Dear members of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community,

Welcome to Term 4 after what I hope was a relaxing holiday period which provided opportunity for shared family time and relaxation. The weather certainly provided the possibility of experiencing time in the great outdoors in spring, unlike this week which has seen a return to winter-like conditions. We certainly enjoy a degree of variation and lack of predictability in Melbourne. I also hope the AFL Grand Final, which was a great and exciting game of football, provided you with some joy. It certainly did in our house.

(1) Travel experiences

Over the holiday period a number of other exciting things were celebrated.

Firstly, the College conducted three interstate and international study experiences. A group of Year 10 students travelled to Tasmania to experience the history and vast beauty of the state, while a second group of Year 10 students travelled north for the Central Australia experience. At the same time, a senior group of students travelled to Japan in a cultural and Study Tour. All three of these trips provided positive experiences for our students. All of the feedback I have received is that our students were great ambassadors for our College and we can all be proud of their interactions. I am told that travel sickness on planes and the Spirit of Tasmania was not a highlight. I do publicly acknowledge and thank the staff who volunteered to give up their holidays to lead these trips for without them, such experiences would not be possible.

Thank you to the following staff members who attended these tours:

Central Australia: Matthew Reilly (Tour Leader), Sarah Battersby, Liam Charles, Michael Dunstan and Victoria Minichilli

Tasmania: Cassandra Poynter (Tour Leader), Krissy Collins and Paul Wulfrun

Japan: John Rodgers (Tour Leader), Greg Hysted and Kassidy Grant-Whiting.

(2) Student Leadership

Before the end of Term 3, we finalised the Student Leadership process for 2024, after an extensive application, interview and voting process. I was pleased to write to all the 2024 Prefect applicants over the holidays offering congratulations to those who were appointed to positions. It was pleasing to receive a large number of applications, which of course means there will be some students who are not appointed to official leadership positions, but hopefully that does not mean that their leadership is not realised in a whole lot of ways. The 2024 Prefects were to be inducted at a whole College Assembly next Tuesday (10 October), however, circumstances outside of our control means that this assembly will be postponed until Monday 16 October. This is the last full day of school for our Year 12 cohort and the induction of new Prefects will be a part of the process of farewelling our Year 12 students.

In considering our Year 12 Class of 2023, we must acknowledge and celebrate their leadership and their presence within our student body. As they prepare to depart the College, let us keep them all in our prayers as this is a time of celebration for them and it is also a time of great trepidation as many prepare for exams. I will write to each Year 12 student in the near future and I look forward to celebrating their Graduation with them on Friday 17 November.

Please congratulate the following students on being appointed to Prefect positions for 2024:

(4) Referendum

This past week a number of our Year 12 cohort attended the filming of Q&A whereby a number of topical issues were under discussion, including the upcoming Referendum. You can read more about it HERE. Our Year 12 students asked a number of insightful questions around varied issues, but the episode highlighted the need for informed discussion. As you know, Mount Lilydale Mercy College is committed to a reconciliation process and being inclusive of all people. However, we also recognise that some might consider discussion around issues like the Referendum to be political and not the role of the College, and may understand that such issues are also moral and ethical. I hope that informed discussions are happening within the home and I offer you some reflections from the Australian Catholic Bishops to aid in this:

In the spirit of Catherine,
May God bless each and every one of you.

Philip A Morison

This week, on Wednesday 4 October, we celebrated the memorial to Saint Francis of Assisi in the liturgical calendar.

The son of a wealthy cloth merchant, he lived a lavish and irresponsible life. At the age of 20, he went to war but was captured and imprisoned. During his imprisonment, he experienced a vision from Christ and changed his life completely. He left all his possessions and embraced complete poverty, taking the Gospel as his rule of life.

Throughout his life, he wore ragged old clothes, begged for food and preached peace.

He is the Patron Saint against fire; for animals; Catholic Action; dying alone; the environment and needle/lace workers among many others.

Let us pray

O God, by whose gift Saint Francis was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility,
grant that, by walking in Francis' footsteps, we may follow your Son,
and, through joyful charity, come to be united with you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Saint Francis, pray for us!

