Dear members of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community

Welcome to Term 3 and I hope you have all returned ready for the rigours of Term 3 and a new semester. But, I do wonder how you are all going.

I am all ‘COVID-ed OUT’, as I am sure you are, as well. How is it that we find ourselves in such a position? Like you, I watch the press conferences each day knowing that the later they are in the day the worse the numbers are. What new restriction will be imposed today? Wear a mask. Get tested. Stay home if you are sick. Stay home if you are positive. One could easily be overwhelmed by it all.

It is dark outside, cold and wet, and I again I find myself reflecting on the current situation. How easy it is to become negative. How easy it is to blame the Premier of Victoria, the international travellers, the Chinese Government, the security guards. How can we remain positive and be the beacons of hope, when so many around us tempt us to look to the dark side? I understand people are scared and there is a lot of pain in the community, and that is why we are called to be people of Mercy and people of hope. Now, more than ever, we must be supportive of each other and look for the goodness in each other, which we know to be present.

Over the last week there are two things that I have read that have caused me to stop and reflect. The first is the reflection that sits next to my desk, in the hope that I read it often. I need to read it far more often. It is a prayer that I have always attributed to martyred Archbishop Oscar Romero (1917–1980) as it sums up his teaching to the people of El Salvador, but this reflection is actually an excerpt from a homily written for Cardinal Dearden by Fr Ken Untener on the occasion of the Mass for Deceased Priests, 25 October 1979. Pope Francis quoted Cardinal Dearden in his remarks to the Roman Curia on 21 December 2015. Knowing all this only makes it more beautiful and relevant to me and hopefully for you. It is this:

The Magnificent Enterprise

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent
enterprise that is God’s work. Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of
saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the Church’s mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realising that.
This enables us to do something, and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an
opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master
builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.

There are so many things to reflect upon and learn from this prayer.

As we begin Term 3 in an environment that none of us would want, in an environment that is difficult, we must accept that which we cannot change, but at the same time work for a better future. Now is the time to sow the seeds that will bring the change that create the future we want. Who was it that said “If you can dream it, you can create it”?

This applies to everything. It applies to the whole holistic education of our children. They must continue to develop and learn to improve their outcomes. Hopefully the processes instigated by the College will help and lead in this, remembering that no one can force a student to do the work or to learn. Now is the time to be working to find a solution to this pandemic. We must learn to live with it, while scientists all around the world search for a vaccine. Now is not the time to stop living in hope, remembering that the naysayer dies a thousand deaths. Fear can not allow us to move forward.

Now is the time of community, whereby we work as a collective to achieve.

This is what we have been called to do as we start this new term together. As a community we must maintain the rules about social distancing, personal hygiene, mask wearing and staying home if sick, but that does not mean we do not socially connect and support each other. Now more than ever is the time for us to be the workers and dreamers within the context of the world we live in, locally and globally.

The second thing that I read this week that made me reflect I found is another Mercy Schools newsletter and accordingly sought permission from the Principal to share it with you. The Principal quoted Mary Sullivan’s The Path of Mercy The Life of Catherine McAuley 2012 (The Catholic University of America Press):

“She (Catherine) wrote to Archbishop Murray seeking permission to offer the services of the Sisters of Mercy wherever they were needed. Daniel Murray endorsed the Baggot Street community’s willingness to assist in the epidemic, though there were only 10 of them and they were already running a shelter for dozens of homeless women.” (p116)

The Sisters worked tirelessly to support the caring of those suffering at the time. “To those she (Catherine) knew or suspected were Christian, as well as to others who said they were not, she offered hope and confidence in the mercy of a God who looked on them with compassion. The extremity of the situation called for the most thorough consolation she knew how to give: trust in the present and future love of the God in whom she believed.” (p118)

Although they worked with patients who suffered from cholera, none of the sisters got sick.

At a time of the cholera epidemic in Ireland, despite the very real possibility of death, the Sisters of Mercy, whom I suspect had no real training in nursing, went out to help those in need. They went into the hospitals to provide comfort. They had no fear for themselves.

This leads me to ask where is the Mercy in our world today and the answer is all around us. It is in the hospital workers who risk all to support those in intensive care units or in hospitals. Mercy is present at the testing stations where a large number of people risk their own health to provide a service. It is in the charities that provide food and care to those who have lost jobs. It is in the mental health workers who provide social connection. It is in all those who work in required jobs to keep our society functioning despite the fear of COVID-19.

