Dear members of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community,

Welcome to the month of November and with it two very important celebrations which in the rich tapestry of Catholic traditions, stand out: All Saints Day and All Souls Day. As I reflect on the history and importance of these solemn occasions, I am drawn to the profound spiritual significance they hold for us as Catholics. These days are about honouring and praying for the departed, but they are far more than that. They are also about embracing the continuum of life, and the hope that lies beyond our earthly presence.

(1) All Saints Day and All Souls Day

Historical roots: All Saints Day, also known as the Feast of All Saints, traces its origins back to the early Christian Church. Its celebration on 1 November can be attributed to Pope Gregory III in the eighth century when he consecrated a chapel in Rome to all the saints. The day was established to honour all the saints, known and unknown, who have attained the beatific vision in heaven. On the following day, All Souls Day, Catholics remember and pray for the souls of all the faithfully departed. These observances reflect a deep intertwining of faith and reverence for the departed souls that have been a cornerstone of Catholic spirituality and life.

All Saints Day and All Souls Day beautifully remind us of our connection with the saints who have gone before us and the souls who await their eternal rest. In remembering the saints, we find inspiration in their holy lives, seeking to emulate their virtues and draw us closer to our God. Through our prayers on All Souls Day, we extend our love and compassion to those departed on their journey towards God's presence.

A source of hope and comfort: All Saints Day and All Souls Day offer solace to the grieving and hope to the despondent. In commemorating the saints, we find encouragement in their perseverance, reminding us that holiness is attainable. In praying for the departed, we find comfort in the belief that our prayers can aid their journey and that one day we, too, will be remembered in the prayers of the living. These two days also help us to build a bridge and remain in relationship with those who have impacted our lives and remain in our hearts with eternal love.

(2) Relationships and building bridges 

Last week, I read a lovely story about relationships and building such bridges. Like all good stories it started with “Once upon a time” and I will retell it as I remember it, rather than verbatim.

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side. They had previously shared machinery and helped each other without trouble. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding, and it grew into a major difference with an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on the elder brother’s door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter’s toolbox. “I am looking for a few days of work”, he said. “Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?”

“Yes!” said the elder brother. “I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That’s my neighbour, in fact, it’s my younger brother and we don’t get along. Last week he dug a wider passage for water into his farm. But he ended up creating a very wide creek in between our farms and I am sure he did it just to annoy me. I want you to build me something so that I do not have to see his farm.”

The carpenter said: “I think I understand and I think I will be able to do a job that will please you.” The elder brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.

At sunset when the elder brother returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The elder brother’s eyes opened wide, and his jaw dropped. It was not what he had even thought of or imagined. It was a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, a fantastic arched bridge with beautiful handrails. And to his surprise, his younger brother across the creek was coming to meet him with a big smile and arms wide open to hug him.

“You are really kind and humble my brother! After all I had done and said to you, you have still shown that blood relations can never be broken! I am truly sorry for my behaviour,” the younger brother said as he hugged his elder brother. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. “No, wait! Stay a few days. I have a lot of other projects for you,” said the older brother.

“I’d love to stay on”, the carpenter said, “but, I have many more bridges to build!”

(3) Restorative practices

This story reminds us that there is no shame in admitting to making a mistake and importance of rebuilding relationships, but it also reminds me of another great carpenter who walked this earth preaching stories of the importance of love and forgiveness in our lives. It also reminds me of the importance of restorative practices within our College community.

Restorative practices play a pivotal role in creating a nurturing and respectful educational environment. Unlike punitive approaches, restorative practices focus on repairing harm and restoring working relationships when conflicts arise. By encouraging open communication, active listening, and empathy, these methods empower us all to take responsibility for our actions and understand the consequences of our behaviour.

One of the key advantages of restorative practices is their ability to address underlying issues that may lead to conflicts, such as misunderstandings, emotional distress, or social pressures. By acknowledging these and having a structured conversation, restorative practices foster a sense of belonging and connectedness. This approach not only reduces disciplinary incidents but also promotes a positive College culture where everyone feels valued and respected.

