Dear Members of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community

Welcome to the new term and the new week, which of course started with the return of the daylight savings period. Yes, last weekend we all put our clocks forward by one hour and lost an hour of precious sleep time. If you are anything like me, you are now reliant on an alarm to wake as your body clock resets itself and you spend most of the day readjusting what you are doing from the normal feeling of the day to what time your watch actually tells you it is. Although there is benefit to daylight savings, the feeling of once again leaving for work in darkness might leave us questioning the benefit.

We must take the time to adjust to the change.

In many ways our Year 12 cohort might be feeling a similar sense of despair as they adjust to the fact that their time of on-campus learning and formal classes is very quickly coming to an end. While they might be looking forward to the celebrations of their last day and Graduation, I am sure that many will be feeling the pressure of finalising assessments and preparing for exams. It is certainly a time of uncertainty for them.

Please join me in praying for them, and that they will have a sense of calm and clarity in what they hope to achieve. For those who are about to sit exams, let us pray that they are ready and results will follow that genuinely reflect both their abilities and their efforts. May their results be such that doorways to preferred courses are opened for them.

For those not sitting exams, let us pray that they are ready to transition to the world of work and other studies as needed to fulfill their genuine vocation.

Let us pray for them as the graduating Class of 2022 in the hope that they leave us to live a life of purpose and any despair will be short lived.

At the end of last term, the College finalised the process of selecting the Student Leadership Team for 2023. The selected students will be inducted into Captain and Prefect roles at a full College assembly next Tuesday morning. We congratulate the 2023 Captains and Prefects as they take the mantle of leadership from the Class of 2022 to allow them to concentrate on finalising their studies.

Let me formally announce and congratulate the 2023 Student Leadership Team:

In the spirit of Catherine,

God bless

Philip A Morison

October is World Mission Month. During this month, Pope Francis asks every member of the Catholic community around the world to recognise themselves as missionary disciples. We come together, working and praying to share the joy, peace, hope and love of God with everyone, everywhere. In October we pray with Pope Francis for the Church, ever faithful and courageous in preaching the Gospel; may it be a community of solidarity, fraternity and welcome, always living in an atmosphere of synodality.

In the words of Pope Francis

“Dear brothers and sisters, let us have a good journey together.

May we be pilgrims in love with the Gospel and open to the surprises of the Holy Spirit.

Let us not miss out on the grace-filled opportunities born of encounter, listening and discernment.”

Dates

• Monday 10-Friday 14 October — Visual Arts Exhibition
• Tuesday 11 October — 2023 Prefect Investiture
• Monday 17 October — Last day of classes for Year 12 students
  
• Tuesday 18 October — Year 12 Celebration Day (student free for Years 7-11)
• Friday 21 October — Old Collegians' reunions for Classes of 1992 and 2002
• Monday 24 October — Year 7 2023 Parent Information Night (7.30pm in Centennial Hall)
• Monday 31 October — Mid-term break (student free)
• Tuesday 1 November — Melbourne Cup Day public holiday

Uniform

Just a reminder to parents and guardians that Term 4 marks the start of summer uniform, which includes a hat needing to be worn at recess and lunchtime if a student is not in one of the designated shade areas. The transition into summer uniform officially ends after the Melbourne Cup holiday. Until then, the summer or winter uniform can be worn — but not a mix of the two. Blazers are compulsory. Students will be notified in the afternoon if it is too hot to wear the blazer home. As always, we are noticing many students have had a growth spurt over winter. Please ensure your child’s uniform meets our Uniform Policy guidelines.

Interstate trips

A quick thank you to staff and students for their involvement in the Central Australia and Tasmania interstate trip during the September holidays. From all accounts, the students loved the respective tours and the chance to experience new areas of our wonderful country.

Captains and Prefects

Congratulations to the new Student Leadership Team for 2023. Your willingness to serve our community to continue the good work of those who came before you is to be commended. The College looks forward to working with you as you run new and exciting events in 2023. A full list of students in the 2023 Captain and Prefect roles is included in the Principal's article in today's newsletter.

