Dear members of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community

Awards

Week two of term saw the final three College Semester 1 award ceremonies held, which happened to be the Barak campus ceremonies, and I congratulate and thank all those students who received either Academic or Merit Awards. Hopefully such Awards are recognition of goals set and achieved as well as a consistent and persistent effort to achieve. Thank you too, to the many parents who attended to support our student body as individuals and as a whole.

Sustainability Week

Although last week was a short week, it was also Sustainability Week in which we focus on caring for our earth – it is undertaken in the belief that we are the caretakers of this planet and not the owners. We have been entrusted with the stewardship of a great gift and one that we must cherish and sustain for our children and our children’s children. The week was a celebration of all things sustainable and it was very well integrated with a number of social justice activities in the Ministry Lounge which included a large jumble sale.

Other great activities included fruits and produce from our orchard and agriculture/horticulture centre being distributed freely at lunchtime and the opportunity to meet and cuddle our newest member of the community, a young lamb. Another highlight was the great debate about renewable energy. Year 12s supported the week by having a Wrap It Up Day which involved dressing up for the cold as no heating was made available to them in their classrooms. These energy savings were enhanced by the energy produced via our solar panels that day. Congratulations on a great week that encouraged all of us to focus on sustainability and caring for the earth.

LOTE Week

Not to be out done, this week the focus has been on languages other than English – LOTE. The week began with the LOTE department hosting an international lunch in the staff room last Friday. An extraordinary array of wonderful food was enjoyed by all. There have been many activities throughout LOTE Week, including sumo wrestling, origami making, a visit by a gelati van and a staff versus students soccer match. Art activities in the Ministry Lounge were run by Year 11 students with funds raised across the week going to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Again congratulations to the LOTE Department for organising this great week.

College Musical

The College Musical has been in preparation for some time and this week saw the opening performance. The many odd clothes that I have seen wandering the school including leg warmers, huge earrings, fingerless gloves, parachute pants, stretch stirrup pants and fluoro T-shirts as well as hearing songs by Cindi Lauper, Wham, Queen, Michael Jackson and many others, tells me that Back to the '80s has hit the stage of Centennial Hall. Sadly I have not heard songs by the Angels, or Cold Chisel, but that is probably because they were not popular in America, where the Musical is set in an American high school.

I am yet to see the whole performance, but will do so tomorrow night. I am truly looking forward to it and I encourage you all to buy a ticket and go along and see it, if it is not too late. While I haven’t seen the full Musical yet, I have visited rehearsals several times and I can assure you of a very entertaining show. There is a cast of over 120 students, many of whom are first-time performers. Staff member Mrs Emily Cerra has directed the Musical and has been supported so very well by many other staff (too many to mention), but they include Mr Jeremy Ives, Miss Rachel Berka, Mrs Helen Savaris, Mrs Natasha Leaumont, Mr Gus Garces and the list goes on. Emily has even produced a website for https://www.mlmc80.com/ where you can learn about all our amazing student actors, crew and support staff. Congratulations to each and every one involved.

Let the busy weeks continue.

God bless
Philip Morison

Upcoming Parent Seminar
Following on from last year’s successful Parent Seminar with Hugh van Cuylenburg from the Resilience Project, we are pleased to announce Hugh will be conducting another evening seminar on The Impact of Social Media on adolescents. Please join us for a coffee and an engaging presentation on an issue that impacts on so many young people today.
Date: Monday 17 September
Time: 7pm
Location: Lecture Theatre
For more information on Hugh and the work he does, visit the Resilience Project Website

Graduation tickets
Please remember Year 12 Graduation tickets are now on sale. A letter has been placed on the Parent Portal with all the information. The closing date for ticket sales is Friday 31 August.

Student-free day
Please mark Friday 24 August on your calendar as a Staff Professional Development Day. As no classes will run on this day, it is a perfect opportunity for students to catch up on study.

Commendations/College Colours
As we settle into Semester 2 and the excitement of Academic and Merit Awards from Semester 1 has passed, students are reminded to turn their attention to College Colours. Students are encouraged to involve themselves in as many activities as possible to earn College Commendations that may lead to them attaining a College affirmation award. Although there is a clear criterion for the award, Year Level Leaders’ discretion will always be used in the final decision making.

