| Principal | Judith Weir |
|---|---|
| Year levels | 7 to 12 |
| Enrolment numbers | 1123 |
| Boarding or day | day |
| Website | http://www.olmcheidelberg.catholic.edu.au |
| Phone | (03) 9459 2511 |
| Fax | (03) 9452 2208 |
| Postal address | 52 Cape Street, Heidelberg |
Our Lady of Mercy College (OLMC) Heidelberg is a Catholic secondary girls’ college owned and administered by the Sisters of Mercy. We cater in the main for students from the Heidelberg, Ivanhoe, Bulleen, Rosanna, Macleod, Greensborough and Doncaster areas. We are the school of first choice for 1120 students and their families and the employer of choice for 150 staff. The core values of the College are justice, compassion, courage and joy. These values are inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, in particular by the spirit of mercy which Jesus lived and taught and upon which the Sisters of Mercy were founded. Religious Education (RE) and faith development play an important part in the life of the College. The RE curriculum features studies in the Scriptures, the values of the Gospel, the beliefs and practices of the Catholic tradition, Catholic social and moral teachings and social justice issues. Every year a broad range of community outreach and social justice initiatives are enacted, with the College always looking to grow its community engagement and social justice programs. The faith journey of students is also nurtured through prayer, retreats, reflection days and liturgies. We are proud of our learning culture and hold fast to our maxim of being ‘a community with a passion for learning’. The learning environment is challenging and productive, with students supported to develop deep levels of thinking and application. We are continuously ‘raising the bar’ in providing learning experiences that will achieve higher levels of student motivation and engagement and we are steadfast in strengthening a culture of high expectations where the girls are encouraged and supported to achieve their full potential. Our curriculum is technology rich and innovative and balances academic and vocational pursuits. We offer learning support and interventions for students with unique learning needs and a unique Year 9 program titled ‘Horizon’. This program recognises the diverse learning opportunities in the local area and helps students explore the big issues of justice, community and environment from a truly local perspective. The College provides comprehensive VCE, VET and VCAL programs for senior students and delivers a consistent record of good learning outcomes and VCE results. As a result of concerted efforts over several years, student learning outcomes are improving at all levels of the College, as evidenced by NAPLAN, VCE and VET performance data. Student wellbeing is an outstanding feature of the College. Staff-student relationships are nurtured to enable individual growth and a sense of belonging for all. We have a range of mechanisms for building collaborative and supportive partnerships with parents in monitoring and responding to the wellbeing of their daughters, and our pastoral program, delivered across all year levels, addresses age-specific socio-cultural issues (lifestyle, health and relationships) that have a significant bearing on the wellbeing of girls and young women. Our counselling staff are responsive to a broad range of student needs, with a case management approach to students at risk a component of their services. In addition, students with ongoing medical issues or chronic illness have access to a fulltime school nurse. Our co-curricular program is extensive, with sport, music and the performing arts being particularly prominent. We are a long-standing and high-achieving member of Girls Sport Victoria and our annual musical theatre productions with Marcellin College Bulleen attract widespread acclaim. Teachers at OLMC have high expectations of themselves and their colleagues and are committed to their own professional growth. They share a passion for creative and continuous education reform and a commitment to nurturing the wellbeing and unique talents of each of their students. OLMC facilities are conducive to quality learning and engagement. They include purpose-built learning spaces for sport and the performing arts, state of the art science laboratories, and tranquil, leafy landscaped gardens and outdoor areas. The College is constantly upgrading and expanding its technology infrastructure and there is an ongoing and extensive refurbishment program for some of our older school facilities. Such programs are supporting our goals for delivering high quality contemporary learning and for achieving excellence in learning outcomes.