College News · 2016-08-29 · College News 1 Station Street, Mordialloc 3195 Australia Telephone (+613) 9580 1184 Facsimile (+613) 9587 5443 email [email protected]

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1 Station Street, Mordialloc 3195 Australia Telephone (+613) 9580 1184 Facsimile (+613) 9587 5443 email [email protected] www.mcsc.vic.edu.au

Newsletter

August 25 2016 No.26 Principal’s Update

Year 8 Students at work in the Enquiry Zone

Y9 MEX Students

Dear Families, Students and

Community Members,

School Production Congratulations to all students (cast

and crew) who were involved in this

year’s school production “Hairspray”. I

am sure everyone in our school

community would agree with me that

it was an outstanding show of the

highest quality in all respects and

showcased our wonderful talent pool

at the College. The production this

year held even more significance with

it being the last one in our school hall.

From next year all future productions

will be staged in

our new

Performing Arts

Centre. Special

thanks must go

to our former

school captain, Josh

Mulcahy, who returned

to the College again this year to direct

the show. He couldn’t have done it

though without the fantastic support

of teachers Kelly McConville -

Production Coordinator and Producer,

Adelle Stevenson - Crew Manager, Liz

Evans - Production Assistant, Demis

Danoudis - Vocal Coach and Stuart

McIntyre - Set Design and

Construction.

Framework for Improving

Student Outcomes (FISO) There is a new Improvement

Framework for improving student

outcomes that was released by the

State Government towards the end of

last year and all schools had to select

one area from: Excellence in teaching

and learning, Professional leadership,

Positive climate for learning or

Community engagement in learning as

a major focus in 2016.

Continued on Page 2

Page 2 2016 Newsletter No 26


The Curiosity and Powerful Learning

initiative that we are involved with

aligns perfectly with the excellence in

teaching and learning priority for us,

with our focus on building practice

excellence and developing precision

in teaching practice across the

College. As reported earlier in the

year the Curiosity and Powerful

Learning initiative provides an

opportunity for us to revisit key

aspects of our Instructional Model

over the next 3-5 years with a six

month focus on precision of teacher

practice across each theory of action.

As such, it is the main focus for our

whole school PD staff workshops on a

Tuesday afternoon and has seen the

introduction of new triad coaching

model. There are four whole school

theories of action: High Expectations

& Authentic Relationships, Inquiry

focused teaching, Consistent

Teaching Protocols and Consistent

Learning Protocols; and six theories

of action for teachers: Harnessing

learning intentions, narrative and

pace, Set challenging learning tasks,

Frame higher order questions,

Connect feedback to data, Commit to

Assessment for Learning and

Implement cooperative groups.

Our first six month focus was on High

Expe c ta t i ons and Authen t i c

Relationships and this continues this

semester as it underpins everything

we do. We have also introduced our

second theory of action, Harnessing

learning intentions, success criteria,

narrative and pace, with an initial

focus on teachers developing quality

learning objectives and success

criteria for each lesson to make the

learning vis ible to students.

Learning Objectives are important

as they a l l ow s tudents to

understand clearly what it is that

their teacher intends them to learn

and puts the learning activities into

context; the learning activities are no

longer tasks that need to be

completed for the sake of completing

the tasks – they are the vehicle by

which learning is achieved and they

flag what students will learn rather

than what students will do. The

Success Criteria are like the mini

rubric for the lesson. They should be

discussed with students prior to

undertaking the activities for the

lesson and provide a focus and

scaffold for students whi le

undertaking the tasks. They are also

used as the basis for feedback and

peer/self-evaluation of progress

throughout the lesson.

The ten theories of action we will be

covering over the next three-five

years are bound together by ONE

overarching theory of action - WHEN

teachers, strongly supported by their

schools, explicitly and consistently

incorporate the theories of action in

their teaching THEN our students’

curiosity enriches their learning

skills and spirit of inquiry. Curiosity

drives the impulse to learn. It thrives

in the presence of high expectations

and authentic relationships; when we

harness learning intentions, narrative

and pace so students are more

secure about their learning and more

w i l l ing to take r isks , then

achievement and understanding will

increase and curiosity will be

enhanced.

