“Reconciliation Week will run from 27 May to 3 June and the theme this year is “Be Brave. Make Change” and is a challenge to all Australians -individuals, families, organisations and government- to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so that we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians. It is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and to explore how each of us can contribute to reconciliation in Australia”

https://nrw.reconciliation.org...

The last two weeks have been packed with activity. Last week we held the Annual Athletics Carnival. Congratulations to Carmel House on winning the House Athletics Trophy and to Mercy for winning the House Cheer Trophy. The day was blessed with good weather and the atmosphere was wonderful. It was a joy to see the students once again participating in a whole school event.

The Year 12 Student Leaders also prepared and lead a wonderful Dare2Donate Day on Friday for which they must be commended. Teachers are dared in order to raise money and this year we celebrated the tenth year of Dare2Donate. Aside from lots of fun, some very authentic and amazing costumes and the Mega Dare of 2022, the day raised money for McAuley Community Services for Women who support women and families in crisis. Students engaged in the important work of reaching out to those in need whilst at the same time building community spirit. The success of the event is the way both staff and students share in raising money for something more important than ourselves. Teachers model courage as they dress up in amazing costumes, dance, sing or perform. Congratulations must go to all students and staff for a very successful event.

As you are no doubt aware there has been much reported in the media about teacher and student absences due to illness. I am pleased to say that while OLMC has not been immune we have been able to manage so far. The Leadership Team has developed a plan to monitor and manage an increase in absences should they rise. It is so important that anyone who is ill remains at home and your support is very much appreciated.

You received information about the changes to the Rapid Antigen testing for secondary school students and staff. From Monday 23 May students and staff are no longer required to test twice weekly. Rapid Antigen Test kits will continue to be provided each fortnight until the end of Term 2. These will be sent home with students. Rapid Antigen Testing will continue to be required by students who are household contacts to attend school (five negative tests over a seven-day period) or who have symptoms. House hold contacts are also required to wear a mask at school while indoors. All staff members and students should feel free to wear a mask at school should they choose to do so.

Tonight is the opening night of the M² Production of Matilda; a joint venture between OLMC and Marcellin College. Congratulations to the cast and crew on what will be a wonderful performance. We wish you all the very best for a very successful and much awaited live performance.

So as our country elects our leaders, we pray...

God of this land and of every people,

who shape all things according to your own design

and write your law in every human heart:

we thank you for this country we call home,

from the First Nations people to others born here

and those you have gathered from across the earth.

We pray for the citizens of our land in this troubled time,

that we may be committed to justice,

to the dignity of each human life,

and to solidarity with all Australians and with the world.

Guide all who seek election to serve the nation;

may the Holy Spirit inspire them to pursue a better politics

that is wise and courageous and governs for the good of all.

May all of us see and hear you in the most vulnerable,

that we may respond to the cry of the earth

and the cry of the poor,

that we may respond to you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

These past few weeks of Term 2 have certainly been eventful and joyful for the students.

Our annual Athletics Carnival was held on Tuesday 10 May at Box Hill Athletics Track. This is such a significant event in our calendar as it provides students with the opportunity to form new relationships and step outside their comfort zones by participating in the wide range of events on offer. The ‘give it a go’ attitude that was displayed by all students was impressive, particularly by the students who had never participated in athletic events such as high jump and triple jump. This event continues to build a strong sense of belonging to our House system and gives students the opportunity to participate in College events.

Last week we also had our much loved and long-standing event, Dare 2 Donate which raises money for McAuley Community Services for Women. McAuley Community Services for Women helps women and children suffering from domestic violence and homelessness with their main goal “that women and children will be safe, supported and empowered to achieve their highest potential: all home safely”. This year we held the 10th Anniversary of Dare 2 Donate! It is an event where students dare their teachers to dress up or perform other dares in a bid to raise money, whilst having a bit of fun. The Student Leadership Team organised a fundraising initiative, Casual Clothes Wednesday, in the leadup and we were overwhelmed by the generosity from our students.

On Friday 13 May, the school gathered in the Nalleijerring Centre for the parade of dares which included Harry and Lizzo at Coachella, an audition tape for next season's Survivor, Carl from Up, the Masked Singer, Kris Jenner, Maleficent, a flash mob performance and much more. We are grateful for our wonderful staff who were willing to challenge themselves to help us raise money for such an important cause. This year we set a target of $4000, and whilst money is still being counted, we are proud to say that we have exceeded this target. Thank you to all students and families who contributed. Dare 2 Donate is definitely a highlight of the OLMC calendar and it was so wonderful to come together and have fun as a community.

