Acknowledgement of Country
From the Principal - Issue #13, 2025
Principal
National Homelessness Week, August 4 to 10, was a time to reflect on the challenges faced by so many in our community and remind ourselves of the actions we can take to support people experiencing homelessness. SAC is very active in this space, with our support of Sr Janet Mead’s Adelaide Day Centre and Vinnies through fundraising, Blankets of Love and the Can Drive, as well as student volunteers who help out at the Centre during the week. Year 12 students are currently collecting items for women seeking support through Catherine House.
Last Friday, some Year 12 students and members of the Justice and Mercy group attended the Annual Memorial in Tarntanyangga (Victoria Square) to remember those who have lost their lives while experiencing homelessness. The statistics shared were confronting. Each of these people had their own story and their death will be felt by all those who knew and loved them. As I looked around at our students, I was hopeful that their awareness and empathy might contribute to a better world and a future where we eliminate homelessness.
Year level assemblies were held across the school in the last fortnight to present Academic and Mercy Awards from Years 7 to 12. Whilst we acknowledge that every student’s individual goals are unique, it is important that we celebrate students who consistently achieve excellence, whether in their studies or in living out the Mercy values or both. I especially enjoy seeing the sense of appreciation students have for the achievements of their peers, with a genuine pride in everyone doing their best. That school culture of lifting one another up, aspiring to be our best and delighting in the success of others is definitely one of the great gifts of a Mercy education.
At the whole school assembly on Tuesday, we celebrated the breadth and depth of talents on display in these first few weeks of Term 3 at SAC – from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to a range of sports finals, from Mock Trials to Debating, from Da Vinci Decathlon to Duke of Edinburgh Awards, students represent the College with energy and confidence. It was special to be hosting friends from Timor Leste, Liborio, Etel and Lucia, who are visiting from JDN—the Youth for National Development organisation in Dili.
Our connection with JDN is a very special one. For over 10 years, SAC has welcomed young leaders from Timor-Leste into our school community. Each visit is a chance for us to learn from one another, to share our cultures, and to strengthen our friendship across the Timor Sea. We are always inspired by the actions these young people lead in their own communities, and it is an opportunity to share ideas about how to be effective changemakers in society.
It is great to see the new Dunlevie building coming together before our very eyes. This term we will be “topping out” – reaching the fourth floor, with all its magnificent views. It is hard to believe that in 12 months’ time our youngest students will be learning in this beautiful space. We can’t wait to make it feel like home for them.
Ms Paddy McEvoy
Principal
Talk Money, Think Future
Year 8s Get Smart About Spending, Saving, and Financial Goals
The Year 8 Cohort had an incursion presented by Kim Clark which focused on spending and saving choices, how decisions now can affect future finances, and developing strategies to achieve financial goals.
Students learnt how everyday choices can impact saving and spending and how to align spending choices with their goals and what they value.
Year 11s Inspired: A Powerful, Honest & Practical Session
Our Year 11 students recently took part in the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) Road Awareness Program (RAP) - a powerful, honest and practical session designed to help young people make safe choices on and around our roads.
Firefighter, David Quan and Road Awareness Advocate Holly Scott spoke to students about:
- Building good attitudes, smart decision-making and safe behaviours
- The dangers of speeding, distractions and driving under the influence
- How to be a responsible passenger and pedestrian
- Preparing to be a responsible driver
- First-hand experiences of the real impact of road trauma
This important program empowers students to protect themselves and others, and we are grateful to have heard these valuable insights.
From the English Faculty
English & Literacy Coordinator
‘Muse It or Lose It’ – Year 8 English & Music Incursion
For students who previously read and enjoyed the Percy Jackson books and all those who love poetry, the recent Year 8 incursion with ‘Poetry in Action’ was a match made in heaven … or perhaps on Mount Olympus! The creative combination of Greek mythology and a range of poetry from across the years, resulted in a performance that was engaging and entertaining, for students and staff alike. The key message – amongst the fun and laughter – was the valuable reminder to trust in and celebrate our individual creativity.
