As we approach the occasion of Easter, it is essential to reflect on the profound messages this holy celebration imparts on us. Easter is not merely a day of festivity; it is a cornerstone of the Christian faith, carrying with it themes of renewal, redemption, and hope.

At the heart of Easter lies the story of Jesus Christ's resurrection, which serves as a beacon of hope for believers around the world. This event symbolises the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and life over death. It reminds us that even in our darkest moments, there is always the promise of a new dawn.

One of the central messages of Easter is that of renewal. Just as Jesus emerged from the tomb to new life, Easter encourages us to reflect on our own lives and seek renewal within ourselves. It is a time to let go of past mistakes, reconcile with others, and embrace the opportunity for personal growth and spiritual transformation.

As members of the Catholic community, we are called to embody the values of Easter in our daily lives. We are called to be beacons of hope in a world often plagued by despair, to extend a hand of kindness to those in need, and to spread love and compassion wherever we go. By living out these values, we honour the true meaning of Easter and fulfill our mission as disciples of Christ.

At the Easter Mass on Tuesday morning, I spoke to the students and staff about renewal:

I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the theme of renewal and its significance in our lives. Just as spring brings forth new life and growth, Easter serves as a powerful reminder of the potential for renewal and transformation that resides within each of us.

Easter is a time of rebirth, a time when we celebrate the triumph of hope over despair, light over darkness, and life over death. It is a time to embrace the opportunity for spiritual, emotional, and personal renewal, as we reflect on the lessons of the past and look forward to the promise of the future.

In the spirit of Easter, I encourage each of you to embrace the opportunity for renewal in your own lives.

Here are a few examples of what renewal might look like:

Self-reflection and growth: take this time to engage in self-reflection. Consider areas of your life where you would like to grow and improve, whether it's academically, personally, or spiritually. Set goals for yourself and take steps towards achieving them.

Forgiveness and healing: Easter reminds us of the power of forgiveness and reconciliation. If there are relationships in your life that are in need of healing, consider extending forgiveness and reaching out to mend those connections. Embrace the opportunity to let go of grudges and embrace peace.

Embracing change: change is inevitable, but it can also be a source of renewal and growth. Be open to new experiences, opportunities, and perspectives. Embrace change as a chance to learn, evolve, and become the best version of yourself.

Spreading kindness and love: Easter is a time to celebrate love and compassion. Take this opportunity to spread kindness to those around you, whether it's through simple acts of generosity, words of encouragement, or lending a helping hand to those in need.

Cultivating gratitude: take a moment to count your blessings and express gratitude for the abundance in your life. Cultivate a spirit of thankfulness for the people, experiences, and opportunities that enrich your journey.

As we celebrate Easter, may you find inspiration, hope, and joy in the journey ahead. Remember that each new day brings with it the opportunity for growth, transformation, and renewal.

During this Easter season, let us come together as a community to celebrate the messages of renewal, redemption, and hope that this holiday brings. May the spirit of Easter fill our hearts with joy, our minds with wisdom, and our souls with peace.

Wishing you a blessed Easter filled with love, peace, and the promise of renewal.

Over the last two weeks there have been a number of College events and below I have touched on a few of them.

On Monday 25 March, the College’s Athletics Carnival was held. Congratulations to all the students who participated. The Athletics Carnival offered a range of events, ensuring that all students had the opportunity to participate regardless of their skill level. This event promotes a sense of belonging and encourages students to explore and challenge themselves in new activities. The Athletics Carnival plays a crucial role in promoting physical health, fostering teamwork and sportsmanship, developing skills, nurturing personal growth, and building a strong sense of community. You can read more about the Athletics Carnival and take a look at some photos from the day HERE.

The first Community Forum Group meeting of the year was held recently and a number of items were discussed. The group looked at the School Review Report that was completed late last year and made some suggestions based on the recommendations for the College strategic plan for the next four years.

