MWSC College News – Issue 2

Star Performers

The VCE Season of Excellence is managed by Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. The Season showcases work produced by outstanding VCE students who completed performing or visual arts, technology, design, or research studies in 2024. Events are presented at Melbourne’s major cultural venues, alongside associated education programs. One of our 2024 students (who completed Unit 3&4 studies last year) has been invited to exhibit their works in their respective areas. This is a fantastic achievement and a credit to our Arts Program and staff who work tirelessly to promote the Arts across our school.

Congratulations to Farah H, who has been selected to exhibit her VCE Visual Communication Design work in Top Designs 2025 at Melbourne Museum. Over 310 submissions were entered this year, 28 of which were shortlisted and only 14 Visual Communication Design students selected for exhibition. Selected works exemplify the innovation, skill and creativity that can be achieved within the Victorian Curriculum. Top Designs will run from Saturday 29 March until Sunday 20 July at the Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson St, Carlton.

Communication is Vital

Mount Waverley Secondary College has a commitment to provide all the care and support necessary for each student to do their best and achieve the highest possible learning outcomes.  It is important that when families have concerns about their children, they contact the relevant staff members immediately to ensure a quick supportive response.

I encourage families to maintain open communication with staff members to ensure each student is provided with optimal support.

The most appropriate staff members to talk to when you have specific concerns are the classroom teachers, then Year Level Coordinator, then Sub School Leader or Head of Sub School prior to contacting one of the Campus Principals.  These are the staff members who have a thorough understanding of the needs of the students in their care:

Year Level Coordinators

Year 7         Ms Danielle Robertson, Ms Brinda Manogaran
Year 8         Mr Jackie Chan, Ms Eliza Yates
Year 9         Mr Tristan Kent, Mr Adam Wheeler
Year 10       Mr Aayush Khosla, Ms Stephanie Xing
Year 11       Mr Chris Bamford, Mrs Juliz Mathew
Year 12       Mr Tristan Dunkley, Mrs Sunita Sewani

Junior School Leader            Mrs Danielle Mott
Head of Junior School           Mrs Debbie Sekula

Middle School Leader            Ms Jo Rogers
Head of Middle School          Mrs Asha Vazirani

Senior School Leader            Mr James Johnston
Head of Senior School          Ms Sarah Chase

During the last few weeks, I have observed classrooms and I have been very impressed with how focussed the teaching and learning activities have been and have noted that our teachers and students have a lovely rapport in the classroom.  Teachers and students are clearly demonstrating our motto ‘Community, Choice and Engagement’.  I am particularly pleased to report our new Year 7 students are making a very smooth transition to the college.

Our college is a safe and caring learning community, and our students and staff believe that Mount Waverley Secondary College is a very special place which offers magnificent learning opportunities.

Community Involvement

Research clearly indicates that if parents are involved in their child’s education, they enhance the learning outcomes for their students.  I would like to thank all the parents who have already volunteered to be involved in our learning community.

2025 MWSC Secondhand Uniform/Book Shop

Thank you to all our wonderful parent volunteers who have been running the MWSC Secondhand Uniform/Book Shop this year.  The shop is open on selected Friday morning between 9am – 11am on the Senior Campus (refer to compass posts or college website for actual dates).

For queries regarding textbooks and uniform availability please email pnf@mwsc.vic.edu.au

Ritchies – Community Benefits

I encourage all parents to patronise Ritchies Supermarkets and access a Community Benefits Card or you can download the Ritchies Loyalty App on your phone, nominating Mount Waverley Secondary College as your preferred beneficiary.  Each time you shop at Ritchies you will be actively contributing to your child’s education by helping us continue to provide quality resources throughout the college.

MWSC Alumni

In 2025 we are continuing to build our MWSC Alumni (past students and staff association). There are three ways our alumni community can stay in touch.

They can register to receive a monthly MWSC Alumni newsletter, join the MWSC Alumni Facebook page or join the Mount Waverley Secondary College LinkedIn Group.

Lions Club of Ashwood Mt Waverley

We have close links to the Lions Club of Ashwood-Mt Waverley. Whilst they are part of a global organisation their focus is on the needs of our local community. The club would be interested in hearing from anyone who would like to draw their attention to a particular need or who would like to join in some of their local activities. Please contact Keith Irwin for general enquiries or Roy Willmott for membership enquiries via email ashwood@lions201V5.org.au

Student/ Parent/ Teacher Conferences

Our virtual student/parent/teacher conferences for the year will be held online via Webex on Wednesday 2 April from 1.00pm-7.30pm.  Further information will be sent out closer to the time.

