From the Principal

Good morning everyone, another great week at MSC. 

This week we went to Benton Junior College and introduced Grade 5 students to Robotics. A great time was had by all.

This week also saw the Attitudes to School survey (student survey) land in schools. I am so proud and happy with our outstanding results. All schools are compared with similar schools (similar demographics) and the state (all secondary schools in Victoria).

Our school results were higher than similar schools and the state average in the following areas:

• Effective classroom behaviour
• Effective teaching time
• Stimulated learning
• Attitudes to attendance
• Motivation and interest
• Perseverance
• Self-regulation and goal setting
• Sense of confidence
• Advocate at school
• Managing bullying
• Respect for Diversity
• School stage transition from primary to secondary
• Effort
• High expectations for success
• Teacher concern
• Not experiencing racism
• Not experiencing bullying

Our NAPLAN results at Year 9 were also higher than similar schools and the state average in Reading, Numeracy, Writing, Spelling and Grammar and Punctuation.

Congratulation to everyone.

I encourage parents/carers and guardians to complete the Parent Opinion survey. You have until 19th September before results are collated and reported by the Department of Education.

Have a wonderful week.

Linda Stanton

Principal

Important Dates

Term 3 2025

Middle School

Dear Parents and Carers,

What a lovely group of students we have in our IGNITE program! This week we held our first mentoring session for our Year 7 High Ability students. Together, we explored habits and practices that make someone a strong learner. The students engaged in thoughtful discussion, shared great insights, and finished with gratitude reflections. It was a wonderful way to begin our journey together, and they all enjoyed the session.

Teaching and Learning

With the new Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0, we’re excited about the emphasis on strengthening all elements of teaching and learning.

One fascinating area for learners is memory. Many of us know how tricky it can be to remember a phone number or a shopping list! What research shows us is that repetition is the key to moving information from short-term to long-term memory. This is why in class we often teach, repeat, check for understanding, and then repeat again until it becomes automatic.

Homework and home study are important parts of this process, as they give students another opportunity to retrieve and apply information, so it sticks. With support both at school and at home, students can develop strong and lasting learning habits.

Uniform Reminder

We are very proud of our school, our students, and our uniform. To help us maintain high standards, we kindly remind families that tracksuit pants are not to be worn under the school skirt, as this is not part of our uniform. Thank you for supporting us in ensuring that our students continue to look their best and represent Mornington Secondary College with confidence.

Looking Ahead

There are some exciting events coming up in our school calendar!

• Year 7 Showcase – our students are busy preparing to share their wonderful learning with you. 17 September 2.30pm to 4.30pm
• 2026 Year 7 Parent Information Evening – an important opportunity for future families to learn more about life at Mornington Secondary College. 11 September 5pm – 6pm

We look forward to celebrating these occasions with our community and continuing to share the achievements of our students.

Warm regards,

Denise Leggett

Assistant Principal

Senior School

To students and families of the Mornington Senior School,

This shorter term than usual is racing by as our Year 12 ATAR students now have just 4 days of classes left before trial exams commence on Friday 12th September. There is an adjustment to the program this year, which provides the opportunity for students to identify key areas of each subject for which they need to focus their revision on during the September holidays. Students also have normal scheduled classes on Thursday and Friday of Week 9 to work with their teachers on exam preparation. Trial exams won’t be marked before those sessions but solution guides for most exams will be available and different parts of the exam can be unpacked with the students.

VCE VM final interviews (scheduled in the first 2 weeks of Term 4)

Our Year 12 VCE VM students will be booking in their final presentations in the first two weeks of Term 4 and parents will be invited to join the panel for the first time. The allocated sessions times will be visible on Compass before the end of term. We understand work and other commitments may mean it’s not possible for all parents to attend their child’s presentation, but we wanted to make it a possibility.

August Attendance Aces

I wanted to acknowledge the efforts of all senior school students who have 100% school attendance (that is attendance in class and absence with a school-approved reason – i.e. a camp, a traineeship, school sport etc). The students listed below have 100% attendance for Term 3 and that is a key indicator for success. So well done to the students named and I look forward to adding even more names to the list in Term 4. Every day, every class, every minute matters on the journey to success. 

 Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

Key Senior School events for Term 3 2025

Kind regards,

Nick Evans

Senior School Assistant Principal

Have you done YOUR homework?

As a school we don’t ask too much of our parent community, but we are asking for this:

PLEASE DO THE PARENT OPINION SURVEY!

Since last week we have had 16 additional parents complete the survey. That’s a start, but I know we can do so much better than that.

