Curriculum and Learning

Optional Parent / Teacher Interviews: Parent access

As per our previous issues of the Especean, Optional Parent/Teacher Interviews for Years 7 to 11 will occur online this Thursday 4 December for parents/carers between 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM. 

Please refer to the instructions below for information on how to access these interviews via the Orbit application.

These interviews are an opportunity for parents/carers to discuss aspects of the Yearly Report with their sons’ teachers, with the aim of identifying improvements and setting goals for the coming academic year.

We kindly remind parents/carers of Years 8 and 10 that these interviews are intended to focus on students’ current learning progress and therefore won’t be the appropriate setting to discuss prospective elective subject changes for next year. 

We hope parents/carers find these interviews meaningful in helping to gain valuable insights into their son’s academic progress.

Reminder: Speech Night 2025

A per the recent issues of the Especean, the College’s Annual Speech Night will be held at the Sydney Olympic Park Quaycentre, Homebush on Wednesday 3 December commencing at 6:30 PM with an estimated finish time of 8:30 PM – 8.45 PM. Parking for the Quaycentre will be available in Sydney Olympic Park P3 on Sarah Durack Avenue. Please refer to the map below.

Attendance is compulsory for all students from Years 5 to 11. All students from Years 5 to 10 are to be in attendance in full College summer uniform. All Year 11 students, all prize winners and some performers will be required to wear their blazers, and they will be informed separately in due course.

Entry to the venue’s Main Arena will open at 5:45 PM. Parents, carers and guests are asked to enter via Door 2, while College students and staff should enter through Door 5. Invited VIPs are requested to enter via Reception.

Please note that no outside food or drink is permitted inside the venue. Students must not chew gum and are not permitted to bring water or drink bottles onto the Main Arena floor.

Upon arrival, all students are required to report directly to their homeroom teacher in the Main Arena to have their attendance marked. Teachers will then direct students to their designated seating area.

It is also important to note that full student attendance at the College is compulsory and expected on each school day up to the last day of term, i.e., up to 3:10 PM on Wednesday 3 December at school followed by Speech Night in the evening.

End of Term, the Holidays and Year 12 HSC Preparations

I encourage our new Year 12 cohort to use the upcoming holidays wisely to consolidate their Term 4 learning and prepare for the upcoming Year 12 Assessment Block, which commences Monday 2 March, 2026. There will be enough time to enjoy the upcoming festive season and holidays with family and friends as well as time for constructive study.

I wish all parents/carers and boys a joyful and peaceful Christmas, a Happy New Year and a safe return to first term in 2026 which commences Friday 30 January for Years 5, 7 and 12 and Monday 2 February for Years 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

James Martin

Director of Curriculum

McGlade Library 2025 … by the numbers 

McGlade Library has enjoyed another strong year, with the data showing some clear growth from 2024 to 2025. Total loans jumped from 2,314 to 3,044, and we delivered more than 400 wide reading and research lessons—up from 350+ the previous year. 

With the introduction of the SORA eBook platform this year, eBook loans have surged, particularly from the YA collection. Reading interests remained fairly consistent, with Fantasy and Crime and Mystery still leading the way, but 2025 also saw noticeable increases in Humour and Graphic Novels. 

Our most active borrowers changed from last year, reflecting a new wave of enthusiastic readers, and the top LibGuides also shifted, with English taking the number one spot after History led in 2024. 

Favourite authors like Rick Riordan and Jeff Kinney remained steady, while new favourites, including Gege Akutami and Tristan Bancks, rose in popularity. The top books list also evolved, with Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days holding its place alongside new high-interest titles such as One of Us Is Lying and Jujutsu Kaisen. 

Overall, the data highlights a lively, growing reading culture and a library space that continues to adapt to the interests and needs of our students.

Jessica Lonard

Head of Library and Information Services