MWSC College News – Issue 6

VCE and Careers Expo 2024

270 of our Year 11 students attended the VCE and Careers Expo at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre on Thursday 2 May. This excursion supported our students in seeking information about their post school plans. There were many tertiary providers including TAFES and Universities along with employers including the police, defence force, apprenticeship groups for our students to talk to. The programme also provided information for students to complete their career action plans. Thank you to all the students and staff who attended on the day.

Generations in Jazz Competition

The Stage Band, Jazz Band and Jazz Combo have had a wonderful musical weekend in Mount Gambier last week for the Generations in Jazz Competition 2024. All the students enjoyed watching talented musicians at the concerts which were held on Friday and Saturday Nights. The bands made their teachers proud with their performances which showed great musicianship and they competed with more than 30 ensembles in each section from across Australia.

I am pleased to announce, that Greta G from Year 12 was chosen for the Division 4 Superband out of almost 50 ensembles, as the best double bass player. Congratulations Greta!

This musical experience would not be possible without the efforts of our dedicated and hard-working instrumental music staff who gave up their weekend to supervise our students at this prestigious competition. My sincere thanks go to Mrs Tijtje Keatley our Director of Music, Mr Kelvin Nguyen, Mrs Melissa Knowles and Mr Joseph Yu.

Parent Evening – It’s a Jungle

We were pleased to host an information night this week with Dr Brenda Heyworth as our guest speaker. Dr Heyworth is an adolescent psychiatrist and author who translates complex information to make sense and make a difference in people’s lives.

She designs and delivers health education initiatives for people of all ages, to help them understand themselves and feel empowered to change. Her enthusiasm is infectious as she brings gentle humour and practical strategies to the serious issue of mental health and wellbeing.

Her first book, ‘It’s a Jungle-A Parent’s Guide to Emotions and Behaviour’, was published in 2012 and has sold thousands of copies through word-of-mouth. Our parent evening focussed on when children can’t handle big emotions, their instincts take over and sometimes they enter ‘the jungle’ and come out fighting. Dr Heyworth helped us to recognise when this occurred and gave parents strategies, so they didn’t enter ‘the jungle’, but instead were able to lead their child out. She spoke about the importance of self-control and having a strong framework which involves the rule, consequence, and a fresh start. Thank you to Mr Paul Graham, Student Support and Resources Manager for arranging this important session for our parent community.

District Cross Country   

Our students have continued the Mount Waverley Secondary College tradition of participating in large numbers in sport by their active involvement in the school cross country event.  It is rewarding to see our students committing themselves to leading a life of fun and fitness through participating in sport whilst also learning the life-long skills and values of teamwork and good sportsmanship.

The District Cross Country event took place on Tuesday 7 May.  Mount Waverley Secondary College performed extremely well on the day coming first overall and winning the Junior and Intermediate Shields, with over 160 students participating.

I congratulate all the students who competed and represented our college with pride.  Thank you to Mr Jay Newport and Mr Danny Gwynne for all their hard work in getting the team ready for this event.

Well done to the following students who finished in the top three of their events.

•  Daisy W – 1st in the 13 girls
• Seth J – 1st in the 13 boys
• Yun Y – 3rd in the 14 girls
• Sebastian S – 2nd in 14 boys
• Bradley C – 3rd in 14 boys
• Julia D – 3rd in 15 boys
• Hannah R -1st in 15 girls
• Hayden V – 3rd in 16 boys
• Frances SM – 1st in 16 girls
• Aisha H – 2nd in 16 girls

Our successful students will now compete at the zone level on Thursday 13 June.

Preparing for Examinations

At this time of year our students are diligently studying for their outcomes and exams.  It has been pleasing to see students studying in the library and VCE Centre, attending Homework Club, catching up with teachers for additional support and attending revision classes to ensure they are thoroughly prepared for their exams.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish each student all the best for their exams.  I am sure they will be rewarded with results that reflect the hard work that has been undertaken throughout the first semester.  Our learning community is proud of the way our students approach their learning, whether it be academic studies, learning a musical instrument, mastering a drama performance, or representing our college in one of our many leadership programs.  Our students and teachers approach all activities with great enthusiasm, matching this with hard work and knowing they will achieve success by giving their best.