Let us pray for all those who are sick and all those who work for them and for us. Let us pray for our students as they start this new term in uncertain times. May they find the support and hope that is much needed in their lives.

God bless

Philip A Morison
Principal

Bus companies notification 

Bus companies have asked that students do not eat food on the buses. This is to reduce additional cleaning duties and the risk of contamination from exposure to touching students’ rubbish. Buses are undergoing a deep clean every morning and night so the support from our students in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Bob Stewart MLMC Shop

Due to COVID-19, the Bob Stewart Uniform Shop at MLMC is now CLOSED until further notice. However, uniforms can be bought online HERE. When purchasing online, parents will be asked to choose if they wish to collect their order from MLMC reception (nb: this service is only available on Tuesdays from 12.30pm to 4.00pm) OR to have the order posted to their address. A text message will be sent when their order is ready for collection.

Second Hand Uniform Shop

During Term 3 the Second Hand Uniform Shop is open by appointment only. Please contact Emily Cerra at ecerra@mlmc.vic.edu.au to arrange a suitable time.

1: I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. — Psalm 34:4

2: I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. — Psalm 34:4

3: I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. — Psalm 34:4

4: I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. — Psalm 34:4

5: I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. — Psalm 34:4

6 Bold: I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. — Psalm 34:4

The following is adapted from a prayer by Sister Cynthia Serjak RSM. It is very fitting for the times we are living in. Perhaps in your homes you could focus on one aspect of this a day, reflect on it, or pray it with your family.

A Prayer for Uncertain Times

God of infinite mercy, hear our prayer!

In this time of bewilderment and fear, we ask you to give us the courage to take care of one another as Jesus did. For those who are ill, especially those who are frightened and alone, for those who cannot access healthcare, for those who are homeless and lost, hear our prayer.

In the midst of our sadness and grief, we ask you to give us words to comfort one another. For those who are dying, and for those who have already died from this virus, for those who tend them and for those with no one to tend them, hear our prayer.

In the midst of our own anxiety we ask you to give us the courage to support one another as you would. For those who are unexpectedly unemployed, for employers who share what they can, for our government and financial institutions and those who lead them, hear our prayer

In the midst of our struggle to ensure a healthy future for all who live on this planet, we ask you to give us the hope that surpasses our current understanding. For healthcare workers, spiritual leaders and our faith communities, for artists and poets, for prophets and teachers, hear our prayer

In the midst of our growing awareness that all life on Earth is connected, we ask for the heart to respect and cherish all life. That all peoples recognise that we are all your children, hear our prayer

We trust in you and your power working in us. Please hear and answer our prayers.

Amen

The Semester 1 awards were announced at the end of last term with many students achieving wonderful things despite the challenges of remote learning in Term 2. While we cannot gather as a community to celebrate achievements and success of our students, their achievements are to be applauded nonetheless.

The full list of award recipients by year level is attached. Academic and Merit awards have been distributed to students via the Parent Portal.

Recipients of Academic Awards were recognised for their:

• academic excellence
• personal organisation
• positive contribution to the learning environment
• originality and creativity
• enthusiasm for the subject.

Merit Awards were limited to a maximum of four per class awarding students who demonstrate enthusiasm to study, consistency in effort, punctuality, completion of homework, meeting task due dates and having a cooperative approach to others.

Pictured are two senior students who did exceptionally well in this round of awards, with Nadia Mattuci (Year 11 Green) receiving two Merit and five Academic awards, while Jamieson Manger (Year 12 Gold) received two Merit and three Academic awards.

Four Year 12 students received a total of five awards each. Bridget Deed received two Academic and three Merit awards, while Jasmine Maa and Molly Bollaart received five Merit awards each. Year 11 student Hardy Nagel received five Merit and two Academic awards, while 11 of the Year 11 students received a total of six awards each.

Students onsite at the College this week have embraced their new daily routine of wearing a mask (mandatory as of yesterday) and starting the day with a temperature check. College Captain Riley Swankie (pictured, above) wore his mask with pride as it was made by his nan, while fellow Year 12 student Jack Sheehan (pictured, in the gallery below) wore a brightly-coloured Dr Seuss mask thanks to his mum’s handiwork.

A group of Year 12 students also volunteered their time on Wednesday to assist in the making of masks from off-cuts in the Textiles department, learning to pin a pattern, cut and stitch material into wearable face coverings.

