From the Principal

Dear members of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community

Welcome to the 2019 academic year, after what I hope was a restful family Christmas and an inspiring holiday period. The weather has certainly been varied and the heat has provided some challenges. The College has been open and operating for several weeks now and much work has been completed in that time.

I believe our students have returned to a College which continues to improve and provide better facilities, and an environment that facilitates learning. Improvements over the holiday period include:

• New path/walkway for pedestrians to Nelson Rd
• New car park on Nelson Rd for Year 12 students
• Landscaping works, including new rock walls around Centennial Hall
• Completion of Power Building roof replacement
• New carpet in Centennial Hall foyer
• New carpet in Mt St Joseph’s corridors
• New art sink in CAM 1.1
• Soundproof windows installed in CAM 1.2
• New bitumen laid around Dublin House
• New blinds fitted throughout all of the Harley Building
• Gym matting extended in the gym area under the Doyle Centre
• Re-coating of both gym floors
• Painting Our Lady of Mercy Chapel
• Refurbishment of Centennial Hall toilets
• The installation of defibrillators around school
• Switchboard upgrade in Mount St Joseph
• Re-establishment of abseil structure on the side of Centennial Hall.

While each one of these may seem insignificant, each contributes in some way to the educational environment of our College and the combined list is a substantial investment in time, money and effort. I thank our College maintenance and grounds teams for their committed effort.

Of course, the holiday period also saw significant advances in our building project, which is Stage 1 of our masterplan. Inspection this week revealed that the roof has been completed and the windows have started to be installed. We still expect the building to be handed over to us during Term 2.

2019 Theme

Each year a theme is set to help us focus on a Mercy value. The focus over the previous two years has been courage and respect respectively.

The theme for 2019 is: 'Compassion through us'. It was developed for us by our Prefect team at their induction program and is centred around the Mercy value of compassion. The Bible reference is from Ephesian 4:32 New International Version (NIV): “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

In focusing on this theme, we note that Sr Veronica Lawson rsm wrote on compassion, “In her familiar instructions, Catherine McAuley speaks of ‘things that the poor prize more highly than gold’. She lists ‘the kind word, the gentle compassionate look and the patient hearing of their sorrows.’ The gentle compassionate look came from a heart that was charged with the mercy of God.”

We look forward to exploring the ideas within these concepts together throughout the year.

Having learnt the concept of a Netflix binge over the holidays, I caught up with some TV shows which other people have long before watched and recommended to me, the main one being Filthy Rich and Homeless on SBS. It certainly helped to refocus my compassion. In fact, over the holidays we relocated our eldest son, James, to Canberra to start a job with the Australian Public Service (APS) and in walking the streets I found myself having interesting conversations with people living and begging on the streets.

College Opening Mass and Top Achievers Assembly

Yesterday, the College held the first full College assembly and Eucharist for the year. The Mass was celebrated by Fr Dean, who now regularly joins us from Pallotti College in Milgrove. The Mass saw the first informal launch of our College theme and Fr Dean’s homily certainly started our reflection on the concept of compassion.

The Top Achievers Assembly followed, with our 2018 Dux Rachel Ricciuti (ATAR 96) and the Catherine McAuley Award recipient Danielle Virgona both recognised for their achievements. They were given the opportunity to address the student body. Both delivered messages worthy of our attention.

The College further acknowledge the top achieving students for 2018 in:

• Aragorn Keuken (Music at Melbourne University)
• Hollee Mandelt (Commerce at Melbourne University)
• Grace McKee (Biomedical Science at Monash University)
• Ethan Wake (Science at Melbourne University)
• Darcey Howard-Scales (Agriculture Studies at Melbourne University)
• Erin Jones (Commerce/Arts at Monash University)
• Ana Malnar (Nursing at Deakin University)
• Lilli Totton (Commerce/Science at Monash University)
• Rachel Ricciuti (Music at Box Hill Institute).

As a College, we acknowledged and gave thanks for the success and efforts of our 2018 graduating class.

