MWSC College News – Issue 5

Top Designs Exhibition

I had the pleasure of attending the TOP Designs Exhibition launch last Friday night at the Melbourne Museum with Mrs Cecilia Carlill, Visual Communication Design teacher. We were there to view and celebrate Class of 2024 student Farah H whose work was chosen for the exhibition. This year, only 77 works were selected for the exhibition from over 1,000 applications. Congratulations Farah.

Eastern Metropolitan Regional (EMR) Swimming

The Eastern Metropolitan Region swimming carnival was held on Friday 28 March and our college sent 25 students to Aquanation Ringwood. 18 students earned a medal, and 5 students made it through to the state finals. Congratulations to all our competitors on the day. Below is a list of students who will compete at the State Competition.

• Aleisha C – 50m and 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 4x50m freestyle relay
• Zoe S – 50m backstroke
• Olivia To – 4x50m freestyle relay
• Frances S – 4x50m freestyle relay
• Kira D – 4x50m freestyle relay

Good luck to these students and I look forward to seeing how they perform at the State Championships at the end of April.

Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences – A resounding success

Thank you to the many parents and students who attended our virtual conferences on Wednesday 2 April. Such large numbers clearly demonstrate that Mount Waverley Secondary College parents and students value the learning opportunities on offer and enthusiastically seek teacher support to reflect on their progress, with the aim of continually improving to achieve excellence in learning outcomes.  After talking to many parents, students, and teachers, the college is going from strength to strength and continues to strive to meet each student’s individual learning needs.

2024 Annual Report

The 2024 Annual Report has been endorsed by College Council and once it is endorsed by the Department of Education, we will place a copy on the college website if you would like to read it. We again achieved excellent results compared to the state and similar schools which was extremely pleasing.

Uniform Changeover Time

Winter uniform starts in Term 2, although for the first two weeks of term there is a changeover period where the students can wear either summer or winter uniform.

Please ensure that your students have the correct college uniform which is only supplied by PSW located at their retail outlet at 342 -350 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley (behind Officeworks).

Happy Holidays

First term 2025 has been an exciting time for teaching and learning at Mount Waverley Secondary College.  I hope everyone enjoys some family time over the holidays and I encourage all senior students to ensure a balance between study and relaxation.  Develop a study timetable and stick to it, it will be worth it.

Have a safe and relaxing holiday. We look forward to seeing our students return on Tuesday 22 April.  (Note: Monday 21 April and Friday 25 April are public holidays.)

Mrs Karen Wade
College Principal

Well done to all Junior Campus staff and students for surviving a very busy term. Below is only a fraction of what has been happening around the campus. We wish everyone a safe and restful break, and look forward to another exciting term two!

The Power of Words – Eric Agyeman

Mr Eric Agyeman went from being racially bullied on his first day in primary school, to joining a gang in high school, to winning the African Australian Community award in his 20’s. Eric shared his powerful and relatable story to our year 8 students last week, promoting the benefits of respect and resilience. The students thoroughly enjoyed his engaging and inspirational style.

Car Parking at the Junior Campus

This is a reminder to all families that unfortunately there is no parking available on-site at the Junior Campus. We ask that any families travelling by car make use of the streets adjacent to, and opposite, the campus, while respecting our neighbours’ needs. We also ask that families refrain from stopping on Stephensons Rd. for pick-ups and drop-offs as this is very disruptive to the flow of traffic.

Junior Campus Tours

Throughout this term and next, we have a number of Campus Tours running at the Junior Campus. The purpose of these tours is to allow prospective students and families to see our learning community on a normal school day. While we understand that this can be a distraction for our students and teachers at times, we value the opportunity to welcome new members to our college community. If you know of any families who may be considering enrolling at MWSC, please steer them to our website for bookings.
 

Uniform Changeover Time

Winter uniform starts in Term 2, although for the first two weeks of term there is a changeover period where the students can wear either summer or winter uniform.

Please ensure that your students have the correct college uniform which is only supplied by PSW located at their retail outlet at 342 -350 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley (behind Officeworks).
 

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

As we move towards the term break it is worth reflecting on the first term of the year which has included learning across the eight key learning areas.   Our Year 10 Camp was a great opportunity for students to connect outside of the classroom and challenge themselves with a wide range of activities.  More recently our Year 9 students have undertaken the Morrisby Careers program which helps them to start to think about future careers and completed NAPLAN Testing.  Add to this sport, music and excursions, our students have had a wide range of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom this term.

