From the Principal

I would like to thank the College community for the warm welcome I have received this week. What was immediately clear was a really connected, prepared group of staff that clearly demonstrate excellence in teaching and learning. The calm orderly environment across the whole school day is a testament to how respectful our students are.

The first day of Fast Forward obviously marks new beginnings for everyone within the College and the challenges around starting a new timetable, new subjects and new classes during this busy time. Visiting several classes throughout the week I was immediately impressed with the way students showed respect and understood the importance of the entry routine into the classroom that enabled an immediate focus on learning, our core business.

During year level assemblies on Monday morning my message to students was that we are all responsible for the delivery of Excellence for Every Student, in Every Class, Every Day. Student responsibility is to arrive on time with the right resources ready to learn. I challenged all students to attend every day of Fast Forward, an achievable goal that I hope is met by all.

Out and about in the yard it was great to meet many students who clearly epitomised “happy, healthy and resilient young people”. After spending time with our 2026 College Captains, Emmerson Mellor, Isobel Reed and Noah Almond, I was suitably impressed and have no doubt they will represent the College with pride and continue to contribute positively to our school’s culture.

Please find below the Social Media Minimum Age changes, effective 10 December. This is a new phase for many of our students, and we hope this document helps guide families in the process.

Adam Slater

Acting Principal

Important Dates

Middle School

Dear families,

As you know, we have all moved up a year level as part of our Fast Forward program. The students have enjoyed meeting their new teachers and beginning work in their new curriculum areas. This week, each year level also attended an assembly where we revisited the expectations around completing work, wearing the correct uniform, and making the most of the many opportunities available to them.

Literacy – why is it so important?

Literacy is defined as the ability to read, write, speak and listen in ways that help us communicate effectively and make sense of the world.

Before I began my teaching career, I volunteered in the community to support adults who needed help to improve their reading. I remember two people. One was a young tradesperson who was determined to gain a certificate but struggled because his reading skills weren’t yet strong enough. With persistence, he achieved his goal. Another was a man who shared the “tricks” he used to navigate daily life without being able to read confidently—for example, asking a supermarket worker to read a label by saying he had forgotten his glasses, or using the same excuse at a restaurant so a waiter would read the menu to him.

These experiences have stayed with me. They highlighted that literacy is not just an academic skill—it’s a life skill. It shapes confidence, wellbeing, independence and opportunities. Reading allows us to relax, to learn, to explore new ideas and to participate fully in our community. Reading truly changes lives.

If you have the opportunity while in the car or at home, encourage your children to read aloud, talk about what they’re reading, or even read signs and directions as you travel. Every little bit helps.

Warm regards,

Denise Leggett

Assistant Principal

Senior School

To students and families of the Mornington Senior School,

The commencement of the Fast Forward program has been positive, and it was great to see so many students eagerly participating in their new year level and subjects. The program concludes Friday 5th December and then a holiday break for our 2026 Year 11 and 12 students. Our 2026 Year 10 students will have a program (based on Key learning Areas) running between Monday December 8 and Friday December 12, followed by some optional activities in the final week of the school year. We will of course have our 2025 Presentation Evening on Monday December 15th.

Year 12 Retreat

The Year 12 Retreat is heading to a new venue, up in beautiful Alexandra and over 80 students will be attending the retreat. Students not able to attend will be part of an alternative program at school. I’ll include some photos of the retreat in next week’s edition as I’ll be attending the retreat with the Class of 2026.

2026 VET on-boarding day at MSC

We had around 100 students from all over the peninsula attend MSC on Wednesday for our VET on-boarding and Introduction Day on Wednesday. In 2026 we are opening some of our VET programs up to students across the peninsula. I’d like to thank the following staff for their role on the day and delivering VET programs in 2026.

Rebecca Slater (Applied Learning Leader)
Fiona Cornwall (VET coordinator)
Chris Jones (Trainer – Electrotechnology)
Lea Gilbert (Trainer – Visual Arts)
Scott Dean (Trainer – Small Business)
Shaun Doherty (Trainer – Sport & Recreation)

Our VET programs and transformative approach to all aspects of our applied learning program were factors in the Peninsula Applied Learning award we received for School Best Practice in 2025.

Key Senior School events for Term 4 2025

Kind regards,

Nick Evans

Senior School Assistant Principal

Compass Passwords

As we head toward the end of the year, it’s a great time for families to check in on digital security. Your COMPASS password gives access to important information about your child’s learning, attendance, and wellbeing — so keeping it private is essential.

If you haven’t changed your password in a while, now is the perfect time to update it. A strong, confidential password helps protect your family’s information and ensures COMPASS remains a safe and reliable tool for supporting your child’s education.