Year 9 Camp was held at Trafalgar East last week and it provided our students with a chance to challenge themselves and work with others within Year 9. Students seemed to have enjoyed themselves and I thank staff who assisted at the camp for the week. You can read more about the Year 9 Camp HERE.

I remind parents, guardians and students that the first day of Term 2 is Monday 15 April.

In the Spirit of Catherine,

God bless

Adam Skoczylas
Executive Deputy Principal

Alleluia, alleluia! This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. Alleluia! 

Blessings for a wonderful Easter. May this joyous liturgical season be a source of strength and hope for all. Let us celebrate the Risen Christ and strive to live as his witnesses in our daily lives.

God of Compassion
Be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation.
In their loneliness, be their consolation;
in their anxiety, be their hope;
in their darkness, be their light;
Your light is the only light we need as we travel through life's mystery.
Your word the only voice we hear
that still small voice that leads us to the place where we should be.
Your presence is the only company we need as we walk this narrow road.
Your fellowship the warmth we crave to help us on our way.
May the truth of Easter the joy of Easter and the blessings of Easter be with us this day and all days.
Amen

Adapted from Joyce Rupp www.faithandworship.com

Dates

• Thursday 28 March — Term 1 concludes 2.30pm
• Friday 29 March — Good Friday public holiday
• Sunday 31 March — Easter Sunday public holiday
• Monday 1 April — Easter Monday public holiday
• Tuesday 2 April-Friday 5 April — College Office open 8.00am-4.00pm
• Friday 5 April — College Office closes for school holidays at 4.00pm
• Monday 15 April — Term 2 commences (College Office opens at 8.00am)
• Friday 19 April — MLMC Old Collegians' Association outdoor cinema event

Social media awareness

Social media can be a wonderful tool for connection, but it's important for students to understand the importance of online safety and responsible use. With the upcoming holidays and potential for increased screen time, we would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the importance of ‘stranger danger’ in the digital world.

We encourage you to have open conversations with your child about:

• Privacy settings: encourage them to adjust privacy settings to limit who can see their posts and who can contact them
• Stranger danger: explain the importance of not adding or interacting online with people they don't know
• Cyberbullying: discuss the importance of kindness and respect online, and what to do if they encounter cyberbullying.

Identifying inappropriate content

Should you ever have concerns about content on your child's electronic device, it's important to save the content (screenshot, photo, etc.) and contact your local police station for advice. They are best equipped to guide you on how to proceed and can offer support.

We are committed to providing a safe and positive learning environment for all students. Working together, we can ensure that our children are using technology responsibly and safely.

Thank you for your continued partnership.

Uniform. Uniform. Uniform.

Term 2 means the return of our winter uniform. Please use the school holidays to have items cleaned and altered so that there is no need for staff to engage in conversations that should not need to be had. Please do not place the responsibility of your child wearing the correct uniform on the College. As parents, you play a vital role in ensuring your child wears the correct school uniform as it instills discipline, teaches responsibility, and fosters a sense of belonging. By ensuring the College uniform policies are met, you help prepare your children for the expectations of the academic and professional world while promoting a conducive learning environment.

Parents and guardians are also reminded that hats are not required during Terms 2 and 3.

Year 10 Northern Territory trips

Parents and guardians of Year 10 students are reminded about the exciting Year 10 trip opportunities we have on offer this year: Yulara to Darwin and Darwin to Kakadu.

We are inviting all Year 10 students to express their interest in joining one of these trips by completing a short Google form.

The closing date for Expressions of Interest is Wednesday 17 April (the first week of Term 2).

For more information and to access the Google form, please refer to the letter sent via Compass last week.

Wellbeing information

Mrs Tina Tasiopoulos
School Wellbeing Coordinator

Everyone's experience of an eating disorder or body image issue is unique and access to care and support is essential. The Butterfly Foundation is a national organisation that offers resources and support to individuals, parents/carers and educators. The message that is promoted is to accept our bodies more, be body kind, practice self-compassion and compare less by focusing on function over appearance.

