From the Principal
School Review
This week, our leadership team began the important work of our School Review. Every four years, Victorian government schools take part in this process to reflect on what we are doing well and identify where we can continue to grow.
I'm looking forward to the conversations and insights that will come from the review as we shape the next chapter for Mornington Secondary College. It's an exciting opportunity to build on our strengths and continue delivering on our vision of Excellence for Every Student, in Every Class, Every Day.
School Tours
One of the real highlights of my week was welcoming prospective students and their families on our school tours. It was a pleasure to share the many opportunities that Mornington Secondary College offers, while also talking about the wonderful things I continue to discover about our school.
What has stood out to me most over the past few weeks is the genuine sense of pride that exists across our community. Whether it's our dedicated staff, the breadth of programs on offer, or the way our students speak about their school, it's clear that Mornington Secondary College is a place where people genuinely care about one another. I look forward to meeting many more future students and families over the coming months.
Out and About in the Yard
One of the best parts of each day has been getting out into the yard at lunchtime to meet our students. I make a point of being visible and approachable, and it's been fantastic getting to know so many young people already.
Whether it's chatting about weekend sport, hearing about classroom successes, or simply saying hello, these conversations are incredibly important. They remind me that schools are built on relationships, and every positive interaction helps create a place where students feel known, valued and connected. I'm looking forward to meeting many more students as the term continues.
Morning Tea with the Leadership Team
Building strong partnerships with our families is something I value deeply. To help strengthen those connections, I'd like to invite parents and carers to join members of our Leadership Team and myself for a relaxed morning tea.
These informal gatherings are a chance to get to know one another, hear about what's happening at the college, ask questions, share ideas, and discuss how we can continue working together to support every student's success and wellbeing.
If you would like to attend, please complete the attached expression of interest form.
Our sessions will be held at 11:00 a.m. on:
- Friday 7 Aug 2026
Wednesday 12 August 2026
I hope you can join us. I look forward to meeting many of you over the coming weeks. As I've shared with our students and staff, relationships matter, and I believe the strongest schools are those where families and staff work together in partnership to help every young person thrive.
Adam Slater
Principal
Important Dates
Dates correct at time of posting and subject to change.
From the Principal Team
To students and families of the Mornington Senior School,
A Warm Welcome to Our Visitors from Osaka
This weekend we are delighted to welcome a group of students and staff from the City of Osaka who will be spending ten days with us as part of our international exchange program. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students and wider school community to build friendships, experience another culture and showcase the welcoming spirit of Mornington Secondary College.
A heartfelt thank you goes to the families who have generously opened their homes to host our visitors. Your kindness and hospitality make experiences like this possible, and we greatly appreciate the time and care you are giving to ensure our guests feel at home during their stay.
Supporting Student Learning Through Checklists
At the end of last term, alongside semester reports, families received a Progress Check that included each student's checklist completion across all of their subjects. These checklists provide a clear picture of how students are keeping up with their essential classwork and learning tasks.
Students have now begun Semester Two with a new set of checklists in each subject. We encourage parents and carers to regularly ask their child about their checklist progress and take a few moments to review it together. Staying up to date with these tasks is one of the simplest and most effective ways to support student learning, reduce stress and ensure students remain on track throughout the semester.
Course Counselling Interviews
Course counselling interviews are taking place this week, with Year 9 students entering Year 10 attending interviews today, Friday 24 July, and Year 10 students entering Year 11 on Monday 27 July.
There will be no formal classes for students in these year levels on the day of their interview. Students are expected to attend their scheduled appointment, and parents and carers are strongly encouraged to attend alongside them.
These interviews are an important opportunity to discuss subject selections and ensure each student's program aligns with their interests, strengths and future pathways.
High School Musical – Coming Soon!
Our talented cast and production crew have been working tirelessly to bring High School Musical to the stage, and performance week is almost here.
Performances will run from 6–8 August, and we encourage all members of our school community to come along and support our students. School productions are a fantastic celebration of creativity, teamwork and dedication, and they provide an opportunity for our students to showcase the incredible talent that exists within our college.
Whether you have a family member performing or simply want to enjoy a fantastic night of entertainment, we would love to see you there. Tickets are on sale now for the Thursday 6 August 7pm, Friday 7 August 7pm and Saturday 8 August 2pm sessions via the below link.