Amen

Dates

• Saturday 7 October — MLMC Old Collegians' Association Gala Awards Night
• 9-13 October — Visual Arts, Technology and Design Exhibition. Parent viewing night will be held from 6.00pm on Thursday 12 October in Centennial Hall
• Friday 13 October — Year 10 Formal (Yering Meadows Golf Club)
  
• Friday 13 October — Year 9 Social (McAuley Hall)
• Monday 16 October — 2024 Prefect Investiture and final Year 12 assembly
  
• Tuesday 17 October — Year 12 Celebration Day (student free for students in Years 7-11)
• Wednesday 18 October — MLMC Sports Awards
• Thursday 19 October — Giovanne Music Recitals
• Tuesday 24 October — Year 7 2024 Information Night
• Wednesday 25 October — Year 9 Horizons Showcases 

Summer uniform

The College will be transitioning into full summer uniform by the Melbourne Cup long weekend. Full winter or full summer uniform can be worn (not a mixture of the two) until Friday 3 November. From Wednesday 8 November, all students are expected to be in full summer uniform. 

Hats, however, are compulsory throughout Term 4.

MLMC is a SunSmart College, and as such, we require all students to wear a hat when out in the sun at recess and lunchtime in Terms 1 and 4. This is important for protecting students from the harmful effects of the sun's rays. Please ensure that your child's name is written inside the hat and that they know the importance of wearing it.

Counselling and Wellbeing advice

Members of our school counselling team have provided a link to a useful article about how to survive and thrive in exams. You can find it by clicking HERE.

You can also find more helpful tips for supporting your child through the exam period in the Barak Campus Matters article in this newsletter. 

Operation Christmas Child

Mr Matthew Burow
Religous Education and Faith Development Faculty Learning Leader

As a College community, we support the charity Samaritan’s Purse with their ‘Operation Christmas Child’ shoebox initiative. Over the next two weeks, every homeroom is encouraged to pack one or more gift-filled shoeboxes to show God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. You can find out more about it in the flyer below. 

Each year level has been given a specific age and sex to buy for (see flyer below). Each box should include something from each of the six categories:

• something to wear
• something to play with
• something for school
• something to love
• something special
• something for personal hygiene.

Alongside this, every box requires $12.50 with it to help with shipping and handling, follow this link to see the impact of the $12.50. Click HERE for details.

We encourage you to donate by purchasing an item from one of the six categories or contributing to the $12.50 shipping and handling. Please coordinate with your child’s homeroom teacher. Please contact me at the College if you have any questions.

Over the September school holiday break, 14 students and three teachers set off on the Japan Study Tour for a trip of a lifetime. After a four-year hiatus due to COVID-19, it was great to reconnect with our sister school, Hōryūji International High School (or Hōkoku for short). The Study Tour started with a long weekend where students were thrown into the everyday lives of their host families. Despite a bit of a language barrier, all students arrived on the first day of school with big smiles on their faces and many stories to share.

The program that Hōkoku offered for us was absolutely incredible. Throughout the week we were able to experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony (sadō), flower arranging (ikebana), Japanese calligraphy (shodō), a music class where we learnt to play handbells, Japanese archery (kyūdō), an art class where we made a wind chime (fūrin) and a tour of Hōryūji, which includes the world's oldest wooden building. We were also lucky enough to go on a full-day excursion to Kyoto. There we saw Kiyomizudera, a famous Buddhist temple, which is a part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Fushimi Inari Taisha, one of the most impressive Shinto shrines in Japan. Our week at Hōkoku came to an end far too quickly, and if the number of tears shed when we said goodbye was anything to go by, it was clear that all involved had the most memorable experience possible.

The second half of our trip involved catching bullet trains (shinkansen) down to Hiroshima for a few days and then back up to Tokyo to finish off our trip. In Hiroshima we visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, laid our 1000 paper cranes at the Children's Peace Monument and visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. We were also lucky enough to enjoy a day trip to Miyajima, an island off the coast of Hiroshima, where we hiked, shopped, took many photos, engaged with the local deer and tasted the local treats. In Tokyo we ‘shopped 'til we dropped’, visited the world's busiest train station in Shinjuku, got among the crowds at the Shibuya crossing and spent a long, adventure-packed day at Tokyo Disneyland.

The 16 days spent in Japan have left us with memories that we will truly never forget and friendships that will remain strong for decades to come. Thank you to all the students and staff for making this Study Tour a memorable one and to the families for allowing their children the opportunity to experience Japanese culture in such a unique way.