In 2016 we have introduced a triad

model for classroom observations to

replace our coaching and collegiate

visit process. A triad is a team of

three teachers planning, observing,

giving feedback and reflecting on

each other’s and their own teaching

practice together. The aim is to

continue to build teacher capacity in

the theories of action underpinning

Curiosity and Powerful Learning

aiming for precision in teacher

pract ice to improve student

outcomes. Teachers select their

particular area for improvement

within each theory of action based on

their own self-assessment and results

from the student perception survey

administered by all teachers.

Triads have been formed around staff

teaching loads to best match up staff

teaching at the same year level/

subject for the most effective use of

time. This allows planning time

together and moderation as well as

supporting each other in the

implementation of the particular

theory of action we are focusing on

for the term. Triad discussion and

feedback meeting times for pre and

post visits have been included within

the staff meeting workshop schedule.

Staff are currently undergoing their

second round of triad visits/

observations.

August is Education

Support Staff Recognition

Month

On Monday we held a morning tea

for all staff to formally thank all of

our Education Support staff who work

across the school in a variety of roles

to support teachers, students and

parents and thus are a vital part of

our school community. The

contribution they make is invaluable

and without them the school would

not run effectively!

Subject Celebration Weeks Last week we celebrated Science

week and this week we are

celebrating Numeracy week. Thanks

to Learning Area Leaders, Justin

Wischusen and Bryony Lowe, and the

members of the Science and Maths

Learning Areas for organising a range

of activities throughout both weeks

for students and staff to participate

in.

Michelle Roberts Principal

Continued from Page 1



Important DatesImportant DatesImportant Dates August Friday 26 World Challenge: Training Expedition to

Saturday 27

Sunday 28 Y12 French Exam Seminar 8:30 am

Monday 29 Sport Colours Day - Gold Coin Donation Mex City Experience - 9B & 9D to Friday 9

September

Tuesday 30 Y10 Sexual Health Session 3

Wednesday 31 Y12 Psychology - DAX Centre

September Thursday 1 Kingston Athletics

Y12 VCAL Amazing Race Planning

2017 Year 9 Information Night for all Y8 students - 7 pm (SEAL 6:30-7 pm)

Y12 Sleepover and PJ Day

Friday 2 Y12 PJ Day

Facilities & OHS 8 am

Saturday 3 Instrumental Music Showcase Rehearsal

Weekend 3 - 6:30pm Sunday 4 Instrumental Music Showcase Rehearsal

Weekend 11am - 1pm

Monday 5 Mex City Experience continues - 9B & 9D to

Friday 9 September

Finance Meeting 4 pm Y11 & 12 VCAL Amazing Race

Tuesday 6 Y11 Fit to Drive

Wednesday 7 Y8B, 8C, 8E & 7F Medieval Incursion Day

Thursday 8 Y8A, 8D, 8F & 7E Medieval Incursion Day Y12 Biology - GTAC

Y12 Physics Synchrotron 8:45 am

School Council 5 pm Instrumental Music Showcase 7 pm

STUDENT NEWS

Responsibility Be accountable for your

actions. Contribute positively to the school and wider

community.

Jericho Sanger

Kaitiki Herbert Travis Thompson

Sam Trewavas

College Values Awards

Jordyn

Paerau-Hopkins



L ast week 500+ members of the Mordialloc College

community were treated to a demonstration of

the incredible talents of the students in our school

in this year’s whole school production of Hairspray.

Featuring the talents of over 70 staff and students, this

was an absolutely fantastic show that left our College

Principal speechless, and one Assistant Principal only able

to exclaim ‘Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!’ (Mr. Kevin

Osborne).

It was around this time last year that production director

Josh Mulcahy and I decided that ‘Hairspray’ was to be the

2016 Mordialloc College production. We knew we were

taking on a lot with such a popular and well-known show,

but felt confident that we could do it justice with the talent

we have within the College. That confidence was not for

nought, as I think anyone who came to see this fantastic

production would agree.

From the moment auditions began back in February, we

knew we had a strong cast on our hands. Furthermore,

with many new additions to the crew, we were buoyed to

think that our ideas for the sets could become a reality.

With the assistance of key staff Adelle Stevenson, Demis

Danoudis, Stuart McIntyre and Liz Evans, we had a

production team that any professional company would be

jealous of. Together, we achieved great things, the least of

which was enjoying ourselves whilst fulfilling our hopes of

putting on the best production the College has seen to

date.

