Principal Update

Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

A big welcome to Week 6, and for those who are regular readers of our newsletter, you will have noticed that we have had a busy few weeks here at Mordialloc College. Our Junior School students have been involved in Japanese drumming and sports galas, our Middle School students continue to inspire me with their enthusiastic approach to finding out about the world around them via attending our VCE Pathways evening, and throwing themselves into subject tasters, and our Senior School students have been out to the Supreme Court, creek caving, and engaging with a thought provoking visit by inspirational speaker Michael Raydan.

The Mordialloc College Difference: Working Together for Student Success

At Mordialloc College, we believe students achieve their best when families, students, and the college work together in a supportive and consistent way. Our approach to wellbeing is built around strong relationships, shared understanding, and clear communication.

We use a collaborative model called the “Triangle of Engagement” which ensures that the student is the focus of the partnership between home and the college. This approach helps to ensure that our students feel supported both academically and emotionally, while also encouraging them to take increasing responsibility for their own growth and progress.

Every student’s needs are different, so support plans are tailored to the individual. Together, our families, staff, and students identify clear goals and agree on practical strategies that will help the student succeed. These goals may relate to learning, attendance, emotional wellbeing, confidence, behaviour, or social connection.

An important part of this process is helping students develop a sense of ownership. Students are encouraged to reflect on their progress, communicate openly, and recognise the important role that they each play in achieving their positive outcomes. At the same time, the college provides guidance, structure, and ongoing support, while families help reinforce routines, encouragement, and consistency at home.

What makes this approach effective is the shared commitment between everyone involved. Regular check-ins allow progress to be reviewed, successes celebrated, and strategies adjusted if needed. This ensures support remains flexible and responsive as students grow and their needs change.

Beyond immediate goals, this model also helps students build important lifelong skills such as resilience, accountability, confidence, and self-awareness. By working together in a respectful and collaborative way, students learn they are supported, capable, and not expected to navigate challenges alone.

At Mordialloc College, we value the importance of strong partnerships with families and recognise that meaningful progress happens when students feel connected, understood, and supported by the people around them.

Demolition!

Judging by the interest of students, staff and visitors, seeing an entire building raised to the ground is much more interesting than anything a screen can provide! 

A lot of preparation work has gone into securing services so that the college can continue to run successfully during this exciting phase in our building work.

The builders have been extremely professional, providing us with daily updates, fortnightly site meetings, and constant check-ins to support as little disruption as possible to our students’ school day. 

Student Attitudes to School Survey

We value student voice and agency as a key mechanism towards improving student engagement, wellbeing, and quality teaching & learning, and again this term we have conducted a survey to find out what your child thinks of their school. The Attitudes to School Survey is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education to assist schools in gaining an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. We use the survey data to share student feedback with staff, and to then plan programs and activities to improve your child's experience whilst at the college. Over the last two weeks, students from Year 7 to 12 have all been provided with opportunities to participate, the survey took around 15 minutes and all responses to the survey were anonymous. The survey results will be reported back to us during Term 3 and will be communicated to students and families through the Annual Report.

End of Semester 1 – Reminder of Key Dates

As we creep ever closer to the end of Semester 1, here are some key dates that you will find useful to support your child with their organisation: 

• Monday 25th May to Friday 29th May: Revision week (Years 10 - 11) 
• Monday 1st June to Friday 5th June and Tuesday 9th June to Thursday 11th June: Exams (Years 10 - 11) 
• Thursday 11th June: Year 11 Formal
• Friday 12th June: Professional Learning Day (Report Writing) - Student Free Day
• Friday 12th June: Semester 1 ends.
• Monday 15th June:  Semester 2 starts 
• Tuesday 16th June: GAT (All Year 11/12 studying a VCE 3/4 subject and all Year 12 VM)

Please note that the last day of Term 2 is Friday 26th June, where we will have a 1.30pm finish. 

Thank you for your continued support of the college; please remember that I can always be contacted via the college email address mordialloc.co@education.vic.gov.au .

Rachael Stone

Principal