Senior Secondary

Year 11 Formal

At MECS we believe that “education is for the formation of the whole person: intellectual, emotional, physical, spiritual and for the development of the character and the learning of wisdom”. (Transformational Education: A Framework for Christian Teaching, p 57)

It is with this statement in mind that we offer a 'formal event' for Year 11 students each year. This statement also impacts how we approach 'The Formal' at MECS. Rather than just providing an evening of fun and dressing up for the students, we require them to 'contribute' in ways that push them out of their comfort zones; challenging them physically and emotionally (it is an opportunity for them to learn to self-regulate nerves and excitement) and hopefully overall, contribute to their character development. We believe the emphasis needs to be both on celebrating and challenging them as individuals, as well as celebrating, and having them contributing to their community (community being their family, friends and those they do life with at school).

 Our students prepare for 'The Formal' each year by participating in formal dance lessons, delivered by a professional dance instructor. Students then perform these dances on the evening for the entertainment of their family and friends. The growth in confidence and skill from their very first lesson to the performance is always a delight to observe. Students are also challenged to speak publicly as they give insight into their lives, hopes and sources of inspiration. Students prepare for this by writing their 'speeches' and then having them pre-recorded. This is a lovely way for them to contribute to the school community as guests come to know a little more about them. A sense of belonging is established when people in community are known to and known by one another. It is encouraging to hear students identify aspects of their lives that are of value to them, an indication of the wisdom developing as they prepare to step into adulthood.

This year we were also privileged to have some members of the newly developed Faith Leadership Team contribute in a significant way. Toby Van der Veen and Mia Kirkwood did a wonderful job of MCing the evening, setting a professional and respectful tone. Owen Payze delivered an inspiring spiritual reflection/devotion. Owen challenged his classmates to make God the focus of their lives as they enter adulthood, encouraging them to consider what is really important.

Having said all this, there was certainly a lot of fun to be had too. Students, friends and family enjoyed a delicious three course meal, the use of a photo booth for silly photos and, at the end, an energetic time of free dance together. A joyful sense of community was evident throughout the entire evening.

Amelia Koole

Senior Secondary, Careers & VET Coordinator

Year 12 Last Day

Whole School Assembly

Last Tuesday we celebrated the last day of official classes for Year 12 students! We began the day with a Whole School Assembly.

The Year 12 students chose the theme of iconic characters, dressing up and decorating the gym accordingly. Students entered the assembly one at a time to much excitement from the audience.

The assembly was marked by the performances of a number of talented student musicians. These included Jerush Perera and Yoshi Chivell who played their VCE Music pieces prior to the start, Ella-Jane Bukka and Imogen White who sang an original song (along with guitar and double bass) reflecting on the idea of growing up. Our Junior Secondary Worship team did a wonderful job of leading us in worship and we are thankful to Scott Mealy who assisted them in this. 

Another highlight of the assembly were the moving and inspiring speeches delivered by our Year 12 leaders. Jackson Clarke encouraged the younger ones who might be shy and afraid of public speaking, sharing the confidence and growth he has experienced at MECS. Sophie Van Den Broek shared of her faith and the way that MECS has nurtured this in her. 

Mrs Sketcher gave the key note reflection. Year 12 students specifically asked her to deliver the speech as this was her final year and they wanted to acknowledge her excellent leadership since they were in Year 3. Mrs Sketcher emphasised the importance of knowing God’s love for us and that His grace is sufficient in our lives no matter what circumstance we may find ourselves in. It was an important message of recognising that choosing to follow God doesn’t necessarily mean that we won’t face hardship in our lives but that He can sustain us deeply through the good and the bad times when we rest in His love and grace.

There was time after the assembly for family and friends to take photos and congratulate our students before they headed off for lunch and fun activities offsite.

We would love you to join us in praying for our Year 12s as they head into exams and/or take the next steps into life beyond school.

Amelia Koole

Senior Secondary, Careers & VET Coordinator

A Day to Celebrate! 

After the final assembly, the Year 12s enjoyed a delightful lunch and activities in the afternoon. We travelled on the bus for an excursion one last time, and there were lots of relieved smiles as the students spent time together with their cohort of 2023. We went to Knox 'Groove Train' restaurant for a delicious lunch, and then we attended 'Hijinx Hotel' in Chadstone. In small groups, students and teachers competed in a range of games in different themed rooms. The competition was fierce and the energy was high! We hope the Year 12 students really enjoyed their last activity together, and we loved seeing them so happy and joyous. Thanks to Amelia and her team for organising such a fun end to the year. We now wish the VCE students well as they study for their final exams, and congratulate VCAL for finishing their final tasks.

Nicky Joiner

VCAL Coordinator

Year 10

This week in our Year 10 EAL class, we delved into the world of culinary arts. Our focus was on mastering the art of sauce-making, with a particular emphasis on two versatile concoctions: the timeless Bolognese Sauce and the delicate Bechamel Sauce. Each student embarked on the journey of creating their own unique sauces. They were encouraged to infuse their creations with an array of herbs and additional flavours, allowing them to craft sauces tailored to their personal tastes.

Once our students had successfully honed their skills in crafting these essential sauces, the time had come to put them to use in a quintessential dish—lasagne. As the lasagnes baked to perfection in the oven, our students busied themselves by crafting a side salad, a delightful accompaniment to the family meal they would soon be sharing at home.

It was lovely to hear the students (and their grateful families) reflections and feedback about how much they enjoyed this family meal that evening.

Sharon Witt

Secondary EAL Teacher