From the Principal
Over the past two weeks, we had the pleasure of hosting our friends from the Osaka PTA as part of our long-standing Japanese Cultural Exchange Program. It has been wonderful to see students building friendships, sharing cultures and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Our visitors embraced life at Mornington Secondary College, participating in classes, excursions and community activities, while our students gained valuable insights into Japanese culture and language. A heartfelt thank you goes to our incredible host families, student buddies and staff, whose generosity, warmth and commitment made the exchange such a rewarding experience.
Programs like this remind us that education extends far beyond the classroom, fostering global perspectives and meaningful relationships. As we farewelled our guests, we celebrated not just another successful exchange, but the continuation of a friendship that has connected Mornington Secondary College and the Osaka PTA for almost 30 years.
The exchange concluded with a Sayonara Party on Tuesday evening, where visitors, host students and staff came together to celebrate the experiences and friendships formed over the past 10 days before our guests departed for Japan.
Kind regards,
Adam Slater
Principal
Important Dates
Dates correct at time of posting and subject to change.
From the Principal Team
Year 10 Work Experience: Exploring the World of Work
One of the most valuable experiences our Year 10 students will undertake this year is Work Experience, which will take place from Monday 14 September to Friday 18 September 2026. During this week, normal Year 10 classes will not operate, allowing students to immerse themselves in a real workplace and gain first-hand experience of an industry or career that interests them. Students in our Pre-Senior program will complete their Work Experience in Term 4.
Work Experience is much more than spending a week away from school. It provides students with the opportunity to:
- develop employability skills,
- build confidence,
- explore potential career pathways, and
- gain a better understanding of workplace expectations.
Many students discover new interests, confirm existing career aspirations or make valuable industry connections that support future pathway decisions. It is an opportunity to experience the world of work in a safe and supported environment while making meaningful connections between school learning and future careers.
Students are encouraged to begin thinking about areas of interest and speak with family, friends and community members who may be able to assist in securing a placement. Work Experience Arrangement Forms were due to be returned to the Careers/Pathways Office by Friday 31 July so placements can be processed through the Department's Work-Based Learning portal. Families are encouraged to refer to the Compass Newsfeed item published by Fiona Cornwall, which contains important information about the program, key dates and all of the forms required to organise a placement. This newsfeed has been pinned to the top of the Compass Dashboard. We encourage all Year 10 students to make the most of this exciting opportunity to explore future possibilities and take another important step in planning for life beyond school.
StudyPulse is now live for our Year 12 Students (and 11s studying a Year 12 subject)
We are excited to announce that StudyPulse is now live for our Year 12 VCE students.
StudyPulse is an AI-powered learning platform designed specifically for VCE students, providing personalised revision, instant feedback, practice questions and subject-specific learning support across almost every VCE subject. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the platform gives students access to high-quality academic support whenever they are studying, helping them strengthen their study habits, deepen their understanding of key concepts and prepare for SACs and examinations with greater confidence.
The introduction of StudyPulse forms part of our ongoing commitment to maximise student outcomes in VCE. Year 12 students can begin using the platform immediately through Compass by selecting the StudyPulse (AI VCE Tutoring) link in their School Favourites menu (⭐) using their school single sign-on. Students will also participate in a training session next week to help them make the most of the platform's features. Our Year 11 VCE students will gain access to StudyPulse in the coming weeks, providing them with an excellent opportunity to strengthen their understanding of Unit 2 content and prepare for their Semester 2 examinations. Our VCE teachers will also undertake professional learning in the coming weeks to further enhance the learning experience for students.
We look forward to seeing our students embrace this exciting new learning opportunity as another valuable tool to support their success throughout their VCE journey.
2027 Course Planning Update:
Thank you to all students and families who have participated in the 2027 Course Selection process. We are currently working through student preferences and analysing subject selections as we begin the complex task of developing next year's timetable.
