MWSC College News – Issue 16

Scholarships for Australian-German Student Exchange

Hayley S of Year 12 has been awarded one of twelve scholarships through the Scholarships for Australian-German Student Exchange (SAGSE). On Friday 18^th October, Hayley, her family and Ms Katja Chitters attended the Gala Dinner in Melbourne, where Hayley was presented with her award and the college was presented with a certificate for exceptional and outstanding contribution to German Language Teaching in Victoria. Congratulations Hayley and well done to our German Teachers for this special recognition.

State Athletics

On Monday 21st October, Mount Waverley Secondary College sent 6 students to the Victorian State Athletics Championships. All students were excellent representatives of the college on the day. Congratulations to:

Taya F – 4^th in triple jump
Jimmy O – 2^nd in high jump, 4^th in javelin, 3^rd in discus
Zachary C – 4^th in 800m, 15^th in 1500m
Jaiden L – 4^th in triple jump
Harry I – 4^th in discus

Special thanks to our Sports Leaders Mr Danny Gwynne and Mr Jay Newport for attending on the day and supporting our students.

Year 12 Celebration Day

The Year 12 students celebrated their final school day on Tuesday 22^nd October. The students arrived in fancy dress and the theme was ‘Dress as your future profession’. A rehearsal for their Graduation Evening was held and students then received their celebration packs which included their Year 12 Yearbook, a MWSC Coffee Keep Cup and a group photo, before partaking in a pizza lunch to finish off their celebrations.

Thank you to the Senior School team for overseeing this event and thank you to all the teachers who came to support our Year 12s on their final day of school.

Graduation Evening: Farewelling our Year 12 Class of 2024

Our Year 12 Graduation/Valedictory Dinner was held on Wednesday 23^rd October. This year due to our growing number of Year 12 students, we moved back to having a celebration dinner which was held at the Caulfield Racecourse, and it was a great success. The evening was full of nostalgia as we celebrated the achievements of each of our Year 12 students from the Class of 2024.

The evening provided an opportunity to acknowledge the great contribution of all the past teachers from Prep to Year 12 who have significantly influenced our students’ development into fine young men and women – not to mention the invaluable guidance and support provided by parents and carers.

On the night we announced our 2024 Valedictorian. Congratulations to Lachlan S who gave the Valedictorian speech which was well received. The Year 12 students were also presented with their Year 12 Certificate on this night.

I am so proud of our Year 12 students whose behaviour has been exemplary as they completed their final lessons and celebrated their final days of secondary school.  The Class of 2024 commenced their exams last Tuesday and our best wishes are with them as they do their complete their final assessments over the coming weeks.

Congratulations to Ms Jo Rogers – Head of Senior School, Mr James Johnston – Senior School Leader and their team and Mrs Narda McLennan for the countless hours that went into organising this ceremony.

World Teachers’ Day

On Friday 25th October Mount Waverley Secondary College celebrated World Teachers’ Day.  Our teachers provide learning opportunities for our students’ way beyond what is expected.  They strive to always improve their professional practice, in order to support students to achieve excellent learning outcomes.  Often the efforts of our teachers are not acknowledged, but the rewards they experience in supporting students to achieve success are priceless. On behalf of all the students and parents, I thank our brilliant team of teachers for always giving their best to make Mount Waverley Secondary College a great educational provider.

Year 7 Band Program Afternoons

Well done to the entire Instrumental and Classroom Music teams for overseeing the organisation of the two wonderful Year 7 Band Program concerts held this week. The weather was perfect, and the performances and music were also great. I know the parents who attended relished the opportunity to come on campus and celebrate our students’ efforts.

Professional Practice Day

Just a reminder that next Monday 4^th November is a student free day as all teachers will be involved in Professional Practice meetings during this time.

Mango Drive

Thank you to all the families who ordered a tray of mangoes in this year’s Mango Drive.  We are expecting the mangoes to be delivered in the week starting 25 November. Families will be notified when they arrive and where to collect your order.

Scholarships to support students

Scholarships are available for students who complete Grade 4 to Year 11 in 2024, and for students enrolled in Year 12 in 2024 who plan to do tertiary studies in 2025.

The Department of Education administers a number of scholarships available to eligible students who are enrolled in Grade 4 to Year 12 in 2024.

Applicants for these scholarships will be evaluated on their:

• participation in school activities
• community involvement
• academic achievement.

Scholarships are either one-off payments or cover the duration of the student’s course or annual study.

