From the Principal

Farewell to Denise Leggett – Assistant Principal 

At the end of this term, we will farewell a highly respected and valued member of our leadership team, Denise Leggett, who is retiring after many years of dedicated service to Mornington Secondary College. 

Denise has made an extraordinary contribution to our school community throughout her time as teacher and Assistant Principal. Her leadership, commitment and deep care for students and staff have helped shape the positive culture that exists at the college today. Denise has always placed students at the centre of her work, advocating strongly for their wellbeing, engagement and success. 

Throughout her time at the college, Denise has played a significant role in supporting teaching and learning, strengthening school processes and working closely with staff to ensure a positive and inclusive learning environment. Her calm and thoughtful approach to leadership, combined with her strong organisational skills and professionalism, have made her an incredibly trusted and respected member of the leadership team. 

Denise has also been deeply committed to supporting staff development. Many teachers and education support staff have benefited from her guidance, encouragement and experience over the years. She has always been generous with her time, providing support and advice to colleagues and helping to foster a collaborative culture across the school. 

Beyond her professional role, Denise is known for her warmth, integrity and genuine care for people. She has built strong relationships with students, families and staff, and her presence will be greatly missed across the college. 

On behalf of the entire Mornington Secondary College community, I would like to sincerely thank Denise for her outstanding contribution and many years of service. We wish her every happiness in retirement and hope she enjoys the opportunity to spend more time with family, pursue new interests and enjoy a well-deserved next chapter. 

Thank you, Denise, for the dedication, leadership and care you have shown to our school community over many years. Your contribution will have a lasting impact on Mornington Secondary College. 

Linda Stanton

Principal

Important Dates

Middle School

Dear Families,

I am still coming to terms with the fact that I will be finishing work as I know it, at the end of this term. I truly appreciate the warm wishes and look forward to seeing many of you either at Open Night on March 25th or during the Parent–Teacher Interviews on March 31st.

As you know, the Year 8 Camp to Phillip Island was a great success. There are many photos that show just how much fun the students had.

We also have the Year 7 and Year 9 camps coming up in Term 2. I am very excited about the inaugural Cairns camp, and it was wonderful to see so many families attend the information evening.

Our Year 7 Grandparents’ Morning Tea will be held on 26 March at 9:15am in the Conference Room. This is always a special event, as the Year 7 students can take their grandparents along to one of their classes.

NAPLAN is currently being conducted in the Learning Centre for our Year 7 and Year 9 students. Our students have been fantastic and have been working hard to do their best. I am very proud of their commitment and the effort they are putting into completing the tasks.

As you know, I have been focusing on members of the Middle School Leadership Team so that families can learn a little more about them. This week, we are featuring Adam Pirrie and Lavonne Neal, the Year 8 leadership team, and I would like to acknowledge the wonderful work they do in supporting and caring for our Year 8 students. They consistently go out of their way to support students both emotionally and academically. They truly enjoy overseeing the year level and work hard to ensure that every child feels supported and that they belong. I am very grateful for the care and commitment to our students from the team.

Wishing our wonderful families a great week.

Warmest wishes,

Denise Leggett

Assistant Principal

Year 8 Leadership Team

Adam Pirrie

Nick Name: Piza

University attended: Monash University

What did you enjoy about secondary college? Representing the school in sport and the camps

What do you love about teaching? 

I love the fact I'm not stuck behind a desk and that every day is different. Having been a coordinator for 14 years I like the positive impact I can have in helping students be well rounded respectful individuals.

Favourite food: Pizza

What sport do you play? I don’t play sport other than some basketball and cricket with my kids. I grew up playing cricket and footy until I was 30.

What other activities do you enjoy? 

I love going to beach, ideally a surf beach. A good sports documentary on Netflix never goes astray.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Tropical island with surf and clear blue water

Favourite clothing brand: Under Armour

Month born: January

Last concert: AC/DC

Favourite TV show: Judge Judy

Awards won: 

A few league B&F’s in cricket and footy in my junior years. Represented Victoria in Australian Rules in the VAFA

Lavonne Neal

NickName: Vonnie or Onnie

University attended Ballarat (Federation) University

What did you enjoy about secondary college? 