Where possible, students will be allocated to their preferred program and subject choices. If a student's preferred subjects cannot all be accommodated and their nominated backup preferences are unable to fill any gaps in their program, we will meet with those students individually to discuss alternative options and ensure they have a balanced program that aligns with their interests, strengths and future pathway goals.
A reminder to any student who has applied for a VET program in 2027 that all required application paperwork must be returned to Fiona Cornwall (VET Coordinator) by Friday 14 August. Students who miss this deadline may not be able to access external VET programs and may instead be limited to VET programs offered at Mornington Secondary College. We encourage students and families to submit all documentation as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Study Tip of the Week: Alternating memory work with problem-solving lets you switch between different mental tasks.
Kind regards,
The MSC Principal Team
Adam Slater
Principal
Nick Evans
Senior School Assistant Principal
Mike Parker
Assistant Principal - Curriculum and Student Wellbeing
Students of the Week
Tommy Owen - Year 7
Favourite food: Sushi
Hobbies out of school: Soccer & mountain bike riding
What sports team do you follow? Hawthorn Footy Club
Favourite movie/TV show: I like Pirates of the Caribbean
Do you have any pets? A dog named Chase
What are you excited for at Mornington Secondary College? The futsal team for Term 3 sport and the lunch time soccer comp
What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? My friends and the canteen
What career do you wish to follow when you finish school? Probably a trade but not sure really yet.
Your greatest strength: soccer skills
What three words best describe you? Kind, sporty, loyal
Quinn Gillam - Year 7
Favourite food: Hot Chips
Hobbies out of school: Volleyball for fun, and walking/jogging with my dog
What sports team do you follow? Essendon Bombers and the Hawks
Favourite movie/TV show: My Life with the Walter Boys
Do you have any pets? A dog named Taffy, a bunny called Daisy and some fish
What are you excited for at Mornington Secondary College? Aerobics
What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? Stadium Fridays for Year 7’s where I play volleyball and Volleyball Club on Tuesdays
What career do you wish to follow when you finish school? No idea yet
What's one skill you have that makes you unique? I can cheer people up and make them happy when they are sad
What three words best describe you? Kind, encouraging and strong
Principals' Day
Today Mornington Secondary College recognises Principals' Day, celebrating the leadership, dedication and commitment of our Principal, Adam Slater, and Assistant Principals, Nick Evans and Michael Parker. We thank them for their ongoing contribution to our school community.
Aerobics Showcase: 14th August
We warmly invite our school community to our annual Aerobics Showcase on Friday the 14th of August. Join us from 5:30pm in the Robert Herbert Gym to celebrate the hard work and dedication of every member of the Mornington Secondary College Aerobics Squad, while giving our National qualifying team Nova and duo Dynamite a wonderful send-off before they travel to the Sunshine Coast to compete at the 2026 National Championships.
Joining us at the showcase will be Benton Junior College's first aerobics team, Benton Blaze, who will join our MSC teams on the stage to perform their routine before also heading off to the National Championships. We are excited to welcome them to the college and cheer them on before Nationals!
The Showcase is one of our major fundraising events for the year. We kindly ask that you bring along a gold coin donation for entry and support our fundraising activities on the night.
If you'd like to assist with our fundraising efforts, we are currently seeking donations for our raffle. If you or someone you know owns or works for a local business that would be interested in donating a prize, please contact Indie Jowett at Indie.Jowett@education.vic.gov.au.
You can further support our fundraising efforts by popping into Mornington Bunnings on Saturday 8th August, between 9am-4pm. It would be amazing to see our school community come down and buy a sausage in support!
Indie Jowett
Aerobics Coach
Year 12 Dress Up: Decades Day
Our Year 12 students took a trip through time for Decades Day, dressing up as characters from across the ages while raising funds for our 2026 school charity, Speak & Share.
As expected, the 70s and 80s were popular choices, but some students went even further back in history, with a Trojan Horse and ancient soldiers making an appearance.
