STRATEGIC VISION 2025-2030
STRATEGIC OUTCOMES
HIGH ACHIEVING &
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
We acknowledge the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the lands where Mentone Grammar now stands and recognise that these have always been places of teaching and learning.
We pay respect to their Elders past and present and acknowledge the important role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have played and will continue to play in our country.
Scarlett (Year 7, 2024) has been given permission by Indigenous Elders to play the didgeridoo under the instruction of Wurundjeri Elder, Murrundindi.
FROM THE CHAIR
For the past 100 years, successive generations of leaders have had the vision and determination to keep Mentone Grammar moving forward which has led to the incredible school we have today.
As a Board, we are proud to continue this legacy and to serve this remarkable community, acknowledging the important role we play ensuring the School is the best it can be for generations to come.
As a community, we are driven by our School Vision to nurture well-rounded individuals equipped with the skills and values necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing world. This commitment is reflected in our continuous investment in quality staff and state-of-the-art facilities, a comprehensive curriculum that spans from Early Learning to Year 12, and a strong focus on wellbeing that supports each student’s academic and personal growth to find their own definition of Happy, Healthy & High Achieving.
Our School’s Mission to inspire excellence in our students is supported by our dedicated staff, who bring passion and innovation to the classroom, and by our vibrant community of parents and alumni who contribute to the rich culture of our School.
As we look toward the future, we continue to be filled with a strong sense of purpose and excitement as our new Strategic Vision remains grounded in our commitment to fostering an environment where every student can excel, be it in academics, sport, creative pursuits or a range of other activities.
As we embark on this journey together, I am confident that Mentone Grammar will continue to set the benchmark for outstanding coeducation, ensuring that our students are not only prepared for the future but can succeed as adaptable, creative thinkers and leaders in an environment of continuous change.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our shared vision.
ROSS JOBLIN CHAIR OF THE SCHOOL BOARD
FROM
THE PRINCIPAL
Winston Churchill said, “Those who never change their mind, never change anything.” In this second century of Mentone Grammar, this period of change promises to be an incredibly exciting time in our School’s history.
We will implement well-considered, research-based change to achieve our foundational purpose: ‘to develop resilient young people with a wide range of skills, interests, and attributes to find their place in an ever-changing world, through a leading educational environment which challenges and motivates within a caring community’.
The foundations of Mentone Grammar were established just over 100 years ago. Since then, our commitment to providing an outstanding education has, if anything, grown stronger. Today, we must equip our students for their future with the knowledge, skills, attributes and values to become the best version of themselves, not only for their own benefit but importantly for their family, friends and communities.
In the book ‘The Leopard’, Giuseppe di Lampedusa wrote, “if we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change”.
This holds true for education, especially in a rapidly changing world. We need to prepare our students from our Early Learners through to our graduating Year 12s for a future that is a lifetime away for some and just around the corner for others.
This aspirational Strategic Vision for our School has been developed with that appreciation firmly in mind. It must be as
relevant to tomorrow’s graduates as it is to those who are just beginning their school journey. Developed with input from all sections of our community, this Strategic Vision offers clear direction, whilst being adaptable enough to flex to opportunities that appear on the horizon to best meet the changing needs of our young people. Change, after all, is one of life’s constants. The framework outlined in this document will ensure we remain leaders at the forefront of education as we aspire to achieve our School Vision and Mission. It upholds excellence across the three core inter-woven programs in which our students are engaged – academic, pastoral and cocurricular – all of which are grounded in our School Values. These programs offer countless opportunities for students to explore and develop their talents and potential, and to find their own definition of Happy, Healthy and High Achieving.
I invite you to ‘think big’ as you review this Strategic Vision and imagine what a ‘school of the future’ will offer our students, alumni, and community and I look forward to working together to bring this Vision to life.
ANDY MÜLLER PRINCIPAL
VISION, MISSION & VALUES
OUR VISION
Our Vision is to develop resilient young people with a wide range of skills, interests, and attributes to find their place in an ever-changing world, through a leading educational environment which challenges and motivates within a caring community.
OUR MISSION
Our Mission is to provide our students with a dynamic learning environment in which well-resourced and committed staff lead engaging academic, wellbeing and cocurricular programs.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
Mentone Grammar is an Anglican school, and we welcome students of all backgrounds and religions. We are proud of our School culture which is driven by our Values. More than words, our Values set our high expectations of behaviour and are actively embedded in everything we do.
CARING DISCIPLINE ENDEAVOUR INTEGRITY RESILIENCE
OUR STRATEGIC VISION
Our Strategic Vision is designed to provide a holistic approach to education, fostering student wellbeing and achievement through positive relationships, together with challenging and enriching experiences.
As we continually evolve our connected community-focused and aspirational school, we are inspired by a future of innovation, excellence, and sustainable development, underpinned by our enduring School Vision, Mission and Values.
