Dear members of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community,

Welcome to the new term after what I hope was a wonderful holiday for all those that were able to enjoy it. I hope you found some warmth amidst a very cold period.

Building works update

During the holiday period the building company Becon Constructions took possession of the building site and demolition and earth removal started almost immediately. The College also conducted a sod turning event, where Old Collegian James Merlino, who is the Minister for Education and Deputy Premier, used a 'golden' shovel to dig the first hole in the soil. Mercy Education Limited was represented by Executive Officer Eugene Lynch, who also turned the sod. Companies and all involved with the build were well represented:

• Architects: Matthew Cirillo, Anthony Worm and Carmello Palamara
• Pure Projects (our Project Managers): Lachlan McGregor
• Becon Construction: Jason Brilli, Daniel Jackson and Ross Clavarino
• College Staff: Elizabeth Keogh (Deputy Principal – Mission), who wrote the ceremony, Tanya Hutton (Deputy Principal – Learning and Teaching), Louis Papadimitriou (Deputy Principal – Organisation), who is managing our organisation during the project, and Dean de Munk (Business Manager), who is overseeing the finances of the project
• College Captains: Danielle Virgona and Ethan Wake (who led most of the ceremony)

Apologies were received from Stephen Elder, from Catholic Education Melbourne, and Christopher Houlihan, CEO of Mercy Education Limited.

The sod turning marked a significant milestone in the building works, which have been in the planning for three years. The sod turning saw us in prayer for the blessing of the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of March 2019.

In the period of this construction, there will be some disruption and noise, including the introduction of some portable toilets near the front of the College, however, we have done everything possible to reduce the impact on the students and to minimise the disruption to the learning program.

New Archbishop

The holiday period also saw another significant and important event with the announcement of the retirement of our Archbishop, Dennis Hart, who officially retired at the end of June after 17 years as Archbishop of Melbourne. He will continue until the 1 August, when Archbishop Elect in the Most Rev Peter A Comensoli will become the new Archbishop.

In introducing our new Archbishop, Stephen Elder, executive Director CEM, wrote:

His Holiness, Pope Francis, has appointed Bishop Peter Andrew Comensoli of the Diocese of Broken Bay as the next Archbishop of Melbourne. Bishop Comensoli will become the ninth Archbishop of Melbourne.

Born in the Illawarra in 1964, Bishop Comensoli graduated from the University of Wollongong with a Bachelor of Commerce in economics, and worked in the banking sector before switching to theology. In 1986, he entered St Patrick’s Seminary, Manly, and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Wollongong in 1992. Bishop Comensoli served as Chancellor of the Diocese of Wollongong for six years. Bishop Comensoli was appointed an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney in 2011 under Cardinal Pell, becoming Australia’s youngest bishop. Following Cardinal Pell’s elevation as Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy in 2014, Bishop Comensoli served as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Sydney for nine months until Archbishop Fisher’s installation as Archbishop of Sydney. That same year, Bishop Comensoli was appointed the third Bishop of Broken Bay. In addition to his Bachelor of Commerce, Bishop Comensoli holds a Bachelor of Theology and a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the Catholic Institute of Sydney, a Licentiate in Sacred Theology in moral theology from the Accademia Alfonsiana in Rome, a Master of Letters in Moral Philosophy from the University of St Andrews in Scotland and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Theological Ethics from Edinburgh University.

Our Archbishop-designate has had a significant interest in the schools of his current diocese, which has been significantly affected by the Turnbull Federal Government’s funding reforms.

CASPA Conference

The first week of Term 3 has progressed very well and has seen the College conduct Semester 1 Awards Ceremonies for Years 7, 8 and 9. Unfortunately I was unable to attend these events as I was at a CASPA (Catholic Secondary Principals of Australia) Conference in Cairns. I understand from Tanya Hutton (who represented me as Acting Principal at the Awards Ceremonies) that each event progressed extremely well. I thank her for her work and the privilege it afforded of attending the conference. Congratulations to all students who thus far have been awarded Certificates of Academic Achievement and Academic Merit. Hopefully your persistence and hard work have been rewarded. The ceremonies for Years 10, 11 and 12 will be held next week.

