Principal’s Report

Dear MAC Community,

As we come to the close of another busy and successful term at MAC, I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the tremendous efforts of both our students and staff. This term has been filled with energy, creativity, and achievement across so many areas of school life.

A highlight was Science Week, where students engaged in a range of activities that encouraged curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. From hands-on experiments to thought-provoking discussions, it was wonderful to see so many students inspired by the possibilities of science.

We also celebrated Book Week, which brought our love of reading to life across the school. The themed activities, displays, and shared stories reminded us of the joy that books bring and the importance of literacy in opening doors to imagination and knowledge.

One of the most exciting events of the term was our school musical, Mamma Mia!. The production was a resounding success, showcasing the incredible talent, commitment, and teamwork of our students both on stage and behind the scenes. A huge thank you to the staff who supported the cast and crew—your dedication helped create a truly memorable performance that brought our community together.

We were also honoured to welcome MP Ben Carroll to MAC who visited our Breakfast Club and to announce the expansion of the School Breakfast Club which will now provide free, healthy breakfasts to every government school student across Victoria.

We were delighted to welcome MP Jo Briskey, Member for Maribyrnong, to MAC. During her visit, Ms Briskey met with students and staff, and learned more about our vertical structure and inclusive culture that define our school. She was thoroughly impressed by the achievements of our students and the dedication of our staff, praising the strong sense of community and commitment to excellence that was evident throughout her visit.

In addition to these wonderful events, MAC was proudly featured in The Age as one of five schools across Victoria recognised for significant improvement in VCE performance over the past decade. We were named the 2025 Schools that Excel Winner for Western Melbourne—an award that acknowledges sustained growth in median VCE study scores. The Age analysed VCE data from the past 10 years, selecting one high-performing school from each region: north, south, east, and west Melbourne, as well as rural and regional Victoria.

This acknowledgment reflects a decade of dedication, growth, and collective effort by our students, staff, and families. To see our sustained improvement in VCE outcomes celebrated on a state level is truly an honour and a moment of great pride for our whole community.

None of these achievements would be possible without the hard work, creativity, and commitment of our staff, alongside the enthusiasm and energy of our students. Together, we continue to build a school community where learning, collaboration, and joy thrive.

As we look ahead, I would like to take this opportunity to wish our VCE graduates the very best of luck as they head into their trial exams and prepare for their final assessments. This is an important milestone in their learning journey, and we are incredibly proud of their determination, resilience, and commitment. We know the coming weeks will be filled with hard work and focus, and we encourage our students to also take care of themselves, maintain balance, and lean on the support of their teachers, peers, and families. We can’t wait to celebrate their achievements at the end of the year.

I wish all families a safe and restful break, and I look forward to another vibrant and productive term ahead.

Dani Angelico, Principal

MAC School Council President’s Report
Meeting 16-Sep-25

Dear School Community,

Here’s the latest news from your School Council:

🌞 Solar PV Update

MAC is finalising the legal review with its chosen solar vendor, with installation planned for November. Safe roof access works will begin during the school holidays. Thanks to generous support, over $15,000 has already been raised – thank you! Fundraising continues via the Parent-Teacher Interview Day info table and the 25 October Trivia Night. To learn more and donate, visit the Solar Savings for a Better Education page.

👕 Uniform Policy Review

The Policy Subcommittee presented updates to the Uniform Policy, maintaining a strong focus on inclusive consultation and cost reduction for families. Feedback from students, staff, and parents is being incorporated into the final draft, ensuring the policy reflects the needs of our diverse school community.

🌱 Grounds Master Plan Consultation

The MAC Grounds Master Plan is in its consultation phase. Enlocus Landscape Architects recently toured the school, and the first round of student feedback was completed on 9 September, highlighting the most used spaces and ideas for improvement. Staff consultation followed shortly after. Parents are encouraged to complete the survey <click-here> to help shape MAC’s future outdoor learning and recreation spaces.

🥕 Vegetable Garden Proposal Accepted

Council approved the new vegetable garden, which will include native herbs and fruit trees like lemons and limes. Students will grow fresh produce for use in the MAC MasterChef kitchen, gaining hands-on experience in sustainable food production and cooking; all key skills in its technology and food studies programs.

