Principal Report

Welcome back to Term 3!

I hope everyone had the chance to enjoy a well-earned break and spend some quality time with family and friends. It's been wonderful to see our students return with smiling faces, ready to reconnect with their friends and teachers and settle back into another term of learning.

As always, Term 3 is looking to be a busy one! We have so much happening over the coming weeks, including work experience, camp, Book Week, and a range of excursions and incursions that will provide our students with fantastic opportunities to learn, grow and create lasting memories. These experiences are often the highlights of the school year, and we're looking forward to sharing them with our students.

For our Year 12 students, this term marks an especially significant milestone. It is their last full term of classes before they begin preparing for their VCE examinations, which commence towards the end of October. While there is still plenty of learning ahead, this is the time when all the hard work, perseverance and dedication they have shown throughout the year really begins to come together. We wish our Year 12 students every success as they continue to work towards their goals, and we know our staff, families and wider school community will be right behind them as they approach this important stage of their education.

As we begin the term, there are also a few staffing updates I'd like to share with our community.

Firstly, I would like to let our school community know that Mrs Anne DeManser will be taking some well-deserved Long Service Leave for four weeks of this term, commencing Monday 20th July. We hope she enjoys the opportunity to relax and recharge. During her leave, Ms Michelle Carmody will be stepping into the Assistant Principal role. Michelle is a familiar face within our college community and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge. I know she will do a wonderful job supporting our students, families and staff while Anne is away.

I am also delighted to officially welcome Ms Priscilla Mozhumannil to the Mortlake P-12 College team as our new Science teacher. Priscilla is an experienced educator with a passion for science, STEM and student learning, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have someone of her calibre join our staff. I know our students will benefit greatly from her knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment to providing engaging learning experiences.

At the end of Term 2 we also farewelled Ms Claudia Higgins as she begins her maternity leave. On behalf of our entire school community, I would like to thank Claudia for the care, dedication and positivity she brought to our college each day. We wish her and her family all the very best as they prepare to welcome this exciting new addition. We look forward to hearing her wonderful news and can't wait to welcome her back to the Mortlake P-12 College family in the future.

Finally, I would like to welcome Jessica Baker to our Education Support team. Jess joins us with a genuine passion for supporting young people and is currently studying to become a teacher. We are excited to have her as part of our team and know she will make a valuable contribution to the learning and wellbeing of our students.

With so much on the calendar, I'd encourage families to keep an eye on Compass and our regular communications, so you don't miss any important information, permission forms or event updates.

I'd also like to remind families that we have two Curriculum Days coming up this term on Friday 24 July and Wednesday 5 August. Students are not required to attend school on these days while our staff come together for professional learning and planning. These days are an important opportunity for us to continue strengthening the learning experiences we provide for every student.

Finalising Prep and Year 7 Enrolments for 2027

It is that time of year again when we begin finalising our enrolments for students commencing Foundation (Prep) and Year 7 in 2027.

If you have a child starting school or transitioning into secondary school next year, or if you know of family or friends considering Mortlake P-12 College, we warmly invite them to visit our college and experience what makes our school such a special place to learn.

Over the next two weeks, families are invited to register to attend a personalised enrolment and information session where they will have the opportunity to:

Join me for a personalised school tour and discuss how we can support the unique needs, interests and strengths of every child.
Meet our dedicated and experienced teaching staff.
Explore our learning spaces and discover the wide range of programs and opportunities available across the college.
Foundation (Prep) families can visit our classrooms and see our engaging literacy program in action, where students develop strong reading and writing foundations through hands-on, evidence-based learning experiences.
Year 7 families can explore our Years 7–12 learning environment and see firsthand the continuity of learning that supports students throughout their secondary years. We are incredibly proud of the learning culture at Mortlake P–12 College and the outstanding outcomes our students continue to achieve.

We are thrilled with the strong interest already shown for next year and look forward to welcoming many new families to our college community. Formal enrolment confirmations will be sent to families over the coming weeks.

Please contact the College Office on 5599 2204 to organise a visit. To assist us with planning for 2027, we ask that all Foundation and Year 7 enrolment applications be finalised by Friday 24 July.

Congratulations, Elise!

Congratulations to Elise Jewell on her outstanding achievement in qualifying to represent Mortlake P–12 College at the State Cross Country Championships.

This is a fantastic accomplishment! We are incredibly proud of her efforts and the way she represents our school.

We wish Elise all the very best as she competes on Thursday, 16 July, and know she will do both herself and our school proud.

Good luck, Elise!

Senior Pathways Information

Throughout this term, our senior secondary students and their families will begin the important process of planning for the future through subject selection. Choosing subjects is an exciting milestone, and we are committed to working closely with each student to ensure their pathway reflects their strengths, interests and future aspirations.

To support families through this process, we will be holding our Senior Pathways Information Evening on Monday 27 July from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm. The evening will provide valuable information about subject offerings, senior pathways and the opportunities available to students as they progress through Years 10-12.

