MWSC College News – Issue 14

Selective Entry High Schools

Congratulations to Lyn K, Michael T, Carl R, Khoi D, Hayden W, Aida A, Grace F, Nick Z, Saakhi B, Soham N, Aarya K and Brandon T who have accepted a placement in a Selective Entry High School for Year 9 in 2026. We are very proud of your achievements and wish you all the best in your new schools.

Star Performer

Congratulations to Zachary C of Year 10 who recently made a table for our Marketing and Events Manager’s office. This was a special woodwork project completed with the support of Mr Hall. It is wonderful to see our students contributing to our learning community in such a positive manner. Well done, Zachary!

Royal South Street Eisteddfod

Our Stage Band directed by Mrs Tijtje Keatley and the Jazz Band directed by Mr Damien Maughan travelled to Ballarat in the early hours of Friday 5 September to compete in the prestigious Royal South Street Eisteddfod. The Stage Band won their division for the third year in a row. The Jazz Band, competing for the first time were also winners in their division. This was an amazing result, and the adjudicator had shining reviews for both groups. Congratulations to all the students who performed on the day!

Student and Parent Teacher Conferences

On Thursday 11 September the college ran another successful student and parent, teacher conferences via WebEx. Feedback from parents and staff was extremely positive. Thank you to all involved in organising the event and to the teachers who provided feedback and advice for their students and their parents/ carers.

Melbourne Diwali 2025 Launch

I had the pleasure of being invited to the Melbourne Diwali Launch held at the Melbourne RACV Club on the evening of Thursday 11 September. I met members of the committee who are organising the Melbourne Diwali Festival which will be held on Saturday 11 October from 2:00pm – 10:00pm at Marvel Stadium Square. For the first time we have a group of students competing in the Interschool Bollywood Showcase competition. It will be wonderful to celebrate a Happy Melbourne Diwali — a festival of light, unity and cultural harmony in the heart of our city.

VCAA VCE Leadership Award 

The 2025 VCE Leadership Awards are coordinated by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) to recognise VCE students for their leadership, initiative, and involvement in extra-curricular and community activities.

The 2025 VCE Leadership Award Ceremony was held on Friday 12 September and Tasmiya H of Year 12 (one of our Wellbeing Captains) represented our college with pride. Tasmiya was one of eight students across the State who won a VCE Leadership Award and were in the running to be the VCE Leader of the Year. Although Tasmiya didn’t win the overall award, we are so proud of her achievements. Thank you to Mr Tom Grant- Head of Student Voice, who attended the ceremony with me on the day.

R U OK Day

On Friday 12 September we recognised R U OK Day on both campuses. R U OK day is a key awareness day to inspire and empower everyone to meaningfully connect with the people around them and start a conversation with those in their world who may be stressed with life. “A CONVERSATION CAN CHANGE A LIFE.” Thank you to all the students and staff who were involved in activities on the day.

2025 Scholarships

The Department of Education administers a number of scholarships that are available to eligible students who are enrolled in Grade 4 to Year 12 in 2025.

Applicants for these scholarships will be evaluated on their:

• participation in school activities
• community involvement
• academic achievement.

Scholarships are either one-off payments or cover the duration of the student’s course or annual study.

Many of these scholarships have specific eligibility criteria, so please refer to individual applications for more information. Applications open on Wednesday 1 October 2025 and close on Monday 2 February 2026.

For more information and a list of available scholarships, refer to the Student scholarships for Grade 4 to Year 12 fact sheet. For information on how to apply, refer to https://www.vic.gov.au/student-scholarships

The David Burgess Scholarship

The David Burgess Scholarship Foundation (DBSF) offers scholarships to Year 12 students from state secondary schools who have suffered adversity and yet shown determination, character, and commitment to their community, and who have the potential to thrive with the right support. Each scholarship provides $7,000 per year (indexed) for the duration of a tertiary course at a Victorian university or TAFE.

What sets their program apart is the mentoring provided alongside financial assistance. Each awardee is paired with two volunteer mentors who offer guidance and encouragement throughout their studies, helping them transition from school to tertiary life.

How to Apply:

Applications must be submitted via the SmartyGrants platform, administered by Equity Trustees:  https://equitytrustees.smartygrants.com.au/Burgess

Applications for 2025 scholarships open 26 August 2025 and close 31 October 2025. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted in early November, with interviews conducted shortly thereafter. All outcomes will be communicated to schools by late January or early February.

Mango Fundraiser

At the start of next term information will be sent out on Compass regarding our mango fundraiser. Trays of mangoes will be able to be purchased, and money raised will go towards student led projects. Please purchase a tray in support of our college.

