Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

Farewell to the Class of 2018 

To celebrate the achievements of our Year 12 students, on Tuesday 23 October we held our whole school farewell assembly in our gym with the majority of our Year 12 parents in attendance to recognise this significant occasion – the conclusion of six years of secondary schooling. The Year 12 cohort have been wonderful ambassadors and have contributed so much to our College, having represented us in countless sporting, cultural and academic events. They have worked really hard this year with our emphasis on high expectations in everything we do and we are all proud of them. On behalf of the whole College Community, I would like to wish all Year 12 students every success for the examination period, which will begin on Wednesday 31 October. I am confident they will all achieve the VCE or VCAL results they deserve and have worked towards all year with much persistence. No matter what their pathway on leaving Mordialloc, as long as they continue to strive to achieve the best they can, they can be satisfied. I would like to congratulate all of our Year 12 leaders -  Sabrina and Bailey as School Captains, Annie as Vice-Captain, Emmerson for Performing Arts, Strong for Visual Arts, Paighen and Frederik for Sport, Dilara and Holly for Special Events, Naena for Environment, Caitlyn for ICT, Carl for International Students, Rebecca for VCAL and our four house captains, Alex, Anna, Will and Brydee. They have all been proactive leaders for our school and have handled the challenges of combining Year 12 studies with the responsibilities and expectations of student leadership with distinction.

Another big event, the Valedictory Dinner, is to be held this Friday night at Southern Golf Club. This will be an opportunity for parents, teachers and students to get together in a formal setting to reflect on the past year and recognise the achievements of our Year 12 students.  The class of 2018 have made an outstanding contribution to our school and we are proud of each and every one of them. I would like to thank Acting Director of Senior School Robyn Wilson, Year 12 Coordinator Tim Randell, Pathways Coordinator Jane Jamieson, Assistant Principals Jo Greenhalgh and Andrew Moffat and all of our Year 12 teachers who have  worked tirelessly to support our Year 12 students this year.

We look forward to celebrating the achievements of the graduating class for 2018 at this year’s awards night in December, when all students will be presented on stage in academic gowns in front of the rest of the College Community.  This also allows the community a final opportunity to wish them well for the future.

Art Show 

Held on Tuesday 16 October as part of our Arts Celebration week, this was a true community event with the talents of Mordialloc staff and students, our local primary school students and community members on show in the EZ. Despite the wet weather there was a very positive attendance, reinforcing the value the community places on such an event. An incredible amount of work went into the preparation and the Art and Technology team deserves the highest praise for their commitment to the College and dedication in ensuring the delivery of this quality event where over 600 pieces of student and community work were framed by our staff and exhibited. Special thanks to Leah Bright, Stuart McIntyre, Aaron Davis and Jenni Wunderle for coordinating this event, supported by Demis Danoudis, Nigel Maas, Kelly-Ann Ferguson, Simon Cummins, Adelle Stevenson, Drew Cook,  Jane Jamieson, Lana Paten, Jesse Silby, Catherine Boulton and Samm Hughes.

Conference Presentation

Congratulations to Alice Leppin, Director of Programs and Pedagogy, who presented at the “Connecting Innovative School Learning Spaces and Pedagogy” conference last week. Every state across Australia was represented and attendees were primarily principals and architects. Alice was one of only two people presenting from the public system, the rest were from private schools. Alice presented on “Identifying, implementing and tailoring successful pedagogies for Australian Schools”. She focused mainly on our Instructional Model, consistent teaching protocols, models of inquiry and project based learning. Alice received plenty of positive feedback at the conclusion of her presentation and we have already had enquiries from interstate to visit Mordialloc College next year.

Connecting Feedback to Data and Literacy – Writing priority

During Semester One, our professional learning focus aligned to our five year action plan for “Curiosity and Powerful Learning” was on Higher Order Questioning. This semester our focus has been on Connecting Feedback to Data, focusing on our literacy outcomes, in particular to improve student writing across the school. Staff have undertaken a number of professional learning sessions led by Director of Literacy Improvement Andrew McConchie and staff from the Literacy working party, focused on writing to learn strategies, explicit teaching of vocabulary, and the development of convention guides for each learning area. When we connect feedback to data about student actions and performances, then, behaviour will be more positive, progress will accelerate and curiosity will be enhanced. We believe that feedback based in evidence supports our students to develop independence as learners. It directs and focuses their learning. Feedback magnifies the application of our teaching experience. This professional learning focus has continued to be supported by our triad peer coaching program, where teachers are continuing to build their capacity as coaches in the giving of authentic feedback; in this instance on their use of literacy strategies to improve writing and their use of data for differentiation in the classroom.