The national helpline (phone 1800 33 4673 8.00am-midnight, seven days a week) provides free confidential phone, email and web support and referral.

The Butterfly Foundation has shared an important resource regarding raising body kind teens. Please see the flyer below.

Quarry Road oval was a sea of colour as our students began to filter onto the ground in their costumes inspired by their House colours on Monday 25 March for the annual College Athletics Carnival. Our Year 12 student in particular got into the spirit, donning their costumes proudly as they participated in a range of events throughout the day.

The day officially began with a Welcome to Country and story by Wurundjeri man Darren Wandin, accompanied by a smoking ceremony which our House Prefects had the opportunity to take part in. Our Sports Prefects, Josh B and Amy W, also read the Athlete's Oath to kick off the festivities.

Throughout the day students participated in a range of track and field events, as well as participation events such as giant chess, ball games, and traditional First Nations activities. Participation this year was at an all-time high, evidenced by the number of events we ran in comparison to previous years. House spirit was abundant throughout the day, with students cheering on participants in races, creating an encouraging and positive atmosphere.

The day ended as it always does with our relays, epitomised by the staff versus students race, where the staff reigned victorious.

As always, days like this are made possible by many hands, and we would like to extend a thank you to the following people for their hard work on the day:

• all staff who ran events, supervised and encouraged our students on the day
• the Parents and Friends’ Association and the Catherine's Cafe crew for providing food and drinks to keep our athletes ready to compete
• the Grounds and Maintenance team for assisting with the 'heavy lifting' and the setting up of Quarry Road oval for the day
• Sports Coordinator Ms Danni Webb for being the backbone of the day — it simply wouldn't happen without her and everything she does to ensure the day is a success
• all of our students, particularly our Sports and House Prefects, for giving the day their all!

The final scores for the day were:

1st Frayne 4043 points
2nd Car 3926 points
3rd Terry Dunn 3485 points
4th Maguire 3219 points
5th O'Neill 3203 points
6th Ryan 3136 points.

Well done, Frayne House!

Year 9s embarked on an unforgettable journey at the Summit Outdoor Adventure Park in Trafalgar East last week (8-22 March). Over three days and two nights, our students embraced challenges, conquered fears, and forged bonds that will endure beyond muddy laundry and bleary eyes.

The camp was more than just a recreational getaway; it was a platform for personal triumphs. Targets were met, stretches reached, and some even surpassed super-stretches they never thought possible. From conquering the giant swing and monster run to navigating team-building exercises, every moment was a testament to their resilience and determination.

Below are some student reflections of the experience:

Year 9 camp at 'The Summit' provided an extraordinary opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. It instilled in each of us the invaluable mindset of embracing challenges with a 'I can' attitude, and encouraged us to seize every opportunity with enthusiasm. My heartfelt appreciation goes to the dedicated staff who generously dedicated their time to enrich our experience. If you're contemplating whether to attend or not, I wholeheartedly recommend taking the leap — it's an experience you won't want to miss.
— Ezekiel V (Year 9 White)

Year 9 Camp was such a great experience. It allowed us to get to know each other better and learn how to be resilient and work as a team. I loved all the activities, even though there were ones I found more challenging. These activities were designed to push us out of our comfort zone. My favourite parts were the mud run and the cave. Overall, Camp was so much fun and is a memory I will never forget.
— Olivia M (Year 9 Green)

Year 9 Camp was a very fun experience and was so much more than I expected. I got to spend time with all my friends, meet new teachers and challenge myself in many different ways. Doing the leap of faith was the most challenging for me, but after it was done it was my proudest moment of the camp.
— Mikayla R (Year 9 Orange)

Year 9 Camp at The Summit was an amazing experience. I had so much fun getting to know my classmates, being able to challenge myself with my fear of heights and just being able to have fun. My favourite activities were the flying fox and the leap of faith where I was able to go upside down on the bar. I also really got to know my classmates.
— Inara D (Year 9 Bronze)

