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Newsletter Edition 2 – Wednesday 2 April 2025

2nd April 2025

In this Issue:

College Principal’s Report
Senior Years Campus – Principal’s Message
Middle Years Campus – Principal’s Message
STEM
Visual and Performing Arts
English
Careers
Physical Education/Health

Upcoming Events

School Holidays

Apr 5 – Apr 21 all-day

College Principal’s Report

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We have reached the end of the term, and I would like to congratulate our students and staff for their efforts. In this newsletter, you will find many examples of positive events and opportunities that many of our students have been able to engage with. Every single week, there are positive examples of students representing our school, extending themselves, supporting their peers, and simply having fun. The positive engagement with our co-curricular opportunities has been mirrored by the dedicated approach students have taken to their studies throughout the term.

This term has also been very busy in terms of student voice and student leadership in the broader community. You may have seen recent announcements of the finalists and winners of the Whittlesea Citizenship Awards. Both Mustafa (Yr 11) and Tanya (Yr 9) were selected as finalists in these awards, and I am proud to say that Zachary, who is also a College Captain, was awarded the Young Citizen of the Year. This is an outstanding achievement for these students, and it is great to see their commitment to their community recognised in this way.

Continuing the theme of community, it was great to see approximately 15 students, parents, and staff members attend our recent Working Bee at the Middle Years Campus. I think everyone enjoyed the morning, and it was good to be able to make some positive changes to our facilities while socialising at the same time. This was the first time we have run this type of event, but we reflected that it would be good to make it a more regular occurrence. Please look out for a similar event to be advertised in Term 2 and consider getting involved—it would be great to see you there.

At the beginning of the term, I shared information about our new Learner Behaviours and Academic Processes with families. I am pleased to report that we will soon commence the second cycle of reporting on the Learner Behaviours, which will be available in early Term 2. I hope that you have found this information valuable in supporting positive conversations about learning and academic progress at home. There will be an additional opportunity to engage in these discussions at our upcoming Parent-Teacher Interviews next term, and I encourage you to make a booking for this important event when they open. Through strengthening our home-school partnership, we will be able to maximise learning outcomes for the young people in our school community.

I know that many of our families are currently celebrating the end of Ramadan. For others, there will soon be a time to reflect on Easter at church services. For some, it will be a time to be with family over the long weekend and perhaps eat too much chocolate. Regardless of your situation, I wish everyone a very safe and happy holiday period and look forward to seeing our students back at school next term. School will return on Tuesday, 22 April, and I look forward to seeing all students back at school on that day.

Senior Years Campus – Principal’s Message

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It has been a busy last few weeks at the Senior Campus as students complete their first major assessments. For most of the VCE subjects, this involves an exam type SAC such as the English SAC below.

It is expected that Year 11 and 12 students have completed their coursework with at least a 70% attendance in class (to verify their coursework as being their own) before sitting the SAC. If a student does not show satisfactory understanding from the SAC, relearning occurs, requiring students to attend catch up class before an alternate ‘redemption’ task is given to allow students to show their understanding in a different way.

Students and parents are able to see if they have submitted or sat their SAC by looking at the student Learning task tab in Compass. It is expected that staff will mark the Assessment (SAC) within two weeks after which results will be posted as well. Results will be a numerical mark for Year 12 students and a letter grade for other students. A ‘UG’ grade means Ungraded or Not Satisfactory. This indicates that a student has not achieved the minimum amount of understanding and will be required to resit an alternative task to achieve an ‘S’ for that outcome.

Harmony Day

HPV

The Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) had its first race for the year. The event was a 7-hour endurance race around the Calder Park Race Way. The race involved 8 riders and 8 pit crew. Most of the team were new to the HPV team so this acted as a test run but they were ably supported by some ex-students who came to help out.

Thanks to Ms Garchitorena for all of her organising. It is a lot of work to get everything in place for an event like this. Thanks also to Mr Kneebone for helping to get the bike ready and supporting the team Saturday morning along with a number of other staff.

Outdoor Ed Camp

Mr Patterson and Mr Natoli took 15 Year 12 students on an Outdoor Ed camp to Wilson’s Promontory. The students had perfect weather and participated in hiking and snorkelling.