OUR SCHOOL OUR PEOPLE OUR CULTURE
STRATEGIC VISION 2025-2030
STRATEGIC OUTCOMES
Through community consultation and educational research, we have identified five interconnected strategic outcomes that will drive our collective endeavours over the next six years. These Outcomes and their accompanying Statements of Intent are:
ENGAGED & EMPOWERED LEARNERS
As an inclusive learning community, our students, staff, and families engage in an ongoing learning process, guided by our Learning and Teaching Framework.
HEALTHY & HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT
We foster the healthy and holistic development of our people by creating a nurturing environment that supports the academic, emotional, social, spiritual, and physical growth of our students, together with the wellbeing and professional growth of our staff.
COMPASSIONATE & CONNECTED COMMUNITY
We are shaping a compassionate, inclusive and connected community built on empathy, mutual respect, and open communication, with a shared commitment to engagement and service that will positively impact our School and the wider community.
ALIGNED & INTEGRATED OPERATIONS
We strive for an efficient and adaptive operational environment that focuses on continual improvement and innovation, empowering our community to thrive and excel in an ever-evolving educational and societal landscape.
RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE FUTURES
Our sustainable future will be underpinned by our financial security, achieved through considered student enrolment and prudent resource management enabling long-term investment in our School, and in our prioritisation of environmental sustainability across our policies and practices.
ENGAGED & EMPOWERED LEARNERS
RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE FUTURES
ALIGNED & INTEGRATED OPERATIONS
HEALTHY & HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT
& CONNECTED COMMUNITY
STRATEGIC VISION 2025-2030
ENGAGED & EMPOWERED LEARNERS
As an inclusive learning community, our students, staff, and families engage in an ongoing learning process, guided by our Learning and Teaching Framework.
We will focus on building strong foundational literacies through an explicit and sequential instructional model. Through the alignment of our curriculum, across diverse offerings, we will create opportunities for students to develop critical skills, knowledge and attributes; importantly, in an information-rich world, students will learn how to learn. Our Together – Apart – Together model enables us to build signature tailored programs for girls and boys through the ‘Apart’ stages of their educational journey and explore innovative assessment practices that measure what matters - character development. Experiential and servicebased learning provide an important basis for this element of student growth. We strive to provide students with increasing autonomy and agency within our offerings. Our staff are also lifelong learners, engaging in regular reflective practice through a personalised professional learning model. We view our community as partners in learning, seeking opportunities to involve them in their child’s educational journey and their own personal growth.
PRIORITIES
LEARNING GROWTH
Through appropriate support, guidance and opportunities, all students will master foundational skills, gain knowledge and be appropriately challenged, experiencing individual success in and beyond the classroom.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
The importance of students’ development of character, skills and attributes in the capacity to live a ‘successful life’ will be recognised through the introduction of a Learner Credential that measures complex competencies.
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
Through the continual evolution and improvement of the curriculum we will ensure the delivery of a contemporary coherent and agile whole school curriculum that integrates a variety of teaching practices with a diverse range of learning modalities, together with a focus on student voice and agency.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
By utilising experiential learning (including in-class activities, Learning Journeys and Service Learning), we will deliver a comprehensive, sequential age and stage-based program of experiences and opportunities to empower students to develop practical life skills, including teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking.
STAFF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Through Professional Learning together with a staged and individualised staff learning program and equitable processes, we will support the professional growth, career progression, and satisfaction of all staff, aligned to our Strategic Vision.
HEALTHY & HOLISTIC
DEVELOPMENT
We foster the healthy and holistic development of our people by creating a nurturing environment that supports the academic, emotional, social, spiritual, and physical growth of our students, together with the wellbeing and professional growth of our staff.
We aim to cultivate a well-rounded educational experience that empowers students to thrive academically, develop strong interpersonal skills, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Through collaboration with families, community partners, and health professionals, we strive to equip our students with the resilience and confidence needed to excel in their future endeavours and contribute positively to society. Integrated and comprehensive wellness programs will be woven into the core of our educational approach, ensuring that every student has the tools to navigate their own wellbeing through the provision of personalised support, balanced learning opportunities, and enriching cocurricular activities.
PRIORITIES
ENGAGEMENT
We will support the holistic development of our people by offering a wealth of opportunities for positive engagement in the School curriculum, programs, offerings and activities to create a deep sense of belonging for all individuals.
STUDENT WELLBEING
The development and implementation of an integrated wellbeing program, services and organisational structure, will enable the delivery of a holistic program that gives students the tools to navigate their own wellbeing and learning, creating a sense of belonging and purpose, and leading to positive social and emotional outcomes.
STAFF WELLBEING
All staff play a part in creating a collegial and supportive professional workplace culture. The ongoing development of a holistic staff wellbeing program will support a positive work environment and school leaders will continue to role model behaviours that promote physical and mental wellness amongst their colleagues.
