Assistant Principals' Report

Rachel Robertson - Years 7 & 8

As we approach the end of the year, there is much to celebrate among our Year 7 and Year 8 students.

Our Year 7 students had their final assembly on Monday, which was a lovely celebration recognising achievements throughout the year, as well as an opportunity to boost house spirit one more time with a series of challenges during the assembly. Students are eagerly anticipating their trip to Bounce on Thursday, 5 December. Alongside the fun-filled activities, they will also participate in a secret gift exchange.

For our Year 8 students, the much-loved annual trip to Funfields Theme Park is scheduled for Friday, 6 December. This event is always a highlight and a wonderful way to close out the year with laughter and shared memories.

Our Junior Ambassadors have begun their training and are preparing to showcase their leadership skills during the upcoming Year 7 Orientation Day on Tuesday, 10 December. These students will play a crucial role in welcoming our new Year 7 cohort, helping them navigate the transition to high school, and supporting their buddies as they settle into life at MGC.

The Year 8 camp was a tremendous success, with students embracing challenge-by-choice activities that fostered growth and teamwork. Highlights included the dual flying fox, kick bikes and kayaking. The experience at Lake Dewar provided students with an opportunity to step out of their comfort zones and create lasting memories, as well as setting them up for new classes in 2025.

Congratulations to our Year 7 students who have embraced their first year of Secondary School. You have adapted to a new chapter in your educational journey, showing resilience, curiosity and determination.

To our Year 8 students, we hope you have enjoyed the new subjects and extra-curricular opportunities that come with the Year 8 program. Next year, you will have three new electives to look forward to each semester.

As we wrap up another fantastic year at MGC, we wish all our families a well-deserved, restful break and look forward to another exciting year ahead in 2025.

Katherine Warriner - Years 9 & 10

As Term 4 draws to a close there have been many opportunities to celebrate the successes and achievements of our students. From the joyful Year 9 Celebration Assembly where students were acknowledged for their effort and commitment to the many aspects of their life at MGC, to the wonderful presentation evening where we recognised the academic and extra-curricular achievements of students across all year levels, this is a special time of year for staff and students.  

Since the last edition we have welcomed many of our new Year 8 to 12 students to the school at the New Student Induction Day. These students are changing schools part way through their secondary school journey, and they attended this day with a mixture of apprehension and excitement. This day was an opportunity for them to meet all the other new students and explore the school before they join us in 2025. 

Two of our Year 9 students who were attending the Alpine Campus of the School for Student Leadership have returned to us earlier than expected due to road closures near the school. They have continued the work they began while they were away and presented their Community Learning Projects to members of the Principal Team. This is their chance to reflect on what they have learned and their growth through the program. We have a number of other students who are attending the Snowy River Campus and will return to MGC in 2025. 

I had the privilege of attending the graduation ceremony for the MGC students who attended CHES this year. CHES is located in South Yarra and provides access to first year university-level studies, selected VCE subjects, and Year 10 enrichment electives, for high-achieving students.  

As my first year at MGC draws to a close I would like to thank all the students, parents and staff who have made me feel so welcome. I wish all members of the MGC community a safe, enjoyable and restful summer break and look forward to working with you all in 2025.  

Kate Nicholls - Years 11 & 12 

As we reflect on the past few weeks of November and the start of December, our students have shown tremendous effort and enthusiasm in a variety of activities, both academic and extracurricular. 

The Year 11 exams have officially concluded, marking the end of a challenging yet rewarding period for our Year 11 students that have now transitioned into our Year 12 students of 2025. With exams behind the year 10 and 11s, their focus turned to their VCE Head Start program, attending two sessions of Unit 1 and 3 subjects in preparation for the 2025 academic year. This initiative aims to give them a solid foundation as they move forward in their VCE journey and provide them with preparation content over the summer. 

This week saw the Aerobics awards night to celebrate the year the students have had with this extracurricular and departure of our AAFC Summer Camp participants, who looked excited as they set off on Monday. We look forward to hearing about their experiences when they return. 

Our Presentation Evening was a highlight this month, as we celebrated 30 years of MGC. It was an honour to hear from our five distinguished principals over the years: Cavell Zangalis, Jan Parkes, Judith Crowe, Karen Money, and Tamy Stubley. The evening was filled with inspiring moments, including academic and endeavour awards, as well as special presentations from a wide range of student groups. The Orchestra and Jazz Band captivated the audience, while the STEAM team amazed everyone with their robot and Lego league. Other performances included aerobics, dance, and a Year 8 poetry recital. Students who attended the recent French trip shared their experiences, while a Year 11 Media piece added to the creativity on display. We also heard from the AAFC and celebrated the achievements of our 2024 School captains. Our 2025 School Captains introduced our Student Executive for 2025, and we look forward to their leadership next year. It was an unforgettable evening, made even more special by the presence of so many families and friends of the MGC community.  

Please take a moment to review the list of award winners included in this newsletter. 

It’s been a truly remarkable term, and we look forward to the celebrations and look forward to seeing you all back in 2025.