International Women’s Day

On Thursday 6 March, our female student leaders went to attend lunch with Lily D’Ambrosio and visit Parliament House to celebrate Women in leadership. They also got to meet the Premier, The Honourable Jacinta Allan. Thanks to Ms Saliba and Ms Rivera for taking them. They also got to experience question time at Parliament house.

Senior Sport

Senior students have competed in sports this term including volleyball and tennis.

The tennis team won their first round and proceeded to the Northern Metropolitan Region.

Athletics Day

The students had a great day at athletic sports last Thursday. As well as the many track and field events, Year 12 students dressed up for the day. A great time was had by all and the rain even held off until the events were over.

International Students Excursion

On Wednesday 26 February, 37 students from Years 7-12 went to Anglesea to experience the ocean. This was the first time that many of these students have seen the ocean in Australia. The experience began with just getting acclimatized to being in waves, but students quickly progressed to paddling on their boards and a few even got to stand up. Thanks to Ms Pan, Ms Gerami Pour and Ms Buratto for assisting on the day.

Middle Years Campus – Principal’s Message

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As we approach the end of Term 1, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all staff and students at the Middle Years Campus for what has been an excellent start to 2025. Over the past week, our Year 7 and 9 students have been diligently completing the NAPLAN assessments. I am extremely impressed by the conscientiousness and positive attitudes demonstrated by our students throughout the testing process.

We continue to implement a variety of preventative programs to support our students. Our Year 7 students have been actively engaged in the Optus Digital Safety Program, where they have learned valuable tools and strategies to ensure their safety while navigating online platforms.

This week, we also had the privilege of celebrating Harmony Week, and our cultural dress-up day was one of the most vibrant displays of diversity I have ever witnessed. I would like to commend both our staff and students for their dedication in showcasing the key messages of this important celebration.

In other exciting news, during the Term 1 holiday period, one of our classrooms will be refurbished into an Inclusion Centre. This space will house our current Inclusion Team, who provide vital support for students facing various learning challenges. The new Centre will be centrally located within our Middle Years Campus, adjacent to our Engagement Hub, Wellbeing Centre, and Library. This strategic positioning will further strengthen our focus on student support and ensure easy access to key staff in this crucial area of the campus.

Last Saturday, we had a highly successful Working Bee at the Middle Years Campus. I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the families who participated and wholeheartedly engaged in tasks like painting, gardening, and a variety of other activities. Your efforts were invaluable in supporting our maintenance team, who consistently work hard to ensure our College remains welcoming for both our staff and students.

Finally, I would like to highlight that our annual Showcase Evening will take place on April 1st. I encourage our current families to share this event with friends or family members who have children nearing high school age. We would love to welcome them to our College and demonstrate what we have to offer. I sincerely thank our staff and students for their efforts in supporting this event.

STEM

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Year 8 SEAL Science Engineering Challenge

In Year 8 SEAL, students worked on improving a water wheel to make it more efficient at using energy. By applying their science and engineering skills, they tested and refined their designs, thinking critically and creatively. This hands-on project helped them build problem-solving skills and deepen their understanding of energy transfer in a meaningful way.

Year 12 Physics Luna Park Excursion

The Year 12 Physics classes visited Luna Park for an excursion. Students observed the laws of motion in real-world situations. Students also had fun trying out the rides on the day!

Year 10 General Science Solar System Models

The Year 10 General Science classes, students created a labelled model to show the solar system. Students had to consider the sizes, distances and physical properties of each celestial body.

Visual and Performing Arts

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On Monday 24 March, Year 11 and 12 Art Making and Exhibiting students embarked on an inspiring excursion to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). They explored the Top Arts Exhibition, which showcased an impressive array of student works across painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, mixed media, and sculpture, incorporating both traditional and contemporary styles. Students were captivated by the innovative use of materials and techniques, as well as the diverse artistic approaches. The exhibition provided valuable insight into how young artists from across Victoria draw inspiration from everyday life, spirituality, cultural heritage, symbolism, music appreciation, and political themes such as oppression. Additionally, they gained a deeper understanding of artistic processes and techniques employed by the exhibiting students.

