Principal Report

How quickly time flies! Suddenly we find ourselves in the penultimate week of what has been, and continues to be, a very busy first term.

Over the past two weeks all our Naplan testing was completed. Many thanks to Geoff and Joel for facilitating these so smoothly and congratulations to the students who all embraced the opportunity to demonstrate their learning with a diligent approach to the testing.

Last week we celebrated Harmony Day with a lovely day of orange flavoured inclusivity. We also participated in Ride to School Day- thanks to Amy Lodge for facilitating this.

This week a large contingent of our students will compete at the regional level of swimming. This is a great accomplishment and we wish them all the best. No doubt they will represent our school with pride. Following out house athletics today, the selected Year 3-6 students will progress to the district athletics this Friday.

Year 10 student Harley Pickford has had a busy fortnight, flying to New Zealand to compete in the World Shooting Championships in Christchurch. As a result of some impressive shooting, Harley finished 9th in the world – another international sporting champion for Mortlake College!

Industrial Action

As communicated last Friday, staff at our school who are members of the Australian Education Union (AEU) have been involved in negotiations with the Victorian Government and the Department of Education regarding improvements to pay and employment conditions. These negotiations involve teachers, education support staff, assistant principals and principals from public schools across Victoria.

As a result of the union and the government failing to reach an agreement, the union has called for a statewide 24-hour stop work tomorrow, Tuesday 24th March. As a result of this, No students in years F-7, Year 9, or VM will be required at school.

Next week we welcome Linda Mooseek Long Service Leave. Thank you to the staff and students for stepping up in various roles around the school to support me in her absence.

Term 1 Student Reporting and Parent–Student–Teacher Interviews

Term 1 student reports will be available via Compass at the end of the term. These reports provide an overview of each student’s learning behaviours and attitudes, offering families a clear picture of how their child is engaging with their learning across the college.

Parent-Student-Teacher Interviews will be held on Thursday 30th April, with 15-minute appointments available between 1:00pm and 7:00pm.

We strongly encourage all parents, carers and students to attend these interviews. These meetings are a very important part of the learning partnership between home and school. They provide an opportunity to discuss each student’s progress, celebrate successes, clarify expectations for learning, and identify strategies that will support continued growth. When students are present, they are able to take ownership of their learning, hear feedback directly, and contribute to conversations about their goals and next steps.

Research consistently shows that students achieve stronger outcomes when families are actively engaged in their education. These interviews allow us to work together to ensure students feel supported, challenged and confident in their learning.

Bookings will open through Compass closer to the date, and further information will be shared with families in the coming weeks.

Strong home–school partnerships are built on open and ongoing communication. While reports and interviews are key milestones, families are always encouraged to contact teachers throughout the year with any questions, concerns or celebrations. By working together, we can ensure the best possible learning and wellbeing outcomes for every student.

Student Mobile Phones at School

A reminder to families that students are not permitted to use mobile phones during the school day. This expectation aligns with the Victorian Department of Education’s Mobile Phones Policy, which applies to all government schools.

If a student mobile phone is brought to school, it must be switched off and stored securely for the entire school day.

Please be aware that if students have mobile phones out or use them during the school day, the device will be confiscated in line with Department policy and our school’s student engagement and wellbeing processes.

We appreciate the ongoing support of families in reinforcing this expectation with students. By working together, we help maintain a safe, calm and focused learning environment for everyone.

Open Morning and Community Breakfast – Wednesday 22nd April

Mortlake P12 College warmly invites all members of our community to attend our Open Morning and Community Breakfast.

The morning will begin with a Community Breakfast at 8:00am, providing a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, connect with staff, and celebrate our school community.

Following breakfast, visitors will have the opportunity to participate in school tours and learn more about our learning programs. We will also be sharing important information about the 2027 enrolment process for both Prep and Year 7 students.

We strongly encourage all Mortlake College families to attend and help showcase the welcoming and supportive community that makes our school such a special place. Your presence helps future families see the strength and spirit of our College.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Primary Easter Hat Parade

Students will be participating in an Easter Hat Parade following the Primary End of Term Assembly at 9:00am on Thursday 2nd April.

Students will create their Easter hats at school as part of the celebrations. Donations of craft materials to support this activity are always greatly appreciated.

We look forward to seeing the wonderful creativity of our students during this fun end-of-term tradition.

School Council Update:

The election process for the 2026–2027 School Council has now closed. We warmly welcome our newest members Sherree Madzarevic, Zavier Fowler and Ella Maher to the team.