Please check your emails (sent on August 25th), or simply logon to Compass and find the survey link on the 'STAR' menu.

Uniform Working Party

The state government has changed the rules regarding student dress codes, effective 2026. We have held student and staff forums to come up with some suggestions for the new policy.

We are now interested in your feedback. Please complete the survey by following the link below. All feedback will be presented to school council which will make the final decision on uniform for 2026.

Mike Parker

Assistant Principal - Curriculum and Student Wellbeing

Students of the Week

Year 7 Zarli Evans- Heigh

Favourite food: Sushi 

Hobbies out of school: Spending time with friends and family

What sports team do you follow? Collingwood Football Club

Favourite movie/TV show: Vampire Diaries 

Do you have any pets? a dog a cat and a guinea pig

What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? My friends and I love English

What career do you wish to follow when you finish school? I have no idea yet 

Year 7 Flynn Jobson-Mauger

Favourite food: Pizza  

Hobbies out of school: Soccer, fishing and hanging with friends

What sports team do you follow? Melbourne FC, Manchester City

Favourite movie/TV show: I like watching AFL

Do you have any pets? A dog named Teddy

What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? Friends,  lunchtime and recess, and the Year 7 lunch time soccer competition 

What career do you wish to follow when you finish school? Either a barber or plumber or electrician  

Year 8 Oskar McKenzie-Cundy     

Favourite food: Pizza

Hobbies out of school: Basketball

What sports team do you follow? Collingwood, Chicago Bulls

Favourite TV show/movie: NBA games

Do you have any pets? A golden retriever named Voldie

What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? Hanging out with my friends and having the stadium allocated to our year level at lunchtime every Thursday

What career do you wish to follow when you finish school? Architecture

Year 8 Lucas Resuggan       

Favourite food: HSP from Kebab shop

Hobbies out of school: Basketball, gym and hanging out with friends

What sports team do you follow? Lakers, Essendon

Favourite TV show/movie: Smallville

Do you have any pets? A French bulldog named Ollie

What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? Hanging out with my friends and that we are allowed to choose our subjects going from Year 8 into Year 9

What career do you wish to follow when you finish school? Police Officer

Wear it Purple Day

On Friday the 29th of August, MSC celebrated Wear it Purple Day. Students were allowed to wear a pop of purple on their uniforms, and staff were encouraged to wear purple as well. An informative presentation on what Wear it Purple Day is and why it’s celebrated was created by one of our year level Captains and was shown to all year levels during their  Connect. 

The Year 7’s participated in a scavenger hunt across the school, where they had to answer questions about Breakfast Club, Wellbeing, and pride related topics.

In addition, the Wellbeing team organised a Wear it Purple Day celebration for all students at lunch time. After setting up in the Year 7 area with purple balloons, streamers and a big banner, which had been created by our year level Captains, students were able to write or draw a message of support, have their faces painted and have a dance to some funky music. Overall it was a great event, with students and staff getting involved in the celebration. 

Maddy Collinge

Student Wellbeing Counsellor

Robotics Workshop at Benton Junior College

This week, our team, including Technology teachers Lara Adams and Chris Jones, Assistant Principal Mike Parker, Year 7 Team Leader Evangeline Romage, and Year 7 representatives Ed Tout and Zach Scanlan, had the pleasure of running a hands-on robotics workshop with students at Benton Junior College. The session introduced students to the exciting world of coding, electronics, and design through the use of BBC Microbits.

Students began by learning how to program the Microbit to display text and simple animations on an LCD screen. This gave them immediate, visible feedback and helped them understand how coding commands translate into real-world outputs.

Once comfortable with the basics, students extended their learning by constructing simple Microbit-powered cars. They worked in small groups to wire motors, connect batteries, and upload code that allowed their cars to move forward and stop on command.

Of course we left them wanting more…so a return visit is on the cards! Next week Mornington Park Primary.

Year 7

Year 7 Premier League Lunchtime Soccer Competition Round 4

Round 4 of the Year 7 Premier League Soccer Competition saw Arsenal take on Man City. There were plenty of scoring opportunities but neither team could find the back of the net with the final whistle blowing at 0-0. 

