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Mercedes College Mercy Vine From the Principal Issue No 3 – 7 March, 2008 Dear Parents, Staff, Students and Friends of the Mercedes College Community My Absence Many of you may already be aware that I will be away from the Membership of the 2008 Mercedes College Council is: College for some weeks in the near future. Tony Ward Parent Elected Member, Chairperson A CIS Team Visit Colleen Tomlian Council Nominated Member, Next week I will be a member of a Council of International Schools Deputy Chairperson (CIS) Visiting Team at a school in Queensland. You will recall that Sam Arnold Parent Elected Member we hosted such a CIS Visiting Team in 2006 as we underwent a Simon Marsh Council Nominated Member whole school review and gained accreditation. This is important Jo Milne Parent Elected Member work and I hope I will be able to give the school constructive Samiko Munro-Callisto Council Nominated Member feedback to help them with their future planning as we were Tim Rogers Council Nominated Member assisted in the past. I am convinced I will learn much from Deirdre White Parent Elected Member observing the processes and procedures of the school and thus Peter Daw Ex-officio Member Mercedes will also benefit from my participation. As much as we Steve Bowley Invited found the 2006 CIS visit to be of great value it will be nice to be on the other side this time! One further member is to be nominated by Archbishop Wilson and this appointment will be in place by the next meeting. I thank these International Student Programme (ISP) work and a Visit to members of our community for the generous way in which they our Mercy Beginnings give their time to ensure our College is responsibly led into the From 25 March to 10 May (Weeks 8, 9, 10 of this term and Weeks future. 1 & 2 of Term 2) I will be overseas on International Student Programme (ISP) business. While I am away I will also be taking Waite Reserve the opportunity to visit Catherine McAuley’s House at Bagot Street Due to ongoing water concerns, once again it is looking increasingly in Dublin, an experience I am greatly looking forward to in order to unlikely that we will be able to access Waite Reserve as a venue for gain a better sense of the life and times of Catherine McAuley and our winter sporting programme. As in 2007, if this facility is thus assist me in deepening my Mercy spirituality. unavailable we will be making alternative arrangements. Bill Gaynor and other members of the Sport Staff work very hard to I have always endeavoured to undertake ISP work in holiday time ensure our students have access to the highest quality facilities so I am here at Mercerdes during the term, however, in this case it available. We will be seeking venues that are of close proximity to is impossible. I travel overseas to meet with parents of our current the College and will keep you informed as the situation becomes students to provide them with progress reports, to engage clearer. prospective enrolments and to meet with the Agents who broker the enrolment process. Quebec Exchange We have welcomed and farewelled our Quebec Exchange students While I am away Tony O’Doherty, Paul Wadsworth and Julie Hann and staff over the past days and have enjoyed their company in will deal, as they normally do, with matters concerning their level of between. I thank the billeting families for their hospitality, I know school and will work in partnership to deal with any Reception to our Mercedes students are waiting in excited anticipation for their Year 12 matters. The College has an experienced return visit to Quebec. The students from Rochebelle have had an Executive Leadership Team who will also give the three Assistant interesting and exciting time, some even more so than others! Principals any support they need during this time. I will also be contactable if the need arises. The College Council Last week the College Council met for Coming Events the first time for 2008. I am pleased to Peter Daw 10 March Adelaide Cup Holiday announce Tony Ward was elected as 12 March Orientation Walk Principal Chairperson for 2008 and will be ably 13/3/08 Year 8 Immunisations assisted by Colleen Tomlian as his 14/3/08 Year 9 & 10 Class Party Deputy. 