Japan sister school visiting in 2023

Students and staff from our Japan sister school, Horyuji Kokusai High School, intend to visit us in March of next year. Please give some consideration to hosting a student during their time here in Australia (about 12 days, depending on their itinerary). Once I have set dates and visitor numbers, I will share it with you to seek your help. It is our intent to return to international visits for MLMC students in 2024. If your child is considering applying for the Japan Study Tour, hosting a student is a great advantage for your child as it helps create a relationship they can draw on when in Japan. More about this early next year.

Parent seminar

Vanessa Frazer
Health and PE Faculty Learning Leader

Sharon Torpey from Drug Education Australia will visit the College on Wednesday 12 October for a drug awareness seminar: ‘Young people and vaping, alcohol and other drugs’. It will be held in Centennial Hall from 7.30pm. 

The session has been designed to complement the work that Health teachers have undertaken this year with students in Year 8, risk taking covered in Year 9 programs, and various Pastoral Care programs, including those in Year 10. The seminar is face to face and is open to parents of all students at the College.

Sharon is the founder and Director of Drug Education Australia, a leading provider of high quality, factual drug education. Sharon is an excellent presenter who also happens to have teenage children. For further information about the organisation, please visit https://drugedaustralia.com.au/about-us

It was with great delight that we were able to celebrate Mercy Day on the last Friday of Term 3 (16 September). For many students and staff this was their first experience of the full Mercy Day celebration due to the restrictions of the past two years.

The day began with a beautiful liturgy led by the Year 12 CSYMA class and it provided us all with an opportunity to reflect on the value of hospitality and the place of the Holy Spirit in the life of Catherine McAuley.

Inspired by these messages students and staff then participated in a variety of activities including Mercy Idol, rides such as the Hurricane and the Giant Teacups and, of course, the traditional parade at the end of the day. We were blessed with good weather and were able to enjoy the al fresco area serviced by numerous food vans and the Parent and Friends’ Association barbecue and the donuts stall.

Mercy Day is a time of reflection, celebration and service and an opportunity to raise much-needed funds for Mercy Works and the various projects they support. The day could not happen without collaboration, teamwork and generosity so my thanks goes to all members of our community who made this possible.

The support of students, staff, families and local businesses enabled us to raise just over $16,000. This is an amazing achievement and will help to make a positive difference in the lives of so many people. My grateful thanks to you all.

For more information on Mercy Works please visit https://www.mercyworks.org.au/

How are we helping students best prepare for the exam-period?

As we approach the upcoming VCAA exam season, in Barak Campus we are providing the following events and activities which will prepare students and help teachers enhance learning:

• Exam Navigator assembly
• Units 3 and 4 trial exam week
• practice papers (students are encouraged to do one per subject per week)
• preparing revision materials/study booklets/notes
• online subject revision materials — on Google Classroom, Studiosity and Edrolo
• Homeroom teacher exam coaching
• pastoral support and care.

Motivating students to start revision-planning early

‘Don’t worry, I’ve got it sorted…’ or, ‘Yeah, I’ll get to that later…’ or ‘I’m doing that next week’… may be a series of familiar phrases heard at home at the moment for some families! Procrastination and putting off (or avoiding) any upcoming challenge is a major hurdle for students in exam preparation. To be fair, teenagers are biologically and socially predisposed to procrastinate and put off ‘until tomorrow, what we need to do today’. One American study (Schouwenburg et al., 2006) estimates that over 70% of students ‘exhibit [this] behaviour’ and another study identifies that ‘evaluation threat’ and ‘fear of failure’ peaks with higher levels of procrastination in young people.

