From the Principal

Hello everyone, as I reflect on the term, I am thankful for so many things.

Today, we had a whole school assembly, where I shared some comments from the wider community about student behaviour whilst they are on excursions and camps. The comments were extremely supportive and positive. It is human nature to make comparisons, and in this case our students with other students from other schools. Overwhelmingly, the comments are the students at MSC are polite, respectful, helpful and engaging, more so than any other school. This makes me so proud and it was important I share these comments with the whole school.

At the end of the assembly, recognition was given to students who have received green posts on Compass. All students with a green post had their names in a digital raffle. One name was called out at each year level and each student was gifted a $10 canteen voucher. Three $30 gift vouchers were given to a student in Year 7&8, Year 9&10 and Year 11&12. Staff who provided the green posts were also placed in a digital raffle and a box of sweet things (bags of lollies) were provided as a gift.

Recent events have shaped our focus as a whole school and collectively we have worked together as a community to ensure we have a safe and orderly learning environment. Student forums have taken place at all year levels and education programs have been investigated to create a culture of inclusivity and diversity. This is just the beginning, and I will keep our community informed as this develops.

Next term is another busy term. Course Information evening occurred this week and many students and families attended from Year 9 and 10. Thank you for all who attended.

In the first couple of weeks of Term 3, students will be asked to make selections for their 2024 school year. Interviews will take place and all this information can be found in the Course Information booklet.

Please have a safe and wonderful break and look forward to working with you next term.

Linda Stanton

Principal

Important Dates

JUNE

23/06/23 | Last day of Term 2 (2.30pm Finish)

JULY

10/07/23 | First day of Term 3

13/07/23 | State Cross Country

20/07/23 | Year 11 into Year 12 2024 Course Counselling

21/07/23 | Year 9 into Year 10 2024 Course Counselling

25/07 - 27/07/23 | School Production "Be More Chill"

28/07/23 | Year 10 into Year 11 2024 Course Counselling

AUGUST

11/08 - 14/08/23 | Aerobics Final in Adelaide

21/08/23 | Parent Teacher Interviews 12pm - 7.00pm

SEPTEMBER

7/09/23 | Year 7 2024 Parent Information Evening

11/09 - 14/09/23 | Year 11 Outdoor Education Gariwerd Camp

15/09/23 | Last day of Term 3 (2.30pm Finish)

OCTOBER

02/10/23 | First Day of Term 4

Don't forget to look on compass for sport sign ups, excursions and any other information sent to students and parents.

Below is a link to help guide you in your use of compass.

https://mornsc.vic.edu.au/for-parents/compass-parent-guide/

Middle School

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are almost at the end of term. The students are excited about the holidays and looking forward to having time to relax and spend time with family and friends.

Thank you to our current Year 9 parents and guardians for attending our Course Information evening. It was a fantastic turn out and it was great to be able to chat to many of you. I was listening to the students talk about which electives that they were interested in and the possibility of doing a VET course. This is an exciting time for Year 9 students as they consider subjects for their future pathway.

Yesterday, the Year 8 students had their assembly and received their course booklets for Year 9, 2024. Again, this is an exciting time for the students as they consider electives and subjects as they advance to Year 9.

We held the Year 7 assembly yesterday period 5. It was a lively and happy assembly. The students cheered for those who received awards for effort and excellent work and many students won a raffle prize whether they were in the birthday draw or the lucky raffle draws. It certainly felt like everyone was a winner.

Our Aerobics Team members were invited to morning tea yesterday. Ms Kate Atkinson and Indie Jowett oversee the program. It was lovely to see the students interact with each other so positively. Mrs Stanton presented the students with a certificate for their fantastic participation and effort.

Last week I visited students in the Hands-on Learning program at the cottage and Jenny Mann from Bunnings was visiting. The students were delighted as Bunnings had donated some plants and pebbles that they could use for the garden around the cottage. Over the years Jenny has been involved with the college and has helped students, whether it be making poppies for Remembrance events or teaching students how to prune roses and care for plants. We really appreciate this great community connection.

I love every opportunity to view student work and to chat to students about their ideas and how they think they are going at school. It is clear from my chats that school is a very important part of their lives, not only the learning but the friendships and opportunities that they are afforded. I hope to keep presenting snippets of student work in the newsletter so that you too can view some of the great work that takes place at Middle School.

Below is another example of some student work and you will notice that there is a brief plan and then the story. If you would like to read the full story, I have posted it in the Learning Centre.

