From the Principal

Good morning, everyone, I hope your week has been fantastic. 

Organisation of the Osaka visit in September is well underway. This week students participated in the next stage of the application process. Each student was required to introduce themselves in Japanese and then repeat their introduction in English. Ms Brindle asked each student a question in Japanese about their introduction. Students will be selected based on application, interview, compass posts, uniform and attendance. We can only take 15 students.

Next week we are holding our Open Night. With no set tours or speeches, our OPEN NIGHT SHOWCASE will be a carnival of activities providing young learners the opportunity to immerse themselves in the hands on, interesting and fun aspects of secondary college. 

Families are invited to stay for the full two hours or just come for a bit. Either way, there is something for everyone to enjoy and so much to see and do! 

The team at Mornington Secondary College look forward to welcoming everyone on the night. Please share with friends, families and neighbours.

DATE:     Tuesday 25th March

TIME:     from 5-7pm

Limited parking on school grounds.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Linda Stanton

Principal

Important Dates

Term 1 2025

March

Mar - Wednesday 12th to Monday 24th Naplan

Mar - Tuesday 25th College Open Night

Mar - Monday 31st to Wednesday 2nd April Year 10 Outdoor Education Camp Otways

Mar - Monday 31st Year 7 Grandparents Morning Tea

April

Apr - Wednesday 2nd Year 7 Disco

Apr - Thursday 3rd Parent and Teacher Interviews - face to face

Apr - Friday 4th End of Term 1 - 2:30pm finish

Term 2 2025

April

Apr - Tuesday 22nd Term 2 commences 

Apr - Thursday 24th College Anzac Day Service 10:15am 

Apr - Friday 25th Anzac Day Public Holiday

Apr - Monday 28th to Wednesday 30th  Year 10 Outdoor Education Camp Otways

Middle School

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

Why is Grammar So Important?

I have had the chance to read many student essays, and it gives me great joy when I come across beautifully written work. Our Year 7 and 9 students are currently completing NAPLAN, and grammar is a key component of the test.

Grammar provides the building blocks for children to understand and express themselves in longer and more complex ways. When children increase their language complexity (with word endings or longer, more intricate sentences), they can articulate and comprehend more sophisticated ideas. It truly is the cornerstone of effective written communication.

We all know that using good grammar helps express ideas clearly, accurately, and professionally.

I was also considering texts for students to read, so I decided to explore some great books for young adults. Here are a few recommendations:

• Harry Potter (series) by J.K. Rowling
• The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
• Holes by Louis Sachar
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I have taught quite a few of these books over the years. The themes of justice and loyalty feature heavily.

I hope you have a great book to read, and please let me know if you have any recommendations of great books!

Wishing you a great week!

Denise Leggett

Assistant Principal

Senior School

To students and families of the Mornington Senior School,

Only two weeks to go for Term 1. It really does fly but with so many interruptions, our students (and staff) could be forgiven for feeling like life has been a bit hectic!

Year 10 VET Retail Cosmetics (and VET in general)

I’ve had the opportunity to observe our first ever VET Retail Cosmetics class commence their learning. Now, it’s reasonable to say that retail cosmetics isn’t in my wheelhouse of expertise but I’ve been involved in the behind the scenes work to get the program up and running in 2025. Our Applied Learning Leader, Rebecca Slater, has been the driving force behind this opportunity for some of our Year 10 girls and I can’t thank her enough. I have been in the class for the last couple of Friday mornings, observing and also meeting with the careers team in the background. The girls have been very keen participants and it’s just another example of the wide range of programs our students can access outside of the mainstream curriculum.

Our Electrotechnology students in Year 10 have also started their onboarding process and will start learning their course over the next couple of weeks before Mr Jones returns in Term 2 to guide them through the course. Other VET subjects we have running at MSC for our Year 10s include Sport & Recreation, Building Construction and Multi-Trade Pathways. We also have students in our pre-senior program taking part in VET subjects on and off-site. We are seeking avenues to expand these opportunities even further in 2026.  

Progress Reports

With progress reports being available to parents now, there will be some correspondence sent out to families of students who are deemed to operating below or well below the expected academic level in one or more subjects. Families are encouraged to work closely with the subject teacher (parent teacher interviews are in week 10 as you know) to discuss strategies and approaches to improve the academic standards moving forward. The information is to provide early intervention while there is time available to improve and does not mean that a student will ‘fail’ a subject. While we would all prefer every student to be at or above the level required without intervention, it isn’t always possible using the strategies and learning behaviours currently being exhibited. Conversations with the teachers of those subjects identified will be pivotal in changing the current trajectory. I look forward to the productive nature of those conversations as we work together to create effective 3-way partnerships for successful outcomes.    