Furthermore, restorative practices enhance social and emotional skills, teaching crucial life lessons in conflict resolution, empathy, and forgiveness. These skills are not only valuable within our College environment but also serve as a foundation for future interpersonal relationships and interactions. These are life skills and as a College that approaches educating in a holistic manner, restorative practices enable us to explicitly teach skills that may not be taught traditional fields of education.

It is our hope at MLMC that by incorporating restorative practices within our College, we help to equip our students with the tools they need to navigate complex social situations, develop emotional intelligence, and become responsible, compassionate members of world, both locally and globally. By prioritising restorative practices, we can create an atmosphere where learning flourishes, and students thrive academically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

(4) Community Forum Group

The next meeting of the CGF is scheduled for Thursday 16 November at 7.30pm.

Agenda items may include:

1. operation of CFG moving forward
2. dates for 2024
3. Master Plan/Stage 4 building
4. College partnerships.

If you wish for anything to be added to the agenda or you wish to attend, please contact Marilyn Ryan via email to principal@mlmc.vic.edu.au.

We are always looking for community members to join the CFG.

(5) College Advisory Council

The College Advisory Council plays a very important role in the operation of the College and I am always interested to hear from community members who may wish to join the Council. If you would like information about the College Advisory Council or if you are interested in joining it in 2024, please contact Marilyn Ryan via email to principal@mlmc.vic.edu.au

(6) 2023 Mark Prest Award 

Please consider nominating a staff member for the 2023 Mark Prest Award. Details about the award and nomination process can be found HERE.

I hope you all enjoy the up and coming long weekend with an interest in the Cup which is joy giving.

Please continue to keep our graduating class in your thoughts and prayers as they undertake exams and prepare for Graduation.

In the Spirit of Catherine,
May each and every one of you be blessed.

Philip A Morison

The liturgical year is drawing to a close, culminating in the upcoming Solemnity of Christ the King. In the month of November, Catholics traditionally turn their thoughts to the return of Christ and remember their departed loved ones. This week, we observe two significant celebrations that direct our focus towards these themes.

On 1 November, we celebrate the solemnity of ‘All Saints’. On this day, we reflect on the multitude of Saints now residing in heaven, who serve as inspiring role models for us. We also implore their intercession in our prayers.

2 November marks ‘All Souls' Day’, a time for us to offer prayers and Mass for our dearly departed loved ones, seeking God's mercy and grace for their souls.

Let us pray:

Almighty ever-living God, by whose gift we venerate in one celebration the merits of all the Saints, bestow on us, we pray, through the prayers of so many intercessors, an abundance of the reconciliation with you for which we earnestly long. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
— Collect for the solemnity of All Saints

All Saints, pray for us.

(1) Dates

• Tuesday 24 October-Wednesday 15 November — VCE exams
  
• Monday 6 November — Mid-term Break (student free)
• Tuesday 7 November — Melbourne Cup Day public holiday
• Wednesday 8 November — all students expected to be in full summer uniform
• 10-17 November — Year 10 and Year 11 exams
• Saturday 11 November — Remembrance Day
• Sunday 12 November — Old Collegians’ Association Memorial Mass (2.00pm)
• Wednesday 15 November — Year 9 Horizons Showcase and The Rite Journey ‘Homecoming’
• Wednesday 15 November-Friday 17 November — Year 9 exams
• Friday 17 November — Year 12 Graduation
• Monday 20 November — Staff Professional Practice Day (student free)
• Wednesday 22 November — Year 7 2024 Flying Solo (4.00pm)
• Tuesday 28 November — Family Service of Carols (6.00pm)
• 21-30 November — 2024 Academic Foundation Program (for 2024 Year 8-12 students)
• Wednesday 29 November — Year 11 Academic Awards in Centennial Hall (9.00am). 
• Thursday 30 November — Year 10 Academic Awards (9.00am) and Year 9 Academic Awards (11.09am) in Centennial Hall. NB: this is the final day of the academic year for Year 9, 10 and 11 students
• Friday 1 December — Year 7 Academic Awards (9.00am) and Year 8 Academic Awards (11.09am) in Centennial Hall. NB: this is the final day of the academic year for Year 7 and 8 students 
• Tuesday 5 December — Orientation Day for 2024 Year 7 students.