Monash Tech School

Our Year 9s headed to the Monash Tech sSchool across the last 2 week.  This is a great learning experience for our Year 9 students who undertook the “Super Imagery” program which involves, microscopes, drones and infra-red cameras to allow students to see things they can’t see with the naked eye.

Uniform Changeover Time

Winter uniform starts in Term 2, although for the first two weeks of term there is a changeover period where the students can wear either summer or winter uniform.  Please ensure that your students have the correct college uniform which is only supplied by PSW located at their retail outlet at 342 -350 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley (behind Officeworks).

Can I wish all families a safe and restful break and we look forward to welcoming students back to the college on Tuesday 22^nd April to commence Term 2.

Mr Ian MacLeod
Campus Principal – Senior School

It has been a busy term 1. Our students are incredibly lucky with the number of opportunities available to them at our school. Term 1 has seen our senior students participate in; Year 12 Camp, Year 11 Flying Start, House Swimming, visits to Top Arts, Top Design and Top Screen, Year 12 Outdoor Education camp, round robin sport days, Division Swimming, Luna Park (Year 12 Physics), music soirees, Caving (Outdoor Education) and the F1 Australian Grand Prix to name a few.

We continue to be impressed with the manner our Senior Students are approaching their studies and encourage them to continue this dedication moving into term 2. VCE is a marathon not a sprint and I’m sure their perseverance will pay off.

Student Parent Teacher Conferences

Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences occurred on this Wednesday 2 April. I hope this night provided a chance for parents, students and teachers to meet to find out how your student has begun their 2025 school year. Supporting your student to complete their schooling is a team effort and conferences provide the opportunity for feedback on areas of success and areas for improvement to be shared and discussed. Thank you to all teaching staff for their attendance, and to the ICT team and other staff for their support with any technological issues on the day.

VCE and Careers Expo – Year 11

Year 11 students were given the opportunity to attend the VCE and Careers Expo coming up on Thursday 1st May. The day will provide year 11 students with the opportunity to engage with universities, tafes, GAP year providers, cadetship opportunities, as well as attend VCE subject seminars. It is a great day to allow our students to investigate what life after school might look like. Those students not attending will be offered a program back at school.

Year 11 Geography Field Trip

Students studying Unit 1 Geography were able to practise their geographical field work skills by collecting primary data sources relating to regions affected by hydrometeorological hazards such as bushfires. The data collected will be used to complete a fieldwork report for their SAC. Thanks to Ms Alex Klepner and Mr Adam Wheeler for organising the excursion and attending on the day with the students.

Uniform Changeover Time

Winter uniform starts in Term 2, although for the first two weeks of term there is a changeover period where the students can wear either summer or winter uniform.

Please ensure that your students have the correct college uniform which is only supplied by PSW located at their retail outlet at 342 -350 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley (behind Officeworks).

Thank You

I want to take this opportunity to thank our Senior Subschool Team, our VCE families, teaching staff, Educational Support staff, the Wellbeing Team and our students for all their hard work this term.

I wish everyone a safe and relaxing break.

Ms Lauren Kelly
Campus Principal – Senior School

Wow – what a start to the year with Term 1 almost at its end. My name is Michael Barbas and I am the new Student Wellbeing Coordinator and Mental Health Practitioner on the Junior Campus.

As the new Student Wellbeing Coordinator/Mental Health Practitioner, it has been a whirlwind of adjustment, not only around carrying on what Wellbeing is at the Junior Campus but most importantly getting to know the students.

So far it has been a pleasure to take over the Wellbeing Space here at the Junior Campus in LA61. Many students access the space at recess and lunchtime as a way to increase their social connectedness, as well as be apart of a safe space.

Students have also continued to utilise this space as necessary throughout the day, providing a supportive environment for them to reset amidst their daily demands.

Breakfast Club has also made its return to the Junior Campus on Monday & Wednesday mornings from 8:15am with some students stopping by LA37 for a bite to eat and a game of UNO with their friends! – A reminder that Breakfast Club is open to all Year 7 and year Students; stop on by and bring a friend!

