Principal Report

Welcome to Week 3 of the school year. We have had a smooth and productive start to 2026, and it has been wonderful to see our students settling so positively into routines across the College.

It was fabulous to formally introduce our 2026 student leaders and to warmly welcome our newest members of the College, our Prep students, at this morning’s assembly. Thank you to all families who attended and supported this special occasion; your presence helps make these milestones even more meaningful for our students.

I am also looking forward to our House Swimming Sports next Wednesday, with all students in Years 3–12 participating as either competitors or spectators. It is always a great day of school spirit, teamwork and community connection.

Across the College, we are feeling increasingly confident with our use of Compass. Thank you for your patience as we continue to learn and refine our processes. If you need any assistance accessing or using your Compass account, please contact the school office. We are more than happy to help.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of our school community.

House Swimming Sports

Our Year 3–12 House Swimming Sports will be held on Wednesday 18 February 2026 at the Mortlake Swimming Pool, and we are looking forward to a fantastic day of participation, school spirit and community connection.

The House Swimming Sports provides students with a valuable opportunity to develop personal and social capabilities in a fun, engaging and inclusive environment. Through a mix of competitive and novelty swimming events, students are encouraged to challenge themselves while supporting their peers and their House.

Through this event, students will:

Build teamwork and collaboration by working together to earn points for their House
Strengthen House pride and school connectedness, contributing to a positive school culture
Develop resilience and confidence by setting personal goals and supporting others
Engage in physical activity that promotes health, fitness and water safety awareness
Demonstrate respectful behaviour and good sportsmanship in a public, community setting

Itinerary

10:15am – First swimming event begins
2:30pm – Final event: Teachers vs Year 12s(Please note presentations will be held at Monday Assembly)
3:00pm – Students return to school

Students are encouraged to dress up and show their House pride by wearing House colours or their full PE uniform.

What students need to bring:

Bathers/swimmers (if competing)
Towel
Hat
Sunscreen
Water bottle
Lunch and snacks

Students who are participating in events should ensure they are prepared to swim, while spectators are encouraged to support their House and cheer on their peers.

We look forward to a fun, inclusive and spirited day for all involved.

All families are warmly invited to attend and support students throughout the day.

Photography & Social Media Reminder

To help us protect the privacy and safety of all students, we kindly remind families that you are welcome to take photos or videos of your own child/children only during school events.

Please do not photograph or film other students, and do not share images of other children on social media or messaging platforms. Not all students have permission to be photographed or have their image published.

This request aligns with Victorian Department of Education privacy and child-safety guidelines.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all students and families.

Call for 2026 School Council Nominations

We encourage families to consider nominating for School Council and becoming an active part of our school community. Strong schools are built together, and School Council plays an important role in shaping the long-term direction of the College and supporting positive outcomes for all students.

In 2026, there are 3 parent representative positions available on School Council.

School Council is a governing body, not a management group. Its role is to help set the strategic vision for the school and provide oversight of key areas of operation, as outlined in the Education and Training Reform Act 2006.

Why Join School Council?

As a School Council member, you can:

Help set the broad direction and vision of the school
Contribute to the School Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plan
Approve and monitor the school budget
Support the development and review of school policies
Strengthen connections between the school and the wider community

School Council members are unpaid volunteers who work collaboratively with school leadership to positively influence the quality of education provided to students.

Nomination Details

Nominations open: Thursday 12 February 2026
Nominations close: Friday 27 February 2026 at 4:00pm
Positions available: 3 parent representative positions
Nomination forms: Available from the School Office

New Requirement – Working With Children Check

From 2026, parents, carers and community members wishing to nominate for School Council must hold a Working With Children (WWC) Check.

If you would like more information about School Council or the nomination process, please contact the School Office on 5599 2204.

We would love to see new faces join our School Council in 2026.

Road Safety Reminder

We would like to remind all families and students of the importance of road safety when walking to and from school.

This morning, there was a near miss involving students who were not fully focused while crossing the road. Thankfully no one was hurt, but it is an important reminder that roads around the College and within the township can be busy, particularly before and after school.

We ask that families please take time to talk with their child/ren about safe road behaviours, including:

Stopping, looking and listening before crossing
Using designated crossing points where available
Staying alert and avoiding distractions such as phones or headphones

Student safety is always our highest priority, and we appreciate your support in reinforcing these messages at home to help keep everyone safe.

Thank you for working with us to ensure a safe start and end to each school day.

Mortlake College Relay for Life

Our school community will be hosting Relay for Life on Friday 6 March 2026, proudly supporting Cancer Council Australia, and we warmly invite all families and community members to take part in this meaningful and inspiring event.

Our goal is to raise $5,000 - the cost of providing one person with access to a life-saving clinical trial. This is the same opportunity that gave one of our family’s loved ones a future, making this cause deeply personal and incredibly important to our community.

Many of our students and staff are already proudly wearing their Relay for Life rugby tops to help promote the event. It would be wonderful to see as many families and community members as possible supporting this important cause.

How Can You Help?

There are many ways families, businesses and community members can support this wonderful event.

Financial Sponsorship

Financial sponsorship helps offset the costs of running the event, including prizes, water stations and the BBQ. Our aim is to create a fun, welcoming ‘gala’ atmosphere for the community.All money raised through associated activities will be contributed to our final fundraising total.