STRATEGIC OUTCOMES
STAFF COMMUNITY
STRATEGIC VISION 2025-2030
COMPASSIONATE & CONNECTED COMMUNITY
We are shaping a compassionate, inclusive and connected community built on empathy, mutual respect, and open communication, with a shared commitment to engagement and service that will positively impact our School and the wider community.
Looking beyond our School, we are committed to enhancing service learning for our students through collaborative partnerships to reinforce our dedication to social responsibility and community service. An important aspect of this is to build a deeper appreciation of and connection to Indigenous culture and identity. We will embrace and celebrate the power of our community and what sets Mentone Grammar apart. To achieve this, we will identify and promote opportunities for staff, students and parents to connect, contribute and grow, thereby nurturing a strong sense of belonging and community spirit. Additionally, we will support the development of a vibrant alumni community by creating a mutually beneficial program of engagement.
PRIORITIES
PARENT ENGAGEMENT
Through collaborative partnerships with our parent groups, we will continue to develop a range of opportunities that enable parents to engage with each other and in the life of the School and that offer support to navigate the many complexities of parenting today.
ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
By developing meaningful alumni engagement opportunities that provide enriching experiences and networks for our Mentonians, we will foster a culture of giving and lifelong connection to our School.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Through the establishment of strong relationships with defined local and national industry and community partners linked to our experiential learning programs, we will build a stronger culture of social service across our School.
INDIGENOUS UNDERSTANDING
We strive to create an inclusive community and are committed to being culturally safe for all people, especially for Indigenous peoples; locally with the Bunurong community and nationally. Meaningful, immersive learning opportunities for staff, students and our wider community will support the development of a deep and lasting connection with Indigenous culture built on a positive representation of First Nations history and contemporary life.
ALIGNED & INTEGRATED
OPERATIONS
We strive for an efficient and adaptive operational environment that focuses on continual improvement and innovation, empowering our community to thrive and excel in an ever-evolving educational and societal landscape.
Our priority is to align and integrate our operations, and to maintain accessible, agile and efficient systems that support our Vision. By fostering a dynamic learning environment for both staff and students, we aim to create a cohesive and innovative educational experience. This future-focused coherent approach includes ensuring we have the right models and structures to best meet the needs of our community. Our comprehensive strategy not only enhances operational efficiency but also fosters a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability, enabling our community to thrive in an environment of continuous change.
PRIORITIES
STRUCTURES, SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES
Through the synergy of intelligent organisational structures, systems, and processes, we will maximise the efficient use of our resources and ensure coherent expectations and operations for all students and staff.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP
A comprehensive leadership program and aligned roles across our campuses will provide vehicles for student voice, within and across age groups. Whole school committees will enable cross-age mentoring and provide more meaningful leadership experiences for all.
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
The effective and efficient delivery of our Strategic Vision will be enabled by having the appropriate allocation of staff capabilities and skillsets within our staffing structure.
INTEGRATED IT PLATFORMS
The development and implementation of an integrated and streamlined school data management system will support all aspects of our School operations and create efficiencies for all staff in their day-to-day operations.
STRATEGIC OUTCOMES
STRATEGIC VISION 2025-2030
RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE FUTURES
Our sustainable future will be underpinned by our financial security, achieved through considered student enrolment and prudent resource management enabling long-term investment in our School, and in our prioritisation of environmental sustainability across our policies and practices.
Our priorities and outcomes distinguish between environmental and school sustainability. We will prioritise environmental sustainability by keeping it central to our thinking, decision-making, and actions, ensuring sustainable practices are integrated throughout our programs and operations. In terms of the longterm sustainability of our School, we will strive for gender parity in our enrolments and actively pursue strategies to achieve this goal. We will continue to emphasise strong governance, a culture of safety, and preparedness for unforeseen events, ensuring a safe, supportive environment and operational resilience. Through responsible stewardship and the development of a comprehensive Facilities Masterplan, we are committed to fostering a culture of sustainability and responsibility, securing a prosperous future for the Mentone Grammar community and beyond.
PRIORITIES
SUSTAINABLE ENROLMENTS
The implementation of a defined enrolment model and coordinated processes, including ideal capacity and a focus on gender parity, will allow for confident future program and facility planning.
FINANCIAL SECURITY
Continual assessment, review and prudent financial modelling enables long-term quality improvement in human, environmental and physical resources to ensure the School is well-prepared for an ever-changing environment and a prosperous future.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Environmentally sustainable practices will sit at the heart of our thinking, decision-making and actions in all aspects of our programs and operations, including the development of a Sustainability Plan and formation of an Environmental Sustainability Working Group featuring representation from student leaders across the School.
GOVERNANCE AND SAFETY CULTURE
We will continue to apply a strong governance and safety culture of robust oversight, accountability and resilience within the School community to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and standards.
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
Investment in a Facilities Masterplan for our campuses will allow for the intelligent consideration of the current and future needs of our community and the efficient use of our finite resources.