Camp was a great time. I was able to show my skills and my courage. The giant swing was one of my favourite things on camp. I remember doing the leap of faith and how scared I was but I did it away. In the Snowy River challenge I remember getting stuck up on the big blue wall but a girl in my class helped me get down.
— Lincoln B (Year 9 Orange)

Year 10 Outdoor Education is a great opportunity for students to learn about, and engage with, the environment. Term 1 sees students investigate various coastal habitats, analyse different people and groups that use the coast and develop opinions on how to best care for the beaches so many of us use regularly, particularly throughout the summer.

The highlight for most students is the two-day camp to the surf coast, starting in Queenscliff with a snorkelling experience in Port Phillip Bay before heading to Torquay to spend some time in the waves. This year’s camp, held on 14-15 March, started with an early morning surf, followed by a beach carnival that put students through their paces in a variety of events.

I thank the staff for giving up their time to make this camp possible, and to the students who enjoyed the camp, experienced a range of activities that many would not otherwise have done, and for the way they represented the College. Each group we interacted with, and also members of the general public, commented on the students' positive behaviour and manners.

Here are some student reflections of their experiences:

For me, the highlight of camp was when we got up really early and went surfing. It was a really nice morning for surfing because the weather was good and so was the water. It was also cool to watch the sun come up.
— Tyler B (Year 10 Silver)

My highlight from camp was our experience with a ray during snorkelling at Chinaman’s Hat. A small group of maybe five of us all put our heads under to swim back to the group and a large, old ray was directly underneath us. We all screamed and tried to evade the ray, even though it had lost its stinger and was completely harmless. I really enjoyed camp and thought it was a great and positive experience.
— Liv C (Year 10 Gold)

Camp was fun for many reasons such as the fun activities and getting to spend more time with my friends. Even on the long bus rides I was with my friends so it was entertaining.
— Hayden F (Year 10 Orange)

On the first day, we snorkelled at Pope's Eye with heaps of fish and birdlife, as well as swimming with seals at their protected reserve, called Chinaman’s hat. The second day we learnt how to surf in Torquay and participated in a beach carnival. I learnt how to surf and do awesome tricks at the beach. I also learnt how to duck dive and snorkel around marine life like seals, gannets, and kelp! Cooking dinner with my mates and going for a walk along the beach was also really cool.
— Blake S (Year 10 Orange)

My highlight of camp was definitely watching the sunrise while surfing. I was surprised when I got up on the board and rode a wave so that was for sure my favourite part of camp. I had a great time at camp and I really enjoyed spending time with my friends and doing something outside of my comfort zone.
— Henry F (Year 10 White)

Other than the sleeping (on mats), I absolutely loved camp and all the activities we got to do.
— Darcy V (Year 10 Silver)

My highlight of camp was 100% watching the sunrise on the beach while we were surfing. It was really hard waking up so early but so worth it. Another highlight was the second snorkelling site where I got to see the massive stingray. I was a bit nervous at the start but once I was there and with my friends I was okay.
— Bree W (Year 10 Purple)

On Monday, the College celebrated its annual Athletics Carnival, with students vying for House points in track and field events as well as other games and activities. Recently I discovered a book that was very unassuming. On opening the book, I found a wonderful piece of our College’s history — very detailed Mount Lilydale College sports records from 1965.

The book has great detail, telling us the Sports Captain and House Sports Captain of the time. It was also very interesting to note that the Houses then were called Coolock, Goretti, McAuley (pictured above) and Loretto. On further inspection, I found the 1965 Inter House Sports Program. The 1965 event was held on Sunday 26 September at the Croydon Monastery Oval. The program has the listed events that students participated in, many of which are ones our students participated in on Monday. Another discovery was the measurements of the races. They used the British Imperial System, as the metric system was only introduced at the beginning of 1965 (see images in the gallery below).

In the spirit of Catherine McAuley, who said “God does not look at the action but at the spirit motivating it,” the students had a great day of participation.

