2025 School Board Elections
Posted on 10 Feb 2025
2025 School Board Elections:
School Boards: Cornerstones of excellence, collaboration and community!
Are you passionate about making a difference in your school community?
We welcome dedicated individuals from diverse backgrounds to bring their unique perspectives and skills to our board. School boards are vibrant and dynamic partners, collaborating closely with principals and school communities to ensure schools operate in the best interests of students and the broader community.
Together, the board fosters excellence and inclusion, leads with integrity and creates an inspiring environment where every student can thrive. By joining the school board, you'll be part of a dynamic team dedicated to meeting the present and future needs of our community!
Representative members are the heartbeat of our school board and ensure a balanced and effective team. If you belong to one of the groups below, seize the opportunity to make a difference and nominate now!
Staff: If you're a current school staff member, including casual staff, your firsthand experience is invaluable.
Students: Your voice matters! High school and college students attending at least 12 hours a week, help shape the future of your education.
P&C Association Members: Parents and carers of students are usually automatic members, but if you're an adult without a student at the school, you can still join through the P&C constitution process.
For further information about the role of school board members, visit School Boards
Nominations open Monday, 10 February and close Monday, 24 February 2025, emails have been sent out to all today 10 February.
Year 10 Formal
Posted on 07 Dec 2024
Year 12 Formal @ The Hyatt
Posted on 07 Dec 2024
The Year 12s have finished their schooling in style. The Formal at the Hyatt was a lot of fun with plenty of dancing and glamorous posing for photo's.
It was a wonderful evening that was enjoyed by all.
Steeplechase
Posted on 07 Dec 2024
Naomi came 5th in the u15 steeplechase!
Students also competed against the u16 students. This is an incredible achievement!
Year 10 Excellence Awards
Posted on 03 Dec 2024
MCSS Concert Band on Tour
Posted on 18 Nov 2024
Thursday 14 and Friday 15 November, Mr Bowyer and Miss Turner took our MCSS Concert Band on Tour at the South Coast. Our students performed at Broulee Public School on Thursday to an incredible audience, and on Friday students stopped off for a little break at Mogo Zoo and then finished off their tour with a performance at Mogo Public School.
Our students represented our school beautifully, their ability to work together as a team, setting up for their performance, during their performances, listening to one another, and packing up was seamless. And a massive shout out to Katie Logue, a music student who is not in the concert band, but attended as a roadie to support the band!
We only had one small hiccup on the final day which meant that the students did their final performance without Tim, who could not be there due to illness, and the students held a band meeting, discussed the songs they would be performing and negotiated who would be conducting the band and how their overall performance and timing would work. Katie and Asha were our conductors on Friday and they did brilliantly! The fact that our students could pull all of this off is a testament to the amazing work Tim has done with them this year, Mogo Public School didn’t even know that we had to make adjustments, they did it so well 😊
AusDance ACT DanceFest
Posted on 08 Nov 2024
A MASSIVE congratulations to our students who performed at AusDance ACT Youth Dance Festival (DanceFest) last night 7 November 2024.
This year MCSS entered three performances, centred around the theme of What Do You Dream?
The first performance from our Senior Quest Dancers focused on Monsters Under the Bed and was an intensely creative piece which was relatable to all audience members in some way. The costuming was spectacular and the technical performance abilities second to none.
The second performance was from our Senior Quest Dancers focused on dreaming and entering into different dream states and the impact on the person as a result. Jared Murray was an absolute stand out performer!
The third performance was from our Junior Quest Dancers. With a group of 30 students on stage, the piece was incredibly moving and told the story of soldiers heading to war and those who returned and the impact on family when a soldier didn’t return. There was certainly an emotion filled theatre after this performance.
Drama Production
Posted on 06 Nov 2024
Our senior students performed their drama production of Stories in the Dark. Our sincere thanks to all of the community members who came along and enjoyed dinner and the show. Congratulations to Miss McFadden for all of her wonderful support for our students!
Mixed League Tag
Posted on 23 Oct 2024
MCSS 7/8 and 9/10 mixed league tag teams went undefeated all day and demonstrated amazing sportsmanship and represented Melba with pride!!