The second game was shaping up to be very exciting with the all-girls team Man United challenging top of the table Aston Villa. The Aston Villa boys were feeling very confident after their last match scoring spree of 6-0. The boys even let the girls play with 6 players instead of the usual 5! Man United came out with all guns blazing, hammering the Aston Villa defence for the first 2 minutes playing with great intensity. Man United had some real scoring opportunities but unfortunately could not capitalise on them. Layton Perry was the first to score in the game opening the Aston Villa account. Moments later Aston Villa scored a second goal to go 2-0 up. Man United continued to have opportunities in attack but frustratingly for them, Ethan, the Aston Villa goalkeeper kept them out. At the final whistle the score was a 2-0 win to Aston Villa. Man United did a fantastic job of supressing the Aston Villa boys and keeping them to their lowest match score of the competition. 

The final match of the round was Liverpool against Chelsea. The match was very even sharing the possession and goal opportunities. The final score was looking like ending in the dreaded 0-0 draw until in the dying seconds of the game Liverpool found the back of the net to win 1-0. 

The competition has one championship round left to play before the final series which will be played on Wednesday in the last week of the term. The ladder has Aston Villa as the clear championship leader undefeated on 8 points and yet to have a goal scored against them followed by Liverpool on 7 points, Man United on 3 points, Arsenal on 3 points, Man City on 2 points and Chelsea on 1 point.

John Walker

Premier League Boss

Year 7 Wildlife Encounters Incursion

On Thursday September 4th, the Year 7 classes were lucky enough to participate in the Wildlife Incursion in the Performing Arts Centre. Our host, Chloe, from Reptile Encounters, was an engaging presenter and provided us with some interesting facts about each animal, including their place in the food chain. The students loved meeting "Cheryl" the stick insect, "Freddo" the Green Tree Frog, "Scar face" the blue tongue lizard, "Tiny" the 3 metre long juvenile python, and more! We learnt about many different animals and discussed their various habitats, such as pythons from the desert ecosystem, and the Brush Tail Bettong from the woodland ecosystems. Overall it was an enjoyable way to extend our students knowledge about food webs and ecosystems.

Emma Kirkos

Maths/Science Teacher

Year 8 

Year 8 Connect

On Friday August 29th during their Connect session, all of our Year 8 classes came together for a good old Tug of War competition. Classes connected and worked as teams, with good spirited rivalry and fun on display.

Year 8 Science

In Year 8 Science, students are studying body systems, beginning with the respiratory system. During class time students made a mini model of a lung to observe first hand how the diaphragm moves up and down as we inhale and exhale. 

Before the end of term students will have the opportunity to dissect a sheep’s heart, and early next term students will investigate the digestive system of different animals. 

Dana Lamb

Head of Science

Year 11 Health and Human Development

Baby and toddler visit brings learning to life

Our Year 11 Health & Human Development students recently had a truly unique and special learning experience when several teachers kindly brought their babies and toddlers into class. 

Kate Wilson (VM teacher) and her wife Meg brought in their 5-month-old Rudy who was very clever showing off her sitting-up-by-myself-for-the-first-time skills.  Mick Williams (PE & Outdoor Ed teacher) and his wife Millie brought in their super adventurous girl Rosie who is 10 months old, and former teacher, Amanda Keen’s (Science teacher) husband, Ged brought in Scarlett (5 years old) “but I’m 1 week away from being 6” and has just started Prep, Layla (3 years old) who loves to dance and just-found-his-walking-shoes Harvey (12 months old). 

The toddlers were wonderful “guest teachers,” giving our students the opportunity to observe first-hand how infants and children develop across the physical, intellectual, social, and emotional domains. 

Students were able to observe: 

• Physical Development – such as movement, grasping, sitting up, drawing/colouring and coordination (including putting toy blocks in their mouths) 
• Emotional Development – the ways babies express emotions and seek comfort, like when their faces light up when a parent walks into the room 
• Social Development – early interactions with adults and peers, like Rosie giving Harvey a kiss on the cheek when they first discovered each other playing on the mat 
• Intellectual Development – curiosity, play and communication milestones, like Harvey working out how to fit a small square block into a circle shape and looking very proud of himself when he was successful 

Parents also generously shared their experiences of pregnancy, labour, fertility, and the realities of parenting, providing invaluable insights beyond the textbook. Their openness helped students gain a deeper understanding of the responsibilities and challenges that come with raising a child. 

Through this interactive experience, students gained deeper insight into: 

• Developmental Milestones – seeing them occur in real children rather than just textbooks. 
• The Role of Families – understanding how parents nurture health and wellbeing. 
• Health Promotion and Services – linking observations to maternal and child health services. 
• Responsibility and Readiness for Parenting – appreciating the emotional, physical and financial responsibilities that come with raising children. 

