MWSC College News – Issue 5

Top Class Music

I had the pleasure of attending the Top Class Music performance last Monday afternoon at the Melbourne Recital Centre with Ms Lauren Kelly, Campus Principal-Senior School and Mrs Tijtje Keatley, Music Repertoire Performance teacher. We were there to watch and celebrate Class of 2025 student Ananya H.

Top Class is an annual concert series presented by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) showcasing outstanding performances by VCE and VCE VET students from schools across the state. This year, 183 top performing students were considered by expert panels for Top Class Music and Sound, and only 48 students were selected to perform. Selected performers exemplify the skill and creativity that can be achieved within the VCE curriculum. Congratulations Ananya!

 

Music Soirees a Great Success

Congratulations to all the students who performed in the Music Soiree nights last week. Students from all year levels were involved and I know that the parents, students, and staff in the audience appreciated hearing their wonderful performances.

 

Eastern Metropolitan Regional (EMR) Swimming

The Eastern Metropolitan Region swimming carnival was held on Monday 30 March and our college sent 25 students to Aquanation Ringwood. Congratulations to all our competitors on the day. Below is a list of students who will compete at the state competition.

Katia K – won medals in 4 events.

Olivia T, Hannah R, Camryn R, Aleisha C won the gold medal in the 17-20 girls’ medley.

Aleisha C, Jayda C, Camryn R, Kira D won the gold medal in the 18 girls’ 4 x 100m 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 1 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.

 

2025 Annual Report

The 2025 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 supplied by PSW located at their retail outlet at 342 -350 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley (behind Officeworks).

 

Protecting against measles

Measles cases are rising in Victoria and around the world. Returned travellers make up most cases, but local spread has also been detected.

Vaccination is the most safe and effective way to protect yourself and others against measles. People need 2 doses of a measles-containing vaccine to be fully protected.

To help protect against measles, you should check your family’s measles vaccinations today. This is particularly important if you are:

• planning any travel
• were born during or after 1966
• were born overseas.

You can check your measles vaccination records:

on your Medicare online account through MyGov or by contacting the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809

• on your personal health records, such as your childhood immunisation records
• by speaking to your GP or immunisation provider.

About measles

Measles is a viral infection. It spreads easily from airborne droplets, such as from coughing or sneezing, and nose and throat secretions.
Symptoms may include:

• fever
• feeling tired or unwell
• cough or runny nose
• sore and red eyes (conjunctivitis)
• diarrhoea – especially in infants.

This is usually followed by a red, blotchy, non-itchy rash that often starts on the face before spreading down the body.

Measles can cause serious illness and be life-threatening. People who are not fully immunised or have not had a previous measles infection are at increased risk.

Pregnant women, children aged under 5 years and those with weakened immune systems are at increased risk of severe illness and complications.

If your child develops measles symptoms, you should:

• keep your child home from school and seek medical care and testing
• call the health service and wear a face mask when travelling to and attending the health service
• let our school know if your child has measles, or is being tested for measles
• keep your child at home until well and advised by a health professional.

Free measles vaccines

Anyone who does not have 2 doses of measles vaccine, or is unsure, can get a measles vaccine.
Free vaccines are available for:

• infants aged 12 months to 18 months
• children and teenagers aged under 20 years
• adult refugees and humanitarian entrants.

Free vaccines are also available for anyone with or without a Medicare card if they are:

• born during or after 1966 who have not received 2 doses or are unsure, including people born overseas
• infants from 6 months and before 11 months of age before overseas travel.

Vaccination is widely available at your GP, local pharmacist, local council or Aboriginal Health Service. Call ahead to see if you are eligible for a free vaccine.

Find out more

For more information, refer to:

• the Better Health Channel web page How to find your immunisation records
• the Department of Health for translated resources about measles and measles immunisations
• your GP, local pharmacist, local council or Aboriginal Health Service.

 

Happy Holidays

First term 2026 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 Monday 20 April.

 

 

 

Mrs Karen Wade
College Principal

Celebrating the end of Term 1

Well done to all Junior Campus students for a successful term 1. For the Year 7s, it has been a huge transition into their secondary schooling. Our Year 8s, on the other hand, have risen to the challenge of being the senior students on campus.

We finished the term with an assembly to celebrate all of the excellence that has been on display throughout the start of the year. College Principal Mrs Wade, talked to the students about the importance of celebrating their successes, and those of their friends and peers. Our Year 7 Coordinators Ms Manogoran and Mr Chan reflected on camp, various other school events, and the overall success of the Year 7 cohort in adjusting to secondary school life.

