Dear members of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community,

Welcome to the month of June, which means we have finished the Easter season within the Liturgical season within our Church, as we talk of the 50 days of Easter which finished with the Feast of Pentecost — which many regard as the birth of our Church. June, of course, also brings the beginning of winter, which means cold, wet days, but also long, dark nights and days with grey skies. Some people struggle with what they perceive as the bleakness of the Melbourne winter. I remember driving home from Canberra last year where, although it was cold, the sky was still blue. The closer I got to home, the more grey the sky became. I really do believe Melbourne winters to be beautiful and I try to find beauty around me every day.

Each morning, when Charlie and I stand at the top of the driveway to greet students as they arrive, I try to remind them to have a happy day as it is the only one of that day they will get this week, so happy Friday to each and every one of you. It is the only Friday you will get this week, so take every opportunity to enjoy it.

(1) Social media

Last week I read an article on the ABC news pages about the state of Utah in the United States, with its stunning and famous natural landscapes. It is also known for the Sundance Film Festival. The state also has a high proportion of youth, with one in three being under the age of 18 and with larger families. What interested me is that Utah is about to introduce legislation so that no one under the age of 18 can open up a social media account without parental permission, and parents can monitor their children’s social media accounts and impose curfews. The state is doing this to try to negate the very high incidence of youth mental issues in America, which some describe as being in a crisis. They cite an American study which talks about the persistent sadness of American teens. You can read the report HERE.

A survey of 17,000 adolescents at high schools across the US in 2021 found that nearly three in five teenage girls felt persistent sadness — double the rate of boys. You can read the whole ABC article HERE.

Now, some would say that the state of Utah is over-reacting and that this could well be an invasion of the rights of young people, and that education about the dangers of social media is far more important. Prohibition only forces such issues underground

Education is certainly the key and we know that parents need to be fully involved in that education.

In today's ever-connected world, social media has become an integral part of our lives. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter offer countless opportunities for communication, self-expression, and information sharing. While social media can be a valuable tool, it's essential for us, as parents and educators to understand and address the potential dangers it poses to our children, no matter what their age.

Some research has provided me with the following thoughts which I offer to you:

(1) Cyberbullying: One of the most significant risks associated with social media is cyberbullying. The anonymity and distance provided by online platforms can embolden individuals to engage in hurtful behaviour. As parents, it's crucial for us all to educate our children about the impact of their online actions and encourage them to be kind, respectful, and supportive whenever online.

Navigating how to deal with issues such as cyberbullying can be a daunting prospect. Although the College is here to help you with issues, our influence can be limited. If you are dealing with an issue or would like to know more about how such issues are handled, the eSafety Commissioner has an information page that explains what can be reported to the eSafety Commissioner with some relevant steps to take. You can find a link to the eSafety Commissioner page HERE. This information page also has a link for making a report.

(2) Mental Health Concerns: Constant exposure to social media can lead to negative effects on our mental health. The carefully curated highlight reels of others' lives can create feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. Encourage your children to balance their online activities with offline hobbies, spending time with friends, and engaging in physical activities. Physical activity is so very important as is the benefits of team sports.

(3) Privacy and Security: Social media platforms collect vast amounts of personal information. Teach yourselves and your children about the importance of privacy settings, not sharing personal details publicly, and being cautious about accepting friend requests or engaging with strangers online. Remind everyone in your family to regularly update their passwords and be vigilant about phishing attempts and scams.

(4) Online Predators: Unfortunately, the internet is not entirely safe, and there are individuals who seek to exploit vulnerable users, especially children. Educate your children about the dangers of interacting with strangers online and encourage open communication about their online experiences. Establish rules about whom they can connect with and monitor their online activities to ensure their safety. It is a good idea to be connected to your children social pages and monitor activity with open discussion over the dinner table.

(5) Time Management and Distraction: Social media can be incredibly addictive and lead to decreased productivity and academic performance. Encourage your children to develop healthy habits by setting boundaries on screen time and promoting designated "tech-free" hours or zones. Encourage them to use social media as a tool for positive engagement, such as connecting with friends or following educational resources.

