From the Principal Team

To students and families of Mornington Secondary College,

Parent/Carer Opinion Survey

Thank you to the families who took the opportunity to complete the Parent/Carer Opinion Survey at yesterday’s Parent Teacher Interviews. It was great to see our response numbers growing, but we still have a big target ahead of us.

Our goal is to hear from at least 300 families.

The survey is an important opportunity for parents and carers to tell us what is working well and where we can continue to improve. The more families who participate, the clearer the picture we have of our school community’s experiences and priorities.

It only takes a short time, and your feedback genuinely matters.

You can access the Parent/Carer Opinion Survey through the Star Menu in Compass, where you will also find the school PIN (795649) needed to complete the survey or via the below link.

Parent / Carer Opinion Survey

Help us reach 300 families and make sure your voice is heard.

The Power of Small Decisions

As we move beyond the halfway point of Term 3, it's a timely reminder that success at school is rarely the result of one big moment. Instead, it is built through hundreds of small decisions made each day. Choosing to attend school regularly, arriving prepared to learn, completing learning tasks on time, asking for help when it's needed and acting on feedback may seem like small actions in isolation, but over weeks, months and years they combine to produce remarkable growth. Equally important are the decisions we choose not to make such as not putting off learning tasks, not allowing distractions to take us away from our goals and not giving up when learning becomes challenging.

These decisions look different depending on where students are in their secondary school learning journey.

For some of our younger students, success might come from:

choosing to sit next to someone who helps them stay focused,
following classroom routines,
asking before acting and making choices that help create a calm learning environment, or
encouraging a classmate who is finding learning difficult.

For our senior students, it may mean:

completing an extra practice SAC,
making use of StudyPulse to strengthen their understanding of a difficult concept,
acting on teacher feedback, or
developing consistent study routines in preparation for assessments.

At Mornington, we know that positive relationships between students, their peers and teachers create an environment where students feel connected, supported and challenged to achieve their best. It is through these relationships that learning truly flourishes.

We encourage every student at MSC to continue focusing on progress rather than perfection. The question isn't whether today was perfect, but whether today's choices moved you one step closer to your goals than yesterday. When hundreds of small decisions, supported by positive relationships and a commitment to continual improvement, point in the right direction, success is rarely an accident.

Study Tip of the Week: Don’t confuse finishing with learning. Completing the checklist or learning task is not the goal. Being able to apply the knowledge required for that task again tomorrow without help is.

Kind regards,

The MSC Principal Team

Adam Slater

Principal

Nick Evans

Senior School Assistant Principal

Mike Parker

Assistant Principal - Curriculum and Student Wellbeing

Important Dates

Dates correct at time of posting and subject to change.

Students of the Week

Sima Barnikov - Year 7

Favourite food: Pasta Bolognese

Hobbies out of school: Soccer, bike riding and seeing friends

What sports team do you follow? Real Madrid and PSG

Favourite movie/TV show: The Middle

Do you have any pets? A cat named Jack Frost

What are you excited for at Mornington Secondary College? All the great opportunities we have here

What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? The different classes compared to primary school and the sporty connect club sessions.

What career do you wish to follow when you finish school? Something to do with money; a bank manager or maybe an accountant

What's one skill you have that makes you unique? I can focus really well in class

Your greatest strength: Maths and sport are my strongest subjects

What three words best describe you? Kind, strong, fast

Cadence Liddle - Year 7

Favourite food: Home-made Pizza

Hobbies out of school: Scouts, drawing and art

What sports team do you follow? Collingwood Footy Club

Favourite movie/TV show: Gravity Falls

Do you have any pets? A dog named Wander

What are you excited for at Mornington Secondary College? Year 8, the visit to the museum, and production 2027

What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? My friends, this year's production, and learning

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

What's one skill you have that makes you unique? I can crochet

Your greatest strength: My energy and motivation

What three words best describe you? Funny, smart, bubbly

Year 12VM Market Day: 27th August

Our Year 12VM students have been busy preparing for VM Market Day on Thursday 27 August. We warmly invite parents and carers to come along during lunchtime to support our students.

When: Thursday 27 August, lunch (1.25pm – 2.00pm)

Where: Herbie Gym

Payment: All stalls will accept ‘Funny Money’ only. Funny Money can be purchased on the day at the stand located at the entrance to the Herbie Gym, using cash or EFTPOS.

Parents and Carers – Sign In: Parents and carers must sign in at the Main Office as a visitor (under Nick Evans). A visitor sticker must be worn while on school grounds.