Please congratulate our students.
Kings Visit
Posted on 23 Oct 2024
On Monday some of the MCSS school leaders attended the official arrival of their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Students spoke to the Hon Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.
We welcomed their Majesties with other students from across the ACT.
@actpublicschools @theroyalfamily
Production of Stories in the Dark by Debra Oswald
Posted on 23 Oct 2024
Stories in the Dark by Debra Oswald
The two senior drama classes have been hard at work rehearsing a production of Stories in the Dark by Debra Oswald as part of their assessment this semester. Many of the production ideas have been student-led, and we’re excited to announce that the performance is now open to the community!
Stories in the Dark explores the power of storytelling, mingling the magic and earthy wisdom of folk tales with the hard-edged story of violence, conflict and the struggle to survive in the backdrop of the Yugoslav Wars.
The performances will take place on October 29th and 30th @7pm (Week 3, Term 4), and tickets are now available. Please follow the link below to purchase tickets and support our talented students.
Stories in the Dark https://www.stagecenta.com/.../the.../1157/ShowdetailsC.aspx
Additionally, the Year 10 hospitality students will be offering a dinner and show package. This includes a pre-show dinner and a ticket to the play, with limited availability—only 20 places—so be quick to secure your spot! This option is also available through the stagecenta link.
Inclusive Education Transition Visit for year 7 2025
Posted on 18 Sep 2024
2024 Secondary Students Photography Prize Exhibition
Posted on 13 Sep 2024
Joshua entered the 2024 Secondary Students Photography Prize Exhibition and was awarded an Encouragement Award for his piece titled ‘Graveyard’.
More information below:
Each year Canberra Museum and Gallery holds a Photography Prize for Canberra’s secondary students, displaying all entries to the public. It’s a chance to showcase the emerging talent in our region and provide entrants with pathways for development.
This year’s theme ‘Materiality’ connects with the current Materiality…But Not As We Know It exhibition. We asked students to use their cameras to capture the unexpected and show off their unique perspectives.
All pieces are available here: PowerPoint Presentation (cmag-and-hp.s3.amazonaws.com)
ACT Training Awards
Posted on 06 Sep 2024
A huge congratulations to MCSS student Aiden Moody who was a finalist in the ACT Australian School-Based Apprenticeship of the Year! While Aiden has finished at MCSS, throughout his schooling he was completing his ASBA and Cert II in Sport and Recreation at Miles Franklin Primary School.
A huge congratulations to Aiden and thank you so much to Jo for supporting Aiden to achieve such a wonderful outcome!
Step into the Limelight
Posted on 05 Sep 2024
Step into the Limelight Performers,
24 of our students performed last night at the Step into the Limelight ACT Showcase Event.
Our students performed an amazing number from the musical Mary Poppins Jnr. Feedback from families has been resoundingly positive through our social media.
Overnight I have also been contacted by several principals from across the ACT to express just how incredible and ‘in awe’ of the performance they were. This is further evidence of the high quality performance that our staff and students created.
Please join with us to congratulate our Limelight performers and staff!
Wakakirri State Finals
Posted on 27 Aug 2024
Wakakirri State Finals were held yesterday 26 August.
Congratulation to the Quest Dance Team on another beautiful/amazing performance.
Our Dancers were awarded the 2024 Certificate of Excellence alone with 6 other awards.
2024 ACT Minister’s Student Congress
Posted on 26 Aug 2024
On Friday 23 August, our school captains Donald Voegeli (Y7), Niamh Kleeman-Dowd (Y7) and Hayley Lewis (Y8) represented MCSS at the 2024 ACT Minister’s Student Congress. The Congress is an opportunity for ACT public school students to come together to discuss issues which matter to them and affect their education. It was opened by the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, Yvette Berry MLA. The entire event was planned and lead by the Student Voice Working Group.
Donald, Niamh and Hayley were part of the high school and college group and engaged in workshops on Artificial Intelligence and Mental Health in schools. They critically discussed the benefits and risks of using AI for schoolwork and had a go at identifying texts that had been written by AI. During the second session, they discussed whether schools have a responsibility when it comes to students’ mental health and what could be improved in this space. The final Q&A panel discussion highlighted the importance of listening to student voices and involving students in decisions-making processes. Overall, it was a great day, and it was fantastic to watch students speak about issues that matter to them.
