Principal’s Report
Creating a culturally safe and inclusive environment
National Reconciliation Week 2025: Bridging Now to Next.
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles and challenges faced by our First Nations peoples. This year’s theme, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the continuous journey of reconciliation, urging all Australians to build strong, respectful relationships that honour the truths of the past while paving the way forward.
At Melbourne High School, we have embraced this theme through various activities and displays that have been prominently featured around the school. These initiatives aim to facilitate meaningful discussions and deepen our collective understanding of First Nations histories and cultures.
The significance of NRW is underscored by its alignment with two pivotal dates in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history: May 27, marking the 1967 referendum, and June 3, commemorating the High Court’s Mabo decision. These milestones are integral to the reconciliation journey, highlighting the progress made and the work still to be done.
Preventing and Addressing Racism in Schools – New Department of Education Policy Launched June 6.
In support of these efforts, the Department of Education has launched the Preventing and Addressing Racism in Schools policy. This policy reinforces a zero-tolerance approach to racism, providing schools with clear guidance on creating culturally safe learning environments and effectively responding to incidents of racism.
Melbourne High School remains committed to fostering an inclusive and culturally safe environment for all students, staff and wider MHS community. We encourage the school community to actively engage with these initiatives and share any concerns or suggestions as we continue our collective journey toward reconciliation and inclusivity.
The policy acknowledges groups that experience higher levels of racism or religious intolerance, including First Nations students, students from African and Pasifika backgrounds, students from refugee backgrounds, and students of faith, with specific reference to Jewish and Muslim students considering recent global developments.
Leadership Camp
From the afternoon of Friday 31 May to Sunday 2 June, our student leaders dedicated time to consolidating their action plans and participating in team-building and professional development activities. I had the opportunity to spend time with the group on Saturday, and I found their insights both helpful and informative. Student input continues to be a valuable reference point in my planning.
A sincere thank you to the boys for their openness and thoughtful feedback. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the staff who generously gave up their weekend to support and facilitate the program: Ms Simpson, Mr Sette, Mr Deller, Ms Berlin, Mr Taylor, Mr Howie, Ms Azcona, Ms Wilson and Mr Sam Owen.
Minor House Sports – more than just friendly rivalry
Over the past few weeks, both the Junior and Senior Schools have participated in Minor House Sports. While the competition can be intense, these events go beyond friendly rivalry—they reflect our continued commitment to supporting the development of students’ physical and mental wellbeing.
This commitment is grounded in strong research evidence linking sports participation to improved academic and wellbeing outcomes. For instance, a long-term study by the University of Sydney, which followed over 4,000 Australian children, found that sustained involvement in school sports was associated with lower absenteeism, improved attention and memory, higher NAPLAN and end-of-school results, and a greater likelihood of pursuing tertiary education.
(Source: University of Sydney – “Sticking with sport during school years linked to academic success”)
Melbourne High School remains committed to investing in sport across all year levels—including Year 12, where few schools continue to offer formal sports programs—as well as in extracurricular sporting opportunities and interstate exchanges. The benefits are clear: our students’ academic results and wellbeing data reflect the same positive trends identified in the research, reinforcing the value of sport as an integral part of school life.
GAT Day – 17 June 2025
Next Tuesday will be the state-wide General Achievement Test. All students undertaking a VCE 3 / 4 subject are required to sit the test. VCAA explains –
‘The General Achievement Test (GAT) is a pen-and-paper test of general knowledge and skills taken by students in the course of completing their senior secondary studies.
The GAT plays an important role in the quality assurance of VCE assessments and also provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate they meet the Victorian Literacy and Numeracy Standards expected at a senior secondary level.
No special study is needed. Past study of subjects like English, Mathematics, Science and History prepares students for the GAT by building their general knowledge and skills in writing, numeracy and reasoning.’
Please note, the Junior School and any student not sitting the GAT will have an Independent Learning Day and work from home. Staff will provide work and be available online should students need support.
Dr Tony Mordini
Principal
Events
- 29 June: Working Bee
