Newsletter Issue No. 7 – May 21, 2004 MERCEDES COLLEGE Principal’s Report Issue No 7 – May 21, 2004 The recent rain and colder weather has confirmed that winter has arrived. In the College Calendar regular pattern of the school year, Terms 2 &3 bring the requirements of the winter 31/5-4/6/04 Year 12 Major Production uniform, which I think is the smartest of our uniforms. It is perhaps timely to 2-4/6/04 Year 10 Exams remind students and parents of our expectations, as there seems to be a current trend 3-4/6/04 Year 8 Retreat 7/6/04 Year 11 Swot Vac amongst a number of students to casualise and compromise the formality of this 8/6-11/6/04 Yr 11 Exams uniform. The school tie is a compulsory part of the uniform – including for Year 12 students with the Year 12 jumper; similarly, the blazer always needs to be worn coming to and from school – regardless of the mode of transport. If a student is A Friday thought… dropped at school by car , he/she still needs to wear a blazer. A current problem – At first glance I thought that it was simp ly headline grabbing associated with current fashion is the use of hair colouring that is unnatural, as well as hyperbole. Terry McCarthy, St Vincent de Paul social justice scruffy or unbrushed presentation (especially by boys). Our regulations are clear, that spokesman, had likened tax cuts as “nothing short of WMDs – weapons of mass destruction for society”. However, his further hair products can only be used that produce a natural and neat appearance. comments in support of this view certainly gave pause for thought. He said that millions of Australians already in dire Wint er sport commences fully this Saturday – with a large number of teams entered straits are now facing a further decline in essential government services. in primary and secondary competitions. Again, it is timely to re-enforce the expectations of Mercedes College of its students in inter-school sporting “Our government services are already in steep decline. Will Budget tax cuts preclude essential expenditure and decimate competitions, such that ou r College is represented and presented well in public. these services even further? Tax cuts may please many Students need to ensure that they wear the full College sports uniform on and off the people as governments offer them to catch votes, but look at field. Other variations, such as non-school jumpers or rugby tops or socks, are not the human cost, particularly for low and middle income Australians. They have no choice but to rely on the permitted. At a higher level, we expect our students to display loyal commitment to Government for the essential services needed to survive, and their team and exemplary sportsmanship in competitions. I wish our teams success as they continue to suffer so too will Australia’s long-term prosperity. Tax cuts are indeed social WMDs, because they this season and look forward to meeting parents on the sidelines in encouraging our destroy the prospect of a fair society.” teams. In the wash -up from the Federal budget there has been much discussion of winners and losers. There has been almost A highlight of the last fortnight was the success of Year 7 student, Montana Mitchell, unanimous agreement that political considerations were at the in winning the Grand Final of the Junior School Heads Association Junior Orator forefront of decisions about who should receive from the largesse of the government. Hence, those who are identified competition. Montana is a seasoned and experienced public speaker and debater, by the psephologists and spin doctors as swinging voters were having previously been to the semi-finals and finals of this prestigious competition. to gain most. If you live in electorates such as Makin, Kingston She is the first Mercedes College winner for 10 years – and thoroughly deserves her or Adelaide, you are very much the focus of attention. On the other side of politics, a senior Labor politician was equally success, as she has excellent skills and is a great contributor to her school. conscious of political considerations as he mused on whether the “precision bombing” of the government would be as effective as a “carpet bombing” approach which would target Thanks to Clare Kiesewetter and Liz Watson of the Parents and Friends Association voters more broadly, especially those who, it has been for a thoroughly enjoyable Women’s Cocktail Party at the Radisson Playford Hotel. suggested, were left out as they neither earn more than $52000 It was a great opportunity to meet and speak with many women of the College. or are raising children. Somehow, the words political considerations have come to Finally, an important diary change – our published school calendar shows that the encompass the primary focus of many of our decision -makers. The words are, of course, code for “what will work to ensure our Staff Retreat (non-school day