[HOT TIP: don’t let your kids know what it is!]

Mike Parker

Assistant Principal - Curriculum and Student Wellbeing

Art & Textiles Show

Our Semester 2 Art & Textiles Show (Years 7–12) celebrated an extraordinary range of creativity and skill. The diversity of mediums and artistic approaches on display this year truly highlighted the talent and imagination of our students.

On the day, visitors also had the opportunity to vote in the People’s Choice Awards. Congratulations to Josefina Rhoden, the overall winner, for her oil painting and German fairytale–inspired Der Wulf und der Fuchs. Josefina has won a double pass for Morning Tea and a tour at Beleura House & Garden.

Equal runners-up were Oscar Bower for his collection of Tassie Travels paintings, Archie McGarry for his Japanese Shop clay piece, and duo Chloe Smith and Alyssa Molyneaux for their sculpture Tribute’s Treat.

A heartfelt congratulations to all who contributed, and a special thank you to our dedicated Art team for inspiring, supporting, and guiding our young artists. Their passion and expertise continue to elevate the learning experience for our students.

Pieces by Josefina Rhoden, Oscar Bower, Willow Nugent, and Abby Christie have also been selected by Rotary to be on display at the Mornington Rotary Art Show in January 2026.

VET Orientation & Onboarding Day at MSC

This week, Mornington Secondary College proudly hosted our VET Orientation and Onboarding Day for students commencing their 2026 Vocational Education and Training programs.

Students enrolled in:

Retail Cosmetics,
Sport and Recreation,
Visual Arts,
Building and Construction,
Electrotechnology, and
Small Business

attended the session to meet their teachers, complete their LLN assessments (Literacy, Language and Numeracy), and finalise their onboarding requirements.

We were thrilled to welcome 110 students, with approximately half joining us from neighbouring Peninsula schools whose chosen VET programs are not offered at their own college. It’s always a pleasure to support students from across the region and provide pathways that reflect their interests and future ambitions.

This event once again highlights MSC’s strong reputation in Applied Learning. We are proud to have recently been recognised at the 2025 PAL Awards, receiving the School Best Practice Award — a testament to the high-quality VET opportunities and hands-on learning experiences our college continues to deliver.

We look forward to supporting all VET students as they begin their studies in the new year.

VET Sport & Recreation Orientation Day

Our 2026 VET Sport & Recreation students kicked off the year with a fun and active Orientation Day on Wednesday 26 November. We ran through what the course looks like, the units they’ll complete, and what to expect in both theory and practical sessions.

Students then jumped into a series of team-building activities including practicing First Aid and CPR in preparation for their training course next year.

It was great to see them supporting each other, stepping up as leaders and getting a taste of what the Sport & Rec industry is all about. The day set a really positive vibe for next year, and we’re excited to see this group grow their skills and confidence throughout 2026.

Shaun Doherty

VET Trainer – Sport & Recreation

White Card Training - Senior Students

This week our 2026 Year 11 VCE VM and Year 10 Pre Senior students completed their White Card training on-site at MSC. White Cards are a legal requirement for anybody working on a construction site in Victoria, and acquiring one assists our students chances of finding work in the construction industry.

This free on-site course is another example of the strong Applied Learning program on offer at MSC.

Year 11 Biology

The Year 11 Biology class has hit the ground running this week with a practical lesson. Students made a microscope slide of a very thin layer of an agapanthus leaf and observed it under a microscope. They drew scientific drawings of what they saw under a x40 and x100 magnification.

Dana Lamb

Head of Science

Year 12 Guest Speakers

As part of their transition in Year 12, this week our Class of 2026 have been visited by Speak & Share, WPC Group and the Brotherhood of St Laurence.

WPC Group, a not-for-profit group training organisation (GTO) specialising in the employment and training of apprentices and trainees, spoke to our students about apprenticeships and different pathways options available for future careers.

The Brotherhood of St. Laurence spoke about their programs available to assist students with careers:

Building Youth Pathways, which provides training and job placement in sectors like horticulture, manufacturing, and healthcare.
Student placements for vocational experience.
Work and Learning Centres that connect job seekers with local opportunities.
Thrive Hubs that help with career aspirations. For secondary school students, they offer support through structured workplace learning and work experience programs.

During the session with Speak & Share, our students worked in groups to build spaghetti towers. The first few minutes involved no talking, and the remainder of the exercise encouraged discussions within the group. The purpose of the activity was to demonstrate that problems are easier to solve when people communicate; a problem shared is a problem halved.

To end the day on Tuesday, there was an in-house craft session with the purpose of relaxation, mindfulness, and the reminder that down-time doesn't need to require devices.