🎉 Upcoming Trivia Night – Fundraiser for Solar PV

School Council was excited to receive an update from MAC’s Parents and Friends Association (PFA) about the upcoming MAC Trivia Night, confirmed for Saturday 25 October. The evening promises fun, friendly competition and planning is well underway. If you or your business can donate products or services for raffle or auction prizes, your support and contact with the PFA would be greatly appreciated.

Next meeting – will be held on the evening of 6 November. Community attendance as guest observers is always welcomed (except during rare closed agenda items). Please let the school know in advance if you’d like to attend.

For more information about School Council—including membership, subcommittees, meeting dates, and documents—please visit the school’s website <click-here>.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Hormann – School Council President 2025

Report is available for PDF download here. 

Student Engagement and Wellbeing

Congratulations on a successful term 3! The data shows that you all stepped up and made a big difference, arriving at school on time and ready to learn. That’s a huge achievement, and it shows the great effort you’ve put in to represent our school.

Let’s keep that momentum going! Next term, we’re putting a focus on building positive classroom behaviours.

Term 3 wasn’t just about the classrooms—it was also about the fun! Our Heads of House kept the energy high with some awesome lunchtime activities. Whether you were playing dodgeball, sinking shots, or racking your brain for Scattergories, it was great to see so many of you getting involved and having a blast.

A huge shout-out to Jack Shearer and Mica Mangan for dominating the 3-point shoot-out! They each walked away with a $10 canteen voucher. You know what that means: more challenges and more games are coming your way in Term 4! Get ready to show off your skills with science experiments, Pictionary and more fun games!

Congratulations to the students who earned the most positive points in their houses this term! Your hard work, kindness, and positive contributions haven’t gone unnoticed. We are incredibly proud of your efforts and the fantastic example you’ve set for everyone.

A special round of applause for our term 3 MAC Merit leaders:

Artemis: Lenix Jansz

Apollo: Quinn Rajewski

Poseidon: Mimi Gilder

Athena: Saorise Lomasney

Well done to each of you! Keep up the great work and continue to be your best.

Thank you all for your effort this term!

Head of House team

Commitment to Child Safe Standards at MAC

To read about our Child Safe Standards, click here.

Every Day Counts

The importance of regular school attendance. 

At MAC, we prioritise regular school attendance. We will work with families to ensure students are in class with their peers and teachers and enjoying all the benefits that brings.

Attending school every day means experiencing what counts – the learning, friendship, fun and opportunities that can shape your child’s future.

I encourage you to regularly access your child’s Compass to view their attendance. For example, if your child has misses school one day a fortnight, this is equals 20 days a year,which is four weeks of schooling missed and almost 1.5 years of learning lost across their thirteen years of schooling. 

We understand that there are times when your child will need to miss school but to ensure minimal disruption to their education, please consider scheduling family holidays or medical/dental appointments outside of school time. If your child is well enough to attend but is worried about friendships, schoolwork or exams, please encourage them to come to school. Avoiding school can make these feelings worse and can create a negative pattern of behaviour.

If your child is having difficulty attending school, talk to their teacher or contact the following staff about getting support.

Head of House:

Athena: Raheleh Chitgar

Apollo: Nikita LaBurniy

Artemis: Tori Robinson-Conlon

Poseidon: Shannon McVeigh

Leading Teacher Student Engagement and Wellbeing: Sue Riquelme

Student Wellbeing Coordinator: Clark Mitchell

Leading Teacher Senior Sub School: Julie Stephens

Leading Teacher Middle School: Jordan Donnelly

Leading Teacher Junior School: Tom Grocott

Assistant Principal – Student Engagement, Inclusion & Wellbeing: Kate Stevanovic

We know that parents and carers can be juggling challenges daily to get your children to school. If your child must miss school, notify us as soon as possible via Compass so we can work together to support them.

For more information about the importance of everyday attendance, see Attendance and Missing School.

Remember, Every Day Counts.