In accordance with the Victorian Government mandate all College students who are attending MLMC onsite for Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL), Vocational and Education Training (VET) or onsite supervision, are required to wear a face covering, including when travelling to and from school.

Further information is available via the Parent Portal.

In the final week of Term 2, the Student Representative Council (SRC) gathered for the first time -the term. Due to remote learning, our Principal Mr Philip Morison had to wait to present an SRC badge to each student representative.

Mr Morison presented the badges with the help of a green hand extension, which provided a bit of fun and ensured social distancing was maintained. The group then took the opportunity to discuss some exciting fundraising initiatives that they will launch next term.

With more remote learning for Year 7-10 students this term, the SRC will sadly be limited this year in how they are able to serve those they represent.

Some projects that are being investigated include a fundraiser for the farmers who need help feeding livestock. Unfortunately, only the senior students will be present at the College to help raise much-needed money to buy hay bales.

Ensuring a student voice is maintained in the design of the College Planner, SRC members will soon survey students at their year level to gauge what improvements can be made with the planner. The SRC will then work on designing the 2021 planner soon after.

We wish our SRC members well with the important work that they do for our community.

It’s never too early to start a conversation about careers. And while some might say a Year 7 or Year 8 student is too young to think about work, the fact is from an early age children’s assumptions about jobs are formed and they can often limit their own personal options. At MLMC we are continuously working to expose our students to a diversity of subjects and programs as well as information about careers to broaden their future choices and expand their horizons.

This year, we are excited about the launch of the MLMC Pathway Portal. The Pathway Portal was designed to give students opportunities to take on greater responsibility in decision making as they develop an academic pathway that will best cultivate their passion, skills and capabilities — to promote excellence and achieve their own success in their education and life beyond school in their future studies or careers.

The Pathway Portal details multiple student pathways through a range of learning experiences at MLMC. With the support of parents, homeroom teachers, Faculty Leaders and the Careers team, students are encouraged to examine their goals and aspirations, their strengths, their passions and the prerequisite requirements for tertiary or vocational courses as they consider which pathway is right for them. Over the coming weeks, there will be a number of opportunities to talk face-to-face or online with staff to clarify any line of student or parent inquiry.

Each family with a student in Years 8-11 would have received a letter outlining the re-enrolment and pathway selection process for 2020. Due to COVID-19, the process for subject and pathway selection has been adapted to meet our student and family needs as well as state requirements.

The MLMC Pathway Portal is accessible for students via SIMON and on PAM for parents. To date over 15,000 people have visited the site — it is wonderful to see so many students, parents and teachers enaging with the information.

This new portal will assist students with elective information before they enter their subject choices into the Web Preferences Portal. It includes:

• the Pathway Selection Parent Guide for important information on the pathway selection process
• a video tutorial, detailing the Pathway Selection and Web Preference Portal process for students which was shown during Pastoral Care this week. Parents will be able to access this video via the Pathway Portal, to help support your child’s decision making
• important dates for each stage of the process for students in Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. This year Subject Confirmation Interviews will take place online. Further details on bookings will be forthcoming.

Now, as we walk together, planning for a future yet unknown, I hope you find the process engaging, energising and exciting, simply because it is filled with possibility. Since the launch of the Pathway Portal on Monday 20 July, there has been 14,943 visits, which speaks to the optimism of students.

This year we have continued to have a group of enthusiastic students take part in our STEM Club and the High Altitude Balloon (HAB) Project, which began last year with a successful launch in October (read more about it HERE).

Under the leadership of prefects (pictured above, from left) Ryan Finette (Maths), Olivia Pettinella (Technology) and Jamieson Manger (Science) and staff members, students have been meeting for weekly lunchtime sessions to problem-solve some real-life scenarios while also working on various projects. Together, the group aims to develop their technical skills, learn to operate and understand different equipment, interpret and analyse data, develop strong teamwork skills and to put the design process into practice while considering how their work can help to make a positive difference.

Our junior STEM Club students have recently been involved in the collection of data to test some flexible solar panels invented by the CSIRO as part of a STELR project that MLMC has been involved in. They are also collecting atmospheric data to determine the changing air quality as part of the Blue Sky Zero Citizen Project run by PocketLab, which aims to find out how COVID-19 lockdowns have affected air quality and what happens to the air quality when people start returning to work.