Term Vacation

I wish all students and their families a safe and restful holiday. Year 12 students should be focussing on their studies over the holidays and need to ensure that they are consistently revising their coursework. In addition, students should be practising past exam papers under timed conditions. Examination papers can be viewed on the VCAA website: www.VCAA.vic.edu.au. Students should access and read the assessment reports for each study on this website. These are written by the examiners and highlight common strengths and weaknesses in student answers. I cannot stress enough the importance of using these holidays for revision and study purposes.

I would like to thank all students, teachers, and support staff for their hard work during the term and wish them a safe and happy holiday. Just a reminder that Term 4 begins on Monday 6 October and students should wear their summer uniform.

Mrs Karen Wade
College Principal

Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences

We thank everyone who took part in this week’s Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences. These sessions are a wonderful chance to connect with home, and look for ways to best support our young people. Thank you to those families who supported our new approach to student-conferencing, by helping their child complete the template in the lead up to these conferences. We hope that this added value to your discussions.

Putting your child’s attendance on Compass

Could we please remind parents/carers to log any student absence on Compass as soon as is practical. Compass is set up to send a message each morning at 10am to the families of those students who are absent without notice.

We have noticed some families using the ‘Sorry Business’ option to explain an absence. ‘Sorry Business’ is an important time of mourning that involves responsibilities and obligations to attend funerals and participate in other cultural events, activities or ceremonies with the community. This is part of a community and cultural tradition that is highly important for First Nations people. This option is not for general use.

If you have any questions relating to attendance please call the General Office to discuss.
9803 6811 – Senior Campus
9887 9290 – Junior Campus

Duke of Ed Community Projects

As you have read in previous newsletters, Mount Waverley Secondary College has a range of community partnerships that it is maintaining at any given time. This is our chance to help the wider community, as well as provide meaningful life experience for our students. Below is a series of pictures sent by the Friends of Damper Creek, who raved about the support they have had from some of our Year 9 Introduction to Outdoor & Environmental Studies students.

If you are connected to a group in the local community, and wish to get involved in our school, please contact me (she@mwsc.vic.edu.au).

Mr Matt Sheehan
Campus Principal – Junior School

As we approach the end of Term 3, students have been engaged in a wide range of activities both inside and outside the classroom.

Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences were held on Thursday 11 September. These conferences provided a valuable opportunity for students and parents to meet with teachers, reflect on progress, and identify areas of focus to support continued growth moving into Term 4. They also strengthen the important partnership between students, parents, and teachers in supporting overall learning success.

As we move towards the school holidays, I would like to wish all students and families an enjoyable and safe holiday period.  We look forward to welcoming back students to the college on Monday 6 October.

German Study Tour

A group of 14 students is currently experiencing German Culture on the German Study Tour. The group of students from Year 9, 10 and 11 German classes have a fantastic learning opportunity to immerse themselves in the language and culture of Germany.  Students and staff are travelling through Germany including visiting our sister school in Darmstadt on the trip.  Thank you to Ms Mary-Jane Boughen and Ms Jo Rogers for looking after our students on this 27-day study tour.

Mr Ian MacLeod
Campus Principal – Middle School

Term 3 has been an action-packed term for our senior students with both curricular and extra-curricular events happening across all areas of the college. In particular it is always a busy term for our Year 12s as they complete their final school-based assessment tasks for their studies. Whilst we hope the holidays provide some time for rest and relaxation, they should also be an opportunity to begin to revise, consolidate and prepare for the approaching exams.

Year 11 Fancy Dress

On Friday 5 September, just over 200 Year 11 students rocked up to the Novotel in Glen Waverley in a variety of costumes ready to dance the night away. The photobooth got a work out, whilst the photographer got some amazing dance floor snaps. It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to gather as a cohort and both students and staff had a great time. Thanks to all the staff who helped out on the night and for getting into the spirit with some great costumes.

Central Australia Trip

At 5:15am next Wednesday morning, 40 Year 11 and 10 students and 5 staff will set off for our annual Central Australia Trip. After an overnight stay in Adelaide they will make their way to Coober Pedy, Uluru, Kings Canyon and Alice Springs, with stops and day trips along the way to see the fantastic sights and enjoy the cultural experiences Central Australia has to offer. We are looking forward to hearing all about their adventures upon their return. Look out on our Socials for updates.

English Trial Exam

On Wednesday 15 September, students studying Units 3 & 4 English will complete a trial exam. This is an opportunity for them to experience the full 3 hours of writing, and 15 minutes reading time required when completing the English exam. The exam will be marked by external assessors, allowing students to receive valuable feedback on their progress. It is being conducted at this time to allow students to work through the feedback provided with their teacher.