Thank you, parents, and guardians, for your great work as parents and carers. I really value your communication. I really believe that working together we can provide the best supports to assist your child to reach their full potential.

Story by Jasmine Sleep Year 7

VHAP – Victorian High Abilities

Plan – a girl named Athena every night she experiences an extra hour that people call the Dark hour. She begins to explore during the hour and finds a group of people who experience it to. They are running from the government because no one is supposed to experience it. They end up finding a conspiracy about what happens during the hour.

The Dark Hour

The time on my watch struck midnight. The people on the street had all dispersed, laying in the safety of their homes. I felt isolated and wary of my surroundings. What would happen if I was caught? I pushed the paranoid thoughts from my mind and taking a deep breath to reassure myself. There was no noise on the barren streets except for the whisper of the cool breeze rustling the trees.

I glanced at my watch.

Just like last night I saw that the time had stopped. I knew I wasn’t crazy! Triumph surged through me for a moment before it was interrupted by the sounds of voices off to the distance. I froze. My stomach dropped and my breath became shaky as I knelt behind a stack of crates. I strained my ears to hear the murmurs of voices coming from the building up ahead. I only began to hear some idle chatter between the two figures in the darkness, before the sound of a car sped down the street patrolling around to find people. People like me. I ducked again, praying silently that no one saw me. I knew if I was discovered, the consequences would be severe.

Wishing you a great week.

Denise Leggett

Middle School Assistant Principal

Senior School

To students and families of the Mornington Senior School,

Well here we are, the end of a fast-paced term. The students (and staff) now get to have a break from the rigors of school life. There will be a bit of time sleeping in, potentially some holiday adventures but most importantly a chance to recharge the batteries before we launch into Term 3. Term 3 is arguably the most important term in the Senior School.

Just this week, we officially started the course selection process for 2024. We ran an information evening, where families could find out more about the different pathway options available to students in the Senior School. The night was really well attended, and I really enjoy having families at school, having in-depth conversations about the education of their children. Successful educational outcomes are, more often than not, a result of successful 3-way partnerships between school, student and families. Through the course counselling period, I encourage families and students to seek answers to any and all questions they have, so they can make informed choices about their future pathway. As I spoke about at the information night, pathway choices should be informed by:

What students like and enjoy
What students are good at
Any pre-requisites needed for university (and are they subjects that students like and are good at)
Any other career-related subjects that may be useful in future.

For those who were unable to attend on the night, a copy of the presentation will be available on Compass with other course counselling resources. Please reach out to the key people outlined in the course selection handbook if you have questions. We look forward to working with you to achieve the educational goals of your children.

In talking to thousands of Year 11 and 12 students over many years, they generally all agree the biggest jump in schooling is from Year 10 to Year 11. There is increased pressure and increased workload. The best time to develop the skills and work ethic required for Year 11, is of course, in earlier year levels. As I mentioned last week, when reflecting on the Semester one reports, students need to be asking themselves:

What can I do in Semester 2 to improve my results and meet or exceed my learning goals?
What am I prepared to do to achieve these goals?
What assistance do I need to help develop even better learning behaviours?

Highlights from this week include:

Year 10

41 of our fantastic Year 10 students participated in Landcare's restoration project last Friday in Arthurs Seat, completely replanting not one, but two full paddocks with new grasses and trees that we discovered will grow and provide shelter for animals up to and over 100 years from now. Mr Greg Holland from Landcare reported that our wonderful students exceeded their expectations and that they have nothing but the best to say about the students at MSC.

We hope the term ends well for all of our students and families and wish you all well for the two week break ahead. We are excited to engage students with the Course Counselling process and with their Semester 2 subjects, but that can wait. Our students have demonstrated great resilience and determination to reach this point in the year, and deserve the break they have earned.

Year 11

I would like to thank all of our wonderful Year 11 students for a successful Term 2. You have been respectful and engaged in your learning. Subject changes have been processed and, unfortunately not everyone's choices have been successful. This is due to the timetable clashes. I would advise you to make these changes for Year 12 with a focus on getting an S for Unit 2. The Year 11 Coordination Team wishes all our students a safe and restful break. We look forward to seeing all of you refreshed for Term 3. Happy Holidays!

Year 12

A huge couple of weeks for our Year 12s with formal, GAT, finishing Unit 3 coursework and many heading on Outdoor Ed camp.

