MWSC College News – Issue 7

Magnificent Work of our Education Support Staff

On Friday 15 May our Education Support staff were acknowledged and celebrated for their contribution to the college.  We are very fortunate to have a terrific team of support staff helping to care for and education your children and run our college.  Our Education Support staff, to mention a few, include our friendly and caring Admin and Finance staff, Wellbeing staff, Inclusion Assistants, Nurses, Interpreter/EAL Assistants, Resource Centre, Science Laboratory and Food Tech staff, as well as skilled maintenance and ICT staff.

It is such personnel who are quiet achievers and who so admirably support our teaching staff in effectively delivering the curriculum.  This large team of personnel are ably led by our talented Business Manager Mrs Kari Simmons and Student Support and Resources Manager Mr Paul Graham.

On behalf of the college community, I wish to thank our Education Support staff for their significant contribution to our college.

2025 Annual Report

The 2025 Annual Report has been endorsed by College Council and now has been endorsed by the Department of Education. A copy of the report can be found 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.

Division Cross Country

The District Cross Country event took place on Tuesday 12 May with over 150 students participating. Mount Waverley Secondary College performed extremely well on the day, coming first overall winning the Junior, Middle and Senior Shields.

I congratulate all the students who competed and represented our college with pride. Thank you to Mr Jay Newport and Mr Danny Gwynne for all their hard work in getting the team ready for this event.

Well done to the following students who finished in the top three of their events.

• Imogen W, 12/13 girls – 2^nd place
• Vicky M, 12/13 girls – 3^rd place
• Kathleen H, 14 girls – 2^nd place
• Ekaterina K, 14 girls – 3^rd place
• Ismail N, 14 boys – 2^nd place
• Daisy W, 15 girls – 1^st place
• Seth J, 15 boys – 1^st place
• Yun Y, 16 girls – 2^nd place
• Aisha H, 18 girls – 1^st place
• Frances S M, 18 girls – 2^nd place
• Hayden V, 18 boys – 2^nd place
• Julian D, 18 boys – 3^rd place

Our successful students will now compete at the regional level on Thursday 12 June.

Senior Campus Careers Week

Special thanks to Mr Phil Newnham, Mrs Victoria Tortopidis and Ms Charli Bartlett our Careers Education team, for putting together a fantastic program of sessions for Career Week last week. It was pleasing to see so many students engage across the week to hear from a range of presenters.

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.

Semester 1 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

2026 NEVR Youth Concert

Mrs Karen Wade
College Principal 

There is a distinct buzz in the air at the Junior Campus lately. It is a wonderful time of year where our Year 7s have truly found their feet and our Year 8s are beginning to model the leadership qualities we value so highly at Mount Waverley Secondary College.

The calendar has been packed with opportunities that extend well beyond the traditional classroom, and I am continually impressed by the way our students are throwing themselves into these experiences.

We have officially kicked off our Year 7 visits to Monash Tech School for the year. These sessions are a fantastic way for our students to engage with cutting-edge technology and real-world problem-solving. It’s inspiring to see them tackle challenges that require both technical skill and creative thinking.

In addition to academic rigor, we are prioritising the whole student. Our Toolbox Education sessions have been instrumental in providing students with practical strategies to manage stress, build resilience, and maintain a positive mindset as they navigate the complexities of secondary school.

Lunchtimes at the Junior Campus are anything but quiet! Recent highlights include:

• IDAHOBIT Day: A wonderful celebration of diversity and inclusion. It was heartening to see so many students showing their support for a community where everyone feels safe and valued.
• Junior School Film Festival: The creativity on display was simply outstanding. From budding directors to talented editors, our students proved they have a sharp eye for storytelling.
• Sporting Spirit: Our sport team trainings are in full swing. Whether on the courts or the oval, the dedication to team growth and school pride is evident every morning and afternoon.

It has been a pleasure welcoming prospective families to our Junior Campus Tours. Showing off our facilities is great, but it’s the interactions between our student leaders and visitors that truly tell the story of our amazing school culture.

Attendance

Regular attendance is important for every student’s learning, wellbeing, and academic success. To help the college maintain accurate attendance records and ensure student safety, parents and carers are asked to notify the college of any student absence by adding a note on Compass as soon as possible.

