It has been a busy two weeks at Mortlake College. We started the term with the Primary House Cross Country. This was followed by ANZAC Day, Vison Screening for Year 9 Students, an Open Morning and Community Breakfast, 3 Primary students attending the Division Athletics in Warrnambool, and our Year 10-12 students attending a Careers Expo in Melbourne. Today many secondary students are representing the college at the District Athletics in Warrnambool, and we wish them all the best of luck.

I’m incredibly proud of our students' learning growth and interpersonal development and greatly appreciate our teachers' and staffs’ work as they go beyond the required expectations daily. I am taking two weeks Long Service Leave starting this Friday, May 9th. In this time, I will be spending time with my family. Mrs Anne DeManser will be the Acting Principal in my absence.

ANZAC Day

The solemn commemoration of ANZAC Day at Mortlake College was marked by a profound display of reverence and respect, led by Captain Charles Wright (8th /7th Battalion, The Royal Victoria Regiment) at a whole school assembly, and then as a school community at the Mortlake Parade and Commemoration Service. I would like to acknowledge our school captains, Jack and Molly, and Damon (a year 6 student) for leading the college in the march and representing the college when laying the wreath. As we reflect on the significance of ANZAC Day, we pay homage to the bravery and selflessness of our serviceman and woman ensuring that their legacy remains eternally ungrained in our collective memory.

2026 Student Enrolments

Yes, it is that time of year when we start to prepare for next year’s Prep/Foundation and Year 7 enrolments.

We are currently holding private Foundation/Prep 2026 and Year 7 2026 school tours and information session for all families via appointment. Please promote this to friends and family members you know who have a student’s starting in these year levels in 2026.

Private personalised school tours can be made by calling the College on 5599 2204.

If you have a child starting school next year, please come along, we love having current and new families join us. You are welcome to collect an enrolment pack from the office and return this as early as possible, as this assists us with sorting our numbers nice and early.

Deakin University Research

Our Year 3 to 6 students have been visited by a Deakin University researcher and heard about the Transform Us study that is taking place in a range of district primary schools this term. Students will wear fitness trackers to monitor their physical movement, sleep patterns and at-rest behaviours over a week in mid-May and will take part in surveys about nutrition and wellbeing. The research study seeks to build a picture about physical fitness and wellbeing in children across SW Victoria and is an important source of data about changes to fitness and wellbeing over time. All Year 3 to 6 students took an opt-out form home and will need to return the signed and completed form back to their classroom teacher, if families wish to opt-out of the study.

2025 Student Attitudes to School Survey

The 2025 Student Attitudes to School Survey (AtoSS), which will be administered to all government school students in Years 4 to 12 throughout this term. The AtoSS is a voluntary annual student survey offered by the Department of Education to assist schools and the department to gain an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. We value student voice to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and will be asking your child about their thoughts and feelings in relation to their school, their learning, peer relationships, resilience, bullying, health and wellbeing, physical activity, and life in general.

This year, the survey will be conducted at Mortlake College between the dates Monday May 26th and Friday June 6th. We know that young people enjoy having a say! This survey has been running for nearly 20 years and is invaluable in helping us understand student views to plan programs and activities to improve each student’s schooling experience.

Students in Years 4-12 will be invited to complete the survey online during class time using a purpose built secure online survey tool. It is important to note that we are not in any way “testing” your child. Please note:

Student participation in the survey is voluntary and students may withdraw at any time.
The survey is available in a variety of different versions to enable all students to participate.
The survey will take around 20-45 minutes to complete.

Parent Payments

Thank you to all parents who are up to date with Parent Payments or on a plan. Your contributions make a remarkable difference to our school and the programs/resources we offer. Please be familiar with the Parent Payment Policy as all extra curricula activities are offered on a user pay basis. We will ensure families are aware of all extra curricula activities well in advance to give you an opportunity to budget for these events and activities.

We would appreciate as many payments as possible finalising 2025 Parent Payments ASAP.

Students Attendance

As we move into the colder months of the year, we would like to point out the crucial role that consistent school attendance plays in your child's academic success and overall development.

Why Attendance Matters:

Academic Achievement: Regular attendance directly correlates with higher academic achievement. Each day a student misses means valuable learning opportunities are lost, impacting their understanding of key concepts and ability to keep up with their peers.
Skill Development: School is not just about academics; it's also where children learn essential life skills such as time management, collaboration, and problem-solving. Consistent attendance fosters these skills by allowing students to engage fully in classroom activities and group projects.
Building Relationships: Being present in school helps children form meaningful relationships with teachers and peers. These connections provide emotional support and encouragement, which are crucial for their social and emotional development.
Preparation for the Future: Regular attendance instils discipline and responsibility—qualities that are indispensable as students’ progress through their educational journey and prepare for higher education or the workforce.

Tips for Promoting Good Attendance:

Establish a Routine: Set regular bedtimes and morning routines to ensure your child is well-rested and ready for the school day.
Communicate Early: Notify the school promptly if your child is unable to attend due to illness or other unavoidable circumstances.
Allow enough time to arrive at school: Our school day begins at 9:00am and students can be on the school grounds from 8:40am onwards. It’s important to allow enough time to get your child to school prior to the beginning of the day. Late arrivals have impacts on a child’s social and emotional learning time.
Encourage Engagement: Take an interest in your child's school activities and encourage their participation in extracurriculars that enhance their overall school experience. It is important that your child is present at school to ensure they can participate in these programs.

If your child is sick or absent, you are required to notify their school as soon as possible on the day of absence using one of the following methods:- Online: log the absence directly using the Sentral platform.

- Phone the school office and let the staff know your child’s name, class, date of absences and reason on 5599 2204

- Email the school and provide the staff with your child’s name, class, date of absence/s and reason.- Return attendance letters to the classroom teacher.

The Department of Education requires parents to provide the school with an explanation for all student absences. This may include bereavement, dentist, family holiday, illness, medical and medical appointments, or religious/ cultural observance.

Building and Maintenance Work

Lots of building works took place over the Term Break Holiday period. There is still work taking place within/around the Activity Centre. Please be careful when moving/parking near this building area. We apologise for any inconvenience that may take place while these building upgrades are taking place throughout the college.

Important Upcoming Dates

Please continually check Sentral and the newsletter for important dates, student information, and highlights of events.

Wednesday May 7th: Secondary House Cross Country (all families are welcome to join us as spectators)
Friday May 9th: Do it for Dolly Day! Dress-up in BLUE as we fundraise and build awareness around bullying and cyberbullying. Students will participate in fun activities throughout the day and spread kindness to combat bullying and raise awareness about its impact.
Thursday May 8th: Primary Students - Mother’s Day Stall.
Friday May 9th: Primary Students - Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea
Monday May12th to Friday May 16th: Careers Week Activities for Secondary Students
Friday May 16th: Education Support Staff Appreciation and Acknowledgement Day
Monday May 19th to Friday May 23rd: Community Engagement – Meals on Wheels (All volunteers for this are greatly appreciated)

I look forward to continuing to work alongside all our families to lift our staff and students up to achieve the great learning that we know we are capable of.

Linda Mooseek

Mortlake P-12 College Principal

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