Update from the Director of Senior School

Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

It has been an interesting year Mordialloc College; a year filled with new challenges presented to us by remote learning but also a year spent building and maintaining the wonderful relationships we experience in our Senior School. We are already a week into Headstart and, so far, we have been incredibly impressed by how students have embraced the new academic year, showing their resilience in spite of the challenges of 2020 and their commitment to achieving their personal best in 2021.

The Senior School team has said ‘goodbye’ to Ms Stephens who has decided not to continue in the role of Year 10 Co-ordinator for 2021, and in her place we are delighted to welcome Mrs Hargreaves back to the team along with Ms Furphy, with whom she will be sharing the position. Mr Davis has decided to take on a new role in Senior School working closely with students to support their progress towards improved VCE outcomes and in his place, Mrs Wilson has re-joined the team as Year 11 Co-ordinator.

We also said our goodbyes to the class of 2020 earlier this term and, for many of us, it was a time of very mixed emotions. As always, we were sad to see them go, but incredibly proud of their achievements. The final assembly, although delivered remotely, was a celebration of everything they have achieved this year and an acknowledgement of their uniqueness as a year level. I am truly amazed by the way they dealt with the additional pressures of the year – on top of the usual challenges presented by Year 12 studies. Our VCE and VCAL students were strong enough to stay focused through all the ups and downs of their final year; they dealt with the disappointments of no Formal and no Valedictory Dinner; they were mature enough to ask for help when they needed it. We await their VCE results a couple of weeks later than usual on 30 December and I truly hope they all achieve their goals which will enable them to progress to the next stage along life’s pathway. For our VCAL students, we have many who have already secured apprenticeships or Further Training opportunities, which is testament to their commitment to their chosen pathways. I wish the class of 2020 all the very best for the future and look forward to hearing of their successes, of which I have no doubt there will be many.

The start of Headstart signalled entry to Senior School for our new Year 10 students, who we look forward to getting to know over the course of next year. We are hoping to be able to officially welcome them at an onsite Sub-school assembly in the new year.

We are hoping to be able to run onsite Information Evenings in the new year as an introduction to Senior School for Year 10 students and parents as well as giving vital VCE tips to our Year 11 and 12 families.

I would like to say a ‘well done’ to all students who have tried hard to achieve their personal best in any aspect of life throughout what has been for many, a difficult year. I look forward to working with you all in 2021. Have a fantastic summer; have fun, complete your holiday homework but most importantly, stay safe!

Mrs Joanne Greenhalgh

Director of Senior School