At the conference I enjoyed many excellent and thought provoking speakers, one of whom was Jamila Gordon, whose story is inspiring and certainly should cause us to appreciate the opportunities and education afforded to each and every one of us.

Jamila was born into a nomadic family in Somalia, the eldest of 18 children and spent the first seven years of her life in a make-shift camp without water, electricity and little food. Civil war came to Somalia and at the age of 18 she ended up in the slums of Mombasa, Kenya, without family, food or money. Good fortune saw her meet an Australian backpacker who helped her and she arrived in Australia with no money and without a word of English, but she felt fortunate to be alive.

Jamila’s first job was as a dishwasher in a restaurant at $5 an hour, but her determination saw her gain university qualifications and enjoy a corporate career that has seen her travel the world working for such companies as Qantas and IBM.

Listening to Jamila was an inspiration and reminded me of what each and every one of us wants for our students and children: to be the best that they can be and to be of service to others. Before Jamila’s father sent her to Kenya he gave her some very sound advice: "I'm sending you away for your safety. Wherever you end up, the things that will allow you to survive and thrive are to make yourself useful, be the best version of yourself and grow big dreams!” This advice has guided Jamila through her life and it is sound advice for all of us.

If you would like to read a bit more about Jamila, you can do so HERE

Reminder - College closed Monday 23 July

The College will be closed this coming Monday with all students enjoying a day at home. Mount Lilydale Mercy College will be hosting staff from Aquinas College and St Joseph’s College, Ferntree Gully, for a staff formation day with Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP, who is a Dominican Friar and former Master of the Order of Preachers.

Our prayers

Sadly over the holidays we heard of the passing of two former staff members. Lorraine McCart passed away last week. Lorraine was a Year 8 homeroom teacher and taught Maths, Science and Chemistry here at MLMC before moving to Mater Christi College. All of Lorraine’s children are Old Collegians.
Helen Christie also passed away during the holidays. Helen was a stalwart of the College who started work here in 1974 and was a member of staff for at least 25 years, teaching a huge range of subjects and working in Careers.

Let us pray for the repose of the souls of Lorraine and Helen. May they, along with all the faithfully departed, rest in peace.

God bless
Philip A Morison
Principal

Tickets are now on sale for the 2018 College Musical - BACK TO THE '80s

Be transported back to a time of acid wash jeans, Rubik's cubes, and fluoro leg warmers, with this year's College Musical Back to the '80s. With nearly 200 students, teachers and parents involved in the production, this show is set to be an extravaganza of colour, fun and, of course, many of your favourite '80s tunes.

There are three performances to choose from and tickets are now on sale.

Date: Thursday 2, Friday 3 and Saturday 4 August at 7.30pm

BOOKINGS: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=394310

Our digital program is now available for you to view at www.mlmc80.com

Some of the ‘80s tunes the audience will hear include: Footloose, Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, Video Killed the Radio Star, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, 9-5, Material Girl, I've Had the Time of My Life, Let's Hear It For The Boy, Kids in America, Man in the Mirror, Love Shack and Centrefold.

The team have been working on the production since March, rehearsing four hours a week and longer rehearsals will happen in the lead-up to the performances. All up, the students will have put in about 150 hours of work into the musical. Plenty of time was put in over the recent school holidays. Several teachers built the sets along with a couple of members of the Arts and maintenance teams. We also had two full-day rehearsals in the second week.

Here is a synopsis of the production:

A pop culture trip down memory lane, Back to the '80s tells the story of Corey Palmer and his senior year of high school, his best friends, the class bully, and the girl he loves. The show begins in the present day, with Corey taking us back to his memories of his time at William Ocean High School. We see him reminisce as he tells us about how his friends Kirk and Alf started their bid to be senior class president and vice-presidents, only to have the opportunity stolen by bully, Michael Feldman. We learn that to make Corey’s life worse, Michael has also stolen away Tiffany Houston, Corey’s long-time crush. But this isn’t the only relationship on the rocks, we are also introduced to teachers Mr Crocker and Ms Brannigan, who are fighting in their not-so-secret romance; Michael, who is posing as new girl Eileen’s mysterious secret admirer; and Tiffany’s friend Cyndi, who doesn’t want to give her admirer Billy the time of day. Just for kicks, add in a charity concert for Africa, a Star Wars-inspired dream sequence, and an Eye of the Tiger final showdown between Michael and class geek Feargal McFerrin, and you've got one seriously complicated life of an '80s teenager.