Mamma Mia! Musical Production

Dear MAC Community,

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the cast and crew of Mamma Mia! The dedication, creativity, and commitment of our students shone through in every moment of the performance, resulting in a truly high-quality and entertaining production that received glowing feedback from all who attended.

Having been involved in school productions across many schools over the years, I can confidently say this was a standout—both in terms of artistic talent and the unique way it showcased student empowerment. Our students led the way in every aspect of the production—from choreography, set design, props, and music, to artistic direction and lighting. What is often staff-led in other schools was, at MAC, proudly student-driven. This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to their talent, teamwork, and leadership.

A very special acknowledgment goes to Ms. Ruwandhi Fernando, who directed the show with passion and care, supported by Amelia Kenny. Ruwandhi has dedicated countless hours since late Term 2, all while balancing her teaching responsibilities—a huge effort and one that has not gone unnoticed.

I am incredibly proud of what our students and staff have achieved together. Mamma Mia! was more than just a production—it was a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and the power of student voice at MAC. I would also like to thank our wonderful parents for their support in transporting props and sets to the theatre, and to our PFA for their efforts in selling drinks and snacks on show nights and even assisting with car parking.

This production was a true reflection of what makes the MAC community so special—students, staff, and families working side by side to create something extraordinary. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making Mamma Mia! such a success. It is moments like these that remind us of the joy, pride, and connection that come from being part of the MAC family.

Dani Angelico, Principal

2025 so far, from MAC Artemis House

This article was featured in the spring edition of the Flemington Kensington Newspaper, published 29 August.

A lot of things are happening at Mount Alexander College! Recently, the Athletics Carnival, Australian E-Sports Tournament, a Peace Pole Ceremony, a MAC Market and preparation for the school musical, just to name a few. 

The MAC Athletics Carnival was held on 30 May. It was a very successful event with lots of participation and school spirit, the most popular events were the 100m sprint, relays and high jump. There was face paint and novelty games as well as sausage sizzles and a bake sale. 

On 6 June, a group of students attended the Moonee Valley Schools Meeting located at Lowther Hall. Students brainstormed solutions to common school problems like Mental Health and Canteen Prices. This brought students together from different Moonee Valley Schools to form leadership skills and friendships.

A peace pole ceremony occurred on 18 June with special guests attending such as Dr. Elaine Pratley, a Peacebuilder and Advocate who shared a beautiful story about a family member’s journey of resilience and kindness coming from unlikely places, demonstrating how peace and humanity is possible during the hardest of moments. The Flemington Rotary club generously donated the peace poles now present and standing at the school’s entrance, as a reminder of the importance of continuing to strive for peace and empathy in our own journeys.

Some of our MAC students have been spending Saturday mornings competing in the Australian high school E-Sports tournament. This was a capture the flag tournament, held on Minecraft. Our students worked hard and came out victorious, coming first in Australia! Congratulations to all our participants.

On 20 June, the Year 12 VCE VM students ran a ‘MAC Market’ during lunchtime at the amphitheatre. This included a sausage sizzle, popcorn, basketball games, a Filipino drink/dessert called Buko Pandan and many more.

The school production of Mamma Mia! will run on 27, 28 and 29 August at Maribyrnong College. Mamma Mia is a musical that follows Sophie, a young woman getting married in 48 hours, as she invites three strangers to her wedding to answer the question that she’s wondered her whole life: Who is her father? The cast and crew have been hard at work to prepare an engaging show. A huge thank you to Ms Fernando as she has been a wonderful director. 

MAC Artemis Student Leaders

Leadership Forum at Strathmore Secondary College

On 4 September, six members from the MAC leadership team joined student leaders from other schools at Strathmore Secondary College. We got the chance to network with other participants and learn about what has worked at their schools. We had multiple workshops on a variety of issues that currently affect schools, and got to brainstorm new ideas for things we can implement. This was a valuable experience for all of us, and we look forward to taking ideas from this event and implementing them at Mount Alexander College.

Elliot Mohummadally, Captain of Debating, English & Technology, Above Entry 9

House Debating Competition

On Tuesday 5 August, I organised MAC’s first House Debating Competition. We received a solid crowd. All 10 speakers did a great job and participated in professional and convincing debates.

