Principal Update

Dear Families, Students and Mordialloc College Community,

A huge welcome to the 2026 school year and a special welcome to our Year 7 students and any other new students who are joining us this year for the first time; we are so happy to have you here with us at Mordialloc College. 

I hope that your summer break was fantastic, that you got to spend time with your favourite people, and that you are now energised for a positive 2026.

We have had a really optimistic start to the year; it is joyous to watch your children so enthusiastically join in with school life! As I have walked around classrooms, I have seen them engage with their learning, be respectful to their peers and teachers, and make the most of the opportunities that we have on offer; it is an absolute privilege to lead Mordialloc College.

As shared with students in our first whole-school assembly, that particular assembly is always my favourite; it is so inspiring to look out and see over 1200 faces with so much potential! A key message shared with students is how that should put our Mordialloc College values into action and show: 

*Responsibility: Own your mistakes, and learn from them. Aim to make things better for the whole of our Mordialloc College team.

*Respect: Think before you act. Treat others how you expect to be treated.

*Integrity: Do the right thing, even when no one is watching you!

*Personal Best: Be brave. Try something new.  Make the most of what we have to offer. 

Last week, I contacted each family via Compass with a letter regarding our expectations for the year. Can I ask you to please keep this letter safe as it will help you to support us to create a positive environment focused on learning, and a supportive school community underpinned by respectful relationships. Our focus is always on creating a learning environment where all students can experience success.

 Welcome to Year 7!

The first day for our Year 7 students involved rotations between ICT set up, developing connection by co-creating Classroom Codes of Conduct, relational activities to get to know their new classmates and home group teacher, locker allocation and getting organised e.g. how to set up all their exercise books for their various subjects, starting to look at their first project for the year, Me in the LC, and of course meeting staff and friends who will accompany them on this next stage of their school journey.

 A big thanks to the Year 7 team for such a successful start to 2026 for our newest members of the Mordialloc College community.

 A Big Year for Year 12!

Our Year 12 students spent their first day rotating through fun team building activities run by The School of Play. It was an incredibly positive start and a great reminder for students to approach this year as a team, to engage in self-care, to have an optimistic mindset, and to focus on success in 2025. Students later spent time reflecting and setting goals, developing habits required to achieve the aspirations that they have set for themselves this year.

Year 12 is an important year for students and their families, and some deep discussions have led to some helpful tips for success that I would like to share with you so that you feel better placed to support your child this year:

• regular completion of practice exam questions and getting feedback from teachers,
• taking on feedback and re-writing answers or paragraphs for improvement,
• prioritise work that is challenging, not work that is easy,
• take regular breaks,
• utilise your study periods and before and after school time in the senior study centre,
• do not let one disappointing SAC mark get you down,
• set goals for your pathway beyond school,
• take the time to build a strong relationship with your teachers and make the most of the support offered by teachers in and out of class time,
• little and often (do not need to write an essay every time for feedback) instead regular submission of paragraphs for English to get feedback,
• take time out to enjoy the activities you like to do,
• you can lead a balanced life of schoolwork/study, work and sport or social activities.

Students need to bring their Personal Best consistently over these final three terms in order to achieve their goals.  The number one piece of advice? Nothing beats effort in Year 12.

Utilise the support of our fantastic Year 12 teachers and Senior team, support each other through the highs and lows, stay optimistic, make the most of all opportunities presented and, of course, enjoy your final year at Mordialloc College.

A big thanks to the Year 12 team for an inspirational start to 2026.

Positive Behaviours for Learning

Members of our community including students, staff, families at School Council, and colleagues from the Department of Education worked together to create the Mordialloc College Positive Behaviours for Learning matrix. Our matrix shares the research-based learning behaviours we know need to be consistent in order to support student learning and wellbeing.

Consistency and routines support connectivity to school, and wellbeing for learning. Student feedback has been great; a more purposeful start to the lesson, a clear focus on what is needed to make learning successful in that lesson, and more opportunities to build resilience, and be more respectful of the school environment. 

Student Pick Up and Drop Off

There are not enough car park spaces for parents to safely enter the school grounds by car; please do not park on our school grounds.

There are a few ‘kiss and go’ spaces for parental drop-offs, these are frequently visited by Parking Enforcement Officers from Kingston Council.