Our senior HAB students have been involved in planning our next HAB launch. This event, supported by the Melbourne Catholic Education Office’s Science and Innovation Project Group, has again provided an excellent opportunity for learning and the building of enthusiasm in the areas of STEM. Our dedicated and passionate HAB students have been coding our old and new sensors, testing new tracking equipment, establishing their research questions and looking at new data collection techniques.

We look forward to seeing all our STEM club and HAB students back together soon.

The refurbishment of the Sinnott building and its transformation into a dedicated Visual Arts space is on track for students to move in later this month. The Principal Mr Philip Morison and Arts Faculty Leader Mr Ben Brice went through an extensive design process last year in consultation with Cirillo Architects, who also designed the new Mercy Learning Centre which sits alongside the Sinnott building.

Mr Carmelo Palamara, from Cirillo Architects, said there were many challenges involved in reinventing a building that was inititially designed in the late 1970s and built to house offices and the school library. He said “despite being over 40 years old, the building had good bones and refurbishing an old building, while challenging, has great benefits from an environmental and sustainability perspective". As for the aesthetics of the building, Mr Palamara said the use of primary colours and the vertical and horizontal shapes “spoke well to how the building was going to be used as a Visual Arts building”.

The new building has four main spaces, including junior and senior multi-purpose art rooms on the upper levels and a photography studio and dark room on the lower level. Mr Palamara said the company hopes that "this newer facility will support MLMC students with their creative thoughts and processes by working in a more creative and inspiring space”.

The recent soaking rains have been a boost for one of MLMC’s sustainability projects, with the Banjo frog garden a wonderful sanctuary for aquatic life a place for students to learn more about biodiversity.

Last August the College received a nomination in the Junior Landcare Team category for the work undertaken in creating the frog garden. The high rainfall over winter has rejuvenated the area and produced a haven for the local Banjo frogs.

Through the development of the frog garden students learnt that frogs not only require moisture and food but substantial shelter as well. As the recently introduced trees and aquatic plants mature they will provide more shade, the so the design considerations ensure that the area receives about 70% shade and 30% sun. This also enables algae to grow and the leaf litter will provide food for tadpoles in the pond.

The location of the pond, below the vineyard, has been a success, with the frogs also acting as a mosquito control measure in the area. The pond also provides erosion control as it captures and then holds water.

Mrs Cathy Pote and Mr Michael Hill were instrumental in the planning phase of the garden, while Mr Andrew Comerford and Mr Francis O’Connor regularly offered their help with some of the physical tasks in establishing the garden. VET and Agriculture and Horticulture students have also worked on the project.

The combined efforts have helped the College to complete its biodiversity module in the ResourceSmart Schools program. The free program is offered by Sustainability Victoria and it supports schools to embed sustainability across their facilities, community and curriculum, while saving resources and money.

It is planned that to provide a food source for the frogs a small solar-powered light may be installed to attract insects at night.

MLMC is committed to carrying the Landcare ethic into the future. Our SEMP plan has identified many areas of improvement within our school and the surrounding grounds. The biodiversity within the College grounds has been improved and this can be clearly seen by the images which show the investment in time, labour and passion of the whole College community in recent years.

In Semester 1, Year 10 Fashion Design students had to make a pullover top as their assessment task. Each student had to sew with purpose as they were required to incorporate sustainability considerations in the production of a fashionable top.

To follow and create an effective and attractive composition, the students had to address a principle of design and apply the design to their top. The designs chosen by the students were embroidery and stencil printing. They applied the concept of sustainability to their top by recycling a commercial pattern, choosing a natural fibre, laying the pattern on the fabric economically before cutting out, choosing and applying sustainable design and using the notions wisely.

The students began the construction process in Term 1 but due to remote learning they were unable to completed the task. When the students returned near the end of Term 2, they were encouraged and assisted to complete the construction of their tops. I felt proud to share the students’ achievements and some staff members joined in their success.

As the world’s environmental issues become more serious we need to start to change our practices and learn important skills and it is pleasing to see that the students enrolled in Fashion Design have achieved one small step in achieving this.

These students did a project on Trash to Dress during remote learning in Term 2. They had to apply the skills and concepts learnt during the remote learning period to construct a dress from trash material and the results (pictured in the gallery below) were amazing. Well done, everyone.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in the Vinnies’ Winter Sleepout at the end of Term 2 this year. The community was very generous in donating to the appeal and we raised $3160.

