Message from the Principal – Christine Harding

Welcome to the community of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College Burraneer. Striving for excellence, we are the only specialist all-girls school in the Sutherland Shire.

Dear Parents and Carers,

In the spirit of our recent Mercy Day, let us be reminded of our College prayer, which calls us to live a life rooted in Gospel values and a deep love for all people. May we strive to embody these principles in our daily actions, fostering compassion and understanding in our community.

Inspired by the spirit of Catherine McAuley, We lovingly offer ourselves in service to you.
As we follow the way of the cross, we pray that Catherine, and the many others who have walked the path of Mercy, encourage us on our journey.
We pray for your grace to ignite in us a love for all your people,
So that:
Where there is poverty; we show mercy,
Where there is misery; we bring mercy,
Where there is hunger and thirst for justice; we are mercy.
Let us remain faithful to the Gospel believing that ‘anything we do for your people here, we do also for you’.

Our Lady of Mercy Keep us under your protection and bless our school

Catherine McAuley Pray for Us

Mercy Day Mass

Last Friday, our College community came together to celebrate Mercy Day Mass, a beautiful and moving occasion that highlighted the heart of our Mercy tradition.

The Mass served as a reminder of the legacy of Catherine McAuley, a woman of deep faith and remarkable courage. Her unwavering commitment to the works of Mercy continues to inspire us today. As members of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College, we are proud to continue her mission. In Catherine’s own words: “No work of charity can be more productive or good to society than the careful instruction of women.”

A thank you to the Mercy Sisters from Parramatta and Fr James McCarthy for making the celebration special. Events like these cultivate a strong sense of unity and belonging, strengthening the bonds within our community and creating cherished memories.

As a symbol of this unity, students received 90 year anniversary ribbons for their hair and a cupcake in College colours, a gesture marking this milestone in our College’s history.

I would also like to extend my warmest congratulations to Ms Kim Tregoning, recipient of the 2025 Living Mercy Award. This prestigious award, nominated by staff, recognises individuals who exemplify the Mercy values in their everyday actions and contributions to College life.

Archbishop’s Award for Student Excellence

It is with great pleasure that I announce Sofia von der Hocht as the recipient of the prestigious Archbishop’s Award.

This award, presented by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, is given to one Year 12 student in each Catholic school across the Archdiocese of Sydney. It recognises students who live out their faith with heart, purpose, and action, making meaningful contributions to the faith life of their school, parish, and the wider Church community.

At the Archbishop Awards ceremony, Amelia Buhagiar had the honour of reading the official citation for Sofia, highlighting her outstanding commitment and witness to our shared Catholic values.

Thank you to Amabel Garvin, Year 10 violinist, who was accompanied by Mr Peter Lee on keyboard and represented OLM whilst performing a musical interlude at the awards.

Each week, Sofia attends Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Caringbah, contributing her musical talents by playing the violin. At school, she is a valued member of the Chamber Group, performing during whole school Masses. Sofia attended World Youth Day in Lisbon, returning with a renewed sense of faith that encouraged her to share her experience with both her parish and school communities. In addition to her Sunday worship, Sofia regularly attends Masses for special celebrations.

Beyond liturgical involvement, Sofia regularly attended Mercy Action Group meetings with a social justice focus from Years 7 to 10, where she actively supported various initiatives. In her own time, Sofia regularly plays the violin for residents at her local Aged Care facility. Her willingness to do this reflects a strong commitment to faith, community and service.

Student Success

We are proud to acknowledge the contributions of Addison Bennett and Ruby Hoggan (Year 10), who generously volunteered their time and energy to support the Women Supporting Women fundraising event in 2025. This marks the second consecutive year the girls have donated their time to this important initiative.

The event, which raised an incredible $104,500 for The Family Co., is dedicated to empowering and supporting local women through community, connection, and practical assistance. Addison and Ruby played a vital role on the evening, assisting with venue setup, coordinating activities, and managing the sale and payment of fundraising items.

Addison and Ruby are examples of what it means to be Mercy girls, compassionate, committed, and courageous in their service to others.

Year 12 Formal with De La Salle College

This week, we’ve continued our collaboration with De La Salle College Caringbah by welcoming Year 12 boys to OLM for a shared afternoon. The visit was part of preparations for their upcoming formal together, offering a chance to connect and celebrate.

Red Earth immersion

At OLM, we are committed to nurturing the whole person. We believe it is essential to provide students with opportunities to grow, learn, and contribute meaningfully to society. In line with this vision, we are excited to offer our Year 10, 2026 students the opportunity to participate in an immersion experience to Cape York, a unique and transformative journey into the remote First Nations homelands.

This immersion allows students to make genuine connections with First Nations People living on their ancestral lands, where culture and history remain deeply rooted. Students will learn directly from Elders and Traditional Owners, gaining insights into ancient traditions, stories, and ways of life. They will also engage with young First Nations children, offering friendship and a glimpse into life beyond their communities.

This experience is more than a trip, it is a journey that reflects our Mercy values and our commitment to justice, compassion, respect and community.

Christine Harding, Principal

Principal’s Post on Empowering Young Women

Since 1935, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College has held a legacy of instilling the values of leadership, excellence and service, nurturing confident young women. We empower our girls to make their make on society with confidence and compassion.

As parents and carers, it is essential that we stay informed about the influence of technology and screen time on our children’s wellbeing and development.

