Principal's Report
Wishing our Year 12 students every success!
On Monday 22 October, we celebrated the final day of formal schooling for our wonderful class of 2018. Thank you to parents, families, Pat Sklavakis, Sandor Kazi and their team of teachers who have nurtured our students.
The Valedictory celebrated award winners in each subject as well as community service, special and leadership awards. We see all of our students as exceptional, whether award recipients or not. Please see the list of award winners at the conclusion of this report.
The English Exam took place on Wednesday 31 October with many staff on hand to wish every success. The class of 2018 have been ambassadors and role models for so many at MGC and we will miss them.
2019 Planning
Student Free Days approved by School Council:
- Friday, 8th March 2019 - Visible Wellbeing with Professor Lea Waters of The University of Melbourne
- Monday, 4th November 2018 – 2019 Planning
- Friday, 16th August 2019 – Curriculum Day
- Friday, 14th June 2019 - Assessment, Reporting and Planning
The Victorian Education Excellence Awards!
Congratulations to our Business Manager, Nancy Sandilands and her team who won the Outstanding Education Support Team award on Friday 26 October. Nancy, Emma Kapoor, Mella Pescos, Kathy Schipper, Mary-Ann Baldacchino, Bryony Sahlstrom, Jordyn Taylor, Jaymee Booth and Glen Holland are excellent State educators. The award recognises their professional commitment to the values of the Department of Education whilst supporting our students, staff and parents in every way. The team also share their knowledge and expertise widely across our State system. We are all very proud of them.
2019 College Captains
The 2018 College Captains, Isabelle Carney, Ky Luong and Claudia Junge handed over to our new 2019 Captains Georgia Wolfe, Genevieve Cox and Meg Funston on 25 October. Issy, Ky and Claudia have been excellent role models and leaders for all students. Their inclusion of ideas and approachability has seen many barriers between year levels broken down. We wish Meg, Gen and Georgia every success in their new roles.
Art and Design Exhibition and Parent Association (PA) Art Acquisition Award ceremony, 30 October
The excellent showcase was a celebration of art, design, the girls’ creativity and talent. Thank you to Harriet Turnbull, Fiona Storrie, Jo Jepsen, Ollie Hull and Roger Dunscombe, who have been inspiring the girls and leading their Year 12 learning throughout the year. Of course all of our Art and Design teachers have contributed to this learning over many years.
Thank you to our PA, Gailean Hammond, Anna Makin, Robynne Smith and Sallie Carman who support our school in so many ways. Their award went to Monique Burns for her linoprint titled Banksia Prionotes'.
Congratulations to Emma Roe who is the recipient of the Suzanne Barrah special award this year.
This award is given to a senior student for considerable commitment and passion in their pursuit of a pathway within a creative design field. Emma hopes to study Fashion Design at RMIT next year and this award is intended to assist her with this vocational pathway.
Aerobics National Championships
As Lenore, our Aerobics Leader, reported in the last newsletter, 43 of our students participated in the Australian Aerobic Gymnastics National Championships on the Gold Coast in September. The Melbourne Girls’ College team was awarded the most successful school prize in Australia, and many of the girls won individual and group medals at the championships including overall club champion and second overall school champions. The triumphs are a testament to the girls and to all the hard work and dedication of Lenore Twist, Catie Cameron-Martin, our coaches and parents. Congratulations to all involved.
Sustainability
MGC is the case study on page 11 of this 2018 report on “A Plan to Repower Our Schools”.
With gratitude
Our parents and staff work tirelessly to ensure every learning opportunity is supported, their dedication to the girls is extraordinary. Some highlights which will also be reported upon by staff in our newsletters are:
- “Girls in Property” thank you to our parent Vicki Sharp for organising the opportunity for our students to participate in a Property Council project aimed at gender equity in a male dominated industry. Melbourne Girls’ College has always looked for opportunities to ensure gender equality in every sphere.
- Chinese trip celebration, thank you Lucy Chen, PingPing Elliott, Bibo Shi and Will Li
- The Year 9 National Australia Bank Women IT Project, thank you Catie Cameron Martin
- Parents’ Association Raffle, thank you Gailean Hammond, Anna Makin, Robynne Smith, Sallie Carman and Natasha Walsh
- State Athletics Finals for School Sports Victoria, SSV Indoor Rowing thank you Andrew Fero-Kovassy
- Melbourne Water Conference, thank you Andrew Vance and Samone Hosking
- The piano and strings soirees thank you Anne Corry, Katrina Halliday, Wen Chin and Andrew Clarke
- Year 7 Amazing Race thanks to the Year 7 team
- Semester 2 Dance Showcase thank you Jordan Evans
- “Do IT In A Dress Day” fundraiser for girls’ education, thanks to Lucy Skelton, Ash O’Brien, Wendy Keen
- Rowing Season Launch and Ergathon, thank you Andrew Beck, Steph Burgess, parents, coaches and rowers!
