Principal Team Report

Dear Mullauna Community, 

It’s the end of Week 10, the end of Term 2, and the holidays are here – we hope you are lucky enough to have them! We wish our students, staff and families an enjoyable and relaxing two weeks, and encourage everyone to ensure they take time out for themselves. If you need some ideas, refer below to the tips for ‘Staying well this winter’ from our Secondary School Nurse, Bec Bradshaw.  

The term has ended with some very engaging programs, including Year 9 SkillZ in the CBD, Year 10s on Work Experience, and a coach-load of Year 10s and 11s still in central Australia. Not to mention watching the Socceroos at lunchtime …  

Looking ahead, we already have a lot to look forward to in Term 3:  

• We are all back on Monday 13 July; 
• Presentation of our 2025 Annual Report to the School Community – refer below; 
• Our P&CA Comedy for a Cause fundraiser night on Saturday 22 August – save the date, more details soon; 
• Our additional Student-free Day on Wednesday 26 August (Week 7 of Term 3) 
• Our four-yearly School Review process, scheduled for September. In this edition of Links, we have published part of our pre-review self-evaluation to inform our school community of some of the work and achievements for the last four years. 
• Our annual Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey (PCGOS) to seek your feedback, likely in August. 

A reminder that students’ Semester One Reports have been published to Compass, and that Term Three commences on Monday 13 July.  

Staffing for Term 3  

We welcome back Jacquie Brush from leave and thank Sara Valentino for teaching her allotted classes in her absence.  

2026 Family (per student) Contributions and Building Fund donations 

Our thanks to the families that have made the per-student contribution of $645 and/or a donation towards the building fund (the latter being tax deductible). 

As the per-student contributions directly fund many of our programs e.g. the Year 9 SkillZ program, I urge all families who are able to make a contribution but have not yet done so to please support us.  

AEU Industrial Action update 

The AEU’s industrial campaign will recommence on Monday 13 July (start of Term 3) after a majority of members voted not to accept the state government’s offer. We will keep you informed as the AEU works to restart VGSA negotiations to secure a revised offer from the Allan government. 

Please note: some Learning Tasks on Compass will not have a comment due to the current AEU industrial campaign and related bans on written comments as part of the reporting process. 

Please note that your child has still been provided with the necessary feedback for improvement in various ways, including the following: 

• Verbal feedback in class as part of regular checks for understanding; 
• Regular formative assessment like quizzes; 
• Written notations and comments on the work itself; 
• Provision of the rubric, performance grade and percentage achieved. 

NAIDOC Week 

From Sunday 5 July through to Sunday 12 July, we celebrate NAIDOC Week, recognising the rich histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year's theme, 50 Years of Deadly, marks a significant milestone, celebrating five decades of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander strength, resilience, leadership and cultural pride. It honours the generations who have fought for recognition and justice, celebrates the achievements of First Nations peoples today, and looks ahead to a future shaped by culture, community and self-determination. 

Year 10 Work Experience completed   

We hope all of our Year 10 participants appreciated this opportunity. We encourage all eligible Senior School students to undertake this type of experience in their breaks, over summer etc. and not just in Year 10! It need not be a one-off event. Thanks to Nik Smith and Helen Bowker for coordinating the program and to all the staff who conducted visits over the week.  

Building Program update  

Work on the STEM Centre continues, while work on the Admin building roof (including the PAC) and internal improvements will commence (male staff toilets, Skylight Room and Meeting Room 2, former Sickbay and disability toilet). We anticipate these works will have minimal disruption to operations when we return next term. 

Asbestos Removal Works at MSC (repeat of Wednesday’s Compass Post) 

As part of our Stage 2 Capital Works program, asbestos is scheduled for removal on Saturday 27th June (first day of the term break). I want to assure you that our school is safe. We are working with the Victorian School Building Authority and independent occupational hygienists to manage the works. 

A licensed removalist will remove the materials. They will be supervised by an independent occupational hygienist. The hygienist will also conduct air monitoring. To ensure everyone’s safety, it is important that community members are not on the school grounds during the works. I will keep you informed should any further action be required. The health and safety of our school community will be a top priority during works. If you have any questions, please contact us on 9874 3422.  

Staying Well This Winter – some advice from our Nurse, Rebecca Bradshaw 

As the cooler months approach, it's important to start thinking about how we can take care of our health and wellbeing. Winter brings with it colder weather, shorter days, and sometimes a few extra challenges when it comes to staying healthy and motivated. Here are a few tips we encourage all students and families to keep in mind: 

1. Stay Active: It might be tempting to stay indoors, but regular movement is essential for both physical and mental health. Rug up and take a brisk walk, join a local sports club, or find an indoor activity you enjoy. 

2. Eat Nourishing Foods: Fuel your body with warm, nutritious meals. Soups, stews, and seasonal vegetables like pumpkin and sweet potato are great winter choices that help keep your immune system strong. 

3. Prioritise Sleep: Shorter days can disrupt our routines. Aim for a consistent bedtime and enough rest each night to help your body recover and stay energised. 

4. Keep Connected: Sometimes winter can feel isolating. Make an effort to stay in touch with friends and family, whether it’s through a quick message, a phone call, or catching up after school. 

