Dear members the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community

Coronavirus (COVID-19) update

What interesting times we live in. Like many of you, my mind daily is fixed on the coronavirus and the impact it is having both globally and locally. We know that the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and the Australian Government has issued precautionary warnings. In that precautionary vain, Mercy Education Limited, in considering the safest possible educational environment for both students and staff, has announced that all international trips (except those to the USA, Canada and New Zealand) are to be indefinitely postponed. Travel to or through Asia is certainly not to occur.

Further advice from Catholic Education Melbourne is that parents/guardians/carers should ensure that any child returning from mainland China (not including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) from 1 February 2020 and from Iran from 1 March 2020 is isolated at home and should not attend school until 14 days after they were last in mainland China or Iran.

The Australian Bishops Conference has written to provide advice where large groups meet for Liturgical celebrations which include:

• Holy water should be temporarily removed from stoups at the doors of churches
• When exchanging the sign of peace, individuals should avoid shaking hands but say “peace be with you” and offer a smile, wave, nod or bow
• All Ministers of Holy Communion should take particular care to wash their hands before and after distributing (appropriate means should be made available)
• Parishes should cease distributing Holy Communion from the Chalice until further notice
• The coronavirus is easily spread through saliva. It is, therefore, recommended that the Body of Christ only be administered in the hand because of the high risk of transmission if people continue to receive on the tongue. Ministers should seek to avoid contact with the communicant's hands.

All of these are extraordinary measures that portray the serious nature and the caution that should be taken. Further advice is available to you at https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert

The news services daily provide updates of new cases and even a school in New South Wales that has temporarily closed. We are also shown images of panic buying of toilet paper, rice and other essentials to the point whereby some supermarkets are imposing limits on such items. As with all colds and flus our best protection is personal hygiene.

Personal hygiene advice

Wash your hands frequently
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub (sanitiser) or wash them with soap and water. Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub (sanitiser) kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain social distancing
Maintain at least 1m (three feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Practice respiratory hygiene
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately. Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority. Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider
Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.
Protection measures for persons who are in or have recently visited (past 14 days) areas where COVID-19 is spreading:

• Follow the guidance outlined above
• Stay at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slight runny nose, until you recover. Why? Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help protect you and others from possible COVID-19 and other viruses
• If you develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Call in advance and tell your provider of any recent travel or contact with travellers
• Why? Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also help to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.

Further information: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

Community Mass

On Wednesday night the College celebrated the Community Mass whereby students, families and staff were formally welcomed to our community. This was highlighted by the graduating class of 2020 receiving their Year 12 badges, making them the senior class and the example to the rest of the student body. The Year 7 class of 2020 (the graduating class of 2025) and all new students to the College were welcomed by receiving their College badge and the word of God by way of a bible. Fr Dean Bradbury celebrated the Mass and blessed all the student leaders for 2020.

At the Community Mass, the College theme for the Year ‘We humbly act for justice’ was again highlighted. The theme was highlighted through the readings, Fr Dean’s homily and in my address given after the Mass. Here I include an extract from my keynote address:

At our College Opening College Mass I focused on three points:
To Act
To Love
To walk.

So tonight I want to focus on some other aspects of our theme, for there is much to discuss. ‘We humbly act for justice’. ‘WE’. This is an important word in our community. The College's Vision Statement clearly states and highlights this word. It means that together we act as one with common purpose and common goals supporting each other as we move. In thinking of the concept of ‘we’, I am reminded of Margaret Mead, who said “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has”.

And, again, Barak Obama, who said “change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek”.

So, if WE do humbly act for justice, then we can not wait. We together must act and it must be now. We cannot wait for the world to change for us. We must act now and change it.

The second part is humbly, or humility. This is harder to discuss, because in essence we are told it means the quality of not being proud of yourself or having a modest view of your importance. But, I prefer CS Lewis’s definition. He said “humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less”.