On behalf of his fellow Year 8 Coordinator Ms Yates and Mr Keep recognised the wonderful spirit in which our Year 8s approached Challenge Week, and set the year level some goals for next term. Our Activities Coordinator, Ms Hoang, recognised all of the amazing activities that have occurred during term 1, and thanked the students for their involvement. Junior School Leader and Head of Junior School – Ms Robertson and Ms Rogers – thanked our student leaders for their great start to the year, and celebrated the many students across the campus who have been recognised for upholding the college ILEARN Values.

We love getting the campus together to celebrate and recognise student achievement. Congratulations to all students who were mentioned during the assembly!

 

School Drop Off and Pick Up

School Drop is a busy time around both campuses of the college.  There are cars, pedestrians and cyclists all moving around during this busy time.  Please be patient around these busy times so we ensure all students get to and from school safely each day. We also ask that parents refrain from entering either car park at the Junior Campus. Additionally, we ask that parents be mindful in their interactions with our neighbours. As a community hub, it is important that our neighbours do not have their driveways blocked etc. Please obey all local parking restrictions.

 

 

 

Mr Matt Sheehan
Campus Principal – Junior School 

“Success is the sum of small efforts…”

We continue to be impressed by the manner in which our Senior Students are approaching their studies, and we encourage them to maintain this dedication heading into Term 2. VCE is a marathon, not a sprint; I hope students take heart in the fact that the small, consistent actions they take each day will truly pay off in the end.

Our Senior Students have had so many opportunities already this year. From House Swimming and Round Robin sport days, to Luna Park for Physics, the F1 Australian Grand Prix for industry immersion or musical performances to name a few, it is fantastic to see our students immersing themselves in school life.

 

Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences

Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences occurred on Wednesday 1 April. I hope these conferences provided the chance for students, parents and teachers to discuss how your student can be supported with their learning progress moving forward. 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.

 

Music Soiree Evenings

On Thursday 26 March, parents, family members and staff gathered at the second night of our annual music soirees. The program featured a range of performances, from solo recitals on the violin and cello to small ensembles where guitarists and bassists demonstrated a precise ability to collaborate. The inclusion of collaborative pieces featuring students performing alongside their instructors, beautifully illustrated the mentorship that defines our music program. These performances served as a testament to the students’ persistence and musical progress achieved across our diverse array of stringed instruments. Thank you to our dedicated Instrumental Teachers, and to our Director of Music Mrs Tijtje Keatley for all the work that goes toward putting nights like these together.

 

Outdoor and Environmental Studies Camps

In order to meet the curriculum requirement of Outdoor and Environmental Studies our students completing both Unit 1, and Unit 3 are required to participate in camps. Recently our Unit 1 students (Year 10s) attended a camp held at The Outdoor School, at their Bogong campus and participated in a 3-day bush walk along the Bogong High Plains, between Falls Creek, Mount Hotham and Bogong Village. Our Unit 3 students (Year 11s) hiked between campsites in the Brisbane Ranges National Park. Running subjects like Outdoor and Environmental Studies isn’t possible without dedicated staff and I would like to thank Mr Adam Laan and Mr Leigh Kranias for all their work to organise the camps, and Ms Sally Robotham and Mr Joshua Halliday who supported the running of the Unit 3 camp.

 

VCE and Careers Expo – Year 11

Year 11 students were given the opportunity to attend the VCE and Careers Expo coming up on Friday 1 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.

 

Thank You

I want to take this opportunity to thank our Senior Subschool Team, the International Student Program 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 

The Vocational Major (VM) students have packed a lot of activities into Term 1, gaining skills and knowledge based around the Pillars of Applied Learning.

The Year 11 students attended the Australian F1 Grand Prix, spending time investigating the Innovation Hub and watching the Supercars speed around the track. They have also been visiting Mount Waverley North Primary School, participating in the reading program and assisting the maintenance and sport teachers. This community engagement is part of the Personal Development Skills (PDS) subject, and students will reflect on their experiences in class time over the next few months. Most of the class participated in the Barista course, which enhanced employability skills for the Hospitality sector, an area in need of employees.

In Hands-On learning, students made biscuits for Harmony Week. A big thank you to Ms Robotham, Ms Douglas, Mr Johnston and Mr Bamford for all their support of the students during the term. All students have attended their VET courses in a timely and constructive manner.

The Year 12 students went down to the Mount Waverley Village to investigate Numeracy related to percentages and ratios, as well as interviewing shoppers for their PDS studies. They have also been visiting Mount Waverley North Primary School, participating in the reading program and assisting the maintenance and sport teachers.

