Principal's Report

To our supportive parent community thank you for all of your kind correspondence and feedback during a time which has demanded all the character we ask of the girls including strength, resilience and respect. The report in the Herald-Sun which lead to wider media speculation was based on inaccurate information about as yet unproven allegations. There is a police investigation underway which precludes further comment. It is important for our community not to be speculating on social media. We encourage our students to be cyber aware, indeed the Year 7 students saw the play “Cyberia” on Monday which explored the damaging consequences of this very subject. Please encourage your daughter’s awareness and ability to turn the phone off at night and have a full night’s sleep. This is central to their daily wellbeing.

Every day, we are committed to the safety of our students, this is why we offer our core learning programs, electives, a wealth of co-curricular activities and in particular the wellbeing program. Drugs will not be tolerated at our school and we spoke to the Year 7 girls in their house level groups on Wednesday to ensure their concerns about the media coverage were addressed. On Monday expert drug education is at the centre of their wellbeing program.

Every day, we are committed to helping parents in the partnership of ensuring our students make best possible life choices. At present our response includes a Year 7 parent Drug Education information session on Monday at 6.30pm in the auditorium. If our Year 8-12 parents would also like to attend please call Jordyn Taylor on 03 9428 8895 to register so that we can ensure adequate seating.

The session will be facilitated by Eileen Berry, founding editor of Parents’ Guides – Drugs 101.

The final days of secondary school for our Year 12s are imminent culminating in Celebration Day. Next week will be emotional, full of fun and a sense of “where to next with my life?” for our girls. As staff we also have a sense of loss as we will miss such an outstanding year level. The Valedictory Dinner on Wednesday, 25th October will be our chance to reflect and say thank you to our parents and the Year of 2017.

Space Camp

Congratulations Wendy and Tony Keen, Emily Rochette and nineteen of our STEAM-ready girls who enjoyed a “life changing” experience in September attending NASA’s Science and Engineering Space Camp in Alabama followed by a week in Orlando participating in indoor skydiving, a visit to Kennedy Space Centre, Epcot, Disney and Boggy Creek in the everglades.

Student Success

In September MGC officially took the crown as Australia's best Aerobics school winning the Aeroschools Nationals in Bendigo. Congratulations to the girls, Ms Twist, Ms Bradshaw, Ms Hajzler and all supporters.

Congratulations to all entrants in the school writing competition and to Mr Donnelly for the organisation. The Listowel Award Panel were very impressed with the high standard of our students’ writing. 1st Place went to Kate Martin and two Highly Commended Certificates were awarded to Erin Modaro and Greta Chadwick.

Mia Sherman spoke with John Faine on 774 last week about the new Department requirements that student representatives elected from our 7-12 cohort are full members of School Council in future. Mia was articulate, on point and confident.

A member of the public wrote to me saying that Mia was, “quite frankly inspirational. She is a credit to herself and her school. I am not a member of the MGC community - my daughter is in year 7 at another school. In today's world people can be too focused on providing negative feedback and often forget the benefits of sharing positive feedback and experiences. So regardless of any lack of affiliation with MGC I felt compelled to provide this feedback. I certainly congratulate you in creating an environment which is clearly enabling young women to flourish.”

Library Refurbishment

The Library refurbishment is progressing and we now anticipate a January completion. The spaces are designed around collaboration, problem based learning as well as quiet study. The interior design, furniture, electrical and external finish choices have been signed off. Please see photos and we will have some drone footage in the near future.

Thank you for your support.

Kind regards,

Karen Money

Principal