Please arrange to collect your child offsite. The safest way to pick up your child is via Governor Road, with students exiting the school near the Discovery Centre and crossing the creek via the bridge just outside our school that runs into this carpark. You must not leave your car unattended on the Bike Ramp car park, as there is a fining system in place. 

Staffing

We have several new staff starting for 2026, some have been with us since Headstart:

• Henry Lim: Teacher of Maths
• Madeleine Brew: Teacher of HPE 
• Daniel Vancea: Teacher of English and Humanities
• Jacinta Theobold: Teacher of Art
• Braden Newbold: Teacher of Science
• Thomas Humphrey: Teacher of Science
• Samantha Cattermole: Teacher of Psychology

Key Contacts

Please do not hesitate to contact us here at the College if you need to speak to someone.

Introducing the College Leadership Team for 2025

• Principal: Rachael Stone 
•  Assistant Principal: Junior School/ Student Services  – Simon Cummins
• Assistant Principal: Middle School/ T&L – Aaron Davis
•  Assistant Principal: Senior School/ International Students – Amanda Keen
• Director of Junior School (Years 7 - 8) – Brendan McFarland
• Director of Middle School (Years 9 - 10) – Angela Holloway
• Director of Senior School (Years 11-12) – Susan Cochrane
• Instructional Coaches: Bryony Lowe, Matt Smith, Alana Singh

• Director of Student Engagement - Julia Hockey

   

 Introducing the Sub-School Teams

•  Senior School – Kellie Goebel (Year 12), Bella Kennedy (Year 11), Mick Haber (VM), Claire Bruce (Sub-School Assistant)
•  Middle School – Liz Ireson (Year 10), Daniel Mayadas and  Georgia Davey (Year 9), Ariana Nickou (Sub-School Assistant)
•  Junior School - Hayley Gregory and Natalie Dickson (Year 8), Jo Hannan and Daniel Tseng (Year 7), Andrew Potter (Sub-School Assistant)

•  International Students – Brigitte Podesser

   

 Introducing the Learning Area Leaders

• Maths – Amelia Hargreaves
•  English – Kate Mottershead
• Humanities – Kate Duggan
• Science – Allan Thompson
• Health/PE – Kym Lenc
• The Arts/Technology – Quinn Daly
• LOTE – Eleni Capp
• EAL – Brigitte Podessor
• VM – Kodilee Strahan

Key 2026 Dates. 

Key Dates for the upcoming term are always shared via our weekly newsletter. 

The below are pertinent dates for 2026; please note the change to the previously advertised information for PL Day #4, this is now Thursday 20th August. 

Term 1: 10 weeks

• Online PTI: Tuesday 31st March (Adjusted day for staff / students work from home)

• End of Term 1: Thursday 2nd April (Early finish for students – 1.30pm)

   

Term 2: 10 weeks

• Open Night: Wednesday 29th April (Early finish for students – 2.30pm)
• PL Day #3: Friday 12th June (Student Free Day)

• End of Term 2: Friday 26th June: (Early finish for students – 1.30pm)

   

Term 3: 10 weeks

• PL Day #4:Thursday 20th August (Student Free Day)
• Online PTI: Monday 31st August (Adjusted day for staff / students work from home)

• End of Term 3: Friday 18th September (Early finish for students – 1.30pm)

   

Term 4: 11 weeks

• Professional Planning Day: Friday 20th November (Student Free Day)
• Tuesday 8th December: Awards Night (Adjusted day for staff / Early finish for students – 1.30pm)
• End of Term 4: Friday 18th December (Early finish for students – 1.30pm)

School Council Elections

School Council elections are approaching and nominations forms will be available from Reception from Monday 9th February.  Please give some thought to contributing to the College by participating in School Council; there are generally two evening meetings per term, and it is very rewarding.  School Council decides, to a large extent, the policies and direction the College takes and is therefore an important part of the College community. 

Further information about School Councils can be found on this link; an official notification about School Council elections will go out to the community next week.

Communication

The function of our weekly newsletter is to celebrate Mordialloc College, showcase our community, and to keep you up to date with pertinent information that helps you engage with Mordialloc College. We know that successful relationships with families and our wider school community contributes to student success, and our newsletters are just one way we communicate with you. A reminder that newsletters from previous years can be found on our website:  Mordialloc College Newsletters.

Compass is our preferred method of daily communication about your child. Please make sure that your contact details are correct on Compass. 

All the very best for an amazing term of supporting every child’s success at Mordialloc College.

Rachael Stone

Principal