Insight SRC
As part of seeking continued improvement in the way in which the College operates, and to measure the organisational health of MLMC, we are in the process of collecting data from parents, students and staff via a series of surveys administered by Insight SRC.

During the course of this month, a random sample of 150 parents, along with 300 students and staff, will be completing the surveys. The results of the surveys will be compiled and a report returned to the school.

Although participation is voluntary, we strongly encourage you to complete the survey. We at MLMC believe it is important to encourage parent voice to help shape the ongoing improvement of the school.

If you choose to complete the paper survey, please enclose the completed survey in the envelope provided (marked CONFIDENTIAL), seal and have your son/daughter return it to Student Reception by Friday 24 August, 2018. If you choose to undertake the Survey Online please do so by Friday 24 August, 2018.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all parents that have taken the time to complete the survey either online or via paper surveys sent home. Your feedback is much appreciated.

Subject Selection

The process of planning for 2019 has commenced, where students who are currently enrolled in Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 will be asked to select subjects for the following year. Letters regarding information evenings were uploaded onto the Parent Portal during the Term 2 school holidays. Course Guides can also be accessed via the Parent Portal and PAM. Information about how parents can access web preferences will be available via the parent portal once families have completed the re-enrolment process.

Key dates include:

• Year 11 and 12 (2019): Web Preferences Open — Wednesday 1 August
• Year 10 (2019) Parent Information Evening and Subject Expo — Tuesday 7 August at 7.30 pm in Centennial Hall
• Year 8, 9 and 10 (2019): Web Preferences Open — Wednesday 8 August
• Year 11 and 12 (2019): Web Preferences Close — Friday 10 August at 5.00pm
• Year 11 (2019): Subject Selection Interviews — Tuesday 14 August at 4.00pm-8.30pm in Mansfield Building
• Year 8, 9 and 10 (2019): Web Preferences Close — Monday 20 August at 5.00pm

Student subject choices are used to determine what classes will run in 2019, as such, it is important that the deadlines listed above are met. If families have any questions about the subject selection process, please contact your son or daughter’s Campus Learning Advisor or Ms Tanya Hutton, Deputy Principal – Learning and Teaching.

Updated Grading Scale

From the start of Term 3, the College will be moving toward a uniformed grading scale for Years 7-12 to simplify the information communicated to both students and families. The scale will include a numerical and non-numerical component as outlined below.

• Numerical Scale — The College will now use one common numerical scale for reporting on assessment tasks, with all students receiving a percentage mark on SIMON. The College will no longer be using an A, B, C or high, medium low grade scale for Years 11 and 12. Scores recorded for Unit 3/4 subjects will be indicative only and will be subject to change following the VCAA moderation process. Final Unit 3/4 overall grades will be provided on the VCE statement of results, not on SIMON.
• Non-numerical Scale — There will two options:
  VCE and LEAP —Satisfactory/Non-satisfactory
  VCAL and VET — Competent/Not Yet Competent

In situations that students have been unable to complete learning assessment tasks, the following be will recorded against the task depending on individual circumstances.

• Not Assessed (NA) — The student was absent for an extended period of time which resulted in them missing school for the duration of this task and it was not possible for the task to be rescheduled. Students completed a non-scored VCE program.
• Not Submitted (NS) — The task was not submitted for assessment.
• Absent (ABS) — The student was absent on the scheduled date of an examination or practical-based assessment task. The student has supplied appropriate documentation to support this absence.

Mary MacKillop was canonised on Sunday 17 October in Rome, making her Australia's first Catholic Saint. Her feast day is celebrated on 8 August.

Mother Mary MacKillop was more than just a great Catholic, she was also a great Australian. She dedicated her life to the promotion of education, especially in small towns that might not otherwise have had a school. She dedicated her life to the service of the poor. In all these respects, she is an exemplar for all times — for our times, not just for her times.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, faced many challenges. What is more, she met them successfully, What can we learn from her example? Mary played a unique role in the outworking of God’s purposes. Moreover, many millions of people venerate Mary. The Catholic Church reveres her as a beloved Mother and as a model in faith, hope, and charity. We celebrate the Feast of the Assumption on 15 August.