Exam Dates 2024:
Year 9:  Monday 3 June –Friday 7 June
Year 10 & 11:  Monday 3 June– Friday 7 June and Tuesday 11 June – Thursday 13 June
General Achievement Test (GAT):  Tuesday 18 June

Year 10 Work Experience

All year 10 students are expected to complete a week of Work Experience during the last week of term from Monday 24 – Friday 28 June. If students need help finding a placement, they should look for guidance on our college website as there are over 400 employers listed there.  For easy access to Careers Corner students can click on the link below. https://sites.google.com/mwsc.vic.edu.au/careers/middle-school/work-experience or make an appointment with our Careers team which comprises our Careers Manager Mr Phil Newnham and our Careers Education and Alumni Coordinator Mrs Victoria Tortopidis.

Work Experience is an opportunity to give our students:

• an understanding of the work environment and what employers expect of their workers.
• an opportunity to explore possible career options.
• increased self-understanding, maturity, independence, and self-confidence
• increased motivation to continue study and/or undertake further training.
• a better understanding of how the school curriculum can help prepare young people for work.
• an introduction to workplace recruitment practices.
• enhanced opportunities for part-time and casual employment.
• the opportunity to include the employer’s work experience evaluation in future job and course applications.
• opportunities to develop work-related competencies and acquire skills.
• the chance to ‘try out’ a workplace.

 Source: Work experience manual for Victorian Secondary Schools

I would like to sincerely thank Mrs Tortopidis for her work in organising all the documentation required to send our students into the workplace.

School Saving Bonus

You may have seen the recent announcement of the School Saving Bonus, as part of the Victorian Budget 2024/25. We will share more information when it becomes available about how families will be able to access and use this support. This one-off support will include $400 for each eligible student to help families cover the costs of school uniforms and activities in 2025.It will be available to parents and carers of every child enrolled in a Victorian government school in 2025.Cash will not be paid directly to individuals or families. Instead, families will receive the bonus as credits on their school accounts that will help meet the costs of your children’s activities and uniforms.

Existing supports:

The School Saving Bonus support will be in addition to existing and continuing means-tested supports for camps, sports, excursions, and uniforms.

The application-based Affordable School Uniform program, through State Schools’ Relief, will continue to be available to families experiencing financial hardship or other forms of vulnerability and short-term crisis. This program allows schools to make multiple applications for support on parents’ behalf throughout the year if needed.

There will be more information and guidance about the School Saving Bonus in Term 3, 2024, ahead of its implementation in 2025

Mrs Karen Wade
College Principal

We are now in the thick of term two, which is always a busy time for students and staff. We’ve had lots of different events and activities occurring, including Monash Tech School, Toolbox Education, Cross Country, our inaugural Spelling Bee, as well as many other exciting learning opportunities. Now is a great time to check in on your child’s Compass to see the comments from teachers on their Common Assessment Tasks. It would be great if you could read the comments, talk to your child, and consider some goals for improvement. As always, if you have any concern please contact the relevant classroom teacher, or the year level coordinators with any bigger concerns.

School Song

Last week in both year level assemblies I had the privilege of sharing with the students some of the 60 year history of our school, and how it led to our wonderful school song. I urge parents to speak to any year 7 or 8 student and ask them to explain some of the background we talked about. We’ll continue to practise singing the song at upcoming assemblies and other events.

Every day counts

Did you know:

• Patterns of late arrival at school or missing classes are early warning signs of disengagement?
• Missing one day of school each week adds up to two months per year?
• Each day of absence has an impact on skill development and important social connections
• Poor attendance may be associated with future unemployment, criminal activity, substance abuse, and poorer health and life expectancy?