In our first debate with year 9s and 10s, students debated the topic of whether the Australian Government should lower the minimum voting age to 16. Keiran Taylor and Madeline Wondimu argued on the affirmative side while Edward Williams and Rhys Valentine argued on the negative side. The winner of that debate was the negative team who went on to compete with the teachers in the third round.

In our second debate with year 7s and 8s, students debated the topic of whether we should introduce a 4-day work week. Holiday Howden and Eve Rolfe argued on the affirmative side, Paige Cowley and Sharni Paterno argued on the negative side. The winner of that debate was the affirmative team.

In our last debate which was a teachers vs students round, speakers debated the topic of whether homework should be banned. On the affirmative side, we had Mr Stephanou and Mr Holt, On the negative side, we had Edward Williams and Rhys Valentine. The teachers arguing that homework should be banned won that debate with very convincing arguments.

The debate was a definite success and all speakers won house points while also getting a great opportunity to practice public speaking.

Elliot Mohummadally, Captain of Debating, English & Technology, Above Entry 9

Science

Unit 3&4 Biology Zoo Excursion – Primate Evolution

On Monday 4 August, the 3/4 Biology students went on an excursion to the Melbourne Zoo. They participated in the Primate evolution program and were able to explore the Zoo afterwards. Here are their learnings and comments from the day: 

Lemurs are the least related primates to humans – Zack Orme

Lemurs communicate by scent through waving their tails around – Junes Valachovic

Siamangs have complex communications by distinctively vocalising their sounds – Tin Nguyen

Siamang pairs make their own individual songs different from other pairs – Zahra Mistry

Siamangs are toilet-trained – Micah Khov

Gorillas need big muscles in their face to chew – Bess Martin

Gorillas make a new bed every night with found materials (ex. leaves) – Georgia Treacy

Hominoids are quadrupedal while hominins like humans are bipedal – Dennis Pham

Science Week

We celebrated Science Week in week 5. The theme for 2025 was Decoding the Universe – Exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden language.

Various lunchtime activities were held, including decoding activity stations, an escape room, and quizzes. Students also participated in Daily Compass quizzes – congratulations to those students who won prizes and congratulations to Poseidon house for winning overall!

We hope you enjoyed the activities held during Science week and we look forward to doing it again next year.

MAC Science team

Book Week

This year’s Book Week theme was “Book an Adventure”, and students and staff alike participated in lunchtime events run by the English faculty, such as a Spelling Bee, a Book Trivia and, of course, our now famous MAC Book Week costume parade. Other highlights included the Alternative Book Cover competition, facilitated by the Arts faculty, and daily posts by staff about books that have inspired them. It was a wonderful week that brought our MAC community together to celebrate our love for words, reading, and storytelling. 

Luke Richardson, English Teaching and Learning Leader

Costume Parade

Alternative Book Cover Competition

Congratulations to everyone who participated! The three winning designs are awarded to the following students (left to right): Thomas Orme for Animal Farm, Tina Roussel for The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe, and Cindy Nguyen for The Men Who Stare At Goats.

Luke Richardson, English Teaching and Learning Leader

Incursion – James Phelan Author Visit

To complement our Above Entry Writer’s Hub curriculum and Book Week program, MAC welcomed Australian writer James Phelan to run a workshop with some of our 7-9 students. Phelan predominantly writes thriller stories for teens and talked to students about his journey from “aspiring juice seller” to published author, his themes, and his advice for developing as a creative writer. James was witty and inspiring to listen to, and students gained much from his insights, which they have already begun to apply in their English classes as well as their own writing practice outside of school.

Luke Richardson, English Teaching and Learning Leader

Graduates Formal

MAC’s Got Talent

Write a Book in a Day Competition

Students across all year levels participated in the Write a Book in a Day competition, run by the Kids’ Cancer Project! Our two teams of six students each wrote and illustrated a book in 12 hours on Wednesday 17 September.

If you wish to read their works, they are available for download here. 

We are so thankful for the incredible support from our community, and the generous donations towards both teams. MAC A and MAC B have collectively raised $2000 so far which directly funds Kids’ Cancer Project research.

