Principal Team Report

Dear MSC Community, 

It’s the end of Week 5, the mid-way point of the term. As we move through a busy and rewarding Term 3, it has been wonderful to see our students embracing the many opportunities available to them both inside and outside the classroom. The past few weeks have been filled with important milestones, celebrations of achievement, and enriching learning experiences that continue to reflect the College values of Courage, Curiosity and Community. 

One of the most significant events on our Term 3 calendar has been the commencement of the 2027 subject selection process. Students and families have been actively engaged in exploring pathways and considering future learning opportunities. Subject selection is an important step in every student's educational journey, and it has been encouraging to see the thoughtful conversations taking place between students, parents and staff. I would like to thank our Careers, Pathways and Teaching teams for the considerable time and expertise they provide to assist students in making informed decisions that align with their interests, strengths and future aspirations.  

We recently celebrated student achievement through our Mid-Year Awards presentations. These awards recognise not only academic excellence but also the values and behaviours that contribute to a positive learning environment. Students were acknowledged for their commitment, perseverance, improvement, leadership and contribution to the college community. Congratulations to all award recipients. Their efforts serve as an inspiration to their peers and highlight the importance of consistent application, resilience and a growth mindset. 

Learning beyond the classroom continues to be a valued aspect of education at Mullauna Secondary College. Over recent weeks, students have participated in a diverse range of excursions and educational experiences. These opportunities have provided authentic connections to classroom learning while helping students develop confidence, independence and broader perspectives. From curriculum-based excursions such as VCE Art Gallery Visit, Year 9 SkillZ City Experience and VCE Vocational Major farming experience that enriched student understanding of key concepts, to sporting and community engagement activities, our students have represented the college with enthusiasm and maturity.  

This year we are again supporting teen mental health through Youth Mental Health First Aid training for all Year 10 students. This vital program “equips secondary school students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to recognise, understand and respond to a friend or classmate experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis”. Further information on this program can be found using the following link mental health first aid 

These experiences remind us that education extends far beyond the school gates. Whether visiting universities and industry settings, attending performances and exhibitions, or participating in outdoor and sporting programs, our students continue to demonstrate curiosity, engagement and a willingness to challenge themselves through new experiences. 

We look forward to sharing more highlights from across the college in the coming weeks and encourage our community to stay connected with the many exciting opportunities and achievements taking place throughout Mullauna Secondary College. 

Reminder - Comedy for a Cause – Saturday 22 August 

Don't forget to gather your friends and purchase tickets for our third annual comedy night to raise funds for a most worthy cause - Mullauna! 

AEU industrial campaign 

With AEU members currently voting on the new agreement, we are hopeful for a positive outcome and an end to industrial action. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed of the impact should the anticipated stop work action on Wednesday 19 August go ahead. 

We were certainly encouraged by new Premier Ben Carroll’s commitment to meeting the agreed level of Schooling Resource Standard, the last state to do so. The Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) is an estimate of the public funding a school needs to meet the educational needs of its students. Stemming from the 2011 Gonski Review, it combines a per-student base amount with needs-based loadings for specific student and school disadvantages. 

Out of the Shadows Walk – 9:30am Sunday 13 September 

On Sunday 13 September, Mullauna community members (students, families, staff and friendly dogs) will again be participating in Lifeline's "Out of the Shadows Walk", walking 9km for the 9 Australians we lose to suicide each day. We invite you to join us to remember those we have lost to suicide and show our support for Australians experiencing emotional distress or mental illness. Through connection, compassion and hope, we will unite to raise awareness, overcome stigma and commit to preventing further deaths by suicide. 

We will start and finish our walk at Schwerkolt Cottage Reserve (on the grass near the toilets) at 9:30 am on Sunday 13 September. On our return, we will be able to take in the activities and enjoy the catering of the Whitehorse festival at Schwerkolt Cottage! 

There is no need to register: just turn up. If you have any questions, email Kathy Halpin at:  katherine.halpin@education.vic.gov.au 

Stage 2 Building Updates 

Things are progressing well with our Stage 2 STEM centre and administration wing refurbishments. Over coming weeks, the STEM centre will receive its external cladding and brick works. Internal fit-out continues on both the ground and first floor now that the roof works are complete. 

In the administration area, two refurbished meeting rooms will be handed over next week for use and we are a few weeks away from new administration staff bathrooms. The remainder of the A-wing roof will be replaced in the September school holidays. 

The 2026 Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey (PCGOS) – Opens Monday 17 August  

WE WANT OUR PARENTS / CAREGIVERS / GUARDIANS TO TELL US WHAT THEY THINK! This year, we would like to surpass last year’s participation rate of 140 families (in 2024 it was 151, in 2023 it was 139). With more families in our community (about 540) I’m sure we can do better than that!  

