Dear Members of the MLMC community,
Welcome back and I am sure that we have all been eagerly waiting for this day.
Firstly, I want you all to know how proud you can be of our students, particularly our Year 12 cohort. This week saw our Year 12 students, the graduating Class of 2021, finish formal classes for their secondary education and for some leave our campus for the last time. It is an important milestone in their lives and a time in which we can take notice of the maturity with which they achieved it. The last day of school for any student is an emotional transition and for many it was obvious that they did not really wish to leave, just as we who have taught them would like to keep them just a little bit longer. The only analogy I make is that it is similar to a child leaving home. You never want them to leave, but you know it has to happen.
So for our graduating class it did happen on Tuesday. They celebrated together, shared and created memories together and then one by one said their goodbyes. To complete Year 12 is an accomplishment in itself, but to do so through two years of a pandemic is colossal. Our Year 12 cohort started the day with Mass, then had an awards-type ceremony and prepared for next month’s graduation. Each Year 12 student was given a graduation parcel that contained some special gifts. It contained their graduation present, stoll, pen and 125 years Old Collegians’ badge. They also received a copy of the book created to celebrate the 125 years of the College. The book is yet to be launched because lockdown has caused us to cancel or postpone so much, but it was important that they received this gift. We will now start to distribute these books to all our families, although it will not be launched until next year. The students also dressed up and shared a COVID-safe long lunch outside under umbrellas on Catherine’s Way.
Within their package was a book Finding God’s Traces, and in the front of each, among other things, I wrote “Be courageous in aspiring to a life of service”.
We are proud of our graduating class, as they should be proud of themselves. They left with dignity and showed respect for their College, their teachers, their classmates and the community.
Let us continue to pray for them as they continue their journey to graduation and life as Old Collegians of MLMC. I dream of the adventures that are before them and look forward to hearing the stories of their successes, for I know they will impact the world and their presence will be a blessing.
So, too, we can be proud of the College community for the way in which we have travelled the path during this most recent lockdown and started the process to return to on-campus learning. Today, students started to return to ‘the Hill’ and as they walked up the driveway, laden with bags, books and laptops, it was obvious they were pleased to be back on campus, just as we are so pleased to have them back. Yes, there are some issues with hair and uniform and acclimatisation, remembering and understanding how we do things here at MLMC, but on the whole they are of little consequence and we will fix those things. We are just so happy to once again have a campus that is alive with the sound and joy of our students.
There still seems to be three areas of confusion for families:
(1) Who is to attend and who remains in remote learning?
From today, Friday 22 October, all Year 7 and Year 11 students have ceased remote learning and have resumed on-campus learning each and every day
Year 10 students have returned today to on-campus learning, but is a mixed mode. They will be on campus each Thursday and Friday, but remain in remote learning on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of each week
Year 8 and Year 9 students remain in remote learning today and each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They will be on campus Tuesday and Wednesday.
This is the process until a complete return to campus by all students which is currently planned for Friday 5 November. Hopefully the government will bring this date forward.
Also, each year level must try to remain in their year level-type bubble. Year 10 students undertaking a Year 11 subject (VCE Units 1 and 2) may only attend campus with their Year 10 level and may not attend for VCE studies. These will still need to be conducted remotely.
In returning to campus, all COVID-19 restrictions remain in place: mask wearing, social distancing and personal hygiene. The College will maintain a strict cleaning regime.
(2) Do students need to be vaccinated and does the College require proof?
While we encourage all eligible community members to undertake the vaccination process, we understand that such decisions are family decisions and no mandate for students to be vaccinated exists.
There is certainly no mandate for MLMC to collect data about student vaccination and we have no intention of doing so unless instructed by the appropriate authorities.
Families who are not vaccinated can allay fears that their children will be ostracised or suffer discrimination. This is clearly not the case and not possible.
Families must, however, be assured that MLMC has a detailed COVID-19 safety plan which includes all the mandated processes concerning community members who test positive or who are deemed Primary Close Contacts (PCC). Masks must be worn while on campus unless a medical exemption is provided.
(3) Uniform
The third thing that seems be causing some distress is uniform. Firstly, in returning to campus students may elect to wear either the full College summer uniform or winter uniform until the Melbourne Cup weekend, from Wednesday 3 November the summer uniform is required. Hats must be worn outside from day one of return to campus.
Having stated the above, we understand that some uniform will be ill fitting and hair may not as yet be compliant and we will allow time for necessary adjustments to be made as students gain access to the uniform shop and hairdressers. We also understand that students and families will be doing their best to return to our community within College expectations.
We welcome the return.
In the Spirit of Catherine, may God bless each and every one of you.
Philip A Morison
Principal
