Dear members of our Mount Lilydale Mercy College community,
How quickly we sometimes forget to appreciate the many little things that happen around us as they change to provide the life-giving experiences that make us each individual, different and yet the same within community. I see reminders of this each and every day and each small change helps me to focus on the many little, but important, things that help to form us into a genuine community, which I believe is quite different to a school. We continue to aspire to provide the best and fullest overall education possible.
This week I have tried to focus on being more of a presence in the yard at recess and at lunchtime as well as before school. This provides a range of opportunities to engage with students, while at the same time provides Charlie the opportunity to run and greet students. While walking the yard I am surprised by how many students believe that now that summer has passed, so too has the need to wear hats. Now some might say that we have missed much of summer this year as long heat waves never really eventuated, yet as we now enter the beauty of autumn the UV index is still quite high in the middle of the day (11.00am to 3.30pm), so the need for protection from hats is still evident.
We need to remind ourselves that we do things for good reason, and as the change from one season to the next might see temperatures decline it does not necessarily mean that other changes in sun protection can happen quite as quickly. Of course, as winter approaches the change will be from bucket hats to beanies for protection from the cold.
Another reminder of change is the slow reintroduction and transition from summer sports, like cricket, to the reintroduction of winter sports like NRL and football. Just last night I arrived home after a dinner to have my son Ben say to me he had enjoyed a good night. He had watched Collingwood play, as well as NRL team Melbourne Storm, and he was currently watching some cricket. The simple things of change that give us life.
This last week, I had the pleasure to attend the tenpin bowling night at Oz Tenpin in Chirnside Park. The Father Figures Bowling Night was a great initiative of our Parents and Friends’ Association (P&F) and one designed to bring fathers, male caregivers and male role models with their children together in a social activity. We know that building such connections is important in the lives of our young people. I arrived a little late to the event, having attended a Building and Finance Committee meeting before, and my arrival saw many families engaged with each other in fun. My approach to each group almost always had the same questions being asked — about football teams and the start of the season. Great discussion followed and it was a pleasure to meet so many other enthusiastic Collingwood supporters.
The event also highlighted the importance of the P&F within our community and how we must rebuild it after the three years in which COVID-19 has interrupted many events. The P&F, volunteerism and community support is so very important at MLMC and essential to who we are. The P&F provides catering for students at many College events, it also provides events allowing rites of passage for our senior students like the Debutante Ball and classroom assistance programs like Organisational Skills. It encourages families to become involved in social events like the recent bowling event and it helps to provide much-needed funds to support the many programs of our College. It also helps to provide role models to our students on the importance of using our skills to support others. Please consider joining the P&F in some capacity. If you are interested in joining, please contact Miss Natalie Virgona, the Community Development Coordinator, at the College.
Another way the College aspires to be genuine a community and listen to change is by consultation with parents. Last year we introduced the concept of the Community Forum Group (CFG), whereby we invite interested community members to either join the group as permanent members or to attend one-off meetings with specific issues. The next meeting of the CFG is scheduled for Wednesday 22 March at 7.30pm. Issues currently under consideration include the College hair guidelines and issues around vaping. If you would like to add anything to the agenda of the CFG or you wish to attend, please advise me of such by contact with my Executive Assistant Mrs Marilyn Ryan via email to principal@mlmc.vic.edu.au
In the Spirit of Catherine,
May God bless each and every one of you
Philip A Morison
