Principal’s Address
As 2020 draws to a close I wish to acknowledge the Mooroolbark College community for their resilience, patience and work throughout this year. 2020 has most certainly been a year of learning for everyone in the College. We have grown and we have been challenged. We most definitely did not expect the year we have just had.
Whilst some people are finding it difficult to find ‘good’ in this year, there are many positives which have come out of these difficult times. Our community of students, parents and staff are closer than ever before. We have worked together to provide support for each other this year. There is a new level of collaboration and cooperation within our community. Thankfully we have finished the 2020 school year more successfully than anyone could ever have expected.
More than ever before, everyone deserves to enjoy a well earned break over Christmas.
I want to thank our students for their resilience and understanding as teachers learnt new technologies and ways of delivering teaching and learning. Thank you for trusting us and thank you for working with us when you returned to face to face learning. My happiest day in 2020 was the day all students returned to face to face teaching in October.
Thank you to our parents who spent countless hours encouraging their children to keep going during remote learning after hours sitting in front of a screen. Assisting with assignments, organising schedules and sharing their home offices. You were an integral part of the remote learning experience. Thank you.
Finally to the Mooroolbark College staff, thank you for the hours of extra work you put in to ensure that the learning continued. The Mooroolbark College students had the opportunity to access high quality, interactive and stimulating learning opportunities.
2021 will hopefully not bring us the same challenges that we faced this year, but if it does, the resilience, flexibility and skills we learnt, will support us if we are required to face further challenges.
MOOROOLBARK COLLEGE AWARDS
Each year in December the College conducts its annual Awards Evening. Due to Covid restrictions we have been required to do this virtually in 2020. Students who are receiving an award will receive these in the mail over the coming days. Congratulations to all the 2020 Award winners. I would like to acknowledge the support of the Mooroolbark College Parents’ Association, the Croydon Mooroolbark – Lyon’s Club, the Country Women’s Association and the Australian Defence Forces for their financial support of the awards in 2020. Award recipients have been announced via the Mooroolbark College Office Facebook page but can also be viewed via the following link: https://youtu.be/gnpNlaJHdKk
DEPARTING STAFF
At the end of 2020 the Mooroolbark College is farewelling the following staff members:
Dr Naim Abasszade – Science Teacher
Ms Laura Bonne – Arts Teacher
Ms Rachael Butler – Office Traineee
Mrs Jan Cooper – Canteen Manager
Ms Robyn Cooper – English/Humanities Teacher
Mr Ross Crowley – Instrumental Teacher
Ms Ntina Delgas – English Teacher
Mr George Dimitra Lyons – English Teacher
Mrs Karen Ellis – Arts Teacher
Ms Sallie Groves – English Teacher
Mr Aaron Halstead – Humanities and PE Teacher
Mr Liam Hope – English Teacher
Mrs Jana Lant – Quick Smart Coordinator
Mr Luke Mc Cormick – PE/Health Teacher
Mr Jim McGuffie – Instrumental Teacher
Mr Anthony McLachlan – Curriculum Support
Mrs Marie Norris – English Teacher
Mrs Jodie Tiley – Mathematics Teacher
We wish these staff all the best for the future.
SEMESTER 2 REPORTS
Semester 2 reports will be available via Compass after 3pm Friday 18th December..
REOPENING OF MOOROOLBARK COLLEGE – 2021
Commencing at the beginning of 2021, the General Office will be located directly off Ross Pincott Drive. Please do not enter from the Manchester Road car park on the north boundary. The office will reopen on from Monday 18th January between 9.00 am and 12.00 pm to Friday 22nd January and then will reopen from Wednesday 27th January as normal between 8.00 am and 4.30 pm.
BYOD – COMPUTER PICK UP
If you are still to collect your BYOD computer that you have purchased through the College, you can collect them from the College in the time slots above. Ordering is still available if you have not yet had the opportunity to purchase a device.
KEY 2021 DATES
The 2021 school year commences for Year 7 and Years 11 and 12 VCE students on Friday 29th January. Years 8, 9 and 10 and Years 11 and 12 VCAL students commence on Monday 1st February. I wish to also extend an invitation to our new Year 7 students and their families to the Welcome BBQ on Thursday 4th February at 6.00 pm.
I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year. Keep safe and please take time to look after yourself and your family during the holiday break.
Best wishes
Ann Stratford
PRINCIPAL