Below is a reflection from one of the students:

The two weeks that we spent in Japan was the absolute best experience. Staying with a host family opened our eyes to see what general overall life is like for a student in Japan. We ate some unbelievable and different food such as heaps of sushi and fish, as well as heaps of beef including tongue and lungs. I will be staying in touch with the Japanese students as we have made amazing friendships and I will return in the future to see them all again. I could not recommend this experience more to future students at MLMC.
— Mitchell R (Year 10 Green)

A small group of Year 12 student leaders were selected to participate in a live recording of an episode of ABC television show Q&A earlier this week. The episode delved into current issues, including the upcoming Voice Referendum and the responsibilities of our leaders. We were privileged to be part of the studio audience, attentively listening to the insights shared by diverse panellists as they addressed our questions. It was interesting to hear the viewpoints of panellists with varying perspectives on the Referendum, heightening my awareness of the issue's impact on the Australians. The youth of today play a pivotal role in our society, and it is essential that we are actively engaged with current affairs and listen to our leaders to help shape a better future.

Two of our students, Carissa M (Science Prefect) and Mitchell M (Faith and Ministry Prefect), had the opportunity to forward a question to the panellists for further discussion. Carissa asked: “How do we make politicians accountable for the decisions they make that cost or most greatly affect the public? For example, Dan Andrews calling off the Commonwealth Games?”. Mitchell asked: “My question is directed towards Senator McCarthy. Senator, as a Year 12 Politics student, we often talk about having an ‘electoral mandate’. If the Australian people reject the Voice, at the Referendum will you, as the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and member of the Government, legislate the Voice into existence in defiance of the decision of the Australian people?”

After the episode recording finished, we sat on the set and met one of the panellists, Mr Noel Pearson.

Overall, I enjoyed the experience, with the conversation keeping me engaged, and I was impressed by the intricate behind-the-scenes workings of live television production.

Exam support suggestions for Barak parents

Here are some parent tips and suggestions in providing support for your child as they prepare themselves to undertake their Year 10, 11 and 12 exams:

BEFORE THE EXAM

• Exam schedule
  Know your child’s entire Exam Schedule (click here). List the dates and times for their exams on a calendar, and stick on the fridge in the kitchen. Shade the previous 2-3 days with a red colour to emphasise this time as a ‘hotspot’. Establish a transport plan for how your child is getting to and from the College for each exam (and yes, ensuring that they wake up on time)
• Reviewing upcoming Exams together
  Many students insist that ‘everything’s sorted!’ when asked by parents, ‘Do you need help?’ Insist on sitting with your child 2-3 days before each exam to go over the exam’s structure, their revision notes/materials. Having these conversations aren’t necessarily about ‘finding answers’ — what’s important is that your child will be going over exam material in their mind as they explain it to you. Ask them questions such as:
  * ‘Are there compulsory questions?’
  * ‘Are there predictable questions or topic areas?’
  * 'Which topic areas do you think will be asked for this exam-section?’

DURING EACH EXAM

• Importance of sleep over the three-week period
  Seven to eight hours of sleep each night is essential. Late-night study sessions should be avoided. Encourage your child to do ‘screen-time’ study activities up until 9.00-9.30pm, and then notetaking/reading study activities after that, until around 10.00pm. This will help your child ‘turn their brain off’ and power down into relax mode, better readying them for a good night’s sleep.

• Diet, exercise and a ‘balanced’ routine
  A good breakfast is critical. Are they eating regularly and nutritiously? Help them avoid ‘grazing’ on junk food (especially if it’s sugar-loaded — causing energy spikes, etc). Have fresh fruit, vegies and dips, ‘trail mix’, nuts, etc for snacks. Encourage them to have ‘down time’ after each exam. Go for a walk or to the gym with them. They need to rest and recharge before they do any preparation for their next paper.

• Social interaction
  Don’t let your child isolate themselves in their room studying. Encourage them to have breaks. Insist on sharing meal times together as a family or coming out to spend time with visitors in short breaks. Emphasise face-to-face interaction with friends over online-interaction.

• Preparing for the ‘X-factor’
  Many families have situations going on that can directly or indirectly impact students undertaking their exams. Sometimes these situations can include family distress or a family member having serious health issues. Have a conversation together over expectations and how to best manage these situations if they occur around the days during the exam period.

