Melbourne Girls' College

Principal's Report

Year 7

Thank you to all Year 7 parents who attended the welcome evening on Tuesday 21st February. We enjoyed meeting so many of you and sharing the stories of the girls’ first weeks at secondary school. We told our new parents, "As educators we take pride in innovation to meet the challenges constantly emerging in our complex world and in the ethical understandings to ensure our young women gain a sense of stewardship for the environment, the future and being a positive influence on others." Amelia Earhart, the great female aviator and adventurer said, "A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees."  I hope our girls take this philosophy into their time at MGC and into their lives beyond these corridors and walls.

 

Thank you to Shaunagh O’Connell, Laura Arney and colleagues for a wonderful week at Arrabri Lodge in Warburton. I spent a couple of days with the Year 7 girls at their bush dance, on the giant swing, in initiative training and mini-golf. It is a great way for the students to meet new friends and get to know teachers in an adventurous environment outside the classroom.

MGC School Review

Every four years each Government school in Victoria undertakes a review process in order to inform a new School Strategic Plan. On 13th February we held the first panel day where the 2013-2016 Strategic Plan and a range of evidence was examined and explored with key staff. On 1st March the day is about future thinking and planning. The Terms of Reference for this day include:

First term of reference:

To what extent is the school meeting the diverse needs of its student cohort, with a particular focus on gifted and talented students?

Second term of reference:

To what extent has the school consistently implemented its teaching and learning framework and how should it further develop and progress its implementation?

Third term of reference:

To what extent does the school develop in its students the values, attitudes, skills and knowledge that will enable them to appreciate and respect cultural diversity and to be able to fully contribute as citizens and leaders, both locally and globally?

The review panel consists of excellent educators and our College Captains. We are very grateful to each for the time and effort that have contributed to analysing data, reading a plethora of documents and investigating where we have been and where we need to go to next.

The panel members working with our Principal team and staff are:

  • School Reviewer:      Mr Mike Rowland
  • Challenge Partners: Dr. Toni Meath (Principal of Mac Robertson Girls’ School 
  • Ian Wallis (MGC leadership coach)
  • School Council Treasurer: Gary Funston
  • Students, our Captains: Nell Crossett, Ash Hammond and Courtney McKenzie
  • Senior Education Improvement Leader: Vince Dobbs

Wellbeing

Thank you to Pat Sklavakis, Sandor Kazi and their team for organising and supporting the Year 12 study camp. A key part of the VCE strategies covered is ensuring overall wellbeing during, what can be, a stressful year.

The MGC Years 7-10 Wellbeing classes look at the strategies girls need to develop resilience, curiosity, creativity and problem solving as life skills. It is interesting to note the OECD interest in wellbeing more widely. Please see

http://www.oecd.org/statistics/oecd-workshop-on-measuring-business-impacts-on-peoples-well-being.htm

for details on a conference and papers centering on measuring business impacts on well-being.

Regards,

Karen Money

Principal