Notification of student absences will allow teachers and wellbeing staff to appropriately support students and follow up on any unexplained absences. A Quick Guide on how to add an attendance note in Compass is provided your convenience.

Looking Ahead

We have a significant program of events approaching for the rest of this term:

Indigenous STEM Workshops: Students will be exploring the fascinating intersection of First Nations knowledge and modern science.
Reconciliation Week: A vital time for our campus to reflect on our shared histories and contribute to the national journey of reconciliation.
Author Visits: We are looking forward to sparking a love for literacy and giving students a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process.
Year 7 Immunisations: A routine but important part of our ongoing commitment to student health and wellbeing.

Mr Matt Sheehan
Campus Principal – Junior School

As we move through Term 2, students in Years 9 and 10 have been engaged in a wide range of learning activities.

Our Year 10 students are completing their courses in preparation for their first semester exams, which are just around the corner. Later this term, they will also undertake work experience, with placements beginning in the final week. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to gain real-world insight into the workplace.

Year 9 students are approaching the end of their coursework and will soon sit their first mid-year exams. The Year 9 Explore Program – which follows the exam period – is in its final stages of organisation, with students having recently received information about what to expect.

Following the mid-year exams, all students will transition into their Semester 2 subjects, bringing a fresh set of learning challenges and opportunities for the second half of the year.

Attendance

Regular attendance is important for every student’s learning, wellbeing, and academic success. To help the college maintain accurate attendance records and ensure student safety, parents and carers are asked to notify the college of any student absence by adding a note on Compass as soon as possible.

Notification of student absences will allow teachers and wellbeing staff to appropriately support students and follow up on any unexplained absences. A Quick Guide on how to add an attendance note in Compass is provided your convenience.

Parking in and around the Senior Campus

The Senior Campus has parking which is for staff only. The carparks at the Senior Campus should not be used for dropping off or picking up students as this creates a safety issue for both staff and students. Students should be dropped off and picked up in adjacent side streets near the Senior Campus. When parking near the college it is important that parking signs are observed, and we ask that you respect our local residents by not blocking their driveways as you drop off or pick up your children.

Visitors to the college

We always welcome parents and carers to the college. When visiting the college all parents and carers should go the General Office in the first instance. The General Office will then deal with your inquiry.

Mr Ian MacLeod
Campus Principal – Middle School 

Well, we are almost half-way through Term 2. The term has been a productive one, offering our students many opportunities, both curricular and extracurricular. 

This Friday, May 15 we celebrated our incredible Educational Support (ES) staff. Without the support of our ES staff many things around the college would not be possible. I would like to say a big thank you to Mrs Linda Smith, Ms Susan Stratford, Ms Yu Sun and Ms Vanessa Chong for their work with our International Student Program, Ms Juliana Sung for the support they provide the Senior Subschool team, and Mrs Narda McLennan and Ms Shannon Howlett for all their work with organising any excursions and upcoming trips.

Girls in STEM

Last week three of our Year 11 girls attended a special event at Monash University accompanied by Mr Phil Newnham. It was an historic visit from Ms Katherine Bennell-Pegg, 2026 Australian of the Year, Space Engineer and Australia’s first qualified astronaut. As guests of Monash Engineering Girls, they were part of a very small and select group placed in the front row of the venue. We were hosted by an amazing student ambassador who had our own students hanging on every word.

Thanks to Mr Ian Shaw for organising the event and for all of his work in building the relationship with Monash. On Thursday, I accompanied six students to the VicPhysics “Girls in Physics Breakfast” at the Australian Synchrotron in Clayton. The students shared a table with women in physics and engineering careers, and went on a behind the scenes tour of the Australian Synchrotron. The group was also addressed by Dr Rachel Williamson, Group Manager of the Crystallography Group at ANSTO’s Australian Synchrotron. Thanks to Phil for his support in organising this opportunity.

NHT Exams

Next week some of our Year 12 students will sit their Northern Hemisphere Timetable (NHT) exams for General Mathematics and Accounting. Thank you to our NHT teachers, Mr Warren McAlister and Ms Yuchen Zhao for all the support they have provided our students during this time. Please note that this is the last year VCAA will be running NHT exams and studies.