Our staff and parents are exceptional. We appreciate the parent acknowledgement of everyone listed above, here is one eloquent example, thank you for allowing us to share your kind words Patsy.
Thank you for the music!
Dear Ms. Money, Mr. Arney, and all the music faculty,
I just want to congratulate you on the wonderful music program at Melbourne Girls. My daughters have benefited so much from being a part of the music program since year 7. I have seen them blossom into confident, responsible and proud musicians and members of various bands and ensembles. Watching them perform this year in the school production and multitude of soirees made me so proud and so envious that I was never part of something so exciting.
I am so glad you have added the 'A' in STEAM! If the aim is to encourage girls to participate and succeed in traditionally male pursuits, then it is working fantastically through the music program. Watching all the schools competing at Generations In Jazz, I was dismayed to see how few female musicians were among them, and even fewer taking on the roles of 'soloists'. My girls have never been made to feel that they are anything other than equal to their male counterparts and have been encouraged to push their musical boundaries and stand up and perform on their own in front of an audience from Year 7. The impact of this on their confidence and sense of identity has been enormous.
When they finish High School, my girls will take the skills and confidence they have gained through music away with them. I hope they continue to play music in some form, but if they don't, the lessons and experiences they have gained through MGC music will stand them in good stead when it comes to making life and work choices.
Thank you once again for your dedication, encouragement and patience!
Regards,
Patsy
To our parents, please consider joining in the work of MGC. The P.A. meets each term, School Council each month. The aerobics, rowing, cadets, environmental and STEAM teams are always looking for parent volunteers and support.
Many thanks for your ongoing support in preparing the girls for the best future possible.
Kind regards,
Karen
Valedictory 2018 - Excellence Awards
One award is presented for each VCE Unit 3/4 Study.
It is given to the student who has distinguished themselves above all others in terms of attendance, attitude, and involvement in class activities and has demonstrated excellence in the study.
Valedictory 2018 – Special Awards
Year 12 Teachers to be Thanked and Celebrated
Laura Allen –English
Desmond Ang - Biology
Jeanette Bathgate –Further Maths
Nunu Bisogni - English
Simone Bomar –Accounting
Liam Brown - English, Philosophy
Paul Carter - English
Martin Berezdecky - Chemistry
Susanna Castello - Further Maths
Anne Corry – Music Performance
Anna Crosswhite –Health & Human Dev.
Sefija Demirova - Legal Studies
Alice Dawes – English
Olivia Day –English as Additional Language
Terry Donnelly –Literature
Tonia Douglas Scarf –Health and Human Development
Andrew Doyle – English
Roger Dunscombe –Media
PingPing Elliot –Chinese 2nd Language
Jordan Evans –Dance
Mei Francis - Math Methods, Specialist Maths
Leanna Ha - Further Maths, Math Methods
Elizabeth Hajzler –Global Politics
Peter Hilton –French
Trevor Howlett - Further Maths
Jo Jepsen –Product Design and Technology
Sandor Kazi –Physics
Wendy Keen – Psychology
Jason Kohlman - French, English Language
Isabella Kontogeorgis –Legal Studies
Alison Lam –Business Management
Amanda Lucas –Outdoor Ed Studies
Paula McIntosh – Psychology
Ella Macdonald – Psychology
Emily Miller - Further Maths
Megan Moat - Chemistry, Math Methods
Lindy Mumme – Drama
Amer Munro –English Language
Wendy Murray – Biology
Michael Newton - English
Ashley O’Brien –Food Technology
Brooke O’Callaghan - English
Shaunagh O’Connell - English Add Language
Lisa Rosos –History Revolutions
Emily Shaw –Math Methods
Bibo Shi – Year 12 Chinese First Language
Patricia Sklavakis –Chemistry
Georgia Sotiriou - Math Methods, Specialist Maths
Fiona Storrie –Visual Communication & Design
Bridget Tellefson –PE
Harriet Turnbull –Studio Art Visual & Digital
Andrew Vance –Biology