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Newsletter Mount Eliza Secondary College

Canadian Bay Road Mount Eliza 3930 Tel: 9787 6288 Fax: 9787 9888

Email: info@mesc.vic.edu.au Internet www.mesc.vic.edu.au

Website http://www.mesc.vic.edu.au

Editors: Angela Pollard & Heather Hiam 23 March 2015 Volume 2 - 2015

Dear Parents, Students, Teachers and Members of the Wider School Community,

At last Thursday's meeting of School Council I presented my report on the 2014 school year. I have placed the report on the college website for our community to consider as it represents the many successes of the year just passed including our VCE results which made us the equal best performing government school in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula areas. The report also indicated areas where despite having made improvements, we have identified that more work needs to occur for the benefit of our students. This includes the areas of writing and numeracy. I believe it is the hallmark of a great school that it is willing to be open and honest with its community about both its strengths and areas for improvement, and continue to strive to learn and refine its practices for the benefit of the students. I would like to publicly congratulate our year 12 VCE students who have settled into the required work routine very well. For students wishing to gain university entry it is necessary to be doing at least three hours per day on average of additional home learning or access to additional teacher assistance. Parents can support their sons or daughters by helping them restrict part time work for this one important year, and monitoring a good balance between recreation and socializing. Healthy eating and sufficient sleep are also critical particularly in balancing stress levels. At the end of the day we want students to achieve their personal best and to be able to look back over the year and feel proud of their achievements. I would also like to remind parents of students wearing the new uniform that the school blazer is a compulsory part of the uniform. It must be worn to and from school with the winter uniform, which commences next term. Students can choose to wear the blazer doing the school day if they wish. As is always the case, if you have any concerns regarding the purchasing of uniform please contact Brenda Barker, Business Manager, at the college. It is very hard to believe we have come to the end of term one. I wish you all well for the break and thank you again for your continued support of our great college.

Angela Pollard Principal

ANNUAL ANZAC DAY SERVICES Mount Eliza Secondary College is very proud of our role in the community and participation in the annual Anzac Day Services, in Mornington. We represent our school and show our respect for the men and women of the Armed Services by marching on Anzac Day and laying a wreath at the Mornington Cenotaph, in honour of fallen and serving troops. The school would like all Year 7 & 8 students to join the Student Leaders and staff in the march on Saturday 25th April. Students from all schools, march proudly up Main Street,

to the cenotaph, where they then participate in the Anzac Day Service. Students are requested to wear full school uniform, including blazers and to report to MESC staff in front of the Police Station, Main St, Mornington, at 8:30am. All students are expected to participate in the march and the service but if they are attending other services with family, elsewhere, we understand that that would be a priority. Also, many students are Scouts, Guides or Cadets, and of course, will be participating in services, with their troop. Further information and permission forms will be forwarded closer to the date, please do not hesitate to call the college if you have any questions or enquiries.

SCHOOL ANZAC DAY ASSEMBLY TO BE HELD IN THE COLLEGE GYMNASIUM FRIDAY 24 APRIL

Details will be available on Compass next term

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Instrumental Music Expo On Monday the 23rd of February, all of the Year 7, 8 and 9 students took part in the Instrumental Music Expo. The instrumental teachers and some instrumental student helpers banded together to give all of these students the opportunity to try out the wide range of instruments we offer lessons for. It was a fantastic, noisy day for all involved and the students had a blast. A huge thank you to those instrumental teachers and student helpers that could make this expo possible. Mount Eliza Secondary College students have the opportunity to learn the following: Brass, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba Guitar, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Electric Bass Keyboard, Piano, Keyboard Percussion, Percussion Drum Kit Singing, Contemporary Singing, Classical Singing Strings, Violin, Viola, Cello Woodwind, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone Brass, woodwind and string students have the option to hire their instrument from school. If you are interested in enrolling in instrumental music lessons at school, please see Mr Harbour in the music department.

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Year 7 Primary School Visits Last week some of Year 7 students visited their former primary schools to showcase what they have learned so far and to assist Grade 6 students in understanding what life in a secondary college is like. It was also a great opportunity for Grade 6 students to ask any questions about MESC. Year 7 students prepared a trivia for Grade 6s, which was a great success. After this, each Year 7 student had a group of roughly 12 to 15 students for Questions and Answers session. It was amazing to see the leadership skills, maturity and enthusiasm displayed by our Year 7 students, who had Grade 6s in the palm of their hands with the stories about life in high school. They proved to be fantastic speakers and we had a number of Grade 6s who thanked us all for talking to them. They were really looking forward to coming to MESC next year to study and when we asked whether they learned any useful tips, the feedback was that the sessions made them feel less anxious and more confident about starting high school next year. Well done to all the Year 7 students who participated in Primary school visits, you are true leaders and great role models to others! Elena McLuskie, Head of Year 7

