Principal Team Report

Principal Team Report 

Dear MC Community,

Here we are at the mid-way point of Term 3 and feels like spring has sprung – our thoughts go out to the hay fever sufferers!

Reminder - Mullauna Secondary College (Mitcham)

Have you noticed our subtle rebranding? After months of discussion and reflection, we have decided to adopt the standard full title of a state school: Mullauna Secondary College. Interestingly, it always remained our official name with the Department of Education. We made the change because we feel it better reflects and clarifies our status as a proud neighbourhood, government school, aiming to serve its local community by providing an excellent education for our young people. And to clarify exactly that community link, we have added ‘MITCHAM’ to the branding, to ensure our community is clearly specified. The ‘new’ name will begin appearing on all branded items, starting with Compass.

Reminder - Comedy for a Cause

Don't forget to gather your friends and purchase tickets for our inaugural comedy night to raise founds for a most worthy cause - Mullauna!

Science Week - Lunchtime Activities

This week was Science Week! Thanks to Miriam Pepper (Head of Science & Technology) and her team.  Our fabulous Science and Technology teachers ran special Science Week activities every lunchtime. Prizes were awarded at each activity for participation and also to competition winners. Judging by the numbers of enthusiastically engaged students at every event, it was a very successful week. We hope you enjoyed the daily quiz too!

Semester One awards assembly

On Tuesday 30 July, we held our awards assembly to recognise and celebrate all of our High Achievers and also to acknowledge and thank our Year 10 Peer Support Leaders for their work in smoothing the transition of our Year 7 students over their first semester at MC. The assembly was opened and closed by our MC Rock ‘House’ Band.

Looking forward to 2025

Year 6 -7 Transition planning is in full swing, as this annual process gathers pace towards its culmination (for this year) on the State-wide Orientation Day on Tuesday 10 December. Our course counselling team continues to engage with students and parents as they make their subject selections for 2025. Many factors need to be taken into account when making these decisions, especially for senior school subjects: 

• passions and interests
• strengths and abilities
• pathways plans and career goals
• prerequisites for VCE and tertiary study

just to name a few. We are excited to be able to offer Units 1 and 2 VCE Literature and Specialist Maths in 2025.

Sport

Over recent weeks, Mullauna has been, or soon will be, represented in a variety of sports and at many levels. This has recently included intermediate teams in Girls AFL, netball, badminton, and there are numerous teams preparing to go out in the weeks ahead for Year 7 and Year 8 Sport. Please check the school Facebook page for all results and photos.

School Events

Mullauna College has an ‘Excursion and Incursion Policy’ which states the following:

All parental consent and medical forms must be completed on Compass, or hard copies

signed and returned by the approval date stated on the event. This approval date is set as

three (3) school days prior to the actual event for school and event organisational reasons.

Permission to participate will not be granted on the day of the event. All families must be

given sufficient time to make payments for excursions/incursions. Parents are to be provided with permission forms and excursion information, via the Compass Event, clearly stating payment finalisation dates. Payment must be completed 10 days prior to departure. Children whose payment has not been finalised by the published deadline will not be allowed to attend the event. The college has a strict ‘no pay, no go’ policy. Staff have been advised that no student is to be taken on an excursion unless s/he has parental permission granted on the Compass Event or returned a completed Parent Consent Form and paid for the event according to the published deadline. Students who do not have permission will be removed from the event, so that they will appear on their normal class roll.

VCE Practice Exams – Week 1 of the September break

A reminder to all Unit 3-4 students that the college will again run compulsory practice exams in the first week of the September break. Ms Watson will publish more details soon.

It is critical that all students participate in order to gain valuable practice and to receive vital feedback for improvement from their teachers.

Year 12 VCE & VTAC Information Evening

Last Tuesday evening, Kim Watson, Nik Smith and Rebecca Bradshaw delivered an informative program for current Year 12 students and their parents / carers in preparation for the challenges (and excitement) of the months ahead, culminating in the final exams and the wait for ATARs and the beginning of life after school! Rebecca spoke about how to keep fit and healthy for the study and exams ahead, Kim outlined the key dates and programs, and Nik covered key VTAC and VCAA dates and processes.

• 23rd – 26th September (Week 1 of term break): Practice Exams
• 17th October: Last day of Year 12 classes, Period 5 Flame Assembly
• 17th October: 12 Valedictory (parents, family and students) - details to come
• 18th October: Year 12 Celebration morning – details to come
• 21st – 25th October: Study Week -  students expected to attend double periods
• 29th October – 20th November: VCAA Written Examinations 
• 20th November: Year 12 Formal at The Canterbury International Hotel 
• 12th December: VCE Results and ATAR advice will be available from 7:00 am

2025 Musical Production Planning

Mullauna College is gathering information to assist in planning for a school production in 2025. This survey is designed to assist the college in planning the production. We need to ascertain that sufficient students are interested in becoming involved in such a production. Students will have the opportunity to become involved in a variety of areas, including singing, dancing, acting, sound & lighting or backstage. Students are asked to complete the survey now found on Compass.