Several students have been successful in finding Structured Workplace Learning (SWL), gaining real-life experiences connected to their VET courses. We hope to get all students’ positions by the start of Term 2. Some students also participated in the Barista course. Thanks to Mr Bartlett, Mr Newnham and Mr Thorburn for all their support of the students during the term. All students have attended their VET courses in a timely and constructive manner.

We have some fantastic experiences coming in Term 2, and I look forward to seeing the VCE VM students continue to grow in confidence and capabilities in preparation for their future endeavours.

 

 

 

Mr Wayne Griffin
Head of Senior Pathways

Term 1 has been a resounding success for the MWSC Music Department. We are excited that over 500 students are currently learning a musical instrument through our instrumental and Year 7 Band programs. A big thank you to all of our music staff, students, and parents for your continued enthusiasm and support of the program.

 

Annual Jazz Workshop Day

On Sunday, we held our annual Jazz Workshop in preparation for the upcoming Generations in Jazz festival. Both our Jazz Band and Stage Band have been putting in tremendous effort, and their hard work truly showed!

• Masterclasses: Our Jazz Band spent the morning in a whole-band workshop with acclaimed jazz bassist Tamara Murphy, while the Stage Band focused on intensive sectional rehearsals. In the afternoon, the Stage Band had their turn for a full ensemble rehearsal with Tamara.
• Community Support: We are incredibly fortunate to have such talented jazz parents and alumni in our MWSC Music Community. A huge thank you to Toby Mak, Mirko Guerrini, and Chris Rozakeas, who generously volunteered their Sunday morning to run our sectionals.

Our students gained invaluable insights and world-class tuition during the workshop. We are now more excited than ever to pack our bags for Mount Gambier in Week 2 of next term.

 

MWSC Music Soirees

It was absolutely wonderful to see around 100 students from Years 7 through 12 take to the stage for our Music Soirees last week. Featuring solos and small groups, the performances represented every instrument in our program and showcased a fantastic range of musical styles.

A massive thank you to everyone who made these events such a success and congratulations to all of the students who performed.

 

 

VCAA Top Class Music

On Monday, our current Year 12 Music students had the privilege of attending the prestigious VCAA Top Class Music concert. This gave our students an inspiring opportunity to watch some of the state’s highest-performing music students from 2025.

A major highlight of the day was getting to cheer on our very own 2025 Music Captain, Ananya Hariharan, who was selected to sing at this amazing event. Congratulations, Ananya, on this outstanding achievement.

 

 

 

Mrs Tijtje Keatley
Music Director

Australia Reads

Reaching Australian Readers

Australia Reads has recently released new national research, which was developed with Monash University and Creative Australia, offering practical guidance on how to help Australians read more often by translating behavioural science into clear, actionable strategies. For schools and families, the message is a timely one: young people are more likely to keep reading when they can find stories that genuinely interest them and when access to books is easy. Further information, including the key takeaways and access to the full report, is available here: https://australiareads.org.au/news/reaching-australian-readers-release/.

 

Stories to Discover at MWSC

Over the past couple of weeks, Year 9 English teachers have brought their classes to the Senior Library to choose novels for the Wider Reading unit, with library staff helping students connect with classic and contemporary stories. It has been wonderful to see so many novels heading out on loan, with plenty more still waiting to be discovered.

The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is one way students can build that reading momentum. At MWSC, all students have already been registered for the Challenge. In Term 2, books that students have completed will be verified by their Year 7 to Year 10 English teachers. Students who complete the Challenge will be eligible for a certificate, and at school there will also be book prizes and house points. Further information is available on the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge website.

Year 7 and Year 8 students have also been enjoying Easter Book Bingo at lunchtime in the Junior Library, hunting for selected books and going into the draw for Easter prizes. It has been a fun way for students to engage with books in the lead-up to the holidays.

Over the autumn school holidays, students can continue reading through MWSC’s ePlatform, which provides access to eBooks and audiobooks. Families may like to bookmark the site, and students can log in using their school credentials: https://mwsc.eplatform.co/.

MWSC students and families can also borrow titles through the Monash Public Library Service Premiers’ Reading Challenge collection, which includes a range of print and digital reading options. Library membership is free for Victorian residents, giving members access to a wide range of print and digital reading options.

 

Research and Reading Resources

The MWSC library website gives students and staff access to a wide range of useful links for research, classwork, home learning and reading: https://sites.google.com/education.vic.gov.au/mwsclibrary

Resources include Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia World Book, eBooks, newspapers, ClickView Online, the State Library Victoria, ABC Education, Scootle and Reading Australia. Some websites require users to log in with their Department of Education Victoria account.