Parking: Parking on school grounds will be limited. Alternate parking is available on Tallis Drive or at nearby local retail establishments.

What’s on offer:

Raffles and Games

Sweet Treats

Something Savoury

Supporting Speak and Share

All profits from Market Day will be donated to our school charity, Speak and Share; a proactive, preventative mental health charity dedicated to breaking down stigma and inspiring meaningful conversations.

We look forward to a fantastic day of fun, teamwork and community spirit. Your support is greatly appreciated.

For questions, please contact the school, Kirsty Hamson or Jo Dixon.

Aerobics Showcase

The 2026 Aerobics Showcase Night was a fantastic celebration of our squad and a send off for our National Qualifying teams!

A huge thank you to all of our students, families and staff who helped make the night possible, as well as everyone who attended and supported our students. We were also thrilled to welcome the Benton Junior College community to our showcase, who joined us to celebrate their National Qualifying team ‘Benton Blaze’.

Our showcase raised a total of $716.80 through raffle tickets, guess the lollies in the jar and a bake sale! Shout out to Year 7 student Indy Sheen and our Assistant Principal Nick Evans for tying in the Guess The Lollies in the jar competition, both guessing 4 off the total of 193 lollies!

A special thank you to the following businesses for their generous raffle donations:

While our 2026 fundraising efforts have now come to a close, our Nationals adventure is just around the corner! In just over one week, on the 30th of August, eight of our students from Team Nova and Duo Dynamite will compete at the National Championships on the Sunshine Coast.

We would like to extend one final thank you to everyone who has volunteered their time, donated, fundraised or supported our squad throughout the year. We couldn’t have done it without you, and we can’t wait to see our athletes take the stage at Nationals!

Indie Jowett

Aerobics Coach

Year 11 Formal: Event Reminder

The Year 11 Formal is fast approaching! Compass event and payment is due before 11:59pm Wednesday 2nd September. Don't miss out!

I CAN School® Mentoring Program

We were delighted to host the I CAN Network at our school on Monday 17 August, providing a wonderful opportunity to showcase our students, their achievements and the positive impact of the I CAN program within our school community.

The session was led by Bianca and Madi from the I CAN Network, who worked with our students to create an engaging, supportive and empowering session focused on celebrating strengths, building confidence and fostering connection.

We were also pleased to welcome Chris Varney, CEO of the I CAN Network, Chris Crewther MP, and our school Principal Mr Adam Slater who joined us to see the program in action and engage with our students and staff.

The I CAN program provides an important space for students to connect with others, develop self-awareness, recognise their strengths and celebrate their individuality.

It was fantastic to see our students confidently sharing their experiences and demonstrating the sense of belonging and connection that the program fosters. We are incredibly proud of the way our students represented our school and showcased the positive and inclusive culture we continue to build.

A special thank you to the I CAN Network team for their ongoing partnership and support, and to our staff who help make these opportunities possible for our students. We are proud to be an I CAN school and look forward to continuing to empower our students to recognise their strengths, celebrate who they are and know that they truly belong.

Julie Cameron

Inclusive Education Leader – Disability & Behaviour Specialist

Excursions

Year 8 City Experience

Last week our Year 8 students embarked on their annual City Experience Excursion. Students split off into groups and conducted observations of the Docklands precinct, Bourke Street Mall, Flinders Street Station, Melbourne Central, Southbank, and Federation Square, before concluding at Melbourne Park.

This excursion is helpful for having students understand the concept of past, present and future for their Changing Nations Unit.

Well done to the Year 8s for being respectful members of society in the city.

Alex Malligan

Head of Humanities

VCE Art Monash University Museum of Art Excursion

Year 11 and 12 Art Making and Exhibiting students recently spent the day at MUMA in Caulfield, exploring the exhibition Syncretic Wilds: Phasmahammer and Natasha Tontey. Students looked at how the works were curated and presented, while learning more about the roles of arts professionals, exhibition design, conservation and the care of artworks.

A highlight of the day was a practical workshop with artist Raf McDonald, where students explored the power of line through painting, movement and mark-making. It was a great opportunity for students to experience contemporary art in a gallery setting and connect what they are learning in class with real exhibition and art-making practices.

Lea Gilbert

Head of Art

Shani Hodson

Art Teacher

VET Sport & Recreation VIS Excursion

Our VET Sport & Recreation students had the exciting opportunity to visit the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) this week and gain an insight into the world of elite and high-performance sport.