Out of the Shadows Walk 15 September

On Sunday 15 September Mullauna College Community Members (students, families, staff and friendly dogs) will again be participating in Lifeline's "Out of the Shadows Walk", walking 9km for the 9 Australians we lose to suicide each day. We invite you to join us to remember those we have lost to suicide and show our support for Australians experiencing emotional distress or mental illness. Through connection, compassion and hope, we will unite to raise awareness, overcome stigma and commit to preventing further deaths by suicide. We will start and finish our walk at Schwerkolt Cottage Reserve (on the grass near the toilets) at 10am on Sunday 15 September.

There is no need to register: just turn up. 

If you have any questions, email Kathy Halpin at katherine.halpin@education.vic.gov.au

Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey (PCGOS)

Thanks to the 92 families that have responded! We're still aiming for 140+.

All Mullauna families have received an individual link and PIN (the Family A member) to this annual survey. The PCGOS is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, and student engagement. Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies, and will be presented to and discussed at: staff and leadership team meetings, school council and our new Parent Association.

All families are strongly encouraged to participate in the survey. Please call the college and ask to speak to a member of the principal team if you would like more information.

The Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey (PCGOS) closes on Friday 30 August.

Progress Reports and Student Learning Conferences

Progress Reports are soon to be prepared and will be published in early September.

These reports will give parents and caregivers feedback on the learning progress and work habits that each student has displayed throughout the term. Parents and students will be able to track progress in the work habits, as these are now consistent across all reports. On Wednesday 18 September, we will conduct our Student Learning Conferences to enable further discussion and elaboration on the feedback provided in the Progress Report. The details for the Learning Conferences will be provided with the Progress Reports and on Compass.

Camps update

I enjoyed attending the 2025 Central Australia Tour parent and student information evening last night at the college. If families missed this evening, keep an eye out on Compass for copies of handouts that were provided. More information will come out in Term 4 as we commence plans to accept tour deposits and payment plans. Special thanks to Ms Larmour and Mr Verrell for leading the evening.  

We look forward to over 60 Junior School students who will attend the annual Music Camp next week at Oasis Youth Camp in Mt Evelyn. Keep an eye out for photos on our Facebook page.

Jeff McMillin, Michael Bray and Harry Ruff

The MC Principal Team

Coming dates:

Term 3 

Tuesday 13th August – Year 12 student & parent VCE & VTAC information evening

Friday 16th August – Week 5 Links published

Wednesday 21st August – 6.30pm P&CA meeting

Thursday 22nd & Friday 23rd August – Music Camp

Tuesday 27th August – School Council meeting

Thursday 29th August – Mullauna’s Wear it purple Day

Saturday 7th September – Year 6 diagnostic testing morning AND P&CA Comedy for a Cause evening 

Monday 9th September – Year 9 SkillZ ‘It’s my city’ presentation evening – 6-7pm in PAC

Friday 13th September – RUok? Day

Monday 16th September – Year 10 & 11 RYDA excursion

Tuesday 17th September – Music Themed Concert

Wednesday 18th September - Student Learning Conferences 

Friday 20th September – Final day of Term 3 

Term 3 Student-free Days – please take note 

We have one student-free day still scheduled for this term:  

• Wednesday 18th September is our planned Student Learning Conferences day

Term 4 

Monday 7th October – First day of Term 4 

Wednesday 9th October – 6.30pm P&CA meeting

Thursday 10th October – MSC Art Show

Saturday 12th October - Year 6 diagnostic testing day - NEW DATE

Tuesday 15th October – School Council meeting

Thursday 17th October – final day of Year 12 classes / Flame Assembly / Year 12 Valedictory

Friday 18th October – Year 12 Celebration Day

Monday 4th November (Cup Eve) - Professional Practice Day (student-free) 

2024-25 Headstart program: 

• Senior classes (current Years 9-11) – Week 9 (2nd to 6th December) 
• Junior classes (current Years 7-8) – Weeks 9 and 10 (2nd to 11th December) 
• Year 8 Camp (current Year 8s) – Monday 9th to Wednesday 11th December 

Summer Program (current Years 7 & 8) – commences Week 10 (Thursday 12th December) 

Staff Professional Learning and Time in Lieu acquittal – Weeks 10 and 11  

Final Day – Friday 20th December (student-free) 

2024 Term Dates  

Term 1 - 29 January to 28 March  

Term 2 – 15 April to 28 June  

Term 3 – 15 July to 20 September  

Term 4 – 7 October to 20 December