I often encourage parents not to allow blue screens in bedrooms after a certain hour, which is age dependent. Phones and computers should be charged in a public place like the kitchen bench. Dinner time could be shared over a dinner table which should be a phone free time.

(6) Inappropriate Content: Social media platforms are home to a vast array of content, not all of which is suitable for our children. Help your children understand the importance of discernment and critical thinking when consuming online content. Encourage them to report and block inappropriate material and provide guidance on filtering or blocking features available on platforms.

(7) Digital Footprint: Remind your children that what they post online can have long-lasting consequences. Potential employers often review social media profiles as part of the selection process. Encourage them to think twice before sharing or posting anything that could potentially harm long term prospects.

As parents and educators, it's crucial that we all establish open lines of communication with our children about social media. Encourage them to come to you with any concerns or issues they encounter online without fear of judgment or punishment. Be proactive in learning about the platforms they use and engage with their online experiences.

Lastly, let us remember that technology itself is not inherently good or bad. It is our responsibility as parents to guide our children and teach them to use social media responsibly and safely. By fostering open dialogue, setting boundaries, and educating our children about the potential dangers, we can empower them to navigate the digital world with confidence and wisdom.

(2) Community Forum Group (CFG)

The Community Forum Group is slowly establishing itself as an important consultation group within the College processes and I encourage parents and community members to become involved. It meets twice a term at 7.30pm and venues very much depend on numbers.

The next scheduled meeting of the CFG is Wednesday 14 June and agenda items include discussion about:

• student free days — the number of them, when and why we have them
• Year 10 2024 and moving forward
• proposed curriculum changes for Years 7 and 8.

If you would like to join the group discussion or if you would like to have something added to the agenda , please email me at principal@mlmc.vic.edu.au. Papers will be distributed via email to all attendees on the Tuesday before the meeting.

(3) Student free day

Lastly a reminder that next Thursday 15 June is a student free day as it is a Professional Practice Day for teachers to finalise the semester’s work.

(4) Term dates

A reminder that the last day of Term 2 for students is Wednesday 21 June at 3.15pm. The first day of Term 3 is Wednesday 12 July, with all year levels commencing with homeroom at 9.00am.

In the spirit of Catherine,
May you all enjoy these last weeks of term.

God bless

Philip A Morison

We should strive to keep our hearts open to the sufferings of other people, and pray continually that God may grant us that spirit of compassion which is truly the spirit of God.
— St Vincent de Paul

Heavenly Father
Thank you for all that you have provided for us,
For life, health, relationships and basic necessities.
Right now, many in our world and even in our local community are struggling
You have called us to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.
Yet so often, we look the other way.
Renew our hearts that we may show compassion to all around us.
Help us to be kind and generous and give to those in need.
Father, as we begin our Winter Appeal, help us be sensitive to the needs of others.
Help us to follow the example of your Son, Jesus to live a life worthy of our calling.
Like Catherine McAuley may we be your hands and feet here on earth.
Amen.

(1) Dates

• Monday 12 June — King’s birthday public holiday (College closed)
  
• Tuesday 13 June — Giovanne Music Recitals
• Thursday 15 June — General Achievement Test (GAT) and Staff Professional Practice Day — student free day for those students not sitting the GAT. The College Office will be closed 1.00pm-3.00pm.
• Thursday 15 June — EISM Grand Finals (more details HERE)
• Friday 16 June — Year 12 Formal
• Wednesday 21 June — end of Term 2 for students
• Thursday 22 June — College Review (student free day)
• Friday 23 June — Staff Professional Development Day (student free day)
• Friday 30 June — College Office closes 4.00pm for school holidays
• Monday 10 July — Staff Formation Day (College Office remains closed)
• Tuesday 11 July — Staff Professional Development Day (student free day)
• Wednesday 12 July — start of Term 3 for students

(2) Student privacy

In an effort to protect our students' identities in these times of increasing levels of cyber crime, we will be making a uniform change to how we acknowledge students in our newsletters and social media. Moving forward from this newsletter, students will be acknowledged with their first name and the first letter of their surname with their homeroom. For example, Celeste K (Year 8 Gold).

(3) From your School Counselling and Wellbeing Team

Parent resources this week focus on staying connected with teens:

National Reconciliation Week takes place from 27 May to 3 June and is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

This year, the theme was ‘Be a Voice for Generations’ which encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives — where we live, work and socialise.

