Principal Update

Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

A big welcome to Week 8 and what has been a busy few weeks here at Mordialloc College. Our Year 10 and Year 11 students are focused on their success with their examinations, our Middle School students continue to inspire me with their enthusiastic approach to finding out about the world around them, and our Year 12 students are diligently getting ready for this very important final part of their Mordialloc College career.

Student Safety Within Our Community

I continue to be concerned around bike safety to and from school.

Each time I have contacted a family about an incident involving their child on their way to and from school, that family is always surprised to find out that their child has been involved. Please can I urge you to speak with your child about how to be safe within the wider school community. 

Unfortunately, bicycle accidents are not rare; throughout my career I have attended accidents involving students and in cases where students were wearing helmets, injuries were minimised.  If your child rides to school, please talk to them about the importance of wearing their helmet whilst riding their bike.  As I have mentioned to you previously, Mordialloc College staff will engage with students as they enter the college gates, but this really is a broader issue within our school community which could have a tragic outcome if not addressed.

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 our 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 school. Over the last few 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 the school during Term 3 and will be communicated to students and families through the Annual Report.

Excursions

MEX City experience

Thanks to Matt Smith, Learning Specialist for organising the two-day MEX city experience for our Year 9 students in Week 6, and also to all staff who supported this excursion. Students had the opportunity to visit a variety of sites that are a part of Melbourne’s vibrant culture, including Victoria Market, MCG and Sports Museum and the Old Melbourne Gaol. Feedback from both students and the venues we visited were very positive. 

Teenage Road Accident Group (T.R.A.G excursion)

On 3rd June our Year 12 students attended a presentation by Teenage Road Accident Group (TRAG). During this session, students were presented with information designed to promote road safety, and to end preventable road trauma for the next generation of young drivers. 

Since it first started nearly twenty years ago, TRAG has worked with over 100,000 Year 10, 11, and 12 students across the Mornington Peninsula and South East Melbourne. This is nearly a complete generation of our community, some of whom have now become parents themselves and are keeping their own children safer through the knowledge they gained by attending TRAG workshops.

TRAG presenters are a combination of Emergency Services (Victoria Police, CFA, Ambulance Victoria, SES) and those who have experienced road trauma and its effects first hand. TRAG is widely acknowledged as an integral part of the local resources to reduce incidences of road trauma in the 15-25 age group, the most vulnerable age group in our community.

We would like to thank the team at TRAG for the work and effort in communicating such an important message to our students. If you would like further information please go to https://trag.org.au/

Senior Formals

We look forward to the Year 11 Formal which will be held tonight at the Dingley International. The theme is ‘Hollywood Glam’ and I cannot wait to see the outfits of our fabulous Year 11 students! Thanks to Year 11 Coordinators Mick Haber and Kellie Goebel for organising this event with the organising committee of students and staff attending to support it. Our Year 12 Formal will be held Friday 20th June at Southern Golf Club.

Rachael Stone

Principal