Thank you to our wonderful ICT team, especially Jacob and Aro, for supporting access to these valuable learning opportunities.

We wish the MWSC community a restful autumn break, and hope the holidays offer time to unwind and discover a story to enjoy.

 

Resource Centre Team

Year 10 Work Experience

Year 10s now is the time to lock in your Work Experience placements for 22 June – 26 June! Use these holidays to reach out, apply, and secure a Work Experience placement by the beginning of Term 2. Need help? Check out Careers Corner for all the resources you need!

 

 

Blue Power Partners International Women’s Day – Clean Energy Event

Monash Tech School in collaboration with Blue Power Partners offered an Industry immersion program for a group of Year 10 female students. This program allowed students to explore the diverse range of careers, projects and pathways shaping Australia’s energy future. Students were walked through the journey of a wind farm, from initial planning, project development, construction and commissioning. Students left the day with a better understanding of how renewable energy projects are created by global multidisciplinary teams comprising engineers, project managers, environmental scientists, lawyers, among many others. The day concluded with a networking lunch, where the Students were able to ask questions and engage in conversation with the Team from Blue Power Partners.

 

Year 12

For information, resources and personalised guidance, the Careers Department is the best place to start. The Careers team is available to help students plan their 2027 destination and beyond, whether that involves university, apprenticeships, employment or a gap year. Students are encouraged to book an appointment to discuss their options and ensure they are making informed decisions about their next steps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Phil Newnham, Ms Victoria Tortopidis, Ms Charli Bartlett
Careers Education

Welcome to the first issue of the Alumni Newsletter for 2026.

In this edition, we are excited to share an update on our 2025 graduates as they begin the next stage of their journeys beyond school.  We also celebrate the success of our alumni in the music industry.

A special feature shines on our Class of 1986 alumni, who recently joined us for the School Reunion Tour in March. It was a fantastic day filled with stories, laughter, and the opportunity to reconnect and reflect on their time at the school. Their visit was a wonderful reminder of the lasting connections and shared experiences that continue well beyond graduation.

Thank you to everyone who has shared their stories, memories, and photographs. Your contributions bring this newsletter to life, please keep them coming!

To view Term 1’s Newsletter, click here.

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 the link below to sign up.

To register your details, click here.

 

 

 

 

Ms Victoria Tortopidis
Alumni Coordinator

Our Unit 1 English Language cohort recently embarked on an excursion to Healesville Sanctuary, in order to undertake fieldwork and gather data about animal communication.

In the classroom, our students learn about how human language differs to animal communication, due to the presence of six key qualities of language: arbitrariness, cultural transmission, creativity, displacement, spontaneity, and structure.

Students were tasked with observing various animal species and gathering data on which of these qualities they demonstrated evidence of, as well as gathering samples of language and communication in action. Students then unpacked this data in their SAC last week.

This excursion was the first of its kind for Healesville Sanctuary, who worked with us to create and research linguistics content that their zookeepers presented to our students.

Here are a range of comments and reflections from our students about the day.

• It was a great learning opportunity to develop our understanding of the concepts we learnt in class and to see them in real life. Being able to recognise and apply the properties that make human communication unique through seeing the animals interact with each other and with the zookeepers was really cool.
• One highlight was being able to get the experience of entering the enclosure of the Tawny Frogmouth. 
• One of the highlights was the Spirits of the sky. It was really cool to see how well-trained all the birds are, as well as how it is done under their own consent. My group loved seeing the wallabies from really up-close and it was really surprising how calm and composed they were. I also loved seeing the mothers and babies together, it was really cute! Lastly, the wombats were really, really cute as we got to see a wombat be really confused and take 5 tries to get into its home to sleep!
• This Wednesday was an amazing and exceedingly unique excursion, i would have never thought of doing for English language. Although educational, the excursion proved to be a more fun and enjoyable way to learn the content. My group loved to observe the echidnas and observe their communication.
• We had an amazing experience having vibrant birds swoop over our heads. Some of the animals were free to roam and we really enjoyed watching them hop around. We were able to see some tawny frogmouths that were not open to the public which made us all very excited.
  

