Mooroolbark College Newsletter – July 2025

The last two weeks of Semester One are some of the busiest in the school year with an array of activities in place to compliment class based learning.  In the last two weeks alone Mooroolbark College students have been involved in:

• Year 7 Wellbeing and Resilience workshops
• Year 8 Yarra Valley Tech School excursions
• Year 9 Pathways Day at Box Hill Institute
• Year 9 City9 Experience
• Year 10 Work Experience
• Year 10 Central Australia Tour
• Year 11 Pathways Day with representation from many local tertiary institutions
• Year 12 Social – always a highlight of the year for Year 12 students

In Term 3, the incredible opportunities that Mooroolbark College offer to students continue.   We have the annual Performing Arts Camp, the Production “Footloose” playing at the Karralyka Theater, course selection and SPIN (Senior Pathways Information Night) for students enrolled in years 9 to 12 in 2026 all occurring in the first half of Term 3.  

The start of Term 3 is always an exciting time as students across years 9 and 10 change into new electives and years 7 and 8 rotate their Arts and Technology subjects. The holiday period is a good opportunity to audit school supplies for the beginning of term 3.   In addition, the canteen also stock stationery and white socks which can be purchased by students.   Our whole school classroom rules are based on our college values.

• Endeavour – I bring the correct equipment to all classes.
  This requires students to have the 4 Ps for learning (personal device, planner, pencil case – fully stocked and paper – exercise book/folder and loose leaf) at every lesson.
• Respect – I speak with polite and kind language.
• Resilience – I have a go at all tasks to the best of my ability.

Some classes will have additional requirements that are subject specific.

Staff Changes

The following staff have either recently gone on leave from Mooroolbark College or will be going on well deserved leave at the end of the term.

Kelly Ayton – Curriculum Support Leader – on behalf of the College community I wish Kelly all the best in her new position.  Savita Frijlink and Ryan Exon are currently on leave.  Sarah Rosendale, Stephanie Todd and Rachel Farrell are all going on leave early in Term 3 and we wish them all the best.

Joining us in Term 3 we have the following staff:

Stacey Redmen – Curriculum Support Leader
Holly Payne – PE/Heath/VCE-VM
Trent Ashton – Science/VCE-VM
Richard Friswell – Maths
Jennifer Roache – Health and Baan Pathways
Hayley Cook – Learning Mentor – Baan

Values Awards

Congratulations to all students who received a values award (Endeavour, Resilience, Compassion or Respect) during Semester One.   Parents and students will notice that these are Green Chronicle entries on a students Compass.   Receiving 5 merits in any one category is an achievement to be proud of.   Additionally several students have achieved Principal Awards (demonstrating all 4 College values) during the Semester, congratulations to these students.

Communicating Key Dates

Please ensure you are logging on regularly to Compass and checking the newsfeed.   Every two weeks there is a post for parents/guardians listing key up coming events.   This is important to ensure you know what is happening in the school life of your child.   You will note that the first day of Term 3 is a professional learning day for staff, and students commence classes on Tuesday 22^nd July.

Uniform

Scarves are important for keeping warm in the winter months, however, please be aware black, navy blue, bottle green or Douglas Tartan (same as school skirt) are the only approved uniform items.   If students have facial piercings (except a small earring), they must be clear and without significant protruding parts.   Please assist the College by ensuring your child is in correct school uniform for the first day of Term 3.

I wish everyone, a safe and warm holiday and hope all families and staff enjoy quality time during this period.

Ann Stratford

PRINCIPAL

BAAN HOUSE

Semester 1 has been an incredible start to the year for Baan House, filled with energy, enthusiasm, and a strong sense of community. The spirit of Baan has been on full display, with students engaging in house events, competitions, and values-based initiatives. From sports carnivals to Connect group activities and house fundraisers, our students have demonstrated pride and resilience.

One of the standout highlights this semester was the Baan Dodgeball Competition, which quickly became a major hit among students. With high participation and intense competition, the tournament captured the excitement of many year levels. It has been especially exciting to see BA7 and BA8 finish at the top of the ladder, securing their places in the finals to be held in Term 3. The competition brought a fantastic mix of energy, sportsmanship, and house pride that reflects the spirit of Baan House.

Our Connect group activities have also been a great success, helping to strengthen connections between students while fostering collaboration and creativity. Games such as Quick Draw and The Weekly Quiz were student favourites, offering both competitive fun and teamwork challenges.