Top tips:

• We want to work in partnership with parents – act early if you have any concerns by contacting your child’s school and asking for advice and support
• Remember that every day counts
• There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes and their social connectedness
• Talk positively about school and the importance of attending every day
• Open and prompt communication with the school about all absences is a good idea
• Avoid making routine medical and dental appointments during the school day or planning family holidays during the term
• Seek help from the school if you are concerned about your child’s attendance and wellbeing. We want to work in partnership with parents to support student attendance and wellbeing

Mr Matt Sheehan
Campus Principal – Junior School

I would like to congratulate the senior students on their hard work so far this term. VCE is a marathon, not a sprint, and although they may have some stumbles it is fantastic to see the perseverance they are showing. I encourage students to chat with their coordinators if they are struggling at any time so that we can ensure we are supporting them on their journey.

Northern Hemisphere Information Evening

Information has been sent to students and families interested in the Northern Hemisphere Timetable. The program provides an opportunity for students in Year 10 to commence a Unit One VCE subject in second semester. Applications can be collected from the VCE Centre and are due Wednesday May 15. Students in Year 11 can apply to commence a Unit 3 subject in semester two. This opportunity will be communicated as part of the subject change process later this term.

Any questions relating to this opportunity can either be emailed to myself (kel@mwsc.vic.edu.au) or Jo Rogers (rgs@mwsc.vic.edu.au)

Year 11 Careers Expo

On Thursday May 2nd Year 11 students and teachers attended the VCE and Careers Expo at the Melbourne Exhibition center. There were representatives from all the major universities, other tertiary education providers, study resource companies, emergency services, and other post-secondary school opportunities. It was great to see our students make the most of this opportunity to investigate their post school interests.

Exams

Students in years 9, 10 and 11 will sit mid-year exams. For our year 11 students these exams are an opportunity to test their understanding and knowledge of the skills and content covered in semester one. Exam practice is an important experience for our students to assist them in preparing for the year 12 exams next year. I would like to encourage our students to use the exam advice provided to them by their teachers, seek out their teachers for assistance, and ensure they follow a study timetable to help them manage their time.

Every day counts

Did you know:

• Patterns of late arrival at school or missing classes are early warning signs of disengagement?
• Missing one day of school each week adds up to two months per year?
• Each day of absence has an impact on skill development and important social connections
• Poor attendance may be associated with future unemployment, criminal activity, substance abuse, and poorer health and life expectancy?

Top tips:

• We want to work in partnership with parents – act early if you have any concerns by contacting your child’s school and asking for advice and support
• Remember that every day counts
• There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes and their social connectedness
• Talk positively about school and the importance of attending every day
• Open and prompt communication with the school about all absences is a good idea
• Avoid making routine medical and dental appointments during the school day or planning family holidays during the term
• Seek help from the school if you are concerned about your child’s attendance and wellbeing. We want to work in partnership with parents to support student attendance and wellbeing

Ms Lauren Kelly
Acting Campus Principal – Senior School

It’s a Jungle – Dr Brenda Heyworth

On Wednesday 8 May, Dr Brenda Heyworth – a child and adolescent psychiatrist presented to teachers on understanding the complexity of student emotions, as well as practical tools to help students manage. In the evening, Dr. Heyworth presented to approximately 200 parents – sharing practical tips on how to manage their child’s extreme emotions and behaviours at home.

Dr Heyworth was engaging and motivating to both parents and staff reminding us that we all have emotions and we all struggle with self-control at times. She uses her framework of how emotions trigger behaviours in students that lead them to fight in the jungle and how we as staff and parents need to stay calm, understand the emotions, and not fall into the traps of heading into the jungle with them.

It was thought-provoking and interesting as well as warm and funny. We were grateful to have Dr Heyworth share her knowledge and wisdom with our school community. If you would like more information, please go to her website itsajungle.com. You can also purchase her parenting book “Its a jungle” which explains her framework in more detail and offers advice on how to manage external emotions as well as emotions that students are internalizing.

