Dear members of the MLMC community
Welcome back to Term 3 and Semester 2, in what seems like surreal circumstances. I really hoped to be welcoming you back under very different circumstances.
Firstly, I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday and term break, given the circumstances. Each year, we at MLMC have two correction days and three Staff Professional Development (PD) days. This year, we tied the PD days to the end of Term 2 and the beginning of Term 3 to allow for a longer mid-year winter break so that families could plan holidays and make use of travel opportunities outside the gazetted holiday period. I hope it worked for as many families as possible to allow travel given the circumstances of red and orange zones and the risks associated with them.
Personally, Jenny and I had planned to travel to Canberra to see our son who works there, but the thought, or even the slightest possibility, of a two-week isolation period saw us cancel. Still, the beautiful winter’s days here in Melbourne allowed the opportunity to spend time in the garden and lunching with friends. As one door closes, another opens, and it is important that we avail ourselves of opportunities as they present. Rather than focus on what we cannot do, we must remain positive and focus on what we can do.
Flexibility, perseverance and opportunism should be our focus at the moment, for as we learn to overcome obstacles to achieve, we build resilience. This is an important lesson for each of us and one that we must teach our students; they can, and will, achieve and learn if they are determined to do so.
The staff started Term 3 with a whole formation/retreat day. This opportunity is the only day in the whole year when we close the College, so that all staff can join together in community to reflect and form centred around our core purpose. The day was facilitated by Professor Brother David Hall FMS, who worked with the staff in three sessions:
- Building a Civilisation of Love: The Purpose of Catholic Education
- In Good Times and in Bad: Education as Relationship
- Values in Action: The Place of Justice and Mercy in Education.
Now, Br David lives in the suburbs of Sydney. Initially he was to travel down to be with us for the day, but living in a red zone saw this opportunity cease, so Zoom was the order of the day. The retreat was held at Discovery Church in Mt Evelyn, where the internet continually waned and ceased during session one. During session two, Br David lost power in the middle of his presentation.
Br David did a fantastic job of repeating sections that were missed and summarising as he went. The retreat was a great day of learning and discussion. It was also a day that highlighted the challenges of remote learning. Challenges will exist and things will go wrong. A consistent effort, persistence, a cooperative attitude, a sense that everyone is working together and doing their best, with a determination to learn and succeed will see a positive outcome.
This is the lesson that we must share with each other as we enter lockdown No.5. There are some things we can change and some that we cannot. Let us work in the areas where we can to achieve the desired outcomes and seek help where we need it. I can assure you that when technology went wrong on Monday I did not try to fix it, but rather enjoyed a coffee while the experts worked to find a solution.
May we enjoy a fantastic Term 3 and Semester 2 together, whatever form that may take, and with whatever will come. As a College focused on being a community of Mercy, I am sure that we can remain positive as we move forward. I am buoyed by a letter by Catherine McAuley to Francis Ward, who was struggling, in February 1838. In it she said, “You must be cheerful and happy, animating all around you”. This then, is our task, to move forward as a community of hope, positivity and to raise each other up.
I would like to welcome to our community the following students: Olivia Brouwers (Year 8 Red), Noah Tarulli (Year 8 Red), Amelia Eliott (Year 8 Orange), Jasmine Calcagno (Year 9 Green), Mackenzie Lewis (Year 10 Red), Charlotte Calcagno (Year 11 Red) and Angus Middleton (Year 11 White).
Given the change of semester, we farewell staff in Mr Dean Fox and Ms Claude Thia, we wish them well and thank them for their service. Over the holidays, Mr Danny Katzen has also suffered a medical episode which sees him in hospital and unlikely to return Term 3. We pray for Danny’s safe return to us in the best possible time. We cheerfully welcome a number of new staff: Mr Jaimin Hudson (Year 7-12 Mathematics), Dr Andrea Roberts-Davison (Year 7-10 Science and VCE Chemistry), Mr Gary Hearnes (junior Maths and Science), Ms Takako Okino (Japanese Language Assistant and Mrs Johanna Walton (Learning Support Officer).
In the Spirit of Catherine, may God bless each and every one of you at this time. Stay safe and we hope to see all our students back on campus next Wednesday.
Philip A Morison
Principal