I loved learning new things everyday, and I also loved going to the Art room at lunchtime to make Art.

What do you love about teaching? 

I have always enjoyed teaching students a new art skill and just imparting my love of learning onto others. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, right from high school, and I was either going to be an Art or Home Economics (Food) teacher.

Favourite food: 

So many….Cheese, chocolate, lime and black pepper chips, pasta, bread, the list goes on. All bad choices but life is too short to just eat salad! My ultimate favourite is a McDonalds Coffee Frappe – the cream on top is the best.

What sport do you play? 

Golf, and I do reformer Pilates and weight training

What other activities do you enjoy? 

Reading. I read books every day and much prefer it to watching TV. It’s how I relax.

I also love hanging out on the couch with my puppy girl – Henri.

My other favourite activity is to boss my 19-year-old twin boys around. 

I also have a small business teaching people how to airbrush, which I have been running for 30 years. We paint on all sorts of things from cars, trams, clothing, canvases and even cakes!

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? 

Somewhere in the country with a river and beautiful landscape.

Favourite clothing brand:

I love shoes and I have so many pairs that I rarely wear them all.  My favourite shoe brand at the moment is Rollies. I have about 10 different pairs.

My most treasured shoes are my Van Gogh Vans, which are quite rare and I had to buy from ebay from someone in Texas for a huge sum of money because they sold out instantly! I only wear them if I know it is not going to rain!

Month born :  November – Scorpios rule

Last concert: Moulin Rouge

Favourite tv show: Pride and Prejudice the BBC version from the 1990’s starring Colin Firth. Mr Darcy……sigh.

Awards won: I’ve got a cup that says World’s Best Mum- my crowning achievement.

Senior School

To students and families of the Mornington Senior School,

We are finishing another busy week in the senior school and after a long weekend, it can be harder to get back in the swing of the week, although personally I think a 4-day work week makes sense.😉 Students in the senior school should be making great progress against their learning checklists and progress reports were released earlier this week so parents, carers and students can take stock of their early progress in 2026.

Senior School Students of the month for February

Year 10 

Isabella Maddocks - Kind, quiet and always working to her highest standard, showing immense respect and working with her teachers to develop her learning outcomes.

Nicholas Tihala - Respectful and diligent member of the Pre-Senior program, always working to complete his course outcomes, both in classes and his VET, and looks to receive feedback when possible.

Year 11

Lucinda Taylor (VM) - Lucinda has been recognised for her excellent attendance and attitude to her learning. Lucinda always tries her best and is a high achiever in all her subjects.

Kayla Christie (ATAR) – Kayla is juggling her schooling with elite level sport and is managing to achieve excellent grades in all her subjects in ATAR.

Year 12

Lucy Ferlazzo - for being a positive and hardworking student.  Lucy has completed her pre work, seeks feedback from her teachers, completes practice SACs so she can perform at a high standard.

Annabelle Cox - Annabelle is a positive member in all subjects.  She contributes to the learning space and is willing to answer questions when prompted.  She completes all coursework on time and even prompts the teachers to check checklists.  Great start to  VM this year

Attendance for February – Our attendance champions for February are: 

Year 10 (attendance over 95% for February)

Year 11 (attendance over 98% for February)

Year 12 (attendance over 98% for February)

Women in Trade Excursion

Last week I was fortunate enough to be part of the supervising team for a group of our VCE VM students who were invited to a women-in-trade opportunity at Bunnings. While several schools were part of the experience, our Mornington girls were definitely the most represented school. As part of the experience, the girls heard from several Bunnings employees about their journey (most had come to Bunnings through very different pathways such as a pastry chef and even an athletics coach). The girls heard from a current apprentice who was loving her work and explained the journey she had taken to get into it. They also learned about the many varied employment options and team ethos of Bunnings. Our students were also kitted out in Bunnings trade gear and managed to have a bacon and egg roll and a juice box. There will hopefully be further opportunities for our girls to engage with this program again. Thank you to Fiona Cornwall (VET coordinator) and Bec Slater (Applied Learning Leader) for allowing me to tag along.