Wishing all our students a wonderful break. Stay connected to content but do take time to recharge. Term 3 is a big one and coursework for the year will be complete by week 9 of next term. At this point, revision for exams begins.

Rest up. See you all next term.

Enjoy the break and I look forward to seeing our Senior School students thriving in Term 3.

Nick Evans

Senior School Assistant Principal

Patchy learning?

The ******* of a ********** student include discipline, motivation, ***********, resilience, and critical ********. Discipline allows them to ******** a consistent study routine *** prioritize their academic ***********. Motivation drives them to *** goals and work diligently to ******* them. Organization skills help **** stay on top of ***********, deadlines, and materials. ********** enables them to overcome ********** and setbacks, bouncing back with *************. Critical thinking enables them to ******* information, ask questions, and ****** in thoughtful problem-solving. *************, successful students possess effective ************* skills, a thirst for ********* the ability to collaborate with *****, and a growth *******, embracing continuous learning and ***************.

So why is attendance important? The article above (Compliments of ChatGPT) is about what makes an excellent learner. But it is hard to tell from the version I have given you. Sure with a bit of educated guessing you can work it out, but it takes extra effort. I’ve purposefully blanked out every 5th or so word, trying to simulate what the learning looks like for a student who misses 1-2 days per fortnight. Without actively making an effort to catch up on the work they have missed, students end up with learning gaps. Sometimes students can “work out” the bit they are missing, but sometimes they can’t. If we think about how these gaps can magnify year, on year then attendance at school is one of the most important things you can do to help them with their learning journey. Further, when your child has to be away for illness and other essential things, make sure they set aside time at home for them to catch up with the work they have missed which can be found on COMPASS.

Full paragraph

The attributes of a successful student include discipline, motivation, organisation, resilience, and critical thinking. Discipline allows them to maintain a consistent study routine and prioritise their academic commitments. Motivation drives them to set goals and work diligently to achieve them. Organisation skills help them stay on top of assignments, deadlines, and materials. Resilience enables them to overcome challenges and setbacks, bouncing back with determination. Critical thinking enables them to analyze information, ask questions, and engage in thoughtful problem-solving. Additionally, successful students possess effective communication skills, a thirst for knowledge, the ability to collaborate with peers, and a growth mindset, embracing continuous learning and self-improvement.

Kind regards,

Mike Parker

Assistant Principal

Student Excellence and Enrichment Program

This term an amazing group of students have participated in the VHAP Maths and VHAP English program with Ms. Stroud and Ms. Neal. We are so proud of their efforts. Students meet weekly and participate in challenges and the work has been outstanding.

VHAP SELECTION PROCESS

The department centrally selects students for the VHAP using a selection algorithm. The selection algorithm uses student achievement data – NAPLAN and teacher judgement – to assess student ability and readiness to participate successfully in the VHAP. A combination of high NAPLAN scores and being assessed as one or more years ahead of their peers, based on teacher judgement, indicates high ability.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR A NOMINATION

A student must meet all of the following requirements to be eligible for nomination:

• be ready and able to complete the program, including being able to meet minimum requirements such as completing additional coursework and homework after school; AND

• have the support of their high-ability practice leader and school leadership to complete the program if the request is successful; AND

• have parent/carer consent to participate in the program; AND

• show evidence of high ability in English and/or Mathematics

The new VHAP groups will begin in Term 3. If you have a student that you would like to nominate for the program, we are happy to take your parent nomination so that we can collect data over Term 3 to submit a request for inclusion in the Victorian High Ability Program with supporting documentation. Please email Rebecca.Stroud@education.vic.edu.au and your child’s name will be put on a list to contact in Term 3, Week 5 to collect this data.

Term 2 VHAP Masterclass

This terms masterclass for the Student Excellence and Enrichment Program is a VHAP Masterclass Podcasting project.

In this Podcasting Masterclass, students have been developing planning and communication skills as part of the VHAP Masterclass series. This week students continued learning how to use the podcasting equipment and record their commentary. They particularly focussed on local footy teams, interviewing a player and assessing overall field performance. Students had to plan questions and structure of conversation by brainstorming and then working together to record.

Rebecca Stroud

Student Excellence and Enrichment Program

National NAIDOC Week

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

Life Skills Year 7

This term 10 Year 7 students were lucky to be part of our first Life Skills group, co-facilitated by Chloe from Mornington Peninsula Shire Youth, Nicole from the Wellbeing Team and Ms Reeman.