Herein lies the importance. Herein lies the difference. You are empowered, but hopefully not self-absorbed. No-one is asking you not to be great or to be your best. In fact, we want you to be the best version of yourself that you can be, but to consider all others in doing so.

I remember the quote by Marianne Williamson — although it is often attributed to Nelson Mandela, as he used it in his inauguration speech. The quote is this:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.”

God does not want you to be small, but to humbly use your talents for the betterment of everyone else. Use your talent to help locally and globally. Develop your gifts to serve the person sitting next to you and to serve the person on the other side of the world. And, so, we humbly act for Justice.

And, lastly, Justice. Justice is an interesting concept. Everyone wants justice — equality, fairness, rightness, but life isn’t fair. I remember my children coming home from school crying about an injustice and saying ‘it’s not fair’ and they were right. It was not. At the time I asked them ‘whoever promised you fair?’ You see, I wanted them to toughen up and become more resilient. The world is not a fair place — hard workers lose their jobs, poor families go hungry every day, people experience fire, floods and famine every day. Life is not fair. But, does it have to be that way?

But, to act for justice, can we not change it? Of course we can and we must try. Is it not possible to be a successful ethical business person? Is it not possible to be a good tradesperson, proud of your work and still be ethical? Is it not possible to be just as courteous to a homeless person as you would to the Prime Minister? Is it not possible to share with those who are in need? Is it not possible to live a life in Mercy? Of course it is.

This week on the six pillars of Mercy outside Dublin House, six small bronzes have been placed. Each has a hand and within each hand is a symbol for each of the Mercy values — Compassion, Respect, Hospitality, Service, Courage and, of course, Justice.

These are a beautiful reminder for us. To me the hands are especially significant. They remind me of the words of St Theresa of Avila:

“Christ has no body on earth now but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours; yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on the world; yours are the feet with which he walks to do good; yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world.”

So we humbly act for justice? How will you act today and tomorrow?

Mercy Education Parent Code of Conduct

Lastly I would like to remind families that Mercy Education Limited has previously published a policy entitled ‘Parent Code of Conduct’ which is available to you on the College website. You can access it HERE.

Please consider it in all dealings with the College.

God bless
Philip A Morison
Principal

Dates and events

Parents and guardians are reminded of a few key dates:

• The inaugural Family Picnic and Movie Night will be held at the College on Friday 13 March. More details HERE
• A Parent Seminar with Dr Michael Carr-Gregg will be held at the College on Thursday 19 March. More details HERE
• Tuesday 24 March is a student free day for Student Progress Interviews
• Everyone is welcome to join us for the annual MLMC Athletics Carnival, held at the Quarry Road Oval on Thursday 26 March
• Term 1 will end on Friday 27 March
• Term 2 begins on Tuesday 14 April
• The annual Taste of MLMC event will be held at the College on Wednesday 16 April. More details HERE.
  
  

Student attendance requirements and sign out process

Campus Directors Mrs Gail Preston (McAuley) and Mr Kamahl Russell (Barak)

We would like to remind all students and parents that the College has a responsibility and duty of care toward all students, and therefore need to be aware of students coming onto or leaving College-grounds. Usually, students use the Early Leaver Pass process (supported with a parent-note, which needs to be approved by a Year Level Leader) when they know in advance when they may need to leave the College early. However, we need to remind students that if this is not arranged beforehand, that they cannot simply call parents, friends or family to come and collect them. For whatever reason they need to leave early (poor health, medical appointments, etc) that they must Sign-out at Student Reception after first visiting either Year Level Leader, or First Aid (who if necessary, will contact their parents for confirmation) to seek approval. We would ask parents too, that if contacted by their child, that they direct their child to follow the correct process and not collect them until the school contacts them. If parents are required during the day to collect their child for urgent appointments we would ask that they first contact Dublin House Student Reception who will get in contact with their child and and pass on collection-details (to minimise disruption to classes).