To support this important conversation, I encourage you to read the following article, published in The Australian on August 15, 2025, which explores:

Screen addiction is real – Teens feel overwhelmed by constant scrolling, with many admitting it affects their focus, motivation, and wellbeing.

Mental health is declining – Anxiety, depression, and self-harm rates among young people have surged, with social media a major contributing factor.
Social media is engineered for engagement – Apps like TikTok track every interaction to deliver addictive, personalised content that keeps teens online.
Teens share more than they realise – Personal data is used to shape behaviour and spending, making them vulnerable to manipulation.

In my upcoming Principal Post in Week 9, I will build on the ideas presented in the article below and share reflections from adolescents themselves about how technology is shaping their daily lives, relationships, and learning.

No phone for a week? I’d rather die.” Tara, Mila and Kayla, best friends aged 15, have just discovered their week-long holiday camp in the West Australian wonderland of Shark Bay is going to be phone-free. “You’re kidding, right?” Peak excitement about seven days of kayaking, fishing and camping collapses into horrified silence. “Next you’ll be telling us there’ll be no phones on the bus,” says Mila. I smirk. The girls groan. “No way!” The bus ride is 14 hours. This is a Gen Z catastrophe.

But three days out from departure, I ask the trio how they’re feeling and it’s not what I’m expecting. “I’m so excited to miss out on seven whole days of social media,” says Mila. “I’m gonna get my life back. I think it’ll make me really happy. When I’m on my phone I’m so lazy. I’m just in that cycle of endless scrolling.” All three nod vigorously. “I can’t wait to have all this time with my friends I’d usually spend on my phone,” says Tara. “I can’t wait to be in nature. To feel better about myself. To be free.”

These are smart, sweet girls from solid families. They turn up to school, play sport, do their homework, hang out with friends. All three are in robust physical health. But like teenagers across the Western world, they’ve grown accustomed to carrying with them, at all times, a portal into a parallel universe – their smartphones. The tech behemoths of TikTok (video reels), Snapchat (messaging) and Instagram (reels and posts), give teenagers the very things they crave but don’t have: status and control.

Social media is the biggest change to teenage life in 50 years. “To have something so entertaining just sitting there next to you, you know, begging for your attention – it’s like a drug,” says Mila. “And there’s not a lot of reasons to shut it out of your life because absolutely everyone is stuck to their phones – it’s your one source of information, it’s how you communicate with friends.

Kayla has had a smartphone since she was nine. “It’s such a normalised thing to be constantly on your phone,” she tells me. “But like, it’s really bad for you. When I see how many hours I’ve been scrolling, OMG, that’s so much of the day I was just sitting doing nothing when I could have been doing better things. It’s kind of worrying, you know, especially for my generation, because we’re growing up like this is normal. It’s not. It’s scary.”

Tara, too, is dismayed by her dependency. “We need it for entertainment, but it makes me lazy and unmotivated and that scares me. My attention span is dwindling so fast, I’m kind of freaked out because it affects my study. I can’t concentrate. My phone’s like a magnet. I’m permanently distracted and then I feel really bad about myself.”

Nine months ago, I began interviewing Australian teenagers about how they feel about themselves on social media. Why? Because no one was asking them. Rates of depression and anxiety in adolescents are in hyperdrive, and seeping down into childhood: Australian emergency admissions for self-harm in girls aged 10 to 14 has more than tripled since 2009. The suicide rate among teenagers aged from 15 to 19 is now double what it was in 2005. Young men have become less likely to hurt each other and more likely to hurt themselves.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 29 per cent of girls and 17 per cent of boys aged 15 to 24 were diagnosed with depression or anxiety in 2023. The current generation of teens is on track to become the loneliest and most socially isolated cohort in human history. The data is grim. Our kids are not OK.

And, here’s the thing: they know it. Kids born this century are well aware they’re the guinea pigs of a giant psychological and commercial experiment to keep them wired at all times. The roller rinks, pool halls and milk bars of previous generations have been discarded in favour of virtual hangouts on apps, platforms and websites. The open secret among the under-16s is that they already know social media makes them feel bad about themselves. They just don’t know what to do about it.

Every interview and portrait on these pages has been vetted and approved by a parent. The majority of these mums and dads, from across private, public and disadvantaged schools in three states, say they feel helpless to separate their children from their phones.

And not one child I interviewed hesitated to admit they were “addicted” to their screens. “Totally,” says Mila. “I only know two or three girls out of a hundred who’d say they aren’t – and they have really strict parents.”

The interviews conducted for this story with young people aged 10 to 19 have been unsettling and, at times, alarming. One 10-year-old blithely tells me he’s “super-addicted” to porn and “funny racist reels”. A trio of Year 8 boys in Adelaide’s Mansfield Park giggle with self-consciousness when one of them says: “The best reels on TikTok are the beheadings. Girls hate it when we share those.” “Yeah,” adds one of the boys, Elijah, aged 12, “You can watch funny fails of people dying in dumb ways. Like in car smashes.” All three snort their agreement. Jett, 13, pipes up with the understatement of the day: “I reckon our generation’s gonna be messed up.”

Anika, 15, from the coastal suburbs of Perth, says her phone addiction has become impossible to manage. She points out that kids have had free reign on social media for a decade.

