Dear members of the mount Lilydale Mercy College community
Welcome to the month of November which to some is highlighted by the Spring Racing Carnival and the Melbourne Cup. Hopefully you all enjoyed the long weekend and Cup Day and that many of you were supported by Cup winner Vow and Declare.
Within the Church context November has another special significance. November is the month of Remembrance. In November, we conclude ordinary time for the liturgical year with the Feast of Christ the King on the last Sunday of the month (24 November). November is a month to remember the departed, especially on All Souls’ Day (2 November) and The Solemnity of All Saints (1 November). Thus, we take the time to reflect, remember and pray for the souls of all the faithfully departed, understanding that this process continues to help us in our healing and memory of them while petitioning for them to join with our Father in Heaven.
To this end, the Old Collegians’ Association will join together in prayer at the Annual Memorial Mass to be held at the College Chapel this weekend, Saturday 9 November at 4.00pm. Please feel free to join us on this occasion, especially given the recent passing of Old Collegians this year.
The date of 11 November is also special as we commemorate Remembrance Day. Sometimes referred to as Poppy Day, Remembrance Day is a day of memorial observed to remember all veterans of the armed forces who died in the service of their country. It is a tradition that originated in Armistice Day which highlighted the end of hostilities to World War I at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. The poppy is worn as a sign of remembrance owing to the poppies that populated the fields in France. On Monday 11 November we, as a College, will come together in prayer and to remember all such veterans.
November is also special for our graduating class of 2019 as most will finish their final exams and come together to graduate in a fortnight’s time. Let us continue to pray for our Year 12 group at this important time as they finalise their exams. It is an important time of final study, transition and a milestone that will form them for the rest of their lives. The transition from the safety net of school is an exciting time, but it is also a time of uncertainty for many. Our Year 12 cohort leave us knowing that they have been prepared for the world and knowing they have been empowered to impact upon it.
For me, personally, November 2019 is the time that I have returned from some long service leave and some five to six weeks away from our College and our community. I am grateful for the opportunity to spend time with my family and particularly my wife Jennifer as we experienced some travel together. I appreciate the support of the College Executive and staff to allow me such an opportunity and thank Ms Tanya Hutton and Mr Louis Papadimitriou for acting as Principal in my absence. I am grateful to return to our College having reflected on my absence from it.
November is also a time when students prepare to finalise their academic year. Year 11 students will enter exams soon and then start their Academic Foundation Program. Year 10 will follow with their exams, followed by Year 9 and then the final testing for Years 8 and 7. For many students this could be a time of some distress — and it should not be. Positivity by those around them, especially by parents and caregivers, will help to keep them motivated and understand that they can succeed. Motivation to succeed and accomplish is an important key. Please find below an article about the science of motivation which I read during my leave, which is taken from an article by Grace Tatter, Useable Knowledge, published 7 March, 2019, Harvard University. I hope you find it to be worthwhile.
The Science of Motivation
If students aren't motivated, learning won't happen. What’s going on in children’s brains when they’re motivated, and what’s holding them back? There are two types of motivation: approach motivation, which directs us toward a reward, and avoidance motivation, which helps us to avoid damage. Ideally, they balance each other out. Caring adults can help students develop the motivation systems that will serve them well, long into adulthood.
How to build healthy motivation in your children
Encourage curiosity and exploration. Beyond their basic needs, children are motivated by exploration, play, mastery and success. Parents can reinforce these motivations rather than being overly fearful that children will get hurt — fears that can rub off. Caring adults whom children can trust can help them figure out what to actually be afraid of and avoid.
Don’t rely on incentives. The goal is to help kids develop their own inner fire to learn. Children can stop engaging in activities once they’ve been given a tangible reward for it. Systems focused solely on external rewards and punishments are unlikely to achieve sustained, productive motivation. Positive feedback is more likely to support healthy motivation.
Remind children that success is possible. We’re unlikely to be motivated to do anything if we think it’s impossible. A growth mindset — the belief that we can change and improve through practice — enables children to get motivated.
Social interaction. From babies to adolescents, social interaction is a key to motivation, releasing natural opioids that activate the brain’s reward system. In our digital world, apps and screens can be supplements for learning, but in-person interactions remain essential.
Remember we all have different intrinsic motivators. A child intrinsically motivated to play sports might respond well to constructive criticism from a coach but another student might respond more to encouragement and get discouraged by criticism. These different motivation systems may be due to children's genes and their life experiences, and they might require different approaches to motivate them.
Despite the common misperception that some people naturally have or lack motivation, science shows that the nature of parent/child relationships and opportunities for safe exploration affect the development of these systems — for better or for worse.
The Mark Prest Award
Each year the Mark Prest Award is presented to the staff member who most exemplifies our Mercy education philosophies, values and spirit. Each staff member can only win this award once. The award winner for 2019 will be announced at the Night of Excellence on Friday 13 December. Staff members can be nominated by parents, students, other staff, or community members. If you haven't already done so, and still wish to nominate a staff member, you can do so HERE.
Personal Pars
Sadly over this past week, we at the College learned of the passing of Old Collegian Nathan Michael de Munk , son of our Business Manager Dean de Munk. Nathan was born 13.12.92 and passed from this world on 03.11.19.
Let us remember and pray for the repose of Nathan’s soul, while also praying that Dean and his family will find comfort and support in the love of the many that support them.
“Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”