Our school is conducting the annual Department of Education survey to find out what parents / caregivers / guardians think of our school. The PCGOS is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, community engagement in learning, teaching practices for student engagement and outcomes, attitudes towards school attendance, and student behaviour. Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies, and will be presented to and discussed at: staff and leadership team meetings, school council and the Parent & Community Association, and also our Student Representative Council (SRC). We urge all families to participate in the survey, to give us the most accurate information on what our community is thinking. 

As this is a very broad ‘snapshot’ survey, we encourage families with more specific or urgent input to contact us directly at the school. 

The 2026 Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey (PCGOS) will be open between Monday 17 August and Friday 18 September for all parents/caregivers/guardians to complete.  

We will send one personal link and PIN to Parent A of each family represented at Mullauna – that’s just over 550 families – by close-of-business next Monday 17 August. 

Please ensure that your email details held by the college are current and correct, and that your inbox is not full! After Monday 17 August, you can search for the email using ‘Orima’ (the company engaged by the Department to conduct the survey) and do remember to check your junk mail too. 

If the second parent in a split family would also like to participate, simply contact us at the college (9874-3422) and we can generate an additional personal link and PIN. 

The survey will be conducted online, only takes about 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time within the survey period on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. The online survey will be available in English and 10 other languages including Arabic, Greek, Hakha Chin, Hindi, Japanese, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Turkish, and Vietnamese.   

Please call the college (9874-3422) and ask to speak to Louise Alford and/or Laura Dixon if you would like more information or are having any connection issues. 

VCE Unit 3 & 4 Practice Exams – Week 1 of the September break 

A reminder to all Unit 3-4 students that the college will again run compulsory practice exams in the first week of the September break. Ms Watson will publish more details soon. 

It is critical that all students participate in order to gain valuable practice and to receive vital feedback for improvement from their teachers. 

23 – 26 September (Week 1 of term break): Practice Exams 

15 October: Last day of Year 12 classes, Period 5 Flame Assembly 

15 October: 12 Valedictory (parents, family and students) - details to come 

16 October: Year 12 Celebration morning – details to come 

19 – 23rd October: Study Week - students expected to attend double periods 

27 October – 18th November: VCAA Written Examinations  

18 November: Year 12 Formal  

10 December: VCE Results and ATAR advice will be available from 7:00 am 

Key dates for the school for the remainder of 2026 

Our process for the final term and end-of-year will be very similar to last year. Key dates are: 

1. Staff Professional Learning Day – Wednesday 26 August – student free 
2. Student Learning Conferences – one per semester 

• Thursday 17 September (Week 10) 

1. Professional Learning (‘Curriculum’) Days 

• Monday 02 November (Cup Eve) – student free 
• Friday 27 November - HeadStart Planning Day (Week 8) – student free 

1. 2026-27 HeadStart program – COMPULSORY for all students in Years 7-11 

• Thursday 26 November – VCE student Head Start preparation day 
• Senior classes (current Years 9-11) – Week 9 (30 November to 04 December) 
• Junior classes (current Years 7-8) – Weeks 9 and 10 (30 November to 09 December) 
• Presentation Evening – Thursday 03 December 
• Year 8 Camp – Monday 07 to Wednesday 09 December 
• Year 7 Activity Day – Wednesday 09 December 

1. Summer Program (current Years 7 & 8) – commences Week 10 (Thursday 10 December) – more details in coming weeks 
2. Staff Professional Learning, Professional Practice and Time-in-Lieu acquittal days – Weeks 10 and 11  
3. Final Day – Friday 18 December - student-free 

Looking forward to 2027 

Year 6 -7 Transition planning is in full swing, as this annual process gathers pace towards its culmination (for this year) on the State-wide Orientation Day on Tuesday 08 December. Our course counselling team continues to engage with students and parents as they make their subject selections for 2027. Many factors need to be taken into account when making these decisions, especially for senior school subjects:  

• passions and interests 
• strengths and abilities 
• pathways plans and career goals 
• prerequisites for VCE and tertiary study 

just to name a few.  

For 2027, we are adding a new Year 8/9 elective: Engineering Essentials, to hopefully lead to a pathway of Year 10 Engineering & Robotics and then on to VCE Systems Engineering in subsequent years. Ultimately, this will be determined by staffing availability and student choice. 

In recent years, we have added: Year 8/9 Dollars and Sense (previously Get rich quick), Year 8/9 Mathematical Minds, VCE Computing, VCE Literature and VCE Specialist Maths. 

Michael Bray, Jeff McMillin & Harry Ruff 

The MSC Principal team