Student Reflections

The 2022 House Athletics Carnival…what an amazing day! It was great to see many OLMC girls participating in heaps of activities and giving everything a go, as well as many supporting and cheering on others in their events! The cheering really kept the spirits up creating a positive environment and stronger sense of community here at OLMC. Over the past few years we have faced obstacles such as COVID, however, we are so grateful the annual Athletics Carnival could go ahead this year. We both loved seeing everyone in their red, yellow, blue and green, especially the Year 12s in their costumes! The weather was perfect and we could not have asked for a better day! We are very thankful for Mr Robertson and Ms McCullagh huge efforts to make the day run smoothly, and also a big thank you to all the staff that helped out on the day. Georgia A. and Annabel G. (Sport Captains)

The annual Athletics Carnival proved to be an amazing day filled with joy and courage. It was great to see many people stepping out of their comfort zones, being courageous and trying something new. From the Year 7s and 8s at the morning stalls getting glammed up in yellow, to the Year 12s on the track dressed in some very creative costumes, it all contributed to the sense of belonging that was felt throughout the day. The House Cheering throughout the day, with the help of our wonderful Karaoke Captains, brought great joy to us as the Mercy Captains, as it showed how willing our House was to get involved, even if it wasn’t on the track. Furthermore, seeing runners being cheered and clapped on by their peers as they ran past really demonstrated the House spirit we have been building in preparation for this day. We are very proud of our amazing Mercinians and we couldn’t have asked for a more fabulous day! Sophie M. and Ava C. (Mercy House Captains)

The 2022 House Athletics Carnival was a day filled with excitement, joy and appreciation (especially for the perfect weather!) We were all so excited for this day to go ahead and everyone to be back together as a school community. The Year 12 parade was definitely a highlight marking our last Athletics Carnival ever! The participation and cheering from the Carmelities was amazing and we are so grateful everyone was willing to get on the track/field and get involved. We were ecstatic after finding out we would be taking home the 2022 Athletics Trophy (a rare occasion for Carmel) and were so proud of everyone for helping us achieve this. A big thank you to Mr Roberston and Ms McCullagh for organising the event and all the staff on the day for ensuring it ran smoothly. Chloe T. and Mollie L. (Carmel House Captains)

The 2022 House Athletics Carnival was so much fun! It was a great opportunity for everyone to get involved in heaps of different activities. The day was filled with laughter and some friendly competition. The House spirit was amazing and we are so excited that we won the Cheer Trophy!! We are so proud of all the McAuley members that got involved and gave it a go. It was an amazing day overall and we are so grateful to all the people who organised it and kept the day going! It was a fantastic day! Georgia S. and Julia C. (McAuley House Captains)

The House Athletics Carnival was an amazing opportunity for the students to get out of the classroom, enjoy the sunshine and get involved in House activities. Whether people were running 100ms, jumping over the high jump bar or cheering for their House, it was an amazing celebration of sports in our OLMC Community. Congratulations to all the Loreto students who participated, cheered or brought home a ribbon to add to the collection - we are so proud of you all and are over the moon about placing second overall! Thank you again to Mr Robertson, Ms McCullagh, Georgia, Bel and everyone else who was involved in the day, it was a huge success! Alessia M. and Tahlia S. (Loreto House Captains)

We can’t wait to see what the rest of this term brings for OLMC students. Almost halfway through the term everyone!

Carla De Vuono and Jasmin Burns
2022 Communications Captains

On Tuesday 17 May, a wonderfully enthusiastic and inquisitive group of students across Years 9-12 made their way to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Answering a call out to learn more about the opportunities for young women in trades and technology, they were excited, although a little apprehensive, about what the Expo would offer. Promising to showcase employment options within the trades and tech industries, with interactive displays to experience what these careers could be, the expo did not disappoint with students climbing into forklifts and heavy haul trucks, donning virtual reality headsets to explore the inner workings of elevator shafts, trying their hand at bricklaying, virtual welding, lock-picking and pipe assembly and exploring robotics and mechanical systems in motorbikes.

