From the Principal
Our annual Remembrance Day service was a huge success on Monday. College Captains, Carter Nicholson and Ethan Barker with Vice Captains Larni Thomas and Luka Djurkovic led the service with confidence. They were joined by the Drum Corps and flag bearers, Pipers from the Victorian Police Band and ex – student Angus O’Shea playing the Bugle. They performed in front of the student body and invited dignitaries:
The State Member for Eastern Victoria Region – Mr Tom McIntosh MP
Member for Mornington – Mr Chris Crewther MP
Area Director for Department of Education – Mr Simon Hamilton
Students from Mornington Park PS
President of the Mornington RSL - Ms Meryn Cooper
Mt Martha Rotary Club - Rev Peter Wiltshire
Mornington Rotary Club – Ms Judy Seager, Brian Mann
Lions Club of Dromana - Mr Graeme Wilson
Members of Freemasons Grand Lodge of Victoria
Pier Marketing – Alex Stock
Bunnings of Mornington - Ms Aliz Pedder and Julia Ciavaglia
Mornington District Basketball Association – Sam Browne and Deb Kruger
Another example of the wonderful traditions we hold dear to us. Comments such as, ‘the kids at MSC are great’, ‘MSC do this so well’, ‘It is the best service of any school’ came from our invited guests.
(An excerpt from my speech)
‘At 11 am on 11 November 1918, the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The allied armies had driven the German invaders back, having inflicted heavy defeats upon them over the preceding four months.
To secure a peace settlement, the Germans called for an armistice (suspension of fighting). They accepted the allied terms of unconditional surrender. In 1918, Australia made a promise never to forget the service and sacrifice of 416,000 Australians who enlisted and over 60,000 who died.
I’d like to share the story of a young man, James Miller, who served on the front lines during World War I. James, like so many others, was only eighteen when he enlisted. After years of gruelling conditions, constant danger, and the heartbreaking loss of friends, James was on the battlefield on November 11, 1918—the day the guns finally fell silent.
In his diary, James wrote about that moment. As the sounds of gunfire faded away, he and his comrades found themselves in an overwhelming quiet. He described how he felt both relief and sorrow, as he thought of those who didn’t live to see that day. But amid the silence, James said he also felt a deep sense of respect for those who had fought alongside him and a powerful sense of hope for a better, more peaceful future.
James’s story reminds us that the peace we enjoy today was hard-won by people who were not so different from us. Like James, they were young, with dreams, families, and friends. They had lives they were eager to live but chose to put their futures on hold to defend their communities and their country. By remembering their sacrifice, we honour their courage and recommit ourselves to building a world worthy of their legacy.
The values we hold dear at our school—respect, achievement, and community—are reflected in James’s story and in the sacrifices of countless others’.
Lest We Forget
Linda Stanton
Principal
Important Dates
Term 4
November
Wednesday 13th to 21st November - Year 7 to 11 Exams
Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th November - Final assessment presentations for Year 11 VM students
Thursday 21st November - Year 9 Graduation and social - Frankston Arts Centre
Thursday 21st November - Year 10 and 11 exam catch up day
Thursday 21st November - Year 8 End of Year celebration
Friday 22nd November - Professional Practice Day for all teachers - Student free
Monday 25th November - Fast Forward commences - students transition into their 2025 year level and classes
Thursday 28th November - Year 10 Formal - Frankston Arts Centre
December
Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th December - Japanese visitors from Nara
Friday 6th December - Students in Year 11 and 12 2025 final day
Tuesday 10th December - Grade 6 Orientation Day for students joining MSC in 2025
Monday 16th December - Presentation Evening - New Peninsula Baptist Church - 6.30pm
Tuesday 17th to Thursday 19th December - 3 day activity program
Friday 20th December - Last day of Term 4
Don't forget to look on compass for sport sign ups, excursions and any other information sent to students and parents.
Below is a link to help guide you in your use of compass.
https://mornsc.vic.edu.au/for-parents/compass-parent-guide/
Middle School
Dear Parents and Carers
It was a great day at Strathmore Science Centre. We had around 50 students from years 8 & 9 attend and participate in the Mission to Mars activity. The students were required to use their Maths skills and analytical skills to be able to code spheres to move on a Mars surface.
I have just returned from our year 9 assembly. It was a great assembly as we celebrated excellent attendance, community connections and subject awards. We discussed our Year 9 Social which is on the 21 November and the students are excited and looking forward to it.
Our Year 7 Best Work Portfolio afternoon will take place during class time and peers will view others work across the year level.
Year 8 have a special day celebration coming up. It will be a beach day. Ms Rattue has forwarded emails to the families.