MLMC Uniform Shop

The Bob Stewart Uniform Shop at MLMC will be open tomorrow (Saturday 7 March), from 9.30am-12.30pm. However, the shop will be closed on Monday 9 March due to the public holiday. Trading hours for the remainder of Term 1 are:

• Saturday 28 March — 9.30am-12.30pm
• Thursday 9 April (day before Good Friday) — 9.00am-2.00pm
• Tuesday 14 April (first day of Term 2) — 8.00am-4.00pm
  NB: The uniform shop will be closed on the first Saturday of April due to it falling in the middle of the school holidays.

Parent forum

A parent forum ‘Understanding Autism in young people’ will be held next term. The free event will be held on Wednesday 29 April from 7.00pm-8.30pm for parents, guardians and community members. More information will follow in the next newsletter.

Applications for enrolment — Year 7 2022

Parents of Grade 5 students are reminded that applications for Year 7 in 2022 are now being taken and will close on Friday 8 May 2020. If you are a current parent and also have a child in Grade 5, you should have recently received an email advising of our new online application portal. If you have not yet received this email, please contact College Registrar Mrs Marilyn Ryan on 9735 4022 to ensure your application is placed in a timely manner. Online applications can be submitted at https://enrol.mlmc.vic.edu.au

Time to enrol in Instrumental Music lessons

The College’s Music department is taking enrolments for Term 2 Instrumental Music lessons — in brass, drums, guitar, piano, strings, voice and woodwind. All private lessons are run during school hours. If your child is interested in joining this exciting program, please download an enrolment form from the MLMC Parent Portal or alternatively email Instrumental Music Secretary Mrs Sharon Flint at sflint@mlmc.vic.edu.au for further information. Be quick to secure a place!

As we carve out extra time to spend connecting with the Lord during Lent, let us start with gratitude. Ask Him to open your eyes to the many ways He has blessed you, even in hard seasons or difficult times. Ask Him to keep you mindful of His power and might, His love and care, His grace and mercy. Take a moment each day this month to write down the gifts He’s given you and why you’re so thankful.

Gracious God, in the busyness of my day, I sometimes forget to stop to thank you for all that is good in my life.

My blessings are many and my heart is filled with gratefulness for the gift of living, for the ability to love and be loved, for the opportunity to see the everyday wonders of creation, for sleep and water, for a mind that thinks and a body that feels.

I thank you, too, for those things in my life that are less than I would hope them to be. Things that seem challenging, unfair, or difficult. When my heart feels stretched and empty, and pools of tears form in my weary eyes, still I rejoice that you are as near to me as my next breath and that in the midst of turbulence, I am growing and learning.

In the silence of my soul, I thank you most of all for your unconditional and eternal love.
Amen

New students were warmly and officially welcomed into the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community at Wednesday night’s Community Mass. The Doyle Centre was filled with staff, students family and friends, providing support as Year 7 students each received a badge and bible to welcome them to the College community.

New students in other year levels also received badges and bibles, from Principal Mr Philip Morison and Deputy Principal — Pastoral Care Mr John Rodgers, while Year 12 homeroom teachers handed out badges to our most senior students as a celebration of their contribution to the community in their final year at MLMC. “We will walk with you as you progress on your journey,” Principal Mr Philip Morison said to the Year 12 students.

During his homily, Father Dean Bradbury touched on the College’s theme for 2020 'We humbly act for justice' and asked the audience to “think about what you can do tomorrow”.

Mr Morison said “'WE' is an important word in our community because it means we act as one… we cannot wait for the world to change for us”.

Our College Choir and band did a wonderful job of performing throughout the event.

Students across all year levels spent time in the College Chapel last week to celebrate Ash Wednesday and the start of the Lenten period — a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to prepare for Easter. Students from the CSYMA (Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia) classes led the Liturgies for each year level and delivered the ashes to students and staff throughout the day. The ashes marked on the forehead symbolise the dust from which God made us.

