Dear Parents, Carers, and Students,

Last week, our College’s Performing Arts Team outdone itself with a vibrant and exhilarating production of ‘Mamma Mia!’ The highly anticipated musical, set against the picturesque backdrop of a Greek island, brought together a talented cast, crew, and musicians to create an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

From the moment the curtain rose, the audience was transported to the sun-soaked island of Kalokairi, where they were swept away by the infectious energy of ABBA’s timeless hits. Our students delivered outstanding performances, with each cast member bringing their character to life with passion and enthusiasm.

The musical numbers were a highlight of the evening, with the entire ensemble shining in classic songs like "Dancing Queen," "Super Trouper," and, of course, the title track, "Mamma Mia." The vibrant costumes and creative set design added to the visual spectacle, perfectly capturing the essence of the 1970s pop era.

A production of this scale is only possible with the dedication and collaboration of so many wonderful people. Behind the scenes, the technical crew worked tirelessly to ensure that the lighting, sound, and set transitions were seamless, creating an immersive experience for the audience. Our musicians, under the guidance of our dedicated music teachers, played the iconic ABBA songs live, adding an authentic and dynamic layer to the performance.

The success of ‘Mamma Mia!’ is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved—from the performers to the backstage crew, directors, and choreographers. This production has not only showcased the immense talent within our school but has also brought the community together in celebration of the arts.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the parents, teachers, and students who supported the production, whether through volunteering, attending rehearsals, or cheering on the cast. Your enthusiasm and encouragement played a significant role in making ‘Mamma Mia!’ a triumph.

Our College continues to excel in establishing a cultural safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities of Aboriginal students are respected and valued. Please join me in congratulating the following EMC Koorie students on their achievements for this term so far.

Nevaeh (Yorta Yorta and Wemba Wemba, Year 9), Jeffrey (Yorta Yorta and Wemba Wemba, Year 10), Koby (Taungurung, Year 10) and Dakota (Dhudhuroa, Year 11) were selected to attend Richmond Football Club’s REAL Camp with the Korin Gamadji Institute
Marley (Wiradjuri, Year 12) competed with Bunurong Sports at the Southern Aboriginal Sports NAIDOC Basketball Tournament
At the Nairm Marr Djambana NAIDOC Dinner Dance, Marley and Lara (Taungurung, Year 12) were joint winners of the Frankston/Mornington Peninsula NAIDOC 2024 Sports Award for their efforts over the last 12 months. Marley represented Victoria at the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament, has repeatedly been selected for AFL development matches through her participation in the Next Generation Academy with St Kilda FC and has represented EMC at many interschool sports. Lara has recently competed internationally at the FISAF Aerobics Championships in Belgium, where she placed 7th in the world with her team and 18th in the world for her solo
At the Nairm Marr Djambana NAIDOC Flag Raising Ceremony, Noah (Taungurung and Gunai Kurnai, Year 11) received the Frankston/Mornington Peninsula NAIDOC 2024 Youth Award. Noah works at Nairm Marr Djambana on Fridays as part of his SWL, he is part of the Koorie Emerging Leaders in Schools, works with Deakin Uni and an Indigenous Marine Research project, was a recipient this year of Marrung Education Scholarship, regularly speaks at community events for EMC, and balances his cultural obligations to his family on Country in Gippsland along with attending EMC while having moved to Clyde North last year
17 EMC Koorie students launched a photo exhibition hosted by Nairm Marr Djambana at the NAIDOC Flag Raising Ceremony, with 5 of the students speaking to the crowd that had many families and EMC staff in attendance. It has since launched online on Instagram (@emc.koorie or https://www.instagram.com/emc.koorie/)

On Monday 12th August the Year 11 Music class competed in the Regional Battle of the Bands and won the Best Musicians award! Students involved were; Teira B10.3, Anghus B11.3, Emma B11.3, Erin B11.3, Charli B10.3, Lily B11.3, Liam B11.3, Murphy B11.3, JJ B11.3 and Cayden A12.2. Special congratulations go to Simon Chiodo for his coaching and mentoring of the students to get them to this point and to Dom Parsons for providing moral support. The award was presented to our students by an EMC Alumni student Ben Dewhirst who was one of the adjudicators. You can follow the the EMC music Instagram account to watch their performance.