Edrolo update for VCE ATAR students

Final Edrolo update for the term. We’ve had over half of eligible VCE students pay their subscriptions, which means over half the eligible cohort are receiving extra support and resources for their studies. The portal will close for payments in the next week so there is little time left to take up this highly recommended opportunity.

Study Tip of the week:

Rewrite notes into questions. If you can answer them without looking, you actually know it.

What is coming up this term in the Senior School? 

Kind regards,

Nick Evans

Senior School Assistant Principal

Progressing nicely!

Our latest student progress checks are now available for parents to view on Compass. These progress checks provide a snapshot of how students are approaching their learning across each subject, with teachers providing feedback on students’ effort, organisation and engagement in class.

At Mornington Secondary College, we place a strong emphasis on the role that consistent effort plays in student success. While results on tests and assessment tasks are important, they are often the outcome of the habits students develop every day in the classroom. Students who complete their classwork, stay organised and actively participate in lessons are far more likely to see strong improvement over time.

Progress checks are designed to help students and families reflect on these learning habits. They provide an opportunity for students to celebrate areas where they are doing well and identify where a little more focus or organisation could make a big difference.

To support these conversations, Parent–Teacher Interviews will be held on Monday 31 March from 11:00am to 6:00pm. These meetings provide a valuable opportunity to speak directly with teachers about your child’s progress and discuss strategies that will help them continue to grow and succeed.

Bookings for interviews can be made through Compass.

We encourage families to take some time to review the progress checks together and use them as a starting point for positive conversations about learning, effort and improvement.

Mike Parker

Assistant Principal - Curriculum and Student Wellbeing

Year 7 Students of the Week

Clodagh McConvey

Favourite food: Fried rice

Hobbies out of school: Soccer

What sports team do you follow? The Matildas

Favourite movie/TV show: The Middle

Do you have any pets? A dog named Wesley 

What are you excited for at Mornington Secondary College: Camp

What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? Friends, PE, Drum Corps

What career do you wish to follow when you finish school?  A lawyer

What's one skill you have that makes you unique? I’m friendly

Your greatest strength: Goal keeper in soccer

What three words best describe you? Kind, friendly and positive 

Will Nailon

Favourite food: Cheeseburger

Hobbies out of school: Footy and spending time with mates

What sports team do you follow? Hawthorn Footy Club

Favourite movie/TV show: Cobra Kai

Do you have any pets?  No pets but I’d like a dog

What are you excited for at Mornington Secondary College: All the different camps and the sporting opportunities

What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? New friends & my teachers and English

What career do you wish to follow when you finish school? A surfer  

What's one skill you have that makes you unique? I can surf and I am good at reading and writing

Your greatest strength: Reading

What three words best describe you? Funny, Kind, Fun

High Performance, Strong Results: Discover MSC at Open Night

Do you have friends and family looking for a high-performing secondary school where their child can truly thrive?

At Mornington Secondary College, strong academic focus drives student success. Our students benefit from:

📚Excellent NAPLAN results

🎓Outstanding 2025 VCE outcomes

🏆Winner of the 2025 School Best Practice Award

🌱 A supportive learning environment where every student is encouraged to learn, grow and thrive

Encourage your friends and family to discover what makes MSC a leading choice for families across the Peninsula at our Open Night.

📅 Wednesday 25 March

⏰5.00–7.00pm

📍On site at MSC

Invite them to come and see why more families are choosing Mornington Secondary College for their child’s future.

Please share this pre-register link and let them experience MSC for themselves.

Year 8 Phillip Island Camp

Last week 83 of our Year 8’s travelled to Phillip Island for camp. 

Surfing, snorkelling, SUP, clip and climb and the penguins were the amazing activities the students were fortunate to be part of. 

Students were sensational in embracing all the activities, even when a bit out of their comfort zone. It was also heart-warming to see the students sense of achievement, resilience and new found relationships this camp provided. 

Thank you to the parents who supported the camp and the following teachers who sacrificed their time to make it run: Lavonne Neal, Kim Rattue, Paul Papettas, Alex Healey, Katrina Antoine, Lara Adams, Shine Schwarz and Anastasia Maragakis.

