OURS Week 6 Term 3 2025

Principal’s Report

Central Australia Information Night – Monday 1 September 2025

In 2026 we are planning a 9-day Central Australia trip. This trip will be more than a school excursion; it will be a chance for our students to strengthen their intercultural understandings, to learn on Country, and to build meaningful connections with each other and with the people who welcome us.

While we will see some of Australia’s most iconic landscapes, the heart of the trip will be the time spent with the Luritja people at Lilla. It is a privilege to be invited into their community, to listen, share, and learn.

Information Night: Monday 1 September, 6:15pm, Staff Centre

Trip Details:

Dates: 2 – 10 May 2026
Cost: Approx. $3,250 (all-inclusive)
Places: Limited to 40 students

For further information, please contact Megan Wilson:

Itinerary Highlights:

Day 1: Fly to Alice Springs; visit Alice Springs Desert Park.
Days 2–3: Explore Western and Eastern MacDonnell Ranges, guided presentations at local centres.
Days 4–6: Travel to Lilla Remote Outstation, Kings Canyon; cultural activities and learning with Traditional Owners.
Days 7–8: Guided walks at Uluru and Kata Tjuta National Park; cultural experiences and tours.
Day 9: Return flight to Melbourne.

Nepal School Trip – December 2026

Following the success of the 2023 and 2024 trips, we are excited to again offer a three-week adventure to Nepal in December 2026.

The 2026 journey includes a fully supported 9-day trek in the breathtaking Annapurna region, fostering resilience, teamwork, and awe-inspiring experiences. Students will also participate in a 4-day school-based community service project, working alongside local students and staff. Time in Kathmandu and Pokhara will provide rich opportunities to explore Nepal’s culture, history, and daily life.

This trip is more than travel — it is an experience of community, service, physical challenge and personal growth. Students will return with memories of extraordinary places and a deeper understanding of themselves, of global connections, and of the value of working together across cultures.

Information Night: Monday 1 September, 6:15pm, Staff Centre

Trip Details:

Dates: 3 – 22 December 2026
Cost: Approx. $6,990 (all-inclusive; includes flights, transfers, accommodation, trek support, and kit bag)
Places: Limited to 32 students

For further information, please contact Megan Wilson:

MHS Brings Back the Prefects’ Cup!

The roar of victory has returned to MHS!

Congratulations to the 2025 Prefects’ Cup Team on their outstanding triumph over Adelaide High School.

Our athletes displayed grit, determination, and exceptional teamwork across nine fiercely contested events. MHS emerged victorious in six — badminton, basketball, soccer, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball — against narrow losses in AFL, touch rugby, and rowing. Winning as the away team made this achievement even more remarkable.

The defining moment came in soccer; a nail-biting match that went to penalties. With nerves of steel and unshakable teamwork, the team ended a 25-year drought with a historic 9–8 win — a moment to be remembered for years to come.

This victory reflects not only individual skill but the unity, spirit, and relentless determination of every player wearing the MHS colours.

Special thanks to the staff and coaches — Ms Helen Bekos, Mr James Guthrie, Mr John Hernden, Mr Sean Lester, Mr Marty O’Leary, Mr Rob Sette, Mr Chris Wyatt, Dr Tony Mordini, and Mr Michael Chandler for their guidance. A heartfelt acknowledgement also goes to Ms Lisa Carruthers for her tireless organisation of the Prefects’ Cup Exchange.

Mother–Son Night

On Monday 25 August, Memorial Hall buzzed with energy, laughter, and conversation as mothers and sons came together for this much-loved annual event. The evening was a celebration of connection, with families sharing stories, enjoying each other’s company, and making memories.

It was a heartwarming reminder of the strength of community and the special bonds between parents and students at MHS.

What our students and mums had to share:

Student Voices
“It was a really great experience to have that chat with my mum and I feel like we will be much closer because of it.”
“The one-on-one activity enlightened me about my early years of life and perfectly set up the time to give our gifts.”
“Very nice to have a deep and profound conversation about things we normally don’t talk about.”
“I’ve always respected my mum but never really knew her… reading the letter made me really understand how she feels and thinks about me.”

Mother & Mentor Reflections
“Emotional, my son shared things and thoughts he wouldn’t usually share.”
“An amazing experience… Thank you for this opportunity to connect.”
“Great event to open up conversation between mother and son, which does not always happen — or happen often enough.”
“Absolutely stunning to know the views and thoughts of other mothers and students. Feels like everyone is sailing in the same boat.”

