Dear members of the Mount Lilydale Mercy community

Spring has sprung and you can certainly see the beginnings of the regrowth around the College as grey skies dissipate and student movement in playing areas seems to be increasing. It is indeed heart-warming, as it is thrilling to hear the news of our students participating in EISM finals and other sporting competitions.

Last week, we held a full College Assembly planned and led by the Student Leadership Team for the first time in over two years. It was a positive celebration of many activities and our Prefects and SRC members are to be congratulated.

At the College Assembly I was asked to address the student body to further develop the concept of our 2022 College theme and today I include an extract from that Principal’s address:

• why do we define hospitality in terms of service in hotels and bars, in cafes and restaurants?
• is this where we really find that ‘giving’ without expecting to gain something in return?
• is that a real definition of hospitality?
• hospitable: to be friendly or welcoming to visitors or guests.

I wonder if we should be talking more about Martha and Mary in a village called Bethany. (Luke 10: 38-42)

In the course of their journey he came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord's feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha, who was distracted with all the serving, came to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.' But the Lord answered, 'Martha, Martha,' he said, 'you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part, and it is not to be taken from her.'

Now I always thought that Martha was treated poorly in this story as her hospitality is important, with food and drink and service. This is the hospitality we talk about every day. Indeed, there is a huge industry built upon it and we who reside near the Yarra Valley certainly understand that, but in reality, it is Mary who displays the greater hospitality. Mary opens up a place for Jesus to explore his teachings and she opens her heart to him. She is willing to meet Jesus at a personal level.

Is that not real hospitality? Perhaps we need to redefine many of the words that we use.

When I was a very young man I was given a quote by a man named Theodore Rozack, which I kept for reference for many years. These were the days before computers and so it was a card from a friend which I have long since lost, but such a message was a real gift.

The quote read:

“You and I, we meet as strangers, each carrying a mystery within us. I cannot say who you are. I may never know you completely. But I trust that you are a person in your own right, possessed of a beauty and value that are the Earth’s richest treasures. So, I make this promise to you: I will impose no identities upon you, but will invite you to become yourself without shame or fear. I will hold open a space for you in the world and allow your right to fill it with an authentic vocation and purpose. For as long as your search takes, you have my loyalty."

To me the ideas contained here are what Jesus would want us to learn about hospitality.

How can we show such hospitality at MLMC?

Simply, in our community we are tolerant and open. There is no place for harassment or victimisation for any reason, let alone behaviours that cause distress based on:

• age
• gender
• race
• religious belief
• political belief
• career status
• sexual orientation.

As a community we welcome each and every person respecting them as made in the image and likeness of God. We are open to each other and invite them to grow to be their authentic selves without fear.

This is real hospitality and I hope our community is a welcoming one to all, where such issues will never preside. Talk and language in our yards and classrooms should never reflect a lack of hospitality. Talk and language in our community should never hurt by labelling them or calling them names or mimicking actions that label.

We claim to be a hospitable community and we must act like one.

Community Forum Group

As mentioned in the last newsletter, the next meeting of the CFG is Thursday 8 September which I apologise is the same night as the Performing Arts Showcase. The agenda for the meeting includes:

• the College-based Religious Education Program at Years 11 and 12
• the introduction of CSYMA modules at Year 7 and 8
• changes to Academic Awards in 2023 (VET and VCE VM)
• changes to College free dress guidelines.

If these agenda items are of interest to you and you would like to attend, or if you would like anything else to be discussed at the Group meeting, please email me at principal@mlmc.vic.edu.au

In the spirit of Catherine

God bless

Philip A Morison

As we celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday 4 September, let us give thanks for all who are Fathers or who are like Fathers to us. May God continue to give them strength and courage to be good role models. For all those who are without their Fathers at this time we pray for their comfort and healing.

Prayer

We give our thanks, Creator God, for the fathers in our lives.

Fatherhood does not come with a manual, and reality teaches us that some fathers excel while others fail.

We ask for Your blessings for them all — and forgiveness where it is needed.

This Father's Day we remember the many sacrifices fathers make for their children and families, and the ways – both big and small – they lift children to achieve dreams thought beyond reach.

So too, we remember all those who have helped fill the void when fathers pass early or are absent – grandfathers and uncles, brothers and cousins, teachers, pastors and coaches – and the women of our families.

For those who are fathers, we ask for wisdom and humility in the face of the task of parenting. Give them the strength to do well by their children and by You.

In Your Holy name, O God, we pray.