The students enjoyed their 6 weeks which included an array of activities such as beach excursion, drumming, nail art and much more. The last week was breakfast celebration at The Corner where the girls played pool, completed their nail art and had a delicious breakfast. The program was developed to build new friendships, communication skills, personal strengths and empower the students to have good sense of self. Fun was had by all and looking forward to a new 10 students to take part next term.

"Warrior in Me" - Year 8

This term 25 Year 8 students were invited to participate in Warrior in Me. This program was run by external youth workers Josh and Katie from Cramli, overseen by Nicole from Wellbeing and Ms Cruise. The Warrior in Me program incorporates the underpinning philosophy of the ancient Japanese Martial Arts known as Bushido. The program introduced the students to the eight virtues of a warrior including respect, diligence, self-control, honour, loyalty, kindness, justice and wisdom. On the last week the students had the opportunity to “break a tile” and ended with a celebration of food and discussion.

Year 8 Badminton

On Thursday 15th June, a number of Year 8 students participated in Division Badminton onsite here in the stadium. All students had a great time participating in singles and doubles matches against Mt Eliza Secondary College and Dromana Secondary College. Congratulations to the girls team who were victorious on the day and will compete in the regional event in August.

Shaun Doherty

Physical Education

Year 8 Coordinator

Senior Boys Netball

On Tuesday the junior boys netball teams competed in the interschool competition.

The A team came first and will advance to the SMR finals next term. The junior B team and two intermediate boys teams also performed really well despite the weather!

Was a great day out for the 4 teams and staff.

Year 10 Landcare's Restoration Project

On Friday 16th June, three staff took 41 of the Year 10 students to do some active volunteering. This is essential to pass their Cert 11 in Active Volunteering.

The students travelled to Main Ridge where we had to dig holes, plant peppermint trees and native grasses. The sun shone and we managed to plant 1000 trees. All the students worked hard and enjoyed their day out on the farm meeting many of the residents. I think the favourite was Neo the Horse.

Bridging the Gap - Mornington Library

This term Mornington Secondary College have had students participate in the "Bridging the Gap" program at Mornington Library. The experience has been a resounding success with both the senior citizens and our students have thoroughly enjoyed themselves and learnt so much more than what they were prepared for.

Hopefully we can continue this invaluable experience for our students.

Year 12 Japanese

The 2023 Year 12 Japanese cohort may be small with only 3 students this year, but they are mighty!

Throughout the Semester, the students have completed weekly ‘low-stakes’ writing tasks as part of the College’s Weekly VCE Tutorial Program. Despite it being ‘extra’ homework for the students and challenging at times to come up with weekly prompts and tasks, the students have frequently exceeded expectations always submitting work of a high standard and submitting it by the due date.

Reflecting on Semester 1, this regular writing practice and the consequent feedback loop have resulted in really noticeable improvements in the quality of the students’ writing.

Last Friday, while their Year 11 classmates received one on one feedback on their Semester 1 exam, the students were set a challenge of completing a collaborative timed-writing challenge of writing a report on their recent Year 12 Formal experience.

The students met the challenge and you can see their efforts below with an English translation.

２０２３年の１２年生のフォーマル

今年のフォーマルはコーディネーターと十二年生のキャプテンが一生けんめいじゅんびしました。だから、あの夜はすばらしかったです。

フォーマルでみんなはおしゃれなふくを着ました。たくさんの生とは「すてき！」や　「かっこいい！」と言いながら、クラスメートとセルフィーをたくさん撮って、とてもいいふいんきでした。

そして、アーツセンターで証明写真機があって、大人気でした。あの夜、たくさんの人々はあの証明写真機で写真をとってもらいました。私と友達と写真をとってもらいました。それから、晩御飯の時にユニークな賞をえっていました。

ダンスフロアには、おかしいＤＪがいました。かれはみんなが知っているうたをかけたので、それはやさしかったと思います。音楽は本当にうるさくて、明るいひかりがたくさんありました。ダンスフロアで、ほとんどの時間をすごしました。友達とダンスすることがとてもすごかったです。私達だけでなく、みんなの一番好きな所だったと思います。

その上に、会場は晩ご飯をくれました。とり肉とラムがあったので、シェフはたぶん、よくがんばったでしょう。肉はかたくなかったから、いい食事だと思いました。晩ご飯より、デザートの方がおいしかったと思います。ブラウニーとデートプリンがありました。おいしかったです。

コーディネーターと十二年生のキャプテン、ありがとうございます。みんなのおかげで、あの夜は大せいこうでした。きっと、みなさんはたくさんいい思い出を作ったと思います。

TRANSLATION

Year 12 Formal 2023

The Coordinators and the Year 12 Captains worked really hard to prepare this year’s formal. So, the night was fantastic.