Many activities took place during lunchtimes as well as awareness being raised in a number of classes.

Badges of Wurun leaves made by staff and students were handed out after a talk in the Ministry Lounge about their significance. Cupcakes were also baked and distributed to celebrate the week. A beautiful liturgy was written and led by Year 12 Ministry students (pictured below) and to conclude the week staff and students were invited to tie ribbons onto the chapel railings as a sign of their commitment to reconciliation.

Students also represented MLMC at the annual sports carnival held at Worawa Aboriginal College in Healesville. Read about the carnival HERE.

We are very grateful to have this experience to learn, and use the strength of courage to `Be a Voice for Generations’.

Long Walk for Reconciliation

Mr Matthew Burow

On Tuesday 30 May, during National Reconciliation Week, Thomas H (Mercy and Justice Prefect), Monique B, Natasha H, Yasmin R and Jena S represented MLMC with many other primary and secondary schools at Aquinas College for their annual Long Walk for Reconciliation March. Before going on walk through Ringwood (pictured below), students heard about the importance of solidarity from Leanne Brooke, a representative from The Long Walk Foundation.

Below are some student reflections of the event:

To be able to walk in solidarity with other local schools on reconciliation week was very special. The year 11 Aquinas students performed one of Midnight Oil’s brilliant songs, The Dead Heart. It was an honour to represent the school at Aquinas. It was a very powerful display of support for our First Peoples.
— Thomas H (Year 12 Orange)

Going to Aquinas College to participate in their Long Walk was an amazing experience. Hearing Leanne Brooke speak about her experiences was very eye opening. I’m very grateful that I got the opportunity to be a part of something so special.
— Monique B (Year 12 Orange)

My time at Aquinas College was brilliant. We, as a group, got the chance to hear from Leanne Brooke, as she shared the stories of her past and how she wishes to change racism in the future.
— Natasha H (Year 11 Red)

The Long Walk at Aquinas College was lovely. It was nice to see so many people get involved. Listening to Leanne Brooke talk about her experience with racism was very confronting and I am so glad that we got to hear her story.
— Yasmin R (Year 12 White)

I felt so proud to represent MLMC at Aquinas. It was an astounding experience to be part of taking a stance. I admire how proud Leanne Brooke was to be a Gunditjmara woman. This is something that I will remember for the rest of my life.
— Jena S (Year 11 White)

Reconciliation Shrine excursion 

Terry Hill
Humanities teacher

On Wednesday 31 May, as part of National Reconciliation Week, 15 students from Years 7 to 9, along with Deputy Principal — Learning and Teaching Mrs Anita Kay-Taylor, Humanities Faculty Learning Leader Mr John Ryan and myself attended the 14th annual ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance recognising the war service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Below are some student reflections of the experience:

The service started with the smoking ceremony, then all these people were coming up to speak about the right of respecting the Indigenous soldiers. We listened to the songs some of the people who gathered sang, including my community Yeng Gali Mullum, and finally we laid the wreaths at the eternal flame. After some food we went into the Shrine of Remembrance where we got to see the uniforms, pictures of the Indigenous soldiers, and even the crypt.
— Jesse D (Year 8 Orange)

Before the beginning of the first ceremony, a man was creating smoke from fire and leaves and branches. The smoke kept burning throughout the entire ceremony but there was a part called the smoking ceremony, where important people involved in the path to reconciliation stepped into the smoke’s path and enveloped themselves in the smoke. I found this extremely moving and respectful. Every now and then, the wind would blow the smoke in our direction and as it wafted over us, you would smell a gum leaf scent. The entire excursion was very interesting and educational but my favourite part was the smoking ceremony.
— Clara F (Year 7 Silver)

I learnt about the importance of Aboriginal culture and how significant and special it really is. I learnt about things I’ve taken for granted, and how we have this land and peace because of the brave sacrifices by Indigenous soldiers, who were not properly appreciated back at the time since they had to hide their true culture to keep our country safe. 
— Annabel S (Year 8 Silver)