Lord,
I lift up my need to grow spiritually and to mature as a person,
so that I can show my children the best way to live in this world.
Help me to show my respect for your Word,
so that my children will grow to respect your Word.
Help me to deepen my love for you,
so that my children will know how to love you deeply.
Help me to be more teachable,
so that I can show my children how to be teachable.
Help me to be more forgiving,
so that I can show my children how to be forgiving.
Help me to be a more loving and compassionate person,
so that I can show my children how to be loving and compassionate.
Help me to be determined to follow through in order to finish tasks and honour commitments,
so that I can show my children how to follow through in order to finish tasks and honour commitments.
Help me to say no to bad things in my life,
so that I can show my children how to say no to bad things in life.
Help me to admit when I have been wrong,
so that I can show my children how to admit when they have been wrong.
Renew my mind, Lord. I will learn to think like you.
Remind me to read your Word. I will listen to you.
I will grow in my determination to learn to act and react as you would.
I will model that following you is important.
I will remember that little eyes are watching me.
In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen

Copyright © 2012 Beth McLendon of Inspirational-Prayers.com

The achievements of MLMC students in the first semester of the year were recently celebrated and acknowledged, with six separate award ceremonies (one for each year level) held in Centennial Hall over the first two weeks of Term 3. Both Academic Awards for excellence in learning and Merit Awards for a positive approach to learning and giving your best were presented.

Recipients of Academic Awards display:

• academic excellence
• personal organisation
• a positive contribution to the learning environment
• originality and creativity
• enthusiasm for the subject.

The 85% average is a weighted average. Each faculty determines how this average is calculated based on the number and nature of assessments.

Merit Awards are limited to a maximum of four per class and are awarded to students who demonstrate enthusiasm to study, consistency in effort, punctuality, completion of homework, meeting task due dates and a cooperative approach to others.

Some of the top Academic Award achievers from each year level are pictured.

In Year 7, Maxine Flamsteed received 10 Academic Awards and one Merit Award. Year 8 students Baxter Lill and Danielle Gazzola each picked up 10 Academic Awards. Connor Taylor received nine Academic Awards in Year 9. Paula Del Giudice and Chloe Rickard from Year 10 each received seven Adademic Awards and one Merit Award.

In Year 11, Lara Griffin-Krenn and Alana McGurgan each received six Academic Awards and one Merit Award, while four Academic Awards and one Merit Award each went to Year 12 students Ana Malnar and Jordan Schuyt.

On Friday 27 July, MLMC held its annual Careers Expo. With 27 universities, TAFES and the Australian Defence Force attending, the Expo provided a great opportunity for our students to access plenty of information as they consider their many career options.

There aren’t many schools which offer a Careers Expo, but rather than having our Year 12s leave school for a day to visit a university or an Expo in the city, the information they need for tertiary application choices is made available at the College.

ACU, Deakin, Monash, La Trobe and RMIT were just some of the universities which had an exhibit, along with the ADF and Box Hill Institute.

The positive feedback from our teachers and students confirms that this event on the MLMC calendar is beneficial for assisting our students on possible career directions and helps students in Years 9, 10 and 11 with subject selection.

It was amazing to see so many people getting involved in Sustainability Week at the College last week, working together to slowly but surely make our world a more sustainable place.

On Tuesday 24 July Sustainability Week kicked off with a second-hand stall held in the Youth Ministry Lounge at lunchtime, filled with donations from staff and students. This was accompanied by the Agriculture and Horticulture students handing out oranges, mandarins and lemons.

Wednesday lunchtime featured Mr Thompson showing off the resident lamb and sheep, with assistance from members of the Young Farmers Club. Seedlings were also up for grabs.

On Thursday 26 July, teachers and students faced off in the great debate. Accompanied by Jamieson Manger and Sam Crabtree, Mrs Prusac led the affirmative side, while Kaitlyn Crymble and Beccy Snell joined Mr Haining in arguing the negative. The focus of the debate was whether or not it was possible for Australia to be using 100% renewable energy by 2050. Despite everyone being in support of renewable energy, the negative team was triumphant.

Also on Thursday we had a guest from CERES in Brunswick visit the Youth Ministry Lounge where she set up some card quizzes on sustainability. Students had a fun and interesting time matching up statistics on water usage, energy and waste. Other students took part in lunchtime orienteering around the school grounds.

