From the Principal Team

To students and families,

It's been another busy week across Mornington, with it now being just three or so weeks until the end of the Semester One units/electives, the beginning of mid-year exams (senior school students) and the commencement of Semester Two classes in the last two weeks of this term. We'd like to take the opportunity to acknowledge a few positive moments that highlight the strengths of our Mornington SC community and a new building project that has commenced.

Year 9 Morrisby Career Profiling

This week, our Year 9 students completed their Morrisby Career Profiling, an important step in helping students better understand their strengths, interests, learning preferences and potential future pathways. The profiling process combines aptitude and interest questionnaires to provide personalised insights into possible career areas, senior secondary pathways and future study options. Next month each student will also participate in an individual 1:1 feedback session with a trained careers practitioner, where they will unpack their results in greater detail and explore potential pathways and opportunities available to them. While no program can predict a student’s future, Morrisby provides an excellent foundation for meaningful conversations about subject selection, career interests and future aspirations as students begin planning for life beyond school. All of which will combine to be very useful for our our students with 2027 course selection taking place early in Term 3. Please contact our hard-working Careers Practitioner, Kylie Lebrasse, if you would like more information. 

Year 11 Health & Human Development Master Chef nutrition activity

Earlier this week Mr Evans was fortunate enough to be invited to assist as a tasting judge for a Year 11 Nutrition practical class. He's pleased to report that the standard was outstanding. The meals prepared by students were not only very tasty, but also healthy and thoughtfully designed. What impressed the judging panel the most was the detailed nutritional knowledge students displayed when explaining the reasoning behind their meals, the ingredients selected and the nutritional benefits they provided. Based on what was sampled, we suspect a few families may soon find their Year 11 students volunteering to take over dinner preparation at home!

A big thank you to Ms Dixon and Ms Gibson for the work they put into organising and supervising the practical classes, and also to Mr Evans fellow judges Mr Williams, Mr Uhlenberg and Dr Keough, who took their responsibilities very seriously once the tasting began 😉.

Please read the Master Chef article in the Learning Shapshot section below and enjoy the photos!

Care and Compassion

We also wanted to acknowledge the maturity and community-minded response shown by several of our Year 12 students during a medical emergency that occurred in a classroom this week. Situations like this can be understandably distressing, but the calm reactions, quick thinking and willingness of students to support one another enabled professional support to be accessed very quickly. Thankfully, the student involved is now on the mend and recovering well.

Importantly, students and staff impacted by the incident were provided with wellbeing support on the day, afterwards, and will continue to have access to ongoing support should they require it. Moments like these remind us that schools are not just places of learning, but communities built on care, empathy and looking after one another. We were very proud of the way our students and staff responded under difficult circumstances.

World Education Support Day will be celebrated on May 16, providing an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the incredible contribution of Education Support staff in schools. 

At Mornington Secondary College we deeply value the important work our Education Support staff do each and every day to help our students succeed. Whether supporting learning in the classroom, assisting families, keeping the gutters clear, or helping ensure the smooth operation of the College, their impact is felt across every part of school life. 

They build strong relationships with students, provide encouragement, advice and care, and help create the positive, inclusive environment that allows young people to feel supported, confident and ready to learn. Their work often happens quietly behind the scenes, but it makes a significant difference to the lives of our students and the strength of our school community.

School Building upgrade works – a new toilet block is on the way!

Work started this week on our new toilet block, which will create 9 brand new toilets when it is completed in late July. This is the most significant government expenditure we have received in quite some time so we can’t wait for it to be finished and for our students to have some brand new amenities.

Study Tip of the week: Revise within 48 hours of learning. Memory fades fastest early.

Lisa Holt

Acting Principal

Nick Evans

Senior School Assistant Principal

Mike Parker

Assistant Principal - Curriculum and Student Wellbeing

Important Dates

Students of the Week

Charlie Harris Year 7 

Favourite food: Brownies 

Hobbies out of school: Drawing and reading 

Favourite movie/TV show: Alexa and Katie

Do you have any pets?  2 dogs (Georgie and Murphy), 2 cats (Baymax and Meko), 5 rabbits (Sugar, Salt, Pepper, Bonnie and Snowball) and 1 bird (Mean Birdy)

What are you excited for at Mornington Secondary College? The Aerobics Squad

What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? Aerobics and my friends

What career do you wish to follow when you finish school? Marine Biologist

What's one skill you have that makes you unique? Speedy drawings and my reading ability 

What three words best describe you? Friendly, funny and quiet

Matthew Tarantiuk-Thorne Year 7 

Favourite food: Bananas

Hobbies out of school: Riding my bike

What sports team do you follow? Hawthorn Footy club

Favourite movie/TV show: I like horror movies – The Conjuring 

Do you have any pets?  3 cats named Missy, Shadow and Ob

What are you excited for at Mornington Secondary College? Interschool sport

What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? Recess and lunch, sport

What career do you wish to follow when you finish school? Maybe an electrician 

What's one skill you have that makes you unique? Sporting skills

What three words best describe you? Funny, nice, energetic 

Winter Uniform Reminder

As we move further into the colder winter months, we would like to remind families of the College’s expectations regarding correct winter uniform in line with our Uniform Policy.