Exams

Students in Years 9, 10 and 11 will sit mid-year exams starting June 1. For our Year 11 students these exams are an opportunity to test their understanding and knowledge of the skills and content covered in Semester One. Exam practice is an important experience, particularly for our Year 11 students as it will assist them in preparing for Year 12 exams next year.

I would like to encourage students to use the exam advice provided to them by their teachers, seek out their teachers for assistance, and ensure they follow a study timetable to help them manage their time. An Exam Schedule will be shared with parents so that they can help support students during this time.

Exam Study Strategy – Pomodoro Technique

A study technique that might be useful to encourage your student to try is the Pomodoro Technique. It is a study technique that involves working in focused 25-minute intervals (called “Pomodoros”) followed by a 5-minute break, with a longer 15-30 minute break after four Pomodoros. It can assist in maintaining focus by breaking tasks into manageable sections, preventing burnout, and reducing procrastination.

Attendance

Regular attendance is important for every student’s learning, wellbeing, and academic success. To help the college maintain accurate attendance records and ensure student safety, parents and carers are asked to notify the college of any student absence by adding a note on Compass as soon as possible.

Notification of student absences will allow teachers and wellbeing staff to appropriately support students and follow up on any unexplained absences. A Quick Guide on how to add an attendance note in Compass is provided your convenience.

Ms Lauren Kelly
Campus Principal – Senior School

Celebrating Education Support (ES) Day

This week we celebrate Education Support (ES) Day and acknowledge the incredible staff who keep our school running smoothly. Our ES team supports students, teachers, families, and programs in countless ways — often quietly, always with care.

From administration and wellbeing to classroom support and technical services, their work strengthens every part of our school community.

We held a morning tea today to say a heartfelt thank you to our ES team for their dedication and professionalism.

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF)

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments for eligible students to attend school camps, excursions, and sports and outdoor education programs. If you are eligible for CSEF, please ensure you have your application form submitted to the school office or via email to finance@mwsc.vic.edu.au by 26 June.

If your child has commenced at the College this year, please ensure a new application form is completed. For further information, please visit https://www.vic.gov.au/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund.

Financial Contributions

If you have elected to pay the voluntary financial contributions via instalments, a reminder that the final instalment is due to come out of your nominated payment method on Friday 22 May. Thank you for supporting our college.

Parent Volunteers

We understand that everyone has different time commitments, but we encourage all families to be involved in some way. If you have skills, resources, expertise, or community connections that could support the college, we would love to hear from you.

If you are able to help, kindly complete the google form here and tick the specific areas where you many be able to assist.
Thank you very much for your willingness to help.  We will contact you with more details in the near future.

Ms Kari Simmons
Business Manager

As we move through a busy and exciting term, there have been many opportunities for students to connect, learn and celebrate across our school community.

Careers Week was a fantastic success, with a range of engaging lunchtime activities held across both the Junior and Senior Campuses. Students participated in interactive experiences designed to spark curiosity about future pathways, careers and opportunities beyond school. It was wonderful to see students enthusiastically exploring their interests, asking questions and engaging in conversations about their future aspirations.

Our Year 8 students also recently participated in the Toolbox Education workshop, Mental Movies. This engaging and practical session focused on helping students understand how thoughts can influence emotions and behaviours, while providing strategies to manage anxious thinking and build resilience. The workshop supported students in developing greater self-awareness and positive wellbeing strategies.

On 12 May, we proudly celebrated International Nurses Day, recognising the incredible contribution of our three school nurses and the important role they play in supporting the health, wellbeing and care of our students every day. Their compassion, professionalism and dedication are greatly valued across our school community, and we thank them for the support they provide to students, staff and families.

We also look forward to celebrating IDAHOBIT Day (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia) later this month. This day is an important opportunity to celebrate diversity, promote inclusion and reinforce our commitment to ensuring every student feels safe, respected and valued for who they are. Students will have opportunities to engage in activities and conversations that encourage understanding, kindness and belonging within our school community.

Mr Paul Graham
Student Support and Resources Manager 

The weather on Tuesday 12 May, could not have been more perfect! The low-lying fog made way to sunny skies, which greeted almost 160 brave MWSC students ready to take on the division’s fastest and fittest in our 2026 annual cross country carnival.

When the day came to a close, the performance of our MWSC students matched the weather – Perfect! We won the Junior Shield, we won the Intermediate shield, and we won the senior shield. A clean sweep, and the most decisive victory in cross country in over 10 years!