Get your dancing shoes ready — we'll see you there!

As we continue to celebrate the Year of Youth, the Australian Bishops invite the Church into prayerful discernment about the importance and life-giving presence of young people in the local Church and society. They call for dialogue and active engagement focused on the reconnection and renewal of a new generation of young people in the life of the Church. Let us pray this prayer for and with our young people.

Year of Youth 2018 Prayer

Come Holy Spirit of this Great Southland Inspire our entire faith community,
as we prayerfully discern new horizons for spreading joy
in the lives and communities of the People of God.

Come Holy Spirit of Youth Fill the hearts of young people with the
hope and love of Jesus Christ. Enliven our community with the creativity,
energy and joy of youth. Guide us together, as we strive to offer God’s
mercy to those who feel abandoned or outcast.

Come Holy Spirit of Faith Empower our community to be courageous.
Unite your people as witnesses of love. Walk with us, as we blaze new
trails of discipleship, accompanying young people as we renew
the Church together.

Come Holy Spirit of Vocation Stir within young people an awareness
of God’s call. Reveal to us the graces of young people. Guide us all,
in finding our place and raising our voices to build a civilisation of love.

Amen

All Year 10 students undertook Work Experience during the last week of Term 2. Work Experience gives students time at a workplace to learn about an occupation or industry. They may observe others or complete tasks. It is an opportunity for them to develop skills and networks and to decide what they would like to do. They gain insights into what a particular job involves, what it is like to work in a structured, supervised, hands-on environment and to develop useful work skills that are recognised in the workplace.

Just as importantly, they develop confidence in their ability to learn, to communicate effectively and they have a chance to demonstrate how they can contribute in a work environment. From time to time, it is clear that students have not chosen a suitable workplace. This, however, should not be regarded as a negative experience. It can help them make different decisions about subject choice and future study.

An example of feedback from some employers demonstrates the benefits of Work Experience for our students:

• Is confident, will ask questions and has an aptitude for this type of work
• Is very active and enthusiastic and displayed high levels of technical skills
• Has a high work ethic and is eager to find things to do
• Was fantastic with the children and staff
• Demonstrated she can work well in a team
• Followed instructions, always cheery and keen to work

Students found placements in a wide variety of industries, including childcare, hospitality, building, architecture, education, fashion, retail and horticulture. A number of students were offered part-time positions or casual work as a result of their Work Experience week. Our Year 10s have returned to school and expressed only positive comments about what was for them a wonderful learning experience.

Here are some student reflections of their Work Experience week:

Kaitlyn Crymble (Year 10 Gold) and Meghan Wobbes (Year 10 Silver)
Swinburne University, Hawthorn Campus, Centre for Human Psychopharmacology
This centre was commissioned by drug companies to research the effects of pharmaceuticals on cognitive functioning. We got to do some behind the scenes work, we made some case report files, helped them to set up a driving simulation, counted returned tablets, and the researchers practiced testing on us in a role play situation. We didn't do as much as the researchers did, but we would like to get into this industry as it was interesting to listen to the researchers and find out what they do. This was a good experience and helped us to discover what we would like to do in the future.

Lachlan Bourke (Year 10 Silver)
Civil Engineering firm JCA
I went on site and got to do some Project Management. We went to a big residential site near Kangaroo Ground to assess the building work that had gone on and picked up on some problems that the builders needed to fix. I enjoyed my experience and would like to pursue this type of work. I would like to be a Project Manager after studying Engineering at university.

Coen Wescombe (Year 10 Silver)
Caterpillar - Clayton
I worked with the site workers with the M12 Scraper and two trash compactors. The best thing about the week was getting to work around the machines and getting to know them. They will look at taking me on at the end of Year 11 or Year 12 for an apprenticeship in Diesel Mechanics.