We understand students are looking for ways to stay warm during colder weather; however, all students are expected to wear full and correct school uniform each day. Recently, there has been an increase in students wearing non-uniform items such as track pants underneath skirts, hoodies underneath jumpers or polar fleeces, and other non-approved clothing items. 

As outlined in the College Uniform Policy, hooded jumpers, denim, tracksuit-style pants (unless they are the approved PE tracksuit pants worn appropriately), and other non-approved garments are not acceptable as part of the school uniform.

To support students in staying warm while remaining in correct uniform, the following approved options are available:

• College approved jumper or 3/4 zip polar fleece
• College approved spray jacket
• Full-length navy blue tights or leggings under dresses or skirts
• Plain black or white fitted undergarments worn underneath approved uniform items
• Approved navy tailored pants

We ask for your support in ensuring your child arrives at school in the correct uniform each day. Maintaining high standards of uniform promotes pride in our College, supports equality amongst students, and helps maintain a positive learning environment.

Students who attend out of uniform may be required to change into borrowed uniform items, have non-compliant items confiscated for the day, or may be withdrawn from classes or sent home to change if necessary.

We appreciate your continued support in reinforcing these expectations with your child. If your family requires support accessing uniform items, please contact Student Services or the Student Wellbeing Team for assistance.

For further information please refer to the MSC uniform policy below.

Year 12 PJ Day Fundraiser

Supporting a Cause That Matters to Our Students

This year, Mornington Secondary College is proud to support Speak & Share as our chosen charity for 2026.

This charity was selected by our senior students. They were drawn to Speak & Share because it’s led by young people who feel relatable and understand the challenges faced by today’s teens. More importantly, the organisation focuses on mental health—an issue that resonates strongly across our student community.

Our students recognise the importance of creating safe spaces for open conversations, breaking down stigma, and encouraging people to speak up and seek support. Being a local organisation made the decision more impactful, with students feeling a genuine connection to the work being done in their own community.

This week's gold coin donation Year 12 Pyjama Day was the first of many fundraising events planned for 2026 with the aim of supporting Speak & Share, and working together to continue building a culture of openness, understanding, and connection at MSC.

Camps

Year 7 Alexandra Camp 

Mornington Secondary College’s Year 7 students recently headed off on their first high school camp to Alexandra Adventure Resort, and what an adventure it was!

On the Wednesday morning, students and teachers loaded their suitcases onto the bus and began the journey to camp. The bus was buzzing with excitement as students looked forward to three days of fun. Along the way, we stopped at Lilydale Lakes Park to stretch our legs and enjoy some fresh air before continuing on to Alexandra.

Once we arrived, students jumped straight into their activities. Over the three days, students challenged themselves with a wide range of exciting activities including high ropes, the giant swing, leap of faith, low ropes, flying fox, archery, laser tag, and orienteering, just to name a few. Many students stepped outside of their comfort zones as they tackled new challenges and they all did a fantastic job at supporting their peers.

When night fell, the fun continued with night walks, marshmallow roasting, and a movie night.

Although the weather was wet at times, it certainly did not dampen anyone’s spirits. Throughout the camp, students demonstrated great enthusiasm and teamwork, making the most of every moment. The camp was a wonderful opportunity for students to strengthen friendships, build new relationships, and grow in confidence as they continue their Year 7 journey at Mornington Secondary College.

Evangeline Romage

Year 7 Team Leader

Excursions

Year 9 Team Sports - Go Karting and Laser Tag

On Friday 8th May, both Year 9 Team Sports classes took to the tracks at Le Mans Go Karts to race in heavy rain conditions. There were plenty of spin outs and crashes as students battled it out for both the individual and team prizes.

After the racing, teams of three competed in the Laser Tag Trilogy, testing their teamwork, communication and strategy skills. Overall, it was a fantastic day filled with fun, competition and teamwork.