As the Student Wellbeing Coordinator and Mental Health Practitioner, I am available to meet with students on a 1:1 basis and provide short term counselling to support their needs accordingly. If students or parents are interested in accessing Wellbeing Supports for themselves or their child please reach out to myself directly: bmi@mwsc.vic.edu.au or speak with the respective Year Level Coordinators or Subschool who will be able to submit a referral to Wellbeing. Additionally, we welcome Jack to the Wellbeing Team as well in Term 1. Jack is a Social Worker who is also available at times to meet with students.

I recognise that the each student is different and the length of support provided is determined on a case by case basis. For parents – The Wellbeing  Team is also available to provide consultations regarding any wellbeing related matters; please reach out if I can be of any assistance moving forward.

I look forward to continuing to meet students and supporting them as best as I can. Thank you for the warm welcome into the MWSC Community!

Mr Michael Barbas
Student Wellbeing Coordinator/Mental Health Practitioner.

Understanding Teen Moodiness: A Helpful Podcast for Parents

As parents, it can sometimes feel like you’re on an emotional rollercoaster with your teens. In this short episode, from The Complex Life Podcast by Marie Vakakis, we explore the common question: “Why does my teen seem so moody?” Rather than brushing off their behavior as just a phase, the podcast dives into the deeper emotional and mental factors at play, including hormonal changes and the social pressures teens face.

This podcast episode (link below) provides practical insights on how to better understand your teen’s emotional world, respond with empathy, and create a supportive environment at home. Listen for tips on how to build stronger connections, validate feelings, and foster healthy communication during these challenging years.

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/why-does-my-teen-seem-so-moody

Ms Irine Sojan
Student Wellbeing Coordinator – Senior Campus

It has been an exciting term with lots of activities and experiences for the students doing the Vocational Major (VM) in 2025.

In Year 12, students were actively involved in the visits to Mount Waverley North Primary School (MWNPS). In small groups, they read to the Foundation students, helped out with afternoon sports, and assisted in the maintenance program. They have done this in conjunction with the Year 11 VM students.

The Foundation students have been excited to see the “big kids” at their school. The program covers the community engagement activities for PDS (Personal Development Skills) and team-building activities from the WRS (Work Related Skills) course. We will continue with this in Term 2. Also, students in Year 12 VM helped out with the MWNPS House Athletics Day and visited the Village to see how percentages and ratios are used in small and large businesses.

In Year 11, as well as being excellent participants in the MWNPS program, students went to the F1 at Albert Park and immersed themselves in learning about businesses in the Innovation Park, as well as watching the Supercars and Porsche cars roaming around the track.

Most of the students also attended a Food Handling course from an external provider to increase skills for the workplace. A Barista course will be made available in Term 2. Some of the Year 11 VM students will also be obtaining their White Card for construction work. In Hands-On learning with Mr Shaw, students have designed and constructed coffee tables for the resource centre.

All students are attending their VET courses on Wednesdays, and most of the Year 12’s have found Structured Workplace Learning opportunities on Fridays. Thanks to Mr Newnham for all his work in this area.

The staff taking VM in 2025 are also doing several professional days with our colleagues from Highvale SC and Box Hill SC. Like us, these schools did not have a VCAL program, so we are working together to make our programs work for our local area.

As always, thank you to the VM staff for allowing these students to improve their skills and knowledge of applied learning in and out of the classroom.

The staff for 2025 are:

Year 11 Numeracy – Mr Johnston
Year 11 Literacy – Ms Rogers
Year 11 Personal Development Skills (PDS) – Ms Robotham
Year 11 Work Related Skills (WRS) – Ms Lockhart
Year 11 Hands-on Learning – Mr Shaw

Year 12 Numeracy – Mr Griffin
Year 12 Literacy – Ms Smith
Year 12 Personal Development Skills (PDS) – Mr Bartlett
Year 12 Work Related Skills (WRS) – Mr Newnham

The students are lucky to have adaptable, collaborative, innovative teachers who instill skills that will help them on their way to a successful career.

Mr Wayne Griffin
Head of Senior Pathways

Welcome to the first numeracy article for 2025.

Our aim is to demonstrate that numeracy is not just about what happens at MWSC in maths classes but that numeracy is everywhere. Numeracy goes beyond just addition and subtraction. It’s about applying maths concepts to solve problems and make sense of the world around us. Through this and later articles, we hope to provide families with some conversation starters around numeracy.

