Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

It has been a wonderfully busy start to 2025, and we are already in Week 3 of Term 1! I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know our new Year 7 cohort, welcoming new students across other year levels, and reconnecting with our returning students. It has been great to hear about their holiday adventures and their exciting plans for the year ahead.

Welcome to Our Year 7 Students

Our new Year 7 cohort has just completed their transition project, “Me in the LC.” A big thank you to Ms. Jo Hannan and all Year 7 teachers and support staff for settling our newest students into school life.

As part of this transition, students enjoyed a fun-filled day at Cable Park and a half-day at the beach. These activities provided a fantastic opportunity for students to build connections with each other and their teachers. We are delighted to see our new students transitioning to secondary school so smoothly!

Year 7-Only Lunchtime Area

This term, we are trialing a Year 7-only area at lunchtime, located at the back of the Learning Centre. This space is fully staffed and equipped with seating to create a welcoming environment for our Year 7 students. Please encourage your child to take advantage of this space and the available extracurricular activities if they would benefit from additional social opportunities and structured activities.

Lunchtime Clubs & Activities

A reminder that we offer a variety of lunchtime clubs and activities for students to enjoy. These clubs provide a great way for students to meet peers outside their classes and connect with others who share similar interests.

For all information on these clubs and extracurricular activities, visit More Mordi.

Positive Behaviours for Learning

Our Principal, Ms. Stone, introduced Mordialloc College’s Positive Behaviours for Learning in last week’s newsletter. This week, I would like to highlight a few key expectations and the steps we are taking to support students in achieving these behaviours.

1. Lining Up & Arriving on Time

To ensure an orderly start to lessons, we have painted lines outside key teaching areas where students can assemble before being escorted to class. This structure allows for a smooth transition into learning with a “Do Now” activity provided by their teacher as they enter the classroom.

2. Mobile Phones in Lockers

We are pleased to see a significant reduction in mobile phone use during school hours, with students engaging more at recess and lunchtime. However, a few phones are still being confiscated daily. We will continue our commitment to enforcing our zero-tolerance phone policy to maintain a focused and engaging learning environment.

3. Being Ready to Learn

Some parents may have received emails regarding students who were not fully prepared for class. We are focusing on fostering responsibility by encouraging students to bring the necessary equipment and use break times for restroom visits. Of course, we acknowledge that exceptions may arise.

With the warmer weather, please remind your child to bring a water bottle to school and refill it during break times to minimize classroom disruptions.

Securing Lockers & Bikes

We have noticed that a number of lockers and bikes are not secured with locks. Please encourage your child to use a lock to ensure the safety of their belongings.

School Photos

Over the past week, our 2025 school photos were taken. A huge thank you to Ms. Angela Ziagas for coordinating this complex process. We look forward to seeing the new portraits for the year ahead!

Swimming Carnival

We are excited for our upcoming House Swimming Carnival next week at Oakleigh! A reminder for students to bring a hat, sunscreen, packed lunch, and a water bottle. While there is a canteen available, prices can be high, and wait times long.

To ensure smooth event logistics, we kindly ask that no students be signed out unless it is an emergency. In the past, early sign-outs on sports/swimming days have posed significant challenges for our administration and supervising staff. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain accurate student attendance records.

We look forward to another exciting and productive term ahead!

Simon Cummins

Assistant Principal

Swimming Carnival

Thursday 20 February 2025