Principal's Update

Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

Centenary Celebrations

Preparations are well on the way for celebrating our Centenary year in 2024. I have been leading a Centenary committee who has been working alongside the Mordialloc College Alumni Association to assist in organising this significant milestone in our school’s history.

The key dates for our celebrations will be on Friday 16 February from 12.00 pm to 3.30 pm and Saturday 17 February from 10.00 am - 2.30 pm. 

On Friday 16 February we will be holding a whole school assembly at 12.00 pm. Tim Richardson MP State Member for Mordialloc and Parliamentary Secretary for Health Infrastructure and Mental Health with either the Premier or Deputy Premier of Victoria will be in attendance and both will speak at our assembly. We also plan to have the oldest living former student attend with our current youngest student, along with our longest serving teacher and longest serving Principal. Several notable former students have also been invited to attend. At lunchtime, we will hold a barbeque and after lunch I will be running tours of buildings and classrooms in action for any interested former students, staff and special guests attending. Members of the Mordialloc community along with former staff and students will also have an opportunity to tour the school buildings and classrooms on the Saturday. A special memorabilia display will also be set up for both days.

Paula McCarthy our local historian is in the process of developing a book to be published in time to celebrate our Centenary, recognising the significant role the school has played in our community for the past one hundred years. We thank her for her dedication and commitment to this important publication. 

Practising Gratitude

Practising gratitude on a regular basis can be instrumental in helping one become more optimistic. It can also have a big impact on your overall mood and perspective. Happiness inspires more happiness.  Gratitude can help people recognise the goodness of life and help one to maintain a positive outlook in uncertain situations. 

To encourage your family to practice gratitude every day you could try these conversations starters depending on the time of day.

Morning Starter questions:

What are you looking forward to today?

Who are you excited to see today and why?

What are you going to try and do really well today?

What is something that you can do to make someone else’s day better?

What is something that is going to make you feel happy today?

Evening Reflection questions:

What was something that you did well today?

What was the biggest win you had today?

What did I learn today about yourself and others?

What are two things that you are most grateful for after today?

What are you looking forward to about tomorrow?

How did you make someone’s days better with an action or gesture?

Awards Night

We look forward to having our Awards night event for the first time at Frankston Arts Centre this year on Wednesday 13 December. This is one of the key events on the College Calendar, with family members in the audience. It is important that we come together as a college community to celebrate student successes in a variety of areas such as Academic Excellence, the Arts, Technology, Sport, and Community involvement. Not only are awards given on this evening, but high-quality entertainment is provided by students in the areas of Music and Dance.

We understand that this is a busy time for parents, but we also know that you understand the importance of coming together as a group to acknowledge all the wonderful achievements that your children have made throughout the year.   Memories of school include both everyday activities and friendships, as well as grand events such as Award Nights. I look forward to a high attendance from our community in support of this very special event. We anticipate that award recipients will be receiving their invitation to attend by the end of this month.

2024 Headstart program

All families should be aware of our 2024 Headstart program commencing on Monday 20 November starting for all students. Yesterday the office emailed via compass a letter from the Principal Class to all families, regarding our expectations for Headstart. Please see letter attached here:

All current Years 7 - 11 students will be rolled over into 2024 classes, thus Years 8 - 12 classes for 2024. We will be following our new timetable for 2024 and students will have the opportunity to work with their new teachers in their new year level, over Headstart program.

For Years 10, 11 and 12 (2024) students the Headstart Program will run from Monday 20 November to Friday 1 December. Please note on Monday 4 December there is a Year 10 2024 excursion for all students as their final day organised by their 2023 Year 9 Coordinator, Mick Haber. For Years 8 and 9 (2024) students Headstart will run from Monday 20 November to Tuesday 12 December. An alternative program will be in place for our 2024 Years 8 and 9 students during the last week of school from Wednesday 13 December to Wednesday 20 December. 

On Thursday this week students in the Middle School (Year 7 - 9) will have the opportunity to participate in the Gumbuya World excursion to celebrate the end of the 2023 academic year before beginning the 2024 academic year. Thanks to our Director of Middle School, Brendan McFarland for organising this and to all of the teachers attending to supervise students. 

Our Year Level Co-ordinators for 2024 starting in Headstart are: In Senior School: Year 12 - Mrs Brown; Year 11 - Ms Barker and Ms Goebel; Year 10 - Ms Boyd and Ms Davey (currently on leave, returning in January). In the Middle School: Year 9 Mr Haber, with Ms Bruce as Assistant Year 9 Coordinator; Year 8 Coordinators will be Mr Mayadas and Mr Murray; and our Year 7 Coordinators will be Ms Hannan and Mr Potter. 

We expect all students to be taking the Headstart program seriously and their attendance, work in class, assigned homework and completion of set tasks will count towards their report for semester one next year. We expect that our four core values of Personal Best, Integrity, Respect and Responsibility continue to be evident in how we all work together as a community, with all students demonstrating our core values on a consistent basis. All classes will be involved in developing Codes of Cooperation with their respective teachers during their first lesson.

Remembrance Day

Thanks to Middle School Captain Ethan Simons and Vice-Captain, Bonnie Blinco for representing the school community so proudly at the Longbeach RSL Remembrance Day service on the morning of Saturday 11 November. 

Safety on Bikes

A reminder to all students to be wearing their bike helmets when riding to and from school. In addition, with our increased student population, extra care needs to be taken when leaving the school grounds. Students should push their bikes through the school grounds at the end of the day, thus not ride them, and to be vigilant in what is happening around them as they enter the roads at such a busy time with cars and on some afternoons buses on the roads surrounding the school. 

Rail project team meeting

There is small team from the rail project that is meeting with me once a term to keep the school in the loop with developments. The main construction period will occur in 2025. With the removal of the level crossing in front of the school there is going to be a turnaround point at the front of the school and the new main intersection to access Nepean highway will be at Pine Crescent/Station Street. They are keen to get student feedback on the actual station and forecourt design, and we will run some workshops with students next year who are interested. The are also offering work experience opportunities for our students and careers education sessions on careers in engineering and construction. 

The City of Kingston has also met with me. They are not responsible for the project but want to ensure the community needs are met and not disadvantaged in any way. They are advocating for easier and safer access to the skatepark and the expanded green spaces with the removal of pedestrian crossing in front of the school. Members of our community have the opportunity to provide feedback. Please see the information flyer and QR code attached here:

Staffing Update

We are welcoming some new members of staff in readiness for Headstart. 

• Alana Singh returns from family leave teaching Maths/Science 0.4
• Paul Wang, graduate teacher of VCE Business Management/Accounting and Humanities 

We are still working through the recruitment process for a French teacher to replace Ivy Ma. There is currently a shortage of French teachers in Victoria. 

Whole School Professional Learning Day

A reminder that this Friday 17 November we are having our whole school professional learning day for teachers and ES staff. This day was postponed in Term 2 and has been moved to this term, just prior to our 2024 Headstart program starting. It will be a pupil free day.

Ms. Michelle Roberts

Principal