Growing interest: Students at Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta tend the native garden used in science classes.
Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta will open its doors to future students and families on Friday.
Open day tours of the independent Catholic girls school will visit classes with the option to join in activities, see subject displays, meet the principal and other staff members, hear from Mercy girls about their experiences of the college, and be entertained by musicians and performers.
Principal Kitty Guerin said the school placed a strong emphasis on hands-on, innovative and contemporary learning.
Prospective families will be able to tour the college grounds and facilities including a new dance studio and native plants garden.
The garden was planted in February with funds from a council grant.
It will provide science students with living examples of some of the plants studied in biology, many of which demonstrate adaptations for drought tolerance.
Science co-ordinator Pascale Warnant said students will observe samples of plants from the garden under the microscope.
“We are hoping to be able to carry out experiments in the actual garden itself once it is more established, such as collecting water lost by transpiration and measuring the growth rate of plants,’’ she said.
Ms Warnant said the new garden and existing botany room demonstrated the school’s commitment to hands-on and values-based learning.
“By caring for this garden and choosing native plants that require little watering we are demonstrating the important Mercy value of stewardship,” she said.
The open day is on Friday, March 8, at Our Lady of Mercy College, Victoria Road, North Parramatta (entry via 1 Ross Street).
Details: olmc.nsw.edu.au.