Friday was Tree Planting Day and for the Year 12s it was also Wrap It Up Day, which focussed on saving energy by having all the Year 12 classroom heaters turned off during the day and allowing students to come to school in their warmest clothes. The tree planting took place at lunchtime, as students volunteered to work in groups to plant native seedlings near the back ovals.

Sr Mary also donated PLA 280ml and 360ml cups plus BioStraws to the CSYMA Lounge. PLA plastic (or polylactic acid) is made from renewable raw materials such as corn-based resin and is environment and resource friendly. It requires significantly less energy to mould into plastic containers and is biodegradable and compostible.

(1) VNA Netball Tournament

On Friday 27 July, five netball teams represented the College at the Victorian School Championships at the State Netball Hockey Centre. We played against other schools from across Victoria and the team who finished on top in each age group advanced to the next division. The tournament was for Year 8-12 girls and Year 10-12 boys. All year levels performed well without making it through to the next division. Everyone at the tournament was supportive and cheering each other on when playing, which made it a great day. Overall, it was a good experience for everyone to play netball, learn new skills and have fun playing with their friends. Everyone at MLMC played well and should be very proud of themselves. — Paris Saunders (Year 8 Blue)

On 27 July, MLMC gathered together with their netball teams and set off to the State Netball and Hockey Centre to play six games. Our first game consisted of extra warm-up time, with the opposing school, Camberwell, not turning up until half-time. It gave us a six-point half-time lead, not that it affected the score though, with the team scoring eight goals in the second half. Winning the second game convincingly meant that the boys went into their two toughest games of the day full of confidence. This confidence was quickly shut down, with Flinders coming out of the blocks firing and MLMC suffering from some inaccurate shooting. After copping a smashing by Luther, the MLMC boys came home strong with two wins from their last two games to finish in third position, just shy of a grand final berth. Matt Phillips took out the Most Valuable Player award. It was a great day and I can’t wait to do it again next year. — Jackson Flint (Year 11 Green)

(2) EISM Weekly Sport Reminders

With the 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 plan — 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 players must wear long navy socks (available at the Doyle Centre for $10 each) 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.
• 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 dropdown box and click 'Go').

(3) EISM Football

Good luck to the Senior Boys football team who are playing in the Grand Final against Aquinas College next Wednesday (8 August), at Aquinas College in Ringwood. This is the second year in a row that MLMC and Aquinas are playing off in the Grand Final. Good luck boys!

(4) Cross Country Training

It’s that time of year again. With only one more House Sports Carnival left for the year, it would be great if we could get as many students as possible participating in cross country training in preparation for the House Carnival on Friday 17 August. Cross country training is held on Mondays (3.30-4.30pm) and Wednesdays (7.00-8.00am), with breakfast provided afterwards. Meet at the Doyle Centre for both sessions. All abilities and fitness levels welcome. For details, please contact Miss Webb.

The House Cross Country Carnival will be run throughout Friday 17 August as follows:

• Years 9-10: Periods 1-2 (compulsory participation)
• Years 11-12: Lunchtime (invitational)
• Years 7-8: Periods 5-6 (compulsory participation)

The course is 3km for all year levels and is run along the Warburton Trail and within school grounds. This is a qualifying event for the EISM Cross Country Team. Get yourself along to training if you would like an opportunity to run on the course before the day.

(5) Sports Results

Senior Results 25 July

Year 9 Results 26 July

Year 8 Results 31 July

Senior Results 1 August

Year 9 Results 2 August

Year 7s were exposed to an entertaining investigation into the pitfalls of technology including cyber bullying at school, stress, lack of privacy and de-sensitisation as part of their Pastoral Care program on Tuesday 24 July. Brainstorm Productions presented Cyberia, a two-person show on the dangers of cyberbullying.

In consultation with IT, education and mental health experts, the Brainstorm Productions team have woven together true stories of Gen Y/Z's internet experiences. It poses questions about how the digital age is affecting our brains, our humanity and our future.

The program covers: cyber bullying, digital citizenship, social websites, internet security, exclusion, alienation, isolation, responsible use of technology, addiction, control, reputation and safety.