Students took up the chance to attend panel discussions with a range of engaging and passionate speakers keen to share their experiences and advice and listened intently to the exhibitors offering information and opportunities within their industry and workplace. Leaving with plenty of branded ‘loot’ including T-shirts, caps, pens, keyrings, show bags and even plants, it was a pleasure to hear students sharing their newfound insights, comparing their expo experiences and naming their preferred trade and tech industries. Reflecting on their experience, students shared the following:

“Talking with people that have similar interests to me like the women in the STEM booth was very interesting as I got to hear all about their personal stories and journeys.”

“There are a lot of different jobs out there that are worth exploring.”

“One presenter encouraged us not to be scared or put off because these are such male-dominated fields. I feel like that really stuck with me.”

“I enjoyed the plumbing activity where you had to assemble some pipes as fast as you could in order to win a cool prize.”

Students who attended the Expo are now exploring possible VET courses to incorporate into their senior school program which will allow them to start building their technical knowledge and skills whilst gaining a recognised qualification. These include programs such as electrotechnology, automotive, building and construction and IT. They were introduced to the idea of apprenticeships and traineeships as viable post-school options and all students left the expo with a sense of wonder and excitement at just what their future might hold.

Melinda Williams
Careers Coordinator

During Term 2, Year 7 Humanities students are developing their understanding of water as a resource. As we sit in class with bottles on our tables and visit clean and well-maintained bathrooms, we often take this vital element for granted.

No more! At Year 7, we are considering that over 700 million people worldwide don’t have access to reliable water sources, nor do they have the luxury of turning on a tap for a drink. Many - mostly women and children around the globe - have to walk kilometres and carry this life-giving resource in order to have it available at home.

Our Year 7 Water Warriors are researching the problem and thinking about possible solutions. They are putting human faces to the worldwide water shortage, thinking about students their age who may or may not be in the classroom, some having already carried water from their villages, rivers or wells.

Our Water Warriors cannot fix the global water crisis, but we are starting to think deeply about it. Over the next four weeks, small teams will brainstorm, discuss and collaborate on a final project that will answer our term-long question: how would you provide better access to and use of clean water in your (focus) country?

We cannot wait to see what our students come up with as they work through the creative process.

Rosemary Jones
Humanities Learning Leader

In VCAL this term, we are learning about the Australian Government and the preferential voting system. As a class, we are putting the preferential voting system into action, giving the Year 8s the opportunity to vote for an exclusive food event hosted by the VCAL students. Each of us is promoting a different food event, such as “Dazzling Donut Party”, “Pizza Day” or “Pie Party”. We are going to promote our campaign at the Year 8 assembly, where we will present our concept and following this, the Year 8s will vote, by preference, for which option they want to win.

We have created a ballot paper, and assembled a voting stand and ballot box to simulate an authentic polling booth. We will conduct the election using secret ballot, and once all the Year 8s have voted, we will count the votes and distribute the preferences until we have an absolute majority, which is more than 50% of the vote. That way we know which is the most preferred option of the majority of the students. We are looking forward to hosting the event for the students later in the term.

Bridie B. (MFTA) - Year 12 VCAL student

One of the core elements of the VCAL program is to help students become active citizens who understand and value their participation in a democratic society. The upcoming federal election has provided the ideal context to explore the Australian political system, the parliamentary structure, the different parties and their policies, and how the government is formed. The students now know which electorate they belong to, who represents them at present, and how our preferential voting system will determine who will win their seat in federal parliament in this election.

Of course, there is no better way to understand our voting system and the logistics of an election than through an authentic real-life experience. The VCAL students have enjoyed putting together their own campaigns for the Year 8 exclusive food fest and preparing for the election. They will no doubt have fun conducting the election, counting the votes using the preferential voting system, and planning and hosting the winning event for the lucky Year 8 students!

Ms Helen Hamblin
VCAL Coordinator

Problem solving is the heart of mathematics. All mathematics stems from our understanding of our universe and learning to decode the mysteries linking humans to the natural and technological world. This is done through understanding our world in context and making sense of our place in the universe. The pursuit of knowledge is driven by problem solving and our capacity to wrestle with mathematical and scientific questions.

Our Year 11 Mathematical Methods students are endeavouring to become better problem solvers. Students are presented with problem solving tasks on a weekly basis and they are encouraged to “represent” a problem individually by using pictures, diagrams, drawings, graphs, algorithms and numbers. Through their working students are encouraged to explain and justify their solutions through their working procedures. This provides a window into the cognitive processes of each student and allows their teachers to determine if a correct understanding of the curriculum content has taken place.