Donations can be made via direct deposit:

BSB: 063 533
Account: 10943112
Reference:Relay For Life

Goods to Support the Event

We are seeking donations of goods, including:

Breakfast items: eggs, bacon, rolls
BBQ items: sausages, patties, bread, sauces
Prizes for our silent auction or spinning wheel (e.g. vouchers or goods)
Bottled water
Reward incentives for our walkers

If you are able to assist with goods, please contact one of the below team members to arrange drop-off or collection:

Anne De Manser – anne.demanser@education.vic.gov.au | 0408 256 805
Amy Lodge – amy.lodge@education.vic.gov.au
Geoff De Manser – geoff.demanser@education.vic.gov.au
Nat McRae – natalie.mcrae@education.vic.gov.au

Direct Donation

You can make a direct donation to our fundraiser via our Relay for Life webpage:https://www.relayforlife.org.au/event/mortlake-college-2026

Attend the Walk (Between 7am and 7pm)

All members of the community are warmly invited to attend and walk with us on the day

TeMania Bull Sale - Supporting a Key Community Event

Mortlake College is proud to support the annual TeMania Bull Sale on Wednesday 4th March, an important event on the local agricultural calendar and a significant occasion for our wider community.

As a rural P–12 College, we value strong partnerships with local producers, families and businesses, and we recognise the role events like the TeMania Bull Sale play in supporting agriculture, learning and community connection.

Towards the end of February, families will be sent home a cake box. We kindly ask that these be filled with homemade slices, cakes or biscuits to be enjoyed at the sale. A little touch of pink in your baking would be greatly appreciated.

We are also seeking volunteers to help out on the day. If you are in a position to volunteer some time (even just a small amount), please contact the General Office by Wednesday 25th February.

We wish everyone involved a safe and productive day.

Student Attendance and Absences

All student absences must be reported to the College.

The easiest way to notify the College if your child is absent is through the Compass App. Absences can also be reported by calling the College on 5599 2204 and leaving a message.

Please note: a message from the college will be sent to your nominated mobile phone number for all unexplained absences.

Late Arrivals and Early Departures

Students who arrive late to school must sign in at the General Office.
If a student needs to leave the College during the day for an appointment, they must sign out at the General Office.
Students cannot sign out without parent/guardian approval, and a parent or guardian must come into the General Office to collect the student.

Students Feeling Unwell

If a student feels unwell while at school, they are to report to the General Office, where they will be assessed by our First Aid Team.

Students are not to contact home directly. This is part of our duty of care to ensure student safety. If required, the school will contact parents or guardians directly to arrange for a student to be sent home.

School Times

A friendly reminder that school classes run from 9:00am to 3:20pm.

Morning arrival: Students should arrive between 8:40am and 8:50am, when classrooms and buildings are open. Classes begin promptly at 9:00am.
Afternoon pick-up: Students should be collected at 3:20pm.

Please note that staff supervision is not available outside these times, in line with our Child Safe policies. Students should not arrive earlier or remain later than these times unless they are involved in a supervised school program. The College cannot provide supervision outside school hours.

Thank you for your support in helping us maintain accurate attendance records and ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students.

Wednesday is a Prep Rest Day - Supporting Our Newest Students

As we welcome our Prep students to the College, we are committed to ensuring they have a positive and supported start to school.

To help our youngest learners adjust to the routines and expectations of school, Prep students will participate in a Prep Rest Day program. Prep students will begin attending school on Wednesdays starting on Wednesday 11 March.

The Prep Rest Day is an important part of supporting our newest students. Starting school is a big transition, and the rest day allows Prep children time to:

Build stamina for full school days
Adjust gradually to school routines and expectations
Develop confidence and independence in a supportive way
Reduce fatigue during the early weeks of schooling

This gradual start helps students settle more successfully and supports their wellbeing as they begin their learning journey at the College.

We appreciate the support of families during this transition period and look forward to working closely together to ensure our Prep students feel safe, happy and ready to learn.

If families have any questions about Prep Rest Days or the start of school for Prep students, please contact the school office.

Student accident insurance, ambulance cover arrangements and private property brought to school

Families are reminded that the Department of Education does not provide personal accident or ambulance cover for students. Parents and guardians of students who do not have private health insurance or ambulance cover, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for their injured child.

Private property brought to the college by students, staff or visitors is not insured and the Department or the College is not responsible for any loss or damage. This can include mobile phones, calculators, sporting equipment and cars parked on school premises. It is recommended that families consider insurance policies that can be purchased from commercial insurers.

Mobile Phones at School

A reminder to families that students are not permitted to use mobile phones during the school day.

This expectation is in line with the Department of Education’s Mobile Phones Policy, which applies to all Victorian government schools.

The purpose of this policy is to:

Support student wellbeing and mental health
Reduce distractions and improve focus on learning
Promote positive social interactions during recess and lunchtime
Minimise issues related to online safety, cyberbullying, and misuse of devices

Mobile phones brought to school must be switched off and stored securely for the duration of the school day. Students can access school phones via the General Office if they need to contact home, and families can contact students through the school if needed.

We appreciate the support of families in reinforcing this expectation with students. By working together, we help create a safe, calm, and focused learning environment for all.

Important Upcoming Dates

Wednesday Prep Rest Day (Prep Students do not attend school – the last rest day will be Wednesday 4th March)
Year 7-10 Immunisations: Wednesday 11th February
House Swimming Sports (Years 3-12 only): Wednesday 18th February
School Council: Tuesday 24th February
School Photos: Tuesday 3rd March
Temania Bull Sale: Wednesday 4th March
Mortlake College Relay for Life: Friday 6th March
Public Holiday: Monday 9th March
NAPLAN Testing Begins: Wednesday 11th March (Years 3, 5, 7, and 9)
House Athletic Sports (Whole School): Tuesday 24th March
School Council AGM: Tuesday 31st March
Last Day of Term 1 Thursday 2nd April, 2:30pm dismissal for students (Friday – Good Friday)

Our school team is always here to support our students and families. Please reach out to us at any time if you have questions or need assistance.

Linda Mooseek

Mortlake P-12 College Principal

Linda Mooseek

Mortlake P-12 College Principal

Birthdays

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS FOR FEBRUARY