Excursions
Year 10 Outdoor Education Indoor Rock Climbing
Last week we went indoor rock climbing, where students tested their grit, teamwork and climbing skills. They applied key knowledge from Semester 1 by evaluating risk versus reward and examining safety measures relating to equipment, the environment and people. Students also considered how indoor climbing centres can reduce the ecological footprint of keen climbers who might otherwise need to travel long distances to climb outdoors. A great day was had by all!
Grant Olarenshaw
Director of Teaching and Learning Excellence
Interschool Sport: Southern Metropolitan Finals
Junior Girls Football
Last week our Junior Girls Football team headed to Roy Dore Reserve to take on the Regional Finals! Despite the wet and muddy conditions, nothing was going to stop the girls from getting out on the field and giving it their all.
The team played three games across the day, showing plenty of determination, teamwork and enthusiasm. The girls worked hard for one another, supported their teammates and kept fighting right until the final siren.
While the flag wasn’t ours this time, making it through to the regional level is a fantastic achievement and one the girls should be incredibly proud of.
A huge congratulations to all the girls involved on an awesome effort and for representing the College with pride!
Evangeline Romage
Leading Teacher Year 7
Intermediate Boys Football
On Thursday 20th July our Intermediate Boys Football team travelled to Overport Park to play in the SMR round robin competition.
In the first game we played Albert Park and after being up by three goals earlier in the game, they kicked a goal with one minute to go, giving them the win by one point. Our second game was against our arch rivals Frankston. After a close game we kicked the final two goals to win by 12 points in a great win. In our final game, and ultimately the game that would decide who won the pool, we came up against Beaumaris. In a close game, which was goal for goal, Beaumaris won after kicking a goal in the final two minutes. A sad loss but all the boys gave everything for the whole day. Best Players: Rafa Merchan, Jackson Ablett, Jack Rutter, Darcy Irving.
Adam Pirrie
Team Leader Year 8
Learning Snapshot
Design Technology: 7A showed teamwork and collaboration while working on their Marble Runs this week.
Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Habits
Students in Year 11 PE have been investigating the importance of healthy lifestyles and how Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour can influence health and wellbeing. Throughout the unit, students have explored the role of physical activity, sedentary behaviour (including screen time), sleep, and overall life satisfaction in maintaining good health.
An important focus of the outcome has been learning how health data is collected and analysed. Students have examined how surveys and questionnaires can be used to gather information for large population groups (although not always very accurate). This allows health professionals, schools and governments to identify trends and develop strategies that encourage healthier lifestyles.
To put these skills into practice, Year 11 Physical Education students designed and conducted a survey of a sample of Year 7 students. The survey collected information about daily physical activity, recreational screen time, sleep habits and self-rated satisfaction of activity levels. The results were then returned to the classroom where students calculated averages and discussed what the data revealed about the lifestyle habits of younger adolescents.
Survey Results – Average of Year 7 Students Surveyed
- Average Daily Physical Activity: 131 minutes per day
- Average Daily Recreational Screen Time: 217 minutes per day (3 hours 37 minutes)
- Average Sleep: 7 hours 46 minutes per night
- Average Physical Activity Satisfaction Rating: 8.2 out of 10
The activity provided an opportunity for our Year 11 students to apply statistical skills while developing an understanding of how health data can be interpreted to identify patterns and inform recommendations. Students also discussed how these results compare with current physical activity, sleep and screen time guidelines for young people, and considered practical strategies that could support healthier lifestyle habits. Clearly our Year 7s are very active, reporting over two times the amount of Physical Activity required per day!
Rob Horwill
Head of PE
Wellbeing
Doctors in School
New Staff at MSC
Hi, I’m Stacey Lee. I am a mum, a musician, and lover of all things nature. I’m excited to return to teaching after leaving the profession for 5 years or so, counselling parents with issues relating to substance use. Prior to that I worked for 10 years in an amazing alternative education setting; supporting students who had difficulty engaging in a mainstream school system. I have always loved working with students to increase their self-belief and capacity to learn, especially in areas of English and Personal Development.
Footy Tipping
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