Bailey Marsden (Year 10 Silver)
Five Star Music - Ringwood
I worked at a music shop, selling all things instrumental. I was doing all sorts of tasks, including taking in arrivals of orders and emptying boxes. There was a big guitar wall and my job was to re-tune all of the guitars so that they were in tune when people came in to test them. It was a good week that gave me a lot of insight into the working world, but I’m not sure if I want to pursue work in retail.

Year 7 class captains recently completed a formal leadership and public speaking course provided by volunteers from Lilydale Toastmasters, called Taming of the Butterflies. The course was held on eight Saturday mornings through Term 2 and ended with a presentation night in McAuley Hall at MLMC on Thursday 28 June.

The course involved learning more about public speaking, making speeches, listening, questioning and responding as well as timekeeping, “ah” counting and hark-mastering. The course also included round robin events, awards and evaluations. The College has been involved in the program for about 10 years.

"We are involved with the program to help develop the Year 7 captains’ leadership skills and to help them be more confident in their own abilities to better engage their peers," Year 7 Assistant Level Leader Matt Reilly said.

Here are some student reflections on the course:

Some of the skills we learnt in the leadership and public speaking course were writing speeches, evaluating one another, listening to each other’s speeches and asking questions. Some of us were lucky enough to be assigned to a special role. These roles were timekeeping, “ah” counting and being a hark-master. At the end of our eight-week journey, we had a presentation night where we performed in front of our teachers, parents, family and friends. The class captains involved in this educational program are now confident with public speaking and we all appreciate being offered this opportunity. — Louisa Inglese (Year 7 Blue)

In this class we learned how to manage meetings, speak confidently and how to be a leader. After all the work we did, it was time to present our work in front of parents, students and teachers. Overall, I enjoyed the lessons and I appreciated all the volunteers who gave up their time. — Malindu Chandrasekara (Year 7 Jade)

The process for selecting the College Captains and the Prefect Leadership Team for 2019 has begun. This week, our Year 11 students were given a presentation outlining the timeline and process for selecting the Captains and Prefects for 2019. As it is a detailed process, aspiring leaders need to begin collecting forms and having staff nominate them for suitable positions.

Becoming a leader of our College is far more than just receiving a badge, it involves hours of extra commitment ensuring students at MLMC are being represented and well served.

Year 11 students have been invited to join a Google Classroom where all role descriptions and nomination forms can be found. After only one day of opening the Classroom, over 70 students had expressed an interest in leading our community in 2019. Applications close Monday 6 August at 4.00pm. This will allow time for reviewing the applications and holding interviews before the formal voting takes place later in the term. All Year 11 students are welcome to apply.

In the first half of 2018 the Parents and Friends' Association has supported the College with a number of special events, including providing hospitality to new parents of Year 7 students on their first day of school and at Special Persons’ Day on 6 March. And at the Taste of MLMC event in May over 800 hot drinks were served to our guests!

The Athletics Carnival on 20 April and three Debutante Balls in April/May raised much-needed funds to support the students in a number of ways, including the purchase of musical instruments and new outdoor bench seats in the Year 12 and Year 7 areas. These are made from 212,500 recycled grocery bags which did not go into landfill, so we are also doing a small part to protect our planet.

The Parents and Friends’ Association also raise funds through the sale of the Entertainment book, which can be purchased online HERE or at Reception. If you have used this before, you will know just how useful it is and how much money can be saved with the vouchers. There are also plenty of vouchers suitable for holiday activities too. Each book sells for $70 and we retain $14 from each.

In addition to those special activities and events, the Association also runs the second-hand uniform shop. Run entirely by volunteers, the shop continues to provide parents with the opportunity to buy and sell uniforms which in turn enables us to discretely support some students in need. In Term 3, the shop is open every second Thursday from 12noon to 1.30pm (dates include 19 July, 2 August, 16 August, 30 August and 13 September).