Here are some student reflections from the incursion:

On Tuesday, the Year 7s participated in an anti-cyber bullying play, where we learnt a lot of valuable lessons and many different ways to avoid and get out of these online situations. They performed true story events, which made it more relatable and easier to connect to. This experience has made difficult online situations more understandable for people that have never experienced it before. — Serena Borg (Year 7 Red)

On Tuesday all the Year 7 classes watched a cyber bullying awareness play and learnt about cyber safety and how to stay safe online. The performance was extremely informative and very interesting and went through the troubles of two teenagers online. It was based on a true story where two teenagers suffer through scams and bullying incidents such as threats and blackmail that some teenagers around the world have had to deal with every day. — Harrison Largue (Year 7 Gold)

Last week the Year 10 VET Sport and Recreation class headed to Falls Creek to complete a range of tasks that linked in with a variety of assessment criteria covered in the course. Students were challenged by two days of cross-country skiing that involved camping out in the snow before completing two days of downhill skiing or snowboarding. In addition to practical and theoretical aspects, students decided to commit to a social component by supporting the Mt Beauty op-shop, buying some funky clothes for our Frock Up Friday dinner. A big thank you to staff members Danni Webb, Greg Hysted and Sienna Spencer for assisting with the running of the camp, along with the students who displayed tremendous resilience and initiative throughout.

Here is one student’s reflection of the camp:

Last Wednesday, my Sport and Recreation class and I headed up to Falls Creek for a four-day camp in the snow. It was a very early wake-up but spirits returned when we were treated to some Maccas on the way, not to mention a stop at the Mt Beauty op-shop to get our Frock Up Friday outfits. We arrived at Falls, got fitted for our skis, had a practice and began the first half of our camp, which was cross-country skiing across the national park. We soon discovered it was physically demanding and, after many stacks and struggles getting back up, we decided it was time to find a camping spot and set up for the night. Stories were told and photos were taken as we cooked and ate dinner. Mr Hysted didn't really get to eat his curry, as it somehow ended up on his shoe and in the snow. An early night was well and truly needed. The next morning consisted of cross-country skiing without our packs around the area before returning to Windy Corner. That night we stayed at the lodge. We enjoyed a nice dinner, played a bit of Kelly Pool and went to bed to prepare for our big day. Our first day of downhill had everyone up and about early, keen to learn how to ski or board. After our lessons everyone was hitting the slopes and really getting the hang of it. Everyone loved the freedom to go wherever and do their own thing. That night was Frock Up Friday, where we put our op-shop skills to work and pulled out our best gear for a ‘classy’ dinner out. The people at the restaurant didn't know what hit them. The next day we were treated to perfect weather, sweet stacks and another awesome day on the slopes before coming home. Snow Camp was the best camp I’ve ever been on and I had so much fun. I learnt skills like skiing and how to camp and adapt to different weather conditions, while having the time of my life. We went on the camp to not only have a bit of fun but also understand the different aspects of the sport and recreation industry, including work health and safety, creative thinking and how to respond to emergency situations. Some parts of the camp were tough, like being wet and cold during the night in the snow, waking up early, and the physically demanding aspect when cross-country skiing up and across hills. But, these times were nothing compared to how I felt on the rest of the camp, when I was laughing with mates, skiing down runs and having fun at the lodge. — Bridgit Deed (Year 10 Jade)

Plenty of activities were held across the College as part of Sustainability Week, with Tree Planting Day on Friday 27 July a highlight.

The very essence of sustainability is to do something that will stand the test of time — socially and environmentally. Three members of MLMC staff have been doing their bit for sustainability for many years, with Mick Hill, Andy Commerford and teacher Danny Katzen helping students plant native trees at MLMC for 20 years. The endeavours of the students over the years is visible when you look at the photo comparisons (below).

This year's tree planting took place at lunchtime, as students volunteered to work in groups to plant native seedlings near the back ovals.

In late May, 81 MLMC students took part in the 2018 University of New South Wales ICAS (International Competitions and Assessments for Schools) Science competition. ICAS is a comprehensive educational assessment program available for schools which assesses the problem-solving skills needed for success in Science. Every year thousands of schools participate in ICAS in over 20 countries, with more than 8.9 million students participating since 2002.

