Dear members of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community,

It is winter, and it is two degrees celsius outside as I sit and write to you this morning. It is cold and foggy, but I know the fog will clear and the day to come will be a fine clear day with blue skies and it will be a day to be enjoyed. In the coming weeks the grey sky will come and with it the much-needed rain, but they too will pass. Why do I use the weather so much in my introductions, I can hear you asking, and the answer to that question is simple. Weather provides us a continuing lesson of life, cycles and new beginnings. It may also be, of course, that 11 years living in regional Victoria taught me how important the weather cycle is to our farmers.

Pentecost Sunday

Last weekend saw the celebration of a different cycle within our Church. Last weekend we celebrated Pentecost Sunday, which many believe to be the beginning or birth of our Church. Pentecost, meaning 50th, ends the Easter cycle of seven weeks of seven nights. Pentecost is, of course, the celebration of the Holy Spirit, both the Holy Spirit itself and the gifts or powers of the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel of John, after the Resurrection and the Ascension, Jesus joins with the disciples, offers them peace and offers them the Holy Spirit. You may well prefer the story in the Acts of the Apostles, whereby the disciples were cowering in a room, feeling alone and scared, when a roaring wind appeared and tongues of flame settled above them. They were full of the Spirit and empowered to do the work that was necessary and that they were called to do. A new beginning, as it were.

Year 7-10 students return

In the next week, we return to full-time, face-to-face classroom teaching and the remote learning model will cease. Next Tuesday, some 1500 students and 180 staff will enter the College grounds and this, too, will in many ways be a new beginning. It cannot be the same as it was when the students left some 11 weeks ago. It will — and must be — different and we must have learnt from the experience. Firstly, the physical environment of the College will have changed with the refurbishment of the Sinnott Building well underway and the covered veranda and walkway completed at the rear of the Power Building Quad.

The students, too, will have changed and have been changed by this experience. Some students will have thrived in the remote learning experience, having liked the isolation and the opportunity to concentrate on school work without the distraction of social engagement. Such students may have some reservations about returning. Other students may have struggled with the remote learning experience and fallen behind in their work as they seek the social engagement of friends. Such students may be looking forward to seeing friends, but fearful they have fallen behind academically. There will be a range of emotions on returning after such a long time away.

Safety guidelines

The COVID-19 pandemic itself will continue to cause mixed emotions and perhaps provide other challenges as we all return. Is it really safe? The Federal Government has continued to state that it is safe for students to attend school and that the risk of transmission is very low. While schools have been made exempt from social distancing guidelines, we still must do everything possible to minimise risk. On returning, students will see a range of measures that are in place to help reduce the possibility of spread of the virus, should someone be found to positive. These include:

• Change in canteen arrangements
• Change in locker arrangements
• Provision of hand sanitiser
• Change in classroom seating arrangements
• Use of bubble taps
• A very detailed cleaning regime
• Some teachers deemed to be at high risk will continue to teach from home until the end of Term 2
• And various other measures.

All of this is simply not enough. Although students are not required to observe social distancing, I ask parents to have conversations with their children as we seek to implement social distancing as much as is possible within a school setting. I know students will be keen and excited to see friends, but we ask the following of them:

• Avoid all physical contact, especially no hugging, kissing or handshaking
• Try to maintain a separation of 1.5m where possible
• Wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soapy water whenever possible
• Use the hand sanitiser provided, but do not waste it
• Never cough or sneeze in the open air. Use tissues, which should immediately be discarded, or cough or sneeze into your elbow
• If sick in anyway, students must stay at home.

If any student within the College is exposed to someone who has tested positive to COVID-19, please inform me at the College via my Personal Assistant Mrs Kathy Broadbent on 9237 1301 or via email to principal@mlmc.vic.edu.au

Welcome

Here at the College we are doing everything possible to ensure a smooth transition to a new beginning. In considering new beginnings, with a return to on-campus learning, we welcome the Buansing family in Teresa (Year 8 Purple) and Donbosco (Year 7 Silver), who join us from Myanmar. I know you will join me in making them welcome in our community.

Personal Pars

We also have families that experienced loss of loved ones during the time of social isolation and these families remain in our prayers. Lynette Smark, grandmother to Kirra and Ebony (Year 12), Jordan (2015) and Corey (2016), passed away after a short illness this past Tuesday. Let us pray for the repose of the soul of Lynette and may she, along with all the faithfully departed, rest in peace.

