Principal's Report
Principal Report
Welcome back to all our students, staff and families for Term 4. I hope everyone had an enjoyable break and is ready for another busy term at Mortlake P–12 College.
Term 4 is always a particularly busy time of year, with plenty happening both inside and outside the classroom.
Over the coming weeks, our Years 3-6 students will take part in their Bike Education Program, while students from both Primary and Secondary will travel to Ballarat later this week to compete in Regional Athletics events. Our Year 12 students will celebrate their final day of formal classes next Friday, before turning their attention to VCE exams, and at the beginning of Week 3, our Year 3–4 students will head off to camp.
We are also beginning to look ahead to 2027. A number of transition activities will take place throughout the term to help students prepare for their next year of schooling. This is particularly important for students joining Mortlake P-12 College for the first time, and we look forward to welcoming our new students and families into our school community.
Our Primary students are also busy rehearsing for this year’s Primary Production of Rudolph. There is already plenty of excitement building, and we look forward to seeing all their hard work come together on stage. We also have students preparing for the Great Victorian Bike Ride, which is always a fantastic experience and a great opportunity to build independence, resilience and teamwork.
There will be a number of staff taking periods of leave throughout the term. We will continue to keep families informed of any staffing changes that directly affect students. Currently, Ms Michelle Carmody is on Long Service Leave, and during her absence, Mrs Natasha Butler will be supporting the Primary area of the school.
With so much happening, Term 4 will no doubt go very quickly. I encourage families to keep an eye on Compass and our regular school communications for upcoming dates, events and any changes throughout the term.
As we begin our final term for 2026, I encourage all students to make the most of the opportunities ahead and finish the year strongly. Whether that means completing VCE exams, performing on stage, competing in sport, heading off to camp, taking part in transition activities or simply continuing to work hard in the classroom, there is plenty to look forward to.
As always, please contact the school directly if you have any questions or concerns about your child, either academically or socially. We are here to support our students and families and want every student at Mortlake P-12 College to have the best possible opportunities to learn, grow and succeed.
Celebrating our Year 12 Students
Our Year 12 students are quickly approaching the end of their time at Mortlake P-12 College. It is an exciting time for them, but also one that brings plenty of mixed emotions as they prepare to finish secondary school and take their next steps.
Their final day of formal classes will be Thursday, October 15th, followed by a well-deserved Celebration Day on Friday, October 16th. This is always a great opportunity for our Year 12s to enjoy some time together and celebrate the friendships, experiences and memories they have made throughout their schooling.
For our VCE students, attention will then turn to final exams. We wish them all the very best during this important period and encourage them to continue supporting one another and making use of the support available from their teachers.
We will come together again for the Year 12 Graduation Dinner on Friday, November 20th. This is always a special evening for our students, families and staff as we recognise the achievements of the Class of 2026 and celebrate their time at Mortlake P-12 College.
VCE results will be released on Thursday, December 10, marking another important milestone for our students.
To our Year 12s - enjoy these final weeks of school. You have worked hard to reach this point, and we are very proud of the way you have represented yourselves, your families and our school. We wish you every success with your exams and, most importantly, with whatever comes next.
Welcoming Our 2027 Prep Students
We are very excited to welcome our 2027 Prep students and their families to Mortlake P-12 College, with our Prep Transition Program beginning this term.
The program includes six transition sessions, beginning on Friday, October 23rd, and gradually increasing in length before finishing with our Whole-School Transition Day on Tuesday, December 8th. Across the sessions, children will meet their 2027 teacher and classmates, explore the school, become familiar with classroom routines, meet specialist teachers and spend time with their 2027 Year 6 Buddies.
Our aim is to make the move from Kinder to school as comfortable and positive as possible. By giving children plenty of opportunities to become familiar with the people, places and routines of school, we hope they arrive for their first day of Prep feeling confident, connected and excited to begin.
We look forward to getting to know our newest students and their families over the coming weeks and officially welcoming the Mortlake P-12 College Prep Class of 2027!
2027 Enrolments - Please Let Us Know
As we begin finalising planning for 2027, it is important that we have accurate student enrolment numbers across all year levels. These numbers play an important role in our planning for classes, staffing, programs and resources for next year.
If your child will not be returning to Mortlake P-12 College in 2027, and you have not already let us know, please contact the school office as soon as possible.
Likewise, if you know of a family who is considering enrolling their child at Mortlake P-12 College for 2027, we encourage them to contact the school. We are always happy to arrange a conversation or school tour and answer any questions they may have.
Having our enrolment numbers confirmed as early as possible helps us make the best decisions for our students and ensures we are well prepared for the year ahead.
