A change from a night-time event to a weekend event combined with some warm and sunny weather meant the classrooms, buildings and grounds of Mount Lilydale Mercy College were buzzing with people for Open Day on Sunday 3 March.
More than 700 guests joined us to see what our College has to offer, with our students and staff shining examples of the wonderful community we have at MLMC. They are the best people to share their experiences and sell our school to prospective students and their families, and they did a marvellous job as every learning area of the College put on a show.
A welcome from the Principal, Mr Philip Morison emphasised that “when you are choosing a school, you are also choosing a community,” and this message was tangible in every space of the College.
Our Year 10 Peer Support leaders and Year 7 Level Leaders were kept busy in the Mansfield building answering questions about the transition to high school and what happens in Year 7 at MLMC.
As always, there was so much to see and do in the Science labs. Youngsters could touch and feel Science in action by watching Science Prefect Mia S do a rat dissection or see Mrs Morison create oohs and aahs from the young crowd as she made elephant toothpaste bubble over the beaker or create a flash of flame with burning methane, or kids could make slime. Members of the STEM Club were also busy, displaying Lego robotics and Physics in action.
A touch of nostalgia and pride in our legacy was another highlight in the quadrangle, which was a popular stop for parents and Old Collegians to reminisce as they moved from McAuley library to the Year 9 Horizons display before heading into the Technology area to see Design and Technology and Textiles displays or taste a delicious choc chip cookie or scone provided by the Food Technology staff.
The range and nature of activities in the Mercy Learning Centre along with some impressive displays on Careers, First Aid, Counselling and Wellbeing Services, Mathematics and English, with the Barak Library downstairs another stop, left our visitors with plenty to engage with.
Holding rehearsals for the College Musical The Addams Family drew in the crowds, alongside screen printing and painting which were popular activities in the Visual Arts area, while the Humanities and Languages faculties had plenty of hands-on activities for children of all ages as people walked through our new Heath Learning Centre.
There was high energy in the Doyle Centre, where families could ask questions about our VET Sport and Recreation program, witness our students taking part in Health and Physical Education activities or watch our newly-established Liverpool Academy football squad go through their paces.
With a mix of Music performances, from a cappella high notes from the Choir to our rock band’s heavy sounds at Centennial Hall, or acoustic guitar performances next to Catherine’s Cafe, there was a real presence of our students’ musical talent and prowess.
Families could take a look at our McAuley Park Farm sheep, watch a Music performance, grab a drink from Catherine’s Cafe crafted by our VCE-VM students and staff or a sausage from the Parents and Friends’ Association sausage sizzle, all in a matter of 30 steps.
It was a wonderful day for the community to see what we do.