The Sports Record book and cup are displayed in our Archives. Members of our community are invited to visit us and view our Archives on a Wednesday. Contact us via email to archives@mlmc.vic.edu.au in advance to take up this opportunity.

Our Year 10 STEM Catalyst program students have had an engaging start to the year by developing their knowledge and skills in electronics and robotics. They have been fortunate to attend Yarra Ranges Tech School (YRTS) each Wednesday and build their understanding of VEX robotics.

The group have been constructing the robots, learning to code them, and they are now starting to prepare for a school challenge in Term 2. They are also designing specific modifications to their robots to ensure they can perform a series of required tasks.

We are excited to see our students grow in their understanding and learn together as teams as they take on this project. They are working towards taking part in future VEX competitions. Thank you to the wonderful YRTS staff who have facilitated the sessions for these students.

On Friday 15 March, as a College community we celebrated St Patrick’s Day. St Patrick is both the patron saint of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the parish of Lilydale on which the grounds of our College are situated. We did this by having a casual dress day for a gold coin donation, a bake sale and a pancake sale two days prior to St Patrick’s Day (Sunday 17 March).

Many of our Ministry students in Years 10, 11, and 12 were a key part of making the day a success. They were busy throughout recess and lunchtime selling baked goods in the Ministry Lounge, or cooking and selling pancakes in Catherine’s Way.

Competitions to ‘flip a pancake’ (using beanbags and egg flips) and tossing a coin to win chocolate were also held to raise money, with all funds going to our Project Compassion appeal.

Below are some of the reflections from Ministry students who took part:

I felt useful and I was a bit nervous, but after starting to sell the nerves settled. I am glad that I volunteered and it gives me the courage to do it in the future.

I enjoyed doing this. It was a fun new experience to serve people at the Ministry Lounge bake sale. I'm glad I did this as it was a little bit out of my comfort zone.

I was happy to take part in the running and preparation for St Patrick's Day as it is an enjoyable day where we raise money for a good cause.

I was excited to be part of the College community’s efforts and to help raise money to help people in need. Serving my peers and other members of the College was a nice experience and I got to interact with some new people.

The Equipping School is an intensive formation experience that inspires, trains and resources youth, young adults and ministry leaders for the mission of the Catholic Church. On Friday 22 March, a number of students from the Catholic Schools Youth Ministry International (CSYMI) classes attended this program at Australian Catholic University (ACU) in Melbourne. Students had the opportunity to listen to keynote speakers, engage in discussion groups, have time for quiet reflection and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as well as receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation.

Below are reflections from three of the Year 12 students who took part:

The Youth Ministry Equipping School program was a good experience. Throughout the day different aspects of faith were explored. We reflected on how as Catholics we can express our faith in both a knowledgeable and practical way, to help strengthen the faith of others, and display the teachings of Jesus, and God’s word in our daily actions. This allowed me to take the time to really reflect on where I currently stand with my faith, and in what ways I intend to strengthen my faith and relationship with God throughout my life.
— Rosanna C (Year 12 Orange)

The Equipping School program was a great experience. It was lovely meeting like-minded people from other schools and listening to the Youth Ministers talk and run activities for us to do. The day taught us a lot about our faith by showing us different views with the help of the group activities. One thing I have taken away from this is that everyone is at different stages of their faith journey, but eventually everyone will find their way to God.
— Lucy H (Year 12 Purple)

The Equipping School was an experience worth going to. It allowed me to understand how the community worked and introduced me to different perspectives. Talking and meeting new people let me learn more about CSYMI and allowed for new relationships to form. Not only did I meet new people, but it allowed me to strengthen my relationship with God and aid me with my spiritual journey. A takeaway I have gained from this experience is that we don't have to rush into anything, God will always be there for us.
— Aksa M (Year 12 Jade)

Throughout Term 1 the Year 10 Biology and Agricultural Science students have undertaken duties to care for the grape vines in the McAuley Park Farm. This year the harvest day arrived in mid-March and our staff and students were excited to be part of a great day of applied learning.