 

 

 

Mr Tristan Kent and Ms Sarah Smith

Attending the RBA talk with Governor Michelle Bullock taught me about how the RBA works to maintain and monitor the Australian economy through interest rates, in order to meet the goals of full employment and inflation. This will greatly help in my VCE economics studies related to monetary policy and inflation. What I found interesting about the presentation was the way the RBA is separate from the government and operates without the influence of Australian politics.   

by Olivia X  (12P)

 

A lot of the discussion between Governor Michele Bullock crossed-over with the content we’ve studied in VCE Economics, and I actually found myself understanding more of the discussion than I had anticipated. However, what stood out to me most was the Governor’s experience and journey in economics, having studied it in high school and simply enjoying it enough to pursue a career in it. Finally, my main takeaway from the talk would be that economics has a place in everyone’s life and impacts the decision-making of normal people whether or not they are even conscious of it.

by Nicholas Y  (12O)

 

 

 

This term, our school had the wonderful experience of hosting exchange students from our sister school in Germany. During their visit, the students stayed with host families, attended classes, and explored different places in Melbourne. It was a memorable opportunity for all students who were involved, as everyone got the chance to form new friendships through exciting excursions while also developing a deeper cultural understanding of each other.

To warmly welcome them, a breakfast was held on their first day of school, giving them a taste of Australian food for the first time and helping them feel comfortable in their new environment. The German students visited ACMI in the city, and explored the lively streets with their hosts and experienced what Melbourne has to offer. They also took a trip to Healesville Sanctuary which was the perfect way for them to see the countless native animals of Australia, like koalas and emus, and learn about them.

One of the highlights of the German students’ visit was their 4 day trip to Phillip Island. The students had a chance to visit beaches and go on a bike tour. Nearing the end of their exchange, before the German students headed off for an exciting few days at Sydney, we held a barbecue at Jells Park where the students enjoyed spending time with each other and reflecting on this unforgettable experience.

During their stay, the German students noticed numerous similarities and differences in Australia, like uniforms and how classes are structured, as well as weather, atmosphere and public transport. All of the students were very eager for their exchange here, and, despite the new environment, quickly felt comfortable because of how welcoming our school community was to them.

This exchange will remain a highlight for both the German and Australian students, as they all created many lasting memories and relationships with not only each other, but other students as well as their host families. Overall, the exchange program was a very delightful experience for everyone involved and will always be remembered by the students as a special part of their high school journey.

by Anika S, Year 10

 

German visitors with their MWSC buddies.

The Year 12 cohort had the opportunity to meet and hear from Mr Tory Taylor, an NFL punter for the Chicago Bears. A former student of Mr Bamford from his previous school, Tory grew up in Melbourne and shared his journey from an ordinary schoolboy – who didn’t excel academically and was unsure of his path after finishing secondary school – to a professional athlete.

Tory touched on his journey and the challenges he faced. I learned that he is an extremely humble person who cherishes the important people in his life.  He mentioned that materialistic things in people’s lives such as money, status and fame don’t bring you true happiness and fulfillment but it’s the experiences and the relationships we build that matter.

Tory indicated how he regretted not making the most of his opportunities at school, despite being so successful in his life now. He said, “I would give up everything I have just to be a kid at school again.”

Tory made me feel grateful for the school I’m at, the family I have and the opportunities I have in front of me. He mentioned some of his personal struggles he and his family faced, and how they always supported one another. Even when we think we can overcome any obstacle we face, we always need people to encourage and support us.

We were able to ask Tory many questions, and he respectfully answered them with detailed advice and information. At the end I was able to shake his hand, and he was kind enough to sign my NFL ball and take a photo with me.

It was such a pleasure meeting and hearing Tory’s story and advice, and it was truly life changing hearing someone who was once just an ordinary kid here in Melbourne who became an amazing and happy person. I felt absolutely honored.

 

by Aston K, Year 12

 

 

On Thursday 26 March I attended the Koorie Big Day Out, which was held at the Aborigines Advancement League in Thornbury. About 80 Indigenous students from across Melbourne attended the day.

The event started with a Welcome to Country as the local elders spoke about the importance of education. We then had a panel discussion with a couple of indigenous people who had achieved success in their chosen careers.

We then had a chance to meet the Indigenous departments of every Victorian University, and learn about the options, support and opportunities that were available. Swinburne had the best display; they showed us a robot that was walking around the displays, which was pretty cool, as they demonstrated their robotics and AI departments.

All universities gave out lots of brochures and plenty of free giveaways. The best thing I collected was a rugby ball, which had an indigenous art display on it.

Another highlight was the seafood paella that they provided for lunch!

Overall it was a great experience. I learned a lot about the many opportunities out there for indigenous students. This will help me as I start thinking about my options for next year.

Thank you to Mr Bamford and Ms Regan for taking me to the event.

by Uwan M – Year 12