Principal's Report 

Principal Report

It is hard to believe that we have just two weeks remaining of Term 3. This term has certainly moved quickly, and it has been wonderful to see our students continuing to engage in their learning and contribute positively to our school community.

I would like to take this opportunity to say a sincere thank you to all of our students, staff and families for a magnificent Term 3. Our students should be proud of the way they have approached their learning and represented our school, while our staff continue to demonstrate an incredible commitment to supporting every student. To our families, thank you for your ongoing support, communication and partnership with the school. A strong school community is built through everyone working together, and your contribution is greatly valued.

While we still have two important weeks of learning ahead of us, our attention is also beginning to turn towards what will be a very busy and significant Term 4.

Term 4 is always a particularly special time in a P-12 school as we witness students at very different stages of their educational journey reaching important milestones. For our Year 12 students, the final term marks the culmination of many years of learning, growth, perseverance and hard work. While some students will be preparing for and completing VCE examinations, others will be preparing to transition into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education, employment or other pathways beyond school. Each of these pathways represents an exciting next step, and we are incredibly proud of the different directions our students are preparing to take. We look forward to supporting and celebrating all our Year 12 students as they complete their secondary schooling and move confidently into the next chapter of their lives.

At the other end of our school, we will begin welcoming some of our newest and youngest students through our 2027 Prep Transition Program. For our incoming Prep students and their families, these transition days mark the beginning of an entirely new chapter. Starting school is an incredibly important milestone, and we look forward to helping our newest students develop confidence, build relationships and begin to feel that Mortlake P-12 College is their school too.

This is one of the wonderful things about being part of a P-12 school. In the same term, we have the privilege of welcoming children who are taking their very first steps into school while celebrating young people who are preparing to take their final steps out of it. Both are significant moments for students and their families, and both remind us of the important role our school plays throughout a young person’s educational journey.

With many events, celebrations and important milestones ahead, the remainder of Term 3 and Term 4 will certainly be a busy time. I encourage all families to check Compass regularly and ensure notifications are turned on so you remain up to date with important dates, reminders and information from the school.

End of Term - Early Dismissal

A reminder to all families that Term 3 concludes on Friday 18th September, with students being dismissed at 2:30pm.

We ask families to please make the necessary arrangements for the earlier finish and ensure students are aware of their end-of-day arrangements.

Term 3 Student Reports and Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews

Student reports will be available to all families through Compass on Wednesday 9th September.

This report provides a reflection on your child’s behaviour, attitude and approach towards their learning. It is designed to provide families with an indication of how students are engaging with their learning, demonstrating positive learning behaviours and approaching their responsibilities at school.

More detailed conversations regarding your child’s academic progress, growth, achievement and wellbeing can take place during our Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews on Thursday 10th September.

Appointments can be booked through Compass or by contacting the school office.

We strongly encourage all families to make an appointment to speak with their child’s teacher/s. These conversations are an important opportunity to celebrate progress, identify areas where additional support or improvement may be needed, and ensure that families, students and teachers have a shared understanding of the next steps in learning.

At this point in the school year, these conversations are particularly valuable. With Term 4 approaching, there is still significant learning ahead, and feedback provided now gives students an opportunity to set clear goals, strengthen learning habits and finish the year positively. For our older students, these discussions can also assist with preparation for future pathways and the expectations of the year ahead.

Strong partnerships between home and school make a significant difference, and we greatly value the opportunity to work alongside families to support every student to achieve their best.

Parent - Caregiver - Guardian Opinion Survey

A reminder that the Parent - Caregiver - Guardian Opinion Survey closes on Friday 18th September.

Information and instructions regarding how to access and complete the survey have been forwarded to families through Compass.

The survey is an important opportunity for families to provide feedback about their experiences of our school. The information collected helps us understand what we are doing well, identify areas where we can continue to improve, and inform future school planning and decision-making.

Your feedback is extremely valuable. The more families who participate, the clearer picture we have of the experiences, priorities and needs of our school community.

If you are experiencing difficulties accessing the survey or did not receive the instructions regarding how to participate, please contact the school office and we will be happy to assist.

Respectful Behaviour and Bullying

As a school, we have recently had some concerns regarding unkind, disrespectful and bullying behaviours between students. I would like to take this opportunity to reinforce our expectations and ask for the support of families in having conversations with their children about how we treat others.

Bullying is more than a single disagreement or conflict between students. Bullying is repeated verbal, physical, social or online behaviour that is intended to cause harm, where there is an imbalance of power and the person being targeted feels unable to stop it from happening. This may include name-calling, deliberately excluding someone, spreading rumours, repeated teasing or insults, threatening behaviour, physical aggression or inappropriate behaviour online.

Not every unkind interaction meets the definition of bullying; however, this does not mean that unkind or disrespectful behaviour is acceptable. Mean, nasty, intimidating or bullying behaviour will not be tolerated at our school.

One area we particularly want students to understand is the difference between friendly banter and comments that cause harm. We are aware that at times students may defend something they have said by explaining that they were “only joking” or that it was “just banter.” While humour and joking are a normal part of friendships, it is only fun when everyone involved is comfortable and enjoying it. If comments repeatedly embarrass, upset, humiliate or isolate another student, then the impact of those words matters, regardless of whether the person making them intended them as a joke.

