Mount Ridley P-12 College

From the Principal Class Team

Dear MRC Community, 

 

With Week 6 coming to a close, we are now well on the way to end of term. As we look forward to longer days and warmer weather as Term 4 approaches, it's also a good time to restock your child's Summer uniform. You can purchase additional items at The Uniform Group, our uniform supplier in Craigieburn, or keep an eye out for upcoming Second Hand Uniform sales, which will be announced via Compass.

Like usual, over the past couple of weeks, there have been some exciting activities and developments around the College. Please feel free to read all about them in the coming pages of our newsletter- some highlights are mentioned below.

 

Hume Illuminate Challenge

A huge congratulations to the group of Year 9 and 10 students who participated in the Hume Council Illuminate week-long challenge event a couple of weeks ago. MRC teams competed against students from other local secondary schools in this entrepreneurial challenge, which tasked them with solving a community issue. Our teams were successful in winning:

 

  • Best Pressure Cooker Submission

  • Best Team – Peoples’ Choice

  • Best Marketing Strategies

     

Science Week  

During Week 4, students from across our College had the opportunity to participate in Science events as part of this year's National Science Week. The theme, "Decoding the Universe," provided the focus for numerous class activities. As always, our teachers promoted Science through a series of exciting events and competitions, including:

  • STEM Sphero Race – Students learnt basic coding and programming as they controlled Sphero bolt in a fun race against their classmates, applying their skills in a hands-on, competitive activity. 
  • Popcorn & Fairy Floss – A fun, edible demonstration of chemical reactions, heat transfer, and the physical changes of materials when exposed to heat.
  • DIY Bath Salts – An exploration of chemistry in everyday life as students mixed their own bath salts, learning about solubility and chemical bonding.
  • Bike Smoothies – Students experienced the science of energy conversion firsthand by using pedal power to blend nutritious smoothies, demonstrating the transformation of kinetic energy into mechanical work.
  •  

It was great to see so many excited students participating and learning about the impact of Science on our modern lives. 

 

Reminder to participate in the 2025 Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey

As mentioned last newsletter, your family is asked to participate in the 2025 Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey. Each year the school conducts an opinion survey with the school community. Results will be used to inform and direct our future school planning and improvement. If you have not yet completed the survey, I ask you to please take the time to do so as your opinions are important to us and will contribute to the future management and organisation of our school. The department will use the results from the survey for research purposes and to improve outcomes for students.

The survey is online and will only take about 20 minutes- access information is available via Compass.

 

School Uniform Feedback

Following the Education Department’s announcement in April regarding significant changes to school uniforms effective from Term 1 next year, the College is currently undertaking a review of our Student Dress Code Policy. 

 

As part of this process, we have begun gathering feedback from students and are now seeking input from parents and carers, followed by staff comments.  Final recommendations are expected to be presented to the College Council at its September meeting.

 

Our College Council holds ultimate responsibility for setting and reviewing the Student Dress Code Policy, and your feedback will play an important role in informing its decision.

 

If you are interested in offering feedback, please do so via the link below by no later than 3rd September, 2025.

 

https://mountridleycollege-vic.compass.education/Records/User.aspx?displayInsightsCycleId=82

 

Class formation policy

Just a reminder regarding the Mount Ridley College class formation policy. When formulating class placements and mentor groups, the best possible learning environment is considered for each student. In order to do this, consideration is given to:

  • The spread of abilities in each class;
  • The spread of behavioural, social/emotional and other special needs;
  • Gender balance;
  • Equal number of students in each year level, where possible, within composite classes;
  • Positive student working relationships and potential conflict situations, and

  • Previous class placements

     

Father’s Day Stall

The PFA will be running the annual Father’s Day stall from the Multipurpose room (Early Years Gym) next week (Tuesday 2nd September - Friday 5th September). Reminders will also be sent on Compass.

Years P-6 will have allocated class time. The timetable is on Compass and linked here:

Years 7-12 will be able to visit the stalls during lunchtimes on Thursday or Friday.  Staff will be allocated at the Junior Years gate during these times to supervise students crossing the road.   

Father's Day Schedule 2025.docx

 

 Key Dates

Please note the following upcoming events which will impact student attendance and the normal functioning of the College: 

  • Tuesday 16th September : WeShare Interviews (12:00 – 6:00pm)
  • Friday 19th September: Last day of Term 3 – Student Dismissal 2.00pm. 

Further information relating to WeShare Interviews will be provided through Compass over the coming weeks. 

Have a wonderful weekend,

 

 

Marika Convey

Assistant Principal- Student Management (Years 10-12)