We are visiting our local feeder schools as we prepare for Orientation Day and for our newest members of the community commencing year 7 in 2025.
Wishing you a great week!
Denise Leggett
Middle School Assistant Principal
Senior School
To students and families of the Mornington Senior School,
It’s always an interesting time of year in the Senior school, with no classes for years 10-12 at this time and students only being at school for exams or VM presentations before starting Fast Forward in a couple of weeks.
I wanted to commend the 99% of students I observed in full school uniform for their English exam. It showed they belong to our school community, and they seemed quite driven to perform well. I wish them all the best of luck for their remaining exams.
Bayside area Principal conference – attendance and NAPLAN information – Go Victoria!
I attended the Bayside Area Principal conference on Tuesday along with 300+ colleagues and we reviewed Victorian data for attendance, NAPLAN and other areas compared to other states. Pleasingly we lead the country in attendance, sadly it is lower than it should be. We are in the top 1 or 2 jurisdictions in 17 of the 20 domains which is the best in the country.
What was evident though is the gap between our most disadvantaged students (by socioeconomic status, family occupation) and our least is still considerable, and the gap isn’t closing as fast as we would like it to. One of the most notable trends was the correlation between attendance rates of the most disadvantaged students and their learning outcomes. Put simply, the more disadvantaged a student might be, the more they need to be at school. 20 missed days a year puts a less ‘disadvantaged’ student at risk but it was even fewer missed days for a student identified as at risk. Less than 20 days a year is the aim. That’s no more than 5 a term. One day off a fortnight (on average) puts all students at risk. So when we say ‘attendance matters’, it’s because the data is undeniable… it matters.
Science of Learning and Cognitive Load theory
With more extensive research being done over the last decade regarding the science of learning, the department of education are working with schools to implement the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0 (VTLM 2.0 isn’t really a model, it’s more about the considerations and pre-conditions required for the most effective education) over the next 3 years. Without going into too much detail (you can find out more here - https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/victorian-teaching-learning-model/policy), there are two main foci for schools:
- Elements of learning
- Elements of teaching
One of the main elements of learning is attention, focus and regulation. At Mornington, we have started our Classroom Mastery throughout 2024 which is one key part of this element – a focus on reducing cognitive load for students so they can focus on, yep, you guessed it – learning. So, we were ahead of the curve in our approach and it’s affirming that the department is essentially mandating the direction we have already taken.
In 2025, there will be an additional two routines for our students to follow in each and every class, so they reduce their cognitive load, are engaged in their learning (no option to ‘opt out’ of learning during classes) and will be able to lessen the impact of the forgetting curve (short YouTube clip about the forgetting curve ) by more regularly practicing retrieval during and after classes. Our staff have been involved in professional development around the science of learning this term to refresh their understanding (and help delay the impact of the forgetting curve 😉) as we continue to implement the VTLM 2.0 at a sensible, considered and purposeful pace.
What is coming up this term?
Tues 29th Oct – Wed 20th Nov – Year 12 VCAA exam period
Wed 13th Nov – Thurs 21st Nov – Year 10 & 11 Exam period (assessed on 2024 content)
Fri 22nd Nov – Exam correction day and planning day for Fast Forward program - student free day
Mon 25th Nov – Fri 6th Dec - 2025 Fast Forward program (year 10s and 11s finish on this day)
Friday 29th Nov – Year 10 Formal
Thurs 12th Dec – VCE ATAR results released to students
Mon 16th Dec – 2024 MSC Awards evening
Nick Evans
Senior School Assistant Principal
Do exams really matter?
Its around this time every year when we hear from students the refrain that “I’m not going to need exams in the future”, “my pathway doesn’t need me to complete exams” etc. There is some truth in this, although students might be surprised at some of the pathways which will require examinations at various stages.
But if we take a step back and consider the underlying skills which examinations develop, I think students might find that there are very important lessons to learn.
Being good at exams can help in several practical ways that extend into various aspects of future life:
- Mastering Stress and Pressure: Preparing for and taking exams helps you learn how to manage stress, perform under pressure, and stay focused. This resilience is invaluable in many high-stakes situations you’ll encounter in future life, such as job interviews, project deadlines, or major life decisions.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Exams often require critical thinking and problem-solving. Developing these skills can make it easier to tackle challenges in the workplace, think strategically, and find solutions to everyday problems.
- Goal Setting and Discipline: Studying for exams encourages setting clear goals, working towards them, and sticking to a plan. These are essential skills for success in both your personal and professional life, whether you’re working on a long-term career plan or saving for a personal project.