The day at the Shrine was incredible. It was moving, inspirational and very educational. The smoke created a very spiritual atmosphere allowing all members of the ceremony to feel connected to the land it was held on. It was very respectful and held a significant importance on recognising the wrong and injustice that the Indigenous people have gone through and the hope for a better nation. I felt extremely honoured to have been given the chance to attend this event.
— Sienna V (Year 7 Silver)

The day at the Shrine was so much fun! It was amazing to see the Indigenous soldiers get the recognition they deserve after a long time of not recognising and appreciating their service and what they’ve done for this country. The smoking ceremony had to be one of my favourite parts of the day as it really felt like it connected us all together as one community, honouring the soldiers. I am honoured that I got this opportunity and got to do my part by respecting, appreciating and recognising the efforts made by the Indigenous soldiers.
— Olivia M (Year 8 Orange)

From Mr Michael Dale:

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the staff and students who contributed to and supported National Reconciliation Week. Your dedication, efforts, and commitment have played an essential role in fostering understanding, respect, and unity within our communities. Together, we have taken significant steps towards healing and building stronger relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Thank you for standing beside us and working towards a future of reconciliation, justice, and equality for all.

As part of National Reconciliation Week, each year Mount Lilydale Mercy College students participate in the annual Sports Carnival held at Worawa Aboriginal College in Healesville.

This year we had teams competing in both the netball and volleyball round robins and also merged with Worawa to play in the football tournament. The combined Worawa/MLMC football team took out the win on the day and Brylee Anderson was awarded with the Sportsmanship Award.

Representatives from Hawthorn’s AFLW program were also there on the day, including our own Bridget Deed (Class of 2020), who had represented MLMC at the same carnival in 2018-2019.

Well done and thank you to all staff and students who took part in this special day.

Mount Lilydale Mercy College has pathway options to suit all students with differing abilities and interests. In the first of a series of newsletter articles focusing on different industries our VCE Vocational Major students may move into in the future, we take a look at the horticulture industry.

Horticulture — the art and science of cultivating plants — has witnessed remarkable growth in recent years. For our Year 11 VCE Vocational Major students they have the opportunity to start working in their chosen field, while still being able to attend secondary school.

A typical school week looks a little different for students studying a VCE Vocational Major — previously known as the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL). Mitchell Hilston (pictured) is a Year 11 VCE VM student who attends MLMC on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Mitchell attends his core subjects of Literacy, Numeracy, Personal Development Skills, Work Related Skills and Religious Education.

On Wednesdays, Mitchell attends a local TAFE where he completes his Certificate II in Horticulture. Here he completes modules that will contribute to his full apprenticeship.

On Thursdays, Mitchell attends his structured work placement at Humphris Nursery in Mooroolbark. Mitchell is learning key skills in horticulture and proving himself as a valued team member.

Mitchell says he really enjoys his “week of school and work” and “I appreciate the support the staff show me at Humphris”.

The horticulture industry provides a multitude of career paths, allowing individuals to grow and progress in various directions. Whether you have a passion for hands-on gardening, scientific research, design, education, or entrepreneurship, the horticulture industry offers a vibrant and rewarding journey. With dedication, continuous learning, and a love for plants, you can cultivate a flourishing career in the green world of horticulture.

Stay tuned for next month's industry focus.

Students from three year levels (Years 9, 10 and 11) who are studying Italian travelled to the University of Melbourne on Tuesday 30 May to participate in the annual Dante Alighieri Poetry Competition. It was the first competition held for several years.

Named after Italy's most famous poet, this contest requires students to recite an Italian poem from memory before a judge, after which they are allocated grades and prizes. The competition combines a good memory with language-specific skills such as pronunciation, clarity and fluency, and public speaking.

Of course, we couldn't go all the way to Carlton without also taking a tour of Lygon Street, also known as Melbourne's Little Italy, for an Italian meal as a group.

The annual National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) is an immersion program for Australian students about to enter Year 12. The program involves visiting science research groups and facilities from a range of areas and industries to experience ground-breaking research that is being done in Australia.

Earlier this year, Max B (Year 12 Silver) took part in the 2023 NYSF and we congratulate Max on his successful selection and participation in this wonderful opportunity. Well done, Max!