Grant Olarenshaw

Director of Teaching and Learning Excellence

Shaun Doherty

Year Level Coordinator 8

Interschool Sport 

Senior Girls Netball - Division Competition

The Senior Girls netball had a turbulent start with a number of players not attending at the last minute so a huge thanks goes out to Makena Baard and Asha Harber who filled in at the last minute to ensure we could still field two teams. Thankfully, we had the privilege of playing inside on our home courts due to the poor weather, so a huge thanks needs to go out to our PE staff for adjusting their lessons for the day to accommodate the tournament.

In the A grade section, our first game was against Dromana who were leading us for three quarters of the match, with MSC 3 goals down at the break.  In the final quarter the girls managed to keep their collective level heads, and with some outstanding defence and rebounding from Lucy Ferlazzo and Milla Dooley, we managed to inch ahead by the final term to win by one goal.  Our other main opponent was Rosebud who we got a great start on being 5 goals to zero in the first quarter with thanks to accurate shooting by our goalers, Emmerson Mellor and Isobel Reed.  Rosebud got out to a 3 goal lead by three quarter time but again, level heads prevailed for us to win by 3 goals in the end.  The highlight of the day was Eddie and Makena Baard attempting the assisted lift defence to only be called for obstruction. 

The A grade girls ended up being undefeated for the day and taking home the pennant!

Our B grade team had a tough start against Dromana going down by 12 goals, but in their other games they found their groove and combined well as a team. Mia Muccignat was unstoppable in defence and Sienna Bradshaw, Jeannie Brenton and Jess Gyorosi moved the ball seamlessly through the mid court to Zara Brown who put up countless goals in goal shooter.  

The girls ended up finishing 3rd on the day.

Michelle Barnes

Curriculum Implementation Leader

Senior Boys Football- Division Competition

With only 15 players representing MSC in Year 11 and 12 football, the boys showed a lot of heart, winning 1 out of 4 games. In difficult conditions the boys never gave up and played every game to the very end. Best players on the day were Casey Davies, Jed O’Shea-Godfrey, Gus Lyons, and Lachie Neeson.

Adam Pirrie

Year 8 Team Leader

Year 8 Girls Volleyball - SMR Finals

Last Thursday the Year 8 Girls Volleyball Team attended the SMR Regional Competition. Their first game was played against Fountain Gate Secondary College, and unfortunately the girls got off to a slow start and were unable to recover; losing 2 sets to nil. McKinnon Secondary College was their next opponent, and despite some improvement the girls unfortunately lost 2 sets to nil again. However, in their 3rd game it was impressive to see that the girls didn’t drop their heads, and as a result they composed themselves and went on to win 2 sets to nil against Wulerrp Secondary College. 

Rob Horwill

Head of PE

Year 8 Boys Volleyball - SMR Finals

The Year 8 Boys Volleyball Team travelled to the Dandenong Stadium for the Southern Metropolitan Region tournament last week, taking on strong opposition in Pool B against McKinnon, Pakenham, and Hallam Secondary Colleges. Walking into the stadium, the boys were initially surprised by the size and strength of some of their opponents, but once the games began, their confidence quickly grew.

Although the team narrowly lost their opening two matches, they showed great determination and resilience to finish the day with an exciting victory in their final game. The boys were especially grateful for the support of the Year 8 Girls Volleyball Team, who were able to cheer them on during their last match.

Aside from a few bruises and a twisted ankle, the boys competed with courage, teamwork, and sportsmanship, representing Mornington Secondary College with pride.

A special thank you to Mr Horwill for safely transporting the team to and from Dandenong in wet and chilly conditions.

Scott Dean

Humanities Teacher

District Athletics

On Tuesday the 12th of May, Mornington Secondary College proudly competed in the Southern Peninsula Division (SPD) Athletics Carnival. With ideal weather conditions setting the stage for a fantastic day, our students brought energy, determination, and outstanding team spirit to every event.

MSC was represented by a strong team of 90 students, all of whom demonstrated incredible effort and sportsmanship. From track to field events, it was clear that our athletes were committed to doing their best and supporting one another.

We are extremely proud to announce that Mornington Secondary College finished 2nd overall out of 6 schools, with an impressive total of 826.50 points. 