We ask families to have a conversation with their child/ren about this. Some helpful questions might include: 

• Would you say this if a teacher or parent was standing beside you? 
• How would you feel if the same comment was repeatedly made about you? 
• Is the other person laughing and enjoying the joke, or are they laughing because they feel uncomfortable? 
• If someone asks you to stop, do you stop immediately?

It is equally important that our students understand the role of bystanders. Laughing along, sharing an inappropriate post or message, encouraging others, or remaining part of a situation can contribute to the harm being experienced by another student. We want our young people to have the confidence to say, “That’s not okay,” to walk away from inappropriate behaviour and to seek support from a trusted adult.

We also encourage families to remind their child/ren that reporting bullying or concerning behaviour is not “dobbing.” Speaking with a trusted adult allows us to provide support, understand what has occurred and respond appropriately. If your child tells you that something is happening at school, please listen calmly, reassure them that speaking up was the right thing to do, gather the facts where possible and contact the school so that we can work together.

Our commitment to having zero tolerance for bullying behaviours is about ensuring every student has the right to come to school feeling safe, respected and included. It is also about educating our students to understand the impact of their choices, take responsibility when mistakes are made and develop the empathy and respectful behaviours they will need throughout their lives.

We appreciate the support of our families in reinforcing this important message at home. 

Great Victorian Bike Ride – fundraising

Fourteen of our students are gearing up to take part in the Great Vic Bike Ride this November.

To help subsidise the full cost of $750 per student, the group will be fundraising through the canteen each Tuesday, selling a rotating selection of tasty treats such as dim sims, chicken nuggets, party pies and sausage rolls, and nachos.  Every purchase will help make this exciting experience more affordable for our students, so keep an eye out for the weekly menu and support our riders by enjoying a delicious Tuesday snack!

The team is also seeking sponsors for its Great Vic Bike Ride jerseys.  Local businesses or community members interested in this sponsorship opportunity are encouraged to contact the school for further information.

2027 Enrolments

We are now finalising student enrolments for 2027, and it is important that all enrolments are completed as soon as possible.

Confirmed enrolments allow us to effectively plan our classes, staffing, programs and resources and ensure that we are well prepared to provide a smooth and successful start to the 2027 school year for every student.

If you have not yet completed your child’s enrolment, or if your family circumstances have recently changed and your child will not be attending Mortlake P-12 College in 2027, please contact the school office as soon as possible.

Accurate enrolment information is extremely important for our planning, and we appreciate families assisting us by finalising these arrangements promptly.

Thank you for working with us to make sure every student is set up for the best possible start to 2027.

R U OK? Day: Thursday 10th September

This Thursday is R U OK? Day, an important opportunity to remind our students, staff and wider school community of the value of checking in with the people around us.

This year’s message is “Ask R U OK? Any Day.” While R U OK? Day provides an important reminder, looking after one another should not be something we think about on just one day of the year. A simple conversation, taking the time to listen, or noticing when someone may not quite be themselves can make a genuine difference.

At school, we want our students to understand that they do not need to have all the answers to support a friend. Sometimes the most important thing they can do is notice, ask, listen and encourage someone to speak with a trusted adult if they need additional support.

The R U OK? organisation encourages four simple steps when checking in with someone:

Ask R U OK? – Listen – Encourage action – Check in.

We encourage families to continue this conversation at home. Ask your child/ren how they are going but also talk with them about how they can recognise when a friend, classmate or family member might need someone to check in with them. Encourage them to listen without judgement, show kindness and seek the support of a trusted adult when they are concerned about someone.

This message is particularly important within a school community. We want every student to understand that their words and actions matter. Looking out for one another, including others, showing kindness and having the courage to check in when something does not seem right all contribute to creating a school where people feel safe, valued and supported.

R U OK? Day is a timely reminder for all of us that we never really know everything another person may be dealing with. A little more kindness, a little more patience and a genuine “Are you OK?” can go a long way.

Most importantly, we want our students to know that it is always okay to ask for help and that there are trusted adults at school and at home who are ready to listen and support them.

Let’s use Thursday as a reminder, but carry the message with us every day: if someone is on your mind, ask R U OK?

SunSmart Reminder

As we move into Spring and begin to experience warmer weather, it is timely to remind everyone that Mortlake P-12 College is a SunSmart school.

Students are expected to wear their school hat when participating in outdoor activities and are encouraged to apply sunscreen as needed. Developing good sun protection habits is an important part of helping our students look after their health and wellbeing.

We ask families to support us by ensuring students bring their school hat each day and by reinforcing the importance of sun protection at home.

Bushfire Readiness

With the warmer weather and longer days of Spring just around the corner, we are beginning our annual preparations for the upcoming bushfire season. As part of this planning, we review our emergency management procedures and communicate important information with our school community to ensure everyone is well prepared.

We have recently been advised that Mortlake P-12 College is now classified as a Category 4 school on the Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR). As a Category 4 school, the College will close on days when a Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating is forecast for the Southwest Fire District. If a closure is required, families will be notified as early as possible through Compass and other Department communication channels.

We encourage all families to familiarise themselves with the College's bushfire arrangements and to review their own bushfire plans at home. Taking the time to prepare now will help ensure everyone can respond safely should bushfire conditions arise later in the year.

Further information about our bushfire procedures and any updates throughout the fire danger period will be communicated to families as required.

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.

As always, thank you to our families, students and staff for your continued support and contribution to our school community. With only two weeks remaining, I look forward to seeing everyone finish Term 3 positively and make the most of the learning opportunities still ahead.

Linda Mooseek

Mortlake P-12 College Principal