Principal Report

Winter has certainly made its presence known over the past few weeks, with some very chilly mornings and wet weather. As we move further into the season, please ensure students are dressed warmly each day in the appropriate school uniform, including jumpers and jackets, so they remain comfortable and ready for learning. If your family requires any assistance with accessing school uniform, please don't hesitate to contact Linda or Brooke. We understand that circumstances can vary, and we are more than happy to work with families to ensure every student has what they need to fully participate in school.

Last Friday, our staff joined colleagues from across the network for a professional learning day focused on developing a deeper understanding of poverty and the impact it can have on students, families and schools. The workshop drew on the work of Ruby Payne and her Understanding Poverty framework, encouraging staff to reflect on the barriers that poverty can create and the important role schools play in supporting every student to achieve success. Building our understanding in this area is an important part of creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment. By strengthening our knowledge and empathy, we are better equipped to recognise individual circumstances, build positive relationships, and ensure every student has the opportunity to engage, learn and thrive regardless of the challenges they may face.

A reminder to families that Wednesday, 5th August is a Curriculum Day. Students are not required to attend school on this day while staff participate in professional learning.

Our next School Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, 4th August. We thank our School Council members for their ongoing commitment to supporting the strategic direction and continued improvement of our college.

On Friday, students from across the college will join their peers from St Colman's Primary School and Terang P–12 College to enjoy performances presented by Bell Shakespeare. Experiences such as these enrich our English curriculum by bringing literature to life and exposing students to high-quality live theatre. They encourage creativity, critical thinking and a deeper appreciation of language, while also providing valuable opportunities for students to engage with the arts alongside peers from neighbouring schools.

Our senior students are currently participating in interviews and a range of school-led selection activities as part of the process for appointing our 2027 Student Leadership Team. Student leadership provides a valuable opportunity for young people to develop confidence, responsibility and effective communication skills while making a meaningful contribution to the life of our college. We are proud to see so many students willing to step forward, challenge themselves and demonstrate their commitment to serving our school community. We wish all applicants the very best throughout the selection process.

Finally, I would like to remind all senior students and their families about our Senior Pathways Information Evening, being held tonight from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm in the GGC. This is an important opportunity to explore the range of pathway options available and gain valuable information to support informed subject selections and future planning. We encourage all students and their families to attend as we work together to identify the pathway that best meets each student's interests, strengths and aspirations.

Finalising Prep and Year 7 Enrolments for 2027

If you have a child commencing Foundation (Prep) or Year 7 next year - or know a family considering Mortlake P-12 College…….we warmly invite them to visit our college and discover what makes our school such a special place to learn.

Families are invited to book a personalised enrolment and information session where they can:

Enjoy a guided tour of the college and discuss how we support the unique needs, strengths and interests of every child.
Meet our dedicated and experienced teaching staff.
Explore our learning spaces and discover the wide range of opportunities available across the college.
Foundation (Prep) families can visit our classrooms and see our evidence-based literacy program in action, building strong reading and writing foundations through engaging, hands-on learning.
Year 7 families can explore our secondary learning environment and learn about the rich academic, wellbeing and co-curricular opportunities available throughout Years 7–12.

We are excited to once again welcome the Mortlake Kindergarten children to the college on Monday, 3rd August. Visits such as these play an important role in supporting a positive transition to school by helping children become familiar with the school environment, meet staff and students, and begin building confidence in what will soon become their new learning community. Developing these positive connections early helps ensure children begin Foundation feeling safe, settled and ready to learn.

We are delighted by the strong interest already shown for 2027 and look forward to welcoming many new families to our college community.

Our 2027 Foundation/Prep students will participate in an extensive weekly transition program throughout Term 4, providing valuable opportunities to build confidence, develop friendships and become familiar with school routines before they officially begin their learning journey with us.

Our secondary students are also well supported through the transition process. Students commencing Year 7 in 2027 will participate in the statewide Year 7 Orientation Day on Tuesday, 8th December, as well as our week-long Head Start Program, commencing Monday, 30th November. Head Start provides students entering Years 7–10 in 2027 with the opportunity to begin building relationships with their teachers and peers, become familiar with new routines and expectations, and gain an exciting introduction to the learning they will undertake in the following year. These transition opportunities play an important role in ensuring students begin the new school year feeling confident, connected and ready to succeed.

To arrange a personalised visit, please contact the College Office on 5599 2204. To assist with planning for 2027, we ask that all Foundation and Year 7 enrolment applications be finalised as soon as possible.

Inspire House Fundraiser - Big Freeze for MND

On Friday, 14th August, Inspire House will be hosting a Big Freeze for MND fundraiser to raise awareness and funds for those affected by Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

MND is a progressive and currently incurable neurological disease that affects the nerves controlling movement, gradually impacting a person's ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. Events such as the Big Freeze play an important role in raising funds for vital research, improving support services and increasing awareness of the impact of this devastating disease.

In true Big Freeze spirit, several of our staff members……including myself, have volunteered to be dunked and soaked in icy cold water to help support this important cause. We hope our students and school community will get behind the event, enjoy the fun and help us make a meaningful contribution.