Amen

— Rev. Chuck Currie

Dates

• Saturday 3 September — Presentation Ball (Year 11)
• Tuesday 6 September — Year 7-11 Student Progress Interviews held online via Zoom (student free day)
• Wednesday 7 September — GAT
• Thursday 8 September — Performing Arts Showcase
• Thursday 8 September — RU OK? Day
• Tuesday 13 September — Frayne House celebration
• Friday 16 September — Mercy Day and last day of Term 3
• Monday 3 October — First day of Term 4

Office Hours

Parents and guardians are advised that the College’s Office Hours will continue to be 8.00am-4.06pm for the remainder of the year.

The Frayne Speech Festival is an event that holds a special place in the heart of the MLMC community. It first began in 1996 and was started by Mrs Colleen Anglin and Mrs Patricia Olson, two English Faculty leaders, to help celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the College. The event brings Mercy schools together to showcase the talents of our students and the influence of their voices on our future.

This year the event was hosted by Emmanuel College, Warrnambool, on Friday 26 August. It saw eight schools gather to compete in debating, public speaking and speech choir competitions. We were fortunate enough to be able to enter students in each of the festival categories and the students must be truly commended on their passion and persistence.

Special thanks must go to Ms Caroline Dickinson for her tireless guidance of the speech choir, Miss Carrie Baker, Miss Emma Whitehouse and Mrs Alison Schlueter for their support of the debaters and public speakers. While we returned without an award, the students were magnificent and we are so very proud of them.

Congratulations to all of our participating students:

Public Speaking: Charlotte Lorbek

Debating: Charlotte Calcagno, Ella McNair, Emma Williamson

Voice Choir: Chloe Berka, Niamh Brophy, Katie Chamberlain, Inara Dean, Katelyn Dunn, Bonnie Edwards-Tesselaar, Beau Horkins, Amy Langcake, Aksa Manoj, Bridie McCormick, Tennille Pearse, Rachael Roper, Alannah Rudan, Maison Rundle, Mia Story, Shiloh Thurrowgood, Grace White.

Our MLMC Science Staff and students celebrated 2022 National Science Week in style with a number of fun activities during the week of 15-18 August. Our staff, together with 2022 Science Prefect Weston Tabone, displayed a range of chemistry demonstrations during our Chemistry Demo Bonanza. We celebrated with a day of Spectacular Rays, Lenses and Mirrors activities in line with this year’s theme ‘Glass: more than meets the eye’, and conducted a lunchtime Science scavenger hunt. We also saw a large number of students compete against each other in a whole school Kahoot quiz.

Our Year 7 Science students welcomed a visit from some of our Australian native animals during their incursion with Reptile Encounters. Students looked at how organisms are classified, what adaptations they have gained to live in their ecosystems and what natural and man-induced challenges they are faced with in their environment.

It was a fun week of learning and celebrating and we look forward to seeing what the rest of this year brings for everyone in Science!

(1) EISM Cross Country Carnival

Congratulations to our EISM Cross Country team who, on Wednesday 31 August, won the Division 1 carnival. The last time MLMC won this cross country event was in 1994. In winning the overall trophy, we broke Luther’s 11-year winning streak — a huge achievement! Every single runner is to be congratulated for their contribution as every place counted in the points tally. MLMC won the day by two points!

MLMC were age group champions in the following age groups:

• Under 14 girls
• Under 15 boys
• Under 16 girls
• Open boys.

Congratulations to the following students who won medals (pictured in the gallery below): 

• Oliver Coghlan (Year 7 Purple) — bronze in Under 13 boys
• Briar Keyser (Year 10 Orange) — gold in Under 16 girls
• Josh Otto (Year 10 Purple) — bronze in Under 16 boys
• Kyan Ellis (Year 10 Purple) — silver in Open boys
• Rori Jones (Year 12 White) — gold in Open girls.

(2) Senior girls’ Herald Sun Shield football

Yesterday (Thursday 1 September), 30 of our Year 10-12 students participated in the Senior girls’ Herald Sun Shield competition. In a round robin format, the team played three games of 15-minute halves. The girls, while from three separate year levels, came together to make one team for the first time. They played some high-standard football, representing the EISM as the current premiership team, having beaten Aquinas in the EISM Grand Final a week earlier. Their opponents on the day proved too strong, finishing with two losses and a draw in our final game. The last half is where it all came together for a very exciting and fast-paced finish, but we were just a little too late to get the win.

