From the Principal

Good morning everyone,

The new semester began smoothly with many students enrolled in new subjects. Despite it being near the end of term, when new subjects begin everybody seems to find a new energy.

Throughout the year, teaching staff have been focussing on one of the preconditions for learning; a calm orderly learning environment. The year began with an initiative known as ‘classroom mastery’.

Classroom mastery has been developed by Knowledge Society and leading classroom management expert Dr Tim McDonald. Teachers are provided with professional learning on the science of learning and insights of cognitive load theory. They are provided with the knowledge, practice, demonstration and coaching to ensure a consistent approach, creating a productive and calm learning environment.

Dr Tim McDonald writes,

‘In Australia, and in education settings across the world, student behaviour and levels of student engagement are significant issues for teachers, school leaders, system administrators and the public. Student behaviour affects community perception, teacher efficacy and wellbeing, and the academic achievement of all students. When students are engaged, they learn more.

Australian classrooms are noisy, disruptive places that students find it difficult to learn in. In a 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study of 15 yr olds, 43% of students surveyed said that they were in classrooms that were noisy and disruptive. This is well above the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average of 33% and places Australia 70 of 77 countries on the ‘disciplinary climate index’, which means Australian schools are among the least orderly in the world. Orderly classrooms are a precondition for student learning.

In response to the increased awareness of the disruption in classrooms, the Federal Government, through its Senate Education an Employment Reference Committee, has launched an Inquiry into “The issue of increasing disruption in Australian school classrooms.” The inquiry includes examining what universities are doing to prepare teachers to deal with disruptive behaviour. The government has set up the Teacher Education Expert Panel to give advice on key practices every teacher should learn in initial Teacher Education…

The panel commented that classrooms that enable student learning are characterised by clear expectations, supported by routines and rules to ensure that students are safe and engaged in learning. In these engaged classrooms, the teacher models and gives feedback on expected behaviour rather than reacting to off-task behaviour’.

The solution to disruptive behaviour in Australian classrooms will be achieved if three key ideas gain mainstream recognition:

Managing student behaviour is about learning
Behaviour needs to be taught explicitly to all students
Behaviour as a curriculum needs to be the norm across Australian schools.

In response to these findings, Classroom Mastery has been developed. Behaviours are explicitly taught.

At the beginning of any teacher instruction, a cue to start is used. ie. Teacher putting their hand up to gain the attention of all students. When students see the hand, students are taught this is a signal to pay attention to the teacher.

The entry routine is taught. For example, when students enter the classroom at the beginning of each lesson, they line up in pairs and stand quietly, whilst the teacher observes students have the required learning materials and are calm and orderly before they enter the classroom. They walk into the classroom quietly and stand behind their chairs waiting for the teacher to ask students to sit down.

The exit routine is also taught to the students. At the end of each lesson, students are taught how they will exit the classroom in a calm and orderly manner.

At Mornington Secondary College, teachers of Yr 7 have trialled classroom mastery, focussing on the cue to start, entry and exit routines. All teachers have commented on a calm orderly learning environment. With the beginning of semester 2, classroom mastery will now be implemented at all year levels with every teacher.

Prior to implementation, the student leaders were consulted, and feedback was provided to leadership. Student assemblies at all year levels have informed students of the new routines.

Rosebud Secondary College implemented Classroom Mastery last year. The ABC 7.30 Report ran a story from Rosebud Secondary College. This can be found on YouTube if you wish to find out more.

Have a wonderful weekend. I look forward to providing more information about this initiative, into the future.

Linda Stanton

Principal

Important Dates

Term 2

June

Tuesday 25th June - 2025 Course Information Evening - 5.00pm to 7.00pm

Thursday 27th June - Year 12 Fancy Dress Evening - Frankston Arts Centre

Friday 28th June - Last Day of Term 2 - 2.30pm Dismissal

Term 3

July

Monday 15th July - Term 3 Commences

Tuesday 16th July - Whole School Assembly

Friday 26th July to Tuesday 6th August - Osaka Exchange

Friday 26th July - Year 9 Course Counselling

August

Tuesday 30th July to Thursday 1st August - College Production

Friday 2nd August - Year 10 2024 into Year 11 2025 Course Counselling

Friday 9th August - Staff Professional Development Day - Student Free

Thursday 22nd August - Parent Teacher Interviews - At school and online

Wednesday 28th to Friday 30th August - Music Camp

September

Thursday 12th September - 2025 Parent Information Evening - 5.00pm to 6.00pm

Friday 13th September - Staff Professional Development Day - Student Free

Monday 16th to Friday 20th September - Year 12 completing Units 3 and 4 - Trial Exams

Monday 16th to Thursday 19th September - Year 12 Revision Lectures

Friday 20th September - Last Day of Term 3 - 2.30pm Dismissal

Don't forget to look on compass for sport sign ups, excursions and any other information sent to students and parents.

