Senior School News

Farewell Class of 2024

We have now farewelled the class of 2024! We had a lovely week of celebrations last week; primary school dress up, future career dress-up, teacher versus student dodgeball in the gym and a sausage sizzle. They were a delight during their final week of schooling and they finished their final school bell together in the VCE Centre. 

VCE Exams

The Year 12 Exam Period commences on Tuesday 29 October and runs through to 20 November. The VCE Centre will be out of action during this time, and if students need to speak to anyone in the Senior School, they need to enter via the Careers Room.

We wish the Year 12 students the best of luck with their upcoming exams and know that they will do their very best!

Reflections Assembly 

Good morning Mentone staff, students, proud parents and guardians and most importantly the Year 12 class of 2024.

My name is Emma Holman and I’m the Director of Senior School. I have had the absolute privilege of managing and guiding these students through Year 12. This is a pretty special group of students for me as I was responsible for managing them when they first started their journey in Junior School at MGSC in 2019, so I’m so proud to see this cohort graduate from MGSC.

Today marks a significant milestone in all of your lives—a celebration not only of your achievements, but of your incredible growth and development over the past 6 years. As you sit here in your final assembly, ready to embark on your next journey, I invite you to reflect on how far you’ve come.

When you first started your journey here at MGSC, in your oversized blazer, I’m sure it was a time of great uncertainty, but hopefully also excitement. You faced new routines, new subjects, made new friends, and encountered many challenges, like learning how to open your combination lock, that pushed you to your year 7 limits! And just when you thought you were getting the hang of things, you then spent most of year 8 in lockdown from Covid19. Completing school at home wasn’t an easy task, but you developed resilience, perseverance, and the ability to adapt to challenging situations. 

You then used these skills to navigate home learning again during year 9. By year 10 we were still wearing masks, but back at school. Year 10 was the opportunity for electives, allowing you to take greater responsibility for the direction of your learning and discover where your interests lay. You also built upon your friendships face-to-face and were once again able to fill your social calender. 

And now your VCE years. Each of you has faced your own trials, whether it was long study sessions, balancing work and sporting commitments, or navigating personal obstacles. Through it all, you’ve developed skills that will serve you well in the future: critical thinking, time management, resilience and the ability to adapt. These skills will not only help you in further studies or in the workforce, but will also shape the way you approach life itself. Each late night spent studying, every moment of self-doubt, and all the triumphs you celebrated have contributed to the remarkable individuals you are today.

This year would not have been the same without the support of your College Captains, Olivia Ayyuce and Lucy Webster. Your leadership over the past year has been nothing short of inspiring. You’ve not only represented our school with pride, helped organise events and shown initiative, but you have demonstrated what it means to be true leaders. Your hard work, passion, and commitment have set a wonderful example for all leaders that will follow at the school.

To all of the Senior School Leaders. Claire Amato, Ava Gryszan, Ojas Kumar, Holly Sweatman, Mariya Bernyk, Ella Bennett, Maddie Fenton, Caitlin Hughes, Isabelle Newell, Sammy Roberts and Tara Ash.  Thank you. Thank you for being positive role models for all students in the school. Your enthusiasm at house events; Swimming and Athletics carnival, House Performance, Peer Tutoring and running level assemblies. You have made valuable contributions to the College program and you should be proud of your efforts. 

None of this would have been possible without the support and guidance of your teachers. It has probably taken you 5 years to realise that your teachers are human, we actually have lives outside of school. We do care for you and yes we do love the subjects we teach. They are the ones who have nurtured and guided you through your subject, encouraged you when you said “I don’t know anything” and as the year has progressed, watched you develop from strength to strength. Thank you teachers, your work is nearly done.

I too would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Ms Parker and Ms Demirova for their consistency and fairness in all situations and the support they have given to the students, the staff and myself. Their experience and expertise in managing the students through the highs and lows of Year 12 has helped this year run smoothly.

Year 12s, as you move forward, remember that education is a lifelong journey. The knowledge you’ve gained here at MGSC is just the beginning. Be curious. Explore. Ask why? Challenge yourself to learn from every experience, whether it’s in further study, a workplace, or in conversations with others who hold a different view to you. The world is vast and full of opportunities waiting for you to seize them.

Each of you have your own story, and today, you should stand proud, having accomplished something significant. 

I am so proud of you and I wish you the best of luck for your exams and your future.

Emma Holman

Director of Senior School