(2) Finance news

All families should have received the 2024 Fees Letter via Compass. Please find a copy of this letter and our Schedule of Fees and Payments for 2024 below:

College Fee Information

College fee statements are prepared in mid-January each year. A text message will be sent to the first person listed on your College fee account. Eg: If your account is in both Mr & Mrs name, Mr will receive the text message.

Your statement will be uploaded onto the Parent Portal for you to view and print if required. The Parent Portal is located on our College website under the ‘Portals’ tab, along the top of the page.

Your statement will advise you if you have chosen an automatic payment deduction method. Please refer to the frequency amount listed on your statement for the amount that will be deducted on the due dates.

Please click HERE or below to view our 2024 Schedule of Fees.

If you are not on an automatic payment deduction plan, you are required to pay each terms fee by the quarterly due date. A text message will be sent notifying parents of the due date for quarterly tuition fee payments. Please refer to your initial College fee statement uploaded onto the Parent Portal in January for the quarterly amounts due.

Payments can be set up via regular BPay payments (your BPay details appear on your College fee statement and is only to be used for College fee payments). You can also make payments on the Parent Portal securely via credit card or alternatively you can come into the Finance Office to pay via EFT.

Please note that we are phasing out accepting personal cheques due to the high cost of processing them through the bank. For security reasons we also prefer not to accept large cash payments. Please contact Finance for our Banking details to direct deposit your payment as you will require a reference number to ensure the payment is allocated to the correct account.

Phone inquiries — please contact the Finance Offic at 9237 1315. Alternatively, you can contact Mrs Cathy Pote (Assistant Business Manager) 9739 2209 or Mr Dean de Munk (Business Manager) 9237 1314. Finance email: fees@mlmc.vic.edu.au

(3) SRC 2024

Mount Lilydale Mercy College is committed to giving students a real voice in the decisions that affect them. That's why we have a variety of student leadership teams, including the Student Representative Council (SRC).

The SRC is a group of elected students who represent the student body to the College staff leadership team. They work to promote student participation and voice, and to advocate for student interests. The SRC is also responsible for organising and running a variety of student events and activities.

The College is excited to announce that applications for SRC positions in 2024 are now open! Students from all year levels are encouraged to apply.

To be eligible for an SRC position, you must:

• be committed to promoting student participation and voice
• be able to work effectively as part of a team.

Why join the SRC?

There are many benefits to joining the SRC. As an SRC member, you will have the opportunity to:

• represent the student body to the College staff leadership team
• advocate for student interests
• help to organise and run a variety of student events and activities
• develop leadership skills
• make a real difference in the College community.

We encourage all students to apply for an SRC position. It's a great way to get involved in your College community and to make a real difference.

How to apply for an SRC position

If your child is interested in applying for an SRC position, have them visit their Year Level Google Classroom for more information and to download an application form. Applications close soon.

(4) Summer uniform

Next Wednesday (11 November) marks the official changeover from winter to summer uniform. Please check dress lengths this weekend to ensure uniforms fit according to the uniform guidelines.

A reminder that blazers or sports jackets (if it is a sports day) are to be worn to and from school as the outer garment. On hot days, an announcement will be made that blazers/sports jackets do not need to be worn home in the afternoon. Students should take their blazer/sports jacket home so that they can be worn the next morning.

(5) Exams and reports draw near

As the end of the academic year is just beyond the horizon, some students are faced with increasing pressure from deadlines, tests, and exams. It is therefore more important than ever for parents to spend time with their children to see if they need assistance managing their study time and meeting deadlines.