It was also the launch of the Project Compassion campaign for 2020, with boxes available in each homeroom for students to make donations. You can learn more about Caritas Australia's Project Compassion HERE.

A day earlier, students filled up their bellies with delicious pancakes cooked by teachers as part of Shrove Tuesday. Pancakes were traditionally eaten on the day before Ash Wednesday as it was a way of using up all the eggs, milk and sugar before the 40 days of fasting over Lent.

It was wonderful to see our community come together in this important period of religious observation.

The MLMC Swimming Carnival was held on Friday 28 February and while the day started with some light rain and grey skies, the Lilydale outdoor pool was soon transformed with all the colour, costumes and cheering!

Our students were involved in traditional swimming races, the House prefects’ inflatables race, planking competitions, House chant competition and, of course, the famous Participation Relay that saw hundreds of students in the water earning a valuable House point for every lap they completed.

Our House prefects and other members of the Student Leadership Team did a brilliant job of encouraging their House teams and providing a huge amount of energy on the day, so thank you for your efforts.

Results:
1st — Frayne (612)
2nd — Terry Dunn (574)
3rd —O'Neill (528)
4th — Carr (484)
5th — Maguire (407)
6th — Ryan (291)

The Division 2 EISM Swimming Carnival will be held on Tuesday 10 March at Ringwood Aquanation. All students have received information about the carnival via email. Please make sure you read all the information and email Ms Webb if you have any questions.

There was no jungle, beans or rice to be seen, unlike the reality TV show Survivor, but there were plenty of big smiles and there was some healthy hard-fought competition at the Year 8 Survivor Day on Tuesday.

Working in their homeroom groups the Survivor-inspired activities are designed to help our Year 8 students develop their teamwork, leadership, compassion and empathy skills, all in a fun environment. And importantly, the day also provides an opportunity for students to spend time with their homeroom teachers while sharing a unique experience.

The students tested themselves in holding up books, transferring water between buckets or transferring soccer balls in pairs without using their hands, tossing frisbees into bins, solving problems and more.

Congratulations to 8 Bronze on winning the final challenge to take the trophy for Survivor 2020 (their name will be engraved on the Survivor Shield displayed in the Year 8 area) and to all the students and the teachers whose enthusiasm and energy made the day such a great success.

Intermediate VCAL students were invited to step outside of their comfort zones and reach new heights on an excursion to the Trees Adventure Park in Belgrave last week. Students were challenged to overcome their fear of heights and complete rigorous physical challenges that tested their courage and endurance. Many soared through the forest on flying foxes and took on a series of thrilling challenges and demanding ropes courses while 25 metres in the air and between enormous 150-year-old Algerian oak trees.

The excursion was part of a unit on leadership, in which students explore the characteristics of people in leadership roles. They distinguish between different leadership styles and identify methods for motivating others. To reflect on their own leadership styles they are encouraged to identify interpersonal skills that are used by people in leadership roles and identify the responsibilities of a leader.

Now that students have had the opportunity to experience this challenging program, it is up to them to apply what they have learned on the next exciting part of their VCAL journey — the Personal Best Projects. Good luck, Intermediate VCAL students!

Students in Years 7 and 8 last week learned a lot more about building resilience and positive mental health strategies when Hugh van Cuylenburg came to the College to speak to them. Hugh, the creator of The Resilience Project, made the presentation as part of our Pastoral Care program in which we use The Resilience Project journals. By bringing in presenters like Hugh and working through the journals, we aim to help all our students become mentally healthy.

The Resilience Project delivers emotionally engaging programs to schools, sports clubs and businesses, providing practical, evidence-based, positive mental health strategies to build resilience and happiness. Hugh and his team have delivered programs to over 500 schools around the country and worked with many elite sporting teams including the Australian cricket, netball and soccer teams as well as NRL and AFL clubs.