A few students shared the following reflections on the event:
"This show had many joyful laughs and excited faces. It has inspired us to continue writing our own poetry. Our favourite moment in the show was when we met all the Greek gods. We also really enjoyed seeing the different scenarios each character had and how they resisted using CHATGPT and used their creativity instead." Charlize & Ivy 8NW
"'Muse It or Lose It' by Poetry In Action was a captivating performance with amazing acting and friendly performers. It was funny, relatable, and well written. There were lots of poetic techniques and types of poems mentioned, which I found very engaging." Charlotte 8JT
"The Poetry in Action performance was so animated and full of energy, making it an amazing experience for us all. It helped me realise the power of expression and how poetry can be both entertaining and meaningful to all. My favourite part was when one of the girls started randomly flipping and jumping around. Overall, the play kept everyone laughing, surprised and engaged with its face pace." Nekeesha 8NW
2025 SAC Short Story & Poetry Competition
'Coloured Objects’
‘Coloured Objects’ was the theme of this year’s SAC Short Story and Poetry Competition. Students responded thoughtfully and creatively, producing an impressive range of writing, incorporating objects and colours both literally and metaphorically. The competition also includes the Neville Stapleton Poetry Awards. Bestowed in honour of the late Mr Neville Stapleton, long-time member of the College’s teaching staff and later archivist, the awards are presented by his family to the winning secondary poets from Years 7 to 9 and Years 10 to 12. Congratulations to Chloe (7AC) and Emma (12JM) the 2025 winners of the Awards, and to Divreet (9AK) and Amelia (10SL) who were the runners up. Emily, Elizabeth, Yenuli, Lydia, Senudi and Charlotte were also successful in their various divisions – Primary poetry and short stories and Secondary short stories. Our thanks are extended to Mr Patrick Stapleton, who joined us to present the awards, and to the members of the English faculty who formed the preliminary judging panels. We look forward to reading more from these talented writers and poets!
Ms Genevieve Pelekani
English Coordinator
Primary Poetry
- Winner: Emily 5NP - The Purple Balloon
- 2nd Place: Lydia 3IF - One Blue Marble
Primary Short Story
- Winner: Elizabeth 6GB - The Secret Shelf
- 2nd Place: Senudi 6GB - The Rainbow Umbrella
Middle School Poetry (neville stapleton award)
- Winner: Chloe 7AC -The Neon Highlighter
- 2nd Place: Divreet 9AK - Echoes of Our Fading Love
senior School Poetry (neville stapleton award)
- Winner: Emma 12JM - Coin Flip
- 2nd Place: Amelia 10SL - The Yellow Balloon
Secondary Short Story
- Winner: Yenuli 11LN - A Love Worth Waiting For
- Second Place: Charlotte 8JT - Untitled
Mr Patrick Stapleton presenting the 2025 SAC Short Story & Poetry Competition finalists with their awards
From the Music Department
Music Coordinator
ASO Big Rehearsal Opportunity
In Week 3, Year 11 student, Imogen, had the exciting opportunity to participate in the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s annual Big Rehearsals program—an inspiring initiative designed to give young musicians a taste of professional orchestral life.
Big Rehearsals is one of the ASO’s flagship learning experiences, where students sit side-by-side with professional ASO musicians to rehearse and perform orchestral repertoire. The program is designed to challenge and develop students’ musicality, ensemble awareness, and orchestral playing skills. It’s a rare and enriching opportunity for aspiring musicians to learn directly from seasoned professionals in a supportive and dynamic environment
Imogen was assigned the Flute 1 part and was paired with Julia Grenfell, ASO’s Principal Piccolo player. Julia generously shared her expertise, offering valuable insights into flute technique and practical tips for performing in an orchestral setting.