“We’ve watched anything, any time we want. Like, I was only ten when I saw porn for the first time, and I was so shocked by it but then so curious that I got low-key addicted for a while and had to talk to Mum about it. Which makes me worried about what my little brother will be watching soon – he’ll be getting hold of porn and thinking weird stuff is OK.”

Anika shows me her screen time from a recent weekend: “Friday, eight hours 57 minutes.” She gasps. “Saturday was nine hours 31 minutes – look! I stayed up on TikTok until 2am. I can’t last a day without it. Probably not even an hour. To delete that would be like turning off my life support. It’s like an oxygen tube to my friends because my phone is my real life more than my actual life. Unless everyone stops, there’s no way any of us can stop.”

Is rampant social media use the root cause of the mental health calamity? It could be argued that the teenage years were always volatile. It’s the nature of adolescence, right?

But psychiatrists agree that social media is producing a teen culture that is brutalising and isolating. Last September, the global Lancet Psychiatry Commission published its finding that young people’s mental health has entered a “dangerous phase”, concluding: “Now might be our last chance to act.”

Tech giants, their lobbyists and enablers dismiss these concerns as overblown moral panic, insisting that social media is for the most part blameless – better still, it fosters connection. They argue that any government regulation of social media disempowers young people.

And yet, if today’s teens are more digitally connected than ever, why are they suffering an epidemic of loneliness – a crisis that eclipses the teen angst of any previous generation? Evidence shows the launch in 2007 of the first iPhone with its inbuilt “selfie” camera, followed by Instagram (2010), Snapchat (2011), and TikTok (2017), coincided with a marked decrease in adolescent sleep and the time they spent with friends – two factors linked to the deterioration in young people’s mental health.

Don’t be fooled that kids just log onto social media and browse. They show and tell friends – and strangers – in vivid detail where they live, what they like and who they know, a smorgasbord of data for those wanting to manipulate their spending habits and behaviours. TikTok’s algorithms ingest a teenager’s every skip, share and comment and spit it all back to them with more and more content “personalised” to their likes and wants. The Chinese-owned app has spawned myriad global internet trends – viral dance challenges, hair slugging, so-called “cloud lips” makeup – and a dizzying kaleidoscope of memes and maxims, all designed to successfully keep eyes glued to screens. It’s called engagement.

Mrs Christine Harding, Principal

Assistant Principal – Karen Shawcross

Navigating the HSC can feel like a marathon, and the recent HSC Trial Exams have shown just how much pressure students are under. It’s completely normal to feel a mix of stress and anxiety during such intense periods. In fact, a little bit of stress can be a good thing, helping us to stay motivated and focused. However, it’s crucial to find a healthy balance. Fortunately, there are fantastic resources available to help. ReachOut, a leading national organisation, has been supporting young people’s mental health for over two decades. Their dedicated section, ReachOut Parents, offers invaluable advice on how families can tackle exam stress and prepare for life after high school. It’s a great tool not just for exam time, but for navigating many of the challenges that can come with raising teenagers, from school attendance to social media usage.

Lateness

While it’s easy to think that a few late minutes to Homeroom will not make a difference, the reality is that regular and punctual attendance is one of the most significant factors in a student’s academic journey. We understand that as educators, we are constantly trying different strategies to support our students, but when it comes to attendance, a simple change in habit can have a powerful impact.

Consider this:

missing 20 minutes a day, is almost 2.5 weeks of lost learning time over the course of a year,

missing just 10 minutes of school each day adds up to nearly 1.5 weeks over the course of a year.

While many things influence a student’s success, from teacher quality to student engagement, research consistently shows a strong link between attendance and academic achievement. Every day, every class, and every minute truly matters. To further support our commitment to punctual attendance, we will be introducing a new system this term. For any student who arrives late to Homeroom without a justifiable reason from a parent, a demerit chronicle entry will be made. Sleeping in is not an acceptable excuse. For the remainder of this term, this entry will serve as a record of lateness with no points attached. However, beginning in Term 4, each unexcused late entry will accrue a negative one (-1) point. As all students are aware, an accumulation of five negative points across all demerits, incurs an after school detention. I ask for your partnership in this endeavor. A simple reminder from home each morning to be punctual can make a significant difference. By working together, we can help our students build habits that will serve them well throughout their academic careers and beyond.

Over the past two weeks, students have looked excellent in their uniforms at both of our recent College Masses. This is the standard we expect every day, as we represent ourselves, our families, and the College. Please remember that blazers are a mandatory part of the daily uniform and must be worn to and from the College. Student participation in Mass has been good, but we ask everyone to actively join in the singing to further enhance the experience.

Mobile Phones

In October 2023, the New South Wales government implemented a new policy requiring all schools to ensure that students do not use mobile phones during school hours. This legislation was put in place to help create a better learning environment by reducing distractions, promoting social interaction, and minimizing cyberbullying.

At Our Lady of Mercy College, students are not to use a mobile phone while on school grounds or at any school-related event, such as an excursion or a sporting event etc. Students are aware that if a phone is seen, used, or heard, it will be confiscated and taken to student services. The student is then responsible for picking it up at the end of the school day. We know that a quick text can seem like an easy way to get in touch with your child, but it can disrupt a class and lead to a phone being confiscated. If you need to contact your daughter during the school day, please call the school office, and we will get a message to her. We also ask for your support in speaking to your daughter about using laptops to send messages, as this can also be a significant distraction. Research has shown that the average interruption from a phone/laptop notification, whether a sound or a vibration, can cause a student to lose up to 90 seconds of learning time. If this occurs once every lesson, every day, every week over the course of a year your daughter will have missed 25 hours of learning. By working together, we can help our students stay focused on their learning and get the most out of their time at school.