In terms of whole-school events, Baan House had a lot to celebrate. The Swimming Carnival was a standout achievement, with Baan taking out the overall win! This was a moment of immense pride, showcasing our students’ determination to get involved. While we didn’t win the Athletics Carnival, the participation from our students was outstanding, and every student who had a go contributed to our success. Similarly, the Cross Country saw excellent representation from Baan, particularly from our junior year levels, helping to secure valuable points towards the overall house tally.

We were also proud to hold our Year 7 Values Awards Assembly, where students who consistently demonstrate compassion and respect were recognised. What makes this event so special is that the nominations come from students themselves — a true testament to the supportive and values-driven culture.

Looking ahead to next semester, Baan House is ready to continue its strong momentum. We’re excited to host two major fundraisers, both organised by our dedicated student leaders. In August, we will support Daffodil Day through a BBQ and the sale of Daffodil Day merchandise. Later in the term, we’ll hold a Grand Final Day fundraiser, allowing students to come in free dress and show their footy colours.

We also look forward to the finals of the Dodgeball Competition, where BA7 and BA8 will battle it out, and the upcoming Year 8 Values Awards, where we will once again celebrate students who embody our core school values.

Baan House has had an exceptional semester, and we are excited for everything that lies ahead in Term 3!

Leilani Foleti, Rachel Farrell, David Quinn

BAAN HOUSE TEAM

BIIK HOUSE

What a fantastic Semester 1 it’s been, with so many fun events.

We’ve had some terrific House events that have been organised and run by our Captains. We started off the year with a Wordle competition between Connect groups, which went over 4 weeks. Each Connect group worked together to figure out the solution to the Wordle, and the group that was able to solve it in the least number of guesses each week, was the winner. The Wordle Champion was Biik 7, and their prize was a delicious morning tea. Congratulations to all students.

Our Captains focused on a very important topic that effects so many people and ran an awareness campaign for Melanoma March, in Term 1. They provided a variety of activities and resources for each Connect group across the school, including worksheets, crosswords, colouring in and important skin care messages to help every member of our school community care for their skin.

Another event that our Captains organised was a fund raiser for MND, in Term 2. Students wore a touch of blue and donated a gold coin. We also raised money and awareness of this important issue with an ice bucket challenge for Year 12s and staff. Year 12s could nominate staff and also nominate each other. We had a lot of Year 12s and staff take part including our Head of House, Ms Blair and our Principal, Ms Stratford. A great way to raise awareness and raise money for this important cause.

In Term 1, we had the College Athletics Carnival, which was a great success. We had a big turnout and the day was lots of fun for all. Students came dressed in their House colours and it was fantastic to see so much red in the crowd and so many students competing. Biik came in 4^th this year. All students who attended the day were treated to a hot chip lunch a few weeks later.

We are so proud of two particular students in Biik House who were the first students in the school to receive a Principal’s Award. Falcon Stevens-Dobby in Year 7 was our first recipient, followed by Tiana De Vincentis in Year 12. For students to receive a Principal’s award, they must demonstrate all four school values of Resilience, Respect, Compassion and Endeavour, on a regular basis. The awards are presented to students at the whole school assembly, and they are a really big achievement. Very well done to both students and we are exceedingly proud of the way they demonstrate the values.

We’re halfway through the year and Semester 2 is going to be fabulous for all.

By the Biik House Leadership Team

Tracey Blair, Bradley Blair, Melanie Orams

NGAWAN HOUSE TEAM

 NGAWAN HOUSE

It’s been an exciting and action-packed first half of the year for Ngawan House!

We kicked things off with some fantastic house competitions, including our fiercely contested Pictionary Tournament – congratulations to NG3 for taking out the win! Term 2 saw the introduction of Thunder Hockey, which was just as competitive and a whole lot of fun – well done to NG1 for their triumph! We’re already gearing up for what’s next, with a Dodgeball Tournament coming in Term 3 and a Quick Draw Tournament to wrap up the year in Term 4.

Our Ngawan House Captains have shown outstanding leadership in 2025. One of the highlights was the BBQ they organised to celebrate participation in both the Swimming and Athletics Carnivals. Not only did it bring students together, but it also raised funds for The REACH Foundation, supporting youth in need – a wonderful example of student leadership in action.

A massive congratulations to all students who participated in the Cross Country – it was a huge success for Ngawan, with many first-place finishes across age groups. A special shoutout goes to Kimi Tove for dominating his category and going on to represent at the Regional level, placing an impressive 44th!

