Principal's message

Dear MGSC community 

We have jam-packed so much into the nine week term which is testimony to the energy levels of our students and our staff.  We appear to have less students and staff away with Covid or influenza in the past few weeks so school life is closer to “normal” these days. However, we are not through winter yet. The advice that is coming through to schools from the Department of Health is to remain cautious and aware. Ensuring that we follow the health advice around hygiene and considering whether or not to wear a mask are just two ways that we can reduce the liklihood of catching anything.

The year 9 to 11 students have completed their exams and our teachers have been focusing on assessment and reporting processes. The reports will be released shortly.  The teachers are now focusing on their semester two classes.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting the Aerobics competion in Geelong. I had ring-side seats so I felt very privileged to have had such a great view. It was a very exciting day for the students and many of our teams qualified for the National competition later this year – 50 students in total!  Even the coaches have made it through to Nationals! I wish to acknowledge the hard work of our coaches who just happen to be former students of MGSC and Tess Molina who has grown the program from small numbers to the diverse program it is today.

The cast of the ASdams Family have been rehearsing after school and on the weekends this term and I have been told they are really impressive. My thanks to Jenny Connolly, Tim Veevers and Jaynen Yong who have been regulars at these rehearsals.

The annual Careers Expo was held on Wednesday 22 June and this was well attended by our senior school students. This is part of the careers and pathways program of the school and is important in that it assists students to make informed choices as to what they would like to study in their VCE but also at university or TAFE. My thanks to Simone Bouchier, the Careers & Pathways Coordinator.

This our year 9 students going into year 10 were given an overview of their curriculum and subject choices in 2023 and the opportunities presented in the change to a five period day in 2023.  For our year 10 students they were able to learn a bit more about the new options for studying VCE. You may have seen or read in the media that there are some changes to the VCE for 2023. Students entering year 11 will have a choice as to whether they wish to study the traditional VCE that provides them with an ATAR for university entry or whether they wish to pursue a vocational pathway (the VCE Vocational Major) that does not attract an ATAR. 

There is also an option for students to study a university subject under the CHES program. CHES programs are only available to government school students. This is a government-funded program which is designed to extend, accelerate, and deepen the learning of high-ability senior students and to complement the programs already offered in our school and strengthen provision across the state. Typically, students will take just onesubject with us as part of their overall VCE program, while remaining enrolled at their current school.  Want to know more?  Visit Centre for Higher Education Studies to find out more.

This information has been shared with year 10 students. Our Handbooks are available on the College Website for families to access. It is important that students and parents discuss these pathways and read the information provided by the school carefully so that they can make an informed decision. 

Finally, the SRC have been fundraising this term to fight Motor Neuron Disease. Some of our teachers have volunteered to be dunked in cold water based on the donations raised. This is happening on Thursday. The more money raised, the more teachers that get dunked! What noble people they are!

I give my thanks to all of our teachers and education support staff who have taught or supported our students this term. They give their all to our students every day and, like the students, they are ready for the term break. I would also like to give a huge thanks to our regular casual relief teachers this term who have covered classes when our staff have been absent.  We couldn’t have got by without their assistance.  My thanks to Luke DeMunk, Sue Duggan, John Rorke, Taneka Harris, Karen Gregson, Isabel De San Sinforiano, Miranda Jenkin, Floyd Wright, Stephanie Buonos, Gail Steinfort, the teachers from ANZUK and Tradewinds and finally Maurice Woolcock who has replaced Gary Hughes for the last term.

I wish you all a safe, happy and healthy holiday break and I look forward to seeing everyone back at school next term.

Take care, 

Linda Brown

Principal

Building Fund donations

At the end of the financial year we invite our community to make a donation to our Building Fund that will directly support our next project, the Pavilion. Donations are tax deductible. Contributions can be made through Trybooking: 

www.trybooking.com/au/donate/mgscbuildingfund

For further information contact our Business Manager, Kelly Lloyd-Vanni | kelly.lloyd-vanni@education.vic.gov.au

Thank you for your consideration.