Principal's Update

Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

Mordialloc College Student Council 2023 and AGM

We have conducted our selection process for the many student leadership positions on our Mordialloc College Student Council, and these positions have formally been taken up from Headstart. I congratulate all students who went through an extensive application process where they delivered a speech to their year level (then a voting process is completed by students and staff), wrote a short application letter and were interviewed by a panel (for Senior School – Tim Randell, Robyn Wilson, Simon Cummins and me; for Middle School – Brendan McFarland, Simon Cummins, Georgia Davey and me). 

This Wednesday we are holding our AGM from lunchtime. It is exciting to be continuing to build upon this new leadership structure introduced this past year to promote and allow for greater student voice, agency, and leadership across our whole school for Year 7-12 students. I would like to thank both Mr Cummins for his organisation of the AGM and his leadership of the new student council and the teachers involved in leading or supporting a subcommittee. 

At the end of our time together at the AGM each sub-committee will have their first draft of their action plan for Term 1 next year. 

We have previously announced in the newsletter the successful candidates who will form the new Student Council in 2023 and they were introduced to the whole school in our assembly last Wednesday. I will include the information again in this article in case anyone missed the previous announcement. We will still have our formal leadership induction assembly with the presentation of badges and certificates mid Term 1 next year.

Senior School

College Captains: 

Amelia Davidson and Jeremy Thai-Chan

Vice Captains: 

Reema Ababneh and Jordan Shenouda

Sub-Committee Captains (Vice Captains also lead a subcommittee)

Curriculum: Jessica House and Reema Ababneh

Facilities and Environment: Amelia Davidson and Jeremy Thai-Chan

Promotion and Fundraising: Ava Bridger and Jordan Shenouda

The Arts: 

Performing Arts: Katherine Papadopoulos and Matilda Harwood;

Visual Arts: Eva Coulton

Sports: Nina Davis and Lewis Hatch

Community and Well Being: Tenillia Tong and Cassandra Lawson

Middle School 

Captains: – Reny Zhang and Ethan Simons

Vice Captains: – Alex Wragg, Bonnie Blinco, and Caleb Mulcahy

Note: House captains at Years 7-12 are still to be appointed. 

In addition to these positions, our Year 7 students can still nominate in Term 1 next year, and students in Years 8-12 can nominate this year or early next year, for the House Captain roles and to be on one of the subcommittees. Students across all year levels will be also given the opportunity to join a subcommittee if interested. 

Headstart Whole School Assembly

Last Wednesday we held our Whole School Assembly in the gym to officially launch the 2023 academic year for the whole school and outline our expectations of students for the remainder of the year in this program.

It is really important that, as a strong and positive school community, we are kind to each other, we are there for each other, that we all get along, showing respect to all and support and encourage one another to strive to achieve their personal best.  With positive behaviours from all students living our College Values, we can ensure the provision of a safe school environment and positive school culture that supports all students and staff to be the best that they can be.

We hope students enjoy these last few weeks with their new teachers and classes and have started to build positive relationships that will set them up for success when they return next year. Student attendance, work in class, assigned homework and completion of set tasks will count towards their report for Semester One next year.

I hope students have a genuine appreciation of what it means to be back onsite for face-to-face learning and that they are all proud to be students here and will make the most of the many opportunities and challenges that will be presented to them. We should take nothing for granted and cherish the vast range of experiences that our school provides for our students.

During the assembly we also introduced our 2023 student leadership team forming the new Mordialloc College Student Council, including our new College Captains, Vice Captains and Middle School Captains who all gave their first speech in their respective new roles. 

Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program

The University of Melbourne Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars program is an academic enrichment program designed to support high-achieving Victorian and select New South Wales and South Australian border school students in realising their full potential. The program provides access to events, activities and resources to give students a head start into university. 

Congratulations to Charlotte Zaph, a Year 10 student in 2022, who was successful in achieving one of the Melbourne University scholarships into this program which will run for the duration of Charlotte’s VCE studies at Mordialloc College.  There were over 1300 applications received so a fantastic achievement for Charlotte!!

Year 11 Formal

Last Friday night, we held the Year 11 Formal in the large function room upstairs at the Dingley Hotel. It was a successful event enjoyed by all students. Thanks to Mrs Wilson for her organisation of this significant event and all staff who attended to support this celebratory evening with students. 

Alumni Tour

Last Thursday I hosted members of our Alumni, including past teachers and students and took them on a tour of the school followed by morning tea. They were amazed by all the significant changes that have been made over the years and were very appreciative of the opportunity to see the school in action. Some notable former teachers who joined the tour included John Hendry (OAM for his contributions to education) and his wife Jenny who also taught at the school; Trevor Smith, Les Clement and Kay Mahlook.

During 2023, we will be planning our Centenary Celebrations coming up in 2024!

Richard Williams Scholarship Fund for Mordialloc College students

Please refer to the promotional flyer later in this newsletter, with applications opening for this wonderful scholarship opportunity in December and closing on Wednesday 1 March 2023. This year we had six lucky students being awarded this scholarship, receiving $1000 each to purchase goods and equipment to support them to pursue their interests. It is an annual scholarship all students can apply for each year. 

Richard Williams was an unsung local hero. He worked tirelessly for others and always put other people before himself. After his passing last year, a few of his close friends who have known him since they were students here, got together to create this Scholarship Fund in his memory. On behalf of our students, I thank the Alumni for working with Richard’s friends and family to set this fund up for the benefit of our current students.

Awards Night  

We look forward to our Awards night, next Wednesday 7 December at the City of Kingston Town Hall officially starting at 7.00 pm. Guests are advised to arrive earlier than this to allow plenty of time to find a park; and to then be seated in the main area. Parents of students who are involved in either performances or who are receiving an award should have received an invitation by now to purchase tickets to secure your seats at this important event. These students are required for our rehearsal at the venue from 9.00 am - 1.30 pm on this day and they should make their own way to and from the venue or have their parents drop them off and pick them up. Students not involved in Awards Night in Years 8 and 9 will have normal classes at school on this day. It is an early dismissal day for all students, though, at 1.30 pm.

Student behaviour to and from school

A reminder we expect all students to proudly demonstrate our school values of Personal Best, Respect, Responsibility and Integrity in all actions and behaviours in school and out in the community at all times. We have high expectations of all our students and ask that parents reinforce this at home in support of the school values. We ask all students to be mindful of their role as responsible young citizens in our local community, whether visiting one of our local shops, catching public transport, riding their bike, or walking to and from school. 

Future Term Dates

I am including this attachment again of the Official School Term Dates for 2023-2026, as there was a slight error in our starting dates for next year.

Last few weeks’ arrangements and reports

Congratulations to all students for their positive engagement with our 2023 Headstart program to date. This program is compulsory for all students and will conclude on Tuesday 6 December for Years 10 - 12 students, and Monday 12 December for Years 8 and 9 students. 

From Tuesday 13 – Tuesday 20 December an alternative program will run for students in Years 8 - 9 (7 & 8 2022 students). If your child will not be attending during this time, please contact the College. Semester 2, 2022 reports will be available via the Compass Parent and Student Portals on Friday 2 December, by 3.30 pm. Please contact the College if you have any trouble accessing or if you would like a hard copy. I hope parents take the opportunity to discuss the report/s with their student/s including appropriate actions to put in place to address any areas for improvement highlighted.

Michelle Roberts

Principal