At Years 7, 8 and 9, a number of MLMC students were invited to participate based on their Science teacher’s recommendation or performance in the competition in previous years. At Years 10 and 12 all of the students sought participation by themselves.

Students from MLMC achieved outstanding results this year at all year levels, with the College’s average scores being above the national average. Those students whose achievements were prominent were awarded Certificates of Merit, Credit, Distinction and High Distinction.

MLMC’s Baxter Lill (Year 8) received an outstanding result, achieving a High Distinction Certificate. Brent Martin, Campbell Manser, Jonathan White, Annalise Roper, Noah Ruta, Hunter Keen, Callum Ludwig, Luke Phillips and Ryan Finette all received excellent results and were awarded a Distinction Certificate. Twenty-four MLMC students also obtained Credit Certificates and 12 received Merit Certificates.

All students who participated will receive a certificate over the upcoming weeks. High Distinction and Distinction Certificates will be issued later. All students who took part in the competition are commended for taking on the challenge and striving to achieve their personal best. Congratulations to all participants of the 2018 UNSW ICAS Science Competition. An excellent effort by all.

Thank you to all students, staff, parents, and community members who donated to our Winter Appeal. The goods were donated to both the St Vincent de Paul Society in Lilydale and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Footscray. The work these two organisations do in aiding the less fortunate is outstanding and as a community we are proud be able to support them. To find out more about these two organisations please go to these links:

www.vinnies.org.au/

www.asrc.org.au/

During the July school holidays, MLMC entered birds in the Royal Melbourne Poultry Show. The birds were prepared for the show by students in the Young Farmers Club and VCE Agriculture and Horticulture class.

Kirsten Moerth entered a cockerel and pullet silver spangled Hamburg and received first place in both of her Junior categories — a great effort. The Show is one of the most prestigious fanciers competitions in Australia and consistently boasts over 1400 entries from 120 exhibitors.

The rare and heritage bird program at the school provides a wonderful opportunity for our students to further develop their poultry learning.

A special thanks to parent volunteer Anita Moerth who looked after the Gold Legbars and Gold Spangled Hamburgs over the summer break, whose support was vital for the program to go ahead in 2018. Thanks to Max Staley and the Damen family for attending the show. It is wonderful to have such enthusiastic poultry students at the school.

Year 7 students have been investigating how and why we classify things in our world in their Science classes. As part of this investigation, we have been discussing the differences between invertebrates and vertebrates. Students were provided with a fish and a prawn and were tasked with identifying features of both animals with a focus on investigating the main differences between an endoskeleton and an exoskeleton via dissection. This is an authentic applied learning task taking the students out of the pages of their textbooks and doing the real work of a biologist.

Here are two student reflections of the fish dissections:

Last week Year 7 classes got to participate in what was to be our first proper dissection in secondary school. We had to dissect a fish as well as a prawn and our goal was to be able to find the main differences between vertebrates and invertebrates. The thought of the dissection sickened some of us, while it enthralled others. Regardless of our opinion on cutting open these creatures and examining their insides, we all learnt how to classify animals based on their skeletal attributes. Though some may not say it, I believe that we all had fun and learnt plenty about classifying animals. — Campbell Manser (Year 7 Red)

Last week my class was given the opportunity to dissect a fish and a prawn. The whole purpose of this exercise was find out the differences between invertebrates and vertebrates. I found this practical quite interesting. It was fun to learn about the way we classify different creatures. During this class I felt a bit upset because we were cutting open a once-living thing, but I knew there was a reason for doing it. Overall, though, it was quite enjoyable. — Kathleen Rhodes (Year 7 Red)

Year 11 Agriculture students recently visited Dookie College, part of the University of Melbourne, to explore different farming systems. Hosted by Dr Chris Barnes, lecturer in viticulture and wine, we had a broad range of experiences.

Within the 120-year-old winery on site, we explored the passive solar design of the old building, recessed into a slope to control temperature. Even on the hottest days a constant temperature is maintained due to the design. Some of the challenges of making modern wine in such an old building were also discussed and we learnt about steps taken to control spoilage and other issues.

