Mornington Secondary College Newsletter

From the Principal

Hello everyone, 

 

I have received great feedback about our newsletters each week and I would like to thank you for taking the time to read about the fantastic activities happening with and for our students. 

 

I was privileged this week to listen to six Indigenous women speak to Year 7 and Year 12 students. The women call themselves the Western Desert women and they spoke about their role as Rangers in Country. Their work is so remote, they travelled three days to a major town where they could fly into Melbourne. It was great to hear about their work in conservation and their love for animals.  

 

NAPLAN officially finishes today. Any student at Year 7 and 9 absent during NAPLAN will have the opportunity to sit the tests tomorrow. 

 

Thankyou for supporting the College with the mobile phone ban. This is a Victorian Government mandate across all state schools. 

 

Parent/Teacher interviews will be held next Thursday. They will be online so please access Compass to book your interviews. If you are having difficulty, please contact the College.

 

Next week we also welcome Grade 5 students from our local primary schools. They will have a great time playing tabloid sports in our Stadium.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linda Stanton

Principal

 

Important Dates

March 

15/03/23 - 27/03/23 | Year 7 and Year 9 Naplan

20/03/23 - 24/03/23 | Year 8 Camps

30/03/23 | Parent/Teacher Interviews - Online

 

April

06/04/23 | Last day of Term 1- Finish 2.30pm

24/04/23 | First day of Term 2 - ANZAC Day Commemoration Service

25/04/23 | ANZAC Day Public Holiday

Middle School

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 

Yesterday morning the second camp for Year 8 left for Philip Island and in the afternoon the first camp group returned. The students were very tired but thrilled about having participated in all the activities. One student was telling me that on the last day, he was able to stand up while paddle boarding. He was very pleased with his accomplishment. The teachers gave glowing reports about how great the students were, and they too joined in the activities. 

 

We will conclude Naplan testing today. The students have been fantastic bringing their charged laptops and completing the tasks online.

 

Hands On Learning

I was thrilled to be invited to the cottage for lunch with the Hands-on Learning students. They had made hamburgers and salad. I was really impressed with their desire to show me what they had been doing so far.  The students were showing me the planter boxes that they had built, but they were more interested in explaining how much their seedlings had grown. The student’s genuine interest in the vegetable and flower seedlings growth was great to hear. 

 

Morrisby

Next week, Year 9 students commence the first stage of the Morrisby online. The Morrisby Profile tool collects information on individual aptitudes (strengths) career interests, values, personality type and skills and then blends this information to generate well considered career and study suggestions.  

 

Have a great week.

 

 

 

Denise Leggett

Middle School Assistant Principal

 

 

Senior School

Senior School Update week 9

A mere 10 school days to go until the holidays. Football has started, we’ve had a little bit of rain and daylights savings is only with us for another week and a bit. This might be a good thing for students (and staff) as it’s a bit dark in the morning when waking up. As we approach the end of term, energy levels can be lower, and our patience can be a bit tested. It’s really important that we all work consciously to align our behaviours with our Mornington values of Respect, Community and Achievement. We show our respect by being a positive participant in class activities and the yard, using school appropriate language and showing respect to each other. This respect for each other helps build a safe (physically, socially and emotionally) supportive learning environment for all Mornington SC people to achieve their personal best. 

 

Year 10 highlights - Some of our fantastic Year 10 students began engaging in the Mental Health Safe Talk within their Connect groups this week. This program strives to give our students the tools to recognise when they themselves, or their friends and classmates might be struggling and what supports are available to assist in those times. In line with this, our Year 10s are focussing on the importance of empathy and co-operation, not only with one another, but also with their teachers, because when we are all working together to achieve the same goal of learning, some incredible things can happen. All classes will have been part of this program over the next few days.