Unit 3 & 4 Holiday Revision Program

Students completing a Units 3 & 4 subject have been provided information about the revision program occurring in the second week of the term break. Students are strongly encouraged to attend if their subject is running a session. The sessions on offer range from practice exam opportunities, extra support and revision lectures. Thanks in advance to all the teachers involved in the program and to Mr James Johnston for his co-ordination and organisation of the program.

The Age VCE Guide 2025

The Age releases a VCE Guide every year that contains information about exams, how students are managing stress, supporting your VCE student, exam marking and how the ATAR is calculated. A link to the guide can be found HERE. You may need to register with your email address to access the articles but they are free to access.

Ms Lauren Kelly
Campus Principal – Senior School

Ritchies Community Benefit Program

The Ritchies Community Benefit Program allows shoppers at Ritchies Supermarkets and Liquor Stores to donate a percentage of their purchases to Mount Waverley Secondary College by using their Ritchies Card or app. To participate, shoppers simply need to register their card or use the Ritchies Card App and select Mount Waverley Secondary College as the recipient from the list available on the app or website. All funds raised through this program will go to student-led initiatives.

Parent Payments

The 2025 Parent Financial Contributions are available on your Parent Portal in Compass. Please click on the ‘Payments Centre’ tab, under the heading of 2025 School Contributions.

While the Department of Education provides funding to schools each year on a per student enrolled basis, this funding only covers a portion of the core operating costs of running the school. It covers things like classroom teacher salaries, contract cleaning, gas and electricity, water rates, telephone, some repairs to buildings, some administration, and some curriculum support.

The funding does not cover the additional programs run at MWSC that support our student’s wellbeing and growth, or the consumables required in the classrooms for use throughout the 2025 school year. Our specialist programs rely heavily on parent contributions to ensure we have access to the latest equipment and resources.

Additional projects around the school including garden upgrades, repairs to buildings, outdoor furniture and shade sails are all only made possible via fundraising and parent contributions, department funding does not cover these items.

We would like to thank families who have already supported the school by making a contribution to their child’s education.

If you have not made a voluntary contribution, and are in a position too, we encourage you to do so.

Ms Kari Simmons
Business Manager

Term 3

This term has been filled with meaningful opportunities for our students to learn, reflect, and celebrate as part of our whole-school commitment to wellbeing and inclusion. Across the weeks, our school has engaged with a number of national awareness days and wellbeing events, each one encouraging students to think deeply, show kindness, and build stronger connections with each other.

We marked Bullying No Way! Week, where students explored the importance of respect, empathy, and standing up for themselves and others. Celebrating Diverse Learners Week gave us the chance to shine a light on the strengths, talents, and contributions of every student in our community.

Our students also joined in Women’s Health Week, learning about the importance of health and wellbeing, while Wear It Purple Day saw the school recognize and support LGBTQIA+ young people. On R U OK? Day, students were reminded of the power of a simple question and the importance of looking out for one another.

In addition to these awareness days, we held two of our major annual wellbeing days. Year 10 students took part in workshops led by Project Rockit, focusing on leadership and using their voices for positive change. Our Year 9 students will finish the term with engaging sessions from the Pat Cronin Foundation – which share powerful messages about choices and consequences – and the Butterfly Foundation, which will encourage students to think critically about body image, self-worth, and mental health.

Child Safe Code of Conduct

Our school’s child safe code of conduct which complies with our commitment to the child safe standards was reviewed and updated and will be endorsed by School Council on Thursday 18 September. This will be updated on our school website including on our Child Safety Policy and Procedures page.

If you would like to provide any feedback in relation to our child safety policy, procedures and practices, please contact me on gpd@mwsc.vic.edu.au

Mr Paul Graham
Student Support and Resources Manager

VSMF Concert Bands and Jazz Ensembles

Since our last newsletter, four more groups have participated in the Victorian Schools Music Festival. An event like this requires hours of dedicated band rehearsals and personal practice to perform the required musical works. All the Mount Waverley Secondary College ensembles enjoyed the experience of performing for adjudicators brought out from the USA especially for this event. They also enjoyed the opportunity to listen to other school ensembles.

Congratulations to all our talented students for their outstanding results: last week the Concert Band received a Gold Award, and the Symphonic Band earned a Platinum Award. This week the  Stage Band and Jazz Band also delivered impressive performances with both Stage Band and Jazz band taking out a prestigious platinum award for the first time. 

A huge thank you to all the parents and staff who supported the VSMF  event this year helping to  make it a success. 