The decisions students make during this process can have a significant impact on their future education and career options, and the support and guidance of families is invaluable. We encourage all eligible students and their families to attend, ask questions and engage in conversations with our staff so that, together, we can ensure every student is supported to choose a pathway that allows them to thrive and reach their full potential.

We look forward to partnering with our families as we help our students take the next exciting step in their educational journey.

Semester One Reports and Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences

Semester One reports are now available for families to access through Compass. These reports provide an opportunity to celebrate your child's achievements, recognise their growth and identify areas for continued development throughout the remainder of the year.

We encourage all families to take the time to read through their child's report and celebrate the progress they have made. Learning is a journey, and every student experiences successes and challenges along the way. Our teachers know your child well and are always happy to discuss their achievements, answer any questions you may have, and work with you to support their ongoing learning.

We will also be holding our Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences on Thursday 10 September, between 12-6pm. These conferences provide a valuable opportunity for students, families and teachers to come together to reflect on learning, celebrate progress and set goals for the future.

However, I would like to emphasise that you do not need to wait until this date if you have questions or would like to discuss your child's learning or wellbeing. Likewise, if further conversations are needed after the conferences, our staff are always happy to arrange a suitable time. We value the strong partnerships we have with our families and believe that open, ongoing communication is one of the best ways we can work together to support every student's success.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher at any stage throughout the year. Together, we can ensure every student is supported, challenged and encouraged to achieve their very best.

Supporting Safe and Responsible Social Media Use

As technology continues to play an increasingly important role in our children's lives, it is essential that we work together to help young people develop safe, respectful and responsible online habits.

From December 2025, new Australian legislation introduced a minimum age of 16 for creating accounts on many major social media platforms. The purpose of these laws is to better protect young people from the potential harms associated with social media, including cyberbullying, inappropriate content, online predators and the impact excessive social media use can have on wellbeing and mental health.

While social media can provide opportunities for connection and creativity, it is important that students understand that their online behaviour should reflect the same values we expect at school. Respect, kindness and responsibility do not end when students leave the classroom or log onto a device.

We encourage families to have regular conversations with their children about:

being kind and respectful in all online interactions;
thinking carefully before posting or sharing content, as digital footprints can last a lifetime;
protecting personal information and privacy;
reporting or speaking up if they experience or witness inappropriate online behaviour; and
balancing screen time with healthy activities, sleep and face-to-face relationships.

At Mortlake P-12 College, we are committed to educating students about digital citizenship and supporting them to make positive choices both at school and online. We know that the strongest outcomes occur when schools and families work together, and we appreciate the ongoing role parents and carers play in guiding their children's use of technology and social media.

Respectful, Safe, Engaged: Working Together to Support Every Student

At Mortlake P-12 College, we know that students achieve their best when schools, families and students work together. Strong partnerships between home and school are essential in creating a learning environment where every child feels they belong, is supported to learn, and has the opportunity to thrive.

As part of the Victorian Government's new Respectful, safe, engaged: shared expectations to support student behaviour statement, all Victorian government schools are reinforcing a consistent set of expectations for students, schools and families.

At Mortlake P-12 College, all students are expected to be Respectful, Safe and Engaged. These expectations align closely with our own school values of Respect, Kindness and Growth Mindset, and help create a positive learning environment where everyone can succeed.

What this looks like for our students

Students meet behaviour expectations by being:

Respectful

Following staff instructions and school expectations.
Caring for school property and the belongings of others.
Using respectful language and treating everyone with kindness.

Safe

Keeping themselves and others safe from harm.
Speaking up or seeking help from a trusted adult if something doesn't feel right.
Bringing only safe and necessary items to school.

Engaged

Attending school every day, arriving on time and ready to learn.
Participating in learning, doing their best and asking for help when needed.
Following school policies, including our mobile phone policy.

How we support our students

At Mortlake P–12 College we are committed to creating a positive, inclusive and supportive learning environment by:

Explicitly teaching and modelling positive behaviour expectations.
Building strong relationships where every student feels known, valued and supported.
Providing evidence-based teaching that meets the diverse needs of our learners.
Working proactively to ensure our school remains physically, emotionally, socially and culturally safe.
Responding early when concerns arise and partnering with families to support positive outcomes.

How families can help

Parents and carers play a vital role in helping children understand and meet these shared expectations. Together we can support students by:

Talking positively about school and reinforcing our expectations at home.
Modelling respectful behaviour both in person and online.
Encouraging regular attendance—because every day counts.
Speaking with your child about their learning, friendships and wellbeing.
Working collaboratively with school staff if concerns arise so we can resolve issues together.

By working in partnership, we can continue to foster a school culture where every student is respectful, safe and engaged in their learning.

Further information about the Respectful, safe, engaged: shared expectations to support student behaviour statement is available on the Department of Education website.

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.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support of our school. It is a privilege to work alongside such a supportive community, and I'm looking forward to another term filled with learning, laughter and plenty of reasons to celebrate.

I wish everyone a wonderful Term 3.

Linda Mooseek

Mortlake P-12 College Principal

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