Following the gallery visit, students explored Hosier Lane, Melbourne’s renowned street art precinct. This year’s murals featured powerful social critiques on issues like domestic violence and gendered divisions of labor, as well as thought-provoking themes of identity and body image. Among the striking visuals were numerous patterned hearts adorning the walls, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. Reflecting on the experience, students Rojan and Zain shared:
“I love that students were given the opportunity to explore their cultural identity and make connections to their background.”

The VCE students also visited the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at the NGV International, where they were immersed in Kusama’s distinctive world of polka-dotted sculptures, vibrant paintings, and captivating installations. Space, light, reflection, and color intertwined in infinite patterns, filled the exhibition creating an otherworldly sensory experience. One of the highlights was Infinity Mirrored Room – My Heart is Filled to the Brim with Sparkling Light (2024). Kusama explores the infinite mysteries of the universe and nature, reflecting on her place within an ever-expanding cosmos. As she once expressed:

“I love painting so much that nothing else matters.” – Yayoi Kusama

The excursion not only left students inspired by Kusama’s visionary approach but also provided an invaluable opportunity for students to engage with contemporary and historical art, sparking inspiration for their own creative practice.

VCE and VET Dance Students travelled into the city to watch Top Class Dance, a showcase of high performing solos from the 2024 assessment period. Top Class inspires our students by providing them with A+ exemplar for students to aspire to in their practical classes when choreographing/learning their solo dances.

“Top class was an amazing experience to see some of the best performances and high scoring dancers from 2024. It was a great opportunity to shape my understanding of the intention behind VCE Dance and it was inspiring to see a great amount of dancers sharing what they love with us.” – Honey, Year 12

On March 12, VET Dance students attended the first AusDance Industry Day at The Space Dance & Arts Centre. Industry Day provides VET Dance students with opportunities to learn from leading Industry professionals and take part in a Mock Audition in either a corporate, commercial or theatre setting. This give students first hand experience to participate in real-world professional Dance situations in a safe and inclusive environment.

Production ‘Bring It On’

Production Rehearsals are well underway! We have an amazing amount of student participation this year with one of our biggest casts to date. Students have been working on their vocals and choreography every week and are on their way to complete all of Act One. It’s been such a wonderful experience getting to see our senior students taking on some leadership roles within the cast, such as Honey who, as our Dance Captain, has been running fantastic dance warm ups and been busy behind the scenes assisting with choreography and revision of routines. Stay tuned for the reveal of our Production Poster and more details about performances to come! Tickets will be available in Term 2.

“Production rehearsals have been off to an amazing start. It is uplifting to see so many new faces from Year 7 and even some new castmates from the Senior Campus. Everyone has been working hard, and we are well on our way to putting on an amazing show. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for tickets in the coming months!” – Jacob, Year 12

VET Fashion

It’s been a busy start to the year in VET fashion, settling in our students and new students from external schools in the 1st year program and delivering new competencies to the students in the 2nd year program. All students are settling in well to the Wednesday afternoon classes and showing enthusiasm and commitment to the course through their attendance and general approach to studies.

Year 11, 1st year students are learning new skills using the sewing machines and managing materials through sample work which is maintained in a visual diary for future reference. They are currently working on constructing Tote Bags and researching fabrics and planning to construct a skirt.

Year 12, 2nd year students are busy developing a design portfolio for their embellished umbrella and individually chosen product which will accompany this. This entails significant research and trialling of processes through sample work leading to development of design ideas and the planning of production of the 2 products.

English

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Has your Year 12 student read The Memory Police? We’re studying it in English and EAL, and your support can make a big difference! Make sure they’ve read it and discuss it with them. Ask things like:

– What’s it about?

– How does it end?

– What do you think it means?

Your involvement helps boost engagement and critical thinking. Extra support options next term include 1:1 assistance, small group tutoring, and an essay writing class.

By the way, there’s even an audiobook version available for students who prefer that format!

