Term 2 – Welcome back
I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday. I am excited to have started my twelfth year of service as your College Principal at Mount Waverley Secondary College this term. It is inspiring for me to be part of a learning community where teachers, parents/carers and students are passionate about doing their best and join as a supportive team to unite in a spirit of cooperation and success.
Junior Landcare Grant Planting Project
On Wednesday 22 April, the Sustainability Warriors and student leaders from across the Senior Campus participated in the planting phase of our Junior Landcare Grant. Students planted a range of big, small and medium sized Australian natives to green the area and create a habitat corridor for local wildlife. Thank you to Jimmy B our 2025 College Captain and Enara W who were instrumental in applying for this grant and all the students and staff involved in planting on this day.
Mount Waverley Secondary College’s Exemplary Sporting Program
We are very proud of our many sporting teams who represent our college admirably during competition against other schools. People regularly comment on our students’ excellent behaviour and good sportsmanship. Our sports program is going from strength to strength, and this is a tribute to our families who encourage in their children a love of sport and doing their best. Congratulations to all our students who participate in our college sports, district sports, zone finals and state finals, we are proud of the high participation rate of our students in sport.
I would also like to thank Mr Jay Newport and Mr Danny Gwynne, our Sports Coordinators, who oversee sporting programs across the college, and all of the staff who give up their time to coach and run practice sessions for sporting teams.
State Swimming Success
On Thursday 23 April our champions of the pool headed off to MSAC to participate in the State Championships. It was another successful day, with our college scoring some excellent results.
Our Senior Girls 4x50m Freestyle relay team made up of Aleisha C, Jayda C, Kira D and Camryn R placed 5th in a highly competitive race. Aleisha and Camryn, along with Olivia T and Hannah R of Year 11, represented our school in the 4x50m Medley relay. The girls were phenomenal, placing 3rd in the 17-20 years race. Congratulations to all who competed on the day, we are so proud of your achievements.
Thank you to Mr Jay Newport and Mr Danny Gwynne for accompanying our students on the day.
ANZAC Sub School Assemblies 
On Friday 24 April we held three sub school assemblies to recognise the importance of ANZAC Day. Our Junior Campus Captains Zahan B and Audrey D and College Captains Nicholas L, Tejasvi S, Jayda C and Jasmine K were our MCs for the assemblies and did a great job. I spoke to the students about the history of the day and two of our senior students who are Airforce cadets, Lucy G and Methvin K shared their reflections.
Major Sean Darbyshire, from the Joint Logistics Command of the Australian Defence Force was our special guest, and Sean gave an address about how the ANZAC spirit is relevant to everyday life. Sean also read the Ode of Remembrance and then Tai N of Year 12 and Kiki P of Year 9 played the ‘Last Post’ and ‘The Rouse’ on the trumpet as we observed a minute’s silence.
ANZAC Day is a day for all Australians, regardless of religion, racial background, or place of birth. It is a day to commemorate the bravery and self-sacrifice of past and present generations of Australians, so that Australia can be a place of freedom for all. Lest we forget.
VCE and Careers Expo 2026
230 of our Year 11 students attended the VCE and Careers Expo at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre on Friday 1 May. This excursion supported our students in seeking information about their post school plans. There were many tertiary providers including TAFES and Universities along with employers including the police, defence force, apprenticeship groups for our students to talk to. The programme also provided information for students to complete their career action plans. Thank you to all the students and staff who attended on the day.
Uniform Changeover Time
Just a reminder that all students should now be wearing winter uniform, which includes wearing the college tie. Please ensure that your students have the correct college uniform which is supplied by PSW. PSW is located at 342 -350 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley (behind Officeworks).
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CESF)
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) helps eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.
If you have a valid means-tested concession card, or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. Means-tested concession cards must be valid on the first day of Term 1, 2026 (Wednesday 28 January 2026) or Term 2, 2026 (Monday 20 April 2026).
A student aged 16 years and over who is considered a mature minor and holds a valid concession card is also eligible to apply.