I would recommend you find some time to:

• talk to your child about their workload. What deadlines do they have coming up? What tests and exams do they have scheduled? Once you have a good understanding of their workload, you can help them develop a plan to manage their time effectively
• help your child create a study schedule. This schedule should include time for each of their subjects, as well as time for breaks and extracurricular activities. It is important to be realistic when creating the schedule, and to make sure that your child has enough time to complete all of their work
• monitor your child's progress. Talk to them regularly about how they are doing with their studies. If they are struggling to keep up, offer to help them develop a plan to get back on track
• don't be afraid to reach out to the teacher. If you are concerned about your child's progress, send an email to their subject teacher. The teacher can provide you with additional resources and support, and can also help you to develop a plan for your child.

By being proactive now you can help:

• reduce stress and anxiety. Students who are organised and have a plan for their studies are less likely to feel stressed and anxious
• students who manage their time effectively are more likely to complete their assignments on time and to perform well on tests and exams
• students who are successful in school are more likely to feel confident in their abilities.

If you discover that your child is struggling to manage their study time or meet deadlines, don't hesitate to reach out to their subject teacher. A quick email may go a long way in resolving the situation before it becomes an issue that is more difficult to resolve.

(6) Parking around the College

Parents and guardians please be reminded that there are times of ‘no parking’ in some streets surrounding the College during drop-off and pick-up times.

We have recently noticed traffic wardens have been out and about issuing fines to those who infringe on these restrictions. To avoid being fined, please be sure to park in a designated area during drop-off and pick-up times.

(7) International Study Tour

Expressions of interest are now being sought for an International Study Tour in September 2024. Read more about it HERE.

(8) Bus change

The College has been notified by the bus company that there will be some changes to the Z24 bus service in 2024. Parents/guardians of students who catch the Z24 bus are being asked to please fill out the Google form below and the College will be in contact with you with further information.

(9) Uniform Shop

The Bob Stewart Uniform Shop in Croydon is now taking appointments as families prepare for the 2024 academic year. Please see the flyer below for details. Parents and students are also welcome to attend the store without an appointment.

Please note that there is a new sports jacket which will be available for sale from December. There will be a three-year transition period for our current sports jacket.

(10) Instrumental Music scholarships

Mrs Sharon Flint
Music department Secretary

MLMC is now officially open to take all 2024 Instrumental Music Scholarship audition applications. The Music department encourages any student in Years 7 to Year 11 interested in learning an instrument and currently enrolled at MLMC to apply for a 2024 Instrumental Music Scholarship. Students do not need have to been enrolled into the 2023 Instrumental Music program to apply.

Parents/guardians must email me at sflint@mlmc.vic.edu.au to receive a shared Google form to apply. This application form must be filled in online along with attaching two (2) contrast music pieces. Once the application form is complete, it should be uploaded and sent to me by 4.00pm Wednesday 22 November 2023. No face-to-face auditions will be held. All applicants will be informed by mid-December 2023 whether they are successful or not in receiving a 2024 Instrumental Music Scholarship. The Music department wishes our students all the best of luck with their auditions.

Over the last fortnight, the College community was involved in two fundraising endeavours — Samaritan’s Purse’s ‘Operation Christmas Child’ shoebox appeal and Catholic Mission’s Socktober.

As a College community, we packed over 50 boxes and raised hundreds of dollars for Timor Leste.

During Socktober (23-27 October), students decorated socks and wore them with pride for a gold coin donation on Friday 27 October — Crazy Sock Day.

Thank you for everybody’s charitable involvement.

The more that you read,
the more things you will know.
The more that you learn,
the more places you’ll go.
— Dr Seuss

The 2023 annual MLMC Reading Extravaganza challenged students to read daily over a period of eight weeks, between the middle of Term 3 and the beginning of Term 4. In Year 7, 139 students were signed up to the Reading 4 Me Google Classroom page. In Year 8, 46 students were signed up to the Classroom page and in Year 9 there were 32 students signed up.

Congratulations to the top students at each year level who received a teen gift voucher valued between $80 and $30 for their efforts. In addition, students also received canteen vouchers for each book review written.

Well done to:

• Inara D — read 62 days and submitted three book reviews
• Abby S — read 62 days and submitted one book review
• Milla K — 55 days and submitted two book reviews
• Abi M —read 54 days and submitted one book review
• Jasmine R — read 53 days and submitted two book reviews
• Mahalia C — 46 days and submitted 10 book reviews
• Catarina O — 42 days and submitted two book reviews.

