Mortlake College Messenger

Principal's Report 

Principal Report

As we come to the end of Term 3, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their hard work, commitment, and contribution to a busy and productive term of learning and school life.

Friday, September 19th, marks the last day of Term 3. Please note that students will be dismissed at the earlier time of 2:30pm.

I hope all students, families and staff enjoy a safe and refreshing term break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term 4, ready for another exciting and successful chapter in the school year.

 

Term 3 Student Reports 

Term 3 student reports will be available to families on Thursday September 18th via the Sentral App. These reports provide both students and their families with a snapshot of how learning is progressing across Semester 2.

We encourage families to take the time to read through the reports together and celebrate achievements, as well as discuss areas for further growth. If you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to make a time to speak with your child’s classroom teacher.

 

Footy Colours Day + Community Breakfast

To celebrate the end of another fantastic term, we are holding Footy Colours Day on Friday 19th September. Students are encouraged to come to school dressed in the colours of their favourite footy team (our just some team colours for those not interested in footy).

We’ll be kicking off the day with a Community Breakfast from 8:00am in the undercover area. All families are warmly invited to join us for this special event.

We look forward to seeing everyone in their team colours to finish Term 3 on a high!

Parent - Caregiver - Guardian Opinion Survey 

We strongly encourage all Mortlake College families to complete the Department of Education’s 2025 Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey, which closes on Friday 19th September. Your feedback plays a vital role in helping us recognise what we are doing well and identify areas for improvement to support student learning and wellbeing. Survey instructions were shared with all families back in August. If you need assistance with logging in, please contact me for support.

 

Year 7-8 Markets 

Congratulations to our Year 7–8 Humanities students on the success of their market stalls this term! Each Tuesday at lunchtime, students showcased their creativity and teamwork by selling a range of delicious food items while learning about economics, consumers, and the marketplace.

This hands-on project was a fantastic way for students to build confidence, develop financial literacy skills, and bring their learning to life. It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm and the way they engaged with their “customers.”

Well done to all students involved — you should be very proud of what you achieved!

 

Year 12/VCE Information

Our Year 12 students are now heading into the final stages of their school journey. They have worked incredibly hard throughout the year, and we are very proud of their efforts and resilience.

Their last day of formal classes will be Monday October 20th, followed by a fun Celebration Day on Tuesday October 21st. This will be a special opportunity for students and staff to come together to mark the end of their secondary schooling.

We also look forward to recognising their achievements at the Year 12 Graduation Dinner on Thursday December 4th — a memorable evening to celebrate the Class of 2025.

Well done to all our Year 12s for reaching this important milestone. The end is near, and we wish you the very best as you prepare for exams and life beyond school.

 

Finalising 2026 Student Enrolments

As we plan for the 2026 school year, it is important that all student enrolments are finalised as soon as possible. Confirmed enrolments allow us to effectively organise classes, allocate resources, and ensure a smooth start to the year for every student.

If you have not yet completed your child’s enrolment, or if your circumstances have recently changed, please contact the school office as soon as possible. Your support in finalising enrolments helps us prepare for a successful year ahead.

Thank you for working with us to make sure every student is set up for the best start in 2026.

 

2026 Prep Transition Program

We are excited to welcome our newest learners through the Prep 2026 Transition Program, which will run across the following dates:

  • Friday, November 14th
  • Friday, November 21st
  • Friday, November 28th
  • Friday, December 5th
  • Tuesday, December 9th

These transition sessions are a valuable step in preparing children for the exciting beginning of their school journey. They give our future Preps the opportunity to explore their new learning spaces, meet their teachers and classmates, and start building the routines and confidence that will support them in their first year of school.

By the time school begins in 2026, our Prep students will feel familiar with their surroundings and ready for a smooth, positive start to their learning journey.

 

Year 7-12 HeadStart Program

Our 2026 Year 7–12 students will begin the HeadStart Program on Monday, November 24th. This two-week program is an important part of preparing students for the year ahead.

HeadStart provides students with the chance to experience secondary school life, meet their teachers and classmates, and begin building the routines and confidence that will support them in 2026. It also gives students an early opportunity to engage with their new subjects and expectations before the year officially begins.

We encourage all students to make the most of this valuable opportunity to ensure a smooth transition and a positive start to the 2026 school year.

 

 

Sun Smart Reminder

As we move into the warmer months, I’d like to remind everyone that we are a SunSmart school. It’s important that all our students are diligent in wearing their school hats during outdoor activities and applying sunscreen as needed. 

We encourage families to support this by ensuring students come to school with a hat each day and are aware of the importance of sun protection during this time of year.

 

Safety Reminder – Helmets on Bikes and Scooters

We have noticed that some students are arriving at school without wearing a helmet when riding their bike or scooter. Wearing a helmet is not only a legal requirement, but it is also one of the most important ways to protect against serious injury.

We ask all families to please remind their child of the importance of always wearing a properly fitted helmet when riding. By developing safe habits now, we can help keep our students safe both to and from school, and whenever they are out in the community.

 

Year 3-4 Camp 

Our Year 3–4 Camp will run from Monday, October 20th to Wednesday, October 22nd at Warra Gnan Coastal Camp, Warrnambool. This two-night experience will help students build independence, teamwork, resilience, and problem-solving skills while strengthening friendships. Students will enjoy local attractions and activities designed to build confidence and curiosity. Further information will be sent to families soon.

New Rest Day Initiative to better support staff and students after major events like camps, School Council has endorsed a rest day for both staff and students following the Year 3–4 Camp (and the Year 1–2 Sleepover). This approach:

  • Supports wellbeing and recovery after high-energy events
  • Reduces financial and logistical strain from time-in-lieu (TIL)
  • Ensures the sustainability of these valuable experiences

We acknowledge and thank staff who generously give personal time to make camps safe, engaging and memorable. We also value the ongoing support of families as we balance student opportunities with staff wellbeing.