We are measuring improvement in teaching practice and precision through student perception data collected this semester. We are also expecting to see growth on the teacher self-assessment tool again completed at mid-year and the end of year.

Study Tips for Success

All students in Year 9-12 should have received their exam timetables, with Year 12 beginning on Wednesday 31 October, Year 10 and 11 on Wednesday 7 November and Year 9 on Monday 12 November. Most students have participated in Elevate Study sessions during the year, highlighting the need for study to be a continuous process not something you cram in at the end just before the exams. I shared this article back in Term 2 and it is timely to share it again. http://theconversation.com/study-habits-for-success-tips-for-students-89147

Ms. Michelle Roberts

Principal

Friday 26

• Year 10 Advance Grampians Hike return
• Year 12 Valedictory Dinner 

Monday 29

• Year 10 & 11 Revision week
• MEX 2.0 City Experience
• Year 9 Zoo Snooze Camp

Tuesday 30

• Year 9 MEX 9C & 9D Community Placements
• Year 9 Zoo Snooze Camp returns approx 4:00 pm
• Program Development Committee Meeting 3:30 pm

Wednesday 31

• Year 12 Exams commence

Friday 02

• Facilities Meeting 8:00 am
• It's Academic

Monday 05

• Canteen Closed
• Finance Meeting 4:00 pm

Tuesday 06

• Public Holiday for Melbourne Cup Day

Wednesday 07

• Year 10 & 11 Exams Commence

Thursday 08

• School Council Meeting 5:00 pm

Monday 12

• Year 9 Exams start

Tuesday 13

• Year 9 Exams finish

Wednesday 14

• Year 9 Advance Surf Camp
• Book Collection - D3

Thursday 15

• Year 10 & 11 Exams finish
• Year 8 Disco 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
• Year 9 Advance Surf Camp

Friday 16

• Year 11 Mystery Tour

Personal Best - Work to the best of your ability. Pursue excellence, try hard and constantly seek to improve.

Integrity  - Be true to yourself by doing what is right. Be honest and trustworthy.

Respect  - Treat everyone with equal consideration. Be accepting of others and their differences.

Responsibility - Be accountable for your actions. Contribute positively to the school and wider community.

Congratulations to the following students for displaying the College value of responsibility last week when assisting to set up for the annual art show. They were incredibly helpful  in assisting to set up the rooms, hang displays, clean the space and label work.  Many of them stayed after school to assist in their own time.  

Lana Paten

Chaplain

An assortment of emotions always comes with school camps, however, this was no ordinary camp. The Outdoor Ed class for semester 2 packed their bags for what seemed to be simple camping trip; nothing too intense. Or so they thought...

The class arrived at Camp Rubicon in Nayook just before lunch time; the bus ride filled with last minute binge sessions of snacks and appreciation of favourite songs before they were instantly severed off. Once the phones and lollies were reluctantly placed into the “honesty box”, the instructors jumped in to introduce themselves and sort the groups. Team A and B were selected, and just as easy as they were split, lines were drawn in the sand. The unmentionably apparent feud that boiled between the two teams is better to be unspoken, so that’s all I’ll mention of it.

Roles were handed out like lollipops and plans were sketched out, then it was go time. The remainder of the first day was prepping for dinner and adjusting to the new life away from technology and with new and old friends.

Over the next few days, the young adventurers would prevail over the numerous challenges thrown at them by Rubicon. Amongst those challenges, was the dreaded Night Walk, dubbed “The Worst Night Of My Life” by some (not really but that sounds more interesting). On the first night, our protagonists decided to traverse the unknown landscape with only the torches clutched in their hands and a laminated map...and no guidance from the superiors. Whilst the teachers relaxed in the cabin, the young adventurers set off into the dark night; most people were excited for this opportunity to trek in this new environment, however, some felt as if they were blindly skipping towards their inevitable end. Unfortunately, this wouldn’t be an interesting story if our adventurers didn’t get lost. Feelings of hopelessness and despair materialised in the form of profuse sweating and pounding hearts; they were wandering uphill aimlessly, desperately searching for a way out. Eventually, the team's clashing opinions formed one as the teachers guided them back on the walkie talkie. Indeed, it was (sort of) terrifying, but this was a learning experience. It was also a glimpse into what they would learn at this camp; how to be an assertive leader, how to be a supporting follower and, most importantly, how to work productively as a team.