The excursion provided students with the opportunity to explore the facilities at the VIS and learn more about the training environments, support services and pathways available to athletes competing at the highest levels. Students were able to see first-hand how elite athletes prepare, train and recover, and the important role that sport and recreation professionals play behind the scenes.

The visit also gave students a valuable opportunity to connect what they are learning in the classroom with real-world careers within the sport and recreation industry. From strength and conditioning and athlete development through to sports administration, coaching and performance support, students gained a greater understanding of the wide range of career pathways available within the industry.

A highlight of the excursion was seeing the facilities used by high-performance athletes and gaining an appreciation of the commitment, preparation and teamwork required to compete at an elite level.

It was a fantastic day of learning outside the classroom, and we thank the Victorian Institute of Sport for welcoming our students and providing such a valuable insight into the world of high-performance sport.

Our VET Sport & Recreation students represented the College exceptionally well throughout the excursion and came away with plenty of knowledge, inspiration and ideas for their future careers in the sport and recreation industry.

Shaun Doherty

Health & PE Teacher

Interschool Sport

Year 8 Girls Soccer SMR Finals

Our team made their second consecutive appearance at SMR finals last Friday, after going through the division competition undefeated. They played hard all day, demonstrating great determination, teamwork and exemplary sportsmanship.

Unfortunately they were beaten by some dominant schools on the day, so that brings us to the end of the road for this year. All of the students represented the college with pride and played in good spirits for the entire day.

Well done girls, let's get there again next year!

Jenny Vanin

Health & Physical Education Teacher

Intermediate Girls Futsal Division Competition

On Tuesday, 18 August, our Year 9/10 Girls Futsal team was pumped up and ready to take on our neighbouring schools in a fantastic day of competition.

As a very proud coach, I was thrilled to see our girls represent Mornington Secondary College so tremendously and respectfully, both on and off the court. The girls were fantastic sports throughout the day, supporting one another, encouraging their teammates and willingly sharing roles, including taking turns in goals throughout the tournament.

Every player played a key role in our team, and congratulations to everyone involved!

We had multiple goal scorers throughout the tournament, with Jasmine, Beren, Ava, Brylee, Chelsea, Emily and Hannah all finding the back of the net.

A special thank you goes to the girls who put their hands up to be goalkeepers. There were certainly some nerves, but they showed tremendous courage and determination, making some fantastic saves throughout the day. Well done to Paula, Brylee, Chelsea, Hannah and Beren.

Tournament Results:

Our girls did MSC incredibly proud, finishing 3rd overall out of seven teams — a fantastic achievement!

Some highlights from the day included:

Strong wins against Rosebud, Dromana B and Western Port.
Brylee’s incredible dive to save a goal in the final seconds of our game against Westernport, which helped seal the win.
Ava’s outstanding goal-scoring performance, showcasing some fantastic soccer skills throughout the day.
Most importantly, the way our girls supported, encouraged and celebrated one another throughout the day.

A huge thank you to Mr Walker and AFL trainees Amelia and Shine for hosting the tournament and ensuring a smooth, fun and action-packed day for all teams involved in the competition.

Alex Mackenzie

Health and PE Teacher

Intermediate Boys Futsal Division Competition

On Tuesday 18 August, the Intermediate Boys Futsal competition was held in our school stadium, with all six Southern Peninsula Division (SPD) schools represented. We were also very fortunate to have a B team entered in the competition. This created a seven-team round robin, with each team playing six games throughout the day.

Our A Team faced a tough opening match against Dromana. Despite being tested early, the boys showed great composure to secure a 4–3 victory. Their second game against Somerville was much more convincing, with the team recording an impressive 6–0 win. The boys continued their winning form, defeating Western Port 7–2, Rosebud 5–3 and Mornington B 6-2.

The A team's final match was against Mt Eliza, with both teams entering the game undefeated with six wins each. The match was played at great speed, with both teams displaying excellent skill and determination. Mt Eliza made a strong start, scoring two goals relatively quickly. Our boys created numerous opportunities and produced some powerful strikes on goal, but the Mt Eliza goalkeeper was exceptional, making several outstanding saves to deny our attack. The final score was 5–0 to Mt Eliza. Congratulations to Mt Eliza on winning the competition and well done to our boys on an excellent effort to finish as runners-up.