If you still wish to donate, there’s still time! Sponsorship links close on Tuesday 30 September.

To sponsor our MAC A team, click here.

To sponsor our MAC B team, click here.

The Sponsor Now buttons will lead you to the various sponsor options.

Your donation will not only help us, it helps kids with cancer. Write a Book in a Day has contributed more than $1 million to bold childhood cancer research since 2009 through The Kids’ Cancer Project.

Please dig deep! The more you give, the better our chances for winning a fundraising award. Plus, every donation brings us one step closer to ending childhood cancer for the 950 children diagnosed every year in Australia.

We look forward to our participation next year!

Carla Iannarella, RC, Communications and Marketing Manager

I was a little nervous going into the competition but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the work we were doing was fun and engaging. Everyone involved brought a friendly and energetic vibe to the competition which made the entire day full of entertainment. 

It was amazing to work with such a great team and for such a noble cause as well. 

Brandon Monk, Graduate of 2026

Student Wellbeing

SchoolTV

SchoolTV is an online resource designed to empower parents with credible and sound information with realistic, practical ongoing support strategies. You can access SchoolTV by either clicking the SchoolTV icon on the home page or this link.

In this edition of SchoolTV – Shaping Healthy Masculinity

In today’s fast-moving world, many boys are struggling to find direction. Even well-meaning online searches about fitness, confidence or relationships can lead them to content that promotes rigid or unhealthy ideas about masculinity. The critically acclaimed TV show ‘Adolescence’ has brought fresh attention to this issue, highlighting how boys are often exposed to messages that glorify toughness and dominance, while dismissing empathy and emotional openness.

These outdated beliefs can limit emotional growth and impact how boys relate to others – with real consequences in schools, homes and communities. That’s why it’s more important than ever to guide boys with care, clarity and connection.

By offering healthier role models, safe spaces to talk, and encouraging respectful friendships – especially across genders – we can help boys develop the confidence, empathy and relationship skills they need to thrive.

This special report calls for a cultural shift and advocates for curiosity-driven dialogue that builds trust and critical thinking. The goal is to raise boys who are not just resistant to harmful influences, but actively capable of questioning and rejecting them.

Click HERE for the Shaping Healthy Masculinity edition of SchoolTV.

Resource Centre

Staff and students can use the Library Catalogue (login using the Single Sign On with your school email address and password) from school and from home. It’s a great way to see what books are on offer in the library and to reserve a book that you’ve been looking forward to reading.

A friendly reminder to anyone who has overdue books to please return them to the Resource Centre. Bringing books back by their due date ensures that everyone is able to enjoy our collection.

Do you know we have ebooks and audiobooks?

The Eplatform has over 2500 ebooks and audiobooks that you can read or listen to with new books being added every day. You can access it by downloading the app on your device and signing in with your school details in the Single Sign On (SSO). Find out more here: mountalexandercollege.wheelers.co

Carla Iannarella, Resource Centre, Communications and Marketing Manager

Community News and Advertising

We advertise and support local organisations that reside in our catchment area. These suburbs include Flemington, Kensington, Ascot Vale, Moonee Ponds, Maribyrnong, West Brunswick, North Melbourne, and Parkville.

The Playground Project Melbourne
Closes Sunday, 12 October
Incinerator Gallery, 180 Holmes Road Aberfeldie
Jump, fall, and imagine these Spring school holidays with The Playground Project at the Incinerator Gallery in Aberfeldie!
This is your last chance to experience a unique immersive exploration of creativity, play, and discovery in an urban landscape with three fully playable installations in
and around the Incinerator Gallery building.
Playground design isn’t just child’s play – it is an artform. This interactive exhibition will delight and inspire people of all ages so get ready to experience the best of
modern and contemporary art and design. Children 12 years and under FREE with accompanying adult (up to three children per adult). Bookings required.
Find out more here: playgroundproject.com.au
The Playground Project is curated by Gabriela Burkhalter
Exhibition design by BoardGrove Architects
Produced by Incinerator Gallery
Project Partner – Kunsthalle Zürich
Major Partner – Jellis Craig | Jellis Craig Foundation
Education Partner – Monash University | MADA