Eligible families will receive a payment of $400 per year for secondary school students. The funds will be paid directly to the school to be used towards camps, sports and excursion costs for the benefit of your child.
If you applied for CSEF through our school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year, unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.
If you would like to apply for the first time, please contact the school Finance office on 9803 6811 and ask for an application form. Please return completed application forms to the school office as soon as possible.
Stay well this winter
Influenza (flu) can be serious, especially for children. Choose to protect yourself and your loved ones with an annual flu vaccine. The earlier you and your family get vaccinated, the better your protection heading into winter.
Keeping our school community well
We encourage parents and carers and students to:
- wash or sanitise your hands thoroughly and regularly, particularly before and after touching your face
- cough or sneeze into your elbow
- stay home if unwell and consult your GP or Nurse-on-Call as needed
- stay up to date with your flu vaccinations.
Flu vaccinations
Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older.
Some people are more at risk of severe illness from flu, especially babies and toddlers. They can get a free vaccination as part of the National Immunisation Program.
You can book a flu vaccine through your GP or pharmacy, or find a flu vaccine near you.
RSV vaccinations for mothers and babies
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a common virus that causes colds and ear infections. In babies, it can cause severe illness like bronchiolitis.
The RSV vaccine is available for pregnant women as part of the National Immunisation Program. In Victoria, eligible babies can also get the RSV vaccine until Wednesday 30 September 2026. You can speak with your GP or midwife about the vaccine.
Find out more
For more information about staying well this winter, refer to:
- your GP, pharmacist or midwife
- the Better Health Channel – Don’t risk the flu campaign, including information about flu and other vaccines. This information is available in different languages
- the Better Health Channel – RSV vaccine for mothers and infants
- the Raising Children Network – influenza, COVID-19, bronchiolitis and helping your child prepare for vaccination.
Preparing for Examinations
At this time of year our students are diligently studying for their outcomes and exams. It has been pleasing to see students studying in the library and VCE Centre, attending Homework Club, catching up with teachers for additional support and attending revision classes to ensure they are thoroughly prepared for their exams.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish each student all the best for their exams. I am sure they will be rewarded with results that reflect the hard work that has been undertaken throughout the first semester. Our learning community is proud of the way our students approach their learning, whether it be academic studies, learning a musical instrument, mastering a drama performance, or representing our college in one of our many leadership programs. Our students and teachers approach all activities with great enthusiasm, matching this with hard work and knowing they will achieve success by giving their best.
Exam Dates 2026
Year 9: Monday 1 June –Friday 5 June
Year 10 & 11: Monday 1 June– Friday 5 June and Tuesday 9 June – Thursday 11 June
General Achievement Test (GAT): Tuesday 16 June
Year 10 Work Experience
All year 10 students are expected to complete a week of Work Experience during the last week of term from Monday 22 June -Friday 26 June. If students need help finding a placement, they should look for guidance on our college website as there are over 400 employers listed there. For easy access to Careers Corner students can click on the link below. https://sites.google.com/mwsc.vic.edu.au/careers/middle-school/work-experience or make an appointment with our Careers team which comprises our Careers Manager Mr Phil Newnham and our Careers Education and Alumni Coordinator Mrs Victoria Tortopidis.
Work Experience is an opportunity to give our students:
- an understanding of the work environment and what employers expect of their workers.
- an opportunity to explore possible career options.
- increased self-understanding, maturity, independence, and self-confidence
- increased motivation to continue study and/or undertake further training.
- a better understanding of how the school curriculum can help prepare young people for work.
- an introduction to workplace recruitment practices.
- enhanced opportunities for part-time and casual employment.
- the opportunity to include the employer’s work experience evaluation in future job and course applications.
- opportunities to develop work-related competencies and acquire skills.
- the chance to ‘try out’ a workplace.
Source: Work experience manual for Victorian Secondary Schools
I would like to sincerely thank Mrs Tortopidis for her work in organising all the documentation required to send our students into the workplace.
Mrs Karen Wade
College Principal