Principal Team Report

Principal Team Report 

Dear MC Community,

Welcome to our first Mullauna Community Links for Term 4. We have much to share and celebrate, despite the very wet weather in recent days.

Our Year 12s have a number of exams behind them, and many of our Year 11s have now also experienced the formality and rigour of the VCAA final exams, which should leave them better prepared for their year 12 exmas in 2023.

First, a reminder that this coming Monday, 31st October is a student-free day for the staff Professional Practice Day.

World Teachers Day

Today, Friday 28th October, is World Teachers Day, a day to celebrate all the amazing things that teachers do for students! We celebrated with a special morning provided by our Education Support staff and special messages from students and the community. Liesl Coulthard, our school council vice president, addressed our teaching staff on behalf of the parent community.  Our newly appointed 2023 school captains spoke on behalf of all students. Our thanks to you all for the many messages we received.

Buildings – Stage 1 … and 2?!

I am very excited to share with you that we were informed on Monday of a $17.6 million election commitment by the state government to Stage 2 of our college facilities masterplan, including new Science and Technology spaces (including Foods), canteen, outdoor learning spaces and major refurbishments of current spaces.

Preparation of the May Constructions building site compound for our Stage 1 building is scheduled to commence some time in Week 6.

Art Show – and more Arts success for our students (refer page 4)

Schools represent a community within a community, and nothing brings greater pleasure than a celebration within a community, as it provides the opportunity for us to come together.  In a community like Mullauna there is always a lot to celebrate, and of course, it’s particularly rewarding to celebrate the work and achievements of our students; it was a particular pleasure to do so with creative works from the Arts subjects, across all year levels, at our first Art Show since 2019.

The arts represent the creative spirit of a community. George Otero, an educationalist, describes it thus: “What makes life in human communities unique is the artistic impulse. To be human is to create. Art in all forms, and there are many, is the learning pathway to being wholly human. Being better human beings is a goal of most 21st century schools. Art is the vehicle.”

We recognise that students who pursue these studies are often left feeling like they are swimming against the tide, as education focusses more and more on the financial benefits that the purportedly ‘academic’ areas bring. It’s a contentious area that is much debated, and creates a real conundrum for educators, and especially administrators, in endeavouring to offer college programs that cater for all needs and for all interests – it is a challenge we will continue to wrestle with.

We see the value not of each individual subject as such (in these academic / aspirational times for focus), but rather in terms of the value to individual students to learn, grow, explore, share and express themselves, to and with peers, teachers, family, and their community.

So, I thank and acknowledge particularly the Art staff, under the leadership of Rebecca Holmes, who work so hard with their students, in what is truly a labour of love. And I thank and acknowledge the many staff who joined the team to make the Art Show possible. Above all, I thank the students for daring to pursue their passions, and I thank their parents and friends for supporting them in this.

This exhibition of student work is a tremendous demonstration of the creativity, imagination and artistic talent of a broad range of our students, and we are immensely proud of our students and are delighted to show off their talents.

Many pieces have been produced by our current Year 11 and 12 students who have been assessed on these works. However, the exhibition was also about participation and encouragement, and all students involved in the arts program should be proud of their work.

On a personal note, I must add what a pleasure it has been to follow the development of the Year 12 folios over the year in VCD and Studio Art, whose classes I was able to visit over the last three terms

It was my great pleasure to present student awards on the evening, being certificates of commendation, and the ‘Principal’s Certificate of Excellence’. I find it highly ironic that someone so bereft of artistic talent had the pleasure of this task! I also freely acknowledge the frustration in being only able to acknowledge individually a small group of students.