Australian School Sport XC Championships Victoria
Posted on 22 Aug 2024
**CONGRATULATIONS BRAYDEN**
Wednesday 21 August 2024, Brayden achieved brilliant results at the National Cross Country Championships!
Brayden came 8th overall / 5th Australian (1st ACT runner). ACT took bronze in the 16/17 Boys team event also.
This is an incredible achievement due to dedication and many hours of training!
Brayden is now off to Tasmania, wishing him the best.
Write a Book in a Day
Posted on 22 Aug 2024
Congratulations to our Write a Book in a Day students Wednesday 21 August, they finished off their 12 hour day by raising a whopping $7503 for The Kids Cancer Project and still counting!
#bookweek2024 #readingismagic
Australian School Sport XC Championships Victoria
Posted on 21 Aug 2024
A huge congratulations to year 10 Athlete Brayden who is representing the ACT at the National Cross Country event! We are so proud of his dedication and hard work to get to this high level of competition!
St George's Dance Competition
Posted on 06 Aug 2024
St George's Dance Competition
Wishing our performers all the best today in the St George's dance competition!
Our Senior Contemporary Dance Troupe have placed second at the competition today. Choreographed by Kailani Oakman, Year 12!
A phenomenal day with our students performing exceptionally well and being recognised in 9 out of 12 sections.
7 -12 Hip-Hop - 1st place - Choreographed by Bronte Connolly and Ashi Barnes
7 – 12 Lyrical - 2nd place
10 – 12 Contemporary - 2nd place - Choreographed by Kailani Oakman
7 – 9 Contemporary - 2nd place
10 – 12 Lyrical Highly Commended - Choreographed by Aidan Barrack & Teagan Collins
7 – 12 Contemporary - Highly Commended
7 – 9 Hip-Hop - Highly Commended
10-12 Hip-Hop - Highly Commended - Choreographed by Bronte Connolly
7 – 12 Jazz - Highly Commended
School Sports National Swimming
Posted on 06 Aug 2024
School Sports National Swimming on the Gold Coast.
Jun Orlowski (Yr 8 and Keita Orlowski Yr 7) competed for School Sports National Swimming from 27 to 31 July 2024.
They swam in 6 events and took part in the opening ceremony with 2,000 students across 6 sports from all Australian States and Territories and guest countries from Cook islands and Fiji.
Well done Jun and Keita!
Women in Construction
Posted on 03 Jul 2024
Our Women in Construction class participated in Try a Trade Day @citcanberra, with lunch provided by @totaltoolsaustralia, and all PPE provided by @forwomenact. Students were able to try 2 different trades of their choosing: Carpentry, Cabinet making, Landscaping, Bricklaying, Painting, Plastering, Tiling and some even got to try out high risk firefighting so they are prepared for any situation on a jobsite!
ACT Indigenous Tennis Carnival
Posted on 28 Jun 2024
MCSS Indigenous Students shine at ACT Indigenous Tennis Carnival
Year 7 to 12 Indigenous students had the fantastic opportunity to attend the ACT Indigenous Tennis Carnival at the Tennis ACT centre in Lyneham.
The day was filled with learning and fun, and our MCSS students thoroughly enjoyed themselves. This event not only allowed our students to enhance their tennis skills but also immerse themselves in cultural activities, including Indigenous art workshops on weaving, painting, and boomerang throwing.
They combined well with Indigenous students from other ACT schools, demonstrating exceptional teamwork and sportsmanship. Their efforts and conduct made them excellent ambassadors for our school, earning high praise from Tennis ACT and Indigenous mentors that attended the day.
I am thrilled to announce that two of our Year 9 students, Hayes Smith and Levi Donnelly, have been nominated to represent the ACT Tennis squad at the National Indigenous Tennis Carnival in Darwin from August 8-11. This is a tremendous achievement.