Below Max writes about the NYWF experience:

Attending the NYSF was a great experience that allowed me to explore potential career options in STEM. Over the course of the program we explored areas from additive manufacturing (3D printing) to quantum computing and everything in between. The program really allowed me to explore my options and helped me get more of an idea for what I want to do when I finish Year 12.

I also got to meet new people in my constellation group along with participating in fantastic activities run by the student staff. We solved difficult riddles, made amazing zoom and ran a talent show. Also, between events we had time for social activities such as scavenger hunts and cupcake decorating.

Overall NYSF was a fantastic experience and I hope any MLMC students taking part in the future have just as great a time.

The NYSF Year 12 program will run two summer sessions in 2024, with participants staying at university colleges. The 2024 dates and locations are Australian National University in Canberra (5-13 January 2024) and the University of Queensland in Brisbane (12-20 January 2024).

This program is supported by the Rotary Club, who may offer some financial support. Students interested in taking part can read more about it via the link HERE or speak with your VCE Science teacher or myself.

Excursions are a big part of any school, as they allow the students to see, explore and discover many things in their subject areas or other interests. At the College, excursions have varied and included many different activities. Let’s take a look back at some of the excursions from the 1920s.

As part of the school year, the Sisters regularly took their students on special outings. Sometimes they were excursions close by, walks around the hills or, on occasions, Sister Martha would take the Geography students in the phaeton Melba had given them to investigate the nearby Yarra River.

Many were to pleasant places easy to get to from the train, such as the zoo or the Botanic Gardens, while others were quite impressive. One former student, Margaret Williamson (Class of 1922), recalled: “We went as a group from the school to see the great ballet dancer Pavlova; she danced the ‘the dying swan’. We also went to see the Australian pianist Percy Grainger.”

It was also common for the Sisters to take the girls on picnics, once again to scenic spots close to a railway station, such as Mt Evelyn or Warburton. On one particular picnic to Ferntree Gully there was a dramatic moment when “two girls espied a large black snake and tackled it with only a small stick. The reptile almost escaped down a hole, but the girls forced it out and eventually dispatched it”.

Pictured above: College students on a picnic locally, 1925.

The Debutante Ball — the event that the students had been thinking about and trying to organise since Year 7. There were 87 couples who participated in this year’s MLMC Debutante Balls, held over three nights — Saturday 20, Friday 26 and Saturday 27 May. This year the Debutante Balls were held at a new venue, Cathies Lane Receptions in Wantirna. The change in venue was made to allow more guests to attend and provide a shorter commute for more people.

The debutantes and their partners were presented to College Principal Mr Philip Morison on each night while a small biography was read out about them. After the presentation, the couples took to the dancefloor to present the four dance routines which they had been rehearsing. Thank you to Cathy, Lucio and Jordan from Sassi Dance Studios who patiently worked with the students to teach them the routines. They all did an excellent job!

A big thank you to Mr Peter Ruscitti from Trevor Dudley’s Menswear, who provided the suits. Everyone looked very smart.

The events were made a lot easier with the assistance from volunteers from the Parents and Friends’ Association — Old Collegian Mrs Annette Preston and her daughters Shae (Class of 2021) and Ella (Class of 2022) as well as Mrs Sharon Daly — who helped the students with their preparations at the venue.

Thank you also to all staff members and members of the Executive Board who attended across the three evenings.

The Year 11 Level Leaders, Mrs Maree Prusac and Mr Thomas Warren, played a significant role in the preparation and organisation of this event and did an exceptional job.

The balls were a great success and could not have proceeded without the support of all the participants' families and friends and everyone who attended to watch the debutantes and their partners be presented.

Below are student reflections of the event:

The Debutante Ball was absolutely perfect. The night was beautiful, the dances, although difficult to learn were extremely fun and the planning put into the night made it perfect. I had always dreamed of doing my Deb Ball and it couldn't have gone any better. This night helped me connect with my peers and having my friends and family there watching me on my special night made it a memory I will never forget.
— Sienna F (Year 11 Silver)

The Debutante Ball was truly amazing, and I am grateful for everyone who helped organise it. Everyone looked beautiful and it is a night I know we will all cherish forever.
— Jena S (Year 11 White)

Public speaking is something that many people find terrifying and debating is certainly not for the faint of heart, yet this is what our brave students do each time they compete in the Debating Association of Victoria competition. On Wednesday 7 June, we were so proud of our C Grade debaters who tackled a secret topic for the very first time — competing against Ringwood Secondary College on the topic of ‘Cooking lessons should be compulsory in high schools’.

