Newsletter

2-30 Hampton Street, Craigieburn, VIC 3064Tel: (03) 8338 3600 Fax: (03) 8338 3699 www.mountridleycollege.vic.edu.auEmail: mount.ridley.p12@edumail.vic.gov.au

College Principal: Mr Lino Pagano Assistant Principals: Ms Helen Casey, Mrs Kristina Heffernan, Mr Peter Mitsis, Dr Tony Mordini,Mr Con Stamatelatos

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Dear Parents and Carers,As we conclude Term 2, I would like to take the opportunity of publicly congratulating and thanking all members of our College community on how well we have worked together these past 11 weeks. This year has truly proved to test everyone’s resilience. We have experienced the devastation of fire and flood, confronted the unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic and in recent weeks, highlighted the importance of equality.Our teaching and support staff are to be commended on their magnificent work in supporting our students and their families. Whilst many of us have experienced challenges, we should not forget that there have also been many rewarding experiences as well. Staff and students have been brilliant in adapting to new ways of teaching and learning and we have all gained an improved understanding and use of computer platforms and programs. Indeed, everyone’s ability to respond with courage and positivity at this demanding time is to be commended.By working in partnership with the staff at MRC, parents/carers have made extraordinary efforts in supporting their children while they learnt remotely from home. Many of you provided feedback about how difficult, challenging and rewarding you found this role. Nevertheless, your inspiring stories showed how innovative you have been.Students have definitely displayed their ability to remain engaged with their learning. The mixture of teaching commencing with remote learning; moving to a combination of remote and onsite learning; and finishing off the term with a full return to on-site learning has been dealt well by our students. Their ability to take on flexible learning as echoed through some of their reflections published in this newsletter are a testament to their resilience.This term has presented a mix of challenges and new opportunities to every school leadership team across the world. I am forever grateful for the sensational support afforded to me by MRC’s Assistant Principal class team – Helen Casey, Kristina Heffernan, Peter Mitsis, Tony Mordini and Con Stamatelatos. Since April, we have collectively worked through the impact of the pandemic, assisted MRC community members with managing their anxieties and translated the Department of Education and Training’s (DET) procedures and advice from the Department of Health and Human Services, (DDHS) into a localised and user friendly guide.I would like to reassure you that as a College we will continue to promote and uphold health and hygiene standards. These include, but are not limited to: social distancing; restricted adult access to the College; proper hand hygiene and unwell staff and students not attending school. The College’s operational guidelines will be informed by government, DET and DHHS advice and instructions and will be aimed at ensuring a safe learning environment is maintained for students and staff. Due to a significant period of this term necessitating students and staff to work from home, the College took advantage of bringing forward and fast tracking a number of building and facility enhancement projects. These have included: • Completion of the refurbishment of the Year 7 Paddington building, including the Junior Years Team Leaders’ Office • Re-modelling of the Midland building entrance and Assistant Principal’s Office • Installing new classroom furniture into the Paddington building • Completion of additional pedestrian walkways of the Early Years site • Near completion of landscaping works on the Early Years site and pedestrian crossway connection on Essex Way

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• The refurbishment of a Windrock room on the Early Years site so as to facilitate a DICE (Science and Technology) teaching and learning space • Enhancement of the main LRC • Upgrading room signage on the Midland, Paddington, ACED and Brighton buildings • Refurbishment of the auditorium seating, and • Installation of additional audio visual equipment across our four mini schools.

During Term 3, we hope to see the installation of an additional locker bay near the Willandra building. This project has been delayed due to lengthier permit approval timelines caused by the pandemic. All going well, we also plan to begin the process of devising our master plan for the construction of our sports precinct on our main oval. All of these projects have been funded from the College’s own financial reserves which have been built up over time. College Council is to be congratulated for its commitment to continually enhancing MRC’s physical teaching and learning environment.As stated previously, I thank you for your support, patience, perseverance and understanding. We have learnt much together and have remained focused on supporting the learning needs of our young people. I look forward to a refreshed return in Term 3, ready to guide our learning community through a successful, positive and jam packed range of activities and events. I wish everyone a safe, relaxing and enjoyable term break. See you when classes resume on Monday, 13 July.

Kind regards,

Lino Pagano | College Principal

Please note that the Administration office hours from Term 3 will be 8:15 am - 4:00 pm. In line with Department of Education and Training guidelines, the College has limited on-site access for

adults. For this reason parent/carers are not permitted on-site, unless authorised by the College.

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Mon 13 July Term 3 commences

Mon 13-17 July Unit 1 and 3 VCE examinations (internal)

Tue 21 July Year 12 Group Photo

Thu 30 July Course Selection Verification Day Years 9 and 10 students – No scheduled classes

Fri 31 July Online Course Selection closes at 5:00 pm & U

pcoming events

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