PRINCIPAL REPORT

Gallery Image — Danielle Vaughan - Principal

As we move further into Term 4, there is much to celebrate at Mount Eliza Secondary College, with exciting developments across the College, important milestones for our students and a clear direction emerging for our next four years.

Farewell to the Class of 2026

We recently farewelled our wonderful Year 12 students, and what a fantastic cohort they have been! Their final week was filled with fun, laughter and the continuation of much-loved Year 12 traditions. It was particularly pleasing to see the respectful and positive way in which they celebrated their final days of schooling. They have certainly left us with many fond memories.

For our scored VCE students, the hard work has continued, with many spending time at school studying, attending revision sessions and meeting with their dedicated teachers in preparation for their final examinations. I would like to acknowledge the commitment of both our students and staff during this important time.

To the Class of 2026, we wish you every success and happiness as you embark on your next chapter, whether that involves further education, employment, travel or simply taking some well-earned time to enjoy life! We are incredibly proud of you and look forward to hearing about the wonderful things you go on to achieve. Remember, you will always be part of the MESC community.

Exciting Improvements to Our College Grounds

I am absolutely delighted to share some long-awaited and exciting news! We are FINALLY in a position to resurface our basketball courts and construct a new undercover shelter in front of the gymnasium.

These improvements will make a significant difference to the daily experiences of our students. The resurfaced courts will provide a much-improved space for physical education, sport and recreation, while the new shelter will offer an additional undercover area for HPE classes and a place for students to play, socialise and enjoy their breaks while protected from the elements.

These projects are particularly special because they are the result of years of generosity, commitment and collective effort from our College community.

A BIG thank you to our wonderful Family and Friends parent group, School Council, and the many students and families who have supported our fundraising activities and contributed to the College's Buildings and Grounds Fund over recent years.

Your contributions have made these improvements possible. What a fantastic legacy you are creating, not only for our current students but for the many generations of students who will attend MESC in the future. It is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when a thoughtful, generous and community-minded group of people work together for the benefit of our young people.

Our School Strategic Review – Looking Ahead to 2027 and Beyond

At the end of last term, Mount Eliza Secondary College participated in our School Strategic Review, an important process undertaken every four years to reflect on our achievements, evaluate our practices and establish the priorities that will guide our next School Strategic Plan.

I would like to sincerely thank the members of our review panel for their professionalism, thoughtful feedback and support throughout this process:

Kim Jackson, Principal, Kunyung Primary School
Mel Woodland, Assistant Principal, Kunyung Primary School
Lisa Holt, Principal, Rosebud Secondary College
Tony Walker, MESC School Council President
Andrew Scneider, Senior Education Improvement Leader for Central Peninsula Network

Their contributions, questions and insights have been invaluable in helping shape our decision-making and future direction.

One of the most pleasing aspects of the review was the consistent feedback from panel members about the culture of our College. They commented on the calm, warm and welcoming environment they experienced, and the positivity, respect and community-mindedness demonstrated by both students and staff throughout their visit.

This feedback was particularly meaningful, as it reflects something we work hard to foster every day at MESC: a school community where positive relationships, connection and wellbeing provide the foundations for successful learning.

While there is much to celebrate, a strategic review also provides an important opportunity to identify where we can continue to grow, challenge ourselves and improve outcomes for every student.

I look forward to sharing more detailed information with our school community early in 2027. However, the key areas of focus recommended by the review panel for our next four-year strategic plan include:

Increasing academic rigour: Ensuring all students are appropriately challenged, supported and encouraged to achieve their personal best through high expectations and purposeful learning.
Strengthening consistency in teaching practice: Continuing to build a shared understanding and consistent application of effective teaching and student engagement practices across all classrooms, so every student benefits from high-quality learning experiences.
Improving student attendance: Strengthening our collective approach to attendance and engagement, recognising that being at school, connected to learning and actively participating are essential to student success.

These priorities provide an exciting opportunity to build upon the strong foundations already in place at MESC. Our staff have demonstrated a genuine commitment to professional learning and continuous improvement, and I am confident that, together with our students and families, we can continue to strengthen both the learning experiences and outcomes of our young people.

As always, our motto, "Educated for Excellence, Prepared for Life," will remain at the heart of our work. We want our students to leave MESC not only with strong academic skills and meaningful pathways, but also with the confidence, character and connections to thrive beyond the school gates.

Thank you to our students, staff, families and wider community for your continued support and contribution to making Mount Eliza Secondary College such a positive place to learn and grow. There is much to be proud of and even more to look forward to!

Danni Vaughan

Principal

Mount Eliza Secondary College