Jersey Day

Next week is Jersey Day, where we have asked all girls to wear a jersey over their sports uniform on Thursday 4th September. Jersey Day was implemented to raise awareness of organ donation, after the tragic death of a young man, more information can be found here. Each year on the Friday before Father’s Day people across Australia are asked to wear jerseys to raise awareness of organ donation. As we would like our fathers to be involved we will be wearing our jerseys – dads also at the Fathers Day breakfast on Thursday 4th September. I am looking forward to seeing how many students and dads we can get wearing a jersey.

Karen Shawcross, Assistant Principal

Mercy Day – 90th Anniversary – Gallery

Calendar Update

Term 3 Important Dates

Thursday – 4 September
Father and Daughter ‘Wear your Jersey’ BBQ Breakfast

Wednesday – 10 September
Year 12 Parent, Teacher Interviews

Thursday – 11 September
R U OK day?

Monday 15 – Tuesday 16 September
Bronze Duke of Edinburgh

Monday 15 – Monday 22 September
Year 11 Preliminary Examinations

Tuesday 23 September
Year 12 Graduation Mass @ St Aloysius Parish

Wednesday 24 September
Year 12 Graduation Assembly 9am

Wednesday 24 September
Year 12 Graduation Formal with De La Salle College Caringbah

Thursday 25 September
Last Day of classes T3 (compulsory school day)

Friday 26 September
Staff Development Day (no classes) – If you require supervision for your daughter please contact the College

Term 4 Important Dates

Monday 13 October
Term 4 Commences – Staff and Students return

Thursday 16 October – Friday 7 November
HSC Examinations

Religious Education Coordinator – Ian Anderson

Religious Education

As we step into the middle of the term, we recognise the busyness of College life. Once again, a lot is occurring at the College and we have much to look forward to also. It is in the busyness of my life I am reminded of the words of St Francis de Sales who said, “Every Christian needs a half-hour of prayer each day, except when they are busy. Then they need an hour.” This obviously is not to be taken literally but as a sure reminder that prayer is essential to living healthy, ordered lives. There is nothing more important that our relationship with God. We can love Him through our daily work, through loving our children, vacuuming the house, filing the document or setting a budget. This is the only way we can pray as St Paul says, unceasingly.

Evangelisation Day

On the 13th August Mrs Biala took a group of Year 7 Students to Mount St Joseph’s College, Milperra for Sydney Catholic Schools’ annual Evangelisation Day. This day consisted of bringing students from a range of schools across the diocese to listen, share and learn and to grow deeper in faith and embrace their heritage as Christians.

Feast of the Assumption Mass

On the 15th August OLM celebrated the Feast of the Assumption at a Mass at St Aloysius Church with Fr James McCarthy. The Feast of the Assumption focuses on Mary being taken to Heaven body and soul. Tradition tells us that after John left Jerusalem, he brought Mary with him as per Jesus’ instructions on the Cross. Mary lived in Ephesus Turkey until her death around 40-45 AD. The Assumption helps us consider that we too will be taken to Heaven and there receive glorified bodies (Phillipians 3:21). Mary’s body was already perfect as she was born without original sin. Our students represented the College brilliantly and were affirmed by members of the public who came to join us. It was a wonderful experience to celebrate this day with St Aloysius Primary school and St Aloysius College.

Mercy Day Mass

Our Community had its biggest celebration of the year with the Mercy Day Mass on Friday 22 August. This Mass honours 90 years of our College and the hard work and dedication of countless teachers, students and families over the decades. The Feast of Our Lady of Mercy dates back to the 13th Century Spain where Our Lady of Mercy appeared to St Peter Nolasco, instructing him to create an order whose purpose would be to ransom Christians from Muslims who were entering the country through the south during the crusade period. The title has been used for centuries before, even by St Augustine of Hippo in the 5th Century. While she brought about mercy and help to the many people of Spain at the time, she continues to strengthen and support us today. Catherine McAuley chose to make their feast day the same as Our Lady of Mercy (August 24), to remember the many Mercies Mary offers to those who trust in her Son.

Eco Justice Day

The Sisters of Mercy held an Eco Justice day at Monte St Angelo College, North Sydney on the 27th August. Ms Biala took a group of students there for the day to discuss issues around ecology with a focus on water conservation. Water is a resource and like all resources are unequally distributed around the world. It is important for us, who have access to clean water to consider the needs of those who struggle with access to this basic human right. I thank the students who represented our College on the day. Their contributions and attitude towards the day demonstrated the best attitudes that form a Mercy girl.

Sydney Synod 2026

Archbishop Fisher has called for a Sydney Synod in 2026 in response to Holy Spirit-inspired longings from Sydney Catholics for more prayerful liturgies, more Christ-centred communities, and a more mission-oriented Church.

In preparation for the Synod, the Archbishop invites you to share your positive, faithful, and practical ideas on how we can become a more prayerful, Christ-centred and missionary people by attending any of the three regional consultations later in the year. There will be a meeting held in Menai for those wishing to connect and contribute to the Synod.