For the following days, this was each group's main priority. Team A began to bond strangely through intense rounds of “Unocorns” (a ripoff of Uno with unicorns on the cards) and started to develop friendships through the struggles and battles of cooking dinner. Team B had bonded over a strangely unspoken game of Truth or Dare (which I don’t know the details of) and pitching their tents in a weird, cult-like circle. These bonding moments were the foundation of newly found efficient teamwork. The activities that were in the next 3 days were high ropes, caving, rafting and orienteering which brought many surprises, lowered expectations, built excitement and provided opportunities for the teams' bonds to strengthen.

Whilst fears were faced, many were conquered like the heart stopping leap off the high ropes course and the small, contained caves that could easily send the most emotionally stable into a whirl of confusion. Moments of silence provided peace of mind for many inside the underground caves where the only noise was the sound of your own breathing and the endless stream of water.

Rafting at Warburton was more gripping than any expected; the constant threat of being impaled on a rock was at the back of everybody’s mind. Unfortunately for the teachers, their inflatable raft saw this become a reality. But the problem was solved, as one of the instructors was up for the challenge of rafting with a hole in the boat - what a legend! Some of our young adventurers developed such immense skill that they perfected the 180 degree turn and paddled down the rapids backwards.

The final day rolled around and it was time for the most exhausting finale; cleaning up. With some tunes playing softly from the speakers, our protagonists managed to clean up all supplies they used and even encountered some other adventurers from Brighton. One of the most energy consuming tasks was the dreaded pan washing which stripped you of your strength, mentally and physically.

Afterwards the participants discussed the main strengths that they developed and some key factors to improve on and then it was time to depart Rubicon. Some were sad to leave, whilst most were excited to eat some food that didn’t take years to boil in the trangia (stove).

And that was it for the young adventurers. The journey might have been over, but the skills they learnt and friendships made would last long after.

The end.

Lauren Ditchfield

Outdoor Education Student

Students studying French in Years 9-12 levels completed the ACER Language Competence Tests in August 2018.

ACER French Competence Tests Results for Listening and Reading components are as follows:

Achievement for Certificate 3 (Year 12 Level)

Listening: Credit - Naena Good-Jackson and Alexander Bailey

Reading: Credit - Naena Good-Jackson and Alexander Bailey

Achievement for Certificate 2 (Years 10 & 11 Levels)

Reading: High Distinction - Ethan Carroll and Claudia Lennox

Listening: Distinction - Ethan Carroll, Ava Collison, David Le, Elizabeth Ng, Noreigh Zuniga

Reading: Distinction -  India Cavagan, Liam Cox, Ava Collison, Joanna Elkington, David Le, Elizabeth Ng, Noreigh Zuniga

Listening: Credit - India Cavagan, Liam Cox, Joanna Elkington, Claudia Lennox

Achievement for Certificate 1 (Year 9 Level)

Listening: Distinction - Meike Berg, Rose Patel, Andres Moreno, Natalie Politova, Jesillia Sy, Victoria Vasilenko

Listening: Credit - Lauren Ditchfield, Celina Lum, Olivia Marlow, Harrison Weatherburn, Samuel Bloxham, Bianca Davidson, Lorenzo Mortimer, Tahlia Peacock, Jaxon Pendrey, Isaac Petterson, Matilda Wilson, Oscar Broad, Thomas Clarke, Tomas Graves, George Newton, Will James, Hannah Grieve, Bella Marion, Benjamin Mencaraglia, Charlotte Thompson, Aidan Boyd, Ethan Capp, Liam Johnson, Sophia Sharman

Reading: Distinction -  Will James, Meike Berg, Hannah Grieve, Rose Patel, Bella Marino, Benjamin Mencaraglia, Charlotte Thompson, Gabriel Wainwright, Aidan Boyd, Austin Grasso

Reading: Credit – Lauren Ditchfield, Celina Lum, Olivia Marlow, Andres Moreno, Natalie Politova, Harrison Weatherburn, Samuel Bloxham, Flynn Curry, Bianca Davidson, Sam Maginness, Lorenzo Mortimer, Tahlia Peacock, Jaxon Pendrey, Isaac Petterson, Christopher Rodas, Jesillia Sy, Matilda Wilson, Noel Boulton-Tams, Oscar Broad, Thomas Clarke, Kyah Farris-White, Tomas Graves, Julian Kuan, George Newton, Matthew Wade

Well done to all our students who worked hard to obtain these results.