COVID-19 transmission measures

There is at present an increase in community transmission of COVID-19 in Victoria. You can help us keep our school as safe as possible by taking 2 important steps:

1. Ensure your COVID-19 vaccinations are up to date. Information on how and where to get vaccinated is available on the Get vaccinated webpage
2. If your child shows symptoms of COVID-19, please ensure they stay home and get tested. The easiest way to test is to use a rapid antigen test (RAT).

You can buy RATs at supermarkets, pharmacies, and other retailers. If your child has symptoms but tests negative, please ensure they stay home until they no longer have symptoms.

If the RAT test result is positive, please ensure they stay at home for at least 5 days and until there are no more symptoms. Thank you for your support – these steps will help us all stay well.

Mrs Karen Wade
College Principal

Year 7 Camp

Well done to all of our Year 7 students for their participation in the Phillip Island Adventure Camp last week. Students and staff braved uncertain conditions and had a wonderful time getting to know each other and having some fun in the sun. A particular thanks goes to our Junior School Leader, Ms Danielle Mott, and our Year 7 coordinators for their preparation and leadership. I would also like to extend my thanks to all staff who gave up their time to go along. Only through the willingness of our wonderful staff are we able to make these events happen.

Read ahead in this newsletter to read some student accounts of their experiences as they wrote them in English class during the week.

Year 8 Challenge Program

While the Year 7s were at camp, our Year 8s had the chance to test their resilience and courage with our annual Challenge Week. Students got the chance to dance, climb, improvise, touch reptiles, and many other challenging activities. I would like to commend the students for participating in the right spirit, and being so encouraging of their peers as they tested their limits.

Monash Tech School

We are now quite a way into our Monash Tech School visits for 2025. Our students are so fortunate to have access to these world-class facilities and to undertake such an engaging program. Well done to all students who have attended already. We have received such wonderful feedback from our hosts about your conduct and attitude. To those students who have not yet attended, we hope you are looking forward to the experience.

Before and After School

While we are a welcoming and inclusive school community, the location and limited size of our campus restricts our ability to have parents/carers visit us on campus. This is a reminder that there is no parent parking available on our campus. Please refrain from dropping off or picking up your child, instead plan to me in one of the side streets, or encourage other means of commuting.

Likewise, we have had many eager parents/carers seeking to meet their children at the front of the school at the end of the day. With close to 700 students on our very small campus, we ask that parents find alternative places to wait, outside the school gates and away from the crossing area.

We plan to have a number of community events this year where you can come and explore the campus, but would appreciate your cooperation with the requests above in the meantime.

Mr Matt Sheehan
Campus Principal – Junior School

Well done to all Middle School students on their great to start to the 2025 as we have settled back into timetabled classes. It’s been pleasing to hear positive feedback on how students have approached their learning during these first few weeks. As we look forward our Year 9 students will be engaging with the Morrisby Careers Program and completing NAPLAN testing in the coming weeks.

School Photos

Arthur Reed have completed our first photo day with a catch-up day scheduled for Monday 24^th February. They are busy processing the photos already taken. Parents are encouraged to use the online portal which allows them to view and order photos.

Drop off and picking up students around the college

The streets around the college are very busy during drop off and pick up times. Please take care when driving around the college particularly at these times.

When dropping off and picking up student’s, it is important to adhere to the parking signs and avoid parking across any driveways.

Please respect our neighbours and other road users by following all road rules when you are driving around the college.

NAPLAN

Preparations for NAPLAN are in full swing.  NAPLAN testing occurs from Wednesday 12 to Friday 14^th March and Monday 17^th March, followed by catch up starting on Tuesday 18^th March.  Year 7 will undertake the tests during Periods 1 and 2 with Year 9 doing it during Periods 3 and 4. Keep an eye out for more information in the coming weeks.

Student accident insurance, ambulance cover arrangements and private property brought to school.

Parents/carers are reminded that the Department of Education does not provide personal accident or ambulance cover for students.  Parents and carers of students, who do not have private health insurance or ambulance cover, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for their injured child.  Private property brought to the college by students, staff or visitors is not insured and the Department of Education is not responsible for any loss or damage.  This can include mobile phones, calculators, sporting equipment and cars parked on school premises.  It is recommended that parents/carers consider insurance policies that can be purchased from commercial insurers.

Mr Ian MacLeod
Campus Principal – Middle School

The school year is in full swing and many of our senior students would have already completed assessment tasks that contribute to their progress in their subjects. An assessment task calendar has been shared with students and parents/carers to support students with planning and preparing for these tasks. There are strict requirements regarding attendance and procedures for these tasks that students and teachers must follow.