The College is pleased to announce that an International Study Tour to Europe is being planned for September 2024.

The tour will run from 15 September to 6 October 2024, and will begin with a two-day Mercy program in Dublin. This program will provide an immersive experience into the Mercy heritage, from its humble beginnings in Baggot Street, Dublin, to the worldwide impact of the Mercy order today.

The tour then moves to Italy and offers an enriching experience for students, as they will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Italian culture and language. Students will visit some of Italy's most iconic cities, including Rome, Florence, and Venice, where they will learn about Italian history, art, and architecture. They will also have the opportunity to practice their Italian language skills with locals and other students on the tour. There may even be some time to indulge in some wonderful gelato.

Although the final itinerary is still being finalised we anticipate the cost to be around $8500 each. This includes flights, accommodation, transportation, activities, and most meals. This is only a rough estimation as the cost of flights and accommodation in Italy continue to rise. Other factors such as the number of students attending also plays a part in the fluctuation of price.

The tour is limited to 24 students. Those studying Italian in Years 10, 11 or 12 in 2024 will be given first priority. Remaining positions will then be offered to students in Year 10 and 11 in 2024.

Expressions of interest for the September 2024 Dublin-Italy Study Tour can be made by completing the Google Form HERE. More information will then be forwarded to you about the itinerary and an information evening.

(1) Student Achievements

Running
Congratulations to Brigitte R (Year 10 Orange), who competed in the Victorian All School Athletics Championships recently. She finished second (by a second) in the 1500m. She will next compete in the 3000m for the Australian trials.

Brigitte finished eighth at the Australian Cross Country Championships in August, representing Victoria in the women’s 16 and under 4000m event to finish in a time of 14.40 minutes.

Well done also to Katherine H (Year 10 Gold) who ran the 12km event at the Roller Coaster run in the Dandenongs last weekend. She finished fourth in her age group (under 22 as a 15-year-old) on a course with approximately 400m of elevation.

Cricket
Luke I (Year 9 Jade) scored 151 runs for the Kilsyth Second XI recently. It followed a knock of 76 not out the previous week. He also scored a century in the under 16s last week. Well done, Luke!

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

(2) EISM results

Year 9 — Round 3 (19 October)

Year 9 — Round 4 (26 October)

The Year 7 Classroom Instrumental Music program has continued in Term 4, introducing the woodwind and brass instruments to our Semester 2 cohort.

As part of the Year 7 Music curriculum, students have the opportunity to learn a woodwind or brass instrument for the semester under specialist instrumental tuition. Pictured above are students from 7 Orange during their classroom Music lesson — Jack W, Jacob G, Diesel R, Nate E, Brodie M and Alex K.

For those students who have shown an interest in taking up the instrument at Year 8, group lessons and ensemble participation will be offered. Parents and guardians are encouraged to please contact me directly if your son or daughter has expressed interest in continuing Instrumental Music lessons on flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet or trombone.

The Music department also congratulates our second-year VCE VET Music Performance students on their preparation and effort in the lead-up to their final solo recitals, which were held on Saturday 21 October. Pictured are VET students from MLMC Taj R (far right) and Schemaiah P, along with Caitlyn H (Upper Yarra Hills Secondary College) and Thomas M (Lilydale High School).

Instrumental Music scholarships are now open. Details on how students can apply are in the For parents — Information and reminders article in today's newsletter.  

On Monday 23 October 2023, the Year 10 Applied Industry and Entrepreneurship class ran a stall. We were required to create our own products for the stall. Each group made their own brands and promotional material for the products they designed. We all took turns manning the stall. We sold lolly sticks, DIY hot chocolate jars, marshmallow-fairy floss-ice cream cones, DIY tie dye kits, DIY picture frames, DIY puff paint socks and mug hampers. By the end of the assessment, we all learnt promotional skills, teamwork skills and financial skills. As a result of the teamwork required, we as a class became closer in our groups.