What is coming up this term in the Senior School? 

Thurs 3rd Apr – Parent Teacher interviews – no classes

Kind regards

Nick Evans

Senior School Assistant Principal

The pictures say it all.

Year 12 Systems and Engineering students justifying their design ideas to the toughest audience…their friends.

Year 12 students in Connect learning all about stress and effective coping strategies.

Some of our indigenous students at the Koorie Emerging Leaders day held at Western Port Secondary College.

Mike Parker

Assistant Principal

Immunisation Program 2025

Please find attached important information from Mornington Peninsula Shire relating to the Year 7 and Year 10 Immunisation Program planned for Monday 26 May 2025. The letter details the Shire's request that the college sends parent contact details to them so they can follow-up any student who has missed their immunisation.

Please read carefully.

Please consent or decline for your child to take part in the Immunisation Program using the following links: 

Year 10 Immunisation 2025 Consent Link

Year 7 2025 Immunisation Consent Link

A help sheet from the Shire is attached.

Shellie Farnill

Education Support - Student Services

2025 Production - FROZEN JR

For the first time in forever Mornington Secondary College is doing a Disney Production! Frozen Jr!  

The students have been working tirelessly, backstage and on-stage, to bring you the best performances possible and are keen to put on a show that you won't forget! Please come along and support your local community and school.

When:        Tuesday 5 August 2025 SING-A-LONG SESSION     7-8:30pm

                     Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th August 2025     7-8:30pm

                     Saturday 9 August 2025     2-3:30pm

Location:   Performing Arts Theatre1051 Nepean Highway, Mornington Vic 3931

Tickets can be purchased via trybooking, on the below link.

Introducing our Year 7 Connect Captains

We are thrilled to announce the selection of our Year 7 Connect Captains for this year!

These outstanding students have been chosen to represent their peers and play a key role in the Year 7 student leadership team. As Connect Captains, they will be instrumental in fostering a sense of community within the year level, assisting with events, and being the go-to people for their classmates.

Our Year 7 Connect Captains will not only help run year level events and assemblies, but they will also have many leadership opportunities to enhance their leadership skills. These roles will allow them to develop crucial qualities like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving as they guide and support their peers throughout the year.

Whether it's organizing year level activities, facilitating communication, or offering a helping hand, these leaders are ready to make a positive impact. We are excited to see how these passionate and dedicated students will contribute to the growth and success of the Year 7 cohort. Their energy and enthusiasm will be invaluable as they work together to make this year memorable for everyone.

Please join us in congratulating our new Connect Captains, and we look forward to seeing the incredible things they will accomplish!

Evangeline Romage

Year 7 Team Leader

Alex Mackenzie

Year 7 Coordinator

Year 8 Divisional Sport

Year 8 Boys Volleyball

Year 8 Boys Cricket

12 of our Year 8 cricketers ventured to Emil Madsen Reserve on a lovely sunny day to take on Dromana and Somerville in Super 8's cricket. Unfortunately we were not successful in winning either game but the boys showed comradery and had a great day. Best players were Lucas Coutts and Tom Milburn.

Adam Pirrie

Year 8 Team Leader

Year 8 Boys and Girls Tennis

On Tuesday March 18th, Year 8 students participated in Divisional Tennis at Mornington Tennis Centre. Both teams battled hard and won 3 out of 4 matches, finishing runner up to Mt Eliza in both the boys and girls divisions.

Congratulations to all players, you demonstrated our college values and it was a pleasure to watch you represent MSC.

Shaun Doherty

Year 9 Coordinator

Year 8 Girls Volleyball

On Tuesday 18th March our school was represented by 2 teams in the Year 8 girls Southern Peninsula Division (SPD) volleyball competition which was held in our school stadium. The competition was divided into an A and B division with all 6 of our SPD schools representing in the A division and four schools representing in the B division: Dromana, Mt Eliza, Somerville and Mornington. 

Our girls had shown excellent commitment, training most lunch times for two weeks developing their skills. The games were played with great spirit and sportsmanship. It was fantastic to see the girls supporting each other, having fun and representing our school to an excellent standard. A highlight of the day was the girls A team coming back from 14 -7 down to nearly beating the eventual winners of the competition Western Port. Unfortunately, the girls went down 15-13 in that set. 