Below is a link to help guide you in your use of compass.

https://mornsc.vic.edu.au/for-parents/compass-parent-guide/

Middle School

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Yale University Acapella Group Visits Mornington Secondary College

We are thrilled to share the uplifting experience our Year 7 students had last week when the renowned Yale University Acapella group visited Mornington Secondary College. This extraordinary group conducted a workshop that left our students inspired and energized. The Year 12 music students also joined the session in the Learning Centre, contributing to a vibrant and harmonious atmosphere. A heartfelt thank you to the parents and carers who attended and supported this event. Your presence made it even more special for our students.

Vet Electrotechnology: A New Frontier in Learning

Our social pages feature a brief report from Chris Jones about the Vet Electrotechnology program. It is wonderful to see our students diving into this new subject with enthusiasm, learning valuable skills, and achieving impressive accomplishments. We encourage all families to read the report and celebrate the hard work of our students in this exciting field.

Assemblies Focus on Calm and Orderly Classrooms

This term, we have been holding assemblies for each year level to emphasize the importance of calm and orderly classroom practices and student organization. Key to this is ensuring that students come to school prepared and ready to learn. We remind all students to bring their charged laptops, along with basic equipment such as pens, notebooks, and any required texts for their classes. This preparation is crucial for creating a productive learning environment.

Thank You for Supporting Our Uniform Policy

We want to extend our gratitude to all families for your continued support of our school uniform policy. Your cooperation ensures that our students present themselves with pride and maintain a sense of unity within our school community.

Thank you once again to everyone who contributes to making Mornington Secondary College a fantastic place for learning and growth.

Wishing you a great week

Denise Leggett

Middle School Assistant Principal

Senior School

To students and families of the Mornington Senior School,

We are almost there. Just one week remaining until some very tired Senior School students (and our hardworking staff) get a well-earned break, a chance to refresh and prepare themselves (their learning materials & their uniform) for Term 3.

Course Selection Information Night

A must attend event for all Year 9-11 students and parents. This year’s information night will be held on Tuesday 25th June. A great opportunity to speak to teachers about different subjects, the Careers Team about different pathways and school leaders about anything you want to know. Families will be able to collect their Course Information Booklet and login code on the night. An informed choice is usually a good choice, so I’ll see you on the night and look forward to answering any questions you have.

VCAA GAT

Congratulations to our Year 12 (and some Year 11) students for completing the GAT on Tuesday. We had all students present and accounted for (with only a couple of students needing an exemption due to medical reasons). The supervisors reported the excellent behaviour of our students. I’d like to publicly acknowledge the work of the Year 12 Team in preparing students for the day and for their efforts on the day, where they missed out on doing their reporting and assessment time to meet the Year 12s, ensure they were settled, cook a BBQ lunch for them and generally be fantastic contributors to the college.

Year 12 Mental Health & Wellbeing Week (June 24-28th)

The Year 12 Team have a few activities planned for throughout the week, as well as some special events.

Monday 24th June, at lunchtime, we will start the week off with a staff v's student sports match (non-contact).
Tuesday 25th June is a PJ Day and our end of term assembly (Year 12). Don’t forget your gold coin donation.
Wednesday 26th June and Thursday 27th June: In ROADMAP and Connect sessions there will be a focus on wellbeing style activities.
Thursday 27th June is our Year 12 Formal and students will be able to leave school on this day at 1.30pm.
Friday 28th June, students who have completed all their tasks for the term will work from home if they choose (or they can choose to come in). Students with incomplete tasks will be required at school from 11.30am – 2.30pm (shortened day for final day of term). There will be an event created on Compass for these students, so they are aware of being required at school.

Year 12 students did not have a pupil free day on June 18th as they were completing the GAT, so after a very long 11-week term, this is a fantastic opportunity to have a well-deserved pause before they start their final full term of schooling.

Year 12 Captains’ profiles

Last week we met Owen and Lily, this week our other two fabulous Year 12 Captains have been invited to share a bit about themselves.

Name: Amira Lees

Year Level: 12

Favourite Mornington Subject: Literature

Favourite teacher: Ms Rattue

Siblings: I have one sister

Pets: I have a dog called Luna

What primary school did you go to: Osborne Primary School

Favourite Sporting team(s): I don’t follow any sporting teams, but I really love The Australian Ballet

All-time best movie/tv/other quote: “Just because my dreams are different from yours doesn’t mean they’re unimportant” – Little Women (2019)

What do you want to be in future: An English and History teacher

Best MSC excursion or camp that you’ve been on: Visiting the NGV and the State Library for History Revolutions last year

Advice for primary school students: Enjoy the time you have in late primary school and early high school where you get to try new things, meet new people, and expand your interests!

