Principal Update

Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

I hope that this newsletter finds you all really well, and warm. It is great to catch up with you, showcase some recent successes, and lead you gently into the end of Term 2 break!

I won’t steal the thunder from the Captains’ articles below but, this 11-weeks term has successfully packed in so much for our students and staff.  As we moved into Semester 2, our students were focused on getting to know new subjects, new teachers, and new classmates; it is always a pleasure to watch the development of those relationships for learning, they are the real heart of what makes Mordialloc College such a wonderful school.

Our Junior School students swapped into their new Semester 2 subjects, and threw themselves into Interschool Sports.

Middle School also moved into their new electives, with some of our Year 10s moving into formal examination practice for the first time. 

Our examination season finished smoothly with some exemplary behaviour by our Year 11 and Year 12 students in their General Achievement Test (GAT).  Of course, a real highlight from these last weeks of Term 2 has been the Year 11 and Year 12 Formals; keep reading to find out more!

A gentle reminder about these important Term 3 dates:

• Beginning of Term 3: Monday 21st July.
• Professional Learning Day (Student Free Day): Monday 25th August
• Online Parent Teacher Interview Day (Students work from home) - Wednesday 3rd September

I really do hope that you get to spend some time with your favourite people over the next two weeks; thank you all for your continued support of our school. 

Rachael Stone

Principal

Premier’s VCE Awards

The annual Premier’s VCE Awards recognised students who demonstrated outstanding achievement in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE); I am so very proud to share that this year two Mordialloc College students were recognised at the awards. 

At the award presentation ceremony held on 3rd July 2025, a total of 315 awards, including 23 Top All-Round VCE High Achiever Awards, recognised the exceptional dedication and hard work of students during the 2024 VCE across four categories: Top All-Round VCE High Achievers, Outstanding VCE Vocational Major Student Awards, Top Three International Students and Study Awards.

I know that you will join me in congratulating Junze Huang (Top All-Round VCE High Achievers Award) and Charlotte Zaph (Study Award for Art Making & Exhibiting) for their amazing achievements. They were joined on the day by Tracey Bastin; of course we sent our huge congratulations via a Mordialloc College postcard!

This is IT

In an attempt to equalise access to education across the South East region of Melbourne, in 2020, the “This is ‘IT’” initiative was born.

The initiative aimed to offer scholarships to local students, in the form of laptops. 

In this day and age, laptops are a required learning tool for all students, not having access to one severely impacts a student’s learning and the subsequent opportunities they will have to access further education, training and employment. 

Students from Mordialloc College were identified among more than 1,000 students across the region, as recipients of a laptop, via a scholarship in 2025. These scholarships are reflective of the dedication to education these students are demonstrating, and the belief their school has in their ability to succeed at school.

The latest tranche of 15 laptops provided to students from Mordialloc College were generously donated by the City of Kingston.

This is ‘IT’ was established by local business people wanting to have a positive impact on the education of young people. Founders of this initiative are:

•           Todd Hartley - Hilton Manufacturing

•           Simon Whiteley - Corex Plastics Australia

•           Tyrone Landsman - Future Recycling

•           Sandra George - South East Business Networks (City of Greater Dandenong)

•           Andrew Simmons - South East LLEN

To date, This Is IT has provided more than 3,000 laptops to local students, we are so grateful to This is IT for working with us to ensure that no student gets left behind at Mordialloc College. 

If you would like to know more about this initiative, or have laptops sitting on shelves in your office, that you would like to donate to a worthy cause, please contact Andrew Simmons, CEO at South East LLEN and co-founder at This Is IT, via email or phone.

asimmons@sellen.org.au 

andrew.simmons@thisisitschools.com.au 

0488003036

Middle School Captains’ Article

Middle School Captains

Hello everyone! Term 2 has been a very eventful time for the 7s, 8s, and 9s! 

Term 2 hosted sports gala days; SEP and interschool sports. 

Year 8 and 9 SEP 

Year 8 at Cape Schanck

Year 8s travelled to Cape Schanck to conduct research into landforms and the nature around it, capping it off with a fish and chips lunch! 

 Year 7 Camp

Year 7 went on their first high school camp to The Summit, challenging them and letting them adapt to the school values, which they all showed while completing fun team building exercises.

Year 9 studying Design Technology: Fashion

The Year 9s and the Year 8 SEALs completed their first exams, preparing themselves for their transition into Senior School and their VCE / VM pathways.

