From the Principal

Welcoming our new Reception students for two visits to the College this fortnight has been an absolute joy. There was a visible sense of wonder and excitement, as well as a few nerves, as the children made new friends, connected with their teachers and prepared to embrace all that school life has to offer. We look forward to getting to know our new families in 2023.

Last night we bid our final farewell to the Class of 2022 at their Graduation Dinner at Donato Reception Centre. There was a shared sense of pride between staff and families at the impressive group of young women graduating this year. We know that regardless of their ATARs, these women will go on to make a difference in the world, their lives underpinned by the Mercy values that rest at the heart of a Mercy education.

One of our graduates from the Class of 2010, Dr Sarah Scholten, has been named amongst the 60 Superstars of STEM for 2022. Sarah’s work as a researcher at the Institute for Phonics and Advanced Sensing at Adelaide University is inspirational. She has stayed connected with SAC and has recently spoken to the Year 12 Physics class about career pathways in STEM. They say that “you can’t be what you can’t see”, but with visible role models like Sarah sharing their stories, our students are ready to take on the world.

The inaugural Neville Stapleton Poetry Award was presented last week to two students who share Neville’s passion for poetry. Neville’s family instituted these awards to honour Neville’s long association with the College, both as a teacher and the College archivist. Neville’s wife Phil presented the awards to Gislene (Year 9) and Daniela (Year 10) who won the Middle and Senior School Awards respectively. We are so thrilled that Neville’s love of poetry will continue to inspire our students for years to come.

Year 4 and Year 7 students celebrated their musical achievements through the Immersion Programs at the College this week. Students have the chance to learn brass and woodwind for a semester and we can see that the experience is inspiring many more students to take up these instruments. We look forward to showing you how our orchestra and ensembles have developed as a result of increased student participation at SAC Spectacular next week.

Year 6 students were finally able to enjoy their camp at Victor Harbour this week. Teachers reported how positive the students were, responding to every challenge with energy and enthusiasm. They are a cohort of students who have truly led the primary school by example this year and we are all proud of the way they represent the College. We look forward to wishing them well in their secondary education at next week’s Year 6 Graduation Mass at the Cathedral.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our end of year events. We hope that you enjoy seeing your children shine on the stage of the Entertainment Centre next Tuesday night as much as we do!

Ms Paddy McEvoy
Principal

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