International Student Update On Wednesday 11th March, four of our International students along with other new International students from around Victoria, attended Government House where the Governor and Mrs Chernov along with the Hon Mr James Merlino MP, Minister for Education, welcomed them to Victoria. The formalities included not only speeches by the Governor and the Minister but also a wonderful talk given by Mr Tuan Anh Tran, Victorian International School Student – Year 12 Student Leadership award recipient. Mr Tran spoke sympathetically to the students about the struggles of speaking a new language and “fitting in” and advised that he found becoming involved in some of the extra-curricular activities offered at his school was a wonderful way to improve not only his English but his confidence and leadership skills. After the formalities concluded, the students, Cassandra, Doris, Stuart and Nathan were fortunate to be allowed to explore Government House and its surrounding gardens. YUE Wei (Ivy) YUE Wei (Ivy), an International student since July 2013, was invited to attend a formal presentation at the University of Melbourne for her outstanding result for units 3 / 4 Chinese First Language. Ivy, currently a year 12 student at Mount Eliza Secondary, achieved 48/50 last year whilst in year 11. This result places her in the top 0.5% of the state. Ivy’s parents in China, along with her homestay parents Alan and Gail (seen here with Ivy) are very proud of the success Ivy has achieved through her hard work and diligence. We, at MESC, congratulate Ivy on her fabulous result and look forward to her continued success this year.

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Our Newest Student Leaders As School Captains at Mt Eliza Secondary College, Nick and I would like to welcome our new Year 7 Student Leaders. Phoebe Baker, Bella DeYoung, Flynn Brookes, Katrina Ward and Jake Taylor. The Year 7 students were very impressive in their interviews so it was decided to appoint 5 students leaders for 2015, due to their enthusiasm to represent Year 7. They have already started to carry out the many different tasks the leaders undertake and will prove valuable to the leadership group, Year 7 and MESC, in general. Other very impressive students joining MESC this year, in Year 7, are Riley Dallow, Hamish Trajer, Scott Mallen and Etienne Reinhold, who have all become Year 7 I.T Leaders. Their interest and skills in I.T will see these students assisting staff and students in Year 7 with various I.T problems and tasks. They will be integral in the establishment of the Online SRA Literacy Program, starting in Year 7, helping out in classes and leading other students in the use of IPad’s and other technology. So, welcome aboard, Year 7 Leaders and congratulations on your new positions.

Hayley Hisgrove and Nick Carrick, School Captains, 2015

MESC Students Out in the Community

Rotary Volunteers: Hayley, Paris and Caitlin Rotary Volunteering: Hayley, Paris, Caitlin, Geoff from Rotary and Jack Ahearn. The Food and Wine Festival was celebrated on Sunday March 15 at the Morning Star Estate Winery and our students played a very important part in the event. Fifteen of our wonderful Year 11 & 12 students assisted the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza with car parking. Over 4000 visitors were expected to turn up to the event, Graze by the Bay, and cars needed directing into the paddock car park. School Captain, Hayley Hisgrove and Vice Captains, Will Featherstone and Lizzie Gill, along with Peer Support Coordinator, Chelsea Verlinden, led the MESC brigade, who volunteered their time on Sunday, to help the Rotary members. As part of the Year 11 Community Spirit Program, students, Jack Ahearn, Ikeylia Cowan, Lauren Hawkes, Klaus Yao, Bodhi Howie, Jack Bentley, Caitlin Cen, Simon Pugh, Medhi Haidari and Kingsley Brodie (and me!) all gave up part of our Sunday to assist with the car parking. The Rotary members volunteer their time too, all to help raise money for needy local and global charities. All visitors parking their cars were asked for a gold coin donation. The sun came out, making it quite a warm day, and lots of great conversations were had by students and Rotary members, alike. It is great getting to know all the amazing people in our community who work, selflessly, for others. It was great that the Year 12 Leaders and our Year 11 Students, all turned up and showed real MESC Community Spirit. We were also assisted by staff members, Paula Harris, Amanda Smith, Luke Kerr, Kathryn Nightingale and Mike Lamond. The Year 11 Community Spirit Program will see lots of Year 11 students volunteering their time, on weekends, to help out the Rotary and Lion’s Clubs of Mt Eliza, and other charitable organisations that volunteer in our community.

Paris Murray Year 11 Student Leader

Parent Reminder– Car Parking To ensure the safety of students staff/parents are reminded that the staff car park is for use by staff members only. Parents are requested not to use the staff car park as a drop off zone for students or park in the bus bay area. Please use the off street parking as sign posted at the front of the College. If visiting the College please use the car parks marked for visitors. We have been advised that local parking enforcement officers will be monitoring the area to ensure compliance with parking regulations.

Progress Reports Parents will be notified when student progress reports are available on Compass.