Here are some student reflections on the visit:

Hugh was entertaining and fun to listen to. He told his stories of gratitude very well and even if he went a bit off-topic sometimes, he still made the session really fun. He also taught me about how I can be grateful for the things I have and the friends around me. I went home and pointed at everything I was grateful for. My mum thought I was crazy, which makes sense, but I know that I'm much luckier than others and I'm very grateful for that. For the random person reading this, have a great day, and don't be disappointed in what you don't have, and be grateful for what you DO have!
— Mia Sattler (Year 8 Purple)

Hugh really engaged us with his interesting stories and events. Everyone was hooked and no-one got bored and started talking. Listening to him about the places he had been to brought tears to my eyes as well as joy, because I didn't realise what I'd taken for granted. One thing I realised that I took for granted was a tap! I never thought I would feel so grateful over a simple tap until Hugh told the story about some children in a village in India who couldn't believe that in Melbourne (where Hugh lives) people get their water out of taps in the walls of their houses — they had never heard of or seen a tap in their lives before then. I believe everyone took something away from Tuesday and is now trying to change their thinking, because I know I am doing it right now.
— Jena Schaak (Year 8 Orange)

The visit from Hugh was very inspiring and made me feel so lucky for the basic resources and privileges I take for granted every day, such as taps with running water, shelter, family, a bed to sleep in and fresh food. Children like Stunzin are so happy for everything they have, which is very little. They have to walk half an hour just to get a single bucket of dirty water from a river, then they have to boil it for an hour or more to get it pure. This is just one of the daily struggles these kids have to face — all we have to do is walk to a tap. While we are here in a first world country complaining about charging our phones or not having enough food in the fridge, children and adults in other countries don't even have a roof to sleep under. I am so much more thankful for everything I have, and by using the three steps to happiness (gratitude, empathy and mindfulness) I will be a lot more grateful.
— Lexi Cultrera (Year 8 Jade)

Hugh told us two very memorable stories. The first was a heartfelt story about his sister that suffered from an extreme case of anxiety and how she overcame it by using the three keys to happiness, which are kindness, mindfulness and gratitude. The second story was about when Hugh taught school in India. He taught a young boy who was extremely grateful for everything he had, even though he had very little — no blankets or pillows, just to name a few things. However, he was still happy and this was how Hugh found out the true meaning of the three keys to happiness. I am very thankful that our school was able to organise such a special event. I know not only how to live a happy life but I know to be grateful for everything I have.
— Ella Hall (Year 8 White)

We warmly invite all parents and students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 to join us at our twilight open house event, the Taste of MLMC 2020. This is your opportunity to explore the College as a family, meet the teachers and students and engage in a range of fun-filled interactive activities.

Taste of MLMC 2020 is on Thursday 16 April from 5.00pm to 8.30pm at MLMC, 120 Anderson Street, Lilydale.

Please register HERE

We look forward to welcoming you to the College.

On Tuesday 25 February the entire Year 9 cohort participated in a workshop with Andrew Jobling, a former St Kilda football player and successful author. Part of the trial for the new Year 9 Compass program commencing in 2021, as well as connecting to the commitment to ‘be your best’, the 90-minute session covered organisation, self-talk, motivation, resilience and problem solving. A particular focus was helping students self-identify goals to work on over the coming months.

Commencing with some biographical material, Andrew outlined the challenges he has faced over the course of his career as an unlikely success. He introduced to the students the idea of T.E.A.R.S. of Joy — his formula for framing challenges in a way that success ensues. He presented to the students that every journey to success starts with a thought (the T). It is from this thought that we decide whether we are going to react with positive or negative emotions (the E). Naturally, positive self-talk is more likely to lead to success. However, the hope for success can’t be vague and the A of T.E.A.R.S. stands for ‘action’ — the thought must be accompanied by achievable actions. Once the action is identified, it is necessary to get into a routine (the R) in order to achieve success (the S) somewhere down the track.