Last night our EMC students also demonstrated their amazing skills by winning the first playoff final against Mentone Girls Grammar guaranteeing a place in to the Octofinals on the 12th of September. Arguing for the affirmative and debating the topic 'Museums and Galleries should be free entry for all' the team of Jack, Sophia and Caitlyn won by massive 6 points. Jack was our best speaker receiving his highest score of the tournament, and has also written the article in this edition on the Debating Team page.

When parents, carers and school staff work together as one team, our students do better. Everyone at school, particularly staff and parents/carers, play a role in making school a better place for learning and work. Parents, carers and school staff have a relationship that can last many years. This is an opportunity to work together to create a positive relationship in the best interests of your child. When this relationship is built on respect and trust, students learn better and feel like they belong in the school. Every member of our school community has a right to feel safe and be protected. The department’s Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy describes the positive behaviour expected from parents, carers, and other adults in Victorian school communities. The policy sets clear standards of behaviour to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for students, staff and adults. There are also resources to support safe and respectful relationships in our school community, including information about getting involved in the school, advice on how to raise a concern or complaint, and parenting support resources. You can find the policy and these resources here, along with a poster promoting positive behaviour up around our school.

Attendance has been a focus in term 3 and the College has been monitoring the number of students arriving late to school in the morning. When a student does arrive late to school in the morning, they must sign in at student services where they will be marked as late on the compass roll and receive a pink slip to give to their class teacher. Please read the full information provided on the Attendance community connectedness page in this edition and remember, every school day counts. Working together, we can ensure your child reaches their full potential. If you ever have concerns about your child’s attendance or connection to school, please don’t hesitate to contact us for support. Let’s make every day a step toward a brighter future for our students!

This term all staff participated in Child Safe Standards training. This training ensures staff at Elisabeth Murdoch College are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe. Elisabeth Murdoch College policies are available for our community to view at https://www.emc.vic.edu.au/?page_id=364. Feedback on these policies is welcome and encouraged. Please send your feedback via an email to elisabeth.murdoch.co@education.vic.gov.au.

A reminder that the Department of Education has in place a mobile phone ban that requires students who bring mobiles phones to school to have them switched off and securely put away during school hours. The department is requiring all schools to ensure this ban is in place and enforced. The ban applies equally to all government schools right across the state. This helps ensure that school is a learning environment free from unnecessary distractions and disruptions. By ensuring mobile phones are kept away at recess and lunch times, students can interact with each other face-to-face, without the distractions and social pressures that mobile phones can cause. I ask for the support of all our families, staff and students in continuing to support the implementation of this policy in our school. In the event of an emergency or if you need to immediately contact your child, I ask that families contact the school office who will pass on a message as required. A copy of our school’s local mobile phone policy, which implements the government’s mobile policy in line with our local context, is available here: https://www.emc.vic.edu.au/?page_id=364. The Mobile phones in schools webpage provides links to resources for families to help them balance their children’s time using mobile phones.

As a community, we seek your support to ensure the safety of school children is a priority. This is especially important in the peak morning and afternoon periods. Please be aware that Police will be increasing their presence around the College. We seek your support to ensure you are obeying road rules, this includes:-

Not exceeding the maximum 40kmph speed limit during designated school times
Not stopping in the bus bay on Warrandyte Rd to let children out of your vehicle
Not performing illegal U-turns
Stopping at school crossings (which are controlled by Council School Crossing Supervisor staff).

Traffic congestion on Warrandyte Road also continues to be challenging during drop off and pick up times. To reduce traffic congestion and support keeping our community safe on the roads surrounding the College, please ensure you follow these guidelines:

Suggest your child walks or rides to school if you live a close distance to the College
Utilise the local bus services- please see our College website page for the bus timetable.
Collect your child from the Langwarrin Hall on the corner of Warrandyte Road and Cranbourne-Frankston Road, ensuring they cross the road following the Crossing Supervisor's instructions.

Please feel free to contact the College on 9788 2600 or elisabeth.murdoch.co@education.vic.gov.au if you would like more information on any of the above information.

Kind regards,

Terry Kiat

Assistant Principal.