If I won a million dollars, I would… use some of it to travel and some of it to buy a house

Name: Erin Kent

Year Level: 12

Favourite Mornington Subject: Legal Studies

Favourite teacher: Ms Jones and Ms Barnes

Siblings: Older brother

Pets: A greyhound named Jackie

What primary school did you go to: Moorooduc Primary

Favourite Sporting team(s): Geelong Cats, LA Dodgers, and McLaren Racing Limited

All-time best movie/tv/other quote: “Focus. Speed. I am speed. 1 winner, 42 losers. I eat losers for breakfast.” – Cars (2006)

What do you want to be in future: Paramedic

Best MSC excursion or camp that you’ve been on: GRIT Year 9 camp

Advice for primary school students: Enjoy being young and free, not having any responsibilities!

If I won a million dollars, I would… Travel as much as I can, save part of it, maybe buy a house.

Kind regards,

Nick Evans

Senior School Assistant Principal

SMR Cross-Country Championships

On Wednesday the 12th June, 16 of our sports leadership students were invited to assist with the Primary School SMR Cross-Country Championships held at Hastings Foreshore.

Our role on the day was to run as hares/ pacers to lead each of the six races and also support runners up the back of each race with much encouragement.

Our students did a sensational job throughout the day demonstrating outstanding leaderships qualities and showing much initiative in supporting the primary school students. Thank you to all students involved who contributed to helping out with this event.

Alex Mackenzie

Athletics Coach

Course Information Evening

‘Where will your road take you?’

Course Selections 2025

Although the 2025 academic year seems a long way off for many of us, now is the time for students entering into the senior school to make some important decisions about their future. Choosing the right courses now can significantly impact their future opportunities and career paths. Here’s why selecting courses wisely is crucial and how to make the best decisions:

1. Explore Your Interests: Secondary school is a time to explore various subjects and discover what truly interests you. Whether it’s sciences, humanities, arts, or technical subjects, choosing courses that align with your passions can make learning more engaging and fulfilling.

2. Consider Your Career Goals: Think about your future career aspirations. Certain courses may be prerequisites for specific university programs or professions. Research the requirements early to ensure you're on the right track.

3. Seek Guidance: Don’t hesitate to consult with teachers, pathway counsellors, and even professionals in fields of interest. They can provide valuable insights into which courses are essential and beneficial for your desired career path.

4. Balance Your Schedule: While it’s important to follow your interests, it’s also wise to maintain a balanced course load. Consider a mix of subjects to keep your options open for the future.

5. Challenge Yourself: Secondary school is an excellent time to challenge yourself academically. Consider subjects that challenge you or even apply to accelerate into a VCE subject early if you're academically inclined and motivated. These courses can better prepare you for higher education and demonstrate your capabilities to future institutions.

6. Plan Ahead: Lastly, have a long-term plan. Understand how your chosen courses in secondary school align with university prerequisites or vocational training requirements. Planning ahead can alleviate stress and ensure you meet your goals efficiently.

Remember, the courses you choose today can open doors to exciting opportunities tomorrow. Embrace this opportunity to shape your future and make informed decisions that align with your passions and ambitions.

To help students make informed decisions the school invites all current Year 9 – 11 students to attend our very informative:

COURSE INFORMATION EVENING

Tuesday 25th June

5pm – 7pm

Learning Centre with subject expo in the Robert Herbert Gym

This is an important evening to attend for students and parents to learn more about:

Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and how to attain an ATAR score.
Victorian Certificate of Education Vocational Major (VM) and the application process.
How students can undertake VET in school that can be included in a VCE ATAR or VCE VM pathway.
HeadStart program for traineeships or apprenticeships.
Accelerated pathways for Year 9 students going into Year 10.
Specific subjects offered in senior school by talking to our experienced VCE teachers.
TAFE and university pathways by engaging with our higher education partners.
Potential pathway changes for current Year 11 students.

Families that attend on the night will receive the unique student code needed to enter 2025 subject selections online along with 2025 VCE – Vocational Major application forms.

Canteen Update

As of Term 3 the college has decided to manage the canteen in house rather than using an external company.

We will endeavor to run the canteen with minimal disruption to service while the changeover is taking place.

The advantages of running the canteen ourselves

Better service to our students and staff
Increased range of healthy options
Increase student voice – Students will have a say in what they want on the menu
Increase service to staff members
Compass online ordering to pre order your lunches or recess snacks
The Canteen staff feel part of the MSC community

As a result of the changeover there will be minimal food options available next week (last week of Term 2) and ordering online will not be available. Please refer to the menu for Monday and Tuesday. The menu for the remainder of the week will be published on Compass My News.

Year 7/8 Girls Football

Monday 17th June saw 28 of our Year 7 & 8 girls head to Emil Madsen Reserve to try their hand (or in this case hands and feet) at AFL football.