(3) Student Achievements

If you have any student achievements, please email them to me at dwebb@mlmc.vic.edu.au

(4) EISM results

Senior (24 August — Grand Final)

Year 9 (25 August — Semi Finals)

Year 9 (1 September — Grand Finals)

The O’Neill House Celebration Day was held at the College on Friday 26 August. It was a great day, with students coming together in the Lecture Theatre at lunchtime, catching up and supporting the history of our House. The students loved hearing about Sister Patricia O’Neill’s life and her journey and everybody enjoyed the sausage sizzle after the presentation.

The idea of the House Celebration events is to have students from each House meet during lunchtime for a quick meeting to share information about their House, enjoy a prayer for their House and then share in a barbecue afterwards. Participation also gains points for the House that goes towards the House Cup.

The last event of the year will be held for Frayne House members on Tuesday 13 September.

MLMC is looking forward to presenting our Performing Arts Showcase next Thursday evening (8 September). The evening will showcase our very talented students from Drama, Dance, Theatre Studies and Music. This is the first time we will be presenting a live showcase since 2019, so we are thrilled to have the opportunity to show the incredible work our students have been creating behind the scenes.

The evening’s performances will begin at 7.00pm in Centennial Hall. Everyone in our community is welcome to join us.

Health and Physical Education Week has been celebrated at the College all week. It has been filled with opportunities for our students to be physically active, from morning and afternoon weight sessions, to 3x3 basketball and downball tournaments.

Our students love opportunities to move and be active and the benefits of this are seen on the happy faces of those students who rode or walked to school on Tuesday and joined us for breakfast in the Doyle Centre.

On Thursday we encouraged the students to make a smoothie using pedal power! The students enjoyed the fun of blending their own smoothie on the bike. Today, Health and PE Week concluded with the traditional staff versus students ultimate frisbee match.

We encourage our students to embrace any opportunities to be active and to make a healthy choice. Life is better when we are active, a small workout (even for just 10 minutes) is better than no workout. The mind, body and soul all benefit when physical activity is part of our lives. Well done to all of the MLMC students who did a fantastic job this week in embracing these opportunities to be physically active.

Pictured below is downball winner Liam Morabito (Year 8 Blue) with Health and PE Prefect Sabina Lantouris and teacher Mr Dan Kelly.

We continue our regular profiles on some of our Instrumental Music students by featuring Year 9 student Rachael Roper:

Rachael Roper (Year 9 Jade) began playing trumpet in Grade 5 and joined the Instrumental Music program at MLMC in Year 7. Rachael is an extremely loyal student to our program as she is always punctual to her lessons and has been part of the College Band for over three years. In addition, Rachael has challenged herself by enrolling and passing a series of AMEB Exams over the years. In 2022, Rachael will be sitting the trumpet Comprehensive Grade 4 exam in Hawthorn. Rachael does not plan to have a professional career in music; however, she would like to keep playing the trumpet as a hobby and to maintain her social connections with the Box Hill Academy of Brass and Whitehorse Brass Bands, Box Hill. We wish Rachael all the best in her music studies.

Instrumental Music lessons will continue in Term 4. To find out more about our Instrumental Music program, click HERE.

Year 11 Food Studies

Year 11 Food Studies students have this term each been developing a food product able to be sold from a food truck. The food had to be able to be served hot and be presented creatively. One class had to develop a food product suitable for the Tesselaar Tulip Festival’s Children’s Week, while the other class had the task of catering to consumers visiting the Yarra Valley Farmers’ Market. It was brilliant to see the wide range of solutions that students generated. Sweet and savoury options were both presented with the deep fryer getting a good workout. Some standout ideas were a sausage roll wreath shaped as a tulip, homemade gnocchi, churros with ganache, meatball sub sandwiches, doughnuts with salty caramel dip, loaded hot dogs with homemade relish and chicken, as well as vegetarian souvlakis. It was great to see students apply their food presentation skills to produce some outstanding dishes.

Year 9 My House Rules

Students in the Year 9 My House Rules class have just completed their first task of the textiles component of this course — designing and contributing to a group bedroom makeover. Students selected a variety of themes from black with hot pink, pastels through to naturals. It was great to see lots of discussion as students worked out their skills and interests and how their Textile creations could complement one another. We had bed canopies, cushions, dream catchers, bunting, macrame wall hangings and pot holders, crochet and knitted blankets produced. Visiting judges had the difficult task of selecting the three best makeovers so that prizes could be awarded. The students are now beginning to make a tote bag before they start the cooking unit next term.