The final competition results were as follows:

A Division                                                                     B Division

1 Western Port                                                           1 Mt Eliza

2 Mt Eliza                                                                     2 Dromana

3 Dromana                                                                   3 Mornington

4 Somerville                                                                4 Somerville

5 Rosebud

6 Mornington

A Team                                                                         B Team

Alana Classon                                                            Macey Andreata

Charlotte Davies                                                        Lucinda Bradshaw

Kayla Lindsay Rechter                                             Kendal Christie

Grace Neeson                                                            Emily Cooper

Grace O’Shea                                                             Hannah Cooper

Taylah Rowe                                                                Noi Godber

Cora Sanderson                                                         Fern Jenner

Heidi Barnes                                                               Evie Motherwell

                                                                                         Chloe Lynas

John Walker

College Sport

Year 8 Science

Last week 8A completed a bull’s eye dissection in science class. Some were apprehensive to start with, but everyone took part.

Students were able to practice working safely in the lab, utilise their dissecting skills and identify key features of an eye, such as the optic nerve and lens. All other year 8 classes will complete the dissection within the next week.

Dana Lamb

Head of  Science

Year 9 & 10 Boys Cricket

The Year 9/10 boys' cricket team participated in the Division Regional Final against Mt Eliza this Tuesday. 

After a strong campaign leading up to the final, the boys were eager to put on a competitive performance and represent the school with pride.

Mornington SC batted first and posted a total of 7/104 after 20 overs, thanks to a standout performance from Will Basset, who led the charge with an impressive 44 runs. Jack Ainsworth also made a valuable contribution, adding 13 runs to the total. 

Despite their best efforts, the team found it challenging to build on partnerships as Mt Eliza's bowling attack kept the pressure on.

In response, Mt Eliza chased down the target, finishing with 113 runs to claim victory. Though the result didn't go in our way, the boys fought hard until the last ball, displaying great teamwork and resilience throughout the match.

Reaching the Division Regional Final is a significant achievement, and every player should be proud of their efforts. Congratulations to all the boys for their dedication and sportsmanship. 

Rob Horwill

Head of PE

Year 9 Beleura House Photography Excursion

Earlier this month our Year 9 Photography students visited Beleura House, a state-listed 19th Century heritage house set amidst five hectares of gardens and includes a music recital centre. The House is exceptional for its collection and includes the original furnishings of its last owner John Tallis. The excursion allowed students to practice their photography skills and develop themes outside the school yard. Below are some photos taken on the day by Lilly Barbieri, Keaton Nicholson and Archie McGarry.

Jennifer Rolls

Art/Media & VM Teacher

Year 9 Cafe Catering 

On Thursday 20th March Year 9 Cafe Catering students designed and produced their own Wellness Bowls.

Kellie Nottle

Food Technology/Humanities Teacher

Year 9 update: Connect period dedicated to student achievement in English

Our latest Connect session provided students with valuable insights, tips, and tricks to help them excel in their upcoming English performance task. The session provided students with a strong focus on refining their writing skills and the opportunity to engage in a session designed to boost their confidence and creativity.

A special thank you to English teacher Tyler Foreman for leading the session and sharing his expertise. Under his guidance, students practiced writing an introduction paragraph, honing their ability to hook the reader and set the stage for compelling narratives. Additionally, they explored the elements of dystopian fiction, carefully planning the unique worlds they would bring to life in their writing.

We wish all Year 9 students the best of luck in their upcoming English performance task.

Rob Horwill

Year 9 Team Leader

Latte to School: MSC Cafe

Last week, Year 12 VCE VM students were given the opportunity to practice their hospitality skills in the MSC Café ‘Latte to School’. Students learnt valuable customer service skills by taking orders and payment as well as making a range of different coffee orders and delivering warm drinks to teachers. Students can practice these transferrable skills in a mock workplace, to prepare for their own Structured Workplace Learning opportunities. Students enjoy working as a team to make coffee for their teachers, who also get to benefit from this experience! 

Kate Wilson

Head of Department - Vocational Major

VCE Music - Top Class Excursion

The excursion on Thursday 20th March to Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Southbank, for Top Class Music and Sound was an eye opening concert for the Year 11 and 12 VCE Music class. The event was a 95 minute live performance of 2024's top achieving VCE Contemporary Music Performance students. Our students came away in awe of the performances and inspired to get back in the practice room and perform at their best.