Problem solving and decoding problems from a worded context is often seen by students as a daunting and difficult process. Many students struggle with anxiety related to knowing where to start. This can manifest in negative neurological and cognitive responses. Confusion adds to the negative experience and this can result in disengagement from learning. Consequently, our teachers are providing multiple opportunities for problem solving in the Year 11 Methods course content. The teachers are enhancing the students' critical and creative thinking capabilities by giving them a structure for solving problems and representing their solutions. Students are empowered to take on the challenge, make sense of the context, synthesise a solution and justify their working. The success that students experience as a result of problem solving helps develop personal attributes such as building their self-esteem, love of learning, resilience and confidence to take on future learning opportunities.

Multiple opportunities are being provided by the Mathematics Learning Area for students across all year levels to develop their problem-solving skills. These include the MEXI program in Year 7, the APSMO program in Year 8 and the Brainstretching program in Year 9. Students are also able to compete in the Computational and Algorithmic Competition, Mathematics Challenge and Australian Mathematics Competition which takes place during the year. Furthermore, students are being challenged in the classroom by their teachers through the ‘Smash Maths Program’. It is exciting and gratifying to see our students engage with their mathematics at ever-increasing levels. Congratulations to the girls and their teachers for working cooperatively to enhance the most important skill in Mathematics – Problem Solving.

Mark Vorster
Mathematics Learning Leader

There has been much excitement over the past few months for Year 10 students in the Health and PE elective, Health In Our Community. Students have had the opportunity to take home an electronic infant for a two day period. During Term 1, the Health in Our Community classes studied a unit on Maternal Health which focussed on the impact motherhood has on the dimensions of Health and Wellbeing.

Students wore a wireless sensor and were required to individually tend to the baby's needs which included feeding, burping, rocking, changing, dressing and handling the baby correctly. The girls had to navigate their usual classes and outside commitments all with a newborn baby in tow. The program challenged students and gave them the opportunity to develop initiative, multitasking and compassion.

The girls took on the project with commitment and determination. It was rewarding to see how much the girls gained from the experience. While many girls were sad to say goodbye to the baby, others gave an exhausted sigh of relief and quickly handed the baby back.

So, what did the students have to say about the project….

“Initially it was quite challenging to recognise what the baby was needing, however as time progressed, I was able to identify the different sounds and tones of Lenny’s cry as to what he needed. For example, a loud sudden cry would mean he wanted to be fed.” - Sienna

“This project influenced me to have a greater appreciation for parents, particularly mothers. It is so hard to care for a baby and make sure you are providing it with everything it wants, which is something I didn’t realise before taking part in the project.” - Shae

“I genuinely enjoyed the experience so much and I think it has taught me a lot about independence and how much effort you need to put into motherhood.” - Amelia

“I have learnt the basics of what is required to be a good mother, which is something I thoroughly enjoyed. I also enjoyed how the baby project linked directly to what we were learning in class.” - Trinity

Well done to all students for the courage and care they displayed.

Madeleine Omizzolo
Health in Our Community Teacher

Excitement levels are incredibly high in the MHT this week as the cast and crew put the final touches on Matilda ahead of the opening night tonight (Friday 20 May). The season has seven performances with very limited tickets still available. The students have been rehearsing since February to put together a fabulous performance, we couldn’t be prouder of their hard work and dedication.

• Friday 20th May 7pm (SOLD OUT)
• Saturday 21st May 2pm & 7pm
• Thursday 26th May 7pm
• Friday 27th May 7pm (1 TICKET REMAINING)
• Saturday 28th May 2pm & 7pm

If you haven’t already got your tickets, get onto the TryBooking link now to snap up one of the last few available. We hope to see you at the show!

www.trybooking.com/BYHOY

Felicia Taine & Hayley Gamble-Curran

What is it like being in the production?

This semester, OLMC and Marcellin College students had the delightful opportunity to immerse themselves in the fantastical world of Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda’, by performing in the musical written by Dennis Kelly. So what was it like being a performer in an M2 Production? With its pizazz, humour, style, intelligence and all-around entertainment quotient, the musical never failed to impress! The production rehearsals provided us with a welcome distraction from the stresses of school life and gave us something fun to look forward to each week. It has been the utmost rewarding experience to see this performance come together. Whether it be watching new friendships blossom, people building confidence to explore their dramatic side, learning dances and songs together or the thrill of getting costumes ready - we’re sure that everyone has gained something valuable from this wonderful experience. We are incredibly proud of the dedication, compassion and resilience shown by the cast and crew and we hope that audiences enjoy the show! Charlotte D. & Bella P. (MFTA)

So far, Semester 1 in the Science Learning Area has seen a number of year levels getting involved in Science extension.

