Assistant Principal's Update

Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

Term 1 Week 5

We’re now over the halfway mark point of Term 1, and it's been an incredibly busy start to the year here at the College. It's been inspiring to witness our students embracing the many opportunities available to them. Beginning with a positive note, I'm delighted to share the impressive strides our students have made as they kicked off 2024. It's truly heartening to observe our young learners returning to school, actively participating in their lessons, and reconnecting with their friends and peers.

NAPLAN: National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy

This national testing program is starting in a few weeks. Our key dates which have already been communicated to students and families in Year 7 are:

•  Wednesday 13 March: Writing (Year 7 and Year 9)
• Thursday 14 March: Reading (Year 7 and Year 9)
•  Friday 15 March: Conventions of Language (Year 7 and Year 9)
• Monday 18 March: Numeracy (Year 7 and Year 9)
• Tuesday 19 and Monday 25 March: Catch up sessions 

During this time, all students in Year 7 and 9 will sit the national tests online. Year 9 are sitting the tests in the EZ larger space and adjoining classrooms; and Year 7 throughout the Learning Centre. The testing period is being spread out over several days across both year levels with online tests in Reading, Writing, Conventions of Language and Numeracy. We encourage all students to treat these tests seriously and strive to achieve their Personal Best. 

The results once available will be used to:

• help teachers identify students who require greater challenges or additional support
• help the College identify strengths and if any, gaps in teaching programs and to set goals in Literacy and Numeracy
• provide additional feedback to students and parents about individual achievements and progress

All parents of students in Year 7 and 9 will receive a NAPLAN report on their child’s results. The report is only one aspect of the school’s assessment and reporting process and does not replace the more extensive and informed judgements made about your child by teachers. Thanks to our dedicated ICT team who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the College meets all technical requirements. Additionally, a special appreciation to our Director of Literacy Improvement, Jamie Towsey, and our Director of Numeracy Improvement, Maria Antoniou, for implementing a NAPLAN readiness program within the Year 7 and 9 curriculum.

If your child is completing NAPLAN this year, please ensure that they have the latest Lockdown Browser installed on the divide that they will be using during the test days.

Year 10 Work Experience Preparations:

All year 10 students will participate in a week's work experience program in term 2. The dates are: Term 2 Week 4, running from Monday 6 May to Friday 10 May 2024. Participation in the Work Experience program is mandatory for all Year 10 students, offering them a unique chance to explore potential career paths and gain firsthand

insight into various industries.

Completed Work Experience forms must be returned to the Careers office no later than Week 9, Wednesday 27 March 2024.

School Photos 2024

Last week, our school was abuzz with smiles and excitement as we captured moments to cherish for years to come during our annual school photo session. A heartfelt thank you to Angela Ziagas for her meticulous organisation of the event, ensuring everything ran smoothly. With anticipation building, we eagerly await the arrival of our new school photos for 2024, each snapshot a testament to the spirit and unity of our school community.

Yr 9 Advance Surf Camp

This week, Year 9 Advanced students embarked on a two night camp in Lorne, engaging in activities such as surfing, sea kayaking, and an initiative course. During their time there, they will delve into topics including waves, rips and currents, tides, and water safety. We anticipate a comprehensive report from the students later in the term. In the meantime, enjoy some photos from their camp.

House Swimming and House Athletics 

As you are aware, our much-anticipated House Swimming Carnival unfortunately had to be cancelled last week due to extreme weather conditions. It was disappointing for all of us that this cherished tradition couldn't proceed as planned. However, we were immensely proud of our students for their resilience and adaptability as they returned to their studies with minimal disruption.

A huge thank you goes to our dedicated House swimming organisers, Cory Watters and James Evans, for their tireless efforts in preparation for the event. Looking ahead, we are excited to announce our upcoming House Athletics Day scheduled for Week 9 on Thursday 28 March. On this day, students are encouraged to show their spirit by dressing up in their respective house colours. To refresh your memory, here are the colours associated with each House:

Striving for Excellence: Our Commitment to Student Progress

Continuing our commitment to student growth and development, we will maintain regular progress checks every five to six weeks. These evaluations will encompass various aspects of our students' academic journey, including attendance, learning behaviours, learning growth, and classwork performance.

Attendance:

Recognising the fundamental importance of attendance to academic success, we emphasise the significance of regular school attendance. It is imperative for students to maintain an attendance rate of at least 90% to maximise their learning opportunities. Any student falling below this benchmark will receive support to address their attendance issues, ensuring they remain on track with their studies.

For students with attendance below 80%, we will collaborate closely with families and our Wellbeing Team to provide tailored support and interventions to improve attendance.

For further details on our attendance policy, please refer to the College website or visit the following link: 

College Attendance Policy

Learning Behaviours:

Our framework for student behaviour centres around the values of Personal Best, Respect, and Responsibility. Families can utilise the provided rubric as a tool to assess their child's behaviour in class.

Learning Behaviours Rubric for Families

Learning Growth:

Teachers will provide feedback on students' progress aligned with the Victorian Curriculum and/or the VCE Study Designs.

Classwork:

We expect all students to actively engage in and complete classwork assignments throughout the semester. Teachers will offer guidance on meeting deadlines, striving for personal bests, and managing incomplete or overdue work.

Learning Tasks on Compass:

Learning tasks on Compass aid students and families in tracking assignments and due dates. Students are responsible for timely submission of tasks, with families encouraged to support their organisation using Compass. In cases where students are unable to meet deadlines, communication with teachers and the establishment of new timelines are crucial for successful completion of tasks.

Semester 1 Benchmark Task due dates will be communicated via Compass shortly. Should families require assistance in utilising this information effectively, please reach out for support. For subject-specific enquiries, families are encouraged to contact the respective classroom teachers via email.

Together, we are committed to fostering an environment where each student can achieve their personal best.

Aaron Davis 

Acting Assistant Principal

Mordialloc College would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land – the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin nation, and pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. 

As a school and community, we are committed to a greater understanding and appreciation of Indigenous culture.