A huge congratulations to all of our event winners, who will now progress to the Southern Metropolitan Region (SMR) competition in October. Congratulations to the below list of students who placed 1st in their events:

• Lily Hall – 16 Years Girls Javelin (19.40m)
• Charlotte Davies – 15 Years Girls Long Jump (4.49m), Girls 100m (14.17s), Girls Triple Jump (9.84m)
• Noah Sheen – 15 Years Boys 1500m (5:00.83 mins)
• Amelia Pascuzzo – 16 Years Girls 1500m (5:52.21 mins), Girls 800m (2:54.03 mins)
• Ethan Sheen – 16 Years Boys 1500m (4:36.85 mins), Boys 800m (2:10.96 mins)
• Mathis Minnemaier – 18-20 Years Boys 1500m (5:59.00 mins)
• James Payne – 14 Years Boys Shot Put (9.86m)
• Claire Rattue – 14 Years Girls Javelin (18.14m)
• Chelsie Surridge – 15 Years Girls Javelin (14.29m)
• Sima Barnikov – 12-13 Years Boys High Jump (1.50m)
• Bonnie Irving – 12-13 Years Girls 100m (14.91s)
• Lewis Gardiner – 16 Years Boys Long Jump (5.23m)
• Kayla Christie – 17 Years Girls Shot Put (9.40m)
• Kai Peel – 18-20 Years Boys 800m (2:25.16 mins)
• Bailey Barrett – 16 Years Boys Triple Jump (10.75m)
• Nicholas Tihala – 15 Years Boys 400m (1:00.07 mins)

A special mention goes to Ethan Sheen, Charlotte Davies, and Amelia Pascuzzo, who achieved outstanding results across multiple events! 

We’d also like to recognise some fantastic second-place finishes in the longer distance events:

• Hannah Cooper – 12-13 Years Girls 1500m (2nd)
• Noah Sheen – 15 Years Boys 800m (2nd)
• Bailey Barrett – 16 Years Boys 800m (2nd)

Overall, the SPD Athletics Carnival was a huge success for MSC. Congratulations to everyone who competed. We look forward to seeing our athletes continue their success at the next level!

Amelia Vecchi

AFL Trainee

Shine Schwarz

AFL Trainee

Incursions

Year 9 and Year 10 - On the Ropes Play

Year 9 and 10 students were audience to a play this week aimed at supporting young people to better understand their rights, relationships and the help available when they are experiencing difficulty. Particular themes covered were family violence, controlling behaviours and image based abuse. 

VET Sport & Rec First Aid

On Wednesday, May 6, our VET Sport & Recreation students took part in an intensive First Aid and CPR training course, gaining vital lifesaving skills that are essential within the sport, fitness, and recreation industries.

Throughout the day, students were trained in emergency response procedures, CPR techniques, and practical first aid scenarios that could occur in gyms, sporting environments, recreation facilities, and everyday life. The course provided hands-on experience in responding to medical emergencies with confidence, composure, and professionalism.

Students learned how to:

• Perform CPR on adults and children
• Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
• Respond to choking incidents
• Manage injuries including cuts, sprains, fractures, and bleeding
• Recognise and respond to medical emergencies
• Apply safe and effective first aid practices in sporting and recreation settings

The training not only equips students with nationally recognised qualifications but also reinforces the importance of leadership, responsibility, and duty of care within the health and fitness industry.

A huge congratulations to all students who participated and successfully completed the course. Their enthusiasm, teamwork, and willingness to step outside their comfort zones made the day both engaging and rewarding.

These practical experiences are a valuable part of our VET Sport & Recreation program, helping students build real-world skills that prepare them for future pathways in fitness, coaching, sport development, recreation, and community health.

Shaun Doherty

Year 8 Coordinator

Learning Snapshot

Year 11 Health and Human Development MasterChef Nutrition Challenge 2026

Students at Mornington Secondary College showcased their creativity, teamwork and nutritional knowledge this week during the highly anticipated MasterChef Nutrition Challenge 2026.

Mr Evans, Dr Keough, Mr Williams and Mr Uhlenberg were the judges.  They were impressed by the wide range of colourful and nutritious meals prepared and served within 30 minutes.

Students were able to identify the macronutrients, micronutrients and functions of nutrients included in each meal.  Dishes served included Sushi Bowls, Burrito Bowls, Sweet Potato Bowls, Shredded Chicken and Sweet Potato, Peri Peri Chicken Bowls and fresh Rice Paper Rolls. 

Each team demonstrated excellent planning, creativity and confidence when presenting their meals to the panel and were clearly able to meet the set criteria.

The standout dish of the competition was the Salmon Poke Bowl, which was crowned the overall winner. The winning team impressed the panel with its outstanding presentation, balanced nutritional profile and detailed explanation of the meal’s benefits for young people, including its high protein content, healthy fats, vegetables and wholegrain ingredients.

Congratulations to all students involved in making the 2026 MasterChef Nutrition Challenge such a successful event for HHD class. 