Where: Holy Family, Menai – 1D Anzac Road Menai NSW 2234

When: Saturday, 30 August 2025 between 9 AM – 12 PM

Conflict in the Holy Land presentation by Brother Peter Bray, fsc EdD

St Aloysius Social Justice group invites you to come and hear Br Peter Bray, share his insights and understandings of the conflict in the Holy Land after serving 15 years as Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University, the only Catholic University in the Holy Land. This seminar is a response to the Australian Bishop’s 2024-5 Social Justice Statement “Truth and Peace. A gospel word in a violent world”.

Where: St Aloysius Parish Meeting Room opposite the Church, Cronulla.

When: Tuesday 2 September 2025 from 6 PM

Use the QR code to download a copy of the Statement and reflect on a pathway to peace through truth-telling, dialogue and practical initiatives.

St Joseph’s Camino Men’s Overnight Pilgrimage Walk

Saturday 6th September 2025, 7:00pm-10:00pm

The Sutherland Shire will witness something extraordinary on 5th September as a thousand Catholic men walk on the Camino of St Joseph, an overnight pilgrimage from Como to Cronulla. Mass is planned for 8:00am at St Aloysius Parish for these men on Saturday 6th of September.

We are looking for volunteers who may be able to assist in serving these men breakfast after mass on Saturday 6th of September. We will meet at 7:00am to prepare breakfast and serve the men when mass is over. If you are available please contact Ian Anderson on ian.anderson@syd.catholic.edu.au. It would be wonderful for these men to see a group of our students waiting for them on the other end of something so special. This event will count towards four ministry hours.

Religious Education Coordinator – Ian Anderson

Feast of The Assumption – Gallery

Leader of Learning – Integrated Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment – Lisa Romberg

Trial HSC Examinations

Congratulations to the students of Year 12 who completed their Trial HSC Examinations on Monday the 18th August. These Trials were held at De La Salle College Caringbah. All students approached these tasks with dedication and maturity and we are very proud of how they conducted themselves over the course of their examinations. Presently they are receiving their examinations back. We wish the students of Year 12 all the best as they finalise their learning for all their courses and prepare for the HSC Examinations next term.

We would also like to thank the staff at De La Salle College Caringbah for their warm welcoming of our students and for the extra care and administration involved in the organising of these Trials HSC Examinations.

The Magic of Movement

Boost Your Mood, Energy, and Focus Through Physical Activity

Did you know that moving your body can do wonders for your mind? Exercise isn’t just about staying fit—it’s one of the most powerful tools for improving mental health, increasing focus, and managing stress. When you move, your brain releases feel-good chemicals like endorphins, which help you stay positive and energised. Whether you’re a sports enthusiast or someone who prefers a casual stroll, there are countless ways to make movement a part of your life. Here’s how you can unlock the magic of movement to help you thrive at school and beyond.

1. Start Small and Build Momentum

A little movement goes a long way.

You don’t need to spend hours at the gym to reap the benefits of exercise. Start with small, manageable activities like a 10-minute walk, some stretching, or even dancing to your favourite song.
Consistency is key—regular movement builds healthy habits and improves your overall well-being.

Tip: Use breaks between study sessions to get up and move. Even a short walk around the house can refresh your mind.

2. Find an Activity You Enjoy

Exercise doesn’t have to feel like a chore.

Choose something you genuinely enjoy, whether it’s playing basketball, riding your bike, swimming, or doing yoga. When you look forward to moving, you’re more likely to stick with it.
Experiment with different activities to discover what works for you.

Tip: Grab a friend to make it even more fun—team sports or group activities can double as social time.

3. Move to Boost Focus

Use exercise as a tool to improve concentration.

Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, which helps improve focus and memory.
For example, a quick jog or a few jumping jacks before studying can wake you up and get your brain ready to work.

Tip: Try scheduling a short workout or walk after school to reset your mind before diving into homework.

4. Use Movement to Manage Stress

Release tension and clear your mind.

Exercise is a proven stress-buster. Activities like running, dancing, or even kicking a soccer ball can help release built-up tension.
Gentle movements like yoga or stretching are great for relaxing and calming a busy mind.

Tip: Incorporate movement into your day when you feel overwhelmed—it’s a healthy way to process emotions and let off steam.

5. Build Movement into Your Routine

Make it a natural part of your day.

You don’t need a full workout session to move more. Walk or ride your bike to school, take the stairs instead of the lift, or do a few stretches during TV ad breaks.
The goal is to find simple ways to stay active throughout the day.

Tip: Set a daily step goal or challenge yourself to fit in at least 10 minutes of movement, no matter how busy your schedule is.

Small Steps, Big Results

The magic of movement lies in its ability to transform your mood, energy, and focus. By making physical activity a regular part of your routine, you’ll build resilience, stay positive, and sharpen your mind for school success.

Start small—choose one activity to try this week, like a walk after dinner or a quick game of basketball. Over time, these small changes will become habits that boost both your mental and physical health.

Challenge: Commit to moving for at least 15 minutes every day this week. Track how it makes you feel—you might be surprised by how much better you focus, think, and cope with school life!

You and your parents can learn more at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au by logging in with the details below and working through some of the units.

School username: OLMBurraneer

School password: Mercy

Tuesday Afternoon Open Learning

Tuesday Afternoon Open Learning has started . This will be held in the Library each Tuesday afternoon from 3pm until 4pm.