Introducing StudyPulse: Personalised Learning Support for our VCE Students
Mornington Secondary College is excited to introduce StudyPulse, an innovative online learning platform designed specifically for VCE students. The platform provides students with:
- access to thousands of VCE practice questions,
- personalised revision,
- instant feedback,
- progress tracking, and
- AI-supported learning across almost every VCE subject.
Perhaps its greatest strength is that it gives students access to personalised academic support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing them to ask questions, receive explanations and refine their understanding whenever they are studying. While it is not intended to replace our teachers, StudyPulse provides every student with access to a level of support that many families would otherwise only receive through private tutoring.
Our Year 12 students will receive training on the platform next week before beginning to use it throughout Semester Two, with our Year 11 VCE students joining a few weeks later. Mornington Secondary College has chosen to fully fund access to StudyPulse during 2026, allowing us to evaluate the platform and its impact on student learning at no cost to families. Our VCE teachers will also undertake professional learning over the coming weeks to ensure the platform is integrated effectively into classroom teaching and provides the greatest possible benefit for students.
If the trial continues to demonstrate positive outcomes, the College intends to expand the program in 2027. The anticipated annual cost in 2027 would be approximately $50 for Year 12 students, providing access to almost every VCE subject (excluding Languages), and approximately $25-$35 for Year 11 students. For around the cost of a single private tutoring session, students will have access to personalised learning support across almost every VCE subject for an entire year. We are excited about the opportunities StudyPulse presents to enhance feedback, personalise revision and help every student achieve their personal best.
Kind regards,
The MSC Principal Team
Adam Slater
Principal
Nick Evans
Senior School Assistant Principal
Mike Parker
Assistant Principal - Curriculum and Student Wellbeing
Students of the Week
Ateny Machar - Year 7
Favourite food: Bolognese penne pasta
Hobbies out of school: Netball (GA, WD)
What sports team do you follow? Geelong
Favourite movie/TV show: Voicemails for Isabelle
Do you have any pets? Rambo, my dog
What are you excited for at Mornington Secondary College? Hanging out with the AFL Trainees, they make me laugh.
What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? Hanging out with my friends
What career do you wish to follow when you finish school? Lawyer or nurse
What's one skill you have that makes you unique? Playing the piano
Your greatest strength: Physical strength
What three words best describe you? Funny, funny and funny!
Bobby Gibson - Year 7
Favourite food: Cottage pie
Hobbies out of school: Motorcross and basketball
What sports team do you follow? Collingwood in the AFL, England in the world cup, Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA and Chelsea in Premier League.
Favourite movie/TV show: SpongeBob
Do you have any pets? 4 dogs (2 Dachshunds and 2 Jack Russells).
What are you excited for at Mornington Secondary College? Graduating
What do you enjoy most about being at Mornington Secondary College? Seeing my friends
What career do you wish to follow when you finish school? Professional motorcross rider
What's one skill you have that makes you unique? Motorcross
Your greatest strength: When I want to achieve something, I never give up.
What three words best describe you? Brave, fearless and adventurous
Excursions
Year 11 and 10 Melbourne Careers Expo Excursion
On Friday 17 July our Year 10 and Year 11 students attended the Melbourne Careers Expo at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, where they explored a wide range of future study, training and career opportunities.
The expo brought together:
- universities,
- TAFEs,
- registered training organisations,
- apprenticeship and traineeship providers,
- employers, and
- industry representatives
The breadth of exhibitors provided students with the opportunity to speak directly with experts about potential career pathways. Students collected valuable information on VCE and VET pathways, tertiary courses, apprenticeships, scholarships, and employment opportunities, while gaining a greater understanding of the skills and qualifications required across a variety of industries.
This experience is an important part of our students' career development. For our Year 10 students, the expo will support informed subject selections as they begin planning their senior secondary pathway. For our Year 11 students, it provided valuable insight into post-school options, helping them to explore university, TAFE, apprenticeships, traineeships and employment opportunities with greater confidence.
A sincere thank you to our dedicated staff for accompanying our students and helping to make the day such a success.
Finally, congratulations to our Year 10 and Year 11 students for the outstanding way they represented our school. Thank you for your positive attitude, respectful behaviour, and willingness to engage with exhibitors, ask thoughtful questions, and make the most of this valuable learning opportunity. We hope the experience has inspired you to continue exploring the many exciting pathways available beyond school.