 

Year 11 highlights – Year 11 students have been more settled as we approach the midway point of Unit 1. The jump from Year 10 to Year 11 is always a big one however the students are now starting to settle into good routines and have been learning about effective study habits. Our VM students should by now be actively engaged in three different learning environments – school, TAFE (for their VET subject) and at a work placement. It’s a challenge to split their time over three different areas and we applaud their efforts. If any student is having any difficulties at all, we encourage them to contact the Year 11 team as soon as they can.

 

Year 12 highlights - Female indigenous rangers from very rural Australian outback sites visited MSC to speak to Year 12 students about aboriginal culture and leadership. This is a free event organised by Year 12 Environmental Science teacher, Kylie Wiersma, and a great opportunity for our students to learn more about Australian culture. It is hard for suburban students to fathom the size of the outback of Australia and the vast unpopulated spaces. To see maps of the outback and images of the areas the women patrol gives context to the varying environments within our country. 

Parent teacher interviews are approaching, and it is highly encouraged that all Year 12 students and parents make appointments to seek feedback about progress this year. It is a great opportunity to set goals for the year and ensure all things are on track to meet the desired outcomes of students.

 

 

 

Nick Evans

Senior School Assistant Principal

 

Year 7 Poppy blanket and Bunnings

We are very grateful to Bunnings Mornington for helping our  Year 7 students rejuvenate our Anzac Day Poppy blanket.

Year 8 Camp 1 - Phillip Island

Group one of our Year 8 Phillip Island camp have been having a fantastic time on the island bushwalking, paddle boarding, snorkelling, bike riding and generally having a great time bonding with each other and the teaching staff on camp.

Camp one returned to school on Wednesday with Camp two heading out on Wednesday also.

Year 9 Science - Ecology Unit

Students were testing if adding sugar to living population of yeast would grow faster than not adding sugar.  The results were successful, indicating if we feed sugar to yeast it will grow faster than yeast that isn't fed.

Year 10 Media

Year 10 Media students have been spending time getting to know all of the equipment available for use in our Arts Department.

VET Certificate II in Digital Technologies

Workplace Health Services (WHS) officials visited Mornington Secondary College last week. These WHS officers were looking for hazards in different parts of the school. Dressed in lab coats and fake moustaches, they were also armed with clipboards and a hazards checklist. Hazards identified were yoghurts past their use by date and blackberries that ‘were more mould than blackberry’! These are Year 10 students enrolled in the VET Certificate II in Digital Technologies finishing their unit on workplace health and safety. The students have appreciated learning how to ensure that their workplace is kept safe for the wellbeing of all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vocational Major Students Helping our Senior Citizens with Tech Help.

Year 12 Vocational Major students spend their Tuesday afternoons at Mornington Library, taking part in a program run by the library called Bridge the Tech Gap, helping Seniors with Technology issues and also to meet their VM outcomes. 

 

Some of the activities may include setting up new phones, how to use social media and tech help on their computer.

 

 Comments from the seniors who attended the sessions were:

“ Brilliant idea”, “ The best generation to help us,” “ Polite and well-mannered young people,”  “The last two Tuesdays I have received so much help,” “ Alyssa is amazing as she goes at my pace. “

 

The students love working with the seniors, and both generations spend Tuesday afternoons learning from each other. So far we have helped 50 senior citizens and look forward to the next 8 sessions working and helping our community.

 

Anne-Marie Burnet

 

 

Year 7 and Year 12 Dreamcatcher Program

On Thursday March 16th the Year 12 Dreamcatchers met their Year 7 buddies as part of Mornington Secondary College’s Adopt A Dreamcatcher Program with choc tops in hand. The Year 7 students wrote letters to their Year 12 mentors and were extremely excited to have an older student they could connect with and help them through their first year of high school. The Year 12 Dreamcatchers were eager to meet and share their wisdom with their year 7 buddies. 

The Adopt a Dreamcatcher program is a great opportunity for our Year 7 and Year 12 students to connect and support each other through their first and final years of high school, as well as working to inspire the Year 7s to aim high and achieve their very best.

Later in the year, the Year 7s will have an opportunity to attend Year 12 classes and do some fun activities to strengthen their relationships with their mentors. 