Many of these scholarships have specific eligibility criteria, so please refer to individual applications for more information. Applications are now open, and close on Saturday 1 February 2025. For information on how to apply, refer to Student scholarships

Protecting against mosquito-borne diseases

Warm and wet weather can result in greater numbers of mosquitoes and increased risk of illnesses from mosquito bites. While the overall risk is low, some mosquitoes carry diseases that make people sick.

The best protection against mosquito-borne illness is to avoid mosquito bites.

Families can protect against mosquito bites by:

• covering up as much as possible with long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing
• applying insect repellent that contains picaridin or DEET on exposed skin when leaving home
• limiting outdoor activity if lots of mosquitoes are active.

Families with any health concerns should see their doctor or phone NURSE-ON-CALL: 1300 606 024 (available 24 hours).

Free Japanese encephalitis vaccines

Japanese encephalitis virus is spread to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes and can cause a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain.  Free Japanese encephalitis vaccines are available to protect Victorians at higher risk of the virus.

The Victorian Department of Health encourages eligible people who live or work in high-risk local government areas to get vaccinated.  For more information, including what is considered a high-risk area and eligibility for a free vaccine, refer to the Department of Health’s Japanese encephalitis webpage.

Find out more

For more information on protecting against mosquito-borne diseases, families can refer to the following Better Health Channel pages:

• Mosquitoes can carry diseases
• Protect yourself from mosquito-borne disease, including a handy checklist to help reduce mosquito breeding sites at home and resources translated into other languages.

2024 Examination Dates

The exam dates are as follows:

• Year 10 and 11 exams start Monday 18th November and finish Thursday 21^st November.
• Year 9 exams start Wednesday 20^th November and finish Thursday 21^st November.
• Correction Day / Student Free Day will be held on Friday 22^nd November.
• The Early Commencement Program (ECP) for 2025 Years 11 and 12 will run for two weeks and will be held from Monday 25^th November until Friday 6^th December.
• The Early Commencement Program (ECP) for 2025 Years 8,9 and 10 will run for two and a half weeks and will be held from Monday 25^th November until Tuesday 10^th December.

Year End Program (YEP)

Year 7-9 students will be invited to attend the YEP activities program at the end of the year. Parents have received notification regarding this program via Compass.

Mrs Karen Wade
College Principal

Term 4 is always an exciting time at the Junior Campus; we start to celebrate the achievements of another academic year, with an eye to the future for both of our year levels.

Band Program Concerts – Year 7

This week we held two Year 7 Band Program concerts. These afternoon events are a wonderful chance for the students to show off their newly learned skills, and an opportunity for our Junior Campus community to come together and celebrate. We were blessed with wonderful weather, and we were so thrilled to hear the wonderful performances and meet all of the families. Thanks to the Music team, in particular Ms Melissa Knowles and Mr Tim O’Connor, for their organisation.

Night at the Museum – Year 7

In the coming weeks we have the annual Night at the Museum event; another chance to celebrate student achievements. We also have the Arts and Design Festival, and the Sports Awards night. All of these events are excellent opportunities to come together and put our talented students on show. We encourage you to come along and participate.

Early Commencement Program (ECP)

In recent weeks our Year 8s have been participating in a range of transition activities, preparing them for the big move to the Senior Campus when the Early Commencement Program (ECP)  begins on 25 November. We appreciate the visits from Senior Campus teachers, as well as the tours conducted during camp week. Additionally, behind the scenes our sub school teams have been preparing and providing very thorough handovers, so that the individual needs of our students will continued to be catered for in year 9. All of these experiences help make for a better transition for our students.

Student Leadership – Junior Campus

Finally, it was wonderful to have Mr Grant (Head of Student Voice and Agency) visit our Year 7 assembly last week to discuss the opportunities to participate in student leadership in 2025. Our highly regarded student voice and leadership program truly is one of the strengths of the college, and we encourage all Year 7s to consider nominating themselves for a position in Year 8 in 2025.

Mr Matt Sheehan
Campus Principal – Junior School

It has been a busy couple of weeks as our Year 12s completed their last formal school days at Mount Waverley Secondary College. Many students have since returned to meet teachers for help in the lead up to their exams, which has been fantastic to see. We are so proud of the perseverance and hard work they have shown this year and wish them all the best for their exams.

Thank you to all the teachers and education support staff who have worked with these students both this year, and during their time at the college. A special thank you to the Senior Subschool Team of  Ms Jo Rogers, Mr James Johnston, Mr Andrew Morton, Mr Chris Bamford, Mr Tristan Dunkley, Ms Sunita Sewani and Ms Cheryl Mace for all the support and care of the students this year, and their work in planning and running events and exams.