Careers

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Physical Education/Health

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Athletics

The Mill Park Secondary College Athletics Carnival was a thrilling day filled with impressive performances, teamwork, and house spirit. Students showcased their athletic abilities across a range of events, including sprints, jumps, and throws, while the Year 12 dress-ups added plenty of colour and fun to the day.

After a fiercely contested competition, the final scores were:

🥇 Studley – 🟢 566 points

🥈 Whernside – 🔵 560 points

🥉 Eaglet – 🟡 552 points

🏅 Redleap – 🔴 529 points

A huge congratulations to Studley, who claimed the overall victory in an incredibly close race to the finish! Well done to all students for their fantastic efforts, determination, and sportsmanship.

A special thank you to our dedicated staff, officials, and volunteers who helped make the day such a success. We look forward to another exciting carnival next year!

Sport

This term has been an exciting one for sport at Mill Park Secondary College, with students representing the school across a variety of competitions in both the Whittlesea Division and Northern Metropolitain Region. From cricket and volleyball to tennis and swimming, our teams have shown great effort, teamwork, and determination throughout the term.

Cricket

Our Year 9 Boys Cricket team had a fantastic run, winning their group and making it all the way to the final—a fantastic achievement! The Year 7 Boys Cricket team went one step further, winning all their matches, including the final, and now progressing to the Northern Metropolitan Region round. The Year 8 Boys Cricket team also had a strong showing, securing a win along the way. It was also an exciting term for girls’ cricket. The Year 9 Girls Cricket team performed strongly, reaching the second round, while the Year 8 Girls Cricket team played in a highly competitive first-round match. The Year 7 Girls Cricket team will continue their journey in Term 4, competing in the second round.

Volleyball

Volleyball was hotly contested this term, with many teams putting in strong performances. Our Senior Girls Volleyball team fought hard to make the final, narrowly missing out on the top spot. Meanwhile, our Senior Boys, Year 9 Boys and Girls, Year 10 Boys, and Year 8 Boys and Girls Volleyball teams all gained valuable experience competing against strong opposition. We are still looking forward to seeing our Year 7 Volleyball teams in action soon!

Tennis

Our Senior Boys Tennis team delivered an impressive performance, winning their first round and progressing further, ultimately finishing second in their group at the next stage. Year 9 Boys & Girls tennis went out with great success, which led to our Girls team progressing to the next round where they finished 3rd in the region – awesome effort! The Year 8 Boys & Girls tennis teams had a fun filled experience, with our Boys A Team celebrating a well-earned victory over the Mill Park B team. With Year 7 Tennis still to come, we are eager to see more great results on the court!

Swimming

Five talented swimmers represented our school at the Whittlesea Division Swimming Carnival, with two progressing to the next round! Every swimmer performed brilliantly, securing a ribbon for their efforts in their events. A fantastic achievement!

A huge congratulations to all students who participated, showcasing skill, resilience, and school pride. This term, we had over 170 students represent Mill Park Secondary College in sport—a fantastic effort! A special thank you to our dedicated staff, who take time out of their busy schedules to train and coach our teams.

Next term is set to be our busiest yet for sport at Mill Park Secondary College, with students competing across a range of events. With many teams already trialing and preparing, we look forward to another exciting term of sport ahead!

Here are the key dates for Term 2:

April 29 – Badminton (Years 8-12)
May 6 – Year 9 Girls & Boys Soccer, Girls Netball
May 12 – Senior Girls & Boys Soccer, Girls Netball, Boys AFL
May 15 – Whittlesea Division Cross Country
May 23 – Whittlesea Division Athletics
May 26 – Boys Netball (All Year Levels)
June 3 – Senior Girls AFL
June 4 – Year 8 Girls & Boys Soccer, Girls Netball
June 23 – Year 7 Girls & Boys Soccer, Girls Netball

Newsletter Edition 2 – Wednesday 2 April 2025

2nd April 2025

In this Issue:

Upcoming Events

College Principal’s Report

Senior Years Campus – Principal’s Message

Middle Years Campus – Principal’s Message

STEM

Visual and Performing Arts

English

Careers

Physical Education/Health

MIDDLE YEARS CAMPUS

SENIOR CAMPUS

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