Rachel Robertson

Years 7 & 8

Welcome back to Term 3. It has been lovely speaking to students about their holidays, whether it was escaping the winter in Melbourne or having a staycation. I hope everyone had a restful holiday.

Congratulations to all Year 7 students for completing 100 days of Year 7! We celebrated this special occasion by dancing (No lights, No Lycra! – as though no one was watching), making bracelets, and completing the 100-activities challenge to support students building new connections with their peers.

Thank you to all the Year 7 and 8 families who joined us for the Parent Information Sessions online this year. A reminder that Year 7 families have until Thursday 8th August to submit their child’s Language Preference on Compass. Please see your Compass Newsfeed for more information. Year 8s had an assembly to learn about their subject selection process for next year. Working with their Wellbeing teachers, they have had rich conversations about subject breadth, exploration, and the joy of taking a risk by trying something new. Subject Selections have been submitted on Compass and students will find out later this term which subjects have been confirmed.

Year 7 students participated in Murnong Day on Friday 26th July, where they learned about the biodiversity of the local area, planted Murnong plants and learned about the significance of these plants to the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people. It was great to see students getting their hands dirty planting native plants in our community garden!

Katherine Warriner

Years 9 & 10

The start of Term 3 has been a busy time for staff and students at MGC. All year levels have participated in course counselling and selected subjects for 2025. These choices will be used to construct a timetable over the next few weeks.

I had the privilege of attending the Community Tree Planting Day on Sunday 28th July. A large group of volunteers from MGC, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the University of Melbourne turned out on a wet and cold morning to plant native vegetation and weed the river bank along the MGC boundary. We were welcomed to country by Wurrundjeri elder, Pallyan, with a smoking ceremony and Year 11 student Daisy Daniels introduced the mural painted on the boatshed. The morning ended with a BBQ lunch and, despite the wet weather, many plants were put in place to help revegetate the area with native vegetation.

The entire school community is looking forward to the upcoming production of The Sound of Music and celebrating Science Week and Book Week.

Kate Nicholls

Years 11 & 12

As we dive into Term 3, our school community is buzzing with activity and excitement. We’ve hit the ground running with a range of enriching events and initiatives that promise to make this term both engaging and impactful for our students and their families.

Course Counselling Kicks Off

Our Course Counselling Information Sessions were a tremendous success, providing parents, guardians, and families with all the necessary insights to guide their children’s subject selections for 2025. This collaborative effort ensures that students make informed decisions about their academic futures.

Following these, we held dedicated Course Counselling days and meetings for VCE students transitioning from Year 10 to 11 and Year 11 to 12. This structured support ensures our students are well-prepared for their academic paths.

Year 11 and 12 Events

Year 12 students took part in a comprehensive Success Integrated session focused on exam revision and preparation. This session was designed to complement the earlier parent/guardian information session, reinforcing our commitment to providing thorough support for both students and their families in preparation for the end-of-year examinations and study techniques.

Additionally, Year 12s have begun their VTAC applications, marking the first steps towards their post-school opportunities. Meanwhile, Year 11 students enjoyed an enriching English excursion, where they experienced the critically acclaimed film Parasite.

Environmental Initiatives and Community Engagement

Our environmental group, in collaboration with Andrew Vance, hosted an exceptional evening featuring guest speakers who discussed the potential of Kangaroo grass as a crop and the importance of native plants for supporting native bee species. The night also included a delightful tasting of sourdough made with native grains.

This environmental focus continued with Murnong Day and a tree planting event, highlighting our ongoing commitment to sustainability and ecological education. It was fantastic to see so many of our local community involved, despite the wet weather conditions on Sunday.

In other community involvements our Youth in Philanthropy group has also recently attended their Lord Mayors forum to discuss their allocation of funds to different charities within the philanthropic program.

Cadets' Winter Challenge

Our Cadets demonstrated remarkable resilience during the AAFC Winter Bivouac camp in Week 1. Despite the wet and cold conditions, they tackled the challenges head-on, showcasing their determination and team spirit.

As we forge ahead through Term 3, we look forward to more engaging events and initiatives that will contribute to our students’ growth and success. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our vibrant school community.

The Lighthouse Foundation