Principal report

Winter has most certainly arrived!!! Now is a good time to remember, when there is less sunlight, more melatonin is produced, resulting in people feeling more tired in winter. Less sunlight also reduces the production of a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which affects our mood. Colder temperatures and longer dark hours can also affect our thoughts and behaviours. I have discovered a couple of great sights to support ‘winter wellness’, please take some time to review the recommendations as a preventative strategy to the impact winter ‘may’ have on adults and children.

Winter Activities for Kids – Children's Health

Winter Blues or Something More Serious? – Children's Health

Helpful Remedies for Cold and Flu Season - Children's Health

Mortlake P-12 College Presents SPAMALOT

I am excited for this Friday – the Opening Night for our 2025 School Production of Spamalot. Our Performing Arts staff team are leading an outstanding cast and crew of students in staging this production. The show offers a comedic take on the Monty Python and the Holy Grail film. It’s a fun and engaging experience for those who enjoy irreverent humour, catchy songs and a touch of nostalgia for classic Python comedy. I can assure you that there are many notable performances and several of our students certainly have a future in the theatre.

Tickets are now on sale (with minimal spaces remaining).

Shows Dates: Friday June 20th (7-9pm), Monday June 23rd (12-2pm), Wednesday June 25th (7-9pm) and Friday June 27th (7-9pm). Ticket prices range between $5-$20 with VIP seats available.

Attitudes to School Survey

Last week students in Years 4-12 completed the Department of Education statewide Attitudes to School Survey. The survey provides an opportunity for schools to gain insights into student perceptions of their school and their learning. The survey asks students about their thoughts and feelings regarding their school, their learning, peer relationships, health and wellbeing and life in general. We evaluate the feedback in Term 3 and 4 and identify our strengths and areas to further develop or improve. Our improvements involve short term plans that we are able to act on this year as well as longer term plans that help shape future work. Student voice is very important to us, and we will continue to connect student perspective in all aspects of celebration and improvement. We look forward to receiving the results later in the year.

2025 Student Mid-Year Reports

Our teachers have been preparing for end of semester reports which will be available to all families, via the Sentral App on Wednesday 2nd July. An opportunity to discuss your child’s learning attitude and growth will take place on Wednesday 30th July. We highly recommend all students and parents attend this opportunity. Bookings and additional information will be available on Sentral shortly. If this day is not suitable, please make contact with your child’s teacher/s to make an alternative time.

Drought Package Support

On 30 May 2025, the Victorian Government announced additional drought support of $37.7 million. This is in addition to the $15.9 million package announced in mid-May that extended the $13.5 million drought support package announced in September 2024.

Farmers across the state will be able to access grants of up to $5,000 to support on-farm drought management improvements. The program supports on-farm upgrades that provide immediate support in managing drought and builds future resilience.

If you are facing financial hardship. Please make a time to come and see me so that I can share possible ways that we may be able to support you.

The following link contains Drought Support Package information from the Department of Agriculture:

Drought support package | Grants and financial support | Drought support | Farm management | Agriculture Victoria

Mobile Phones at School

Smart phones, without a doubt, are the greatest single distraction plaguing our young people today. Even when students do not utilise their mobile phones, they are subject to constant interruptions from other students and family members. Teachers repeatedly have to stop instruction to reprimand students not to use their phone in classrooms, and students constantly feel the pressure to check social media accounts.

We fill appreciate and understand that many students have become so accustomed to staring at screens, especially since COVID, that it is almost impossible to engage students in meaningful instruction in the classroom. In addition, parents feel the need to be in constant contact with their child/ren. This has hindered the development of independent socialisation, conflict resolution and student voice. Most concerning is that overwhelming the majority of bullying issues that we deal with are through social media.

When students do not use their phones responsibly it can interfere with their learning or the learning and safety of others.

Inappropriate phone use is corrected by teachers and students benefit from learning from their mistakes. The following guidelines support students to use their mobile phones appropriately and avoid any disruptions to learning:

Mobile phones are brought to the College at the owners own risk.
Mobile phones must only be used by students before or after school.
Mobile phones must be kept on silent mode and kept out of sight during classroom lessons.
Staff should be alerted and exceptions requested if a student has special circumstances requiring the use of their mobile phone during school hours.
Mobile phones must not be brought into exams or class assessments.
Phone cameras are not to be used within the college grounds.
Students should never photograph or record any person without their express permission.
Parents are to be informed that in cases of emergency; the college remains an appropriate point of contact to reach their child quickly.

