Principal's Report

Last week I had one of our students contact me via email, to tell me something that was very important to her; she currently identifies as gender fluid and but still wants to use the pronouns she and her. She also sent this to her classroom teachers.

I was delighted that this student felt safe enough to share this with me and her teachers and even more pleased that as a society our young people are now starting to feel brave enough to have conversations about these issues which are very important to them.

For some of us, this is a big departure from our binary upbringings, where girls were girls and boys were boys. Of course, there were derogatory terms for those girls who liked to climb trees and play footy and for boys who liked to play with dolls. Thank goodness those days are behind us now.

At MFG, while we are an “all girls’ school”, we have a very diverse community of young people exploring their gender and/or their sexuality. It is critical to give our young people the space and time to be fluid in their thinking and feelings and opportunities to talk about them openly.

Our trait, able to respect and celebrate diversity and difference reminds us that as a school community we need to show them unconditional regard.

As a school community we endeavour to give our students the support and respect they need to consider their preferences, always with the understanding that, what ever they decide, they will be accepted at MFG.

Year 7 Camp

Last week I had the pleasure of attending and participating in the activities of the Year 7 Camp. Our students were a delight the way they mixed in together getting to know students form other classes. We heard lots of:

• “Hi, I am … Would you like to join our group?”
• “Go … you can do it!”
• “I am so proud of you.”
• “Don’t worry I am here and will support you.”
• ”Here I can help.”

It was also lovely to see so many students step up and take on informal leadership roles at the different activities.

These are just some of the many pictures that depicted this supportive atmosphere.

The staff who attended: Melissa Walker, Jenny Morgan, Kylie McMillan, Penny Dyson, Jill McClure, Linda Harris, Sarah Tolley who were led by Ebony Stacey were a great bunch of women to work with. Their sense of fun and commitment to our students was much appreciated and valued.

Michelle Crofts

Principal MFGSC