Assistant Principal's Update

Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

Wow and just like that we are already approaching the halfway mark of Term 4 and the 2023 academic year inches closer to the end. Its been such a successful year in so many ways, but the success continues and it has continued to be a super busy time at our College with many events, excursions and forward planning for 2024.

This week the aspiring College and Middle School Captains, as well as our six Sub Committee for the Mordialloc College Student Council (MCSC) 2024 have boldly presented their pitches to school assemblies in front of their peers. The quality of speeches was very high and it was great to hear the ideas and strategies these students wish to deliver next year during their speeches. It's a good indication of how student voice and agency is embedded in the College culture with students presenting a range of ways the College can be improved from the student perspective. The next steps for the students include an interview later this week. New captains and sub-committee captains will be announced in the coming weeks so stay tuned! 

A reminder that students from any year level (Years 7-12) can join the MCSC at any time as either a House Leader or they can also join one of our six sub-committees: 

Community and Wellbeing

Curriculum

Facilities and Environment

Promotions and Fundraising

Sports

The Arts

Joining the MCSC provides a clear pathway to further leadership opportunities, whilst having your voice heard, making a difference to our school and local community as well it's a great way  to make new friends.

The MCSC will hold its Annual General Meeting on a date to be announced. This will be an exciting opportunity for our old leaders of 2023 to hand over to our new leaders and then in their respective sub committees plan their actions and events for 2024.

We thank Ms Kerry Archer for her hard work, enthusiasm and stewardship of the MCSC this year. We are also looking forward to the return of Miss Julia Hockey in 2024 as the College's new Director of Student Engagement with the MCSC included as an integral part of her portfolio.

Fast approaching are the 2024 Student Led Conferences (SLC) to be held on Wednesday 15 November. Last year we trialled an on-line format that was hugely successful with a much greater number of parents and carers attending their child’s conference as they could join remotely with their child.  SLC’s are a showcase presentation designed by each student that showcases their best work, their 2023 academic goals, areas that the students have identified as strengths as well as areas for improvement, as well as all other aspects of the school experience. There will be a more detailed letter sent out in the coming weeks that explains the SLC’s in greater detail.

Whilst on topic of Week 7 a reminder that the Middle School Celebration excursion to Gumbuya World is on Thursday 16 November. Please visit Compass to give your child permission and pay the $55.00 fee for transport and entry to the park. Mordialloc College will have exclusive access to all rides and water attractions. What a great day out! For students that will not be attending the school will run an alternative program. Friday 17 November is a Student Free Day as teachers prepare for Head Start and the new academic year beginning Monday 20 November. 

On Wednesday 6 December Ms Archer has the pleasure of escorting our Top 10 House Points earners from each year level to Luna Park, the movies or ice-skating. I would encourage each student to earn as many House Points as they can over the coming weeks to be in the running to be included on this wonderful reward excursion. It's been awesome to watch our students work hard to be awarded House Points and it has really helped encourage positive behaviours around the school - with many students attending the lunchtime Emu Bop to earn points as one example of a means to be awarded points. 

VCE exams have already started with the English exam done and dusted. Our students and teachers have been working so hard to achieve their personal best and we wish them well. VCE Exams will continue through October and into November. We then have exams for Year 10 and 11, as well as for Year 9 Science and Maths subjects and Year 9 SEAL. We wish all our students well!

Simon Cummins

Acting Assistant Principal