Students who fail to use their phones responsibly and do not follow teacher direction will incur consequences, including the loss of their right to bring their mobile phone to school.

Racism at school

At Mortlake College we value the diversity of culture, ethnicity, and faith of all our students. We are proud of our diversity, and everyone is welcome at our school.

Throughout this term I been told about some racist incidents that have not supported these values. This has included using racist language and slurs and drawing/displaying racist symbols. This behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at our school.

We are taking immediate action as part of our commitment to make our school a safe and inclusive place for everyone.

Celebrating the diversity of our community makes us stronger, kinder and more innovative. We are committed to making sure that students from all backgrounds feel accepted, supported and able to learn. We teach all students according to our school values and teach the respectful relationships framework. This includes education around diversity and inclusion.

To achieve our values and aims, everyone at Mortlake College plays an important role. It is critical that we continually reflect and use our school values of ‘Kindness, Respect and a Growth Mindset’, and they should encompass everything we do.

To help us make Mortlake College a place where everyone feels welcome, respected and supported, we encourage you to also speak to your child about these values, as well as the importance of:

understanding that we celebrate diversity and multicultural inclusion
understanding the importance of everyone at school being treated with respect.

We expect families to also display our school values when dealing with other members of our school community. Celebrating the diversity of our community makes us stronger, kinder and innovative. We are committed to ensuring that students from all backgrounds feel accepted, supported and are empowered to learn.

Your partnership in reinforcing these values at home will significantly help create a more respectful and inclusive environment at school.

The Push Up Challenge

Our School Captains, Jack and Molly, have organised a fun challenge that helps raise awareness for better mental health. Your PUSH is your POWER! This will take place between June 4th to 26th, and will help improve our physical and mental fitness, while having fun and raising important funds to make a difference to mental health in Australia. So please support this amazing challenge and help us push for better mental health.

2026 Student Enrolments

Yes, it is that time of year when we start to prepare for next year’s Prep/Foundation and Year 7 enrolments.

We are currently holding private Foundation/Prep 2026 and Year 7 2026 school tours and information session for all families via appointment. Please promote this to friends and family members you know who have a student’s starting in these year levels in 2026.

Private personalised school tours can be made by calling the College on 5599 2204.

If you have a child starting school next year, please come along, we love having current and new families join us. You are welcome to collect an enrolment pack from the office and return this as early as possible, as this assists us with sorting our numbers nice and early.

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF)

Applications are open for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) to help eligible families cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

Eligibility

Families are eligible to apply for the CSEF if they have a valid means-tested concession card.

Foster parents and students aged 16 years and over who are considered mature minors and hold a valid concession card are also eligible to apply.

A reminder to families, that to receive funding, you must complete an application form by the end of Term 2, 2025 (Friday 4 July 2025).

Payment amounts this year are $154 for eligible primary school students and $256 for eligible secondary school students.

All Year 3 to 6 students took an opt-out form home and will need to return the signed and completed form back to their classroom teacher, if families wish to opt-out of the study.

Parent Payments

Thank you to all parents who are up to date with Parent Payments or on a plan. Your contributions make a remarkable difference to our school and the programs/resources we offer. Please be familiar with the Parent Payment Policy as all extra curricula activities are offered on a user pay basis. We will ensure families are aware of all extra curricula activities well in advance to give you an opportunity to budget for these events and activities.

We would appreciate as many payments as possible finalising 2025 Parent Payments ASAP.

Important Upcoming Dates

Please continually check Sentral and the newsletter for important dates, student information, and highlights of events.

Semester 2 has now started for all VCE + VCE VM Students
Push up Challenge: June 4th to June 26th
GAT EXAM: Tuesday June 17th
School Council: Tuesday June 17th
Day 3 School Review: Wednesday June 18th
Spamalot Performances: (June 20th, 23rd, 35th and 27th)
Last Day of Term 2: Friday July 4th. 2:30pm Dismissal for all students
First Day Term 3: Monday July 21st

3 weeks to go – lets beat the cold, dark dreary days, keep our motivation live and finish the term on a positive note. 😊

Linda Mooseek

Mortlake P-12 College Principal

Student News