News on Mercy College and its students is added to this page on a regular basis. Also available is the calendar of events and the school newsletter.

The Mercy College Choir students joined four hundred other choristers for the KMEIA 21st Regional Choral Festival last month from 24 to 26 March. Our students, Mr Jim Ford and Mr Val Mackenzie participated in a series of choral workshops including opening the Festival with a handbell ringing performance. Brisbane guest Conductors included the energetic Mr Anthony Young from St Laurence’s College and Dr Debra Shearer-Dirie, Director and Conductor of the Brisbane Concert Choir and the QLD Conservatorium. Eight of Mr Young’s students from St Laurence’s College also joined in the festivities.
Thank you to students and parents/guardians for a wonderful weekend of song.
Miss Libby Courtice, Choir Coordinator
Last Wednesday Mercy College swapped their uniforms for an orange outfit to celebrate Harmony Day and Close the Gap day. The day began with an assembly jam packed with activities to celebrate the cultural diversity of our school. The flag ceremony was a definite highlight. A procession of flags from all over the globe, showed the students just how many different countries our Mercy College community come from. The assembly ended with a couple of dances from the Slade Point mob.
After assembly it was time for the Year 8’s to participate in a range of cultural activities from painting boomerangs to having chopsticks races. The Year 9 French students had a picnic of snails and crackers with camembert, played baguette javelin and finished with a few rounds of petanque. The Year 9 Japanese students learnt about the famous Japanese Tanabata festival and wrote down their wishes in Japanese to hang on the school bamboo. The Year 10 French students visited The Creperie to taste some authentic French crepes. The Year 10 Japanese students learnt about Sadako and the 1000 paper cranes, and the impact of the bombings on Hiroshima. The students have started making their 1000 paper cranes and will send them to Japan for the peace festival later in the year.
At lunch time there were kangaroo kebabs on sale as well as Indigenous games being played in the pavilion. Overall it was a fantastic day, and it was great to see everyone participating and enjoying being together.
Miss Shai Eather, Languages Coordinator
Thank you to staff, students and parents who came along to the annual 'Clean-Up Australia Day' on Sunday 2 March.
It was a wet and windy morning at Mackay Harbour, however, that didn't stop us from making a huge effort to clean up the local environment.
After two hours and many filled recycling bags, we all enjoyed the hot BBQ breakfast supplied by Mackay Bulk Ports Authority and the 'Clean-Up Australia Day' organisation. This is a very worthwhile and fun event that Mercy College will continue to support in the future!
Mercy Chess Club participation amongst students is strong and we are looking forward to a thrilling year. The following students participated in the Mackay Regional Chess Competition for primary and secondary students, held at Victoria Park State School on Monday 25 February.
Mercy Buccaneers – Asten Jago, Lincoln De Thomasis, Pierce Donnelly, Nick Hilder
Mercy Pirates – Nina Rillera, Purav Bhandare, Armaan Kundall, Lachlan Stevens
Solo Sailor – Jackson Armstrong
Congratulations to Mercy Pirates taking out 2nd overall place in Teams, Lincoln De Thomasis 3rd overall Individual and Nina Rillera and Purav Bhandare received merit ribbons (in the secondary schools events).
Mercy Chess Club is on every Wednesday in the Library at lunchtime – new players are always very welcome to join.
No rain, cold winds or muddy track was going to stop the Mercy Interact team from participating in the 2012 Relay for Life. Equipped with raincoats, umbrellas and gumboots, they kept the relay alive for the entire event.
The team chose a hat as the baton, which proved invaluable, as it kept the walkers warm as well as dry. The few pairs of gumboots soon became part of the change-over between relay walkers, to assist with the battle through the pits of mud on the track. A few quick additions to the tent created a 'villa' fit for a king to keep all dry and warm.
A number of candles were lit for family, friends, staff, students and parents who have been touched by cancer.
The Mercy Mass Band performed and soon had a mosh pit of fans enjoying their music. Many of the band members stayed on and completed a couple of laps with the Mercy team.
After a long, sleepless night, the Interact team helped Apex serve hundreds of hot breakfasts to the relay participants.
Many thanks must go to the wonderful staff and parents who supported them and dropped in for an hour or two, bringing hot food and drinks and help with the walking.
Congratulations to the relay team – Andrew Barron, Brook Camilleri, Mikyla Colleton, Jordan Davies, Chloe Godfrey, Jonathan Grech, Jack Hassett, Larissa Kirwan, Holly Lovatt, Sarah McDonald, Courtney Muscat, Isabella Poots, Kate Richards, Lachlan Stevens and Rhiannon Zahra.