AFTER EACH EXAM

• Post-exam debrief
  Sit with your child after each exam over a cup of tea or coffee and let them ‘debrief’. Let them recount (and unload) their day’s experience — guiding them to not focus on their errors/omissions, but how to take that day’s experience and see how it can inform/better prepare for the next exam day.

If you have any questions, please contact any of the Barak Campus team during school hours.

(1) Student Achievements

Basketball
Congratulations to Brylee A (Year 9 Jade) and Lily E (Year 9 Green) who have both been selected in the Vic Country basketball squad.

Soccer
Congratulations to Hamish M (Year 8 White), Nicholas R (Year 8 White) and Jarrah T (Year 7 Blue) who won the VCFA Division B Under 14 premiership for 2023 playing for Healesville (pictured in the gallery below).

Equestrian
Congratulations to Mia S (Year 11 Green), Sophie D (Year 10 Bronze) and Imogen B (Year 11 Purple) (pictured above) who competed in the interschools national tournament. Imogen and ‘Alfie’ finished the competition as the Reserves Champions in the EA 80 competition and Imogen was part of the Championship equestrian team with three others. Well done!

Football
Well done to Cody A (Year 12 Jade) and Baylin S (Year 12 Gold) who played for Eastern Ranges in the Coates Talent League Grand Final in September. The Coates Talent League is the top under-18 football competition in Victoria (formerly known as TAC Cup).

Jess V (Year 12 Blue) also played for Eastern Ranges in the girls’ Coates Talent League season decider, with her team the runners-up. Jess was later named in the competition’s Team of the Year.

Basketball

Congratulations to Summer T (Year 7 Green) (pictured) who has had a busy few weeks of basketball. Her Kilsyth Cobras Under 14 girls team won the Victorian Championship title and then went on to compete in the Australian National Club Championships, finishing runner-up. She also played netball with the Lilydale and Yarra Valley Netball Association team at a tournament in Mildura.

If you have any Student Achievements, please email details to me at rparsons@mlmc.vic.edu.au

(2) Staff Achievements

Football
Congratulations to Mr Dan Beard who was named Field Umpire of the Year in the Eastern Football Netball League/EFL Umpires Association for 2023.

(3) 3X3 MLMC basketball tournament

Ms Frazer has organised a 3x3 basketball tournament, to be held on Mondays and Fridays at lunchtime. Parents are reminded that students taking part are not required to wear PE uniform. If students haven't already done so, they are encouraged to get a team together and submit names to Ms Frazer. Good luck!

(4) EISM results

Year 9 — Round 1 (5 October)

Preparations continue behind the scenes as our showcase of the best work in the Visual Arts and Technology Faculties approaches.

Next week’s exhibition, held in Centennial Hall from Monday 9 October through to Friday 13 October, is a retrospective celebration of innovation and creativity that we are proud to present on behalf of our talented students.

The exhibition will include painting, printmaking, sculpture, darkroom photography and architecture, as well as work from the Visual Communication and Design, Media, Product Design, Systems Engineering and Textiles subjects. We would love to see you there!

Parents are welcome to join us at the exhibition on Thursday 12 October from 6.00pm in Centennial Hall.

We are excited to share the amazing experiences and memories created during our Tasmania Study Tour for 2023. This eight-day adventure for a group of 17 Year 10 students and four staff began during the final week of Term 3 and continued in the first week of the school holidays.

The excitement was clear as we met at MLMC at the early hour of 5.15am on Wednesday 13 September. We flew into Hobart, eager to kickstart our exploration. One of our first stops was the Cascades Female Factory, where we delved into the island's rich history and learned about the lives of female convicts who were once imprisoned there. The guided walk down Kunanyi provided breathtaking views of Hobart and its surroundings, making for an unforgettable start to our adventure.

We continued our exploration of Hobart by visiting the iconic Port Arthur site. This historical location allowed us to step back in time and uncover Tasmania's convict history. In the evening, we all embarked on an engaging ghost tour, where chilling tales from Port Arthur’s past sent shivers down our spines.

Leaving Hobart behind, we made our way to Scamander, a picturesque coastal town on Tasmania's east coast. Here, we had the opportunity to experience the region's incredible wildlife at East Coast Nature World. The close encounters with Tasmanian devils and kangaroos left us all with a new-found appreciation for Australia's unique animals. Additionally, in Scamander, we explored the breathtaking landscapes of Freycinet National Park, soaking in the stunning views.