Parent/Teacher/Student Conference – Thursday 28 August 2025

We thank all members of our MHS community for participating in the parent/teacher/student conferences this week. Your engagement, whether as parents, carers, or students, makes these conversations incredibly valuable.

To our teachers, thank you for the time, care, and thought you invest in preparing for these meetings, for listening attentively, and for offering guidance that supports each student’s learning and wellbeing.

These discussions provide a vital opportunity for us all to celebrate progress, reflect on learning, and work together to ensure that every student continues to thrive.

Year 11 History – Vietnam Veteran Visit

The Year 11 History class had a double-period visit on Monday with Mr Brendan Kincade from the Vietnam Veteran’s Association. He shared his two-year deployment in Vietnam with the Australian Defence Forces and brought along many pieces of equipment, weaponry, and photographs from his experiences.

“Learning from those who lived it makes history come alive.”

Encouraging the boys to ask as many questions as possible, Brendan offered invaluable insights into this period of history. His visit, organised by Ms Anna Berlin, was a wonderful addition to our studies of the Cold War and the Vietnam conflict.

Australian Informatics Olympiad

On Thursday 28 August 2025, a group of our students, under the guidance of Mr. Jeremy Hardy, took part in the Australian Informatics Olympiad (AIO).

The AIO is a national competition that recognises and challenges students with a passion for computer programming. Competitors are required to have some programming experience and be able to write code in one of the allowed languages — C, C++, Java or Python 3.

The problems are uniquely designed each year by leading educators, academics and industry experts to extend students’ problem-solving, logic, and computational thinking skills. Students who perform strongly may also be invited to join the Australian Mathematics Trust’s high-performance programs.

This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to put their coding abilities to the test and challenge themselves against some of the best young programmers across the country.

Toyota Centre of Excellence Visit

On Wednesday 27 August, a group of Melbourne High School students, accompanied by Mr Lang and Mr Marotta, visited the Toyota Centre of Excellence as part of the Global Innovators for Tomorrow (GIFT) Program, organised by TechKnow Institute.

The day began with an engaging presentation from Mr. Casper Russelhuber, Senior TPS Advisor at TSSC Australia. He introduced the students to the Toyota Production System Support Centre (TSSC), highlighting Toyota’s commitment to community contribution through sharing its expertise in continuous improvement. Students explored key principles of the Toyota Production System, including Continuous Improvement (Kaizen), the importance of teamwork and customer value, and the concept of the seven wastes (Muda) – non-value-added activities that can hinder productivity. Real-world examples showed how these principles are applied across both profit and non-profit organisations.

The visit continued with a tour of Toyota’s Hydrogen Experience Centre, where students were introduced to cutting-edge technologies aimed at achieving lower and zero emissions. Highlights included seeing fuel cell electric vehicles, a glimpse into the future of sustainable transportation.

The students left the Centre inspired and with a deeper understanding of how innovation, teamwork and responsibility to community shape modern industry. We extend our sincere thanks to Koji Yoshimura and the Toyota team for their time, expertise, and generosity in hosting this invaluable learning experience.

DAV Debating – Playoff 2 & Swannie Award

On Thursday 28 August, Melbourne High School students competed in Playoff 2 of the DAV Debating competition at Haileybury College, Keysborough. Guided by Ms. Abigail Gudgeon, the team showcased their critical thinking, persuasive speaking, and teamwork as they took on schools from across the region.

We are so proud of the team for already making it to Playoff 2 — an impressive achievement in itself! With over 1,500 teams from 250 schools across Victoria, the DAV Schools Competition is the largest English-language debating competition in the world. Open to students in Years 9–12, it provides a welcoming yet competitive environment where young people hone their confidence, logic, and communication skills.

A huge shout-out to our Year 10 Team who gave it their all in the playoffs against Mac.Rob. While the result didn’t go our way, we are so proud of how the students represented MHS with skill, courage, and teamwork this season.

However, the story doesn’t end here! Our Year 9, 11, and 12 teams are still in the running and will be battling it out next Wednesday for a place in the Octo-Finals. We’ll be cheering them on every step of the way — go MHS!

We also congratulate Aaron Chen (9C) for earning a Swannie Award as the best Year 9 speaker in the Toorak region this year. Named after Alan Swanwick, a long-time DAV member and pioneer of debating in Victoria, Swannie Awards recognise the speaker in each region and grade with the highest average speaker score after completing at least two debates during the year.

Dr Tony Mordini
Principal