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Crazy Hair Day Mount Eliza Secondary College participated in the Crazy Hair Day on Friday 13 th March, helping raise much needed money for the Leukaemia Foundation. The Student Leaders decided to have a Crazy Hair Day as part of the World’s Greatest Shave and encouraged students to come to school with wild hairstyles and crazy coloured hair. All students were asked to make a gold coin donation. Students also joined in on the ‘Crazy Coloured Hair’ by paying to have their hair sprayed or chalked, at Recess and Lunch, adding to the fun and the fund raising efforts. Year 9 student, Mia Winnell, was brave and shaved her hair, raising nearly $600 for Cancer Research, all on her own. Mia even added some colour to the little hair she had left and made good use of her forehead for design purposes. The Student Leaders were really appreciative of the enthusiasm of the students and for all those who donated gold coins………….even students who didn’t colour or shave, still donated towards the worthy cause. Several hundreds of dollars was raised for Cancer Research.

Jess Adams, Year 10 Student Leader

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LIBRARY NEWS This term in the library we have lots of new books as well as four new fish named Penny, Bubbles, Trevor and Muchacho. Come in and check out our new ONCE UPON A TIME display with our fairy tale books and keep an eye out for upcoming competitions! New books in the library include 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' and the sequel 'Hollow City'. For all the soccer fans we now have a large selection of books for you to choose from, and if you can’t find a book you are looking for then please make a request! For Rainbow Rowell fans we have 'Attachments' in. If you enjoyed the movie, then give the book a go, 'If I Stay' and 'Where she Went' by Gale Forman. 'The Evil Librarian' by Michelle Knudsen is just in and also a very good read. Don’t forget to check out our eLibrary as well, we have plenty of great eBooks waiting to be downloaded, just check out this link http://mesclibrary.global2.vic.edu.au/ebooks/ The library website is also packed with study and research tips,

and helpful sites when compiling Bibliographies, as well as book reviews and trailers. We'd also like to welcome out new library monitor, Skye Gillespie, and we are still looking for another year seven library monitor. So if you are keen please come and talk to a library monitor and they'll give you an application form.

Lucaya Library Captain

The 2015 Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is open to all students in Years 7-10. Students are required to read 15 books - 10 of these must be from the listed challenge books

and 5 of their own choice. All students must provide a completed ‘consent’ form prior to being registered online. Each student will be given a login/password in order to keep a record of their reading on the

Challenge website. Students can elected to read eBooks which must be verified by their teacher and also within

the guidelines of the challenge (minimum of 10 books from the listed challenge books and 5 of their own choice)

All information and records are to be completed by 14th September 2014 – students will not have access to the website after this date. Once all records have been verified this information will be sent to the Challenge coordinators

for processing. Students who have consented to having their name published on the ‘Honour Roll’ will be able

to access this during October. Certificates will be presented to all student participants in November. http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/events/prc

MESC 2015

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I NDIGENOUS ‘RECONCILIATION’ GARDEN

Some very enthusiastic year 7 & 8 Real Time Learning (RTL) students are creating an outdoor 'bush tucker' garden complete with logs as seats at the back of our classrooms. Four of the RTL students planning this project have blood links to the Wurundjeri, Yorta Yorta and Toogee Aboriginals and all are keen to participate with the design and implementation of such a space with their RTL friends. Students have researched 'Bush Tucker' plants and attended a presentation at the Briars with Adam and Lionel, local Indigenous men, to learn about the medicinal and nutritional properties of various native plants on the Mornington Peninsula. We are wondering if there are any 'garden loving' volunteers available in our school community either on a Thursday or Friday to assist with gardening tasks such as spreading the bark chips evenly, spacing the logs as seating in a circle and bordering with a circle of plantings of native grass and flowering native shrubs in the school colours? Later in the year we hope to work on the installation of a bush tucker garden to supply the school's food technology department with produce to harvest. The plan is to have culturally significant Indigenous artwork to decorate the inward facing portable walls and painted totem poles bordering the car park side of this space. If you are a member of our school community and have possible contacts that can assist with creating Indigenous artwork, supplying treated pine poles/marine ply/outdoor paint or supply of suitable plants, please contact Narelle via email on ndebenham@mesc.vic.edu.au The students energy, enthusiasm and engagement has created such momentum for this new project and l look forward to supporting our young Indigenous people and their friends in the design and construction of this outdoor learning space with support and guidance from our school leaders, RTL staff, HOL team local indigenous elders/artists/naturalists and other interested members of the MESC school community.

Narelle Debenham

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INDIGENOUS ‘RECONCILIATION ‘

GARDEN

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DOBSONS UNIFORM SHOP TRADING HOURS

Monday: 12.30 pm - 4.00 pm

Wednesdays: 8.30am – 11.30am

1st Saturday of each month

9.00am—12.00 Noon

Telephone 9708 8566

IMPORTANT DATES 2015

Tuesday 24 March Pre-Enrolment Information Sessions - 5.30-7.30pm VET Centre

Wednesday 25 March Year 8 Sport

Thursday 26 March School Athletics Day

Friday 27 March End of Term 1– Normal Dismissal

Monday 13 April Term 2 Commences

Friday 24 April School Anzac Day Assembly

“You can now follow us on Twitter and Facebook to find out about upcoming events at the College”

http://twitter.com/mtelizasc

http://on.fb.me/zWNp06