STUDENT ACTIVITIES    

ANZAC DAY REFLECTION

The 25th of April 2023 marked 108 years since the ANZACs landed on the rough shores of Gallipoli.

We commenced the morning by marching with fellow students and community members as a symbol of our respect and appreciation for those who have served from Main Street Mornington to Memorial Park.

We had the honour of speaking that day at the Mornington Anzac Day service. It was an emotional and inspiring morning that commemorated the courage and sacrifices of the Australian and New Zealand soldiers.

We delivered a reciting of ‘ANZAC Requiem by Charles E W Bean.’ Which reflects on the soldiers who never had the chance to return to their own doorstep. We shared gratitude for those who fought and continue fighting for what this country stands for. While reflecting on the importance of remembering their service and honouring their memory.

We also had the opportunity to attend the Mount Eliza service. Although smaller, it still reminded us of the worries that men and women go through every day fighting for our country and that every community has their own stories of bravery and sacrifice. We were moved by the stories shared and were pleased to recite ‘Flanders Fields.’

The day made us feel a strong sense of unity and pride for our history and the brave individuals who have fought for it. It was a humbling experience to be a part of something that represented such an important cause and show our support to those who have and continue to sacrifice so much for us and our country.  Jimmy and Chelsea

On April 26th Mount Eliza Secondary Collage held an ANZAC day assembly to commemorate the fallen ANZACs who fought at Gallipoli. During this assembly our guest speaker Chris Crewther recalled what ANZAC day means to him in a personal anecdote. The service upheld all of the traditional commemorations and included the Unknown Australian Solider Eulogy, the reading of Flanders fields, and a reminder of the valued traits of, courage, sacrifice and mate ship, held by all of the ANZAC soldiers during the war. The service allowed all of the students to take a moment and reflect on the sacrifices made by these soldiers and remember those who lost their lives. After the assembly students of the Mount Eliza Secondary leadership team gathered at the front of the school and circled around the Lone Pine tree, each of us taking a moment to remember the ANZACs. This tree was planted as a memorial to commemorate the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who faught at Gallipoli. The seeds of the Lone Pine tree are from direct descendants of the World War I Lone Pines in Gallipoli and was a solitary tree on the Gallipoli peninsula, and now grows at the front of our school as a reminder of all the ANZACs who sacrificed their lives for us. 

Communications Leader; Hayley

BISCUITS FOR EASTER

Students at MESC were invited to cook and decorate Easter biscuits at home and send photos in to be in the running for a prize and to be named MESC’s Easter biscuit baking competition winner! Competition ran from Monday 27th March to Friday 14th April. Students could work individually or in pairs. They were required to take photo’s preparing dough, baking and of the finished product.

A huge thankyou to all of those that participated! It was great to see so many entries. It was very difficult to choose the winning biscuits. 

First Place has been awarded to Isabelle and Bonnie both of 9E. 

The Runner’s goes to Sophia from 7C.

MELBOURNE NOW & TOP ARTS

On Tuesday 16th May unit 1 Art Making & Exhibiting students ventured into Melbourne to view the Melbourne Now exhibition at NGV Ian Potter Centre. Students viewed over 200+ contemporary projects across all three levels of NGV Australia. From fashion and jewellery, painting, sculpture, architecture and ceramics, to video, printmaking and publishing.  

Students also viewed Top Arts 2023 which showcases extraordinary works of art and folios that achieved outstanding results in VCE Art or VCE Studio Arts 2022.                       

Hopefully after a full day being emersed in art students were inspired by the artists’ creative processes, imaginative ideas and skilful use of materials across a range of media in the two different exhibitions.

Ms Holderness

ENVIROMENTAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

Thursday May 11th, the environmental team attended the Mornington Park Pavilion Hall, where we were privileged to participate in an environmental awareness workshop. An amazing presenter Adrian from CERES took us through all the motions of where climate change is at, and what we can do to dictate our future moving forward sharing with us all the solutions that we have at our finger tips. 

He showed us its possible, that if we work together, we can protect and preserve, and start to unwind the damage we have caused. He shared with us hope and gave us the start to a new story we can all share and be a part of. 

A lot of people when they think of climate change, don’t discuss the topic very much in depth, perhaps because it is so urgent it’s to distressing, but it doesn’t have to be this way. We have everything we need to make a significant change. A big change starts with a small start.

We learnt conversation/leadership skills, how to communicate our points when you interact with others. Then we got the opportunity to put what we had just learnt to the test. We got to talk to students from 4 or 5 other schools, that have the same values as we do. 

We were all there for one reason, and we shared that reason. To become voices for the action we need to take right now. To protect our earth and stand up for what needs to be done, that was why we were there. 

And being in an environment with encouraging peers and such an authentic facilitator, really brought out the best in our team.

Lily Marx on behalf of the Enviro Team

BUSHTUCKER GARDEN

On behalf of the MESC Environmental Team, we would like to address your concerns about the indigenous garden development outside P13. You may have noticed that all existing plants have been removed, the trees that were there were unsafe and unhealthy so although we wanted to keep them, they had to be removed. This area is currently undergoing the planning stages of the creation of an Indigenous garden, bird friendly habitat which will include a pond and social seating area. The garden will include edible bushtucker plants as well as bird and insect encouraging native flora. Our environmental team will keep you updated with dates for our planned working bees once the garden is ready to be built. We'd love to see you there. Thank you for your concerns, Jasmin and Lily, year 11 leaders and environmental team members.

DANCE TEAM

On Saturday the 6th of May, MESC’s Dance Team competed at Patterson River Secondary College at Dance Star. The team had worked really hard over the past few months, and this was our second competition with this dance. Big groups are not always easy, but with the amazing guidance of Miss Hayes we were once again ready to compete.  We had our big group dance, two trios and a solo compete for MESC that day. The support from fellow teammates, in the dressings rooms, behind stage, in the wings was amazing from everyone. Parents, and Principles from MESC came to cheer us on, and it was a really special day with the help of everyone.  

Thank you so much Miss Hayes for what you do! Thank you to the dance team, and all the adults who came and encouraged us.  

MESCDANCE TEAM STATE FINALS

The MESC Dance team had an eventful weekend competing at State Finals. Congratulations to our Year 8 student Amber who has won the Victorian State Finals and is heading to Nationals in Adelaide to represent Victoria with the chance to win the Australian title. Our Trio did an amazing job with a score of 84 but unfortunately just missed out on a spot to nationals but still scored the highest points in technique. A wonderful weekend for all our amazing dancers!