Our Year 10 Agriculture, Horticulture and Viticulture students in Semester 1 and 2 have been involved in the various stages of the winemaking process. This semester, students have spent a significant amount of time caring for the vineyard. They have been pruning, removing unwanted shoots and monitoring the plant growth.

They have also been involved in learning about the bottling of the wine made earlier this year. We were fortunate to have the guidance of Dr Andrea Roberts-Davison from Melbourne Polytechnic join us again as the students learned about the process. On Thursday 26 October, the students worked together to clean the bottles before purging them with gas, filling them and then corking and capping.

A huge thank you to our McAuley Park Farm staff and Science support staff for all their assistance on the day.

We are thrilled to share the exciting adventures of our Year 10 Outdoor Education students who had their Surf Camp to Queenscliff and Torquay on 19-20 October. This trip saw our students embracing the power of the ocean, as they participated in snorkelling, surfing, and sea kayaking. The students' enthusiasm and energy were truly infectious, and they represented the College with terrific behaviour.

We extend our thanks to the staff who accompanied our students, ensuring their safety and guiding them through this fantastic learning experience. Equally, we want to thank our students for their enthusiastic participation, making this Surf Camp an unforgettable, educational, and enjoyable adventure. We are proud of their accomplishments.

Below are some student reflections about their experiences:

I felt that the camp was a very good experience, as me and my family don’t go down to coastal areas very often, so being able to snorkel and surf was amazing. But the sea kayaking was a very different experience, as I have not done anything like that before. We had a blast, even though we got smashed by waves consistently, this made sure that we constantly communicated to try and stay on the kayak.
— Noah G (Year 10 Gold)

What an amazing camp, travelling to Queenscliff for a great opportunity to snorkel with seals. Snorkelling with the seals was an experience I never thought we would have. The struggles some people had with the wet suits made many giggle. After lunch and a walk around Queenscliff we set off to Torquay, where we set up our tents. While waiting for the other group we went for a swim at the surf beach. As the sun went down, we all started to get ready for the dinner that the teachers had made us. There was another early morning ahead, as we jumped back into the wet suits and geared up to catch some waves on a kayak. After having lunch, our last camp activity was surfing. What another amazing experience. We learned how to catch a wave and have fun.
— Isabellah C (Year 10 Jade)

We all had an amazing time at Surf Camp being able to participate in many activities like snorkelling with seals and seeing lots of amazing marine life up close. I learned how to equalise pressure when duck diving under water. Later we went for a swim because the weather was too good to be wasted. We went swimming at Torquay. On our last day we went out in the sea in sea kayaks, smashing through waves and catching some waves, with some of us being capsized and flipped over by the waves. After kayaking, we met with the surf instructors and had a quick surfing lesson on the shore, then some general safety and out we went to the water, with everyone catching waves and surfing. I had a great time with all my friends.
— Remy C (Year 10 Orange)

Most people on the camp had not done snorkelling, sea kayaking and surfing before. Those who had, had not done it for a long time. The Surf Camp was also a way to test our skills and knowledge gained from theory in class, such as the coastal assignment, and lessons in the pool at Monbulk. I learnt how to properly surf with a surfboard.
— Ashton E (Year 10 Bronze)

My highlight was sea kayaking. It was quite simple to understand and was really fun hitting the waves. The funniest part was when Remy and I tried to catch a wave and it dunked us and threw us over, and the kayak went with the wave so we had to swim to get it. The surf instructors helped me by pushing me with the wave and directed me when to stand up. It was one of the best school camps I've done and I would definitely recommend it to others.
— Max M (Year 10 Green)

My highlight was snorkelling with the seals at Queenscliff. We were extremely lucky with the weather the entire trip. Our instructor, Nae, taught us how to safely dive backwards off the boat and showed us a few different species of marine life, including a sea star. The seals were amazing to swim with and we were encouraged to duck dive around them so they would play with us. I found the camp very enjoyable and my experiences are something I will never forget.
— Brooke T (Year 10 White)

To commemorate our much loved and admired Deputy Principal Mark Prest, who commenced at the College in 1996 and became Deputy Principal in 1997, the College Executive has named an annual award for an ‘educationalist’ in his honour.