We have a Year 9 team working through a thinking and research process, based on the Millennium Development Goals. This project will be presented at an interschool presentation session next month. The BrainSTEM challenge has our team working with a researcher from @AgeMelbourne - a research group at the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science. Last term the team attended the University for the Innovation Challenge Kickstarter and were taken on a tour of the Telstra Innovation Centre. Team member Heidi wrote:

The Kickstarter day for the 14th Innovation Challenge at BrainSTEM was lots of fun. A team of Year 9 students, including myself, went to The University of Melbourne and discuss STEM ideas, look around the University campus and labs, meet other schools and meet our mentor (who will be taking us on a twelve-week STEM journey) for the first time. All in all, it was a great day full of learning experiences and anticipation for what this program will bring next for us. Heidi C. (9DCH)

Our in-house Year 8 Extension program ran during March and April. Based on Year 7 results, students in the top 15% of the year level were invited to take part in the Extension sessions which involved an escape box challenge, deconstructing and transforming a mousetrap and taking time working on their own with one of the high-quality microscopes to explore pond water for microscopic creatures like water fleas and worms. One of the participants, Tiffany wrote:

The STEAM Extension program allows students to broaden their horizon in various subject areas, including Science. Students enjoyed receiving a breath of knowledge in Biology and Physics. In Biology, students used microscopes to observe various water samples taken from around Melbourne. In Physics, students learnt the basics of mechanics and created a catapult whilst exploring energy storage mechanisms. The program offered me the opportunity to extend my learning, whilst having fun with my peers. Tiffany M. (8MKY)

There was an open invitation to any interested Year 8 students to join the Term 2 program. This term focuses on some simple electronics, crafting and design thinking strategies.

Taking up the invitation to attend the Newman College Forum Dinner, three Year 12s and Ms Tran, braved a very wet Friday night to tour Newman College, including its spectacular chapel, and listen to Dr Douglas Brumley speak on the application of mathematics to open problems in Biology.

Susan Long
Science Learning Leader

Our Elite Dance squads can’t wait to compete in DanceLife Unite!

DanceLife Unite is an Australian, professional, dynamic and positively charged competition! Through a combination of both live and online events, DanceLife Unite offers an incredible national competition opportunity to all dancers within Australia.

Regional competitions are held in all major cities, with the Nationals being held in Sydney in September. Adjudicators are professional dancers from all over Australia.

Due to COVID, OLMC has been unable to participate in the Melbourne competition since 2019, so it is with great excitement and anticipation that the students are rehearsing twice a week for DanceLife Unite, on Sunday 5 June at St Bernard’s College, in Essendon.

Thirty students from Years 7-11 are representing OLMC in the secondary school dance section. Our Dance Captains have choreographed two fantastic jazz routines for the Junior and Senior Elite dancers and Year 11s Laura D and Ella P have choreographed a commercial hip hop routine.

Students have been rehearsing twice a week and with only a couple of weeks to go, they are working hard to finalise and polish the routines.

Deb Butterworth
Dance Teacher

St Pius Mother's Day Concert

On Thursday 5 May, we were invited to perform at St Pius X Primary School to provide music for their special Mother’s Day afternoon tea. Three wonderful Year 9 music students, accompanied by our Year 12 Arts Captains sang and performed beautiful background music.

It is wonderful to see the growing connection between OLMC and St Pius, through the Reading Club on Tuesday afternoons, the Horizon literacy and numeracy projects and now through invitations to share music and hospitality.

Going to St Pius X to perform for the Mother's Day Afternoon Tea was lots of fun. It was a great opportunity to perform, as they were a very welcoming crowd, and spread some cheer to the Heidelberg community. Heidi C. (Year 9)

It was such a great and rewarding experience, my favourite part being performing alongside one of their younger students! There was such an amazing sense of community and welcome amongst everyone involved. Emma G. (Arts Captain)

Lauren Marquet and Elise Cooper
Social Justice Coordinators

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