Developing resilience, not just ‘coping’ with exam pressure

Our goal at MLMC is to assist students in developing their learning resilience (also a key life skill for their future). We seek to encourage students to not just ‘cope’ and ‘manage’ their exam pressure, but to learn and apply strategies that will help them enhance their personal resilience. Some students worry or are fearful that they might ‘fail’ or do poorly in their trial exam or practice paper. If a student is confused by a question, or hasn’t prepared as best they could, or is struggling with a particular topic or subject — isn’t it better to have this ‘shock’ beforehand to then better prepare for the final exam itself? This experience can be a ‘call to action’.

Prepare not just for several individual exams, but an exam-period

One tip suggested to all students at the recent Exam Navigator assembly is to prepare not just for individual subject exams, but to prepare and revise for a series of exams. Students need to prepare a revision strategy that, when applied, can support them equally through all of their exams alongside each other (as their exam dates are spread across the three-week period); rather than study a bit for the first exam, then the second, then the third… and running out of ‘puff’ for their last exams as they tire. 

Appreciation for our teachers

Our teachers are to be commended for their excellent efforts in leading students in the classroom; providing advice and encouragement to students throughout the year; with their planning and delivery of classes and coursework; and, for their preparation and feedback with trial exam and practice papers. 

In the next newsletter, there will be an article detailing ‘Exam support suggestions for Barak parents. If you have any questions, please contact any of the Barak Campus team during school hours.

Traditionally, on the Wednesday before Mercy Day a small group of staff, students, Mercy Sisters and Old Collegians visit the Lilydale Cemetery to pay respects to the Mercy Sisters buried there and to remember all who have gone before us.

This year, on Wednesday 14 September, student representatives from Years 7-11 helped to lead a beautiful liturgy of thanksgiving and remembrance. It was wonderful to have a number of Mercy Sisters with us and to reflect on the great legacy left by Catherine McAuley. It also reminded us of the privilege and responsibility we have to continue the story. Before we left the cemetery, camellias were placed on each of the graves as a mark of respect and gratitude.

On behalf of Jeanette Wyngaard, Marco Cardinali, John Parlas, Mikayla Byrne and Natalie Hamment

Forty-two students, six staff, one coach and a little red support vehicle undertook the grand 2022 MLMC Central Australia Tour in the holidays — the first such trip since 2019.

We were treated to some of the best that the Northern Territory has to offer — Uluru and Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs and Katherine Gorge as well as the Yellow Water and Urbirr rock in Kakadu National Park, Darwin and the Litchfield National Park, just to name a few amazing places.

We slept in the heat both in and out of tents and travelled long distances singing, eating, playing games and watching the amazing scenery roll by. We walked by wonders and learnt about Indigenous culture and traditions and managed to swim in a few watering holes as well.

Visits to the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre, Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience, the Alice Springs School of the Air and the Royal Flying Doctors Service helped educate us, and our liturgy in Banka Banka in honour of past student Lizzie Calcagno gave us a chance to reflect on how precious life really is.

Steve, our amazing bus driver and guide, and Alex, our creative cook, added so much to our trip, and their hard work and efforts to feed, please and entertain us did not go unnoticed.

A huge thanks to all who made the trip possible — College staff, our 42 students and, of course, all the parents and guardians who trusted us with their young bundles of joy.

A million photos taken, a million memories made and nothing but footprints left behind.

Below are reflections from some of the students:

The highlight of my Central Australia Trip was visiting Wangi Falls and Ellery Creek Big Hole. These places were so beautiful and I have never visited places like these in Victoria. The water holes were a way for the entire group to have some fun and cool down. We also had a games night to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctors Service. We raised over $700 on the tour, which we donated to the RFDS when we arrived in Darwin.
— Steph Tomada (Year 10 Blue)

The whole trip was eye opening. Every single day was full of new experiences, new things to do and new places to explore. From Uluru to Banka Banka Station to Darwin city. I loved being able to travel to a new part of the world with the people I spend most of my days with. Despite the sweltering heat, Central was a trip to remember for the rest of my life!
— Joshua Otto (Year 10 Purple)

