Having shared understanding and collective accountability are key parameters of Clarity. This year we have also improved how we assess and report to effectively inform and develop learner attributes reflective of the IB Learner Profile. This sees us exploring the transition from a fixed, final report with a transcript of results towards the development of an active profile of student learning informed by various experiences within and beyond the classroom. This profile can then be used to align to career pathways and evidence the characteristics of a Mercedes College graduate.

Our Primary Years Programme (PYP) students develop their learning through inquiry based and transdisciplinary units, as well as experiences and meaningful action. In 2021, we saw students walk for water to raise money and awareness for CARITAS Australia, engage and support activities promoting the care and nurturing of Brownhill Creek as well as celebrate the rich history and cultural significance this area has for the Kaurna people. Culminating their learning in the PYP, our Year 5 students demonstrated their passion and enthusiasm for making positive change by investigating problems and exhibiting solutions.

Middle Years Programme Teaching the Middle Years Programme (MYP) is challenging, with practitioners’ part of the learning process to enable students to think independently. Where a traditional classroom may see students learning isolated subject content, this programme creates connections through related concepts and a global context. This enriches student learning, provoking them to constantly think and relate back to these central ideas. It also enables connection between subject areas and provides for interdisciplinary learning. With meaning gained through context, students explore the purpose and real-world application of their learning, as students develop skills, including emotional intelligence, communication, creativity, problem formulation (beyond problem solving), global citizenship, empathy, adaptability, and resilience. Closing the MYP through final assessments is not about pre-SACE or pre-IB Diploma but rather it is an authentic MYP completion experience, which provides the opportunity to extend student thinking beyond subject disciplines. For this reason, key concepts, related concepts and global contexts within student responses and questions are the focus of Year 10 examinations.

IB Diploma Programme

Initiatives

In 2021 the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) optimised the philosophy of adaptability and resilience with the IB Diploma Programme structure and assessment changed.

• The What’s happening in this School (WHITS) Survey is administered annually, to gain student feedback and assess attitudinal, structural and cultural processes which determine how inclusive our culture is, as well as important outcomes like resilience and wellbeing.

The graduating Year 12 cohort achieved numerous merits, with our IB Diploma Programme students attaining a 100 per cent pass rate, further exhibiting the remarkable relationship that exists between our teaching staff and students. The academic year concluded with the Year 11 students engaging in a productive transition week aimed at focussing on the core elements of the IB Diploma Programme. This year the new Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course was introduced, including the exhibition. Here students demonstrated an understanding of how knowledge manifests in the real-world around them through an exploration of everyday objects – be that a frying pan to books on Quantum Physics.

• The Classroom Climate Questionnaire, another online survey, is used to improve student outcomes through teacher-driven professional learning. Teachers work with a coach to arrange classroom observations and gain feedback.

Students explored many TOK themes in these exhibitions associated with the knower, language and technology. The philosophy of TOK is to explore knowledge and stimulate thinking about a range of topics, such as, bias in scientific explorations; the ambiguity of language and the role of evidence in establishing the truth.

• Our Pastoral Curriculum continues to focus on the wellbeing of students, including support for academic progress, sense of belonging, support for physical and emotional health and opportunities to celebrate student success. This instruction is further supported by restorative practices to constructively repair damaged relationships.

South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE)

• The Head of Middle School, MYP Coordinator and Year 6 Coordinator combined efforts to refine our transition process from the PYP into the MYP. The main focus of the initiative was to ensure students had a solid foundation of understanding of the MYP, opportunities to engage with and learn about their peers and Home Group teachers, and time to familiarise themselves with the possibilities yet also the responsibilities of engaging with 1:1 learning on a laptop device. This was a great success and students had a positive, calm and smooth transition. By the time students began ‘normal classes’ in Week 4 they were ready and better prepared than in previous years.

As part of the focus on developing collective capacity, SACE teachers have been engaged in collaborative team meetings involving moderation of student work. This enables teachers to share best practice and develop an agreed understanding of achievement levels across different tasks. The SACE Board continues to grow the number of subjects undertaking electronic examinations. In 2021 Mercedes College had students complete e-exams in English Literary Studies, Modern History, Biology, Legal Studies, Psychology and Nutrition. This multimodal approach to assessment impacts the design of teaching and learning experiences with observations emerging on gender differences in task performance.

• By using a range of data, from student engagement in learning and standardised assessment results, we are continuing to improve. This year the online classroom pulse ‘Check In’ ascertained how students feel about their experience at school with results used to identify trends and meet the learning and wellbeing needs of students.

2021 ATAR Distribution

Tertiary Offers - Class of 2021

24% Health/Medicine/ Veterinarian/Physiotherapy

20%

16% Arts/Psychology/Social Work

15%

13% Law/Legal/International Politics

10%

13% Engineering/ Construction/Innovation 12% Commerce/Business

8% Science 5% Teaching

0% 50-54.95

55-59.95

60-64.95

65-69.95

70-74.95

75-79.95

80-84.95

85-89.95

90-94.95

95+

4% Design/Marketing 3% Computer Science/IT 2% Other

Student Attendance

2021 Laureates

At Mercedes College, we understand the importance of student engagement and regular attendance at school. In 2021 our overall student attendance rate was 93 per cent.