Thank you to our families for helping us with this important part of our 2027 planning.
Year 3-4 Camp – Grampians Retreat
Our Year 3-4 students are getting ready for an exciting few days away at Grampians Retreat in Dunkeld from Monday, October 19th to Wednesday, October 21st. Students will depart school on Monday morning and return on Wednesday afternoon, with Thursday, October 22nd being a REST DAY for staff and students.
The camp program is packed with activities designed to encourage students to challenge themselves, build confidence and resilience, strengthen friendships and, most importantly, have plenty of fun along the way.
Across the three days, students will have the opportunity to participate in activities including the Piccaninny Hike, hut building, campfire and reflector trails, giant swing, scavenger hunt, Ninja Ropes Course, bush cooking, flying fox and archery.
For some students, this may be their first school camp and their first time spending a few nights away from home. We know there will be plenty of excitement and perhaps a few nerves as well! We hope everyone has a fantastic time, gives the activities a go and comes home with lots of great stories and memories to share.
Year 1–2 School Sleepover
Our Year 1 and 2 students have an exciting milestone coming up this term, with their School Sleepover taking place at Mortlake P-12 College from Wednesday, November 11th to Thursday, November 12th.
The sleepover is an important part of our camping program and provides students with an opportunity to experience a night away from home in the familiar and supportive environment of their own school. It is a great stepping stone towards future school camps, helping students build independence, confidence and resilience, while also developing friendships and enjoying some fun activities with their classmates.
Following the sleepover, Year 1 and 2 students will have a Rest Day on Friday, November 13th.
Our Prep students will also be part of the excitement, participating in a ‘Late Stay Activity Program’ on Wednesday, November 11th. This gives our youngest students an opportunity to enjoy some of the fun and social experiences associated with the camping program, while gradually building their confidence towards future overnight experiences.
Further information about both the Year 1-2 Sleepover and Prep Late Stay Program will be provided directly to relevant families shortly.
Year 7–8 Camp – Cave Hill Creek
Our Year 7 and 8 students have an exciting camp to look forward to later this term, travelling to Cave Hill Creek at Raglan from Wednesday, December 9th to Friday, December 11th. An expression of interest for this camp has already been sent home to families.
The camp will give students the opportunity to step outside their comfort zones, build independence and resilience, work together and strengthen friendships. Planned activities include challenges such as the Vertical Challenge, Possum Glider, Giant’s Ladder, abseiling and canoeing.
The estimated cost of the camp is $400 per student. We understand that this is a significant cost for families, particularly at this time of year, and we do not want the cost to be a barrier to students attending. Families are very welcome to contact the school to arrange a payment plan, allowing the cost to be spread across the coming weeks.
If you have any questions about the camp, payment options or require support, please contact the school. We are very happy to work with families wherever we can.
SunSmart Reminder
As we move into Spring and begin to experience warmer weather, it is timely to remind everyone that Mortlake P-12 College is a SunSmart school.
Students are expected to wear their school hat when participating in outdoor activities and are encouraged to apply sunscreen as needed. Developing good sun protection habits is an important part of helping our students look after their health and wellbeing.
We ask families to support us by ensuring students bring their school hat each day and by reinforcing the importance of sun protection at home.
Bushfire Readiness
With the warmer weather and longer days of Spring just around the corner, we are beginning our annual preparations for the upcoming bushfire season. As part of this planning, we review our emergency management procedures and communicate important information with our school community to ensure everyone is well prepared.
We have recently been advised that Mortlake P-12 College is now classified as a Category 4 school on the Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR). As a Category 4 school, the College will close on days when a Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating is forecast for the Southwest Fire District. If a closure is required, families will be notified as early as possible through Compass and other Department communication channels.
We encourage all families to familiarise themselves with the College's bushfire arrangements and to review their own bushfire plans at home. Taking the time to prepare now will help ensure everyone can respond safely should bushfire conditions arise later in the year.
Further information about our bushfire procedures and any updates throughout the fire danger period will be communicated to families as required.
Student Mobile Phones Reminder
A reminder to families and students that student mobile phones are not to be used during the school day. In line with our school expectations and the Victorian Government mobile phone policy, phones should remain switched off and securely stored throughout the day.
If a staff member observes a student using or carrying a mobile phone during school hours, the phone will be confiscated and returned to the student at the end of the school day. We appreciate the support of families in reinforcing this expectation, which helps minimise distractions and supports student engagement, wellbeing, and positive learning environments across our school.
As always, thank you to our families, students and staff for your continued support and contribution to our school community. I look forward to a positive and enjoyable Term 4.
Linda Mooseek
Mortlake P-12 College Principal