Adam Pirrie

Year 8 Team Leader

Year 10 Outdoor Education Briars Bushwalk

On Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th March the Year 10 Outdoor Education classes went on a bushwalk through the Woodland track at the Briars. The walk was part of the classes’ preparation for their upcoming Otways expedition. The classes also discussed issues such as the management plan of the Briars to protect indigenous peninsula flora and fauna from development and predation from introduced species. We were lucky enough to spot some emus, Eastern Grey kangaroos, wallabies, kookaburras, rosellas and Purple Swamphens. 

Mr Walker 

Year 10 Outdoor Education teacher

Mr Olarenshaw

Year 10 Outdoor Education teacher

Careers

‘Women in Trades’ Bunnings excursion

Our VCE VM students attended the ‘Women in Trades’ Bunnings event on Friday 6 March. The event provided students with the opportunity to meet and speak with trade representatives as well as members of the store’s leadership team, who shared their own career journeys and experiences within the industry. They also discussed the wide range of trade and non-trade career pathways available through Bunnings.

During the session, students received valuable career guidance on how to take their first steps towards a career in the trades and learned how Bunnings can support them in that journey. The event created an open and supportive environment where students felt comfortable asking questions and gaining practical insights into what a career in the trades can look like.

Bunnings demonstrated a genuine passion for encouraging young women to explore opportunities within both the retail and trade sectors, highlighting these pathways as viable and rewarding career options for our VCE VM students. Bunnings kindly provided breakfast for the students, and each attendee received a small gift bag, which included their very own Bunnings T-shirt.

This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to connect with a valued local community retailer. Our school has strong connections with our local Bunnings store, and recently one of our students commenced a structured workplace placement there as part of their VET requirements. We hope this experience encourages more students to explore Bunnings as a place to gain valuable career insights and consider it as a potential future career pathway.

Kylie Lebrasse

Careers Practitioner

Head Start - all jobs are for women

In celebration of the 115th International Women's Day 2026, where the theme is 'Give to Gain', Head Start are celebrating the young women across the Bayside Peninsula Area who are working in School-based Apprenticeships or Traineeships (SBATs) in their respective industries. Head Start currently have 28 young women signed-up and commencing their apprenticeship or traineeship in industries such as:

• Electrical
• Brick and Blocklaying
• Light and Heavy Vehicle Mechanical Technology
• Engineering Metal Fabrication
• Carpentry
• Hairdressing
• Early Childhood Education and Care
• Racing (Trackwork Rider)
• Baking
• Cake and Pastry

If you are a potential employer, please reach out to our team at: headstart.bpa@education.vic.gov.au 

To find out more about the Head Start program, please visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/head-start-apprenticeships-and-traineeships

Latte to School 

Latte to School continues to be an important part of our school community, with a new group of Year 12 Vocational Major students running the café this year. The student-run café provides students with hospitality experience while helping students develop practical workplace skills that support future employment.

Students are involved in all aspects of the café’s daily operations:

• they set up the café space,
• prepare equipment,
• take orders,
• make coffee,
• serve customers, and 
• deliver warm drinks to staff around the school. 

These responsibilities help students build confidence while developing important skills such as:

• teamwork
• communication
• customer service
• organisation
• time management
• food safety practices

Having recently completed their Food Handling certification, students are able to put this knowledge into practice in a simulated workplace.

Currently, the café is serving staff, giving students a supportive environment to practise their skills and gain experience in a real service setting. In the near future, Latte to School will also open to Year 12 students, with loyalty cards available.

Latte to School is a great example of learning beyond the classroom, where students can apply what they learn in a practical setting while building confidence, independence and valuable workplace skills.

Kate Wilson

Applied Learning Key Learning Area Head

School ANZAC Day Service 

ANZAC day is a significant event for our College. We will be holding an Anzac commemoration for our students on Friday 24th of April from 10am and we extend an invitation to all members of our school community to attend this event.  If you would like to attend please RSVP by Thursday 26th March via email mornington.sc@education.vic.gov.au.