Year 12 Graduation Dinner

On October 23, 729 students, parents, and teachers convened at Caulfield Racecourse to honor the graduating class of 2024. It was a pleasure to return to a traditional dinner to celebrate this momentous occasion. Congratulations to our Valedictorian, Lachlan S, whose dedication to both academics and extracurricular activities truly exemplifies our school’s values. This year also marks a significant milestone as we celebrate the first cohort of students to graduate with the VCE Vocational Major. We commend all students for their hard work and achievements.

VCAA Exams

The first VCAA exams began for students required to complete either performance or language oral exams. For a majority of Year 12s the English exam on October 29 was their first VCAA written exam. Students were extremely happy to have the longest exam on their timetable completed. VCAA exams will continue through to November 20. Thanks to Mr James Johnston, Ms Jo Rogers, Chief Examiner Ms Trish Reid and all the exam supervisors for all their hard work.

2025 College Captains

Over the past week or so Year 11 students have been involved in the selection process to be considered for leadership positions in 2025. This has involved written applications and interviews. On Monday 28 October our Year 11 students gathered in the hall to hear from our perspective College Captains for 2025. All candidates should be very proud of how they spoke. Thank you to Mr Thomas Grant, Head of Student Voice, for overseeing the process, and to all staff who were on panels.

Year 11 Exams

Next week is the last week of classes for year 11 students. Exams for year 11s will begin on November 11. Our teachers have been preparing students for their upcoming exams, supplying them with study materials and revision strategies. We ask that parents support students by fostering a conducive study environment, assisting with revision, and ensuring they maintain a healthy balance of study, rest and exercise.

Ms Lauren Kelly
Campus Principal – Senior School

Year 12 Valedictory Dinner and Graduation

Last week our Year 12s were presented as the Graduating Class of 2024 to their families and friends at the Caulfield Race Course. It was a lovely evening with mingling, speeches and dancing. Students dressed up in their finest clothes, wore their cap & gown, and were presented with their MWSC Year 12 Certificates.

The 2024 Year 12 Valedictorian was named as Lachlan S. Lachie gave a moving speech about the memories made during his time at MWSC and reminded all students to thank their families, friends, and teachers.

Thanks to the staff, who were there to show their support and celebrate with the Year 12s. Thanks to Mrs Karen Wade, Ms Lauren Kelly and the Year Level Coordinators, Mr Chris Bamford and Mr Andrew Morton, all spoke about the challenges and delights of finishing 13 years of schooling.

And a big thanks to Mr James Johnston, who organised the whole evening, Ms Narda McLennan and Ms Juliana Sung for all of their support behind the scenes.

VCAA Exams

The Year 12s were straight back into it the next day, heads down studying hard. We’ve seen many students come in to meet with teachers and putting in lots of effort to achieve their best. Over 200 students sat the VCAA English and EAL Exams on Tuesday and a number of other VCAA exams throughout the week, including Biology and General Maths.

Good luck to our Year 12s for the remainder of their exams!    Year 9 -11 students are reminded to be silent if they walk past locations with VCAA exam signage.

Internal Exams

Year 11 exams will start on 11th November. Students will not have formal classes and should use their time to study. During the exam period, students are still expected to wear full school uniform. The Resource Centre will be open most days for private study.

Ms Jo Rogers
Acting Head of Senior School

Beacon – Cyber Safety App

I recently attended a conference where all the latest research on cyber safety was presented. One of the proactive approaches to support parents which is endorsed by the Australian Government is “Beacon” – The switched-on app for families online”. Information is power – it is important as parents/carers to arm yourself with as much information as possible about the online world and how to support your children to be safe. See information below about this cyber safety educational app designed to keep parents and carers up to date.

Beacon is designed specifically for parents as a personalised, one-stop-shop for reliable information about the online world. It arms parents and carers with the knowledge they need to confidently help navigate their children’s digital behaviour and reduce harms we know are associated with being online and on screens.