- Enhanced Memory and Focus: Regular exam preparation can improve your ability to retain information, organize your thoughts, and focus on tasks. These abilities are valuable for effectively managing job-related tasks, learning new skills, and staying organized in everyday life.
- Time Management: Preparing for exams teaches time management, as you have to balance study time with other commitments. This experience helps in balancing the demands of work, family, and personal interests as you move into adulthood.
- Boosted Confidence and Self-Efficacy: Doing well in exams can boost your self-confidence, showing you that you’re capable of achieving challenging goals. This confidence can translate into a more positive attitude when facing challenges, taking on new responsibilities, or pursuing goals outside of school.
Being good at exams isn’t just about grades; it’s about building essential skills that can make you more effective, confident, and prepared to handle future challenges in both personal and professional life.
With the first few days of exams behind us there is plenty of things that students can do, right now, to improve both the result they achieve, but more importantly the general skills of being more successful for life.
Mike Parker
Assistant Principal
Middle School Student of the Week
Gabby Brindle 7D
Favourite food: Sushi
Hobbies out of school: I like to draw and animate things digitally
What sports team do you follow: Essendon
Favourite TV show: Murder Drones
Do you have any pets: A dog named Hugo
What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College?
I like how understanding and accepting the teachers are here.
What career do you wish to follow when you finish school?
I want to start a digital art commission service and a small business.
Harley McKenzie-Cundy 8B
Favourite food: Mexican food
Hobbies out of school: Basketball, hanging out with friends
What sports team do you follow: Lakers & Collingwood
Favourite TV show: Friends and Outabanks
Do you have any pets: A dog named Voldie
What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College?
The socialising with friends and all the excursions we have done at Year 8 this year.
What career do you wish to follow when you finish school?
I would like to be a lawyer
Curtis Eagleson Year 9
Favourite food: Chicken Parma
Hobbies out of school: tennis, swimming, Hot-Roding
What sports team do you follow: Carlton
Favourite TV show: Don’t have one
Do you have any pets: no
What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College?
I find it is pretty good. The teachers make class enjoyable and I have some great friends I have made here. I also like the facilities, especially the pool.
What career do you wish to follow when you finish school?
Engineering
Year 8 Martha Cove/Dromana Excursion
Last Friday our Year 8 cohort headed up the Peninsula to explore and research Martha Cove and the surrounding areas in preparation for their upcoming Economics Performance Task.
We began the day at a very windy Martha Cove with students completing the required worksheet. We then headed off on our 5km walk, along the beachfront, to Dromana.
We were met be even stronger winds and were lashed by ‘pin-prick’ like rain. In true Melbourne fashion, the blue sky and sun came out afterwards. Once at Dromana students explored the Dromana shopping area, taking note of the numbers and types of products and services offered, purchasing lunch whilst they did so.
After drying off in the sun whilst eating lunch, some students braved the waves, some walked the Pier, others played ball sports or had fun on the sand.
Our cohort is using this week’s Humanities classes to design their own ‘Shark Tank’ pitch, putting forward a business they would locate at Martha Cove.
We would like to congratulate all our Year 8 students who displayed exemplary behaviour whilst on the excursion and also the staff who, along with our students, braved our four seasons in one day.
Kim Rattue
Year 8 Coordinator
School Saving Bonus
The Victorian Government is delivering the School Saving Bonus – a one-off $400 support for government school students from Prep to Year 12 in 2025.
From Tuesday 26 November 2024, you will receive an email from the Department of Education with your unique $400 School Saving Bonus code.
The School Saving Bonus will help families cover the cost of uniforms, textbooks, excursions, activities and more.
If you have multiple children enrolled in Victorian government schools for 2025, you will receive one School Saving Bonus code email per child. These emails might arrive on different days. Please make sure to check your spam/junk email folder.
Parents and carers can use the School Saving Bonus code in store at school-nominated suppliers. Parents and carers can also choose to access the School Saving Bonus online system, where they can allocate part or all the $400 bonus to use at school nominated-online suppliers or for school activities. To learn more about the School Saving Bonus, visit School Saving Bonus | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au). A step-by-step user guide will be available on the webpage on 26 November.
If you have not received your School Saving Bonus code via email by Friday 29 November, please contact the Department of Education by emailing school.saving.bonus@education.vic.gov.au
Once you have received your link, please click on this attachment for instructions on how to access the portal:
Wendy Parkinson
Business Manager
Year 9 Formal
Tickets are selling fast for the Year 9 Formal being held at the Frankston Arts Centre on Thursday 21st November. Be quick as tickets close at midnight on Sunday 17th November. Purchase your tickets via the following link:
Year 9 Formal: https://www.trybooking.com/CVIOH
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