Tips and strategies to support your child in VCE

The jump into VCE is always a big one and at times students and their families can feel overwhelmed and anxious. Please ensure that your child talks to their teacher if they are having difficulties with the work or the Year Level Coordinators if they are struggling with the demands of VCE.

Some of the top tips to assist in VCE success include:

● Create a study timetable and stick to it (around 3 to 4 hours outside of class time per day)
● Find a place to study and set it up
● Don’t study with a mobile phone or devices – they can be a distraction
● Practice applying your knowledge – not just remembering it
● Use mind-maps, tables and graphic organisers to summarise the main points
● Use the expertise of teachers – they are always happy to assist you
● Keep a good work/life balance – make sure you get enough sleep, exercise and social time. If you have a part time job, be mindful of spending too much time working at the expense of study time.
● Study time includes revision of work covered, not just homework.
● Make sure that you stay up to date with your coursework and regularly engage in revision.

The Year Level Coordinators are here to support your child, please encourage your child to see them if they are struggling with getting on top of their study.

Communication at the college

Supporting senior students through their chosen VCE pathway is a team effort and requires a partnership between the college, students and parents.

While our staff make every effort to respond to parents in a timely manner it can sometimes be difficult given the size of our school community. All staff, including those in subschools, have a teaching allotment and may not always be available via phone. Email is usually the best way to reach our staff, or a phone message can be left if necessary.

Compass is used as our primary method of communication with parents/carers. Please check this regularly and ensure your email address and other details are up to date. Compass is used to report on student progress for CATs and SACs, provide information about attendance, notifications regarding excursions and other upcoming events at the college.

School Drop Off and Pick Up

School Drop is a busy time around both campuses of the college. There are cars, pedestrians and cyclists all moving around during this busy time. Please be patient so we ensure all students get to and from school safely each day. We request that parents do not use the staff car parks on either campus when picking up or dropping off students. We also ask that you do not block the driveways of residents who live in the surrounding streets.

Ms Lauren Kelly
Campus Principal – Senior School

Parenting Spotlight: Smiling Mind App for families

Using the Smiling Mind App with kids: Tips and Tricks

• In the morning, to enhance focus and calm
• On the go, to make travel a mindful and enjoyable experience
• After the school day, to unwind and relax
• At meal times, to create a calm dinner table environment
• Before bed, to fall asleep—and stay asleep
• During weekends, to foster family connection and boost everyone’s mood

The first unit of work for Year 7 students in English is entitled Writing for Secondary School. This unit is designed to get students writing about their high school experience using new vocabulary, and different conventions of writing. This week students learned about language of evaluation and substantiation, and tried their hand at writing reviews. The subject of their reviews is none other than their recent trip to Phillip Island Adventure Resort for their Year 7 camp. We hope you enjoy reading about their experiences!

On 12th February, Year 7s went to Philip Island for the first high school camp. It only takes three words to describe it: Chaotic, wondrous, and awesome! 

The camp took place at Phillip Island Adventure Resort. The place was pretty  awesome and spacious, complete with a pool (that we weren’t allowed to go to),  basketball courts, and most of the activities that we were going to do in those three  days. The bus ride to the resort took a while, and it felt even longer with all the  singing and shenanigans going on where I was sitting; at the back of the bus, but it  was the good type of chaos. We stopped at San Remo for a break from the stiff  positions that we were forced to sit in on the bus, where we ate recess and had a  relaxing view of the pristine water and soft sand (which we were also not allowed to  go to). 

It’s challenging to pick my absolute favourite activity of all of them, but I’ve narrowed  it all down to the trip to  Amaze’n’things. The illusions were incredible, mind-boggling  and spectacular, and the drop was tremendous, if not terrifying. Along with all that,  the maze was a wonderful way to end the trip to Amaze’n’things. Complicated, yes, but also fairly unbelievable to look back to.  

On the other hand, I wish that we could have a bit more of a say in the cabin and  activity groups we were put in. Me and my friends were all split apart, and I feel like I  would’ve had more fun with them in my cabin and activities.  

Something I will always cherish in my heart will probably be the Trivia. It’s not the  finest thing I experienced at camp, but it will definitely serve a place in my stash of  memories. Our brave peers performing for the rest of the grade were entertaining,  making us all laugh ourselves silly. Me and my friends, along with some new people  from their cabin, worked through the questions with many difficulties, even though  we probably nailed the food one, and absolutely failed the sport one. We’re rather  good at our stuff.  