 

Kate Sugarman

Year 7 Coordinator

Evangeline Romage

Year 12 Coordinator 

 

MSC Sporting Excellence

A huge congratulations to Alyssa Molyneaux of Year 7 who has made some outstanding achievements in the sport of Rock Climbing. Alyssa been invited to join the Victorian Climbing Team as a result of her achievements and rankings.

 

Alyssa is currently ranked number 1 in Victoria in Bouldering in Youth C 

Alyssa is also currently ranked number 2 in Victoria in Lead Climbing in Youth C 

 

Due to Alyssa's current ranks, she has received an invitation to represent Victorian at the Australian Youth Championships in May, 2023. The 2023 Youth Nationals are at SICG Villawood (NSW) 

 

The disciplines guides are as follows:

BOULDERING -  Power and technique for an explosive performance of a maximum of 10 movements. Spectacular and intense gestures, maximum height 4.5 meters and a fall back on mattresses.

 

LEAD CLIMBING -  Height, endurance and strategy. Athletes climb rope-tied, one at a time, on a overhanging route with a 6-minute time limit. The one who gets the highest wins. Typically 20mtr High walls

 

What an outstanding achievement Alyssa! All the best with your training with the Olympic team and the Australian Youth Championships coming up in May.

Hands on Learning

Our students studying Hands on Learning visited Australian Unity - Racecourse Grange to spend time with some residents and play board games.

Everyone enjoyed their time and we are hoping to continue the relationship with the residents over the course of the year.

 

 

The Hands On Learning program would like to express their sincere thanks and gratitude to the following businesses for their support and donations:

  • Mornington Bunnings
  • FXD workwear for the work boots
  • Bakers Delight
  • Haynes Paint (Watts Road Branch).

Anzac Day Badges.

Anzac Day wristbands $3

Anzac Day badges $2 - $5

 

School leaders will be visiting connect classes until the end of term.

 

Year 7 | Thursday

Year 8 | Friday

Year 9 | Monday

Year 10 | Tuesday

Year 11 | Wednesday

Year 12 | Thursday

School Photos 2023

Our annual school photos have been taken and are now ready to order.

 

Arthur Reed Photos uses an online ordering system where you can view your photos prior to ordering.

 

Students have received a flyer which includes a code unique to them.

You will require this 2023 code to register online and view your photos.

 

If you have already registered, you will have received an email or SMS from Arthur Reed Photos with a link to view your photos.

 

If you have not yet registered, please go to order.arphotos.com.au and enter your code to complete your order.

 

If you have misplaced your registration code, please contact the Arthur Reed Photos customer service team directly on 5243 4390 (option 1) or customerservice@arphotos.com.au

 

Please note that you will need to register online with your 2023 photo code to gain access to this year’s images.

 

All photo packages will be sent directly to your nominated address, so please ensure that you enter the correct details and nominated shipping address upon checkout.

Savers Plus Information      

About Saver Plus:

Saver Plus is a free community program where you can get up to $500 in matched funding for education costs.

The program was developed by Brotherhood of St Laurence and ANZ in 2003. It is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services and ANZ.

 

There are three parts to the program:

  1. SAVING – ANZ bank will match what participants save up to $50 a month to a total of $500 over 10 months
  2. WORKSHOPS - fun workshops where participants build on their money management skills and we share lots of resources. These are held on Zoom and have never been more flexible to attend.
  3. CLAIMING - On the 11th month of the program participants claim their matched funding. 

In the information session we will discuss how the program works, eligibility criteria and how participants can get up to $500 as matched savings for education costs. Also take up questions about the program.

 

Register for their March’23 or April’23 information sessions by clicking on this link https://forms.office.com/r/N8isUYmGfC

 

Zoom link: https://bsl.zoom.us/j/68016074995?pwd=K2d4dWI4WjRMbGRlRng0NGhoVVVVZz09

Meeting id: 680 1607 4995

Passcode: 027166

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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