The Organisational Skills program is another very successful activity which involves parents regularly working with students to help them to organise their locker and to use the planner appropriately.

As you can see, the Parents and Friends' Association plays a very important role within the College and we are very grateful for their support. If you would like more information on how you can support us and be more involved, please contact Mrs Emily Cerra at ecerra@mlmc.vic.edu.au, who takes on this role for the remainder of 2018.

Year 7 students had the pleasure of listening to visiting author Deborah Abela on Monday 16 July. Deborah is the author of the Year 7 English novel Grimsdon, which is the text that students will be studying this term.

Deborah is an Australian author of children's books, most notably the Max Remy Super Spy series, Grimsdon and Teresa: A New Australian. She has been writing for 15 years and has published 25 books to date.

Deborah was invited to speak with all MLMC Year 7s on the first day of term to get them excited and enthused about reading, writing and all things Grimsdon! Deborah's engaging presentation included information about her journey into writing, the background to her writing Grimsdon and also her plans for writing the final book in the Grimsdon series.

The presentation ended with students asking questions about writing and Grimsdon, which were enthusiastically answered by Deborah.

Student Achievements
Congratulations to Flynn Kroeger and Lachlan Riddiford (Year 9) who have both recently participated in the Hawthorn Football Club/Eastern Ranges Next Generation Academy Squad and also the Under 15 Yarra Ranges Interleague Program. Both boys (pictured in the gallery) performed well at these events and gained a wealth of knowledge. We wish them well with their future football endeavours.

Congratulations to Lily Kelly (Year 12) (pictured) who recently debuted for the Box Hill Hawks in the VFL women’s competition. Box Hill defeated Footscray 96 to 53. Well done, Lily.

Well done to Georgia Kinslow and Lily Hall (Year 7), who represented MLMC and competed at the Elmore Interschools equestrian competition on the holidays in some very cold conditions. The girls (pictured in the gallery) finished in 10th and 17th respectively and had a great time competing. Congratulations girls.

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

EISM Futsal Tournament
The College participated in the EISM indoor soccer tournament for the first time on Tuesday 26 June, taking a boys’ team and a girls’ team. The girls’ team (pictured in the gallery), which consisted of three Year 11 students (Eliza McDonald, Amelia Cimo and Mikayla Byrne) and four Year 9 students (Piper Crymble, Olivia Petinnella, Krishia Catungal and Natasha Vukic) started off on a fantastic note, defeating Nunawading 3-0 with goals to Piper, Tash and Eliza. Oakleigh College were a tough challenge for MLMC up next, defeating us, however the game was exciting and very physical. Emmaus was next, again unfortunately we conceded goals to them and lost an excellent game from both teams.

The semi-finals then rolled around, with MLMC fourth on the ladder taking on top team Oakleigh again. It was a tough, aggressive game with both teams getting in a few goals. Sadly, at the last whistle Oakleigh had a few more goals than us. It was an amazing day and I’m so glad I was able to be part of it. Next year MLMC hopes to return better than ever, bringing back the three Year 11s of this year and the amazing Year 9s who stepped up, and hopefully some new players as well.
Amelia Cimo (Year 11 Jade)

Cross Country training
It’s that time of year again. With only one more sporting carnival left for the year, it would be great if we could get as many students as possible participating in Cross Country training. Cross Country training days and times are as follows: Monday 3.30-4.30pm and Wednesday 7.00-8.00am (breakfast provided afterwards). Meet at the Doyle Centre for both sessions. All abilities and fitness levels welcome. For details, please contact Miss Webb.

EISM Weekly Sport Reminders
With the EISM winter seasons of Year 8, 9 and Senior EISM sport all now either underway or about to begin, 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 for $10) and mouthguards must be worn for hockey. NO CORRECT UNIFORM, NO GAME
• Please be aware that there may be late returns from EISM away games, check the sport plan on the Doyle Centre window to make sure you know when they will be!

Fixtures
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. Change the sport in the drop down box and click 'Go'.

Senior Results (19 July)

Once again the Rotary Club of Healesville, in partnership with the OTU (Officer Training Unit) Association's Victorian Chapter, proposes to sponsor two boys and two girls from MLMC to attend the Lord and Lady Somers Camps from 5-12 January 2019 and 13-19 January 2019 respectively.