Towards the end of term, some Year 9 MEX classes went to the city for the MEX: City Experience tour. The people who went said it was amazing and recommended everyone to do it! 

Overall, Term 2 was a great term for Years 7, 8 and 9 and we can’t wait for next term.

See you all again after the holidays!

George Horejsi, Charlotte Ellem, Benjamin Roberts

Middle School Leaders

Senior School Captains’ Article

Hello to all,

It’s been a busy and long 11 week term but we have finally made it. Congratulations to all our students for completing Semester 1! For our Year 10’s it has been very exciting and full on term. All their hard preparation from Term 1 paid off when they completed their week of work experience in May. From the conversations that we have had with our Year 10’s they had a blast and it was an extremely informative time for all of them, giving the students key insight into what their future careers may look like. 

Nearing the end of week 5 and 6 all Semester 1 benchmarks were due, allowing for a week of revision before exams. For most of our Year 10’s it was their first time completing exams carried out under VCE conditions. This is a crucial time in their development as students as it begins their preparation for Year 12. The exams went well for all students and really allowed them to get their first taste of what an exam looks like.

 Having finished exams, the Year 10’s began their Semester 2 classes, which included their new electives! The transition from Semester 1 to Semester 2 has gone smoothly and everyone seems to be enjoying their new classes. Subject selection for VCE also began this Semester, where our year 10s began to pick their VCE-UP subjects which they will carry on with for the next 2 years. More counselling is to be done in Term 3 and we hope that all the students had an easy time picking subjects that not only suit their interests but set them up for the careers that they may be interested in! 

Year 10 at Bayside VET Careers Expo.

Finally, the students looking to take a VET course in Year 11 2026 went to the Vocational Education and Training EXPO to have a look at the courses that are on offer to gain a better understanding into what they may choose for next year.

 It’s been a jam-packed and exciting term for our Year 11 cohort here at Mordialloc College! Our students tackled their mid-year exams alongside the Year 10s, experiencing assessments under full VCE conditions. This important milestone not only challenged them academically but also helped solidify their study habits and exam routines as they edge closer to their final year of schooling. We are proud of how they approached this period with maturity and resilience. With exams now behind them, students have moved into Unit 2 studies, marking the beginning of the second half of their VCE journey. It’s an important time, as they begin aligning more closely with their potential Year 12 pathways and post-school aspirations. 

Beyond the classroom, several Year 11 students took part in the GAT (General Achievement Test) — a key step for those undertaking a Unit 3/4 subject. It was a great opportunity to experience a formal VCAA assessment and contribute to their final results. A number of students have also been involved in extracurricular activities throughout the term. 

Our debating teams have continued to develop their skills and confidence through inter school competitions, proudly representing Mordialloc with sharp thinking and strong teamwork. Meanwhile, students in Outdoor Education have enjoyed exciting excursions that provided practical learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom setting. These activities not only deepen their understanding of course content but also build leadership, independence, and a sense of adventure.

Year 10 and 11 exams

 For our year 12s, Unit 3 is already done! The time has gone by so quickly and all subjects are now in Unit 4, our last unit of school. 

We recently completed the GAT (General Achievement Test), which provides quality assurance of VCE assessments and also provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate they meet the Victorian Literacy and Numeracy Standards expected at a senior secondary level. Aside from SACs and coursework, Year 12 has also had multiple sporting days in sports like hockey, netball or AFL, with our AFL team winning the comp and continuing on to a higher competition! 

We all recently attended a Teenagers Road Accident Group, which has been providing road trauma presentations to Secondary Schools on and around the Mornington Peninsula and South East Melbourne since 1999. This involved hearing stories from families of teenagers who have passed in accidents and first responders who have assisted in teenage road accidents. Whilst it was quite confronting, it felt that the year level was quite moved and had an understanding of the risks of the road, knowledge we will all carry on for the rest of our lives. 

Both the Year 11’s and 12’s had their formals in June. These events are the ones students most look forward to, and we are more than happy to report both were great! Everyone looked fabulous and it was wonderful to see teachers and students alike engaging in some fun dance moves. Lots of amazing photos were taken and if you haven’t had the chance to already, check out the Mordialloc Facebook or Instagram for pictures and videos of all our senior school students and staff having a very enjoyable night!

Year 12 Formal

Year 11 Formal

 Have a safe and fulfilling holidays and we look forward to seeing everyone back in Term 3.

 Eden, Catherine, Madi and Auburn

Senior School Captains