Sydney Eisteddfod
Posted on 24 Jun 2024
Sydney Eisteddfod
For our junior dancers in Pink, the Sydney Eisteddfod was the second time they have performed together (the first being last Tuesday evening in the dress rehearsal).The group are mostly Year 7 students with only x3 Year 8 students. Only 5% of this group participate in Dance and studio training outside of school and them achieving a HIGHLY COMMENDED (considered 4th place) is such an incredible achievement.
For our senior dancers in Purple, they placed HIGHLY COMMENDED in their Hip-Hop section. Whilst as a troupe they may be disappointed with this, this is the FIRST TIME EVER that our senior troupe have placed in this national competition. The senior level is INCREDIBLY demanding with sections having up to 28 groups enter (of which 99% are private and selective schools). Their HC is recognition of an incredible performance. Hugh credit to Year 12 students Bronte Connolly AND Ashi Barnes (sorry I accidentally missed Ashi in the FB post) who choreographed this dance.
We would also like to acknowledge that Asher Hodge (Year 10) and Kailani Oakman (Year 12) choreographed the senior Jazz and Contemporary numbers. Whilst these numbers did not place, they both received high marks and received EXCELLENT feedback. We are so proud of our students for their work and choreographic talents.
Mary Poppins Jr
Posted on 14 Jun 2024
U15 Boys Clyde Rauter Competition
Posted on 14 Jun 2024
MCSS Runner's Up
These boys were awarded the Runner-Up for the U15 Clyde Rauter competition, narrowly missing out on the top spot to a stronger team on the day. Our students displayed excellent sportsmanship throughout each game and were great ambassadors for our school. Despite the cold and miserable weather and not coming back with the trophy, they all enjoyed playing footy and representing our school. The boys remained proud and know where to focus for future improvement. Our MCSS team could potentially be called up to play in the Country Cup at the regional finals in Cootamundra early August if the top team are unable to attend.
Australian School-based Apprenticeship
Posted on 30 May 2024
Check out MCSS student Aiden Moody absolutely kicking goals in his future career, supported by our awesome careers team!
Aiden made the ACT Public Schools Facebook Page, read below.
Melba Copland Secondary School Year 12 student, Aiden Moody, has spent the past 15 months giving back to his former primary school. All while gaining valuable work experience along the way.
Aiden is currently completing his Certificate II ASbA (Australian School-based Apprenticeship) in Sports and Recreation after one of his teachers recommended the program to him.
Now Aiden visits the nearby Miles Franklin Primary School every Tuesday and Thursday to support PE lessons and assist teachers.
Aiden has received nothing but high praise from his former primary schools’ students, staff and principal. In fact, his outstanding work has been recently rewarded with him taking home the Interwork ‘Vibrant Futures Award’ and nomination for the ACT Training Award’s ASbA Person of the Year.
Aiden’s journey won’t stop there though. Read more about Aiden at https://ow.ly/SjjH50RZtFo
Information Night for 2025
Posted on 21 May 2024
Mary Poppins Jr
Posted on 20 May 2024
Oz Tag Gala Day
Posted on 15 May 2024
Congratulations to the Year 9 Boys Oz Tag who competed at the Gala Day on Tuesday 14 May. Our students played 7 games with no subs. A great day was held by all with the boy making it to the finial's. The team went down to Eddie's in the finals. Congratulations boys on doing so well on the day, now your next adventure is in Sydney we can not wait to see how you go!
Alan Tongue Cup
Posted on 09 May 2024
The annual Alan Tongue Cup was held yesterday Wednesday 8 May. Mr Chandra & Mr Luteru took our year 9/10 NRL Team to compete. A great day was held by all with the boy making it to the finial's. Congratulations the Team who took out the Alan Tongue Cup winning the grand final 20 to 16.
Information Night for 2025
Posted on 22 Mar 2024
Do you have a young person to enrol in year 7 or year 11 in 2025? Our Information Night will be held on Tuesday 21 May 2024. Make sure you head along to hear all about the amazing opportunities for learning at MCSS!
National F1 Schools Competition
Posted on 22 Mar 2024
ACT Public School Photo of the Week for Week 7 comes from Melba Copland Secondary School, where this week two teams from the school have been competing in the National F1 Schools Competition!