Kylie Lebrasse
Careers Practitioner
Interschool Sport
The exciting news from the State Cross Country Championships was hot off the press in last week's newsletter. In this week's issue we'd like to share some more information and photos from School Sport Victoria so we can appreciate our MSC runners efforts that little bit more!
The 2026 State Cross Country Championships involved more than 1,800 students competing from across Victoria, with 32 races across 2000m, 3000m and 5000m courses, with all competitors trying their very best in what is the single biggest interschool sport event on the calendar, and estimates of more than 4,500 people in attendance.
Girls 15yo, 3km
- Hannah Cooper finished 28th, with a time of 00:13:17.360
- 1st place (from Box Hill High School) ran a time of 00:11:40.187
- There were 87 competitors in this event, with 87th placed running 00:15:59.110
Boys 16yo, 5km
- Ethan Sheen finished 10th, with a time of 00:17:07.983
- Rafa Merchan finished 12th, with a time of 00:17:21.303
- Kai Peel finished 36th, with a time of 00:18:32.050
- Bailey Barrett finished 45th, with a time of 00:18:55.180
- 1st place (from Glen Waverley High School) ran a time of 00:16:14.777
- There were 82 competitors in this event, with 82nd placed running 00:23:15.840
- Team results: MSC 1st (58), St Josephs College Echuca 2nd (90), Balwyn High School 3rd (98)
Senior Girls Badminton Team Competes at SMR Championships
Congratulations to Summer, Regan, Seren, and Maddie, who represented Mornington Secondary College at Wednesday’s SMR Senior Girls Badminton Championships.
The girls faced a challenging start to the day against a strong and highly competitive team from Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School. Despite giving their best effort in every match, they were unable to secure a rubber, going down 6-0.
The team responded brilliantly in their second fixture against Monterey Secondary College, producing an outstanding performance to win all six rubbers and record a convincing 6-0 victory.
Their final match was against an evenly matched McKinnon Secondary College side. In a closely contested encounter that could have gone either way, the girls fought hard but were narrowly defeated 4-2.
The team finished the day with one win and two losses, but their results only tell part of the story. Throughout the competition, Summer, Regan, Seren, and Maddie displayed exceptional sportsmanship, resilience, teamwork, and positive attitudes, representing Mornington Secondary College with pride both on and off the court.
Rob Horwill
Head of PE
Support Our Vocational Major Community Market Day
Our Vocational Major students are busy preparing for their Community Market Day, to be held on Thursday 27 August during recess and lunchtime. This student-led event is all about giving back, with all funds raised supporting Speak and Share, the school's chosen charity.
Speak and Share is a proactive mental health organisation dedicated to breaking down stigma and encouraging meaningful conversations. Through interactive programs in schools, workplaces and sporting clubs, they empower communities to normalise vulnerability and ensure no one faces mental health challenges alone.
To help make the day a success, we are seeking donations from our school community and local businesses for our raffle and market stalls. Donations of goods, services or vouchers—big or small—will be gratefully received.
As a thank you for your support, donating businesses will be acknowledged with their logo displayed on a recognition board at the event, seen by more than 800 students and 100 staff, as well as on the College's electronic billboard on Nepean Highway*. Contributors will also receive a Certificate of Appreciation and be recognised in a future College newsletter.
Further information about the Community Market Day, including an invitation for MSC families to attend, will be shared soon.
If you are able to support this worthwhile initiative, please contact us as soon as possible:
- Kirsty Hamson (kirsty.hamson@education.vic.gov.au) or
- Jo Dixon (joanne.dixon@education.vic.gov.au) .
Every donation, no matter the size, will help our students make a positive difference in the community.
*Subject to satisfying MSC policies.
Kirsty Hamson
Personal Development Teacher
Jo Dixon
Year Level Coordinator 12
2026 Contributions Friendly Reminder
The Department of Education provides schools with funds to assist in the running of a school. All government schools rely on parent subsidies that enhance and extend what our school can offer ensuring the best possible education and support for your family.
It would be greatly appreciated if you could review all of the recommended contributions we have requested as well as any other payments requested, for example Music Lessons.
To assist you with reviewing this on Compass please follow these instructions.