Lord,
In the midst of winter, when the days are cold and wind can pierce
Remind us of the warmth of your love.
In the midst of winter, when days are short, dawn comes late, and dusk arrives early
Remind us that in the darkness your light still shines.
In the midst of winter, when the flowers of spring still lie hidden in the earth, when leaves are off the trees, and the world can seem bleak
Remind us that in you there is hope.
And when in our lives we feel as if we are experiencing a season of winter, reach out to us with the power of your love so that we may feel your warmth and see your light that alone can take away the darkness of our soul.
Amen

We are tremendously proud of our Barak students who have carried themselves so well as they have transitioned back from ‘remote’ to ‘onsite’ learning. Teachers and staff have in the space of two weeks redesigned a term’s curriculum (with the possibility of ‘isolation’ continuing further into the year) and provided ongoing remote learning and care for students during the first eight weeks of Term 2. And, now, we are back onsite — and there is excitement (and of course, a little trepidation with current events) as we have all returned ‘up on the Hill’ together.

We have enjoyed hearing positive stories and examples of how some students would like for us to continue some elements and activities with our onsite delivery of lessons and assessment. But, we also know that some students have struggled with remote learning — whether due to accessibility issues or maintaining the discipline of attending each lesson and completing classwork and assessment. We encourage students to not feel any undue pressure to get ‘up to speed’ quickly. Our amazing teachers understand that after this last season, students will need understanding and encouragement as we all reconnect, reestablish and reengage.

Reconnect — A key strength of our MLMC community is how we value relationships, which will be instrumental as we move both physically and relationally (students and teachers!) from being isolated by ourselves to being back on-campus surrounded by hundreds — learning to share the space together, sharing conversations and discussions, sharing study together and sharing care for each other.

Reestablish — Helping students reestablish their pathway plans, goals and aspirations. For many the interruption of coronavirus-isolation, and trying to process events locally and worldwide may have been extremely difficult without having the normal support-structures in place to share concerns, questions, and fears. This includes those questions on every young person’s mind about ‘What would I like to do with my future?’ and ‘What do I need to get there?’. It can be very hard to plan for ‘our next step’ when that possible path is interrupted by such extraordinary events and circumstances. We encourage our students to have conversations with their family members about recent weeks. This includes conversations about pathway-plans they have had in the past and, after recent events, have they changed. Do they need to identify new goals, or reestablish old ones?

Reengage — Students are taking the opportunity from being back onsite to build on the learning and work they did remotely. This includes using new methods, skills and tools to deepen understanding as they explore topics and their significance; embedding study habits and techniques for more effective preparation with assessment activities. Significantly, many students have tangibly-expressed their appreciation and value of what they experience in their ‘normal’ learning environment.

I want to personally acknowledge and affirm the incredible work and care given to students by the Barak Leadership Team of Mrs Janet Barr, Mr Tim Thompson, Mr Neal Haining, Miss Simone Esmonde, Mr Andrew Leaumont, Miss Rachel Berka and Barak Campus Learning Advisor Mrs Tamara Rundle. As we continue to plan and deliver new timelines around new dates for exams and other end-of-year activities, we will, of course, keep both students and families updated as we progress — and we thank you for your trust, patience and understanding.

Key dates

• Monday 8 June – Queen’s birthday public holiday
• Tuesday 9 June – return to College for on-site learning for Year 7-10 students (remote learning ceases). Information regarding the return to school has been emailed to parents and guardians and is also available on the Parent Portal.
• Friday 19 June – student free day (Staff Professional Development)
• Friday 26 June – Term 2 ends
• Tuesday 14 July – Term 3 begins

New drop-off/pick-up zone

To help alleviate the drop-off/pick-up traffic problems in the main driveway, we have negotiated a change of conditions in The Eyrie — the west side (left as you drive towards the gate) of The Eyrie will now be a two-minute drop-off zone. While the signage hasn't been changed yet, the council has assured us this will take effect immediately and no fines will be issued — even in the interim until the signs are changed.

IT update

To prevent auto-login robots from hacking into our community members’ accounts, our IT Department has provided additional security for the Community Portal. Community members will now have to click on the “I’m not a robot” captcha and answer the reCAPTCHA question before being able to login.

Second Hand Uniform Shop

During Term 2 the Second Hand Uniform Shop is open by appointment only. Please contact Mrs Bernie Snell via email to bsnell@mlmc.vic.edu.au to arrange a suitable time.

“Whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” — 2 Corinthians 9:6

The Year 12 students of 2019 were inspired by the words of College Principal Mr Philip Morison at his opening address to them, likening Year 12 to the growth of a daffodil bulb. To signify this, the 2019 Year 12 students gifted 200 daffodil bulbs to be planted adjacent to the Mercy Learning Centre.

In his speech at the 2019 Graduation ceremony, Mr Morison again spoke of the ‘daffodil principle’, saying “success and beauty are not created instantly, but rather a whole sequence of connected single events over a long period of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort we, too, will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We, too, can change the world”.

The metaphor of planting a garden, one bulb at a time throughout the year and enjoying the bounty that spring subsequently brings, was a consistent theme in 2019 and the image fitted so beautifully with the journey our year 12 students had taken.

Last week, our College Captains and a group of Prefects joined Mikayla Byrne and Darcy Hamilton (who are now on staff but part of that 2019 Year 12 class) in planting daffodil bulbs. Mr Morison and Assistant Level Leader Mr Tim Thompson were also there.

The daffodils will serve as a visual reminder to all of us, that if we plant a seed and nurture it to the best of our ability, it will reward us in the long run.

College gardeners Rosie and Mick Fitzgerald were on hand to help out with the planting of 200 gigantic star daffodils. The daffodils will be in full bloom in about six weeks — we can only imagine the glorious sight that awaits us.

With our Year 7-10 students about to return to the College for the resumption of onsite learning, it is timely to remind everyone in our College community that the College is working on a creative project. The ‘Living and Surviving A Pandemic’ project will see a range of creative pieces and artefacts from this lived experience brought together as one collection, with potential for an exhibition.

Members of our community can remember their isolation experience by sharing videos, music, performance, art collages, drawings or paintings, journal entries, poetry, narratives and more. You could write about your remote learning experience, interview family members, or write about how you think life will look in the future.

The attached flyer provides a long list of prompts to get you started or maybe you could work together with your family. No artistic skills are required.

Take a photo or send a brief description of your contribution and email it to counsellingwellbeingteam@mlmc.vic.edu.au. Items can be brought to the College next week and left at the office of Counselling and Wellbeing Coordinator Mrs Tina Tasiopoulos.

Vinnies Winter Appeal

As we enter the winter season, we begin to focus on our annual Vinnies Winter Appeal which will run from 4 June to 17 June. Throughout the next few weeks we will be collecting goods for those in need and less fortunate than ourselves. We have assigned particular goods to each year level to ensure we have a balance of what is needed. Please refer to the poster for details. However, if you cannot contribute what you have been assigned, please feel free to donate other goods on the list.

Alongside the collection for Vinnies, we select a year level to collect goods for the McAuley Women's Refuge to create well-needed packs for residents and their families at the organisation. McAuley House supports women and their families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in their journey towards recovery and independence by providing accommodation, meals and support. In a unique residential setting, McAuley House offers women a safe community in which to live while they regain their health and wellbeing and rebuild their family and community connections.This year we have chosen our Year 10 students to donate goods to the McAuley House, as our Year 10 CSYMA students will be raising awareness of this great cause and facilitating the collection.

Vinnies Winter Sleepout

Each year a group of students and teachers take part in the Vinnies Sleep Out by spending the night in the quad area of Power Building to raise funds and awareness for the homeless. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, this year we are planning the Sleep Out as a family event and are encouraging everyone in our community to get on board and plan something with your family or a small friendship group or even on an individual basis. Information has been uploaded to the Parent Portal and the CSYMA students have put together a short promotional video HERE

We hope as many people in our community can support these important initiatives.

Although the College was unable to celebrate National Reconciliation Week in its usual fashion, we were able to raise awareness of this very important event. Our daily prayers for the past week were on the theme of reconciliation and the Ministry website featured articles and a PowerPoint presentation prepared by the Year 11 CSYMA students.

Staff and students were invited to participate in the end of National Reconciliation Week Liturgy, some attending the chapel while others were part of it via Google meet. A classroom was also set up with a live streaming of this event.

The Year 12 CSYMA students prepared and led a beautiful liturgy with prayers, readings and reflections on the 2020 theme ‘In this Together’. Fr Dean Bradbury concluded the ceremony with a special blessing.

Every Friday morning at 8.00am Fr Dean Bradbury holds a Mass for the MLMC community from the College chapel. This tradition continued throughout the weeks of remote learning, with the Mass taking place via a Google meet which Fr Dean hosted.

Throughout the remainder of Term 2 Friday morning mass will continue to run this way. We warmly invite students, parents and staff to join us — the Google meet link can be found on the portals.