Congratulations, too, to Year 12 2018 student Ellen Glennie, who has been selected to perform in the Top Class Theatre Studies program as a part of the VCE Seasons of Excellence. The Seasons of Excellence runs over two days, on Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 March, at The Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne. You can find full details in the Top Class Drama and Theatre Studies 2019 Performer List, available for download from 11 February at www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/topclass

Black Saturday 10-Year Anniversary

As a College, we also acknowledged the 10- year anniversary of Black Saturday and recognise that many of our community were deeply affected by the tragic events of the day. We remember the dark day in Victoria’s history and pray for the 173 souls who lost their lives. We have a deep compassion for the many lives impacted by the tragic event. Compassion for those who lost loved ones. Compassion for those who lost property and livestock, and compassion for those who still suffer in the aftermath.

Flowers were blessed at our Mass and then laid at the memorial outside our Chapel. The Chapel was open at lunchtime to give all an opportunity to pray in silence.

The College Newsletter

The College Newsletter is an important source of formation and information. It is published electronically each fortnight on a Friday. Parents and families can read it from the College website. It is on the College website, under the News and Events menu at http://www.mlmc.vic.edu.au/News-Events/newsletter.html

The Parent Portal and Parent Access Module (PAM)

The Parent Portal is also a very important access point to the College. Excursion information, medical forms and individual family letters are all published via the Parent Portal. Families should become familiar with the processes to use it. The College will send an SMS to parents when there is important information to check on the Parent Portal.

We will also continue to develop our Parent Access Module (PAM) which caters for ongoing reporting, as well as semester reports, attendance tracking and access to the College calendar.

Both the Portal and PAM should have the same login details for each family. A user guide for our parent portals can be requested from our College Office if you require assistance using them.

Welcome new students

This year we welcomed a total of 264 Year 7 students to the College, all of whom were anointed with oil at the Anointing Ceremony on Thursday 31 January 2019 in Our Lady of Mercy Chapel.

7 Blue
Alannah Bird, Levi Cannata, Bailey Chandler, Kade Chippendale, Jasmine Conte, Zara Doolan, Josh Duff, Caitlin Finch, Jacob Gould, Natasha Harrison, Talisha Harrison-Nicol, Callum Hobbins, Jai Jackson, Bailey Jenkins, Tahli Lappen, Brodie Mitchell, Isaac Price, Megan Read, Teiya Sisson, Sophie Southall, Remy Stewart, Emma Violi, Jamie Ward, Liam Westlake, and Samantha White.

7 Bronze
Oscar Aquilina, Amelia Atkinson, Charlie Basset, Xavier Bechaz, Stella Beyer, Charlotte Brinkley, Avia Brown, Declan Clinton, Claire Foster, Scarlett Gales-Smith, Liam Gellert, Lucy Hobley, Will Hughes, Kinga Kaczmarek, Denisse Lopez Garza, Matt Mammoliti, Ben Maynard, Mannix McGovern, Mia Pizzuto, Tyler Rainford, Mitch Reichman, Steph Tomada, Amy Wicks, Zander Wills, Shae Yates-Fitzgerald, and Hayley Young.

7 Gold
Benjamin Bernardini, Maddison Bromley, Lily Christensen, Jake Dare, Kane Daz, Damian Fernando, Callum Garlick, Madison Garrett, Charli Gilligan, Daisy Grant, Steph Greaves, Raphael Green, Lucy Hicks, Laura Johnson, Jade Maggs, Neve O’Brien, Jack Parrott, Linken Paterson, Tyler Rooney, Cooper Rosenauer, Taj Ruta, Charlotte Toohey, Sophie Vos, Noah Vulfs, Kate Wicks, and Lily Wilson.