Firstly, for recognition in tackling the organisational and workload challenge of completing two portfolio subjects, being VCD and Studio Art:

• Orlando Greulich
• Neve Coghlan
• Putheary Yoib
• Ashkan Ensafi

Then, encouragement awards went to:

• Year 9 – Zindzi Clayford
• Year 10 – Ryan Harrison
• Year 11 – James Coulthard
• Year 12 - Caitlyn Yang and Phoebe Dou

And finally, the Principal’s Award for Excellence for 2022 went to Tiombe Davey in recognition of her outstanding artistic achievements. Tiombe was truly the face of our exhibition; being selected for the publicity post card / invitation is an accolade in itself! 

Year 12 Celebrations

Week 2 of this term was a week of acknowledgement and celebration for our Year 12s, as they completed their classes and prepared for swot-vac and their VCAA exams, commencing with English on Wednesday 26th October. I’m sure the whole Mullauna community joins us in wishing them well.

It was with great pleasure that we assembled the whole school in the PAC on Thursday afternoon to farewell our Year 12 class of 2022 at our Flame Assembly. What a highlight that was and so very significant: our first whole-school assembly since March 2022, the very last one for our Year 12s, and the very first one for both our Year 7s and our Year 8s!

Furthermore, the wet weather could not dampen our spirits as we gathered again on Thursday evening with parents, families and friends for the Year 12 Valedictory. And the sun was shining the following morning for our Year 12 Celebration Day breakfast and the traditional and very emotional opening of the time capsules created by our Year 12s way back in 2017 as part of Year 7 Challenge, Humanities and Art. 

I would particularly like to acknowledge and thank the Year 12s for their exemplary conduct on Celebration Day - they were respectful, clever and very humorous in the way they chose to celebrate their time here with us.

2023 School Captains and Student Leadership

It is my great pleasure to share with the college community that our 2023 School Captains are Andrew Fankhauser, Lucy Ongaro, Matilda Ridgway and Alexander Sayle. 

The Student Representative Council met last week and discussed a number of upcoming matters. The new College Captains for 2023 were introduced and conducted the meeting for the first time. It was decided that the charity for the free dress day on December 2, would be the Victorian Farmer Federation for flood relief. The roles required for the organisation of this free dress day were established. New leadership positions were also discussed and ideas surrounding more leadership in the junior year levels.

Andrew Fankhauser – 2023 College Captain

Student Representative to School Council

Year 6-7 Transition – and the start of a new era

It was a pleasure to welcome our new Year 7s and their parents at the Year 7 Welcome Night on Monday 17th October. They now have the 'small schools' orientation day (for those coming alone) on Wednesday 9th November and the state-wide Orientation Day for all Year 6 students on Tuesday 13th December to look forward to.

Preparations for final assessments and exams

With the VCAA exams in full swing, it seems a good time to remind all other students to prepare for their final assessments and exams in coming weeks. Parents can assist by ensuring their child has an effective and structured study routine, as well as a suitable study environment at home to undertake this critical preparation. Forming the habit of focussing on study at home is a useful process in itself. Class teachers will be providing the students with practice work and also hint and tips - parents can assist by asking their child to share these with them, and then discussing and supporting them in their application.

QuickSmart - celebrating success

Our QuickSmart students gathered at lunchtime   today to celebrate the successful completion of 

their program with the coordinator (and Learning Specialist), Naomi Jallais, their instructor, Karen Jose, and our Leading Teacher of Curriculum, Jacqui Brush. Students were presented with a certificate of acknowledgement and a delicious lunch of pizza, 

fairy bread and Miss Jallais' home-baked cake!

End of year program

Further detailed information regarding the end-of-year program will be published progressively through Compass and the weekly MC Community Updates.

Final day of formal classes and compulsory school attendance for Senior School students (Year 10 and 11) is Friday 2nd December. Students must clear their locker by this day at the latest, preferably earlier.

Final day of formal classes and compulsory school attendance for Junior School students (Years 7, 8 and 9) is Friday 9th December. Students must clear their locker by this day at the latest, preferably earlier.

OPTIONAL SUMMER PROGRAM – final week (Week 11) of Term 4.

Optional Gumbuya World excursion for students in Years 7, 8 and 9 is on Monday 12th December – refer further details below and on Compass.