Terenja B (Year 10 Silver), Shiloh T (Year 10 Silver) and Bonnie E (Year 10 Red) rose to the occasion and navigated their nerves to present the negative case and were aided in their preparation by Jessica G (Year 10 Silver) and Ethan F (Year 10 Silver). While the team was defeated, I am so impressed by the students’ dedication and their improvements throughout the season.

The second debate of the evening featured our D Grade debaters challenging Tintern Grammar over the topic of whether ‘the age of retirement should be raised’. This is their first season in the debating competition and they were nothing short of impressive. MLMC achieved a confident win and all three speakers were awarded incredibly high scores. Zeke V (Year 8 Blue) and Ace W (Year 8 Silver) tied for Best Speaker honours, while Pippa H (Year 8 White) was a close second. They have worked hard and, under the tutelage of Mrs Beata Clark, were thrilled to be described as “the best D Grade team” that the adjudicator had ever seen.

Congratulations to all debaters and good luck for the next round!

For the 2023 Visual Arts Education Week, held 30 May-2 June, I prepared four one-hour lunchtime workshops for students in all year levels to participate in. In each workshop, I talked for 10 minutes about the medium, techniques and processes to be used, showing examples or my own artwork when necessary. The students experimented themselves on specific worksheets and they had terrific results.

Gouache workshop
Gouache is a unique opaque watercolour paint. It's the basis of my Year 12 Folio and this was an opportunity for me to help gouache become more known and popular. I introduced the students to the work of online artist Ruth Wilshaw, who runs free workshops and courses on gouache, for their future learning.

Acrylic still life workshop
Students painted still lifes, applying what they had learned about tones. They learned the most interesting still lifes are often stylised, rather than realistic.

Art therapy workshop
Students had the opportunity to use gouache again (due to the massive turnout of the gouache workshop). I spoke about why art therapy is underrated and the types of therapy available. The purpose was to set students up with the tools and knowledge to continue their own art therapy at home. I picked the best art therapy exercises from a book written by an art therapist and students got to pick from 20 different independent exercises, with individual and very different goals.

Colour pencil workshop
Students experimented with new materials for blending and layering using colour pencils, including using copic markers for bold layering and rubbing alcohol to blend.

(1) Year 9 EISM Grand Finals

Congratulations to the following teams who have secured a place in the EISM Grand Finals.

• Girls basketball A — State Basketball Centre
• Boys basketball A — State Basketball Centre
• Boys basketball B —State Basketball Centre
• Boys Ultimate Frisbee — Luther College
• Girls Softball — Waverley Softball
• Boys Soccer — Mount Scopus
• Girls Badminton — venue TBA.

The Grand Finals will be held on Thursday 15 June (a student free day). Students are encouraged to let their coach know if they are unable to attend.

(2) EISM Champions Athletics

Congratulations to the following placegetters at the recent EISM Champions Athletics Carnival:

• Ebony Tucker — Under 15 high jump bronze
• George Lyons — Under 14 shot put silver
• Brigitte Rice — Open 1500m gold, Under 16 400m bronze, Under 16 800m gold
• Kyan Ellis — Open 1500m bronze
• Aiden Nash — Under 16 high jump gold
• Melissa Musilli — Under 13 400m bronze, Under 13 800m gold
• Olivia Vanderkolk — Under 14 high jump gold
• Louisa Inglese — Open 400m silver
• Jeremy Green — Open 400m silver
• Emmerson Newbery — Under 14 long jump bronze
• Jesse McDonald — Under 15 shot put silver
• Tom Elvin — Open high jump bronze
• Emily Fielder — Under 13 100m silver, Under 13 200m gold, Under 13 high jump gold, Under 13 long jump bronze
• Summer Caldicott — Under 13 shot put bronze
• Katie Harrison — Under 14 discus bronze
• Jack O’Connell — Open shot put bronze
• Under 13 Girls 4 x 100m relay (Melissa Musilli, Charlotte Stuart, Emily Fiedler and Chenoa Twomey) silver
• Under 15 Girls 4 x 100m relay (Sasha Maggs, Ebony Tucker, Alannah Finn and Eden Farrer) bronze.