Students then explored the campus of Dookie, which is more like a town, with its own post office, petrol station and primary school. The 25m pool is always a highlight of the tour. The story of Dookie students being given wheelbarrows and shovels and then told to dig out a pool if they wanted one always amazes our students.

The final highlight of the tour was time spent with the Dairy Farm Manager. A full tour of the farm, including the robotic milking plant, on-site digester, water recycling system and the management of the laser-levelled irrigated paddocks were all demonstrated. Students had the opportunity to measure grass yield, examine faeces for nutritional analysis, compare nutrition programs for life cycles and feed poddy calves.

The College would like to thank Dr Chris Barnes for his wonderful hospitality. University of Melbourne is an outstanding destination for our students in the Agriculture program and the trip to Dookie is always a highlight of the year.

It's not too late to grab a ticket to see this year's College Musical, Back to the '80s!

There are two more performances to go - tonight and tomorrow night at 7.30pm.

Tickets are no longer available for purchase online, however there are tickets for sale at the door on the night from 7pm.

You can check out the action in this video filmed and edited by the very talented Grace Clinton from Year 11.

And the online program is available for you to flick through here http://www.mlmc80.com so you can read about our fabulous cast, crew and band.

We hope you pull on your leg warmers, enjoy the show and get Footloose in the audience.

On 2 July I had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of one of the most amazing experiences any Australian could have. I trekked the 106km Kokoda Trail with my family and new-found friends. The track is important to us because my dad has been in the Army Reserve for 30 years and my great grandfather (my dad’s grandpa) was in Kokoda during World War II in 1942.

The track was as hard to walk as everyone says. I just feel so sorry for the Australian soldiers who had to walk this track with no training and carrying 26kg or more while fighting for our country. I learnt so much about the challenges they faced, and this helped me understand the work we had been doing during Semester 1 in Humanities where we were studying the two World Wars.

The hardest part of the track, in my mind, was not the actual walking, but the mindset of needing to keep pushing on and on to get to the end of each day so that I could take a load off and lay in the river to cool off. The best part was the experience in itself, to be able to walk in the footsteps of our heroes and share this with my family. I am very grateful to our soldiers and the life they have given us by their sacrifice.

We ate the same food for nine days straight: for breakfast it was cornflakes with hot dehydrated milk, for lunch we had wraps with noodles and tuna fried over a fire and for dinner we had stew and rice. When I finished it was the most satisfying feeling and we were all full of emotion as everyone was starting to cry and hug each other — it was a beautiful moment. If I had the option, I would definitely walk it again.

Two current MLMC students and an Old Collegian are excelling in Irish dancing. While Shea Bilton-Gough (class of 2011) is showing off her skills in a show in Melbourne called the Irish Celtic, the McGarry sisters, current students Katherine and Erin, did so well at the State Solo Championship last weekend that they qualified for next year’s World Championships.

Katherine (Year 7 Green) placed sixth in the State Solos competition held at Casey Grammar in Cranbourne last weekend. Erin (Year 9 White) placed fourth. Both girls qualified for the World Championships, which will be held in North Carolina, USA, next year. While that is a big honour, both girls have instead chosen to compete at the Australian national titles in Cairns this year.

Both girls are at an Irish dance school called McAleer. They followed their Irish family heritage into the sport and often compete on one weekend a month. The State Solo competition involved getting wigs, tiaras, hair, make-up, tan and, of course, the solo dresses. State Solo involves three rounds of dancing, two of which are in hard shoe and there is one soft-shoe round. For the hard-shoe round dancers are judged on rhythm, timing and technique, while for the soft-shoe round dancers are judged on flexibility, movement, technique and timing.

The sisters train more than seven hours each through the week, with more work put in leading up to big competitions. “When I found out I came fourth at States I was very surprised and happy with myself since this was my first time competing in State Solo competition,” Erin said. Katherine was equally thrilled with her State Solos result. “I felt super happy when I found out I placed sixth and qualified for worlds. All of the girls in my section dance so well and it was a very tough section. Last year I got eighth, so when I finished sixth I was so happy and I can't wait until next year,” she said.

After three years of touring the world in shows, Old Collegian Shea is back in Melbourne to perform in Irish Celtic at the Palms at Crown until 5 August. Shea is the only Australian in the international cast, dancing to a live band.

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