Led by ASO conductor Nicholas Buc, the ensemble worked through three vibrant pieces: Dvořák’s Slavonic Dance in F, Hyde’s Village Fair: A Ballet for Orchestra, and Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 5. Students explored expressive contrasts, refined their articulation, and gained a deeper understanding of their instrument’s role within the orchestra.
The day concluded with a performance of all three works for family and friends, showcasing the students’ hard work and musical growth. It was a memorable and inspiring experience for Imogen and all involved.
"I had such an amazing time and highly recommend it to anyone who plays an instrument and wants to get a taste of what playing with a professional orchestra feels like." Imogen, 11LN
Ms Fiona Turner
Music Coordinator
Coming soon! Save the Date!
From the Secondary Sport Coordinator
Secondary Sport Coordinator
Winter Season Draws to a Close / Pink Round Highlights
This weekend marks the final round of winter sport for 2025. We wish our soccer, netball and badminton teams the best of luck, particularly those playing-off in grand finals (see below!)
- Middle SAC 1 Soccer – Grand Final for Middle C competition
- Year 7 SAC 1 Netball – Grand Final for Year 7 B2 Competition
- Senior SAC 2 Netball – Grand Final for Open C1 Competition
- Middle SAC 1 Badminton – Grand Final for Middle B2 Competition
A huge thankyou to the teachers, old scholars, parents and senior students who have stepped up to support or coach a team this season.
We also had an exciting turnout for Pink Round, which was held on the 2nd August. Students, officials and spectators wore pink to raise breast cancer awareness, generate discussion encouraging breast screening, and show support for the 20,000+ women and men diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia every year. Enjoy some photos from our best-dressed teams!
semi-finals in full swing!
Term 4 Sport Nominations Closing 22 August
A friendly reminder that Year 7-12 nominations for Term 4 sport will close 12pm, Friday 22nd August.
Teams will be finalised and sent through to the association after this point, and therefore, late nominations are unable to be accepted.
Sports on offer:
- Touch Football, Tennis, Basketball, Indoor Volleyball - Saturday mornings any time between 8-11am
- Water Polo – Thursday afternoons anytime between 4 – 6:30pm
- Dance & Fitness – Weekday Lunchtime
Commitment:
All team sports (besides Water Polo) have 1x morning training per week. These are before school and attendance is compulsory. See SAC Sport Policies & General Information for more info.
Nominate:
Nominate by logging into our Clipboard School portal – this link can also be found on the SEQTA Welcome Page.
If you haven’t set up an account yet, see the information below.
- Clipboard Information & Account Set Up
- Adding the Portal to Your Mobile Phone Homescreen & Push Notifications
Sporting Spotlight
Year 7 student and talented basketballer, Alessia, was selected to represent SA in the U12 girls basketball at the School Sports Australia Games earlier this month. The School Sports Australia Games is a weeklong championship featuring great athletes across Australian Rules Football, Basketball, Netball, Golf, Diving, Soccer, Bowls, Rugby League & Swimming. SA finished 4th in the basketball, narrowly missing out on the bronze medal. We are so proud of Alessia to have been selected to represent her state at such a high level!
Superstar Amelia (10SL) has recently come back from competing at the East Coast Challenge – an annual Water Polo tournament held in Melbourne for 15&U state squads across the country. This prepares her and her SA state team for Nationals, which will be held later in the year. She had a successful stint, playing 6 games and even snagging a goal against Victoria! Amelia has come such a long way from Thursday night games out at Pembroke pool playing for SAC in middle years! We are super excited for what the future holds – watch this space!
Aria (Year 9) also represented SA recently, in the 15 & Under School Sport Australia Hockey Championships from August 3rd – 9th. She was one of few players selected for this team to compete against NSW, QLD, TAS, WA, VIC & ACT at the Hockey Centre in Lyneham, ACT. Her team was able to snag a couple of wins and a draw, finishing 6th overall. We are so very proud of Aria – as not only was she selected to represent SA in Hockey, but also in the 15 Years & Under School Sport Australia Touch Football Championships in October, and she also was named vice captain for her hockey team. Well done, Aria!