(3) Cross country training

Training has started for the cross country running season. It is being held on Monday afternoons (3.30-4.30pm) and Wednesday mornings (7.00-8.00am). Students should meet at the Doyle Centre. Training is held to improve students’ running and fitness levels and everyone is welcome, with breakfast provided on Wednesdays. Students should see me in the Doyle Centre or email me at dwebb@mlmc.vic.edu.au for more details.

(4) Victorian College Basketball Championships

Congratulations to all students who have been selected and competed at the Victorian College Championships over the past month.

The Junior Boys team (pictured above) finished top of the ladder and won the Grand Final, winning five games in total. The team qualified for the Victorian College Championships finals tournament, to be played on Tuesday 13 June.

The Junior Girls finished third, having won two games for the day.

The Intermediate Boys finished second on the ladder, reaching the semi-finals before being knocked out.

The Intermediate Girls (pictured below) finished top of the ladder, won their Grand Final and qualified for the finals day. Unfortunately, this day clashed with their EISM semi-final and they were unable to play.

Our Senior Boys finished first on the ladder, but unfortunately lost the Grand Final by a small margin.

The Senior Girls finished second on the ladder and were also beaten in the Grand Final.

It has been an extremely successful series of tournaments for MLMC students, who consistently displayed sportsmanship, maturity and a high level of skill throughout. Thank you to all students involved, to the parents for their continued support and encouragement, and a huge thank you to the staff for coaching various teams. 

(5) Student Achievements

Football
Congratulations to Cam Nyko (Year 12 White) who has been selected in the Under 18 Vic Metro squad. Playing in the national Under 18 championships is a huge stepping stone on the way to the AFL Draft for the elite young footballers in the country.

Congratulations also to Archie Spencer (Year 9 Gold) and Brylee Anderson (Year 9 Jade) who each were named in the Victorian 15-and-under school teams and will compete in the national championships in Ballarat during the July school holidays. Brylee was also named in the Vic Country under-16 basketball team. You can read about her sporting achievements in a recent Star Mail newspaper article HERE.

Ultimate frisbee
Congratulations to Livv Gardeniers (Year 12 Green), Louisa Inglese (Year 12 Green), Alice McCormick (Year 12 Jade), Amy Wicks (Year 11 Silver), Kate Wicks (Year 11 Red), Aiden Nash (Year 10 Green) and Josh Otto (Year 11 Blue) who have been selected in the Victorian Under 18 mixed team (Victorian Echidnas). This team will be travelling to the Gold Coast in the July school holidays to compete at the national championships. Best wishes to these students!

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

(6) EISM results

Year 8 (30 May)

Senior (31 May)

Year 9 Sport (1 June)

Year 8 (6 June)

Year 9 semi-finals (8 June)

Best players for Senior Sport (24 May) — amendment

Throughout Semester 1, students in the VCE Agriculture and Horticulture classes have been spending time learning about the revegetation of the wetlands at Quarry Road Oval.

Below student Celeste T (Year 12 Green) writes about what the class has been doing:

As Agriculture students, it’s a given that we all love being outside, so we were all very grateful to take a break from all the theory and get outside to practice what we have learned. Mr Voorzaat sent us on a mission to complete the regeneration of plant life and boost the health of the ecosystem down at Quarry Road. We carried out this task by planting a variety of shrubs, trees and bushes, using our knowledge of where particular plants should be planted in relation to the water table and the soil. It was an enjoyable experience that helped us put into action all of the valuable practical knowledge we had been given in the classroom.

Friday 2 June was the day for the Maguire House Celebration for 2023, allowing a great opportunity for students in Maguire House to come together and learn about the history of the House and the amazing role model it is named after, Mother Patrick Maguire, who was the first Principal of the College.

Students who attended also participated in a fun short quiz, answering questions regarding Maguire House, followed by a sausage sizzle afterwards.

It was great to see students from all year levels attend, talk to one another, to share with Year 7 students what the House Cup is all about and participate in the Maguire House celebration.