Rachel Robertson - Years 7 & 8

Welcome Back to Term 4!

I hope everyone had a restful break. A special congratulations to all the students who participated in the National Aerobics Championships over the holidays. Achieving third place overall is an outstanding accomplishment, and we are incredibly proud of your hard work and dedication!

A big thank you to our Year 7 and 8 students for their cooperation moving lockers earlier this week to support the start of Year 12 exams. Please remember to check Compass from Monday, 28th October, as there will be several classroom changes to accommodate exams taking place on Level 3.

It is inspiring to see so many Year 7 students submit applications to become Junior Ambassadors next year. This cohort’s enthusiasm for leadership opportunities certainly reflects our school motto: Lead and Achieve!

Our Year 7 students showed great bravery this week, receiving not one but two injections as part of the National Immunisation Program. A lollypop certainly made the experience sweeter for many of them!

Meanwhile, Year 8 students have been enthusiastically planning their 2025 electives. Confirmations were sent via email, so please use this information to complete the Course Confirmation process. For further details, check the Newsfeed on Compass.

Lastly, we wish the very best of luck to our Year 7 Volleyball team and Year 8 Basketball team as they compete in the Regional Finals this week. We are cheering you on!

Katherine Warriner - Years 9 & 10

The start of Term 4 has been an exciting time at MGC. Our Year 12 students celebrated the end of their secondary schooling in a joyful and respectful manner. The effort that went into the costumes throughout the second week of term was impressive and the assembly for the whole school to say goodbye and wish them well was very moving. Not even the rain could put a dampener on the celebrations.

We have a number of events for Year 9 and 10 students coming up in the next few weeks including Outdoor Education camps for both Year 9 and 10 classes. There are a number of curriculum related excursions running for both Year 9 and 10 students. Participation in these excursions enhances student understanding of the curriculum and provides opportunities to see the content they are learning in class applied in the real world. Students are required to attend all curriculum related excursions if they are present at school on the day.

Course Confirmation is underway, and all students have received their subjects for 2025. Year 10 students will complete exams and then embark on Headstart, beginning their VCE journey. More information will be provided in the coming weeks about both these events. The Year 10 cohort will finish the year with Work Experience placements which will give them an opportunity to find out more about possible future careers.

The VCE Art, Design and Media Exhibition will start next week, and we encourage families to come along and see the amazing work produced by our students.

Kate Nicholls - Years 11 & 12

Last week, we celebrated our Year 12 students with an unforgettable Celebration Week, filled with activities and events designed to honor their accomplishments over their time at MGC and mark the transition to their next chapter.

The week kicked off with themed dress-up days, where students showcased their creativity. Each day brought new themes, creating an exciting atmosphere as everyone got involved. On Tuesday, the Parents Association treated our Year 12 students to a special surprise: an ice cream van at lunchtime! It was a delightful way to cool off and celebrate, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to the Parents Association for making this possible. Thursday featured a memorable Year 12 assembly, where students received their journals from Year 7. This poignant moment allowed them to reflect on their journey and growth throughout their school years. The conclusion of this special assembly with their incredible Year Level Leaders Tonia Douglas Scarfe and Leigh Hanley, also included a fun Colour Run with their teachers, bringing laughter and joy to the day. A wonderful idea bought about thanks to Student exec in 2024. On Friday, the rain just held off, allowing us to gather at the park for a BBQ breakfast. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to relax and enjoy each other's company before the final celebrations. Following breakfast, we held a whole school celebration assembly, where students performed, we introduced our new school captains for 2025 and acknowledged the contributions of our Year 12 cohort. Concluding their final day with a Guard of Honour, students in Years 7 to 11 lined up to bid farewell to our Year 12 students.

The highlight of this week was the Valedictory Ceremony at the Pullman in Albert Park. It was a beautiful evening dedicated to celebrating each student in the Year 12 cohort. The event featured stunning performances from our talented students, including numbers from "The Sound of Music" and a special performance by our physics singing group, accompanied on guitar by teacher Sandor Kazi.

The evening also showcased students' artwork, media presentations and photo montages, capturing memorable moments from their time at school. Inspiring speeches were delivered by our school captains – Nandini, Grace and Lily, alongside a heartfelt reflection from Macy Tyrell, who shared her journey and experiences throughout her schooling. Academic awards were presented, highlighting the achievements of our exceptional Year 12 students.

As we look back on this remarkable fortnight, we are filled with pride for our Year 12 students and all they have accomplished. Their hard work, dedication, and spirit have left a lasting impact on our school community. We wish them all the best for their upcoming exams. Thank you to everyone who participated in making Celebration Week and the Valedictory Ceremony a truly unforgettable experience! A big thank you to Leigh, Tonia and Jodi for all of their support of the students this year and in the coordinating of these events.

World Teachers' Day