It was great to have so many parents attend on the night and we look forward to offering more presentations in the future. If you have any ideas on what topics you would like student wellbeing to cover in the future please let me know on gpd@mwsc.vic.edu.au

Mr Paul Graham
Student Support and Resources Manager

Generations in Jazz Festival

Last weekend, 33 students and 4 staff traveled to Mount Gambier, South Australia to take part in Generations in Jazz. GIJ is an annual jazz festival where 6000 students from across Australia travel to take part in a nation wide jazz competition, adjudicated by some of Australia’s top jazz musicians.

In addition to playing as part of a competition, the ensembles receive feedback from some of the top jazz musicians in Australia, they attend amazing concerts by dynamic performers, and they meet students from across the country. I have attached a short 10 second video of the students at the concert of Friday Night with every student on their feet dancing.The competition was fierce, but I am proud to announce the results:

• Greta G (Y12) from the Jazz Band was picked out of 50 students as the best bass in Division 4 (Div 4 Superband)
• Jazz Band, who were in a competitive division for the first time placed 16th.
• Jazz Combo, placed 8th
• Senior Stage band, placed 5th (the best result we have ever had at GIJ)

An event like this does not happen without a lot of hard work from both staff and students. Thank you to Mr Kelvin Nguyen, Ms Melissa Knowles and Mr Joseph Yu who accompanied us on this trip. A big shout out to the students who practiced diligently, and attended rehearsals to achieve these excellent results.

Unit 3 Recital

On Thursday evening, the Year 12 music students completed their first recital. The VCE recitals not only give students the opportunity of valuable performance practice, but also provides them expert feedback from a panel. Well done to the students on their excellent performances, and thank-you to the panel who assisted me, Ms Misa Murphy and Mr Tom Frost.

Year 10 Recital

Written by Isabella C (10M)

The Year 10 Music cohort of 2024 worked tirelessly to bring other students a spectacular performance. Students performed an array of genres to a packed audience, and the cohort is thankful to have such a supportive community at school.

This experience was a part of the Year 10 coursework, where students had to use class time as well as time at home to develop skills to bring the performance to life.  Furthermore, students also had to use their skills in marketing and public speaking in addition to their skills in setting up for a performance and capturing this moment. While there were a few nerves, everyone was able to play confidentially and gain knowledge and skills from this experience.

The cohort of Year 10 would like to thank the faculty and their parents for the support and can’t wait to see what comes next!

Mrs Tijtje Keatley
Music Director

EMR Senior Boys Baseball and Senior Girls Softball – Tuesday 30 April

The Senior Boy’s Baseball and Senior Girl’s Softball teams travelled to Knoxfield to represent Mount Waverley Secondary College at the Eastern Region Finals. The Boys dominated their pool, but sadly fell short in the final to an overwhelming performance by Blackburn Secondary College, coming 2^nd in the Region.
The Girl’s Softball team fared better, competing brilliantly all day and will continue on to represent us at State level!

Senior Boys Soccer – Friday 3 May

The Senior Boy’s Soccer team competed fiercely at the Divisional level, in the most even competition in over a decade.  After three games involving 2 draws and only one win Mount Waverley Secondary College faced the greatest test of nerves in Soccer – a penalty shoot out, winning 6 – 5 against Vermont Secondary College.  The team will continue on to the Region Finals in July.

Cross Country – Tuesday 7 May

On a sensationally sunny May day, over 200 students from MWSC ventured off to Nortons Park to participate in the 2024 Division Cross Country Carnival.

• Daisy W – 1st Overall in the 13 girls
• Seth J – 1st overall in the 13 boys
• Yun Y – 3rd overall in the 14 girls
• Sebastian S – 2nd overall in 14 boys
• Bradley C – 3rd overall in 14 boys
• Julian D – 3rd overall in 15 boys
• Hannah R – 1st overall in 15 girls
• Hayden V – 3rd overall in 16 boys
• Frances SM – 1st overall in 16 girls
• Aisha H – 2nd overall in 16 girls

Old Magistrate Court and Victorian Police Museum

On Friday 3 May, the Year 10 Law and Order classes went on an excursion to get a firsthand look at how the legal system works. We started the say at Mount Waverely station, taking the train into the city. After a short walk, we arrived at the Old Melbourne Gaol.