With only a handful of girls playing football at club level the girls enthusiasm made up for any inexperience. Every girls gave 110%, our tackling and defensive play was awesome and we managed to kick ahead and win our first game.

Our second game saw us up against a very experienced Rosebud whom boasted an entire team of club football girls. Again the girls gave 110% and managed to hold Rosebud to only two goals in the second half with both their coach and the umpire commending our girls on their defensive efforts and sportsmanship.

The girls final game of the day was a play off for 3rd and 4th place. Again the girls played fierce defence, surprising an experienced Mt Eliza team with their tackling and defensive efforts. Unfortunately the girls went down in the end by two goals, finishing a very respectable fourth for the day.

Our girls demonstrated sportsmanship, enthusiasm, teamwork, camaraderie and resilience and I could not be prouder of the 24 girls who represented MSC with such pride and our four helpers were also outstanding, standing in as goal umpires, time keepers and scorers for the day.

Kim Rattue

Year 9/10 Girls Football

On Monday Maddy Nicholls and myself took out the Year 9/10 girls football team. Although not successful on the scoreboard, we all had a ripper day. The girls gave it a gutsy effort and Maddy and I enjoyed watching their development as a team throughout the day. Every single player had their moment, but some stand-outs were Jeannie Brenton, scoring our only 2 goals for the day, Indigo Mcgrath, who after her performance, I think should convert from basketball to footy and Holly Waugh, who was running all day. I would also like to note Abbey Hutson and Charlotte Munro, who joined from the Junior team to help us out and they both did an amazing job.

Emily Jerkovic

AFL Trainee

Doctors in School

Meet the Doctors in Schools staff

Nurse Fiona has been a nurse for many years and specialises in mental health. Fiona is a mum to three teenage children.

Fiona works for the Doctors in Schools Program at three other school and works at Mornington Secondary College with Dr Steph every Thursday.

Fiona will look after students prior to seeing Dr Steph and complete a registration form if it is your first time at the clinic.

Dr Steph has been the doctor at Mornington Secondary College since 2018. Doctor Steph has four grown up children, a cat called Derek and a rabbit called Bunns (who is a bit of an escape artist).

The Doctors in Schools service covers all areas of medical practice that your community GP would, such as physical, mental or sexual health, blood tests, referral for x-rays. Other investigations and letters to specialists can be also be organised. Normal GP rules of complete confidentiality are assured, and the service is totally free.

Our Facilities

Mornington Secondary College have dedicated facilities for our Doctors in Schools program, with a GP room, a nurses room and a comfortable warm waiting room. This area was purposely built for this service.

The Doctors in Schools Program

The Doctors in Schools program is a Government initiative that funds general practitioners (GPs) to attend up to 100 Victorian government secondary schools up to one day a week.

The objectives of the program are to:

make primary health care more accessible to students.
assist young people to identify and address any health problems early.
reduce the pressure on working parents.

Headspace Frankston provides the nurse and GP to Mornington Secondary College. An appointment can be booked three ways:

Email doctor@mornsc.vic.edu.au
Students can send a Teams message to DoctorsInSchools
Ask for an appointment at Student Services (Shellie)

For further information please email: doctor@mornsc.vic.edu.au

Japanese Zoom Seminar - Mirai

On Monday 17th June, the senior Japanese students from Mornington Secondary College participated in a Zoom Seminar called Mirai - Futures with Japan. Students were able to hear presentations about some of the opportunities they can have as Japanese Language Learners. A variety of guest speakers told them about Japanese at University, Semester Exchange Programs, Working Holidays in Japan, and the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program. Students enjoyed competing against other secondary schools from both NSW and Victoria in an attempt to win a giant gift box of Japanese snacks. We hope that all students heard something of value and interest to them, and maybe gained some insight into where their Japanese can take them.

Melanie Brindle

Head of Languages

Vocational Major Personal Development Class

As part of the Effective Teamwork Unit, the Vocational Major Personal Development Year 12 students have been busy challenging themselves to apply problem solving strategies in a teamwork activity. They were required to make a Ping Pong Ball run from recycled materials in small groups. They were given two lessons to design and create a PING PONG BALL run using their own innovative idea .

The aim of the activity was on that on the completion of this activity the students should be able to describe the characteristics of an effective team, and, through engagement in a team activity they were able to evaluate firsthand if they had been successful. Both Year 12 classes came together last Thursday and we had a “Grand Final” of all the Ping Pong Runs. Each team had a personalised name for their creation, most balls successfully made it through the designs! It was wonderful to see their peers rate each team on their successful Ping Pong Run.

They made some very clever creations and fun was had by all including the Year 12 Coordinator Jo Dixon as special Judge!

Kirsty Hamson

Vocational Major

College Production

Don't forget to purchase your tickets for this year's production - The Lightning Thief - A Percy Jackson Musical. Use the QR code to go to TryBooking.

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