17/3/08 Council Meeting 18/3/08 Photo Day: R-12 Leadership, Music, Summer Sports 21-24/3/08 EASTER 25/3/08 Year 7 Retreat Mercedes College Newsletter Page 2 A Friday thought… climate change. Perhaps a moment pondering and praying his words would be of value ………… A rare win for the little heard people over ‘development’. The long-running saga that is Victoria Park has, seemingly, come to God, Creator and Sustainer, an end. Or is it a beginning? With the decision by the SAJC free us from ignorance about your gift of Earth. to vacate the park after 160 years of horse racing have come Inspire us to act together in respect for your gift and change our ways two reactions, each diametrically opposite to the other. On the as we relate to Earth’s rhythms with humility. one hand there is the always present ‘develop at all costs’ May we welcome the truth when scientists speak of climate change, lobby, which endorses anything that either provides And reject false pathways designed to confuse. entertainment or makes money, preferably both. On the At this point in history, help us to urge our politicians t o take moral other, there is the much smaller community voice seemingly in decisions and urgent action in negotiating sustainable living. constant need to be heard in defence of Adelaide’s heritage Ground all our thoughts in your revealing Scriptures and the wisdom of parklands. Whether it’s the Adelaide Oval extensions, holy women and men who have gone before us to help build proposals for the railyards, a range of other intrusions, and the new creation as followers of your Cosmic Son. now Victoria Park, the justifying arguments of “we’re only Give us a discerning spirit to work with the ecological and the human, taking a little bit” or “no-one uses it anyway” are constantly the social and the economic realities of this world, and instil in us a spirit trotted out to support yet another incursion. And when the of respect and compassion able to imagine pathways of harmony. Amen. lesser heard voices are raised in opposition, they are Peter Williams Director of Mission condemned as anti-Adelaide or anti- progress. For once, the challenge has been – at this stage – successfully mounted to redefine ‘progress’, to reassert the priority of our inherited environment over bread and circuses. In the process, the State Government has backed off from the dual use grandstand project, aware perhaps that while many people in marginal electorates may not make much noise, they do vote and they have not necessarily supported the proposal. The Adelaide City Council has been derided by many in the media as a small group with too much clout, although the independent weekly paper has more kindly promoted it as a body of conservation. Lord Mayor Michael Harbison has moved quickly out of the blocks to promote the new possibilities which now arise, that the park could become a world class people’s park, with greater and more sympathetic access for people in general to enjoy this rare gem on the city’s edge. All this has come during Lent, the time we are invited to look deeply into ourselves. Pope Benedict, speaking on St Augustine at an audience in January, said “the presence of God in man is deep and at the same time mysterious. It can however be discovered and recognised deep down in oneself”. Just perhaps, God is speaking to us through the messiness of this debate. Just perhaps it is symbolic of the ongoing struggle – for much bigger stakes – around the world, for protection and nurturing of our earth. For respecting our heritage and coming to a greater understanding of the gift we have received and are challenged to protect. There are a range of Church social teaching principles concerning our environment and some speak powerfully to the local debate. They include the need to consider the common good, promoting authentic not super development, the rights of future generations and the need to preserve the earth community’s bio-diversity. Somehow, while the challenges to Victoria Park pale almost into insignificance in comparison with major environmental concerns, the effort to raise our voices to ‘nurture our earth’ here in Adelaide can become emblematic of our broader commitment. The notion DONATIONS of EASTER that we might ‘think locally, act globally’ certainly resonates. EGGS Father Charles Rue, Columban Coordinator of the Justice, We will be collecting Easter Eggs for Sister Peace and Integrity of Creation Office in Australia, has Kate for the Women’s Prison. These can penned a prayer which relates to environmental issues and to be left at the Rose Garden Office. Any donations gratefully received. Mercedes College Newsletter Page 3 From the Junior School 28 March Yrs 4-7 Zone Athletics at Scotch College I would like to officially announce and congratulate Loretta 4 April Years 3, 4 & 5 Class Party Romano who has accepted a two year position at Discovery 11 April End of Term 1 College in Hong Kong as team leader and classroom teacher. Julie Hann This means Loretta will be leaving Mercedes at the end of Assistant Principal Term 2.

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