More than 56 teams from across Australia and New Zealand gathered for the competition this week. Team Potentia and Team Storm Racing (pictured) are taking part from Melba Copland, the only ACT public school represented at the event.
The F1 in Schools STEM Challenge, established by REA (Re-engineering Australia Foundation) in Australia in 2003, is multi-faceted and multi-disciplined. Students follow a pathway of engineering and manufacturing disciplines: design, analyse, test, make and race. They are provided with access to real-world technology and aim to become proficient in areas such as coding.
The program also aims to develop skills in problem solving, project management, communication, presentation, teamwork, innovation and collaboration. Students involved in the program have told us the skills they have learned have also flowed on to improve their success across their other school subjects.
Well done to all involved!
F1 Schools STEM Challenge
Posted on 14 Mar 2024
CONGRATULATIONS MCSS F1
MCSS F1 Storm Racing Team, have just won the F1 Knockout Champions in the Development Class in Adelaide.The Team were ranked 8th, they have made their way thought to the Grand final, to become Victors.
Please give our F1 Student a big shout out.
H courses
Posted on 29 Feb 2024
From - ACT Public Schools
Are these five young people university or college students? It’s a trick question, because they are both!
Julia (Melba Copland Secondary School), Mirabel and Alli (Gungahlin College), Makenna (Hawker College) and Simeon (Dickson College - Official Page) are all in Year 12, but they’re also studying an ‘H course’, Systemic Anatomy and Physiology, at the University of Canberra once a week.
H courses are Year 11 and 12 courses provided by a higher education provider. As participants in the UC’s free Accelerated Pathways Program (for which the next round of applications close March 6), they’re earning credit through the program towards their Year 12 Senior Secondary School Certificate and ATAR, but also towards a future UC degree.
All five intend to go on to further study in related fields, from physiotherapy to medicine and occupational therapy.
Makenna is aiming for the latter and switched schools specifically to access the Accelerated Pathways Program. “I moved to Hawker to take the H course because they didn’t offer it at the last school I was at,” she says.
Simeon applied after seeing how much his brother got out of the program. “It’s going to be really helpful to have a higher level than just college science,” he says. “It can lead to early offers and little perks, and you get to have a taste of what uni is going to be like."
Julia, who is College Captain at Melba Copland, knows all about this, having just received an early entry offer to study at UC next year. She says the program has helped with her school studies as well as preparing her for university.
UC’s Accelerated Pathways Program runs during Terms 2-4 of Year 11 and Terms 1-3 of Year 12, and includes Psychology; Creative Writing; Politics and Democracy; Anatomy and Physiology; and a new program starting in 2024, Performance Analysis in Sport.
Learn more at https://ow.ly/iZ9m50QHAtE
Swimming Carnival
Posted on 16 Feb 2024
We all spent the day at the swimming carnival.
F1 Schools STEM Challenge
Posted on 09 Feb 2024
MCSS will be represented in The F1 Schools STEM Challenge. It is the world’s foremost student competition for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
MCSS's team are heading over to Nationals in Adelaide later this year!
Junior World Championships
Posted on 09 Feb 2024
CONGRATULATIONS
Heli Laajoki, our 2023 Year 12 Dux, made it to the Junior World Championships in Planica, Slovenia. Heli has done an incredible job over the years at MCSS balancing school, training and competition. Her race (10km classical) is on today (8pm our time), so please join us in cheering her on!
MCSS New Indigenous Mural
Posted on 28 Jan 2024
As part of the mural design process, we asked all participants:
* What country means to you and your family?
* What being on country means to you and your family?
* If you travel from another country to attend school or work. What is your connection to the country you live on?
Common responses included the following themes:
- Mountains
- Animals
- Meeting place
- Bogong Moths
- Water ways
- Trees
We hope you enjoy finding each of these themes in the incredible mural created by Eddie Longford - Contemporary Indigenous Art
Australian Open
Posted on 19 Jan 2024
A massive shout out to Hayes Smith in year 9 who is debuting as a Ball Kid at the @australianopen today in Melbourne. Hayes will also be doing the coin toss at 3.05pm which will broadcast live. The match is between Chris O'Connell (AUS) and Ben Shelton (USA) on John Cain Arena.