Dear members of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community
The seasons keep changing and the cycle continues to roll on and perhaps that is the point — when do we stop to reflect on the beauty around us? Whether that be the magnificent storm clouds that form over the Valley or the leaves that will soon be gently falling from our trees. We know that the seasons will continue and that no matter how bad a day you might be having today, the sun will always rise tomorrow. But do we just accept this cycle without ever thinking about it? Probably or probably not? I know having lived in rural communities for many years, amongst many different types of farmers, that the seasons are hugely important.
Is the same true in our Church?
Lent
Just as the seasons of our beautiful earth provide us with sustenance, so too the beautiful seasons of our Church provide a different kind of sustenance.
This last week saw some year levels celebrate Shrove Tuesday with the delight of pancakes. Shrove Tuesday is the last day before Lent starts and is sometimes referred to as Pancake Tuesday. Shrove is derived from the word Shrive, which refers to the preparation for Lent by the confessions of sins. Over the centuries, this day has become one of celebration, like a carnival as people gather to use up all the things that they were not going to eat during Lent.
Lent started with Ash Wednesday, which begins the 40-day preparation for Easter and the Pascal Mystery. As Catholics, we focus on trying to unite with Jesus and the time when He walked the desert for 40 days and nights fasting, praying and preparing. At our College, each year level commenced Lent by attending Ash Wednesday services, prepared and presented by our Year 10 Ministry classes. Ash Wednesday, being a day of fasting, prayer and repentance, is marked by the placement of ashes on the forehead to the words, “repent and believe in the Gospel” or more traditionally, “remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19).
Contrary to what some may say, Ash Wednesday is not remembrance observation for the Ash Wednesday of 1983, although the fires that have burnt around us these past weeks do remind us of such tragedy.
Growing up Catholic, surrounded by the Catholic tradition, the question was always asked: “What are you giving up for Lent?” and it is a question still relevant today. Why give up anything at all? Quite simply put, as Catholics we prepare for Easter by doing a range of things to help us focus on the forthcoming Easter Season — we pray, we fast (don’t overindulge and try to eat lighter meals), we abstain (from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday), we repent (focus on how we can become better Christians) and give alms (we support Caritas by donating money). Caritas is the only fundraising we support during Lent.
Having said all of the above, I am aware that many in our Church suffer and feel great pain as a result of recent events. As Catholics, we must focus on the teachings of Jesus and the many great Gospel values He espoused as we prepare to focus on His death and resurrection. Let us pray that all those who suffered as a result of any form of abuse are to find peace and that each gets the help that they need and deserve. With this newsletter, I attach a letter written by Archbishop Comensoli to Parishioners last Sunday. Please take the time to read it.
Social Justice
Last Friday the College stopped in support of our neighbours in Far North Queensland. A casual clothes fundraiser and BBQ lunch was enjoyed by all and we can say with pride that through our efforts we were able to donate $4,410 to the St Vinnies Far North Queensland Flood Appeal. Let us hope that in some small way we have helped or will help families in need at such desperate times. We will revisit this later in the year.
College Family Agreement
Over the last month I have been conducting some College tours and one of the things under discussion was the College Family Agreement, which all families sign on entering MLMC and specifically the clause that states “families agree not to miss more than two consecutive days of school for family holidays”.
The importance of this policy was highlighted to me in a recent article published in The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald written by Pallavi Singhai with the heading: “13 per cent of Australian students missing a year of school by year 10”. The article was based on a report by ACARA (Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority) and included the following points:
- 13% of Australian students are missing at least a year of school by year 10
- These students are missing at least one day of school a fortnight, they're at least a month behind per year
- That's a huge amount of content you're missing if you're missing a month of school every year and they fall further and further behind because that keeps adding up
- Across Australia, nearly 37% of all year 9 and 10 students missed at least one day a fortnight of school in 2017.
The reality is that in order for students to be successful both socially and academically at school, they need to attend. It is very difficult to maintain continuity with friendship groups and learning if attendance is sporadic. I believe it is also true that a lack of attendance by some students can impact the learning of others. Evidence clearly shows that young people who attend and gain a year 12 qualification or equivalent have better health and employment prospects across their lives, as well as higher incomes.
This is recognised by the Victorian government who in March 2014 introduced legislation which states:
- All children aged 6-17 years are required to either be enrolled at a registered school, or registered for home schooling
- School attendance is mandated under the Education Training and Reform Act 2006. It is the responsibility of parents/ carers to ensure their child regularly attends school.
I urge you to read the attached Victorian Attendance Legislation: Frequently Asked Questions for Parents and Carers document for more information.
Here at MLMC, we recognise the importance of family and that all family circumstances are different, but we also know missing school impacts greatly on educational outcomes. The expected attendance rate at all classes and especially VCE classes is 90%.
If you consider there are 40 teaching weeks across a year, if a child misses one day a fortnight then they will miss 10% of classes, which equates to four weeks of school. Over a six year period that is 24 weeks or more than a semester missed. If a child misses one day a week, that is 20% of classes or more than a year of teaching over the secondary school experience.
As a College we aim to support the development of the whole child, but in order to accomplish this, the student must turn up.
Personal Pars
Members of our community continue to suffer with the passing of loves ones. Let us remember and pray for Vivienne Kettle, grandmother to Justin Beaton (Year 8), who passed after a battle with cancer. Let us pray for the repose of Vivienne’s sole and may she, along with all the faithfully departed, rest in peace.
God bless
Philip A Morison
Principal