To give our staff the required time to complete critical tasks in our final days of the school year, we will run only a limited Optional Summer Program for students in Years 7, 8 and 9 commencing on Tuesday 13th December and continuing until Friday 16th December.

The program will consist of combined Year 7, 8 & 9 classes attending a range of subjects / activities each day; this may include assistance with basic cleaning tasks, moving furniture etc. There is no additional cost involved for the Summer Program, and it will be operating on the normal 6 period day timetable. This program is NOT part of students’ formal instruction or assessment.

To assist in planning for the Summer Program, parents MUST indicate the attendance of their child on Compass once the event is published. If you have any concerns or wish to discuss this program, please contact Reception on 9874-3422.

The state-wide Orientation Day for Year 6 students is on Tuesday 13th December.

Gumbuya World Excursion

On Monday 12 December, all Year 7, 8 and 9 students are invited to attend an excursion to Gumbuya World.  Payment of $60 and consent is due on Friday 2 December 2022 (payment includes, bus, park entry and lunch). If you have any questions, please contact Miss Larmour on lisa.larmour@education.vic.gov.au

Opportunities for Parent input

In coming weeks, there will be a number of opportunities for parents to involve themselves more actively in the college program.

On Saturday 26th November, we will be running our Democracy Sausage bbq for the state election. More details soon, including on how to help out on the day. For this year, we will be joined by the Mitcham Primary School team providing a cake stall.

At our last meeting, school council formed a working party to consider formation of a Mullauna College Parents/Community Association. Look out for more information soon.

In response to our School Review Report, the college Leadership Team has commenced a review of our assessment and reporting practices, starting with a wide-ranging discussion at our most recent Curriculum Committee meeting (taking in all Heads of Faculty). Part of our investigation will include a parent survey, so look out for this also.

HATS HATS HATS

During Term Four, students are required to wear a hat during the majority of PE and Sport Education classes which are held outdoors. Students are encouraged to bring a hat to school and leave it in their locker to have available for these classes.

Body Kind Youth Survey - Student Voices Can Make a Difference

Butterfly Foundation is inviting all young people aged 12 - 18 to have their voices heard about body image. This is a chance to complete the first national survey on body image, the Body Kind Youth Survey, so Butterfly can better understand the body image experiences of young Australians, get young people's views on what needs to change to create a more Body Kind Australia and advocate to the top levels of Government. The online survey is voluntary, anonymous, has ethics approval, takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and requires parental consent for under 15's. Help Butterfly help more young people to be kinder to their body and encourage your child to participate.  They can enter the draw to win a gift voucher when they participate. Closing Friday, 21st October. To find out more and to access the survey visit: www.butterfly.org.au/bkyouthsurvey

Reminder – Term 4 student-free days:

• Monday 31st October (Cup Eve) – Professional Practice Day – student-free (no scheduled classes)
• Friday 25th November – Headstart Planning & Preparation Day - student-free (no scheduled classes)

Coming key dates:

• Monday 31st October (Cup Eve) – Professional Practice Day – student-free (no scheduled classes)
• Tuesday 1st November – Melbourne Cup Day – public holiday
• Friday 25th November – Headstart Planning & Preparation Day - student-free (no scheduled classes)
• Saturday 26th November – election day ‘democracy sausage’ stall
• Monday 28th November – Headstart (2023 classes) and Year 9 Camp commence
• Friday 2nd December – final day of classes for students currently in Senior School (Years 10 & 11)
• Friday 9th December - final day of classes for students currently in Junior School (Years 7-9)
• Monday 12th December – Year 7-9 Activity Day – Gumbuya Park
• Tuesday 13th December – State-wide Year 7 Orientation Day / Summer Program for selected Junior School students commences
• Friday 16th December – final day of Summer Program for selected Junior School students
• Tuesday 20th December – final day of Term 4 – school closes for the summer break

Harry Ruff

Principal

For the MC Principal Team