for students) is on Friday 27 August; this is now re-election”, in other words the ideology of self-interest. Is Friday 3 September to coincide with Royal Adelaide Show which is on from 3-11 there another approach? Can there still be a process of decision-making which actually has the real needs of the whole September. electorate as central rather than specific targetting for electoral gain? Is there another way which would recognize that, for instance, even with tax relief to specific groups the emergency wards in public hospitals will still be overflowing, maternity services at the QEH will still be closed, public housing will still be grossly inadequate and there will still be vast needs for funding of primary, secondary and tertiary education in Catherine Alcock Australia? Principal The vision needed is one which recognizes all as equal, worthy of respect and dignity and which promotes a fair distribution of the goods of the earth to all regardless of income or political significance. Such a vision, of course, is found in the Gospels. Such a vision is encapsulated in Jesus’ words “in this will all men and women know that you are my disciples that you have love for one another”. Both Federal Cabinet and their Labor counterparts could do worse than begin each meeting with these words. Peter Williams 1 MERCEDES COLLEGE From the Finance Office Thank you to those families who have forwarded payment for their Term II school fee account and those families who have entered into a periodic payment agreement to meet their 2004 school fee commitment. The due date for payment is 31 May 2004. If you are unable to forward payment in full by this date and have not made recent contact with the College, please contact me on 8372 3221. Heather Burns Finance office [email protected] RESERVE THIS DATE Saturday October 30 Adelaide Convention Centre Mercedes College GALA JUBILEE BALL · Wine · Dine · Dance · Reminisce · Remember · CELEBRATE with the Mercedes Community, past and present. If you would like to assist in planning, organising a table, contacting old scholars or in any way, please contact Suzanne Moorhead, Development Office, 8372 3200. CatholicCatholic TheologicalTheological College College Presents:Presents: EUCHARISTEUCHARIST IN IN THE THE CATHOLIC CATHOLIC TRADITIONTRADITION Venue:Venue: CatholicCatholic TheologicalTheological College AdelaideAdelaide CollegeCollege ofof DivinityDivinity CampusCampus 3434 LipsettLipsett TerraceTerrace BrooklynBrooklyn ParkPark 50325032 When:When: SATURDAYSATURDAY 2929 MAYMAY –– 9.30am9.30am toto 3.30pm3.30pm Cost:Cost: $10$10 –– BYOBYO LLunchunch (Tea(Tea andand CoffeeCoffee provided)provided) ToTo RegisterRegister pleaseplease phonephone 84168416 84608460 oror emailemail [email protected]@flinders.edu.au CONGRATULATIONS Morgan Mitchell (8LS) joined the Royal Australian Navy Cadets last year and attends each Friday night at Port Adelaide’s training unit, TS Adelaide. At the end of the year he was awarded the Jean Stewart Junior Sailors Award for most outstanding Naval Recruit for 2003. Most recently, Morgan participated in the ANZAC Day Parade as a representative of the Royal Australian Navy Cadets. He proudly carried the flag introducing the veterans from the Royal Australian Navy who served in Vietnam, and marched the length of the parade. He then stood as a Naval Cadet in the guard of honour at the Cross of Sacrifice Service before the Governor of South Australia, alongside representatives of the Royal Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force. Morgan met many veterans that day. We congratulate Morgan on his commitment for serving his community in this capacity. 2 MERCEDES COLLEGE News from the Junior School June 22 R-12 Class Photos and Portraits (full winter uniform required) Dear Parents July 2 End of Term Two (3.30 pm) Frank Ali Thank you for your cooperation on the day the Union took Head of Junior School action and school finished early. It went very smoothly from our end and hopefully staff was able to get their point across, Music News too. From Strathspey You may not have noticed but I have been on several and Beyond workshops, seminars and conferences lately. One of the most recent was an excellent and practical seminar on the Habits of Mind and how they might be employed in the thinking Dates for Diaries process. These Habits of Mind are not too dissimilar to the · JUNE 17 WINTER CONCERT in Hall 7.00pm IBPYP Student Profiles and are actually useful in all spheres This will be primarily be a middle/senior school music of endeavour. concert. Items advised by Mr Hooper. · JUNE 24 STRING CONCERT in Hall 7.00pm The Habits are: This will be for all students who play strings in any · Questioning and Posing Problems; ensemble or small group combinations (to be decided), · Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and especially Year 3 and 5 groups.