Central was definitely a trip I will never forget. I absolutely loved the Kings Canyon walk. The thought of the walk was slightly overwhelming but completing the walk felt really good. Every angle of Kings Canyon had a different view and perspective which showed the true beauty of it. I would definitely love to travel up north again and explore even more.
— Megan Read (Year 10 Green)

I had an amazing trip and would definitely do it again. So many new friends and better connections were made. I loved travelling and being with friends the whole trip. My favourite parts were the water holes, Kings Canyon walk, enjoying time in Darwin city with friends and the disco cruise.
— Liam Haynes (Year 10 Silver)

I loved creating memories and experiencing new things with my classmates as well as growing our bond together. My favourite parts were visiting the many culture centres, the 6km hike along Kings Canyon and learning about the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre.
— Tia De Angelis (Year 10 Purple)

The Central/Top End tour was the trip of a lifetime. Whether it was experiencing the red centre in the dry desert heat or cruising around the tropics, I loved every moment of it — particularly the swims in Ellery Big Hole and Wangi Falls, along with the walks around Uluru, The Olgas and Kings Canyon. As a group we created so many memories that I will look back fondly on for years to come.
— Lincoln van Duuren (Year 10 White)

After a few years of planning and after several COVID-related cancellations, students with literary aspirations were finally able to travel to the city at the end of Term 3 for the Book Crawl excursion.

My Year 9 Creative Writing class and Mr Matthew Vallis's Year 7 LEAP English students attended a writing master class in Carlton, led by entertaining Melbourne author Kirsty Murray. She stressed to the students the importance of using personal experience to inform our writing, and giving strengths and failings to our characters so they're believable and readers will care what happens to them.

A shopping trip to the Readings bookstore and some time at the State Library filled out the day, punctuated by lunch at Melbourne Central.

Thank you to English Faculty Learning Leader Mrs Donna Mulazzani and Mr Vallis for looking after the students on this valuable trip.

Here are some student reflections of the excursion:

The excursion to the city was amazing. It was so cool to meet the creative author Kirsty Murray and for her to teach us some of her writing methods. I enjoyed being able to hang out with my friends, meet new people and go to the library to look at or buy books.
— Lily Swain (Year 7 Jade)

I learnt lots of things from Kirsty Murray, including how to get through writer's block and how to use the elements in your writing to make it better.
— Jessica Gould (Year 9 White)

When we were at the writing class I learnt that all good writers do speed writing to just get their ideas out first and then they go back and look at it more carefully. I enjoyed going and having a look in the State Library. I had a really enjoyable day.
— Jaruwan Lewis (Year 9 Aqua)

In the last week of Term 3, the Kool Skools project participants travelled to Studio 52 in Heidelberg to record their songs for the College’s 2022 Kool Skools album titled Wondering.

This album will feature a very different mix of talent: from students returning to the studio to add to their growing portfolios to newbies from Years 7 and 8 recording their first songs. Regardless of age, all of our songwriters and performers had a productive and enjoyable day, learning the tricks of the trade in a professional setting with highly-skilled sound engineers.

The design of the cover for the new album (pictured below) was the winning entry by Mia Story (Year 10 Red) from the cover design competition held in Term 3.

The Kool Skools project provides an opportunity for secondary school students to have a gateway into the music industry. For more than 25 years, students from Victorian schools have had the chance to work in a professional studio to record an album, with State Awards Nights held later in the year to showcase and celebrate the best songs and performances.

Mount Lilydale Mercy College is now officially open to take all 2023 Instrumental Music Scholarship audition applications. The Music department encourages any student in Year 7 to Year 11 who is currently enrolled in MLMC to apply for a 2023 Instrumental Music Scholarship. Students do not need to have been enrolled in the 2022 Instrumental Music program to apply.

The application process is nice and easy. Interested students are asked to please email their interest to me at sflint@mlmc.vic.edu.au to receive a shared Google application form. Students can then fill in this application form online and attach two contrasting music pieces.

