Fleur De Lis Issue 1 2022
Message from the Principal Each year, our students return from the summer holidays to a new year of learning. This year, the return was staggered, with all students now using the excellent learning environment we provide on campus. Our collective resilience has again been demonstrated with our diverse group of experienced teachers readily adjusting their instruction to meet onsite and online learning, and our adaptive students and families ever supportive. As we have since early 2020, we will continue to adapt to the COVID-19 protocols for school settings to keep our community safe. Our shared focus as a College community remains on providing today’s students with wide ranging opportunities to learn in and beyond our classrooms, form friendships and be exposed to a breadth of experiences, all the while as we continue investing to meet the needs of tomorrow. This year, supplementing our existing suite of facilities, construction of our new Arts and Sports Precinct will start. This project is being realised after many years of consideration, and follows approval of our Master Plan in December 2020, and development of Stage One by our lead architect, JPE Design Studio, in April 2021. Using a collaborative design approach, our new Arts and Sports Precinct will come to life. These purpose-built spaces for sport, the performing arts, and greater community connection provide the opportunity for our community – College Council, staff, students, parents and caregivers, Mercedes Parents and Friends Association, Mercedes Old Scholars’ Association, Mercureans and friends – to contribute, including philanthropically through our Annual Giving Programme. These spaces will be used by thousands of students in the decades ahead for learning, experiencing the arts and playing sport as they create memories at Mercedes College. Our infrastructure focus is aligned with our five enabling strategic goals that guide our priorities, investment and initiatives. In short these will see us continue to deliver an ever-better world class education for our students, underpinned by high expectations, and quality relationships, reflective of our Mercy Keys and traditions. Our Strategic Plan 2021-2025 deliberately encourages active participation from across our community so that together we build on our strong foundations to help our students flourish and position the College for continued excellence.
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