We waited in the lobby outside the Gaol, excited about what the day had in store. After about twenty minutes, we headed to the Old Magistrate Court. There, we got to play different roles in a mock trial, like the judge, tipstaff, and witnesses. It was an interesting way to see how courtrooms operate and understand the legal process better.

After the court session, we took a leisurely walk to the Police Headquarters, where the Police Museum is located. Inside, we explored exhibits that showcased the history of law enforcement in Melbourne. It gave us a deeper insight into how the police work and how crime prevention has evolved over time.

At the end of the day, we made our way back to the train station, reflecting on everything we had learned. It sparked some interesting discussions about the legal system and its complexities. overall, the excursion was both educational and engaging, giving us a better understanding of justice and law enforcement in the real world.

by Amy W (10H)

2024 is a historic year as the college fully implements the Vocational Major (VM) VCE course for the first time in Years 11 and 12. So far, students in both levels have participated in excursions within our local area, completed or started hands-on projects and completed coursework across our four subject areas.

All students doing VM are also actively involved in VET courses. The staff have visited a local TAFE to see how we can bring our courses closer to what TAFE demands of students. Here is a list of things students have done so far this year and what we intend to do for the rest of the term:

• Year 12 students completed the measurement and layout of the Gordon Road car park, installing 200+ parking discs.
• Year 11 students have completed planter boxes, nesting boxes and worm farm boxes as we reach the next planning stage of their outdoor space near A12.
• Year 12 students helped in the selection of new furniture in A12.
• Year 11 students visited Damper Creek Reserve as part of their PDS (Personal Development Skills) program.
• Year 12 students visited the Mount Waverley Village as part of their Numeracy and PDS program.
• Year 12 students will visit Burwood Brickworks for Numeracy and Literacy work.
• Year 11 students will go fishing as part of their PDS, Literacy, Numeracy and WRS (Work-Related Skills) courses.
• Year 11 students are given access to Food Handling and Barista training from an external provider to enhance their employability skills.
• Year 11 students baked cookies for Harmony Week as part of their PDS course.
• Year 11 and 12 students supporting the “Push Up” challenge to support Headspace, a local community operator.

We still have many things in the pipeline to complete in Semester 2 and enhancing our links within our local community is very important to us. If anyone within the school parent community would like to reach out to engage with the VM program, please contact Wayne Griffin gri@mwsc.vic.edu.au We are open to any concept, suggestion, or idea!

Many thanks to the teaching team for VM, who are creating a curriculum that is unique to the school. I know the students appreciate the significant hard work of the VM staff as designing a new curriculum is very time-consuming and demanding. The team is:

Mr Wayne Griffin
VM and VPC Coordinator

Careers Expo

On Thursday 2 May, Year 11 students had the opportunity to attend the VCE and Careers Expo at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Exhibitors included educational and training providers, organisations with apprenticeship information and opportunities, defence and emergency services, providers of VCE resources, and many more.  The excursion to the Careers Expo was one of the many important components in students’ pathway planning that they will be able to access during their time at the college.

As we approach Semester 2, choices will need to be made regarding their Year 12 subjects. We encourage students to speak to their subject teachers and the Careers team as part of their planning. Appointments can be made with one of the careers practitioners through Careers Corner. Students can access this on Compass.

Mr Phil Newnham and Ms Victoria Tortopidis
Careers Education Manager

Welcome to this issue of the Mount Waverley Secondary College Alumni Newsletter.

In this edition, meet our 1964 and 1984 alumni who joined us for the School Reunion Tour in March. Get to know the MWSC Super Stage Band which is composed of music alumni from Classes 2016 to 2023. Dive into the joy of reliving treasured memories and browsing through nostalgic photographs from days gone by.

Your contributions and insights (stories, memories, and photos) has enhanced this newsletter. Keep them coming.

To view May’s Alumni newsletter please click here

To register and get the newsletter along with all the latest news events sent directly to your email, please click here.

Ms Victoria Tortopidis
Alumni Coordinator