Royal South Street Eisteddfod – Stage Band and Jazz Band

Early last Friday morning, the Stage Band and Jazz Band boarded a bus to Ballarat to compete in the Royal South Street Eisteddfod. This is a prestigious competition that has been running for over 130 years.

The Stage Band returned to defend their title and were incredibly proud to secure a win for the third consecutive year. In their first ever appearance at the event, the Jazz Band also performed exceptionally well, taking out first place.

It was a fantastic day, and our students were outstanding ambassadors for the college. Their conduct, encouragement of each other, and support for other school groups truly demonstrated the college values. A huge congratulations to all the students and staff involved.

Gala Concert

Our annual Gala Concert is fast approaching and will be held in the first week of Term 4, Thursday 9 October. As with previous years, the concert will be held in two halves. Students involved will receive a Compass notification about which concert their group is performing in. With limited tickets available, we encourage families to get in early to purchase tickets to avoid disappointment. The link to Trybooking can be found on the Compass event.

Mrs Tijtje Keatley
Music Director

Year 9 Dance Program

The Year 9 PE classes recently completed a 4-week Dance Program learning a variety of Hip-Hop dance moves. Congratulations to everyone who participated and performed their Dance routines – we are all very proud of the bravery, effort and leadership skills you displayed. It’s often hard to step outside our comfort zones but you all stepped up and completed the routines and should be very proud of yourselves!

~ Year 9 PE Team

Year 11 Health ‘ Baby Project’

As part of their study of Developmental Transitions, the Year 11 Health and Human Development students recently completed their “Baby Project”. They became very hands-on parents to their baby supervising them during the school day and overnight while learning a variety of skills including how to bath, feed, change and swaddle their babies. The students used the project to form the basis of their Parenting Portfolio coursework task, chronicling their parenting journey so far.

Well done to all students for their efforts and a huge thank you to all staff, families, and students for their support.

~ Ms Simpson

Medical Mission Aid Incursion

The Year 12 Health students were very lucky to have such an informative session with Brenton from Medical Mission Aid recently. The presentation addressed some key aspects of our HHD course including the Sustainable Development Goals and Effective Aid Programs, using real-life case studies and stories. The students listened and participated really well and got a lot out of the session!

If you’re interested in learning more or donating, please head to their website here.

~ Ms Simpson and Ms Farmer

Term 3 VCE Vocational Major Update

The Vocational Major students have been engaging in many activities this term that will enhance their employability in the workforce. In the classroom, students have been looking at their resumes, completing digital and written tasks, learning how to communicate effectively in written and verbal forms and looking at the language of applied learning. The Literacy teachers (Ms Smith and Ms Rogers) and the Numeracy teachers (Mr Johnson and Mr Griffin) have spent plenty of time on key communication skills.

In our community engagement program for Personal Development Skills (PDS), we continued with our assistance of the Foundation students at Mount Waverley North Primary School where our students completed PMP tasks. We also engaged with the residents of AVEO Fountain Court with students in Year 12 playing Bingo and Year 11 doing knitting, gardening and arts and crafts. Students had conversations with the residents, gaining invaluable experience about the Aged Care sector, one of the fastest-growing employers in the country and how retired people live. Year 11 students also volunteered at the House Athletics Carnival. Feedback has been brilliant from all stakeholders. Thanks to Mr Bartlett and Ms Robotham for supervising the students.

The Year 11 students have been busy in Hands-On Learning with Mr Shaw. The students have been working on a project with AVEO Fountain Court, involving students and residents building a caddy together. There was also work with the Junior School on developing a kitchen garden. Work Experience placements are coming up in Term 4 to gain valuable knowledge and contacts. They also went to Speed X at Novotel Glen Waverley, where they met future employers, and practised interviewing skills for Work-Related Skills (WRS). Thanks to Ms Lockhart for organising this valuable excursion.

The Year 12 students have been out and about with the completion of assessment work. They went to Trades Hall to learn about workers’ rights, an important part of WRS. Thanks to Mr Newnham for arranging this. Students are also going on a go-karting excursion in early Term 4 that they have planned themselves from scratch. They will complete a literacy project interviewing teachers who have been at the college for at least 25 years. Thanks to Ms Rogers for doing this activity. The Structured Workplace Learning program on Fridays is going well, and many thanks to Mr Newnham for his assistance. A special shout-out to the outgoing Year 12 students, as they are our first group to have experienced the full VM program. Thanks for your feedback and enthusiasm.

Many thanks to the VCE VM staff for their care and support of the VM program. Their dedication to making the VM program achievable and vibrant is to be celebrated.

