PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Welcome back to Term Two – it is hard to believe that Week Four is already upon us! Last Friday, the first set of Progress Reports were completed for all our students as a snapshot of how they have settled. Remember, as per previous correspondence, please contact your student’s teacher directly if there is any aspect of the learning progress that you are unsure about.
ANZAC DAY ASSEMBLIES
The theme focused on commemorating the Spirit of Anzac and reflecting on some of the untold stories. All our students respected the reverence and sense of occasion, as befitting for such a commemorative ceremony that was highlighted by the playing of the Last Post and Rouse. Thank you to Ms Sue Holderness for organising the assemblies.
As part of our ongoing collegial relationships with our feeder primary schools, many thanks to Ms Kim Wheeler, Principal of Mount Eliza Primary School for inviting yours truly and our Head Prefects to attend their Anzac Assembly. Alex and Callum both read out poems and were thrilled to attend, especially Callum, who used to attend MEPS – from Prep to Year 12 School Leader!
On the day itself, our college leaders were part of the Mount Eliza and Mornington RSL Assemblies – many thanks to Callum, Alex, Abbey and John and staff members Mrs Danni Vaughan and Mrs Marcia Claringbold.
PRE – ENROLMENT EVENING
Mount Eliza Secondary College’s Pre-Enrolment Evening was well attended with eager parents and potential students, eager to ask questions about our educational programs, our co-curricular activities and everything else that reflects student involvement. Without doubt, the stars of the evening were our panel of experts, our students, who answered questions from the audience in an eloquent and honest manner. They were able to explain and highlight the educational options for students at our school. Our students are fantastic representatives of the College and very positive in their outlook and perspective.
This evening supplements the program of school tours that run throughout the school year. The demand for places at Year 7 for 2022 is again expected to be strong, with applications closing on May 14, 2021. The Department’s site provides information about every school including enrolment zone maps. https://www.findmyschool.vic.gov.auEnrolments packs are available through the primary schools.
Please feel free to contact the College and book a tour – 9787 6288
I would particularly like to thank our teaching and support staff for their efforts in preparing for the evening and particularly acknowledge the work of our expert panel and Mrs Sullivan and Mrs Vaughan who fired the questions at the students!
NAPLAN for YEARS 7 and 9
Many of you would now be aware that the NAPLAN online testing for Year 7 and Year 9 students commences on May 10 and will occur at various times over the two-week period.
NAPLAN Online is a ‘tailored test’, whose design adapts to correct and incorrect student responses providing a more precise understanding of student ability.
Incorporating the use of technology, allows for a more engaging test design and a wider range of item types.
Information about the upcoming NAPLAN assessment has been provided to students and families via Compass.
Should you have any further questions, please make contact with Stacey Sullivan ssullivan@mesc.vic.edu.au or Celeste Lombardi clombardi@mesc.vic.edu.au
NAPLAN commences Tuesday 11th May. Students are required to have the lock down browser downloaded to their device and bring headphones each day.
YEAR 9 NAPLAN
CERTIFICATES OF ACHIEVEMENT
A new feature of the NAPLAN assessment is being launched this year, with the award of Year 9 Certificates of Achievement.
The new certificates aim to celebrate and recognise the importance of both excellence and learning growth.
Beginning in 2021, Year 9 students who achieve outstanding results or who significantly improve their results in NAPLAN tests will receive a NAPLAN Certificate of Achievement.
The certificates will be awarded for two categories of achievement:
- Category one: the achievement of excellence through getting a result in the top band for reading or numeracy, or both.
- Category two: the achievement of outstanding learning growth through improvement by two or more bands between the NAPLAN Year 7 and Year 9 tests for reading or numeracy, or both.
For more information about the new certificate and measures for learning growth, refer to Year 9 NAPLAN certificates of achievement on the Department’s website.
2021 STUDENT ATTITUDES TO SCHOOL SURVEY
The Attitudes to School Survey is an annual student survey offered by the understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. Students will be asked about their thoughts and feelings in relation to their school, their learning, peer relationships, bullying and life in general.
All students from Mount Eliza Secondary College will participate in the survey. Your child will complete the survey online during school hours using a purpose built secure online survey tool.
Your child will be provided with a unique login to complete the survey. The student login is an assigned identifier that may be used to link data for statistical and research purposes only. All responses to the survey and any identification data are kept anonymous in the survey response file. This ensures that the confidentiality of your child’s responses is protected at all times.
This year, the Attitudes to School survey will be conducted at our school at appropriate times throughout May and early June. The survey takes around 20 minutes to complete and occurs during your child's class time. Importantly, the results of the survey assist us to monitor the effectiveness of approaches identified in our College Strategic Plan and to consider further opportunities for improvement.
If you would like more information, please the contact the Department at attitudes.school.survey@education.vic.gov.au
SCHOOL PRODUCTION - PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK
Concession/Students/Seniors- $10
Adults - $25
The Production team are rehearsing morning, noon and night, both onstage and offstage to bring this production to life for the college community. Please support this event by purchasing a ticket via TryBooking and enjoy this amazing production.
Nights for the performance:
Thursday, May 27th @ 7.30pm sharp
Friday, May 28th @ 7.30pm sharp
Please note that the play is more suited to an older audience, due to its themes.
We look forward to seeing you there.
WORKING BEE
Our first Working Bee for the year is scheduled for Sunday, 16th of May from 9.00am to midday. Once again, please jump onto TryBooking to book, so that we can cater for the families that want to come out and help on the day. Most of the work will be gardening, with some painting that needs to be done.
Please join us for a sausage sizzle at the end of the Working Bee.
Thank you to Southern Plants Dromana for generously donating plants for our working bee.
RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS - LEAD SCHOOL
Recently, Mount Eliza Secondary College has been recognised as a Lead School of the Respectful Relationships curriculum framework, a Department of Education initiative which supports schools to promote and model respect and equality. It also focuses on working with students to develop skills in building healthy relationships, resilience and confidence.
At MESC, this has been achieved through our Connect Program and the Health and Physical Education classes, where teachers have used resources developed by experts from Deakin University and the University of Melbourne. The materials cover eight social and emotional learning topics to support the delivery of respectful relationships content through the Victorian curriculum.
In Health and Physical education curriculum, students develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to strengthen their sense of self, and build and manage safe and respectful relationships. Through Connect, students learn to recognise and regulate emotions, develop empathy for others and establish and build a framework for positive relationships.
We look forward to working with our partner schools to support their journey in implementing this program and promoting positive values of respect throughout our school community.
Please click on the following link to find out more about the program:
James Barut
Acting Principal