For more than 100 years, RSL Victoria has supported veterans and their families who have been impacted by their service and sacrifice. Generously supported, this special fundraising campaign enables Victorians to give something back to those who give and have given so much for us all.  Your donation will help veterans in need gain access to crisis accommodation, emergency financial help, physical and mental health support, and so much more. 

Mornington Secondary College proudly support this cause and currently have a variety of ANZAC APPEAL badges available for purchase at Reception.

Additionally, you can donate to the ANZAC Appeal through donating securely online.

2026 Contributions Friendly Reminder

The Department of Education provides schools with funds to assist in the running of a school.  All government schools rely on parent subsidies that enhance and extend what our school can offer ensuring the best possible education and support for your family. 

It would be greatly appreciated if you could review all of the recommended contributions we have requested as well as any other payments requested, for example Music Lessons.

To assist you with reviewing this on Compass please follow these instructions.

Compass Portal on a computer

Please follow the CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION link in the Payments Centre box.  In this section, you will see all upcoming event and contribution links.

Click on the arrow next to ACTION REQUIRED to see more information and make any payments. 

Compass Portal using the phone app

Please find below a link to the Compass Parent User Guide for the mobile app.

Year 12 Photo Day & Photo Catch Up Day

Year 12 photos will be taken on Photo Catch Up day, Monday 30th March.

Unique image codes will be issued to all students after Monday 30th March. Families use that code to register online to view images when they become available in the Arthur Reed Web Shop. Once registered, please wait for a SMS notification that 2026 images are online to view and make your purchase.

Please contact Shellie in Student Services if you need assistance.

Notice of Upcoming Roadworks

Classic Paving Pty Ltd wish to advise that road and infrastructure works will soon commence at 1158 Nepean Highway, Mornington.

Scope of works:

• Construction of a new slip lane
• Installation of a new bus stop
• Landscaping works
• Line marking

These works may require temporary lane closures, footpath closures, and altered traffic conditions throughout the construction period. Traffic management will be in place to minimise disruption where possible.

Start date: 16 March 2026

Duration: Staged works over approximately 10 weeks (weather permitting)

Don’t Miss a Moment at MSC!

Follow Mornington Secondary College on Facebook & Instagram for news, events, and more so you never miss a moment of your student's learning journey.

Community News & Opportunities

Mornington Lions Club Book Fair

Frankston Symphony Orchestra: Pasión 

When: Sunday 29 March, 2:30pm 

Where: Peninsula Community Theatre, Mornington

Transport yourself to the vibrant world of Spanish and Latin music as the Frankston Symphony Orchestra presents Pasión - a concert bursting with colour, rhythm and drama. Featuring brilliant local violinist Louise Turnbull, the program includes beloved works by Rimsky-Korsakov, Sarasate and more. A wonderful outing for the whole family. 

Tickets from $30, with free entry for children 15 and under.

Easter Colouring Competition

With Easter approaching, Peninsula children are invited to participate in an Annual Easter Colouring Competition for 2026. 

Colouring sheets can be collected from Chris Crewther's electorate office at 321 Main Street, Mornington, or downloaded online.

There will be Easter hampers and prizes for the winners and runners-up in the following age categories:

• 0–5 years
• 6–9 years
• 10–13 years

Every child who enters will receive a small participation prize and certificate, as a thank-you for taking part.

The competition is open to children living in, or attending school, kindergarten or childcare in the following towns:

• Mt Eliza
• Mornington
• Mt Martha
• Moorooduc
• Tuerong
• Baxter

Entries close Monday 23 March 2026. Completed entries can be submitted by:

• Dropping them off at Chris Crewther's office
• Emailing them to Chris.Crewther@parliament.vic.gov.au
• Texting a photo to 0480 383 143

School Tours

For families with primary school-aged children, doing a school tour is the perfect opportunity to give them the chance to see and hear everything MSC has to offer — first hand. 

Tours are held every Tuesday school day at 9.30am (duration is approximately 1 hour) and can be booked online on the below link or by calling the office on Ph. 5970 0200.

To learn more or to reach out to us