Please keep an eye on Compass for further information about the day, including how students and families can get involved and support the fundraiser.

Together, let's help Fight MND and make this year's Big Freeze a fantastic community event!

Book Week 2026 - Symphony of Stories

Book Week is celebrated from Saturday, 22nd August to Friday, 28th August, with the 2026 theme being - Symphony of Stories.

Throughout the week, students will have the opportunity to celebrate the magic of books, storytelling and reading through a range of classroom activities inspired by this year's theme.

We are also excited to be hosting our Book Fair, which will coincide with Book Week. The Book Fair is a wonderful opportunity for students and families to explore a fantastic range of books, foster a love of reading and support our school library. Further information, including opening times and purchasing details, will be shared closer to the event.

To conclude our celebrations, we will be holding our Book Week Parade on Friday, 28th August. Students are invited to dress as their favourite book character and join us in celebrating the wonderful stories that inspire imagination, creativity and a lifelong love of reading.

We are also encouraging all staff to dress up and take part in the fun. We look forward to seeing the creativity and enthusiasm of our entire school community as we celebrate Symphony of Stories!

Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences

Our Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences/Interviews will be held on Thursday, 10th September, from 12:00 noon to 6:00pm. These conferences provide an important opportunity for students, families and teachers to come together to reflect on learning, celebrate progress and discuss goals for the remainder of the year.

Prior to the conferences, families will be able to access their child's Term 3 Attitudes to School Learning Report through Compass. This report provides valuable insight into students' learning behaviours, engagement and work habits, and will help support meaningful discussions during the conferences.

While the conferences are an important opportunity to connect, we encourage families not to wait if they have questions or concerns about their child's learning or wellbeing. Our staff value strong partnerships with families and are always happy to arrange a meeting at a mutually convenient time throughout the year. By working together, we can continue to ensure every student is supported, challenged and encouraged to achieve their very best.

Compass: Staying Connected with Our College Community

At Mortlake P-12 College, Compass is our primary platform for communication with families. It is an important tool that helps us maintain strong home-school partnerships by ensuring families have timely access to information about their child's learning and school life.

Through Compass, families can:

receive important school news, notices and event information;
access student reports, including Semester Reports and Attitudes to School Learning Reports;
book Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences/Interviews;
view student attendance and approve absences;
monitor class timetables and learning tasks;
receive excursion information and provide online consent where applicable;
access school newsletters and other college communications; and
stay informed about upcoming events and key dates throughout the year.

We encourage all families to regularly check Compass to ensure they don't miss important information. Keeping your contact details up to date also helps us communicate effectively when required.

If you are unable to access your Compass account, have forgotten your login details, or are experiencing any difficulties, please contact the College Office as soon as possible. Our team will be more than happy to assist you so you can stay connected and informed about your child's education.

Supporting Safe and Responsible Social Media Use

As technology continues to play an increasingly important role in our children's lives, it is essential that we work together to help young people develop safe, respectful and responsible online habits.

From December 2025, new Australian legislation introduced a minimum age of 16 for creating accounts on many major social media platforms. These laws aim to better protect young people from the potential harms associated with social media, including cyberbullying, inappropriate content, online predators, and the impact excessive social media use can have on wellbeing and mental health.

To further support our students, we are pleased to welcome Leading Senior Constable Nathan Hunt from the Mortlake Police Station, who will be working with our Year 7-9 students on Tuesday, 4th August. Nathan will deliver a workshop focused on online safety, responsible digital behaviour and the importance of making informed choices when using social media and other online platforms. These sessions will reinforce the positive messages we promote at school and provide students with practical strategies for staying safe online.

While social media can provide opportunities for connection and creativity, it is important that students understand that their online behaviour should reflect the same values we expect at school. Respect, kindness and responsibility do not end when students leave the classroom or log onto a device.

We encourage families to continue having regular conversations with their children about:

being kind and respectful in all online interactions;
thinking carefully before posting or sharing content, recognising that digital footprints can last a lifetime;
protecting personal information and privacy;
reporting or speaking up if they experience or witness inappropriate online behaviour; and
balancing screen time with healthy activities, sleep and face-to-face relationships.

At Mortlake P–12 College, we are committed to educating students to become safe, responsible and respectful digital citizens. We know the strongest outcomes occur when schools and families work together, and we appreciate the important role parents and carers play in guiding their children's use of technology and social media.

Student Mobile Phones Reminder

A reminder to families and students that student mobile phones are not to be used during the school day. In line with our school expectations and the Victorian Government mobile phone policy, phones should remain switched off and securely stored throughout the day.

If a staff member observes a student using or carrying a mobile phone during school hours, the phone will be confiscated and returned to the student at the end of the school day. We appreciate the support of families in reinforcing this expectation, which helps minimise distractions and supports student engagement, wellbeing, and positive learning environments across our school.

As always, thank you for your continued support of our college. Together, we continue to create a learning community where every student is encouraged to grow, achieve and contribute.

Linda Mooseek

Mortlake P-12 College Principal

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