I’ve got some good advice for our next year campers: try everything! All the activities  and games are worth it!! Face your fears, embrace your inner you, get a little messy!  Make your short time at camp last: Time flies by when you’re having fun, and camp  was undeniably a highlight of my year.

by Grace 7F

Phillip Island Adventure Resort provided a phenomenal introduction to Year 7, taking place from February 12th to 14th. This camp was a fantastic opportunity to forge friendships, challenge yourself, and create long-lasting memories.

The moment we arrived, we dove into an array of activities. One of the most exhilarating moments of the trip was the giant swing. As I was gradually hoisted  into the sky, the view of the surrounding landscape became mystical and alluring, drawing me into the expansive beauty of nature. I felt an incredible sense of freedom as the wind rushed against my face, billowing through my hair. The anticipation mounted with every meter I ascended. Once released, I was thrust into the air, feeling a rush of excitement followed by a brief weightless sensation before swinging back and forth. The impact of the swing jarred my senses, and the force of the motion was both intense and invigorating, leaving me with a heart-pounding adrenaline rush that lingered long after the swing slowed down. This experience bequeathed me with a profound memory of the thrill of the moment.

Another standout part of the trip was the bus ride there and back. The movie night and trivia were equally entertaining, offering some lighthearted fun and a chance to unwind after a day of action-packed activities. These moments concocted an atmosphere of camaraderie, resulting in the ultimate camp experience. 

While the camp was an exceptional experience overall, there were areas for improvement. The food was somewhat inconsistent, some meals were scrumptious, while others did not quite meet expectations. The quality of the meals, in particular, was a slight letdown and could benefit from more consistency. For future camps, I would recommend implementing preference sheets for both cabin assignments and activity groups to create a more enriching experience for all the students.

In conclusion, Phillip Island Adventure Resort was astounding. It was a journey that tested my limits, expanded my horizons, and left me with memories I will cherish deeply. My advice to future campers would be to embrace every challenge, savor every moment, and know that the memories you create will shape you in ways you  never expected. It is an experience that will truly stay with you for a lifetime!

by Harjas 7F

All eight Owa students attended the swimming carnival on February 3rd. The carnival was outside. It was very hot, but some Owa students decided to support the swimmers rather than swim.

I swam freestyle (50m), breaststroke (50m), and butterfly (50m). I came 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

There aren’t many 50-meter pools in Japan so it was a fun experience to swim in such a big pool for the first time.

Japanese and Australian sports festivals are different. The MWSC swimming festival was like a party!  All the Year 12 students wore costumes.

I drank a blue sports drink. It looked strange. I thought it was blue hawaii flavour, but it was raspberry.

We took pictures and ate lunch with MWSC students and I was able to make some new friends.

By Itcho Taniguchi

Year 7 & 8 – Careers Lunchtime Drop-in Question Time, Junior Campus

This Term Careers will be hosting a Careers Lunchtime Drop-in Sessions for Year 7 and 8 students to “ask me anything” about career and pathways. They are held in the JS Library. These sessions, scheduled fortnightly throughout Term 1 (18 February, 4 March, 18 March, and 1 April) offer students the opportunity to explore career pathways and ask questions in an informal setting. So far we have had questions about becoming a Pilot and an Engineer.

Year 9 – Morrisby Interviews: 19 – 28 February

Earlier this year students completed the Morrisby profile. The Morrisby profile looks at deferential abilities and makes career suggestions based on the student’s ability, interest, and personality traits. The report also offers suggestions for subject’s students may like to take in their senior school program.

Now students will participate in a one-to-one interview conducted by an independent Career Consultant (engaged by the CEAV). They will “unpack” their Morrisby Profile.

Mr Phil Newnham and Ms Victoria Tortopidis
Careers Education

Alumni Newsletter

Welcome to February’s issue of the Alumni Newsletter.

In this issue read about our upcoming events, take a trip down memory lane with photos from the past, plus view the snaps from the Class of 2023 School Reunion Tour.

To view February’s Newsletter, click here.

To register your details to become part of our Alumni community and to receive the newsletter directly to your inbox click on the link: Register

Let’s celebrate school tour reunions!

This is a great opportunity to come back and visit your old school. Take the chance to come and see how things have changed since you were last at school.  Meet up with old school friends and teachers.

If you have family or friends who went to Mount Waverley in the years listed below, please pass on the exciting news.

Class of 1975, 1985 Reunion – Thursday 27 March 2025

We are also happy to include students from the following classes:
1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974
1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984

Click here to book your ticket.

Ms Victoria Tortopidis
Alumni Coordinator