Andrew shared with the students that research has shown that to get into a routine, it takes 63 days of commitment to an achievable action. You don’t have to achieve your goal immediately, you just have to, in his words, “win the day” often enough that positive goal-setting and achievement of daily targets become a habit. This is how ordinary people become successful in the ways they want.

The session resonated well with the students, as was evidenced by the focus the group demonstrated when writing out their own goals to focus on over the next 63 days. Andrew will be returning to the College in Term 2 to work one-on-one with homerooms on their progress, as well as to present in the evening to parents on ways to support their child’s success. Stay tuned!

FAMILY PICNIC AND MOVIE NIGHT — FRIDAY 13 MARCH
Picnic from 6.00pm. Movie screening at 7.00pm in Centennial Hall.

We extend a very warm invitation to all MLMC friends and family to attend our inaugural Family Picnic and Movie Night on Friday 13 March where we will be screening the 2019 live-action movie Aladdin.

Before the movie screens, there will be family games on the green courts, food vans and the Parents and Friends' Association will be putting on one of their hugely popular sausage sizzles. There will be movie snacks available to purchase, too.

Some cushions and rugs will be provided but please feel free to bring along beach chairs, beanbags, rugs or cushions to sit on for the ultimate experience in movie comfort. We look forward to seeing you there.

PLEASE RSVP BY WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH VIA EMAIL TO: ecerra@mlmc.vic.edu.au

(1) Student Achievements

Football
Congratulations to Patrick Huynh (Year 10 Purple), who has been selected in the Under 16 Patton Squad for the Eastern Ranges Football Team.

Netball
Congratulations to Teagan Bethune (Year 8 Blue) for her selection in next stage of trials for the School Sport Victoria (SSV) Under 15 netball team. We wish you all the best.

If you have any other student achievements, please email them to dwebb@mlmc.vic.edu.au

(2) MLMC Swimming Carnival

Read about the recent House Swimming Carnival in this week's newsletter or HERE.

(3) MLMC Swimming Training

When: Monday afternoons (3.30-4.30pm) and Wednesday mornings (7.00-8.00am)
Where: Kilsyth pool
Why: to improve your swimming and fitness levels — ALL abilities welcome. Commendations and house points up for grabs!
Cost: FREE
Note: students will be bussed from school to pool on Mondays and back to school from pool on Wednesdays. Breakfast is provided on Wednesdays. Please see/email Ms Webb in the Doyle Centre for more details.

(4) EISM Reminders

With the summer seasons of Year 8, Year 9 and Senior EISM sport all beginning in the next week, please remember the following:
Check the sport plans — up on the Doyle Centre window at the beginning of every week
If you are unable to play in your team in a particular week, you need to let your coach know as early as possible
Please be on time to the Doyle Centre on your sport day. All EISM Teams need to leave at the start of lunch to get to venues to play
Your uniform needs to be 100% correct to ensure no forfeited games. Hockey, soccer and football must wear long navy socks (available at the Doyle Centre) and mouthguards must be worn for hockey. NO CORRECT UNIFORM, NO GAME
Live fixtures for EISM matches can be found online at eism.org (click on ‘Weekly sport’, then ‘Junior’ for Year 8 and ‘Senior/Intermediate’ for Year 9 and Senior fixtures.

(5) EISM Results

Year 8 (25 February)

Senior (26 February)

Year 9 (27 February)

Year 8 (3 March)

Donvale forfeited all matches

Senior (4 March)

Year 9 (5 March)

*All other games — washed out or bye

Prominent adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg will join with experienced secondary educator Sharon Witt in a parent information session held at the College this month, covering many topics about helping our young people navigate the secondary school years.

The 'Surviving High School' session will be held at the College on Thursday 19 March, from 7.30-9.00pm. Topics include understanding the adolescent brain, homework, navigating friendships and coping with stress. Further details are available on the attached flyer.

Attendance is free for MLMC parents. Please register now to reserve your seat HERE.