Madame Peerbux

LOTE Leader

Meike: The French trip was an amazing opportunity, allowing us to improve our French and immerse ourselves in the culture. Although Paris was full of famous sights and glamorous buildings, I personally preferred the quiet time we had with our homestay families in Rouen.  With so many things to see, our France experience got better as time went by. I am so glad I was a part of this and had such a fun time!

Hannah: Going to France was such an incredible opportunity to immerse myself in the culture, and gain a better understanding of the language. I had so much fun exploring Rouen, Tours and Paris… and loved my homestay family (the kids were adorable)! I highly recommend this trip to anyone either looking to travel and/or expand their language abilities.

Rose: The French trip was a fabulous experience, and one from which I learnt a lot. In Rouen, between school and our homestay families, we were exploring the area, learning about the history and culture, and going out to places such as Giverny (Monet’s garden), and the various war memorials. Once in Paris, we visited lots of monuments and historical landmarks, and had a lot of fun in the process. Everyone had a great time immersing themselves in the language and culture. I would recommend going on this trip to anyone who enjoys learning about other cultures, and trying something new.

Ava: Going to France was an incredible experience! I learnt so much and I got to see so many cool things. Being in France also helped me to improve my French and use it in conversations outside of the classroom. I am so glad I did it!

Liam: Travelling to France was a great experience! I learnt heaps about French culture and history while also improving my French at the language school. It was so amazing being able to see all the beautiful landmarks and learn all about their significance. It was one of my favourite experiences and I’m glad I had the opportunity to go.

Claudia: The French study tour was such an amazing experience which I will treasure forever. Being surrounded by the beautiful culture improved my French and my pronunciation as well as general conversations which helped when being in homestay and going to a French language school for a week. We saw so many gorgeous landmarks and historical sites, which amazed me. I am so lucky I experienced this amazing opportunity and encourage students studying French to consider taking part in this trip.

India: Visiting France was such a great experience, it was amazing to be able to experience the culture and be able to use the language in a French-speaking country. I feel much more confident when speaking French and in my overall French abilities. I loved all the sightseeing and my highlight was definitely the Eiffel Tower! I am so thankful to have experienced this opportunity and I will never forget it.

Jordan: France was a very beneficial trip; it has taught me so much not only about the language, but also the culture. It was amazing to visit all the significant landmarks and learn about all the history. This trip has definitely improved my French and I cannot wait to see where it takes me in the future!

Please click on the link below to read the latest copy of the Mordialloc College Alumni Association magazine, Ventured. There are some fantastic stories from past students of the College.

Shoes with a Purpose - the State Schools Relief program assists families who may need support to purchase school uniform. They are now also selling school shoes to the wider community with funds raised going back into the State School Relief Program to support families in need.

Please see the flyer below and contact the relevant State Schools Relief shop if you are interested in purchasing shoes. Shoe options 2 and 4 on the poster are the ones that are part of the Mordialloc College uniform. If you are unsure of your child's shoe size there is a sizing chart at the General Office of the College if you would like to measure your child's foot.

Monday 8:30 am - 11:30 am

Wednesday 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Private appointments are available after shop hours. Please call 8587 0570 for an appointment.

Visit the new, improved website Dobsons.com.au. Click and Collect ordering now available.

Located on the corner of the main building, near the staff car park.

Extended Trading Hours

October: 

Saturday 06/10/2018     9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Saturday 27/10/2018     9:00 am - 12:00 pm

November:

Saturday 03/11/2018     9:00 am - 12:00 pm

December:

Saturday 01/12/2018     9:00 am -12:00 pm

Tuesday 11/12/2018       8:30 am - 12:00 pm     ORIENTATION DAY

Wednesday 12/12/2018 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm    LAST TRADING DAY FOR 2018

Please see the attachment for the most up to date price list including any specials that are available.