Compass Portal on a computer
Please follow the CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION link in the Payments Centre box. In this section, you will see all upcoming event and contribution links.
Click on the arrow next to ACTION REQUIRED to see more information and make any payments.
Compass Portal using the phone app
Please find below a link to the Compass Parent User Guide for the mobile app.
Wellbeing
Junior Rangers
This week at Junior Rangers we visited Tounnin Wominjeka Youth Hub in Rosebud, where we were facilitated by Ganga Giri in teaching the students about how to collect emu eggs. Students had time to make their own emu egg callers and decorate emu eggs. It was another great day with Koori students from six schools in the local area.
Nicole Boland
Mental Health Practitioner
Doctors in School
Free Career Support for Young People in Rosebud
Shine a Light on Homelessness
New Staff at MSC
My name is Marie Atkinson, and I’m very happy to be joining Mornington Secondary College as a Science teacher. My teaching career has taken me from Dubai to Australia, with the most significant chapter being the seventeen years I spent in the United Arab Emirates. During that time, I taught Science and Biology within both the British Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate at the Royal Family’s School.
Since returning home, I’ve enjoyed teaching Science at Somerville Secondary College and Rosebud Secondary College, and I’m excited to now bring that experience and enthusiasm to Mornington. I value creating calm, purposeful classrooms where students feel supported and inspired to learn.
Outside of school, I love walking my dog along Mount Martha Beach, and taking care of two rescue cats from the Mornington Animal Shelter. Yoga is my passion, which I practise every day. During my years in Dubai, I also taught yoga and meditation, which continues to shape the calm, grounded approach I bring into my teaching.
I’m genuinely looking forward to becoming part of the Mornington community and contributing to a warm, inspiring learning environment.
Hi, I’m Corinne Johnstone, and I’m excited to be joining the Science team at Mornington Secondary College. I’ve taught science in a range of settings, including locally, interstate, and overseas in Scotland. These experiences have strengthened my passion for supporting students of all abilities and my belief that every student can succeed with the right encouragement and support. I enjoy thinking outside the box to create engaging, accessible learning and value working collaboratively to help students achieve their best.
My favourite areas of science are biology and chemistry, and I have a keen interest in STEM education. I find it rewarding to inspire curiosity through practical learning, problem-solving, and discovery.
Outside of school, I enjoy cooking, gardening, and spending time in our beautiful outdoors. I’m looking forward to getting to know the Mornington Secondary College community and sharing my enthusiasm for science.
Important Information Relating to Public Bus Route 785
This information relates to the public bus 785 and has nothing to do with the Mornington Secondary College school provided buses.
Please read the attached letter from the Department of Transport and Planning relating to the PTV Schools Special Trips on the public bus route 785.
This is being removed and replaced by a separate school special bus service called 5118, which has an AM and a PM run, and is still part of PTV and run by Ventura.
See Department of Transport and Planning Letter and adjusted 785 timetable / map attached.
To access the timetable and route map follow these instructions:
- Click the link: https://venturabus.com.au/live-tracking/ or the link in the letter.
- Type Mornington Secondary College in the search box and click Mornington Secondary College when it pops up.
- Click the word 'Timetable' on the far right of the map screen. This will display the AM bus stops and their times. PM times will be uploaded shortly.
Don’t Miss a Moment at MSC!
Follow Mornington Secondary College on Facebook & Instagram for news, events, and more so you never miss a moment of your student's learning journey.
Community News & Opportunities
RYPEN (Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment) - Camp for 14-17 Year Olds
RYPEN is a 3-day camp running 18-20 September at The Briars Outdoor Ed Camp in Mount Martha, where students take part in workshops and team challenges designed to build confidence and help them discover their potential.
RYPEN is completely free for participants and their families! Rotary clubs will sponsor young people to attend, which completely covers the cost of students to attend RYPEN.
Key details:
RYPEN: A life-changing camp for empowerment and personal growth
Who: 14-17 year olds (in years 9-11)
When: 18-20 September 2026
Where: The Briars Outdoor Ed Camp, Mount Martha
Apply: https://linktr.ee/ryla9815
Applications close: 23 August 2026
Stage School Australia - Audition Drive
UR Retreat Camp for Young Women
Mornington Community Disability Expo
To learn more or to reach out to us