College students and staff have been taking part in the Winter Sleepout for many years, normally sleeping out in the quadrangle at the College. The Sleepout is held each winter to raise awareness of homelessness issues.

Staff, students and families participated in the Sleepout in many different ways this year, some choosing to use the resources prepared by the College.

Students, including Mercy and Justice prefect Melissa Mathews (pictured), were encouraged to share the experience at home with their families, sleeping on the floor or spending the cold night outside in a tent. Year 12 CSYMA students helped to prepare a short liturgy script.

Here are some of the creative ways in which people embraced this opportunity:

We started out our night by sharing a meal and beginning the liturgy after eating. We discussed the questions as a family and gave opinions and reflections involving the liturgy. Once we had organised our sleeping arrangements, we all watched the suggested movie The Blind Side together to end the night.
— Georgia Drummond (Year 12 White)

We had a basic meal outside and discussed many things to do with homelessness. We spent most of the time outside or in the tent in sleeping bags.
— Madeleine Keating (Year 11 Blue)

I did this by myself and reflected on the liturgy, before watching the movie with my family. I then slept on the floor with a blanket and no pillow.
— Ava Brown (Youth Ministry Officer)

We had a very basic meal and reflected on the liturgy. Having carried out further research into homelessness my husband, daughter and myself engaged in a discussion which enabled us to reflect more on the issue of homelessness in our society, both locally and globally.
— Mrs Mary Hicks (teacher)

Thank you to teacher Mrs Nerrida Burnham for creating and donating the Carlton Football Club blanket. All names on the donation page were put into a random generator and the lucky winner of the blanket was Mrs Hicks, whose husband has been a Carlton supporter for more than 70 years. The blanket, which takes over 100 hours to make, is just one of many footy rugs that Mrs Burnham has produced for family and friends. The blanket was presented to Mrs Hicks last week.

In addition to the Sleepout, our annual collection of non-perishable goods and toiletries was well supported. These goods will assist the Vinnies’ Conference at St Patrick’s to restock their supplies for people in need.

Thank you again, to all who have supported this great cause.

Students of parents who are essential workers recently enjoyed the rich variety of activities available at MLMC through the extended school holiday period for Year 7 to 10 students. Despite the short notice and significant changes to the start of Term 3, these students were able to enjoy activities based around the College’s farm, the Technology centre, library and our kitchens. MLMC’s staff readily and enthusiastically ensured that the students enjoyed their time in the program which engaged them and taught them new skills.

Students cared for the College’s animals and propagated plants with Mr Peter Damen on McAuley Farm and they created woven art from vine cuttings to display at the next wine launch. The students then worked with the Mr Michael Alger in the woodwork room to build possum boxes for our Sustainability group. The students also baked choc chip cookies and enjoyed playing board games in the McAuley library. On Friday, they also harvested fruit from the College’s orchard to donate to a local soup kitchen.

This was a rich and fulfilling week of activities for children of those in the community who are essential workers. MLMC stands proudly alongside this work and thanks those parents who are working tirelessly for others in the community at this time.

This semester our VCAL Intermediate Numeracy classes are conducting an applied numeracy project. This requires our students to negotiate and produce six different numeracy-based projects. They must select four from the numeracy domains (ie: number, measurement, financial, probability and statistics) and also cover the three industry phases (input, process and output).

Through these projects they learn that an 'input' is something that is needed to conduct work (eg: education, certification, tools, materials etc.), a 'process' is what the person or industry does to turn the 'input' into an 'output' which is the finished item or service. The students choose the projects based on their Structured Workplace Learning Environment or their VET studies.

This week we had VCAL Leader Mrs Kristy Brown take the students into the College’s hospitality kitchens and give them a rundown of the day-to-day operations of a cafe. We then discussed the multifaceted elements of numeracy that the students could consider. The class then broke down the activities of making a product — baking a cake — and preparing it for sale.

It was their first exposure to the project and the students were given the task of establishing an overall cost of running a facility. This could include things like licensing of the venue, the cost and time of education (hospitality certification for example), using a formula to establish volumes, costing of individual ingredients, time management and ingredient ratios, the total cost of a cake divided into slices and potential profit, budget reconciliation and cost of labour.

We were honoured to have our Deputy Principal — Learning and Teaching, Mrs Anita Kay-Taylor, attend our class and observe the work our students are doing.

In light of current events, it is wonderful that our learning environment is such that we can modify and adapt our course work to maintain the 'hands-on' approach that program prides itself on.