5. Protect Your Health: Good hygiene habits like handwashing, coughing into your elbow, and staying home if you’re unwell help stop the spread of winter illnesses. Consider speaking to your doctor about the flu vaccine too. 

Taking small steps now can make a big difference in feeling your best through the season ahead. Let's support each other to stay happy, healthy, and warm this winter! 

Support Over the Holidays 

📢 Wellbeing Reminder – Support Over the Holidays 

As we head into the school holidays, remember that taking care of your mental health and wellbeing is just as important as resting and having fun. Sometimes things can feel overwhelming, and you might need someone to talk to — and that’s completely okay. If you’re struggling, feeling down, or just need someone to listen, you are not alone. There are organisations available 24/7 to support you: 

💬 Who Can I Talk To? 

Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800 

Free, private, and confidential counselling for people aged 5–25. 

👉 www.kidshelpline.com.au 

Lifeline – 13 11 14 

24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. 

👉 www.lifeline.org.au 

eHeadspace 

Online and phone support for young people and their families. 

👉 www.headspace.org.au 

Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 

Support for anxiety, depression, and mental health issues. 

👉 www.beyondblue.org.au 

Emergency Services – 000 

If you or someone else is in immediate danger. 

💚 Looking After Yourself 

Take time to do things you enjoy 

Talk to a trusted adult or friend 

Get outside and stay active 

Sleep, eat well, and give yourself time to rest 

Your wellbeing matters. Be kind to yourself, check in on your friends, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need support. Wishing you a safe and restful holiday 🌿The Wellbeing Team 

2025 MSC Annual Report to the School Community 

I will speak to this report at our first School Council meeting for Term 3 on Tuesday 28 July from 6pm. This part of the meeting is open to community members. 

Mullauna's annual report is our evaluation of the school, its teachers, students and the school community during the year. The report details statistical information about the school, such as how our students have performed in the VCE, against national standards for reading, writing and numeracy in the NAPLAN tests and details of the learning outcomes of students, drawing from the school's internal assessment programs. The report also summarises the school's initiatives, targets, achievements and aspirations.   

It can be found on the college website: https://mullauna.vic.edu.au/our-college/policies-reports/  

Digital Safety 

Over recent weeks, Year 7 – 10 students participated in Digital Thumbprints Workshops sponsored by Optus. These workshops aim to develop awareness in young people of issues such as cybersecurity, cyberbullying, digital identity, GenAI and online safety.  Parents and caregivers are encouraged to look at some of the resources provided by Digital Thumbprints www.digitalthumbprint.com.au  

In addition to workshops such as these, student understanding of responsible use of technology is supported by our Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement. This agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities of the college, students and parents in managing technology safely and effectively. This agreement can be found on the college website via the following link.  Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement 

Semester One Reports and holiday learning requirements  

While the holidays provide the opportunity to rest and refresh, for our senior students, they provide the time to undertake critical revision and preparation, like organising notes (especially Unit 3-4 VCE students) and work on portfolios.  For all students, this is a chance to reflect on their achievements from Semester One, and to consider what needs to change for improvement.   

We urge all families to read students' reports carefully (together with the students), acknowledge and celebrate highlights, and discuss how to focus on addressing gaps and identify areas for growth. So, if parents have been monitoring their child’s progress on their Learning Tasks, there will be no surprises when viewing their end-of-semester report. The semester report collates the learning tasks outcomes for each subject so they can be viewed on the one page.  

To view feedback on Learning Tasks, please access the task through Compass. During your well-deserved break, make sure to rest up. In addition, Junior School students should get a head start on Semester Two work by reading your English novel. Senior students should make sure they are clear about any holiday homework requirements. Remember to revise, organise notes and take advantage of those Edrolo accounts if you have access to prepare for upcoming outcomes and units of work. All students should take the time to consolidate the skills and knowledge gained in Semester One, and hopefully return from the break feeling energised and ready to tackle Term Three.    

The 2027 Junior and Senior School Curriculum Handbooks are now available on the website, and I encourage all Year 7 – 11 families to engage with them as they prepare for course selection next term. 

Course Counselling for 2027  

A reminder to all families as we move into our 2027 Pathways and Course Counselling program of this next vital work undertaken by Nik Smith and the subschool teams. This program will commence early in Term 3 and will involve: numerous resources on Compass newsfeeds; year level assemblies; and some individual course counselling for certain year levels. Year 9s have already undertaken preparatory work through their SkillZ classes. Choosing a course and subjects for 2027 is an important part of high school and enables students to develop an academic program that best suits their needs, interests and abilities. Parents and students are strongly encouraged to engage fully in this process, to ensure the best outcomes for all students, and can start by accessing the 2027 Junior and Senior School Curriculum Handbooks via Compass. 

Uniform donations  

Our P&CA team is reminding us all that donations of good quality second hand uniforms are always welcomed for their support program to our Wellbeing team. If your children have outgrown their uniform, please have them drop them off at Reception.  

We are also always happy to receive donations of other items like functioning calculators, textbooks etc., and even some stationery (and tissues!). 

All the best for the winter break – stay safe and well!  

Michale Bray, Jeff McMillin and Harry Ruff 

The MSC Principal Team