Principal's Message

Firstly, kudos to Blanka West and Wendy for hosting the Vocal Evening on Wednesday 8th of May. It was heartwarming to witness the emerging talent of our Year 7 and 8 students, and equally inspiring to see our senior students showcasing skills honed through years of tutoring under Blanka.

What a wonderful House Competition we had on Friday! A big thank you goes out to Wendy and the Music Captains for their tireless work behind the scenes. The event was fantastic.

Daisy Walker (Class of 2020) visited MGSC recently to speak at the year-level assembly. Since joining the AFLW in 2020, Daisy has played for Carlton for three seasons. A highly motivated student during her time at MGSC, Daisy was also the Kenny House Captain in 2020.

On Friday 17 May we celebrated IDAHOBIT Day—the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, and Transphobia. The aim of IDAHOBIT is to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ community and raise awareness about creating inclusive communities and challenging discrimination. As a Respectful Relationships School, MGSC is a safe space where inclusivity is one of our core values. There has never been a more important time to celebrate diversity, inclusion, and human rights for all people.

Earlier this month we held the Semester 1 Vocal Night featuring Blanka West’s students, ranging from Year 7 through Year 12, including performances by the All Stars choir and Madrigal. It was fantastic to see and hear the progression of students and for the students to hear each other. The event was well-attended by parents. Many thanks to Blanka, Wendy Harvey, and Eric Ho for their behind-the-scenes work.

Thanks to all staff for their support of the House performance event on Friday 10 May and the two rehearsal sessions. These events don’t just happen without a lot of time, effort, and energy from many people. This was a student-led event, and while they received considerable support from us, all the decisions, from planning to execution, came from them, including student-led rock bands. In the lead-up to the event, the House Captains led their Houses through many assemblies and lunchtime sessions, where they practiced their group song and chant. In addition, there were drama, dance, and musical acts. The excitement was palpable. Many thanks to:

Wendy Harvey, the Director of Performing Arts, for overseeing this annual event.
Eric Ho, for his support throughout the auditions, assisting the students with the tech, and managing operations on the day.
Jenny Connolly and Geoff Perks for providing advice and coaching to students.
Jonathan Hall and the ICT team for setting up the big screen and microphone system.
Leigh Roberts, our Facilities Manager, for the behind-the-scenes logistics and pack-up.
Blanka West for accompanying on the piano, Justine Bowers and the PE team for giving up their space in the gym and helping with the setup of seating, and Jane Garrow for taking photos on the day.
Our past student Shanon McKenzie, who joined Wendy Harvey in judging. We greatly appreciate her time and support.

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the Theatre Studies play put on by the Year 11 and 12 Theatre Studies class. There was an impressive turnout of parents. On Tuesday this week, the Year 9 students also put on a play, and once again, the event was well attended.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge one of our long-standing teachers, Anne Gamble. Anne has reached an important milestone in her career, having served 40 years with the education department. I congratulate Anne on receiving recognition from the Department of Education and extend my appreciation for all the great teaching she has shared with her students over many years. Anne is an extremely talented English and Literature teacher, and we are grateful to have her continue to impart her wisdom and knowledge to our students.

Best wishes

Linda Brown