The Athletics Carnival was another standout event, with Ngawan taking the win by a country mile! A brilliant team effort and a definite highlight of the year so far.

Meanwhile, Connect Groups across all year levels have been actively building positive relationships through engaging activities like “Three Truths and a Lie,” Scattergories, Spellbow, and other fun games that bring students together and strengthen our sense of community.

We’re also eagerly looking forward to our upcoming Academic Awards Assembly – a personal favourite. It’s always heart-warming to see the genuine joy and support students show for their peers’ academic achievements.

There’s plenty more to come, and we can’t wait to see what Term 3 brings for Ngawan!

Go Ngawan!

Jordan Roth, Rhonda Harker, Matthew Bell

NGAWAN HOUSE TEAM

DARRANG HOUSE

Darrang House has had a busy but enjoyable Term 2! We loved participating in the sports carnivals and had an excellent turn out for both Athletics Day and Cross Country. We made the most of the beautiful sunny weather on both days (a welcome change from last year when it was pouring with rain!) by participating in as many events as we could. We had several students place in the Top 3 for their age group in the Cross Country events, which was very impressive. A special congratulations goes to Mia Haidar (Under 13s) and Summer Rodwell (Under 14s) for achieving first place!

Athletics Day was also a successful outing for Darrang House. For the first time in a (very) long time, we achieved second place overall! The House Team is very excited to have moved out of the bottom two places and is looking forward to seeing what our athletes can achieve over the coming years.

Our Captains organised a BBQ this term to raise funds for men’s mental health charities. They worked hard to prepare for the event, cooked all of the food themselves, and were able to donate a significant amount to this very important cause. Well done to Dom, Ryder, Zoe, and Monique!

Our Connect groups have been enjoying mostly indoor activities this term. There have been Uno competitions, many intense games of Taco Cat, some amusing rounds of Spellbow, and of course, our table tennis rivalries have been on display. It has been great to see students from a range of year levels working together to create a positive environment to start each day. A big thank you goes to our Connect teachers for the effort they put in to facilitating engaging sessions each day.

Next term will be another exciting one for Darrang House, with our annual Connect Challenge taking place. Last year, Darrang 8 were proud overall winners – we are looking forward to seeing whether they can retain their championship title this year!

We wish all families a happy and safe holiday break, and are looking forward to a productive Term 3.

Go Darrang!

Sarah Garnaut, Jenny Roberts & Jasmine Evans

DARRANG HOUSE TEAM

WHO ARE THE WELLBEING TEAM?

Hi and welcome to this edition of the newsletter that’s all about wellbeing! Whilst we hope that all students at Mooroolbark College have a journey that is enjoyable, challenging and fulfilling, we know that there are times where they need some extra support to manage their schooling.

Here are some faces that you may already know!

Gill Van Der Ende – Chaplin

Rebecca Herrick – Counsellor

Siobhan Martin – Mental Health Practitioner

Siobhan O’Halloran – Mental Health Practitioner

Sarah McCartin (Coghlan) – Student Services Leader

Those titles may seem confusing, but all you need to know is our job is to support, empower and assist students throughout their time at Mooroolbark College and equip them with the tools to be able to navigate challenges once they have left us.

CELEBRATING THE CONCLUSION OF THE SEMESTER

Taking care of yourself is never more paramount than during times of stress. All students should be congratulated on their efforts to get through this semesters final assessments. One student in particular has risen to the challenge and developed new procrastination proof skills!

“Using a study planner and writing down a to-do-list has been a game-changer. It helps me break down my subjects into manageable chunks and schedule them around my school and sport commitments. I feel more in control and less stressed, which has really improved my focus and made me stress less during the exam period. If I were to give one piece of advice to someone struggling to organise themselves this semester, it would be to reach out to either your coordinator or a wellbeing staff member and give their suggestions a go.”

We hope all students take the time to reflect on their success this semester and take time over the holidays to recharge and refresh. Listed below are some self-care tips to improve your holiday routine.

Enjoy your break!

WELLBEING PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

Mooroolbark College boasts an array of wellbeing programs that are run for students across all years. We recently touched base with our Year 7’s to see how they were finding the transition from secondary school to high school. Many students have highlights of PE with Mr Brzozek, going on subway walks or conquering the flying fox on camp. It was also common that students were finding parts of secondary school challenging like finding classrooms in a big school, remembering all your teacher’s names and submitting CATs. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to connect with each other, their coordinator and the wellbeing team.

