Welcome back, I hope everyone has had a wonderful break, and all family members are healthy and safe.

Classes began on 31st January for all students and the feeling around the College is extremely positive. All students are participating in the CONNECT program at the start of each day. During CONNECT the students participate the Resilience Project occurs every Tuesday and Thursday.

Considering the interruption to on-site learning over the past two years the wellbeing, and particularly the mental health, of every student is a priority. Mornington Secondary College is excited to introduce a new, whole school wellbeing and support program for all our students. Connect encourages and helps sustain motivation for learning, re-engages students and families and supports the social and emotional learning of all our young people alongside curriculum-based learning.

The program was trialed briefly during Fast Forward in 2021 with overwhelmingly positive feedback from students and staff alike. In 2022, the program has already commenced, incorporating evidence based mental health curriculum through The Resilience Project (TRP). TRP delivers year level specific lesson plans that are emotionally engaging and provides practical, evidence-based, positive mental health strategies to build resilience and happiness in students. TRP supports young people to form habits now that will increase their capacity to deal with challenges, changes and stressors in the future. The lessons in TRP curriculum focus on a simple mental health strategy – Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness and emotional literacy (GEM).

To support TRP curriculum all students have received a year level specific journal to reinforce learning and as a tool to record their ideas and reflect on their learning around the concept of GEM.

Now some news about Year 7

During the first week Year 7 students have participated in some engaging activities to support their transition to secondary college. They have learnt to read their timetable, unlock combination locks and find their way around the school by way of a treasure hunt.

The Year 7 students have become familiar with digital literacy and thoroughly enjoyed the swimming trials and were so very excited to participate in the whole school swimming carnival.

Students will soon be able to sign up for a sports squad, art club and chess club.

2022 is shaping up to be another very exciting year for College Sport at MSC.

Our sports squads commence over the next couple of weeks and offer sport-specific training, free of charge, with all ages, genders, abilities and experience levels welcome. And with seven different Squads on offer, there really is something for everyone. We offer Squads for Athletics, Basketball, Cricket, Football, Netball, Swimming and Aerobics, with our very own, highly experienced Physical Education teachers and external coaches delivering the sessions.

Our term 1 interschool sport sign-ups are now open. The sports on offer are Cricket, Ultimate Frisbee, Tennis, Volleyball and Baseball and will take place on the following dates:

Year 7 Sport - Thursday 10th March
Year 8 Sport - Friday 18th March
Intermediate (9/10) Sport - Monday 21st February
Senior (11/12) Sport - Thursday 17th February” (Callum Tranter – Sports Leader)

School photos were taken on Monday. There will be a school photo make-up day and the date will be confirmed to families shortly.

2021 Award Ceremony at School

Due to COVID restrictions, the 2021 Student Awards were presented on Monday 14th February at year level assemblies.

It was a great day. Assemblies for year levels 8 to 12 were held to officially recognise award recipients from 2021. The ceremony took place in our stadium and students cheered and supported their peers who received scholarships, subject awards, gold stars and Principal commendations. I am very proud of their achievements.

Linda Stanton

Principal

Important Dates

March

April