Mark had a deep love for his God and was passionate educator who had a deep sense of the school community. He listened, accepted and embraced all the people he found in his life. Mark demonstrated strength during his own battle with illness and throughout his life he was willing to be a ‘shelter in a storm’ for others. He was a deep thinker and came to believe strongly in the stewardship model of leadership.

Below you will find a nomination form for the 2023 Mark Prest Award, which will be presented at our Night of Excellence on Tuesday 12 December 2023 to the staff member (teacher or non-teacher) who most exemplifies our Mercy education philosophies, values and spirit. Each staff member can only win this award once. Staff members can be nominated by parents, students, other staff, or community members. Please consider this process.

The award is presented annually to a staff member (teacher or non-teacher) who most exemplifies Mark’s educational philosophy and witness as judged by the following criteria which embody the spirit of Mark as an educator. It is expected that the recipient of this award will reflect many of these characteristics.

Mark:

• had a passionate respect for the dignity of each person
• set a public example of integrity, love, commitment and awareness each day
• showed empathy and concern for the welfare of others
• had a healthy sense of tolerance, acceptance and openness
• fostered genuine, honest, authentic, compassionate and just relationships
• was filled with the excitement of teaching or supporting teaching
• was a courageous and committed learner
• aspired to and encouraged excellence
• encouraged a love of learning in others
  
• was willing to take risks and learn from experience
• believed that teaching and learning mattered
• fostered a strong climate of community involving students, teachers and parents
• had a sense of civic responsibility and pride
• contributed to the social and spiritual environment of the school.

The selection of the winner will be made by a panel which includes Principal Mr Philip Morison, an Advisory Council Member, two staff members and one student (a student leader).

Nominate by visiting HERE to fill out a nomination form. Nominations close on Friday 10 November 2023.

Previous winners of the Mark Prest Award are:

On Friday 27 October, staff at the College celebrated World Teachers’ Day. I thought it would be nice to acknowledge the teachers and other staff who continue to work at the College. Without them and the dedication that they have, MLMC would not be what it is today.

In its infancy, the first staff at Mount Lilydale were the Sisters of Mercy. Due to Australia’s multicultural immigration program after the Second World War there came a diversification of the Catholic population in Australia. Interestingly the Immigration Minister who had presided over this era was Arthur Calwell, whose sibling, Sister Mary Julian, actually taught at the College. As a result, the school started to see an influx of students with Italian, Maltese and Dutch backgrounds, increasing the number of students attending the College.

At the same time there was a steep decline in the number of Australians joining religious orders, creating a staffing crisis in Catholic schools. This significant issue pushed the ‘state aid’ debate into the limelight and the College began to see, for the first time, significant funding from State and Federal governments in the 1960s. This then made it possible to appoint more lay teachers to assist the Sisters at the College.

A few lay teachers had worked at the College, most notably Mrs Gwen Moriarty, but in the mid-1960s their numbers increased. Heather Caswell, a teacher during this time, remembers the number of Sisters available to teach was decreasing and more lay teachers were employed. She also recalls the Sisters looking after her children at the Convent while she taught. Her children — Jim (OC 1977), Sally (OC 1980), Elizabeth (OC 1981), Kathleen (OC 1984) and Bernadette (OC 1988) — were all educated at the College.

Other lay teachers in this era were Mrs Nancy Beatty, Mrs Kenwright, who taught Maths, Mrs Prescott, the Science teacher, and History teacher Mr George Fredrickson. Within 10 years there would be 36 lay teachers at the school. Now, in 2023, of a staff of more than 200 there are no Sisters of Mercy employed, just lay staff.

Of course, the teachers mentioned here are only a few of those that have served at the College over its 127 years. To all those staff, we say thank you!

Pictured above: staff photo from 1973.

We hope you can join us on Sunday 12 November 2023 to gather as a community in the College Chapel from 2.00pm to remember our dearly departed.

Everyone is welcome to join us. 

Please RSVP using the link for catering purposes: https://ow.ly/kjjc50PZYsK