The first step to resilience is building a community that you can rely on to support you when you need help. We hope that all Year 7’s now have a few more people in their corner to assist them!

BEATING THE WINTER BLUES: STRATEGIES FOR A BRIGHTER SEASON

As we settle into the winter months, it’s important to shine a light on a common phenomenon that many of us experience: the winter blues. While the holiday some of us might enjoy the break from the heat that summer brings, the darker and colder days can also take a toll on our mental and emotional wellbeing.

What are the Winter Blues?

The winter blues is a type of low mood that occurs at a specific time of year, usually during autumn and winter. It’s thought to be triggered by reduced exposure to sunlight, leading to changes in our body’s internal clock and levels of certain hormones.

How does it Impact our Wellbeing?

The winter blues can affect us in various ways, including:

1. Low mood: Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or irritability may become more pronounced during the winter months.
2. Fatigue: Reduced exposure to sunlight can disrupt our sleep-wake cycle, leading to feelings of fatigue and lethargy.
3. Difficulty concentrating: Concentration and focus may become more challenging, affecting our performance at school or work.
4. Social withdrawal: The desire to stay indoors and avoid socializing can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Tips to Overcome the Winter Blues:

While the winter blues can feel overwhelming, there are strategies we can use to lift our spirits and boost our wellbeing:

1. Get outside: Even though it’s cold, try to spend some time outdoors during daylight hours. Natural sunlight can help regulate your body’s internal clock and improve your mood.
2. Stay active: Regular exercise is a powerful mood booster. Whether it’s going for a walk, practicing yoga, or hitting the gym, find activities that you enjoy and make them a regular part of your routine.
3. Maintain routine: Stick to a regular sleep schedule and try to maintain a consistent routine. This can help regulate your body’s internal clock and improve your mood.
4. Stay connected: Try to stay connected with friends and loved ones, even if it’s through virtual means. Social support is crucial for maintaining good mental health, especially during challenging times.
5. Practice self-care: Take time for self-care activities that help you relax and recharge. Whether it’s reading a book, taking a warm bath, or practicing mindfulness, prioritize activities that bring you joy.

Remember, it’s normal to feel a little down during winter months, but you don’t have to suffer in silence. By taking proactive steps to care for your mental and emotional wellbeing, you can beat the winter blues and enjoy a brighter season ahead.

The Year 7 Values Assembly is an important part our college culture as students nominate each other for demonstrating two of our core college values of Compassion and Respect. Each Year 7 student is asked to put forward as many students as they can think of, who have shown compassion to staff and students on a regular basis, and students who are respectful in their interactions with others. These awards have a big impact on students as they are nominated by their peers. The awards are handed out during our special Year 7 Values Assembly, to celebrate these wonderful achievements. When students nominate each other, they also relay some of the fabulous ways that students demonstrate these values. Here are some of the standout stories from Year 7 students:

“He shows respect in the classroom by always listening to student’s ideas and teacher’s suggestions.”

“He never leaves anyone out and includes everyone.”

“He is polite and kind to others and treats them with respect by greeting them and being kind to random people.”

“She respects teachers and people in the yard.”

“She shows kindness by including others when playing and always cheering people up.”

“Always greets with a smile, always happy to help, always is so kind and compassionate.”

“I saw them helping people by playing with them when they had no friends.”

“A student bought me something at the canteen because I didn’t have lunch.”

“Showed compassion to other students when they have been down and don’t have any friends.”

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is a community event that raises vital funds to make a big difference for those impacted by cancer.

Fundraising Biggest Morning Tea Sponsors 

Mooroolbark College would like to thank all the sponsors who donated to our annual Fundraiser: ‘Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea.’  

Without their continued support, this event would not be possible. 

Harvey Norman Chirnside Park	Urecau Outdoors	Club Kilsyth	MEYER Cookware Australia PTY LTD
Bunnings Chirnside Park	Maroondah Leisure	Fernwood Gym Chirnside Park	Holey Moley Eastland
Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery	Grill’d Chirnside Park	Set Me Free Spa	Chirnside Park Country Club
Acacia Ridge Winery Yarra Glen	Reading Cinemas Chirnside Park	Drummond Golf Mitcham	Oz Tenpin Chirnside Park
	The Yarra Valley Chapel https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/609668555962904042?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=13b73eda-87a4-42b9-a52c-7f2350ce8507	Hubert Estate