Applications to attend the camps are now open and are to be submitted electronically HERE by Friday 21 September 2018.

Lord Somers Camp staff will review the applications and by late October the successful applicants will be contacted and made an offer. If the offer is accepted, the successful applicants will be asked to arrange payment of a deposit.

The 2019 camp will cost $575. The OTU Association (Victoria Chapter) and the Rotary Club of Healesville have again agreed to sponsor MLMC’s successful applicants on the basis that the applicant pays a deposit of $100 (as per last year) and the sponsors pay the remaining $475 (on a 50/50 share basis). Given our experience with this program over the years, could students please ensure that the electronic applications are completed in detail and submitted by the due date and that the age group of the applicant conforms strictly to the Lord Somers Camp and Power House guidelines, ie 16 ½ to 18 at 1 January 2019.

Arrangements will be made for Rotary Club of Healesville and OTU Association members to meet sponsored participants at the camps and, after the camps, the students will be invited to a Rotary Club of Healesville’s meeting to inform club members of their camp experiences. Attendance at this meeting is expected.

The Rotary Club of Healesville and the OTU Association's Victorian Chapter are pleased to be able to sponsor our students and view this program as one that will have a significant effect on their personal development and one that will provide them with an enjoyable and unforgettable experience.

If you have any queries please contact Terry Hill (Registrar - Students) via thill@mlmc.vic.gov.au

Can you sing? Do you want to show off your talent? Joining one of the MLMC A Capella Ensembles is a fantastic decision if you are passionate about singing. We rehearse each week and we have fun learning various songs. It might be your best decision yet.

Here are six reasons why you should join us:

1. Learn to sing a variety of music You get to sing all kinds of music. You get to perform your favourite songs with your group. You get to learn a lot of valuable information about music. Most importantly, you get to do what you love.
2. Showcase your talent Singing is a huge talent and you get to show it off on this platform. Combine that with some interesting choreography, and it’s very entertaining. A Capella provides amazing opportunities to show off what you know.
3. Participate in concerts You get to entertain the crowd and of course, you get to sing and be proud of what you and your ensemble have learned.
4. It's a de-stresser When you are studying all day, wouldn't you want a break? An A Capella Ensemble means rehearsals every week to get you out of that room and into a music-filled environment. In fact, research has shown that singing relieves stress. It's a calming, yet energising break.
5. Make life-long friends who share the same passion as you Even though you're all different, you all share one thing in common, making music together! It doesn't get any better than singing with your own group of friends.
6. Get connected with other groups Because what's better than getting to know more people? Joining one group means joining a bigger singing squad than ever. You might have the opportunity to join other groups and meet more like-minded people.

How to Join the Junior/Senior A Capella Ensemble:

The Junior A Capella Ensemble is open to any Year 7 or Year 8 student. Rehearsals are held every Wednesday lunchtime in the Centennial Hall Foyer (bring your lunch). Enrolment in the Senior A Capella Ensemble is by audition, and is open to Year 9, 10, 11 and 12 students. Rehearsals are held every Tuesday lunchtime in Centennial Hall (bring your lunch.)

For further information, please email Ms Caroline Dickason cdickason@mlmc.vic.edu.au or Mrs Sharon Flint sflint@mlmc.vic.edu.au

MLMC families are being asked to host our Japanese Language Assistant, from 21 September through to April next year. This is a great opportunity for both students and their family to gain a cultural experience in the home.

The 22-year-old woman from Nagoya, Japan, went to New Zealand as a high school student and it was there that she realised that she wanted to learn more about the Japanese language and went on to study Japanese at university. She recently went to Thailand to teach Japanese to foreign students and looks forward to teaching Australians about Japan.

A family will need to provide a room (which can be shared with the same gender), three meals a day and transport to and from school. The duration of the hosting period is negotiable, however it is appreciated if families can host for at least one month.

For further details please contact Natasha McKenzie nmckenzie@mlmc.vic.edu.au