Principal's Message
Dear MGSC Community
As we move further into Term 3, the energy around the College continues to be remarkable. Every day I have the privilege of seeing our students embracing new opportunities and our staff going above and beyond to provide exceptional learning experiences. It is this collective commitment that makes Mentone Girls' Secondary College such a special place.
The opening weeks of the term have been incredibly busy. Our Subject Expo and Information Evening, together with the inaugural VM Night Market, provided a wonderful opportunity for families to explore the breadth of learning pathways available to our students. It was fantastic to see hundreds of parents and students engaging with our teachers and speaking with such enthusiasm about future learning opportunities. Thank you to every staff member who contributed to making the evening such a success.
Our Year 9 and Year 10 Course Counselling Days have also been a significant undertaking. These days require months of planning and involve the dedication of staff from across the College to ensure every student receives personalised guidance as they begin planning their pathway into senior school. I sincerely thank everyone involved for the professionalism, care and commitment they demonstrated throughout this important process.
Earlier this term we also held a whole-school Professional Learning Day where staff explored and refined our emerging Empowered Learner Model. The day generated rich professional discussion and reaffirmed our shared commitment to continually improving teaching and learning for every student. It is exciting to see this work taking shape as we continue strengthening our implementation of the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0.
Our students have continued to make the most of the many opportunities available beyond the classroom. Congratulations to Year 11 student Madi Ryan, who proudly represented Australia with the Under-17 Women's Basketball team, the Sapphires, winning the bronze medal at the FIBA World Cup. We are incredibly proud of her achievement and the way she represents both our College and our country.
Congratulations also to our Instrumental Music students and staff following another outstanding Music Camp. Ninety-seven students participated in three days of rehearsals, performances and leadership activities that culminated in a wonderful concert for families. The camp showcased not only the exceptional musical talent within our College but also the supportive community that our music program continues to foster. Thank you to Wendy Harvey, Eric Ho and the entire Music Team for the enormous amount of work involved in creating such a memorable experience for our students.
One of the highlights of this week has been welcoming 19 students and their teachers from our sister school, Nakamura Senior High School in Japan, to Mentone Girls' Secondary College. Their visit is particularly special as it coincides with Languages Week, reminding us that learning another language is about far more than vocabulary and grammar. It is about understanding different cultures, broadening our perspectives and building meaningful connections with people from around the world.
Our partnership with Nakamura has flourished over many years, with students from both schools having the opportunity to experience life in each other's countries through our exchange program. These visits create lifelong memories and friendships while helping our students develop a deeper appreciation of different cultures, traditions and ways of life. I would like to sincerely thank the many MGSC families who have generously opened their homes to our visitors. Your hospitality allows our guests to experience Australian family life firsthand and plays a vital role in the success of this wonderful program.
Throughout the coming week, our Japanese visitors will be attending classes, participating in school activities and sharing in the daily life of our College. I know our students will make them feel welcome and, in doing so, continue the tradition of friendship and mutual respect that has become such a valued part of our relationship with Nakamura Senior High School.
One of the highlights of my week was attending the final site meeting for our new Wellness Studio. It is wonderful to see the building now entering its final stages. With only a few finishing touches remaining, including painting and the installation of our IT and audio-visual equipment, the space is really beginning to come to life. We are hopeful that the Wellness Studio will be ready to welcome students by the end of August. This purpose-built facility will become an important space supporting student wellbeing, mindfulness and learning for many years to come. Stay tuned over the coming weeks as we share more updates on its completion. There will be other enhancements to the Studio because of the Mega Raffle. Many thanks to all of our sponsors and community members that have been promoting the raffle.
As we continue through the term, we are also preparing for our Strategic Review, an important opportunity to reflect on our achievements, celebrate our successes and identify the priorities that will shape the next chapter of Mentone Girls' Secondary College. There is a genuine sense of excitement about what lies ahead, and I know our staff, students and wider community will play an important role in helping us shape that future.
Finally, I would like to thank our entire school community for your ongoing support. Every success we celebrate is made possible through the partnership between our dedicated staff, our wonderful students and our supportive families. Together, we continue to build a school community that reflects our values of Inclusivity, Empowerment, Creativity and Achievement.I hope everyone enjoys the remainder of Term 3, and I look forward to sharing more exciting news with you in the coming weeks.
Linda Brown
Principal