Across the Class of 2021, 59 students (38 per cent of the cohort) are acknowledged as laureates having obtained Merits in one or more of their Year 12 subjects, or placing in the top 10 per cent of students nationally by gaining an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of 90 or more.

Year Level Attendance Rate (%) Reception 93 per cent

Year 7

94 per cent

Year 1

94 per cent

Year 8

91 per cent

Year 2

96 per cent

Year 9

91 per cent

Year 3

93 per cent

Year 10

92 per cent

Year 4

94 per cent

Year 11

91 per cent

Year 5

94 per cent

Year 12

92 per cent

Year 6

92 per cent

Studies clearly indicate that academic success is related to student attendance at school. Mercedes College partners with families to ensure that students maximise their opportunities. Non-attendance is actively managed, with attendance recorded on our central administration database system each morning, along with other information such as whether it is a known or unexplained absence. Families receive a message about each late arrival or unexplained absence.

The distribution of ATARs shows that more than a third (36.2 per cent) of the 2021 cohort gained an ATAR of 90 or higher with an impressive 19.7 per cent achieving an ATAR of 95 or higher. A near 60 per cent of students achieved an ATAR in the 80s. Of note, is that one in every five Mercedes College students graduated in the top 5 per cent of Year 12s in Australia. All students seeking a university pathway were given offers in the first round with 73 per cent receiving their first preference. The most common pathways for students were toward Medicine and allied Health professions with Law, Commerce and Engineering continuing to be popular. As we have seen in previous years, interest in the Behavioural Sciences and Arts continues to gain momentum. A total of 41 Merits were obtained across a wide variety of subjects in SACE and the IB Diploma Programme: • SACE Research Project B • SACE English

2021 Mercedes College Dux Congratulations to Olenka Smolicz as the Class of 2021 Dux.

• SACE Essential English • SACE Visual Arts – Design • SACE Business Innovation

Olenka gained an ATAR of 99 following her outstanding achievement in her SACE studies with Merits in English and Visual Arts – Design (completed in 2020) contributing to her SACE aggregate of 86.4 out of a maximum 90.

• SACE General Mathematics

Congratulations to Anna Nixon and Alana Spirou as joint IB Diploma Duces having completed their IB Diploma with 41 points. Anna’s score included Merits in IB Biology HL, IB Chemistry SL and IB Maths AI SL while Alana gained Merits in IB Biology HL and IB Spanish ab initio SL.

• IB Indonesian B SL

• SACE Outdoor Education • IB English B SL and HL • IB French B SL • IB Spanish ab initio SL • IB Biology HL • IB Chemistry SL, HL • IB Mathematics AA SL • IB Mathematics AI SL Adrian Chiarolli Assistant Principal, Teaching and Learning

Student and family-centric

Strategic and enabling goals • Nurture our students to flourish and reach their full potential • Shape our learning experience to produce confident, ethical and successful global citizens ready to address the challenges of their time • Build enduring partnerships with parents and the community Mission | As a Catholic school in the Mercy tradition and inspired by the Gospels, we work in partnership with families enabling students to flourish in all aspects of their humanity and thus contribute to a better and more peaceful world. Religious and Faith development programmes added significant value to students’ experience at Mercedes College. The top ten highlights for 2021 are: 1. A quality Religious Education programme from Reception to Year 12 based on The Catholic Education SA Crossways Framework. 2. The cross curricular Made in the Image of God (MITIOG) human sexuality programme. 3. Mindfulness meditation and centring prayer taught and practiced through timetabled lessons. 4. A retreat programme for all Year 6 to Year 12 students where participants build strong healthy relationships with each other and explore aspects of their religious and faith formation in a supportive and peaceful environment off-campus. 5. In the spirit of Catherine McAuley, Reception to Year 12 students participate in fundraising activities to support the vulnerable, including with the Sisters of Mercy projects and other significant charities including Caritas Australia and St Vincent de Paul.

6. Our Sacramental programme, run and facilitated through local parishes and supported by the Junior School Religious Education Coordinator. 7. Community events including our Junior School Special Persons Day which encourages our young people to honour, other than their parents, people significant in their lives. 8. Year 11 students community service programme where we partner with aged care, child care, education, and environmental projects including the Urrbrae wetlands, as well as social justice works with St Vincent De Paul, the Salvos, and St Johns to further learning and practice. 9. Meaningful ceremonies and activities across the Catholic liturgical calendar, led by staff and students, from the start of the academic year to Easter, Mercy Day and Christmas. 10. Weekly Friday morning Masses in our Ursula Frayne Chapel and Mercy Chapel led by a different class, plus students participated in significant local parish based religious events including the Marian Procession and World Day of Prayer, as well as social justice based activities such as The Vinnies Winter Appeal, Jewish history incursion, Seminar Days, National Sorry Day, Caritas Day and Solidarity Day. Due to ongoing COVID restrictions our work with Sister Denise Coughlin, a sister of Mercy in Cambodia managing a House of Reflection in Siem Reap, remained on hold. Therese Wilson Director of Mission

540 Fullarton Road Springfield South Australia 5062 T +61 8 8372 3200 mercedes@mercedes.catholic.edu.au mercedes.catholic.edu.au

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Mercedes College