As my time as College Council President is coming to an end, I want to begin by expressing my deep gratitude to Mrs Karen Wade and the entire school leadership team for their outstanding work. The calmness, competence, and commitment with which you lead the school are truly exceptional. Mount Waverley Secondary College continues to thrive because of your vision, your steadiness, and the care you show to every student.
My family has been connected to this school for over a decade. My husband and I have both had the privilege of serving on the College Council, and both of us, at different times, have had the honour of being President. It has been a meaningful and rewarding part of our lives.
Our connection to MWSC began in 2014, when our eldest son started Year 7. He graduated in 2019, and my daughter started the following year and has now completed Year 12 this year. Over these eleven years, this school has been nothing short of phenomenal for our children. It has shaped them, supported them, and given them opportunities that helped them discover who they are.
Our son was always strong academically but had a real passion for the arts and design. At MWSC he was able to explore that deeply, learning classical, acoustic, and bass guitar, performing at the Australian Institute of Music with the school, participating in school productions and even receiving a Lyrebird nomination. He also had the chance to go to Laos and Cambodia on World Challenge, which was a life-changing experience for him. Today, he has completed Industrial Design at RMIT with First Class Honours and is now working as a Junior Industrial Designer. So much of the confidence and foundation he built began here.
My daughter’s journey was very different. She found academics challenging, especially during the difficult COVID years. What stood out to me was the genuine care this school shows. I still remember a teacher calling me personally just to ask if she was okay. That one phone call made all the difference. It signalled that she wasn’t alone, and it helped us take steps to support her. She received additional coaching in some subjects, and even though academics were not her strength, she flourished in the many other opportunities the school provided; interschool sports, camps, Outdoor Ed adventures including snow camping, skiing, canoeing, rock climbing, surfing and more. She has grown into a confident and capable young adult, and is now pursuing her own pathway working towards joining the Australian Air Force as a Direct Entry Officer. Again, the foundation was laid here.
I share these stories not to boast, but to reassure every parent and council member who still has children at the school: Your children are in an incredible place.
This school is rightly known for its excellent academic results, but what I have seen over the last decade is that it also supports students who learn differently, who have different strengths, and who take different paths. Opportunities abound here for every type of student.
MWSC does more than educate. It nurtures, guides, and grows young people into responsible, resilient adults who go into the world ready to contribute.
I especially want to thank our teachers. They are the ones who stand at the front of the classrooms every day. They are the ones who inspire, reassure, challenge, mentor, and support our young people. They are the ones who see our children at their best and at their most vulnerable. Their impact is direct, personal, and lasting.
To Karen and the leadership team, to the staff, and my fellow College Council members, thank you. Thank you for everything you do that often goes unseen. Thank you for the shared commitment to making this school the best it can be.
It has been a privilege to serve. I leave with a full heart, enormous gratitude, and complete confidence that the school is in excellent hands.
I wish the school, the leadership team, and the College Council all the very best for the future. Thank you.
Mrs Chelsea Eow
College Council President