7 Green
Charlize Arrif, Paige Chivers, Lexi Cultrera, Harry Doyle, Brooke Emeny, Nathan Fernando, John Foran, Holly Fox, Imogen Frost, Jemma Gough, Jesse Greening, Benjamin Hendriks, Hannah Jean, Briar Keyser, Ryan Lambie, Alexander McIlfatrick, Joshua Otto, Sam Richardson, Megan Schelfhout, Ella Singer, Kayla Smith, Ally Snell, Jay Van Der Klift, Max Vukic, Erin Whitelaw, Noah Whiteside, and Beau Wilson.

7 Jade
Imogen Bergin, Mikayla Best, Aiden Blazincic, Alexander Boucher, Justin Brooks, Isaac Byrne, Jayden Calvi, Rosanna Corrone, Kaiah Dedic, Sienna Del Giudice, Nadia Geeves, Cassie Lennon, Emma Martin, Chloe Morris, Thomas Mung, Madelin Northmore, Talia Orr, Jesse Prescott, Alannah Rudan, Jena Schaak, Brodie Schubert, Rhylee Stephens, Mia Story, Ronan Taylor, Nick Ward, Alex Wheeler, and Ryder Wilson.

7 Orange
Lachlan Avery, Chloe Baker, Jeremy Bennett, Benjamin Bird, Charli Dobrigh, Luke Ferrall, Jaxon Fraser, Chiara Giudice, Archie Glenn, Joshua Greentree, Hayley Harwood, Gracie Kennedy, Emma Lambert, Joshua Lewington, Oliver Mavor, Darcy Muntz, Willow Pearce, Ashley Prasel, Aaliyah Raudino, Spencer Rolando, Mia Sattler, Cohen Schroeter, Scarlett Sorace, Sophie Starnawski, Sophie Thurgood, Basanti Vanderhyde, and Mikaylah Wyllie.

7 Purple
Lily Bartusch, Henry Burchmore, Marielle Catungal, Amelia English, Alex Gibson, Hannah Griffin, Tadhg Halion, Phoebe Hall, Joshua Handasyde, Poppy Harrison, Samuel Hewitt, Oscar Knight, Nicholas Lantouris, Riley Lowe, Grace Mathers, Hamish Murphy, Ella Murray, Ryan Nunziante, Jack O’Connell, Zacc Prentice, Megan Rieschieck, Lenni Roach, Cooper Smith, Eva Strachan, Shalina Tocci, and Eva Vulling.

7 Red
Felicia Aisea, Wil Arter, Teagan Bethune, Joshua Bourke, Tamara Burns, Monique Campbell, Savannah Coghlan, Rebecca Course, Flynt Culwick, Sienna Finger, Tyson Fitzgerald, Ryan Holloway, Kaijah Holmes, Brody Hull, Nicoleta Ignatiadis, Jordyn Kelly, Amy Langcake, Anthony Marek, Blake Morison, Sarabella Mosca, Oscar Nieuwesteeg, Jay O’Sullivan, Jack Parker, Cooper Synan, Keeley Thompson, Jake Tucker, and Gemma Williams.

7 Silver
Owen Aulich, Rory Bell, Poppy Biagini, Jadis Botterill, Ethan Condon, Oliver Corrone, Amber Damen, Marc De Iulio, Julia Devanny, Lachlan Dove, Lara Graves, Jeremy Green, Ella Hall, Thomas Harvey, Jessica Hendrie, Aaron Howlett, Damian Janssen, Lily McLean, Zinnia Mithen, Christian Phillips, Olivia Robins, Jessica Rogash, Eily Sheehan, Cameron Varone, Harrison Vranken, and Daisy Wells.

7 White
Declan Beekhof, Peter Damen, Tia De Angelis, Allison Farr, Luca Finta, Sarah Frazzetto, Phoebe Gibson, Harry Halkidis, Ella Hamilton, Mitchell Hilston, Rylan Holmes, Grace Jolly, Tyler Maggs, Katherine Mansley, Chloe Morris, Taleesha O’Kane, Grace Patterson, Samantha Peters, Riley Randall, Nathan Sims, Keira Stoll, Sienna Symons, Lincoln van Duuren, Oscar Vout, Mikayla Walpole, Violet Willemsen, and Luke Wyatt.