The final results were:

1st – Mount Waverley Secondary College on 235 points
2nd – Vermont Secondary College on 493 points
3rd – Glen Waverley Secondary College on 521 points
4th – Highvale Secondary College on 893 points

Thank you to our amazing students, many of whom jumped out of their comfort zone to tackle the hills of Nortons Park. It was a day that won’t be soon forgotten!   We now look forward to the EMR carnival, where we will take a record 60 competitors.

Congratulations to the following students who finished in the top 3 of their respective events;

• Imogen W, 12/13 girls – 2^nd place
• Vicky M, 12/13 girls –  3^rd place
• Kathleen H, 14 girls –  2^nd place
• Ekaterina K, 14 girls – 3^rd place
• Ismail N, 14 boys – 2^nd place
• Daisy W, 15 girls – 1^st place
• Seth J, 15 boys – 1^st place
• Yun Y, 16 girls – 2^nd place
• Aisha H, 18 girls – 1^st place
• Frances S M, 18 girls –  2^nd place
• Hayden V, 18 boys – 2^nd place
• Julian D, 18 boys – 3^rd place

Mr Danny Gwynne and Mr Jay Newport
Sport Coordinators

Generations in Jazz

Last weekend, 41 students and 5 staff travelled to Mount Gambier, South Australia to take part in Generations in Jazz. GIJ is an annual jazz festival where 6000 students from across Australia travel to take part in a nationwide jazz competition, adjudicated by some of Australia’s top jazz musicians.

In addition to playing as part of a competition, the ensembles received feedback from some of the top jazz musicians in Australia, they attended amazing concerts by local and international artists, and they met students from across the country. We are so excited that 3 of our students; Kiki P, Xavier L, and Julian D were all selected for the division Superband as top performers on their instruments. Only one student is chosen for each part, so this is an honour to be selected.

An event like this does not happen without a lot of hard work from both staff and students. Thank-you to Mr Damien Maughan, Mr Lewis Pierre, Ms Melissa Knowles and Ms Maddy Thorburn who accompanied us on this trip. A big shout out to the students who practiced diligently and attended rehearsals to prepare for this event.

Mrs Tijtje Keatley
Music Director

On Wednesday 22 April, the Sustainability Team planted 175 trees around the school. This process involved collaboration within small groups where the students and teachers worked during lunchtime and a bit of period 5 and 6.

It was an exciting and new endeavour for some, learning to navigate new gardening tools, yet resulted in a sense of accomplishment for all. The planting of the trees spread from behind the futsal courts to the empty areas on the oval and the following Friday, some students gathered again to provide water to the plants.

The sustainability team can’t wait to see the growth of these new trees!

By Avneet A, Year 11

On Wednesday 29 April, a group of Year 10/11 girls from Mount Waverley Secondary College and Glen Waverley Secondary College attended the Monash Tech School Supersport Industry Immersion where they got the opportunity to immerse themselves in the field of data analytics within sport.

The girls participated in a fitness session of footy, where they wore Catapults – a GPS system to track their data and then later in the day, analysed it. The girls also got an opportunity to participate in a Shark Tank, where their creativity was put to use, innovating new technologies that could be implemented in the sports industry.

It was a great experience and I would recommend it to all!

By Avneet A, Year 11 

Melbourne Writers Festival

On Thrusday 7 May, some Mount Waverley Secondary College Senior students stepped beyond the classroom and into the world of writers, stories and ideas at the Melbourne Writers Festival Schools Program: https://mwf.com.au/program/secondary-schools-day-thursday

Held at State Library Victoria, the Secondary Schools Day program gave students the opportunity to hear from authors and storytellers, ask questions, explore the writing process and reflect on the power of stories. This year’s festival theme, Visions & Revisions, celebrated the creativity of writers and the way ideas are shaped, reworked and transformed into meaningful stories.

Our students represented MWSC with pride throughout the day. They demonstrated the College Values of Excellence, Learning and Respect through their positive participation, respectful listening and thoughtful questions. Their curiosity and engagement showed exactly why experiences like this matter.

Student reflections captured the richness of the day.