Mr Wayne Griffin
Head of Senior Pathways

On Sunday 31 August, I had the chance to participate in the Japanese Language Teacher’s Association of Victoria (JLTAV) Speech Competition with May (Year 10), Bahar and Sora (Year 9).  The event, held at the Hawthorn Arts Centre, saw many students from both government and private schools all around Victoria competing in both the individual and pair divisions.

Sora was the first to compete in the Open Individual Division. Although he was the only one in his division, he did a great job showcasing his speeches. Next, Bahar competed in the Year 9 & 10 Individual Division, doing an amazing job with both her set and original speeches.

May and I competed together in the Year 9 & 10 Pair Division. We were excited to present our speeches. Even though we didn’t finish in the top three, it was still an enjoyable experience to see and hear all the wonderful speeches from the other students and witness their hard work come to fruition. Thank you to Kumakawa Sensei for helping us prepare for this event and attending with us on the day!

By Clarissa A (Year 10 )

Over 50 students participated in a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party to celebrate their role in Book Week. The event was a great success!

Students kicked off the celebrations by decorating a display board, setting a festive and welcoming tone. During the tea party, they took part in a variety of literary-themed activities, including a book scavenger hunt and book bingo. They also had the chance to “locate a book” and chat with teachers about their favourite reads.

The party itself featured a delicious spread of food, including fairy bread, “mad hatter’s biscuits,” watermelon, hummus and crackers, chocolate frogs, and chips. It was great to hear that students displayed excellent manners while enjoying the recess party.

Year 7 Poet Incursion with Solli Raphael

Year 7s recently enjoyed listening to 20-Year Old Solli Raphael share his career journey as a published author and performing poet.  Students listened to Solli recite poetry and actively engaged in a question and answer session.  We look forward to our next author, Lilli Wilkinson coming to work with Year 8s at the end of October.

Our next library celebration will acknowledge the library volunteers, the Premiers Reading Challenge Certificate recipients and regular Homework Club members.  The library is always looking for students who would like to commit to learning new skills and joining the roster of students wanting to engage in community service through a range of activities that suit different students including the Circulation Desk duties, displays, shelving and other duties.

Are you aware students may borrow printed and e books?  We are launching an audio book collection shortly.  Students also have access to encyclopaedias to support research from reliable and valid sites.

Ms Stephanie Thomas
Teacher-Librarian
Junior Campus

September School Holiday Events

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

Year 12 VTAC Application

Timely applications for 2026 courses are due 29 September. You can still change course preferences right up to ATAR release date at no additional cost.

Year 12 Career Interviews

Are you considering university, TAFE, apprenticeships, gap year, or entering the workforce, we’re here to support you in planning the next steps. Students are encouraged to book a careers appointment.

As always, the Careers Team is here to help, reach out if you have questions or need guidance.

Mr Phil Newnham and Ms Victoria Tortopidis
Careers Education

Class of ’75 Reunion

All those who started at Mount Waverley High School in 1970 and finished between then and 1975 are warmly invited to a reunion!

Date:     Saturday 29 November
Venue:   The Notting Hill Pub – Beer Garden
Time:     12:00pm – 4:30pm

Take a look at the photo below to help spot some of the magnificent Class of ’75 – and please spread the word!
This will be a casual get-together for former students only (no partners, please).

Guests will purchase their own food and drinks on the day. To secure the Beer Garden, we need firm numbers by 17 November.

Please RSVP to:
Fiona Hough (née Wyke): fee.hough.66@gmail.com
Brendan Cookson (Cookie): ventthyspleen@gmail.com

When replying, please include:

• The name you had at school (and any changes since)
• A current contact number
• An email address (for updates)

We can’t wait to reconnect and see as many of you as possible!

Stay connected! Register your details to join our alumni community and receive the latest news and events and our newsletter directly in your inbox. Click here to register.

Ms Victoria Tortopidis
Alumni Coordinator

Student safety at Mount Waverley Secondary College is our highest priority and the safe and appropriate supervision of students is an important element of our duty of care to students. Part of this duty is ensuring parents and students are aware of our student supervision arrangements before and after school.

Before School: Junior Campus grounds are supervised from 8:35am, and Senior Campus grounds are supervised from 8:20am. 

After School:  Both Junior Campus grounds and Senior Campus grounds are supervised up until 3:15pm. 

Students on school grounds outside these times will not be supervised (unless they are attending a supervised activity).

For a copy of our school’s Yard Duty and Supervision Policy please contact the General Office on either campus, or email the college at  mount.waverley.sc@education.vic.gov.au