I would like to commend the cast and crew on their efforts

throughout the year leading up to such a successful

performance week. Congratulations to each and every one

of you for being a part of this very special production. I

would also like to thank Josh Mulcahy for returning to

direct this show, as well as the fabulous production team.

Thanks also to the many staff who supported the

production in a variety of ways, as well as the parents of

our cast and crew who have been the silent partners in the

success of this show. We appreciate you negotiating your

lives around the rehearsals and performances so that your

children could have this fantastic experience. Finally, to

the Mordialloc College community who came out in force

to see the show - we hope you enjoyed it as much as we

enjoyed putting it on for you.

Kelly McConville

Performing Arts Coordinator



Sci ence week

s t a r t e d

with a

bang this year with explosions

outside the Discovery Centre on

Monday. A large crowd

gathered to watch as a variety

of substances were blown up

including methane in eggshells,

and hydrogen bal loons,

culminating with the Pringles

can rocket which used a little

bit of both for the biggest bang

of all. On Tuesday students

embraced the theme of Science

Week by making their own

robotic hands, and also made

their hair stand on end with the

Van der Graaf generator. One

of the highlights of the week

was the drone races in the

Discovery Centre. Students

quickly got the hang of flying

the nano quadcopters and were

navigating the obstacle course with ease by the end of

lunchtime. Thursday drew the biggest crowd of the week

with students flocking to the Hollows Lab to make some

fantastic machines using Lego, and the week finished with

students coming to the Hollows Lab once more to watch

documentaries about some of the amazing advancements

that are currently occurring in robotics technology.

Justin Wischusen

Science Co-ordinator

Wear it Purple Day Wear it Purple Day & &

Over the next couple of weeks Mordialloc College will be

participating in “Wear it Purple Day” and “R U OK?” day.

On Wear It Purple Day, on Friday 2 September, students

and staff have the option to wear a purple ribbon or

accessory in order to commemorate and acknowledge the

LGBTQI community. On R U Ok Day, on 8 September, the

Wellbeing Team will be conducting some activities and

distributing pamphlets about how to help a friend if they

are in need of support. Any parents with concerns about

these events are welcome to contact the General Office via

email or phone 9580 1184.

Jenny Muir (Nurse Betty) Adolescent Health Nurse



Y ear 12

student, Georgia Neel-Hewett won second place in the

Kingston art competition, “The Art

Blitz”. This is a yearly event in which participants are given a theme on a Friday evening and then produce an artwork in the next 24 hours. Works are displayed in the Kingston Art Gallery.

This year's theme was the word SPACE. Participants could then paint, draw, collage, sculpt etc in response to the word. Georgia's work was a water-colour and ink piece she titled "Space has come between us".

Well done Georgia.

Sport Colours Day

Donations go to Oaktree Foundation This is an SRC event

Monday August 29

Bring a gold coin donation to be collected period 1 / Assembly

Wear your sport team’s colours top with PE / Track pants

Community Notice BoardCommunity Notice Board

You can find Mordialloc

College on Facebook by

typing Mordialloc College

into the search bar, then

clicking ‘Like’. If you like us

you will receive information

about upcoming news and

events within your

newsfeed - just another

way we are improving

digital communication

within our College

community.

For more information

contact Mrs Lisa Ip.

Dobson’s

Uniform Shop at Mordialloc College

Trading Hours Monday 8.30 - 11.30

Wednesday 12.30 - 4.00

Situated off the foyer of the

College Hall

Telephone: 9587 0738

UniformsUniforms

The uniform shop is not

normally open during the

school holidays but there will be a special

trading day on Saturday 1

October 10.00am – 3.00pm to

purchase any uniform

requirements for Term 4.

MORDIALLOC

NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE

YOGA

Hatha Yoga for beginners and those

with some experience.

A practical approach to improve health

and vitality.

MONDAY: 7:30 – 9:00pm

Enrolments welcome throughout the

term

For more information, or to enrol,

please phone:

9587 4534

Photography by Murray Payne

Documents

College News · 2016-08-29 · College News 1 Station Street, Mordialloc 3195 Australia Telephone (+613) 9580 1184 Facsimile (+613) 9587 5443 email [email protected]