Ms Meg Henderson
Secondary Sport Coordinator
From the International Students Coordinator
International Students Coordinator
Farewell to Our Short-Term International Students
As we farewell our four short-term international students, we reflect on the wonderful three weeks they have shared with us at SAC. It has been a joy to see them immerse themselves in school life, build friendships, and embrace new experiences with enthusiasm.
For Ada, this visit was particularly special — her second time with us — and it was heartwarming to see her reconnect with familiar faces and places. For our three first-time visitors, Loulin (JiuJiu) Liu and Ruoxuan (Elsa) Liu from 1EG, and Ziyan (Esther) Ma from 5AC, their presence brought fresh energy, curiosity, and a genuine love of learning that inspired us all.
Although their time here was brief, the impact they made was lasting. They enriched our school community and reminded us of the joy and value of cultural exchange. We wish them all the very best for the future and hope to welcome them back to SAC again someday.
Ms Shuhong Li
International Students Coordinator
Debating Season Midpoint Success for SAC Teams
With three debates completed, Debating SA’s debating season is now at the halfway mark, with just two rounds remaining next term before the finals. Our students have already delivered some impressive performances, with several earning Speaker of the Night awards for their outstanding arguments and confident delivery. SAC teams have also enjoyed multiple wins across the board, with Year 6&7 SAC Black currently leading their division, and Year 10 SAC Blue sitting in second place on their ladder. These fantastic achievements reflect their dedication and excellent teamwork. A big thank you to our coaches for their incredible support and guidance throughout the season, and to our spectator parents. Best of luck to all our debaters as they prepare for the final rounds. We look forward to seeing more inspiring speeches and strong results!
Talking, Tasting, and Thinking in Indonesian
Year 11 students Edie, Amalia, Sofia, and Isobel reflect on a day of Indonesian discovery:
"During the holidays we attended a day full of fun and valuable learning opportunities as we prepared for our end of year written and oral exams. One of the highlights was a speed dating exercise where we asked and answered a variety of questions in Indonesian, to help build our confidence during conversations. We also had to invent information on the spot about a fictional character, which challenged our creativity and language skills. Then, we created a script entirely in Indonesian and performed it off by heart, which was both nerve-wracking and rewarding. Another engaging activity was a debate conducted in Indonesian, where we argued about which Indonesian locations were the best. We also watched an entertaining series called Komedi Kacau, which added some humour and cultural insight to the day. To top it all off, we enjoyed a delicious lunch, making the experience both enjoyable and memorable."
Edie, Amalia, Sofia and Isobel
Celebrating Our Primary Leaders
We had a very special assembly yesterday to officially present our Primary Leaders for the semester ahead. It was a proud moment as we recognised these students beginning their leadership journey, guided by our Mercy values.
Congratulations to each of them for stepping up to lead and serve our school community with heart and commitment.
As they take on this important role, they were reminded to live out the Mercy values of hospitality, compassion, respect, justice, courage, and service in all they do.
Bright Ideas, Brighter Futures
Here’s a little throwback to last term when our Year 6s had a hands-on, eye-opening morning bringing their classroom learning about renewable energy to life. And yes… they had a fantastic time!
Thanks to an exciting invitation from SA Power Networks, the students connected their Science studies with real-world issues like renewable energy and global poverty. They were inspired by an all-female panel of Electrical Engineers and Powerline Workers, including our own old scholar, Kate Poole (Class of 2011).
The girls rolled up their sleeves to build Solar Buddies - portable solar lights destined for communities in disadvantaged countries. These lights will help improve education, protect the environment, and support health in places where electricity is scarce.
Watch the SA Power Networks video to see how the experience unfolded!
From the SAC Uniform Shop
Pilgrims of Hope - Walking Together
