End of Term Message from Principal Mr Vince Bellini

And before we knew it, we were at the conclusion of Week 10. How quickly did the term go?

I am extremely appreciative of all the support offered to me during my first three months back here at Our Lady of Mercy College and can commend the students and their families for making me feel welcome. As I walk through the school, there is a real sense of belonging, which comes down to being greeted by the students, be it with a "hello" or just a smile, embracing the theme from the very first assembly of "let us start with the small things, because these are achievable by all people".

I was watching a speech the other day by Admiral William McRaven entitled "If You Want to Change the World, Start Off by Making Your Bed". Admiral McRaven is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who served as the ninth commander of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM). He was asked to deliver a speech as the commencement address to the graduates of The University of Texas at Austin on 17 May, 2014. The premise of the start of the speech is "If by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made — that you made — and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better".

He continues to talk about the challenges each member of his squadron faced, and the personal battles Navy Seals must go through to complete their training. In his conclusion, he states, "Start each day with a task completed. Find someone to help you through life. Respect everyone." This resonates with being able to realise the impact these "small" things can have on our lives. Most importantly, realising, sometimes, the simplest of tasks are the most rewarding, including a smile as a greeting to a person as a passerby.

The notion of achieving something each day is important to me. A simple task to make your bed is known as an "achievable goal", something everyone can do. But what are the benefits of setting goals for high school students? It is important for students to learn how to set and achieve goals. Practicing this skill can help your child stay motivated through their educational years and offer them a direction they may want to take in life.

Other benefits of learning how to set goals include the following:  

• Achieving a desired result. 

• Developing a strong work ethic. 

• Building resiliency and problem-solving skills. 

• Knowing how to take action. 

All this can start with getting the "Little things right". I will continue to challenge students to ensure they are meeting the expectation of uniform as we move into Term 2 and 3, our coldest months of the year. Please ensure that students wear the softshell jacket and jumper when they are cold and not to resort to wearing the sport uniform. There will be opportunities throughout the year where students will be able to wear their House Shirts on a prescribed day, and this information will come out from the College Student Executive, who have been working with me to initiate House Shirt Fridays. I wish to thank Layla Pierce, Ben Pennefather, Olivia Mumme, and Daniel Phillips for their time in discussing this with me and putting forward this initiative. 

Commencing next term, Mrs Deb Saffy will be on secondment (Term 2) to the Bunbury Regional Office of Catholic Education, Western Australia (CEWA) as a Consultant – Student with Disabilities. Ms Jo Nigro will be returning as the Head of Learning Support, leading the team of committed Education Assistants and overseeing student progress. I wish Deb the very best in the CEWA Office during this time and welcome Jo back for Term 2. 

Commencing Monday, 26 May (Week 5) until Friday, 27 June (Week 9), I will be on long service leave. This was planned prior to accepting my role as principal and am very grateful to the Executive Director of Catholic Education WA for his support in allowing me to continue with my plans. Mrs Maree Maughan has been appointed as Short-Term Principal and I am very grateful to her for accepting this role, while I am on leave. 

As we enter this Easter period, let us reflect on its profound significance within the Church's calendar. This weekend marks Palm Sunday, the beginning of the week leading up to the death of Christ. Our faith is deeply rooted in the death and resurrection of Jesus, which forms the cornerstone of our beliefs. 

The College Mercy Value for 2025 is Service and I ask that we remember the importance of service during this season. Easter is a time of giving and compassion, and I encourage everyone to find ways to contribute to our community, whether through acts of kindness, volunteering, or supporting those in need through Caritas. 

I wish all members of the College community a restful and rejuvenating break over Easter. May this time of renewal, rest and reflection be shared with family and loved ones. I look forward to seeing everyone back at the College at the commencement of Term 2. 

Vince Bellini Principal