This time will provide students with the opportunity to collaborate with fellow students, complete any group tasks or learning experiences or provide a quiet space for study and home learning. In addition teachers will be available to assist students with their learning. This includes:assistance with time management and planningtips and tricks to developing study tools such as mind maps, study notes, flash cardssubject specialists who can help answer questions

PAT Testing

A few weeks ago I sent communication to all parents and students regarding PAT testing.

The letters are linked below for your convenience.

Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10

Term 4 Assessments

An Assessment Block will be held for Year 9 and Year 10 from 31st October – 12th November. Timetables will be released at the end of Term 3, beginning of Term 4. Please ensure that holidays are not planned for this time.

For Year 7 and Year 8 students assessments will be held between the 20th October and the 14th November 2025. Parents are asked to avoid booking holidays between these dates.

Lisa Romberg, Leader of Learning – Integrated Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment

Newman News – Ms Kate Berger

Newman Symposium

“Every project is an opportunity to learn, to figure out problems and challenges, to invent and reinvent”

– David Rockwell

Students in our Newman classes have been working extra hard over the last few weeks, producing a project for our 2025 Newman Symposium which was held on Monday 11th August.

The mood in the Catherine Centre and Baggot Place was electric – lots of students were excitedly showcasing their learning for parents, students and teachers. We had people interacting with exhibitions by attending screenings, playing sports to practice communication and using new technologies to communicate.

The theme for 2025 was ‘messages’, which prompted students to consider what messages are most important in our society, how we can communicate clearly and whose messages are being left unheard in today’s world. We had projects that highlighted different forms of communication, developed new ways of refining our communication through apps and even a Virtual Reality (VR) museum which communicated messages about the past using today’s technologies.

We had some outstanding projects this year, which really encouraged our audience to reach for even higher learning goals. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to receive authentic feedback on their work and to apply what they have learned in the classroom this year to real-world problems.

A big congratulations to all of our Newman students who participated in our Symposium this year. It was so special to see you go into the ‘pit of learning’ and emerge with a fully-realised, totally original reflection of your studies. It was an exercise in curiosity, in trouble-shooting and in collaboration. We cannot wait to see how some of these projects are translated into the ‘real world’ outside of the classroom!

Newman Facilitators

Miss Romberg, Mrs Bernie and Ms Berger

From the Leader of Operations – Luke Reynolds

Trial HSC Business Studies Pilot Marking at OLM Burraneer

OLM Burraneer recently hosted teachers from across the Sydney Catholic Schools network for a Trial HSC Business Studies pilot marking session.

The goals of the session included:

Coming to a collective understanding – Establishing common understandings of benchmark A-E grade scripts
Engaging in moderation – Ensuring fairness and consistency as to how CSSA Trial HSC exam paper is marked across the SCS network.
Networking – Creating opportunities for teacher professional networks sharing of ideas, practices and resources.

I was the lead facilitator of the session providing expertise to HSC Business Studies teachers on how to interpret the intentions of Trial HSC exam questions, how to apply the marking criteria to student responses and establishing benchmarks for determining marks for various sections of the exam paper.

The day was very successful as this rigorous assessment moderation practices helped to ensure consistency in teacher judgements of student work within and between schools across the Sydney Catholic Schools system.

Thank you to the support staff at the School for their assistance in the lead up to the event, ensuring that our guests were made to feel welcome at OLM.

Mr Luke Reynolds

Acting Leader of Operations and Administration

Luke Reynolds, Instructional Leader of Curriculum – HSIE

Leader of Pathways and Partnerships – Lisa Formica

OLM Careers Newsletter can be accessed here.

Empower Lunch

A huge thanks to Jed Wood, from Fox and Wood Property for being our Empower Presenter last week. He shared some fantastic insights on his career as a Real Estate Agent, including what he loves most about the job.

Years 11 and 12 – University Open Days

Welcome back to Year 12 after they completed their Trial HSC Examinations. It is at this time that Year 12 students should now be finalising Early Entry Applications, UAC applications and Scholarship applications.

To assist in their final preparations for HSC exams, the following workshops are available:

Western Sydney University – Year 12 students are invited to register for these free online sessions, designed to build confidence and strengthen knowledge in the lead-up to exams. Delivered in partnership with education experts InspirationED, the program includes 24 sessions covering 15 key HSC subjects, each led by experienced HSC teachers and markers.

Dates: 29th September – 3rd October; Format: Online; Cost: Free. CHOOSE YOUR SESSIONS

ACU – Year 12 students can join ACU’s free online revision webinars to prepare for their exams. Sessions include English Standard (8 September), Mathematics Standard 2 (8 September), Business Studies (9 September), Biology (10 September), and Studies of Religion (11 September). Register now: https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/future-student-events/year-12-revision-webinars/nsw.

OPEN DAYS are coming to a close – the final ones are listed below

August
30 August	Notre Dame	More Info
30 August	University of Sydney	More Info
30 August	UTS	More Info
September
6 Sept	UNSW	More Info
6 Sept	ACU – North Sydney Campus	More Info

Sutherland Shire Apprenticeship / Traineeship and Jobs Expo

Tuesday 2nd September 2025 – 3pm to 7pm

Tradies Gymea, 57 Manchester Road, Gymea NSW

The expos mark the beginning of the recruitment process, giving students a valuable opportunity to engage with potential employers. Exhibitors are able to collect resumes and showcase their organisations ahead of upcoming recruitment drives.

You can view highlights of the Western Sydney Apprenticeship/Traineeship & Jobs Expo here.

