Secondary News

Year 8 Surf Camp 

A reminder that expressions of interest forms have gone out to the Year 8 students for Surf Camp.  To secure a spot on the 2023 camp, the college is asking for a $150 non-refundable deposit.  Positions are limited, so permission slips and deposits must be returned no later than 17th February.

The camp will be held from Monday 27th March till Friday 31st March.

If you have any enquiries call the College office on 50 252 501

Snow Camp

Year 10 Snow Camp deposits are due to be paid by Friday 4th March.   See below for the information letter.   For any enquiries please call the College office on 50 252 501

Secondary English

Welcome to English for 2022.  Our students are all underway with their first assessment task for English this year with our annual persuasive writing competition of ‘Write On’.  Students are currently drafting a persuasive piece with the common theme of Sunraysia.  Please have a chat with your child about this task as you may have some ideas they can use for their writing.  The task details can be found on your child’s English page on Compass in the Learning Tasks section.

We would also like to take this time to remind you that your child needs a zippered folder, dividers and the ‘Oxford My English’ textbook for English.  The textbook can be ordered from the Collins bookstore in Langtree Mall.  Please contact your child’s English teacher if you need assistance with sourcing these required items as they are important for our teaching and learning.

We strongly encourage that every student reads at home at least three times a week.  Every student has access to our school library during scheduled English sessions for borrowing a novel or non-fiction text of their choice. Most students will also have some homework for English each week.  This homework could be finishing a piece of work, revising their textbook SPaG work or editing a final piece prior to submission on Compass.   Please help your child to develop a homework routine that includes reading at home as this will help to strengthen their reading skills and their learning from class each week.

Finally, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s English teacher via Compass if you need help with anything English related this year as our goal is to have a successful year of learning with all our students in 2022.  Learning Tasks and teacher feedback can be accessed via Compass so please take the time to regularly check the learning progress of your child as outlined on Compass.

We are looking forward to a great year of learning in English this year.

Loan Devices

If your child doesn't have their own device the school does have a number of devices that can be borrowed for the school year.

There is a form at the College office that needs to be signed by the Parent and Child.  Please feel free to send your child to the office to collect one to take home.

Every student needs to have access to a device for their schooling.

BYOD Expectations for Secondary Students

Merbein P-10 College is proudly a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) school and as such we utilise technology to complement and add to student learning in all subject areas. 

This term, many students have not been regularly bringing their devices to class and this is impacting on their learning opportunities.

We request that you please support us by ensuring that your child has a working device that is charged and brought to school every day.

If a BYOD requires repair, families need to arrange it themselves. It is important that repairs are undertaken in a timely way, so that students’ learning is not negatively impacted. If the repair will take some time, or if a student does not currently have access to a device, students are encouraged to collect and complete an application form to be a part of the College’s netbook borrowing scheme.  This form is available from the Front Office.

If you have any questions about our BYOD Program, please contact Laura McPhee.

Expressions of Interest - Instrumental Music Lessons

School Uniform

All students of Merbein P-10 College are expected to wear full school uniform that bear the College logo every day. The uniform must be worn to and from school, at lunchtime and recess, and on all school excursions. At all times the manner in which the uniform is worn will reflect pride in the College. This means that, the uniform: 

• will be clean and in a state of good repair,
• worn without non-uniform garments being visible (only plain white or plain black shirts are acceptable to be worn under the school polo top or shirt, not hoodies).
• School shorts and pants, should be completely black however minimal branding (Adidas, Nike etc). Black football shorts are not suitable school uniform.
• Hats and beanies are not to be worn inside.
• Students may wear the official school sports shirt to or from school if they have P.E. session 1 or 5. No other sports clothes may be worn to or from school, or at recess or lunchtime.
• Parents/guardians are expected to inform the College through a written note, email or phone call of any temporary variation to their child’s uniform. The note should contain a reason, date and an expected date of return to full school uniform

School Phone Policy

Students who choose to bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off and securely stored during school hours in their locker. If students are caught on their phone between 9am-3:17pm the following actions will occur:

1st Offence -phone is confiscated and stored in the main office. Phone will be returned to student at end of the day

2nd Offence- phone is confiscated and stored in the main office. Parent will be required to collect the phone.

3rd Offence- phone is confiscated and stored in the main office. Parent will be required to collect the phone. Student will be required to hand their phone to the front office each morning or leave their phone at home for a period of time determined by the Principal/Assistant Principal

4th Offence- meeting with the Principal and a suspension may be applied

Please contact Mr Morgan if you have any queries regarding the phone policy.

Doctors In Secondary Schools Program

Our Doctors in Secondary Schools program is available for all secondary students to access free (bulk-billed), confidential health care at school. This is a fantastic service which students can access for any of their health care needs including asthma/anaphylaxis plans, catch-up immunisations, mental/emotional health and any other medical concerns no matter how big or small. Students can see the school doctor for any reason that they would see their usual GP.

The rooms will be open every Wednesday during the school term from 9am – 2pm. Students can make appointments by contacting Amy in the general office or they can ask a teacher or wellbeing staff member to make the appointment for them – the only details required to make an appointment will be the student’s name and date of birth.

Parents are welcome to attend appointments if the student wishes.

School Wide Positive Behaviour (SWPB)