This experience directly supports VCE Health & Human Development Unit 2: Youth Health and Human Development, where students investigate developmental transitions across the lifespan, with a particular focus on infancy and early childhood. By seeing real examples of growth and development in action, students were able to connect theory with practice, enriching their knowledge and making the curriculum come alive. 

Students arrived armed with wonderfully quirky and curious questions about parenthood, childbirth, raising babies, and supporting children through infancy into early childhood. Our guest parents responded openly and honestly, sharing their real experiences and helping students understand that parenting is a lifelong responsibility – “you can never turn off being a parent – no matter how old your child is.” 

Jo Dixon and I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks once again to the families for making this session such a success. Their contribution created a learning environment that was both engaging and authentic—an experience our students will remember well beyond the classroom. 

Michelle Barnes

Curriculum Implementation Leader

Year 12

Year 12 Guest Presenters

On Tuesday September 2nd our Year 12 students listened to presentations from AFL SportsReady and the Brotherhood of St Laurence.

AFL SportsReady spoke about their not-for-profit organisation which is dedicated to helping young Australians develop careers through traineeships, cadetships, direct employment and educational opportunities. Mornington Secondary College are long standing supporters of the AFL SportsReady program, providing successfully appointed ex-MSC students with the opportunity of a one year traineeship here at MSC. Our 2025 AFL Trainees Kobi and Rory spoke to the room about their experiences year to date, while it was highlighted that there are also opportunities at nearby schools and further afield at AFL House, etc. For more information, click on the below link.

The Brotherhood of St Laurence spoke about the FREE personalised support for work readiness and skill development they can provide for people aged 17 and above via their Thrive Hub.  The services they offer include:

• building pre-employment skills and transferable skills
• career mapping
• resume writing and cover letter development
• targeted job applications and mock interviews
• industry exploration
• site visits across the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula region 

Year 12 PE – Volleyball Spike Lab

Our Year 12 PE students recently took part in a Volleyball Spike Lab as part of their studies in the new Extended Response outcome 3 in Unit 4 PE. This practical session gave students the opportunity to apply their theoretical understanding to a real sporting skill, using the volleyball spike as the focus.

During the lab, students collected a range of data on their own and their peers’ performance, including movement analysis, effectiveness of technique, and biomechanical principles. This data will form the basis of their upcoming SAC, where students will be required to draw on their practical observations to support their extended written response.

We look forward to seeing how students use their lab findings to strengthen their responses in the upcoming SAC.

Rob Horwill

Head of PE

Head Start

Congratulations to Jai S, one of our Year 11 students, who recently signed up and commenced his Head Start school-based apprenticeship (SBAT) with employer D & J Construction and is now completing his Certificate III in Carpentry. 

The Head Start program will support Jai as he embarks on his SBAT journey commencing his qualification certificates, attending work with his employer and also working towards completing his VCE VM studies at school. The Head Start team, and Mornington Secondary College, wish Jai all the best as he pursues his chosen career pathway.

For further information about the Head Start program, please visit the Head Start website and click on the below link to watch a short 1 minute video.

Faith Kisby

Head Start Coordinator

Hands on Learning

HoL Friday August 29th

The HoL day on Friday August 29th began with assisting the Wellbeing team with the decoration of cupcakes for Wear it Purple Day. We also had the Year 7s visit the cottage for their scavenger hunt for Wear it Purple Day. Most didn’t know about HoL and we had many who expressed interest in joining the program! 

We used the fire pit to make roast beef and veggies and although the rain came, it was still a success. Some who dared, had Mr. Butcher’s famous spicy chilli jam on the roast which tasted delicious! I’ve had lots of good feedback about the jam so we may just make some more to raise money for HoL. There was also some gardening and cleaning to top off a very productive day.

HoL Wednesday September 3rd

The Wednesday HoL crew put their various creative and artistic skills to good use today undertaking some new painting projects. Jasmine started a new design on the back fence of the cottage, Paris and Bre painted one of the tables from inside the cottage and Nikki and Evie put their heads together to contemplate some new projects for next term. 

The rest of the team continued working on grouting inside and on the new redevelopment project on the outside entrance of the cottage. Wednesday's menu was roast pork and veggies, with Mr Pirrie displaying his “thinking outside the box” skills to cut through the crackle, which I might add, was cooked to perfection! 

Anastasia Maragakis

Hands on Learning Assistant 

Fit Club Trainer Of The Week

The Fit Club is a place for students to focus on health, fitness, and wellbeing in a supportive environment. Students learn how to use gym equipment safely, build strength, improve endurance, and develop healthy exercise habits. The club encourages students of all fitness levels to set personal goals, train together, and motivate one another while promoting an active lifestyle.