We then traveled to Launceston, where we discovered the natural wonder of Cataract Gorge Reserve — a picturesque wilderness with some more amazing views. It was a day filled with leisurely walks and stunning scenery.

On our final day we spent the morning experiencing an exhilarating zip line tour at Treetops Adventure Hollybank, an experience that had us soaring among the treetops.

Our adventure ended with our journey to Devonport, bidding farewell to the enchanting island of Tasmania and its warm-hearted locals. On Wednesday 20 September we boarded the Spirit of Tasmania to sail to Geelong, carrying with us the memories and new-found knowledge.

This Tasmania Study Tour was an unforgettable journey that allowed our students to connect with nature, history, and each other in a way that only Tasmania can offer. We hope the experiences gained during this trip will inspire our students for years to come.

Thank you to our dedicated teachers who joined our students on this amazing journey — Mr Paul Wulfrun, Mrs Krissy Collins and Principal Mr Philip Morison. Thank you for giving your time to support us on this tour, it simply would not have been possible without you.

Below is a reflection from one of the students:

I enjoyed the Tassie trip, especially the zip lining and the Spirit of Tasmania on the last day. I also enjoyed Seahorse World and Platypus World because we were able to get up close to echidnas and seahorses, we even got to hold and pat the seahorses. I also loved having free time because we got to hang out with our friends and explore Tasmania.
— Eva J (Year 10 Aqua)

VCE Vocational Major students displayed their entrepreneurial spirit late in Term 3 by organising a vibrant and bustling Market Day. This annual event showcases the impressive creativity and business understanding of these young minds.

From homemade candles, beeswax wraps, resin chopping boards goods, to delicious culinary delights, this year’s market, held on Thursday 14 September, was a kaleidoscope of talent and innovation. As the students managed stalls and interacted with customers, they gained invaluable real-world experience in marketing, finance, and customer service.

The VCE VM Market Day not only fosters a sense of community within the College but it also provides a platform for students to develop essential life skills while also raising funds for Mercy Works. It's an inspiring display of youth-driven enterprise and determination.

Well done to all involved in making the day such a success!

In this From the Archives newsletter article, we congratulate and celebrate the appointment of the 2024 Student Leadership team. 

What a privilege and an amazing opportunity to be a part of leading the 2024 cohort and the MLMC student body. I have delved into the College Archives to look at what I could find on the history of this important aspect of student life at the College.

What I found was interesting in that there have long been the key positions of Head Prefects and the like, however, the Student Leadership body has also evolved over time. Extra positions have been added as the needs of the College evolved and they continue to be added when required.

In the early days, when the College was a girls’ school, the College had a Head Prefect, Vice Head Prefect, House and Sports Captains. The oldest yearbook that we have in our archives is the 1972 annual. In this yearbook, the message from the Head Prefect was similar to those from many of our Head Prefects and Captains — it was a busy year, with lots to organise, and thank you to those that helped in the community. Just a few short years later, Mount Lilydale changed to become a coeducational institution and, thus, in 1976 we see the first boy and girl school captains.

During the 1980s, the College again had the key student leaders, School Captains, Vice Captains along with a Student Representative Council (SRC) group (the 1985 leaders are pictured above), and this was most consistent during the 1990s.

It was not until 1999, under the leadership of Principal Mr Bernard Dobson, that the Prefect system evolved again and we have the Student Leadership team that we have today. The College now has numerous positions of leadership and Prefect positions, as well as an SRC group.

We wish the best of luck to the College Captains, Vice Captains and Prefects named to lead us in 2024. They are all listed in the From the Principal article in this newsletter.

Students in Year 9 Agriculture care for our Isa Brown chickens at the College, who are excellent layers and produce lots of top quality eggs daily. Year 9 Agriculture students set up and maintained the coops, checked feed and water levels, collected eggs and weighed the chickens charting their progress as they grew from pullets to layers.

MLMC entered three chickens into the Secondary Schools Poultry Competition at the 2023 Royal Melbourne Show. Our birds achieved second placing in the competition. Alannah F, Morgan V, Chloe R and Nikita V collected the data and designed the poster that was judged in the competition.

Our MLMC McAuley Park Farm also had an entry in the wool grading competition with the fleece from our sheep winning awards this year. One of our entries received the first prize as a Champion Fleece and another finished in second place.

Well done to all students and staff involved in the program. Congratulations on winning ribbons in the Royal Melbourne Show!