Staffing

At our first staff liturgy for 2019, we welcomed back a number of returning members:

• Jackie Doherty (from 12 months' leave)
• Geoff Hopkins (from leave in Semester 2)
• Jo-Anne Hopkins (from leave in Semester 2)
• Michael Modini (from leave in Term 4).

We also welcomed and commissioned a number of new staff at the liturgy:

• Carrie Baker (teacher of English)
• Zoe Bruce (teacher of Mathematics and Science)
• Daryn Corish (teacher of Mathematics)
• Luke Deery (teacher of Business Management and Humanities)
• Brigitte Ferguson (teacher of English and Theatre Studies)
• Kassidy Grant-Whiting (teacher of Japanese and Humanities)
• Timothy Mannix (teacher of English, Literature and Humanities)
• Bridgette McGinn (teacher of Religious Education, Art and Visual Communication)
• Maeghan McKenzie (teacher of Mathematics)
• Leanne Rivas Vaquerano (teacher of Mathematics)
• Stephanie Tonietto (teacher of Dance, Drama/Theatre, English and Religious Education)
• Ava Brown (Youth Ministry Officer)
• Ashleigh Clinton (Youth Ministry Officer)
• Thomas Bruckner (IT, AV and Theatre Technician).

We also welcomed three new AFL Trainees for 2019:

• Jessica Duff (Outdoor Education)
• Emily Franken (Events Management)
• Serena Gibbs (Sport).

Community Opening Mass

This year’s Community Opening Mass will be held on Wednesday 27 February 2019, at 7.30pm in the Doyle Centre. This Eucharistic celebration is an important event in the life of the College for it is the first time that we, as a complete community, come together in prayer and recognise the importance of God in our lives. At this time we will also pray for a successful year of studies for all of our students, but especially the incoming Year 7 group and the Year 12 Class of 2019. I would therefore hope and expect to see many families at this Mass.

College Advisory Council

Mount Lilydale Mercy College encourages community involvement within our College through the many activities, but one such way is through our College committee structure. Parents and community members are asked to participate in committees to ensure the College is consultative, but also to increase expertise and skills when making decisions that affect the short and long term future of the College. This year we have vacancies with:

• The College Advisory Council (one place).

If you are interested in being nominated for this committee, or know of someone who you would recommend nominating, please contact me at the College or via email at principal@mlmc.vic.edu.au.

The Parents and Friends' Association (P&F) is also vital within our College and is another avenue used for consultation. We also encourage new members to the P&F and interested parents should contact Mrs Emily Cerra on ecerra@mlmc.vic.edu.au. More information can be found in this newsletter.

Parking and dropping off students

Please remember that there is a drop-off and pick-up zone inside the main entrance. Parking is restricted in both Allison Crescent and The Eyrie. Please do not drop off or pick up students in either of these streets. Such action will cause unnecessary congestion to our neighbours. Be aware of the parking restrictions that apply in the streets adjacent to the College. Cars are not allowed to stop in sections of these streets at the usual drop-off and pick-up times. Council Officers are likely to be present to supervise these parking restrictions and drivers who stop in the NO STANDING areas are likely to be fined. Students who have a medical condition that prevents them walking should be driven into the College via the main gate and dropped off as close as possible to her/his locker.

Who should I call?

With this newsletter please find attached a Communications Guide. Hopefully it will help you when you wish to communicate with staff at the College.

Personal pars

Sadly, recent weeks have seen the passing of a number of community members — Justin Moloney, father to Tyron Galbraith (Year 9), who passed from this world on 19 January 2019, and Nathan Ree, brother to Old Collegians Christian and Mikaela, who passed on 31 January 2019.

Let us pray for the repose of the souls of Justin, Nathan and all those who perished in the Black Saturday fires 10 years ago. May they all rest in peace.

God bless
Philip A Morison
Principal