There are no other changes to the composition of School Council. Our 2026–2027 membership is as follows:

Parent Representatives: Bruce Goddard, Chloe Jewell, Jenna Clark, Rachel Robertson, Prue Sagnol, Tess Lamont and Sherree Madzarevic

Staff Representatives: Linda Mooseek, Brooke Baker, Anne DeManser and Amy Lodge

Student Representatives: Zavier Fowler and Ella Maher

We thank all members for their continued commitment to governance and to the strategic direction of our college.

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 31st March. This is an open meeting, and all members of our school community are welcome to attend. The AGM will include reports from our various committees, as well as the presentation of the Annual Report to the School Community.

The AGM will be followed by our next General Meeting, which is a closed meeting for School Council members.

The 2025–2026 School Council met for the final time on Tuesday 24th February. At this meeting, members received and discussed reports from: The Principal, Finance Committee, Buildings and Grounds Committee, and our Student Representative.

We are excited to share that a Mortlake College Year 6 jumper has been approved and will be available shortly for purchase. Samples for the proposed new school uniform have also been ordered and will be available for viewing, prior to a final decision being made, in due course.

School Council also approved the date for Parent–Student–Teacher Interviews on Thursday 30th April and endorsed the following policies: Anaphylaxis, Asthma Management, Traffic Management, Year 12 Attendance, Finance, Cash Handling, Electronic Funds Management and Purchasing Card.

A discussion also took place regarding potential changes to the PE uniform policy. It was decided that no changes would be made, and secondary students will continue to change into their PE uniform prior to sessions.

School Council engaged in discussion regarding the 2026 Annual Implementation Plan prior to formally endorsing the plan. Priority areas for 2026 include:

Strengthening literacy and numeracy outcomes across all year levels
Embedding consistent instructional practices across P–12
Enhancing student wellbeing and engagement
Strengthening student voice and leadership opportunities
Building staff capacity through targeted professional learning
Continuing to strengthen community partnerships

We thank our School Council members for their dedication and thoughtful contributions. Strong governance plays a vital role in ensuring the continued growth and success of our college.

Supporting Families with School Costs – Saver Plus

We would like to share information about Saver Plus, a free financial education and savings program funded by the Department of Social Services. This program is designed to support families during key school transition periods and help ease the pressure of education-related expenses.

Families who join the program can receive:

Up to $500 in matched savings to assist with educational costs such as laptops, uniforms, books, school camps, technology and more.
Access to practical money management workshops delivered online in an engaging and accessible format.
Ongoing support from a Saver Plus savings coach throughout their savings journey.

Saver Plus has supported thousands of Australian families to build financial confidence and prepare for school expenses in a planned and manageable way.

If you would like to learn more about the program or check eligibility requirements by searching “Saver Plus Australia” online.

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) – Applications Now Open

Applications are now open for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF), which helps eligible families cover the costs of school camps, excursions and sporting activities.

In 2026, the CSEF payment has increased to $400 per eligible student, for both primary and secondary students. This is a significant increase from previous years and is designed to further support student participation in important school experiences.

Who is eligible?

Families may be eligible to apply if they:

Hold a valid means-tested concession card
Are foster parents
Have students aged 16 years and over who are considered mature minors and hold a valid concession card
recently arrived asylum seeker or refugee families (special consideration category)

Important dates

Applications close on 26th June 2026

Families who received CSEF funding in 2025 do not need to submit a new application for 2026 unless their family circumstances have changed. We are able to copy applications from 2025 to 2026.

Families who believe they may be eligible are encouraged to contact the school office for an application form or further information.

Important Upcoming Dates

School Council AGM and General Meeting: Tuesday 31st March
Term 1 Student Reports uploaded onto Compass: Thursday 2nd April
Last Day of Term 1 Thursday 2nd April, 2:30pm dismissal for students (Friday – Good Friday)

An Easter Hat Parade for Primary aged students will take place after the 9am Primary Assembly

First day of Term 2: Monday 20th April
Community Open Morning: Community Breakfast, School Tours, and 2027 Enrolment Information: Wednesday 22nd April
Teacher-Student-Parent Interviews: Thursday 30th April

Our school team is always here to support our students and families. Please reach out to us at any time if you have questions or need assistance.

Anne De Manser

Mortlake P-12 College Acting Principal

Birthdays

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS FOR MARCH & APRIL