School Approved Padlocks - Available Now

School approved padlocks can now be ordered in the SHOP on Compass. Please refer to the visual guides below on where to find the SHOP; using the Compass app or using Compass in browser mode.

Please note that using the SHOP does attract a 20c order fee.

Reminder: Canteen orders can also be placed via Compass (as highlighted above).

Rossouw Brothers Tour Europe

Earlier this term MSC brothers Harry and Lochie Rossouw toured Europe playing rugby, representing the Iron Armour Academy U17s team. The tour provided athletes with the opportunity to test themselves both mentally and physically against some of the best talent in Europe.

The brothers played at and against multiple countries including:

2 games in Italy against Italy's U18 national team and the Cavalieri Rugby Union Club, and
a tournament in Portugal, where their team played up an age group and versed teams from all around the world in the U18 age group, placing an impressive 3rd.

Congratulations to Harry and Lochie for their role in the team, and for the amazing experience of playing international rugby in Italy and Portugal.

Herald Sun Article - 2026 Mornington Peninsula School Leaders

Our 2026 College Captains, Isobel Reed, Noah Almond and Emmerson Mellor, featured in the Herald Sun digital format on Friday 21 November.

The newest batch of ambitious teens on the Mornington Peninsula have shared their reasons for taking on the role of school captain as they prepare for their most important school year. Meet the future of Victoria.

Herald Sun Article

Mornington Primary School Roadshow

On Thursday 27 November, Acting Principal Adam Slater and the Mornington Secondary College Roadshow visited Mornington Primary School, and it was an amazing afternoon.

Former Mornington Primary student, Noah Bowes, spoke confidently about his high school journey and why he loves being part of our MSC community. Our Drum Corps and Flag Corps then took the stage with a fantastic performance, even inviting some primary students and teachers to join in and have a go.

It was a wonderful opportunity for MPS students to experience a taste of MSC’s culture and community spirit, and we couldn’t be prouder of our performers, who represented Mornington Secondary College with such enthusiasm, confidence and professionalism.

Evangeline Romage

Year 7 Team Leader

Year 7 and 8 Lunchtime Basketball 3x3 Competition

John Walker

College Sport

Hands on Learning

HoL Wednesday November 19th

Our last day at HoL ended with a community service that we could all be proud of. It was a mission accomplished when the team set out to give Mills Beach a big clean up. It’s a big achievement when we can turn a dirty job into a fun activity, and the HoL crew managed to do that with flair. The students were also complimented by their work by members of the community enjoying their day at the beach and we even bumped into a former teacher, Mr. Pinkett walking his dog. A very productive and fun way to finish the year. Great job everyone!

Anastasia Maragakis

Hands on Learning Assistant

Wellbeing

Junior Rangers

This week due to rain, we stayed mainly indoors and were able to spend time working with air dry clay and drawing. Once the rain stopped we went on a nature walk through the Briars and were lucky enough to spot some resident animals on our walk.

Next fortnight will be our last Junior Rangers for the year, where we will celebrate all the learnings we have had throughout the year.

Nicole Boland

Mental Health Practitioner

2026 Student Subjects and Contributions - Now Available on Compass

Families can view 2026 student subjects and pay contributions via Compass (Parent Access). To get started, simply log in and click into the Payment Centre on your Compass dashboard. There, you’ll be able to see your child’s allocated 2026 subjects and associated contributions.

Year Level Information

Years 7 & 8

Students in Years 7 and 8 will automatically be enrolled in all subjects listed in the 2026 booklist.

Year 9

All Year 9 students will study the below subjects, with their associated costs described as Classroom Materials:

English	Maths
Science	Geography
History	Health

Year 9 elective subjects can be viewed by checking your contributions in the Payment Centre.

Year 10

All Year 10 students will study English and Maths, with their associated costs described as Classroom Materials.

All additional Year 10 subjects and electives can be found under your contributions.

Years 11 & 12

All VCE/VET/VCAL subjects for Years 11 and 12 are listed within your contributions.

2026 Subject Contributions Parent Information Booklets can also be accessed anytime on our school website.

Year 7-12 2026 Resource List

Campion is the school resource supplier for Mornington Secondary College. To receive first choice of school needs and FREE delivery, orders must be placed online by Wednesday 17th December 2025. Please find links to the Year 7-12 Resource lists at the bottom of this newsletter article. Note: 2026 subject confirmation for Year 9-12 will be communicated mid November, date to be confirmed.

To order, please head to: https://order.campion.com.au/

Your school resource code: VVRH

Your order-by date is 17th December 2025

The How to Order flyer is below.