This week we recognise Year 11 student, Lucas Box. Lucas has been attending Fit Club since it's inception. His dedication, positive attitude, and willingness to challenge himself has been inspiring to everyone in the club. Whether it’s pushing through tough workouts, encouraging others, or showing commitment to his fitness goals, Lucas truly embodies what Fit Club is all about.

Shaun Doherty

Year 9 Coordinator

Student Scholarships

Scholarships overview

The Department of Education administers a range of scholarships on behalf of various trusts.

Scholarships are available to students currently enrolled in Grade 4 to Year 11, and students enrolled in Year 12 in 2025 who plan to begin tertiary studies in 2026.

Applicants for the scholarships are evaluated on their:

• academic achievement
• participation in school activities
• community involvement.

Scholarships are either one-off payments or available for the duration of the student’s course/study.

Scholarships support students and families to assist with the cost of education and engagement in further study at primary, secondary and tertiary level.

Eligibility

Students must be enrolled in Victorian schools and must be Australian citizens or permanent residents. Some scholarships are available specifically to Victorian government school students while others are available to students across all sectors.

Scholarships may be targeted to students experiencing financial hardship, and trusts may have particular eligibility criteria.

Can students apply for more than one scholarship?

Students are encouraged to carefully identify and apply for scholarships where they meet the criteria.

Scholarships available to secondary school students

• Alexander Rushall Scholarship: Year 12 students commencing a full-time university degree in 2026, valued at $1,800
• Dammery Educational Trust Fund Scholarships: Year 10 students valued at $1,500 and Year 12 students commencing a full-time university degree in 2026, valued at $2,500
• John and Maud Askew Secondary Scholarships: Year 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 students valued at $1,500
• Robert Sterne Marr Scholarship: Year 8 student valued at $300
• VADC and Ivy Blair Scholarships: Year 10 students who are supported by a single parent/carer or whose parent/s have passed away, valued at $750
• Walter Lindrum Memorial Scholarship: Year 12 students commencing a full-time university degree in 2026, valued at $500 per year for the duration of the course

Interested in teaching?

• George Garibaldi Turri Scholarships: for Year 12 students who will be undertaking a full-time teaching degree in 2026. Valued at $2,680 for the first year, with the amount adjusted annually in line with Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the duration of the course.

Studying fine arts?

• Ella Donald Fine Arts Memorial Scholarships: for Year 12 students who will be undertaking a full-time Fine Arts degree in 2026. Valued at $1,000 per year for the duration of the course.

Are you a female Koorie student?

• Alice Jennings Scholarship: available for a Year 12 female Koorie student who will be undertaking a fulltime TAFE or university course in 2026 in a field that contributes to the welfare of the Koorie population. Valued at $1,000 annually for the duration of the course.

Other Year 12 scholarships administered externally

• Dafydd Lewis Trust Scholarships: for Year 12 students who will be undertaking a full-time degree in 2026 with the exception of Arts, Education, Music and Theology at $10,000 each annually for three years. For further information and eligibility, visit Dafydd Lewis Trust Scholarship Application Information
• Mary Jane Lewis Trust Scholarships: for Year 12 students who will be undertaking a full-time degree in 2026 at $10,000 each annually for three years. For further information and eligibility, visit Mary Jane Lewis Trust Scholarships
• Francis Gregory Foundation Scholarships: for Year 12 students who will be undertaking a full-time degree in 2026 at any university in Australia. The scholarship is valued at $6,000 each annually for the duration of the course. For further information visit Francis Gregory Foundation or email info@francisgregory.org.au
• Margaret Schofield Scholarships: for Year 12 students who have demonstrated a commitment to both Music Performance or Composition in recent years and a future career in Music Performance or Composition at $7,000 each as a one-off payment. For further information visit Margaret Schofield Scholarships

Rail, Tram and Bus Union Scholarships

Only students who have a parent/guardian who is a financial member of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (Locomotive Division) are eligible for these scholarships:

• Frank Carey Memorial Scholarships valued at $600 will be awarded to Year 9 students
• Glenn Moorehead Memorial Scholarship valued at $300 for Year 8 students
• Steve Gibson Memorial Scholarships valued at $600 for Year 10 students
• Ken Matthews Memorial Scholarship valued at $600 for Year 12 students who will be undertaking a full-time degree in 2026

Further information

For information on how to apply visit the Student Scholarships web page 

For additional information or queries, please email studentscholarships@education.vic.gov.au

To learn more or to reach out to us