“The highlight of the excursion was experiencing the contrast between First Dog on the Moon’s captivating humour, Amy Doak’s grounded mysteries and Tigest Girma’s ‘dark academia’ fantasy. It was inspiring to hear them discuss how they build suspense and captivate reader attention. Hearing Tigest talk about reclaiming fantasy for diverse voices was a powerful reminder that stories are a tool for both representation and escape.

“I would definitely recommend this excursion to other students because it pulls back the curtain on the professional writing world.”  ~ Olyvia F

“The rainy weather outside created a cosy ambience within the State Library, where we heard authors share their lives, inspirations and writing journeys.”  ~ Dulara J

“I have been blown away by the amazing authors they have every year.”  ~ Bridie O

“It was inspiring to hear how authors kept working on their stories even when they felt unsaveable.”  ~  Rahini K

“I found it inspiring when Karen Comer talked about how she rewrote her novel as a verse novel before it was published.”  ~ Quin A

“I found Melbourne Writers Festival to be a lovely experience and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing from the celebrated Australian authors and their different journeys with literature. I will cherish this wonderful experience and would definitely go again if I had the chance.”  ~ Ayushi N

The Melbourne Writers Festival reminded students that stories are not only found in books – they are shaped through questions, revision, imagination and persistence. Most importantly, it reminded us that great readers become great writers.

Less scrolling. More storytelling.

Mrs Tanya Alderton
Teacher Librarian, Senior Campus

Our Year 11 and 12 VCE VM class got to participate in Road to Zero, an educational, interactive activity at the Melbourne Museum relating to road safety. The experience taught us as future drivers how we can be more safe on the road, both for ourselves and people around us.

We had the opportunity to engage in multiple different activities such as using a VR headset to see how cars have improved and the potential they have in the future to keep us safe. In small groups, we created a road safety ad, each group had the opportunity to decide the safety rule to focus on and edited it into a useful ad with images and music. The day was very educational for the whole group and was very engaging. We would definitely recommend this day for future VM students.

Year 11 VM Literacy class

National Careers Week (11 – 15 May)

What a fantastic week celebrating National Careers Week on both Campus!

It was wonderful to see so many students getting involved in the wide range of activities and workshops focused on future pathways and career opportunities. The week highlighted the importance of exploring interests, discovering possibilities, and making informed decisions about future careers.  Thank you to all staff and students who contributed to making the week such a success.

Year 10 Work Experience

A reminder to all Year 10 students – work experience placements need to be finalised by 25 May. Please ensure all paperwork and arrangements are completed as soon as possible.

If anyone within the MWSC community can host a student for Work Experience from 22–26 June, or can connect us with someone who can, we would greatly appreciate hearing from you.  Please contact us at careers@mwsc.vic.edu.au or call 9803 6811.

Year 12 Careers Interviews

During Mentoring this week students will view a short video about applying for university and TAFE, followed by a questionnaire. The information collected will be used to assist them during their upcoming Careers appointments.

Year 12 students have been emailed a link to make their Careers appointment. They are encouraged to choose a convenient time to make their 30 minute meeting.  Whether they are looking into university, TAFE, apprenticeships, or employment, we are here to support their next steps.

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

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

Careers Week

During Careers Week, we were excited to welcome back our Alumni to inspire students interested in STEM and Engineering pathways. Students in Years 9 and 10 participated in a Girls in STEM incursion designed to encourage young women to explore future careers in engineering.

Our guest speaker, Ms Helena Ly-Lu, shared her journey from graduating in 2018 to completing a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at RMIT University and beginning her graduate role with A.G. Coombs.

Also joining the audience were two of our Class of 2024 Alumni, Matt Taylor and Erica Teoh who are currently in the 2nd year of their Engineering degree at Monash University. We look forward to sharing more about their journeys in this term’s newsletter later in June.

This week we have Johanna Lindsay return to the college as a student teacher while she completes the final year of her Bachelor of Health & Physical Education at Deakin University. We look forward to sharing more about her journey in this term’s newsletter later in June.

Next Alumni School Tour Reunion in June! 

Don’t miss out. Come and see how things have changed since you were last at school.  Meet up with old school friends and teachers.

Bookings essential and close next week.

Class of 1996, 2006 Reunion
Thursday, 11 June 2026

We are also happy to include students from previous classes

Click here to book your ticket.

Register

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 to sign up. Register

Ms Victoria Tortopidis
Alumni Coordinator