Subject Spotlight – Music

Did you know that numeracy plays an important role in music? Students are required to use the key skills of fractions, counting, addition and subtractions across theory, aural and playing a musical instrument. To illustrate these connections, ‘Numeracy in Music’ posters are displayed across all music areas at the college. These posters outline the essential numeracy skills required for musical success.

Incorporating Numeracy and Literacy

“Big Book of Numbers”  by Adam Spencer 

Written by Australian radio presenter, comedian and mathematician Adam Spencer, this book takes readers on an entertaining and educational journey through the realm of mathematics, humor, and learning.

Numeracy while Travelling

Many families will be planning what they will be doing during these holidays. Plan your route as a family and estimate the travel time. Someone in the car could time how long it takes to drive between landmarks. When you pass a speed sign, your child could calculate the distance you will go if you travel for 1 hour (or 30 minutes or 4 hours) at this speed. As a family, you could also try estimating the distance of your trip and have your child compare it to the actual kilometres on the odometer.

For families with petrol or diesel cars, you could discuss petrol prices and estimate the cost of petrol for your trip. Let your child help you calculate the total cost based on the distance and fuel efficiency of your car.

For families with an electric vehicle, together you could explore apps that calculate charging stops based on battery range and plan your route accordingly.

Together you could set a budget for the trip, including activities, meals, and souvenirs. Involve your child in planning how to spend the money wisely. Spreadsheets like Excel or Google Sheets can help keep track of this. Your child could track expenses and calculate how much is left in the budget throughout the break.

Numeracy at Home

At home, board games are a great way to talk about numeracy. Revisit your classic board or card games as many involve counting, adding, and following game rules. Or find a newer board game that involves the concept of engine-building that encourages strategic thinking, planning and logical reasoning. Engine-building board games create systems you add to with each turn and become more powerful as the game progresses.

Including numeracy in holiday conversations, you’re helping your child develop a positive association with maths and demonstrate that numeracy knowledge is a key skill they will need for the future.

Happy Holidays!

Mrs Tijtje Keatley and Ms Cassie Morris
Learning Specialists

Year 11 Boys Cricket

On Tuesday 25 March, twelve Year 7 boys represented the school in the District Cricket round robin.

The boys lost their opening game against Vermont Secondary College with our co-captain Santhosh scoring 22 runs and Agastya taking a wicket. We then played Highvale Secondary College with the game going down to the final over.

Despite losing the match, there were some outstanding individual performances including Grithaav and Zac (co-captain) hitting 14 runs with Kai getting 2 wickets.

Well done to all the boys for their exemplary behaviour, you should all be very proud of your efforts. A special thankyou to Ghardeep Bal, Avi Gupta & Shaurya Deshmukh for coaching.

The team was: Samanya, Ryan, Vikhyaath, Zach, Santhosh, Apurv, Pushkar, Agastya, Sena, Yajur, Kai, Grithaav.

~ Mr Campbell

Eastern Metropolitan Swimming

April School Holiday Events

Discover upcoming events at universities over the school holidays. Register early. See attached flyer for details.

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

This week, Careers hosted the final Lunchtime Drop-in Sessions for the term, where students eagerly participated in Career Exploration interactive activities. With a good response to these sessions, we are excited to continue these next term, see you there!

Year 10 Work Experience

Year 10s now is the time to lock in your Work Experience placements for 30 June – 4 July! Use these holidays to reach out, apply, and secure a Work Experience placement. Need help? Check out Careers Corner for all the info you need!

Year 12

Information regarding university applications will be provided to Year 12 students during their mentoring classes by way of a series of short videos. We will be speaking to all students about their plans beyond 2025 and they can make an appointment at a time that is convenient for them.

Mr Phil Newnham and Ms Victoria Tortopidis
Careers Education

Under clear blue skies and sunshine, we had the pleasure of welcoming Mr Roger Redford from the Class of ’75 and Ms Suellen Whitebrook (Kent) from the Class of ’85. While we had expected more attendees, these two more than made up for it with their rich stories and fond memories of the past.

Junior Campus Principal Mr Matt Sheehan and myself, Alumni Coordinator guided them on a tour of the school grounds, highlighting the many new buildings and changes that left our alumni in awe. We were later joined by College Principal Mrs Karen Wade for a delightful morning tea.

Our visiting alumni were truly wonderful, sharing fascinating insights and reminiscing about their time at the school.

Stay tuned for more of their stories in our Term 2 newsletter!

Ms Victoria Tortopidis
Alumni Coordinator