Beacon aims to improve the digital future for Australian children by building parents’ and carers’ digital skills so they can confidently navigate their children’s use of digital technology in a positive way and minimise potential harms associated with being online. The Beacon app integrates seamlessly into parents’ daily lives, delivering the most trusted and up-to-date information backed by behavioural science research, as well as personalised support, ideas and strategies at their fingertips to navigate the ever-changing online world. The Beacon Digital Citizenship Framework outlines all the evidence-based topics found in the Beacon app (in the BROWSE tab menu) including information for each age group – pre-schoolers, young children, early adolescents and teenagers:

App and devices provide reviews of popular games, social media and chatting apps

• Digital parenting such as managing screen time, online safety basics and role modelling
• Relationships such as cyberbullying, dating and social connections
• Health and wellbeing such as mental health, body images and online/offline balance
• Learning and education such as school and technology, developmental needs and media literacy
• Privacy and security such as setting parental controls on devices, apps and consoles, digital footprint and cyber security
• Online safety such as pornography, grooming and hard-to-have conversations

https://beacon.thekids.org.au/

Mental Health Month

Gala Concert

The MWSC music faculty were proud to present our annual Gala Concert in the first week of term. Over 300 students from Years 7-12 took to the stage across two packed performances, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of our young musicians.

Our diverse range of music ensembles, including strings, concert band, jazz bands, guitar and percussion ensembles, and choirs, gave great performances for the audience. These students have worked diligently with their ensemble directors all year to prepare for this special event including before and after school rehearsals.

The concert also highlighted the exceptional leadership skills of our student music leadership team. They played a crucial role in various aspects of the evening, including program and poster design, lighting, stage operations, student movement, and MCing. Their hard work and commitment contributed significantly to the success of the event.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all the families and friends who attended the concerts and provided their unwavering support. We were honored to have the presence of our special guest, Mr Matt Fregon MP, who attended the second performance.

A special thanks to our dedicated team of music teachers who worked tirelessly to make these concerts a resounding success. Their passion and expertise have inspired our students to perform at a higher level.

VCE Unit 2 Recital Success

Last Thursday, our talented VCE Unit 2 Music students showcased their skills for their semester recital.  The students dedicated hours of practice to master an 8-10 minute program, which they performed with confidence and artistry before a supportive audience and a panel of experienced musicians.

The panel provided invaluable feedback to help the students refine their performances and continue their musical growth. We commend the entire class for their hard work, dedication, and impressive achievements and thanks the panel and staff who came  along to support these students.

Band Program Concerts

This week, the concerts continued when over 320 Year 7 students took to the stage across two concerts, showcasing the musical progress they have made throughout the year.

As part of our core music curriculum, Year 7 students at MWSC have the unique opportunity to learn a musical instrument and participate in ensemble training and  performances. These concerts were a testament to the hard work of our young musicians, as they performed a variety of pieces with enthusiasm and skill. As part of these concerts, the students also had the opportunity to hear senior music ensembles from the college perform, demonstrating where music can take them should they continue their instrument.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all the staff members who attended and assisted in the smooth running of these large-scale events. A special thank you to our Head of Woodwind, Ms Melissa Knowles, and Head of Strings, Mr Timothy O’Connor, for their exceptional leadership in organising these memorable concerts.

Mrs Tijtje Keatley
Music Director

Year 8 Boys EMR Table Tennis

On Wednesday 23 October, four Year 8 boys represented the school in the Eastern Metropolitan Regional table tennis team. The team won their first 2 pool games against Templestowe Secondary & Lilydale Heights, 6 rubbers to 0.

Our last pool game against Balwyn High finished 3 rubbers each, however the games score was 9-15.  This meant we qualified in second spot and therefore played against Doncaster East Secondary in the semi finals. The boys played exceptionally well winning 4 rubbers to 2.

We then met Balwyn High again in the Grand Final and despite some high quality matches, we finished runners up, going down 2 rubbers to 4.  Well done to Junyan, Long, Divit & Julian for your outstanding performances and a big thank you to Harshaal for helping to score on the day.

Mr Campbell
Coach

VTAC Change of Preference

Helena Ly-Lu – Class of 2018

We were thrilled to welcome back alumna Ms Helena Ly-Lu, Class of 2018, to speak with our Year 9 and 10 students about the many pathways in STEM, including engineering, fire engineering, drafting, electrical, and mechanical disciplines. Helena graduated with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from RMIT University in 2022.

During her studies, she contributed to notable projects like the First Nations Medical Clinic in Frankston, to the Southgate Fire Mode operation, and the City of Melbourne car park upgrade. Helena began her graduate program with A.G. Coombs in August 2023. A.G. Coombs is the leading Australian provider of specialist building services. Their expertise is in air conditioning and mechanical services, fire protection, hydraulics, electrical services, and lighting, and building control technologies. With her colleagues is she pioneering a school-based initiative to promote STEM careers for women.

Ms Victoria Tortopidis
Alumni Coordinator