Jo Dixon

Year Level Coordinator 12

VM Kitchen Safety Lesson

This week (on PJ Day) our Year 12VM students worked in groups demonstrating communication and collaboration, tying in with their current Area of Study: Workplace Responsibilities and Rights. Students presented to their peers ensuring visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners were accommodated for in their presentation.

School Community in PE

On Tuesday, whilst there were a large number of students representing the school at SPD Athletics, Mr Olarenshaw, Mr Pirrie and myself joined our classes together; 7C, 8C & 8D; to play a game of Giant Kickball.

This involved both teams having a combination of all three classes in each team and having to make it around 4 bases, with the final base being the big, bouncy high jump mat where they had the option of coming into home plate on a forward somersault, jump or just landing on the mat.

The first team made an impressive 27 home runs but were no match for the second team who trumped in 47 home runs and were the superior fielding team on the day.

It was great to see every student involved, lots of positivity and excellent sportsmanship and a high sense of community in the college.

A big shout out to Mr O and Mr Pirrie who ended up helping field towards the end of the match.

Kim Rattue 

Year Level Coordinator 9

Year 12 Business Management

This week Business Management students spent a lesson cooking to apply their current Area of Study - Operations Management to a practical class.

Students were able to see how technological advancements, quality management and waste management can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, whilst having some fun and filling their bellies.

It was great to see the students take some time to do a hands on activity whilst still applying key knowledge and skills to ever day tasks.

Kim Rattue 

Year Level Coordinator 9

Pathways

National Careers Week - 11th to 17th May

National Careers Week is an initiative of the Career Industry Council of Australia to celebrate career development, a process of managing learning, work and leisure to progress through life. It includes gaining and using the skills and knowledge needed to plan and make informed decisions about education, training, and work. Everyday decisions and priorities affect career development. 

National Careers Week was held between 11th – 17th May this year, allowing students to participate in a range of activities including:

• Accessing career website information and signing up to career resources on our website https://www.mornsccareers.com/
• Accessing, reflecting on Yr9 Morrisby My Career Insights reports Morrisby My Career Insights
• Searching for Structured workplace placement or work experience opportunities using the school to work portal https://workplacements.education.vic.gov.au/
• Completing a Safe at work certificate Safe at work 
• Updating your resume, browsing for employment https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/article/free-resume-template
• Take the aptitude quiz to gain better insights into an apprenticeship or traineeship Downloadable-quizzes
• Researching different careers occupations and latest trends Career Targets Guide   Good Universities Guide  My Future
• Researching different courses https://delta.vtac.edu.au/coursesearch/#/search or  https://www.courseseeker.edu.au/courses
• Gaining better understanding of the education programs in schools Your world. Your VCE. | vic.gov.au
• Overview of Vocational Education Training VET - How do you like to learn? 

Book in or pop into the Career Pathways office during recess, lunchtime or after school! We can assist with course counselling, work experience, university information, VTAC, VET courses and much more. If you require a longer consultation, please book in Student appointment .

Kylie Lebrasse

Careers Practitioner

VET Delivered to Secondary Students (VDSS) Showcase 2026

At the VDSS Showcase 2026, families will have the chance to:

• Explore a wide range of industry areas
• Speak directly with leading local training providers
• Learn about course pathways and entry requirements
• Understand how VET works alongside secondary schooling
• Discover practical, skills‑based pathways that build career‑ready experience

The VDSS Showcase 2026 is a free event – but bookings are essential. Bookings close Monday 18 May.

📅 Tuesday 19 May

📍Frankston Arts Centre, 27–37 Davey Street, Frankston VIC

⏰5.00pm – 7.00pm

👥For Years 9–12 students and families

Fiona Cornwall

VASS/VET/Workplacement Co-ordinator

MSC Footy Tipping

Calling for Host Families - Japanese Visitors

Don’t Miss a Moment at MSC!

Follow Mornington Secondary College on Facebook & Instagram for news, events, and more so you never miss a moment of your student's learning journey.

Community News & Opportunities

Saver Plus Program

Saver Plus is a free 10-month financial education and matched savings program. Eligible participants who complete the program, receive matched savings from ANZ for every dollar they save once they have completed the program (up to $500 for education items, such as iPads, laptops, school uniforms, and textbooks).

Saver Plus is a program developed in 2003 by the Brotherhood of St Laurence and ANZ, delivered in partnership with Berry Street and The Smith Family. The program is funded by ANZ and the Australian Government Department of Social Services. 

The 2026 Parliament Prize

The 2026 Parliament Prize is now open. Students from Grade 5 to Year 12 are invited to share what they would say to parliament if they were an MP and could win prizes for themselves and their schools. Entries close 5pm Friday 12 June. 

To learn more or to reach out to us