Once the application form is complete, please upload and click SEND by 4.00pm Wednesday 23 November, 2022.

There will not be any face-to-face auditions. All applicants will be informed by mid-December 2022 whether they are successful or not in receiving a 2023 Instrumental Music Scholarship.

The Music department wishes all students the best of luck in their applications.

The MLMC Old Collegians' Association is hosting a Trivia Night on Saturday 19 November.

Book your team of 6-10 people from Monday! It will be a fun night out with friends and a great way to bring the MLMC community together. There will be snacks for your table to enjoy and drinks available from the bar at mates’ rates.

Family and friends are welcome. All guests must be 18 or over. Money raised will go towards the Old Collegians' Scholarship.

Tickets are $15 per person. Click here to purchase, or visit trybooking.com/CDGPJ.

On Thursday 15 September, 26 students from Year 7 and 8 volunteered to participate in the CIS Junior Italian Poetry Competition. In preparation for this, students came to twice weekly lunchtime practice sessions throughout Term 3 to learn to present their poem fluently and with confidence.

Well done to all students who presented on the day.

Below some of the students from Year 8 Orange write about the experience:

I participated in the Italian Poetry Competition and I loved it! It was a little bit difficult trying to memorise and learn actions but the people and the environment made it so much easier. It was very nerve wracking but afterwards it felt like a great achievement.
— Sharli Flynn (Year 8 Silver)

The Italian Poetry Competition was a lot of fun to participate in. The poems were a lot of fun to practise once we got the hang of them.
— Katelyn Dunn (Year 8 Orange)

In the Italian Poetry Competition, we each had to learn a poem that was completely in Italian. We had to memorise this and perform it at the end of the term to a judge who would give us a score based on pronunciation, memorisation and fluency. During Monday and Wednesday lunchtimes we had a lot of fun learning our poems with different people and enjoying a few biscotti along the way.
— Sam Drummond (Year 8 Orange)

Student Achievements

Football
Congratulations to Cam Nyko (Year 11 Bronze) who was selected to play in the Under 17 AFL NAB Futures game at the MCG prior to the AFL Grand Final. Cam also won the Most Consistent award for the Eastern Ranges in the NAB League this season.

Congratulations to Cody Anderson (Year 10 Purple), who was awarded the Frank Broussard award (best Under 16 player) for the Eastern Ranges this season.

Basketball
Congratulations to Xander Marchione (Year 7 Bronze) (pictured) and Sammy Anderson (Year 7 Silver) who won the bronze medal as part of the Under 14 Kilsyth Cobras team at the Australian Club Championships held in Sydney over the school holidays. Third in the nation is a massive achievement! You can read more about the team's tournament HERE.

Well done to Brylee Anderson (Year 8 White) who has been selected in the Victorian Under 16-18 squad to play at the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup at the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre in Albury in January 2023.

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

If you are a Year 11 student entering Year 12 in 2023, you may be eligible to receive the Old Collegians’ scholarship!

This scholarship is awarded to a Year 11 student who is involved in College activities, enjoys helping others and takes part in social justice activities. The scholarship will cover full tuition fees for ONE year. If you are interested in applying please click HERE for the application form (also downloadable below) and for the selection criteria.

Applications close at 5.00pm on Monday 10 October 2022.

Pictured are our 2022 scholarship recipients Jeremy Conte, Grace George and Perry Leane.

Tickets are now on sale for the Class of 1992 and Class of 2002 reunions.

Our Old Collegians will reunite at the College on Friday 21 October with tickets costing $50 each. Tours of the College will be starting from 5.00pm and the event will include canapes, drinks, photo exhibition, DJ and plenty more.

When: Friday 21 October
Time: 5.30-11.00pm (College tours start from 5.00pm)
Tickets: $50 (partners welcome). Visit trybooking.com/CCKKT or click HERE to purchase tickets.

We look forward to seeing you there!