Everyone wore beautiful clothes to the formal. Lots of students told me “I think your suit is great!” and I think there was a really great vibe. At the Arts Centre, there was a photo booth and it was really popular. On the night, lots of people had their photos taken in the photo booth. My friends and I had ours taken too. After that, we received unique awards when we were having dinner.

On the dance floor, there was a fun DJ. He played songs that we know so I think that was nice of him. The music was super loud and there were heaps of bright lights. I spend most of my time on the dancefloor. Dancing with my friends was really awesome. I think the dance floor was probably everyone’s favourite place, not just ours.

On top of that, we were given dinner at the venue. There was chicken and lamb so the chef was probably really working hard. The meat wasn’t tough, so I think it was a good meal. I thought that dessert was even better than the main meal. There were brownies and date puddings and they were delicious.

Thank you, Coordinators and Year 12 Captains. Thanks to you the night was a huge success and I think that everyone made some great memories!

Simone Kugimiya

Japanese Teacher

Year 12 Snow Camp

Year 12 Outdoor Education Students had an amazing time at Mt Buller and were extremely lucky to have had a few days of snowfall before they arrived.

I think we all know just how much goes into planning a camp and how much our students appreciate the experience they can provide. Thank you to Chris Jones, Sue Gamble, Sarah Jeffs, Andrew McClaren and Viv Collins for coming along and giving up their time at home with their families.

Maddy Nicholls

Physical Education

Tafe and University Open Days

Please follow the below links to visit the Careers website. Loads of fantastic information on career news and what is happening.

https://www.mornsccareers.com/important-information/calendar-of-events

https://www.mornsccareers.com/important-information/school-newsletters

School Bus Program 2024

Students wishing to access a seat on a Department of Education school provided bus must complete an application form every year and parents/ guardians must agree to the conditions of travelling (attached) and if applicable, the payment of a fare ($125) per term prior to travel. Any application submitted after 1st October 2023 will be considered a late application and will be processed after all other applications. To submit an online application for 2024 – please follow the link below:

2024 Bus Application online form Note – you will need to complete one application form per student. Written communication will be sent to each family (via email) by the College during Term 4 to notify the outcome of your application. There is an option to select previous bus allocation – please note this does not guarantee an allocation to this bus. If you are unsure of the bus number, please select UNKNOWN. Any queries to be directed to: schoolbuses@mornsc.vic.edu.auPlease be advised that by submitting an application or having a seat in previous years does not guarantee your son or daughter a seat on a school bus for the following year. Parents/guardians are responsible for getting your children to and from school. To be eligible for a seat on a Department of Education school provided bus at no cost, a student must:

Attend their nearest Government school and reside 4.8km or more from the school.

If your son/daughter does not fit into the above criteria they may be able to access the Department of Education school bus service after all eligible students are allocated a seat and upon payment of $125 per term. Public transport should be accessed if you live within 1.6km of the College or closer than the nearest school bus service. Department of Education school bus service is not guaranteed, and your son/daughter may be placed on a wait list, in order of eligibility, date of application, and ensuring all Department of Education processes and protocols have been addressed.

Please see below Conditions of Travel set by The Victorian Department of Education and Training.

Positive Quotes for the week

Message for the Principal

Landcare was delighted to have the support of Year 10 students for planting a section of the Landcare Greens Bush to Arthurs Seat Biolink program.

The students combined care with planting and a focused approach that not only achieved our goals for the day, but exceeded them - forcing us into the happy situation of rapidly preparing another paddock for them.

I do hope that the college will consider including this type of field activity into the regular annual education program. It provides support for our increasingly fragile environment, together with student experience in how to be both aware of the environment around them and contribute to its maintenance.

Next time I suggest an expansion to provide a short walk and talk pointing out flora and fauna and encouraging questions along the way. We did an ad hoc discussion on Friday at which the students showed considerable interest, with a number of perceptive questions being asked.

Please pass on our thanks to both the students and teachers.

Greg Holland

Coordinator of the Landcare program to establish the Greens Bush to Arthurs Seat Biolink.

Have a fun and safe school holiday!!

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