Our College is fortunate to again be working with and receiving the support and guidance of Dr Andrea Roberts-Davison, who is a Viticulture and Winemaking lecturer at the Melbourne Polytechnic. Dr Roberts-Davison was able to join us on the harvest day along with one of her students, Callum Rutherford. They are pictured below with some of our students in the vineyard. They both shared interesting insights into the process of viticulture and winemaking with our students.

Below is a reflection from Year 10 students Tennille P (Year 10 Red) and Portia R (Year 10 Blue):

Our Year 10 Biology and Agricultural Science classes harvested the grapes in our vineyard on Tuesday 19 March to start turning them into wine. With the help of ‘Dr Rob’ (Dr Andrea Roberts-Davison) and the many teachers, we completed the task in only one day. In our previous Biology and Agriculture classes we were taught many techniques and what the process of making wine is. We learned how the plant grows and how to produce the highest quality wine from the grapes. We tested the pH and sugar levels to determine when to harvest the grapes and what we needed to add to the mixture. We had to run many tests during the ripening process of the grapes and learned how to taste and look for the perfect grapes to use. The harvest day was a fun and exciting experience. We experienced the process first-hand which added to our knowledge of the winemaking process and what work is involved in the industry.

(1) Athletics

Well done to all students who participated in events at the House Athletics Carnival on Monday. Students will be notified in the first week of the holidays if they have been selected to represent the College at the upcoming EISM Athletics Carnival, which will be held on Monday 22 April at Lakeside Stadium.

You can read more about the Athletics Carnival HERE.

(2) Student Achievements

Tennis

Congratulations to Rachael R (Year 11 Orange) on winning the Under 17 girls' singles championship at the Wycheproof Labour Day tennis tournament.

(3) Old Collegians Achievements

Well done to Olympic bobsledder Bree Walker (OC 2010) who recently won the monobob event at the IBSF World Cup.

We love hearing about student achievements! If you have any, please send them to dwebb@mlmc.vic.edu.au

(4) EISM results

Year 8 (19 March)

Year 8 (26 March)

Seniors (27 March)

VCE Unit 3 Agriculture and Horticulture students have been on excursion to Mont De Lancey farm in Wandin hunting for dung beetles, which are valuable for sustainable farming. Two of the students write about the experience below:

The adventurous VCE Agriculture class explored the ‘poop’ular school farm in Wandin. Despite the high heat in the morning, the class soldiered on and took on the big task of searching for dung beetles. Once arriving at the farm, they were off to a ‘rolling’ start finding evidence of dung beetles present faster than you can say dung-to-dung. The heat really kicked in but the class was dedicated to finding all the crap they possibly could. Other than finding loads of dung, the class was able to learn about the benefits of dung beetles on a farm and what their presence looks like. You really can’t ‘beet’ a day like this!
— Lachlan P (Year 11 Orange)

It was a warm Wednesday morning when the Agriculture and Horticulture class took a quick trip to the Mont De Lancey farm in Wandin. With our hats on we all participated in the search for dung beetles. The dung beetles were dug deep into the dung. At the end of the excursion, we had gathered a total of six dung beetles. These beetles are very beneficial for our environment as they decrease the chances of invasive fly breeding.
— Stella B (Year 12 Jade)

Mount Lilydale Mercy College Old Collegians' Association is hosting a FREE outdoor cinema event — come and join us and watch the classic film, Back to the Future.

This is a free event for the College community to come together and enjoy a night under the stars.

The event will be held at Mount Lilydale Mercy College on Friday 19 April, starting at 5.00pm and concluding at 8.30pm.

There will be a barbecue, snacks and drinks to purchase on the evening. Please bring your own chairs, picnic rugs, bean bags and blankets.

Please register your interest to attend by clicking HERE or visit trybooking.com/CPGHU