With several major infrastructure projects currently underway, it’s an exciting time to begin your journey toward a fulfilling and future-focused career.

This is the perfect chance to meet experts representing industry, businesses, group training companies, registered training organisations and many more and apply for apprenticeships, traineeships, jobs and further education pathways.

Whether you are at school and looking for a career path, a parent hoping to give your child the best opportunities in life, looking for a career change or a job-seeker looking to commence a rewarding career, the 2025 Apprenticeship/Traineeship & Jobs Expos have all the answers you need.

ELEVATE Scholarship and Mentor Program

Applications are open for the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering’s Elevate: Boosting diversity in STEM program.

The Elevate program provides scholarships to women and non-binary people to study undergraduate STEM degrees.

In addition to a scholarship, students have access to skill-building workshops, peer mentoring and networking events, and 24-hour wellbeing and psychosocial Support.

Applications close 1st September, click here to register.

Sydney Quantum Academy’s Quantum Tech Camp is your chance to explore the mind-blowing world of quantum mechanics. Learn how quantum computers work, build Python coding skills and run real quantum simulations. The program includes a mix of in-person lectures and virtual sessions delivered by some of Australia’s leading quantum researchers.

Open to high school students in Years 9–12 & teachers. No prior coding or physics experience needed.

Fill out the expression of interest (Spots are limited!)

Year 10 Work Experience / Careers Drop in Workshop

Last week in the Year Assembly period I presented to Year 10 everything they need to know about work experience. All information, including my presentation, can be found on this site. If a student was absent, they can see me to find out the information.

To assist students in locating a placement, completing their paperwork and with any careers related questions, I will be available in the library on the following dates and times. No need to book, just show up if students and/or parents have any questions.

Wednesday 3rd September – 3pm – 4pm

Tuesday 9th September – 3pm – 4pm

Lisa Formica, Leader of Pathways and Partnerships

Creative and Performing Arts Faculty – Verneen Mason

2025 JUST Series

We are pleased to announce that registrations are now open for the 2025 JUST Series, a program of one-day Creative and Performing Arts workshops designed to engage and extend students in Years 5–8.

Each workshop is led by professional artists and tutors, providing students with opportunities to develop their skills in a supportive, creative environment.

Workshop Dates:

Just Sing – Monday 29 September 8.30am – 4pm
Just Dance or Just Create – Tuesday 30 September 8.30am – 4pm
(please register students for only one of these two workshops)
Just Act – Wednesday 1 October 8.30am – 4pm

Registration Details:

Parents who wish to register directly can use the following link

Verneen Mason, Instructional Leader Creative and Performing Arts

Science Faculty – Serena Gilligan

The theme for Science Week 2025 was ‘Decoding the Universe’. This year the Science department was busy building cohesion in our new vertical homerooms with a little bit of healthy competition. Homerooms were kept busy across the week solving complex science crosswords, competing in time pressured trivia, and matching animals to their footprints.

Congratulations to the following groups who worked together to win their homeroom a prize:

Crossword decoding – Baggot 1 (Mr Trevillion)

Time pressured Trivia – Baggot 2 (Mrs Owen)

Animal Footprint Match – Frayne 3 (Mr Lee)

Lunchtimes were equally busy across the week with lunchtime science trivia and a scavenger hunt that required students to decode a number of critical thinking activities. Students needed to solve each code before they were given the location of the next. Congratulations to all of the students who successfully completed the hunt solving some complex DNA sequencing codes, ASCII binary code breakers, periodic table puzzles and the following Ceasar cipher code.

Have a go!

Challenge: A message is encrypted using Caesar Cipher which uses a 3 letters shift. Task: Decrypt the message.
Wklv lv d vhfuhw phvvdjh

Scavenger hunt decoding winners were:

Ist place – Year 10 – Maddison Vilivili, Ruby Renshaw & Georgia Pike

2nd place – Year 11 – Amelia Baillon and Isabella Smith

3rd place – Year 7 – Elyse Murray and Gloria Ray Gallego

Science Trivia on Friday at lunch was run by our Year 11 Science students with a massive turn out of students competing. Both first and second place prizes went to two of our Year 10 teams. Congratulations to all who played along and got involved in all of the activities across the week.

1st – Year 10 – Mia Murray, Addison Bennett, Ruby Hoggan, Nikita Sullivan, Rosie Barnes & Eliana Maceri

2nd – Year 10 – Abby Daley, Olivia Sinclair, Sage Nicholson & Tannah Moore

During classes across the week, special activities were incorporated into the topics each year group was studying. These included:

Year 7 making lolly plant and animal cells to consolidate their understanding of Cells.

Year 8 performing heart dissections to deepen their understanding of the circulatory system in their Staying Alive unit.

Year 9 have been investigating the effectiveness of their hand washing technique, as well as swabbing the school to see where the greatest number of germs are hiding in plain sight using agar plates for collection. This was to support their understanding of the OLM Hospital unit investigating disease and the immune system.

Year 10 have been making Origami DNA and performing DNA line dancing to model the structure and replication of DNA while studying their Genetics unit.

Year 7 & 8 were also lucky enough to attend the STEMania incursion to kick off their Science week activities. The incursion illustrated how STEM plays a crucial role in decoding the universe, and how it is both fun and relevant to our everyday lives.

