by Sonya Tamos

Welcome to all the new Year 7 students and welcome back to everyone else.

All students are randomly allocated to one of our four House groups and will remain is these groups whilst at the College. We have three whole College Sporting Carnivals during the year – Swimming, Athletics and Cross Country. Swimming was held on Thursday February 25, Athletics on Monday May 10 and Cross Country, which will now incorporate a colour run aspect to it, on Tuesday March 23. Winners of these events have the opportunity to compete in the Yarra Division event and then possibly the Eastern Metropolitan Region events. All students are encouraged to participate in all whole school carnivals, whether competing or just having fun and cheering on their House mates. Great chance to dress up in your House colours too.

Our Houses are:

OLINDA - BLUE HOUSE - derived from the Olinda Creek from where the future site of the Lilydale township was first seen.

House Captains: Beth Ackroyd and Jackson Butler. Vice Captains: Sara Greenhalgh and Lucinda Bowen

CASTELLA – YELLOW HOUSE - named after the family De Castella who were first to settle the Lilydale area.

House Captains: Megan Galletti and Jade Mason. Vice Captains: Cayden Cameron and Sarah Rice.

MELBA – GREEN HOUSE - named after Dame Nellie Melba, the famous opera singer who was born in the area, lived her later years in Coldstream and is buried in the cemetery across from the school.

House Captains: Eliza Jeeves and Jordy Thomas. Vice Captain: Maddie Amore.

YARRA – RED HOUSE - named after the indigenous inhabitants of the Lilydale area, the Yarra Yarra Tribe. House Captains: Aidan Norfolk, Abbey Harrop and Cat D’Cuoto. Vice Captains: Bailey Griffiths, Olivia Ray and Ben Whittle.

Term 1 also sees the start of our inter-school sports competitions. We are affiliated with the Yarra Division and compete with a number of other schools in the area. Term 1 are the summer sports including cricket, tennis, softball, baseball and volleyball. K eep an eye out for results!