Joe Tobias

Head of Music

Students of the Week

Year 7 Billie O'Sullivan

Favourite food: Chocolate

Hobbies out of school: Swimming and going to the beach   

What sports team do you follow? My family support Collingwood 

Favourite TV show: Movie Moana 

Do you have any pets? A Blue Staffy named Hugo 

What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? The opportunities- the different subjects, definitely Aerobics

What career do you wish to follow when you finish school? Some thing to do with the ocean- marine biologist

Year 7 Freddie Fogaty

Favourite food: Salmon and Ketchup

Hobbies out of school: researching Space X and Elon Musk, playing AFL with friends and gaming (Minecraft)    

What sports team do you follow? Geelong Cats 

Favourite TV show: My Little Pony 

Do you have any pets? A dog named Luna 

What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? All the free time, recess and lunch and I really like being in the aerobics team and training 2 days a week

What career do you wish to follow when you finish school? Undecided no clue at all

Year 8 Evan Kruse 

Favourite food: Lasagna 

Hobbies out of school: Swimming, going to the gym, and I like doing sports and some gaming

What sports team do you follow? Western Bulldogs

Favourite TV show: The Simpsons

Do you have any pets? Dogs named Bundy and Schooner

What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? There is always extra activities to do outside of the classroom. I like going to fit club and I also enjoy swim squad. I really enjoyed our Year 8 Phillip Island camp, surfing was awesome.

What career do you wish to follow when you finish school?  I might do a job in the trades as my family will be able to help me.

Year 9 Chloe Smith

Favourite food: Tuna Bake Pasta

Hobbies out of school: Reading! My favourite book is Harry Potter!

Favourite Sports: Netball/Basketball

What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? challenging myself especially in maths

What career do you wish to follow when you finish school? Primary school teacher

Quote to live by: "treat others how you'd like to be treated"

Year 10 Avantika Ale

House: Beleura

My favourite subject: Science, more specifically Biology and Chemistry 

Hobbies out of school: Reading fictional, adventure and fantasy texts. I also enjoy cooking and Badminton with friends. 

What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? You learn and do things that you wouldn’t normally do at home

What is your dream job? Fashion Designer, I would love to pursue my own brand

Year 11 Emmerson Mellor

House: Balcombe

My favourite subject: Outdoor Education

Hobbies out of school: Netball 

What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? is seeing my friends

What is your dream job? a criminal defence lawyer

Year 12 Eva Robinson

My favourite subject: Food studies

Hobbies out of school: I like to go on road trips

Favourite food: Chilli crisps

Do you have any pets? A dog called Sadie and two guinea pigs: Goerge and Gordan

What is your dream job? A primary school teacher or teachers aide.

Congratulations

Mornington Secondary College proudly congratulate Harvey Langford on his AFL Debut last Sunday with Melbourne Football Club. We wish you all the best with your football career Harvey!

School ANZAC Day Service 

ANZAC day is a significant event for our College. We will be holding an Anzac commemoration for our students on Thursday 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 3rd April, 2025  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 fundraiser 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.

Junior Ranger Program for Indigenous Students

The Junior Ranger Program for Indigenous students of any year level (high school), is run fortnightly at The Briars and sometimes at Police Point (Point Nepean). It is an on Country, Indigenous Ranger facilitated program in partnership with Bunurong Land Council. The program is delivered by Traditional Owners, Elders, Rangers, and other community members in a hands on, excursion based format that connects the students to cultural land management practices, sustainability, and conservation and ecosystem management in a culturally safe space. The hope to inspire students to further their skills in conservation and ecosystems management, expose them to the work of the MPS council and promote employment/study opportunities if they are interested. 

The workshops will be based around: 

• Animal monitoring
• Horticulture
• Seed collection
• Propagation
• Wildlife habitat
• Ecology
• Land management
• Plant identification and uses
• Planting
• Treating weeds
• Increasing biodiversity
• Sustainability
• Relationships between plants, animals and Indigenous Culture 
• Bushcraft survival skills such as making fire 
• Indigenous cooking 
• Artefacts and tools 
• Rope making
• Other cultural workshops 

So far there have been 2 workshops which have focused on bush craft and bush tucker, and the program will be doing more of that. Transport can be organise and paid for and if needed also supply PPE such as boots etc. 

The next workshop is Wednesday March 26 at 9:45am – around 12:30pm. 

If any student is interested please contact the Wellbeing team and we can help arrange this.

Nicole Boland

Mental Health Practitioner 

Annual Privacy Reminder for our School Community

Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy and the Schools’ Privacy Collection Notice.

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy, describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn. 

We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Microsoft 365/Google Workspace for Education safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using Microsoft 365/Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school.

For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ privacy policy: information for parents. This information is also available in ten community languages:

• Amharic
• Arabic
• Chinese
• Dari
• Gujarati
• Mandarin
• Somali
• Sudanese
• Turkish
• Urdu
• Vietnamese

Koorie Academy Free Boys Basketball Clinic

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