Melbourne Girls' College

Principal's Report

I have been reading the latest book by Rosemary Ross Johnston, “Shifting Horizons: Educating Young Australians in the 21st Century”. Rosemary is a Professor of Education and Culture at the University of Technology Sydney. She asks, “how is it that in an era when the number of words in our lives is multiplying by the millions, we are now at risk of losing some of the very communication skills, particularly that of reading, that helped us become connected in the first place?” With skimming replacing deep and contemplative reading, she argues, we are at risk of losing crucial abilities including critical thinking, perception, empathy, generosity and respect. This is something to ponder as the VCE exams continue with the study centre active with dedicated students and teachers preparing before each exam and analysing the paper together once completed. The many hours preparing certainly requires deep and contemplative reading and thinking!

 

Inaugural Richmond Lego League held at Melbourne Girls’ College 10 November

Thank you to our STEAM Leader, Wendy Keen, ICT Leader Tony Keen and their team who hosted a Lego League event last Saturday. The collaborative learning experiences provided by each activity teach the skills needed to succeed beyond secondary school. As even the VCE exams have evolved to applied rather than theoretical learning alone, the skills of creative and problem based learning are ever more evident.

 

Aerobics Presentation Night

Tonight we celebrate the very successful MGC Aerobics Club. Thank you to Lenore Twist, our coaches, parents and most importantly athletes who train diligently to compete and succeed at the highest levels. More details on results and awards will be forthcoming in the next newsletter.

 

Community Connections

In 2017, MGC was awarded a Yarra City Council Community Partnership Grant to strengthen partnerships with the Wurundjeri People, traditional owners of our land on the banks of the Yarra. Thank you to Andrew Vance and the sustainability team along with Yarra City Council who have restored native habitat and built inter-cultural understandings with our students.

 

A reminder for 2019 Planning

Student Free Days approved by School Council:

  • Monday, 8th March 2019 - Visible Wellbeing with Professor Lea Waters of The University of Melbourne
  • Friday, 14th June 2019 -  Assessment, Reporting and Planning
  • Friday, 16th August 2019 – Curriculum Day
  • Monday, 4th November 2018 – 2019 Planning

 

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Kind regards,

Karen