If you have any concerns or questions about this new approach, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.  We are looking forward to an enjoyable and rewarding experience for all our Year 3–4 students while they are on camp.

 

Victorian Government Drought Support

We are deeply aware of the ongoing farming crisis across South-West Victoria. Prolonged dry conditions, rising fodder costs, and increasing financial pressures continue to place significant strain on farmers, their families and the wider Mortlake community.

Our thoughts are with all those facing these challenges. Farmers play a vital role in sustaining our economy, food supply and the strength of our local community.

 

Community Support from the CWA - We sincerely thank the Country Women’s Association (CWA) for their generous and ongoing support of our students, families and wider community during this difficult time. Their assistance and resources are invaluable in helping families navigate the pressures of drought and beyond.

If your family is experiencing difficulties, please remember both the College and groups like the CWA are here to help. We stand together and offer our full support to those impacted.

 

Student Free Day – Friday October 24th

A reminder that Friday October 24th will be a Curriculum Day at Mortlake College. Students will not be required to attend school on this day.

Staff will be using the day to finalise our Victorian Curriculum 2.0 scope and sequence documents, ensuring a clear and consistent approach to teaching and learning across all year levels.

We thank families for their support as we dedicate this time to strengthening our curriculum planning.

 

Years 7-9 Camp

Expression of Interest forms for our Year 7–9 End of Year Camp have now gone home. This camp will take place from Wednesday December 10th to Friday December 12th. While this camp will be held at the same location as last time, the real focus is not on the venue but on the activities, teamwork and shared experiences that make camp such a valuable part of school life. It’s always a fantastic way to finish the school year together.

We understand that the end of the year can be an expensive time for families. If you would like to set up a payment plan to spread out the cost and avoid the busy Christmas period, please contact Brooke at the office who will be happy to assist.

 

School Council Update

Since our last newsletter, the School Council has met and discussed several important items. We are pleased to share the following updates with our school community:

  • Reports from: The Principal, Finance Committee, Facilities Committee and our Student Representative. 
  • School Uniform Update: We are updating our school uniform and have reviewed a range of fabrics and styles. The new uniform options will be available for all families from the beginning of 2027, through LOWES. Further details to be shared once arrangements are finalised.
  • Tea Tree Lake and School Boundary Fence: The Department of Education’s OHS and Legal Services are supporting ongoing site safety and access concerns following the Moyne Shire’s 2022 fence and bollard replacement. A risk assessment recommends constructing a 2.1m palisade fence with a lockable gate and signage directing visitors to the office, while staff continue monitoring the area during yard duty. This approach prioritises both safety and community access.
  • 2026 Standing Tall Program: Standing Tall is a mentoring program for Year 7–9 students that connects them with trained community mentors to strengthen wellbeing, resilience and school engagement. Up to 12 students will take part in weekly one-hour sessions over two years, receiving support with confidence, attendance and goal setting. The program also builds community ties by involving local volunteers and offers long-term benefits such as improved self-esteem, relationships and retention. 
  • Compass: From the beginning of the 2026 school year, Mortlake College will transition from Sentral to Compass as our main platform for communication with families. Compass will provide a streamlined, user-friendly system for accessing important information such as announcements, student reports, attendance and event details. Further information and support will be shared with families throughout 2025 to ensure a smooth changeover.
  • Bush Fire Readiness: Mortlake P–12 College remains a Category 3 school on the Bushfire At-Risk Register, meaning we are located in an area at risk of bushfire. Our updated 2025–2026 Emergency Management Plan (EMP) aligns with VRQA requirements and includes regular evacuation drills, clear procedures, and communication with families. Please note that on days declared ‘Catastrophic’ fire danger, the College must close with families notified in advance via the Sentral App.
  • No policies were presented
  • Approval of Upcoming Dates:
    • Year 7-9 Camp – December 10th to 12th 
    • Last day of Formal Classes – Tuesday December 16th 

Next Meeting: Tuesday October 28th 

 

Important Upcoming Dates

Please continually check Sentral and the newsletter for important dates, student information and highlights of events.

  • MWC Cricket Years 7-10: Thursday September 18th (Held here at Mortlake College)
  • Footy Colours Day and Community Breakfast: Friday September 19th 
  • Last Day Term 3: Friday September 19th NOTE: 2:30pm Dismissal for all Students
  • First Day Term 4: Monday October 6th   
  • VCE/VM Melbourne Camp: Monday October 13th to Wednesday October 15th  
  • Year 3-4 Camp: Monday October 20th to Wednesday October 22nd (Year 3-4 Rest Day: Thursday October 23rd) 
  • Last Day Year 12: Monday October 20th (Celebration Day: Tuesday October 21st) 
  • Curriculum Day (No School for Students): Friday October 24th 
  • School Council: Tuesday October 28th 
  • Year 1-2 Sleep Over: Wednesday October 29th and Thursday October 30th. Prep Students remain at School on Wednesday 29th October to participate in activities. (Year P-2 Rest Day: Friday October 31st) 
  • Presentation Ball: Friday November 28th 
  • 2025 Primary Celebration Assembly: Wednesday December 3rd (In the GGC starting at 6pm)
  • 2025 Secondary Celebration Assembly/Presentation Night: Monday December 8th (in the GGC starting at 6pm)
  • Last Day of Formal Classes (all students): Tuesday December 16th 

 

As always, thank you for your ongoing partnership. Please stay connected through Sentral and our school calendar for the latest updates. If you have any questions or feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out to the office or your child’s teacher.

 

 

 

 

 Linda Mooseek

Mortlake P-12 College Principal