Students investigated how technology can be used to solve everyday problems and explore the universe. They also considered the engineering principles involved in designing, testing and refining an idea to create functioning flying cars.

The incursion was designed to inspire curiosity and a love of learning of all things STEM in our stage 4 students.

A special thank you goes to our amazing science teachers, lab assistant, homeroom teachers and senior science students who supported the activities across the week.

Mrs Serena Gilligan

Acting Instructional Leader of Curriculum – Science

Technical and Applied Studies Faculty – Ellouise Bernie

TAS Design Evening

A Night of Style and Innovation: OLM Annual Design Evening

Our annual Design Evening celebrates the work of students across all areas of Technology and Applied Studies. This year we were inspired by the incredible talent of our students, with the exhibition of works as the culmination of months of hard work, creativity, and dedication from our technology students.

The static exhibition was a spectacular display of innovation across various disciplines, including graphic design, furniture design, product design, food technology, textiles, fashion illustration, architecture, interior design and digital media. The works showed students’ ability to address real-world problems with fresh perspectives and use high level production skills, creating everything from sustainable furniture to websites and app designs.

The fashion presentation was a vibrant and joyous showcase of student-designed apparel. Our Year 7 students showed their first garments made in the Textiles studios – pyjama shorts with the theme of their chosen bedtime story. The Year 9 and 10 Textiles students wore their stunning apparel sets, showing both their design and well developed garment construction techniques. The presentation’s finale saw our Year 11 Textiles embellished apparel projects modelled with the designers walking alongside their models.

The Design Evening was a wonderful opportunity for students to share their projects with their families and the college community and celebrate their journey from concept to catwalk. We thank all staff, students and families for their support of this event.

Mrs Ellouise Bernie, Instructional Leader of Technical and Applied Studies

TAS Design Evening – Gallery

Wool 4 School

Wool4School is an annual student design competition encouraging budding fashion and textile designers to showcase their creativity and innovation using wool. Students create a unique design made from wool, taking inspiration from the Wool4School brief.

This years design brief was : Botanicals

Students were encouraged to:
Design Brief:

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of botanicals and let your creativity bloom in unique and imaginative ways. Explore the lush diversity of plant life and draw on nature’s artistry to create plant- inspired wool designs. Think of prints, embroidery, and decorative crafts and techniques that reflect the intricate beauty of nature. Use colour palettes from nature’s own paint box to bring your designs to life.

Whether you’re inspired by fashion, accessories, or interior design, your creation should consist of 1 to 4 pieces and must be made up of at least 70% wool. Unleash your creative spark and demonstrate how the unique qualities of wool have been incorporated, while exploring shape, scale, colour, texture and textile techniques for a design that taps into the beauty of nature.

Year 9 and 10 Textiles and Design students spent Semester one learning fashion illustration skills and all created an entry for the Mid Designer Category for Years 9 & 10, in the wool 4 school competition.

Congratulations to Lillian Bowring of Year 9 who was announced last night as the recipient of 2nd Place in this category. Lillian’s exceptional skills in fashion Illustration have been rewarded and we are very proud of your work.

Mrs Kristy Treloar – Textiles and Design Teacher

Instructional Leader – Co-Curricular – Danielle Polson

The following link has important information from Sydney Catholic Schools regarding sport.

https://sport.syd.catholic.edu.au/

Conference 3 Athletics Carnival

Our Lady of Mercy students braved the elements to compete in the Conference 3 Athletics Carnival held at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre. With relentless rain and chilly winds sweeping across the venue, conditions were far from ideal, but that didn’t dampen OLM’s spirit.

Due to the weather, all field events and relays were cancelled Still, our athletes rose to the challenge, delivering outstanding results across the track events that went ahead.

Congratulations to the following students:

Gold

Layla White- 15 years 1500m, 800m

Sianna Khoury- 14 years 100m

Olivia Wrighter- 12 years 800m

Jayde Hartup- 14 years 200m

Silver

Felicity Barnes- 14 years 1500m

Victoria Trajcevski- 12 years 100m, 200m

Allegra Little- 15 years 100m, 200m

Layla White- 15 years 400m

Veronica Rogers- 13 years 800m

Liesl Spinner- 15 years 800m

Bronze

Veronica Rogers- 13 years 1500m

Abby Cowan- 14 years 1500m

Chloe McIntosh- 13 years 100m, 200m

Jayde Hartup- 14 years 100m

Zara Vagg- 16 years 100m

Sianna Khoury- 14 years 400m, 200m

Felicity Barnes- 14 years 800m

Their determination and sportsmanship were a true credit to the school. Congratulations to all who competed.

Best of luck to those students who will compete at the Sydney Catholic Schools Sydney Championships.

Football

Please find attached information from Sydney FC outlining a range of exciting football opportunities for Term 3 and 4, 2025.

Rowing

Looking for something active and exciting for your child to do?

Our 8 week rowing camp is the perfect opportunity to learn new skills, get out on the water, and experience teamwork and challenge that rowing brings.

Whether they’re a beginner or already have some experience, our qualified coaches will guide you through:

Rowing basics and water safety
Technique and fitness development
Teamwork and boat handling
Fun races and challenges

Time : 5:45am – 7:25am

Gender : Boys and Girls

Registration: Registration closes Wednesday 17th September 2025

https://sport.syd.catholic.edu.au/scs-outsidehours/5-week-programs

Regards,

Danielle Polson, Instructional Leader Co-Curricular