Our B team also put in a tremendous effort against some very skilful opposition. The B team competition is designed to provide additional participation opportunities and does not record official results. However, the boys competed with enthusiasm and determination throughout the day. Their game scores were:

0–7 vs Dromana
1–3 vs Somerville
3–3 vs Western Port
0–6 vs Rosebud
2–6 vs Mornington A
0–5 vs Mt Eliza

A special thank you goes to our Year 11 students Ethan Sheen, Evan Schulinus and Sam Friebe, who did an outstanding job officiating all of the games throughout the day. Their commitment and willingness to support the competition were greatly appreciated.

Congratulations to all of our Intermediate Boys Futsal players on a fantastic day of competition. We are very proud of the sportsmanship, effort and skill displayed by both teams.

A Team

Nick Tihalia	Rafa Merchan	Noah Sheen
Dylan Cutting	Luca Keisoglu	Harvey Austin
Jackson Ablett

B Team

Bailey Barrett	Atuich Machar	Jamie McCay
Jake Lillecrapp	Andreas Watson	Ryder Rowe
Jackson Sweatman

John Walker

College Sport Coordinator

Intermediate Boys Basketball Division Competition

The Year 9 and 10 Boys Basketball teams recently hit the court for a highly competitive day of basketball, taking on Rosebud, Mount Eliza, Western Port, Somerville and Dromana.

With games played in a shortened eight-minute half format, there was plenty of fast-paced action, with the boys having to adapt quickly, move the ball efficiently and make every possession count. Both teams showed plenty of intensity, with some excellent passing, rebounding, defensive pressure and fast-break basketball on display throughout the day.

The A team finished the competition with two wins and three losses, while the B team had three wins and two losses. Regardless of the results, the boys continued to compete hard and support one another from the opening tip through to the final siren.

Best players on the day were Jake Field, Lachlan Apap, Tommie Milburn and Kobe Van Zwol.

Rob Horwill

Head of PE

Intermediate Girls Basketball Division Competition

Tuesday saw our Year 9/10 girls travel to Rosebud Secondary College to compete in Division basketball.

Our A Team made a great start, drawing with Dromana. They then went on to win all their remaining games. Lacey & Grace were dominant in offence with Kendal, Asha and Issy working hard in defence. Amber contributed to moving the ball down the court and Nat used her height to dominate in rebounds up both end of the court. The girls were unlucky to miss out on going through to SMR, with Dromana going through with a higher percentage.

Our B Team also made a great start, winning their first two games convincingly whilst having lots of fun. Harley dominated in offence whilst Tommie was able to take control in defence. Their final game saw them go up against Dromana for 1st & 2nd place. The girls were gallant in defeat, also finishing the day in second place.

Congratulations to all our girls that participated, coached and scored. Excellence was evident in our sportsmanship, effort and behaviour and I could not be prouder of all eighteen girls.

Kim Rattue

Year Level Coordinator 9

Learning Snapshot

Year 11 Biology students have been exploring the world of reproduction by comparing the advantages and disadvantages of sexual and asexual reproduction in promoting species survival. To bring their learning to life, students examined yeast cells under the microscope and observed budding in action. This practical investigation provided students with an opportunity to connect biological theory with real-world observations.

Year 11 Health and Human Development students have been finishing their Pre-natal Development Unit; simulating contractions during the birth phase with balloons.

VET Visual Arts students Archie and Keaton, recycling old ink cartridges.

Primary School Science Days

This week we welcomed Grade 5 Benton Junior College and Grade 5/6 Mornington Park Primary School students to MSC for hands-on Science Days.

Our MSC 'scientists' did an amazing job of leading the way and demonstrating experiments throughout the sessions.

Wellbeing

Wear It Purple Day

Wear It Purple was created to ensure every LGBTQIA+SB young person knows they are seen, supported and never alone. Wear It Purple Day celebrates being encouraged to be yourself around others and to not have to fear the repercussions, and allows communities to recognise and support diversity.

This year’s Wear It Purple Day theme is Colours of Courage.

“Courage is not just expressed in big moments, but in everyday choices to live proudly and invite others into understanding, acceptance and celebration.”

Courage can look like speaking up, standing out and creating change. It can also take quieter forms of bravery, like living authentically, coming out, asking for support, standing beside someone, or choosing pride and hope in spaces where being yourself does not always feel easy.

On Friday 28th August, MSC students can wear a 'splash of purple'; purple socks, ribbons or nail-polish. During lunchtime on Wear It Purple Day, there will be face painting, music and more in the courtyard (weather dependent).

Doctors in School