Principal's message

As we draw to the close of the 2019 academic year, I pause to reflect on our achievements. We continue to attract enrolments for all year levels from nearby and further afield. I am very proud of the values and vision of our college and our mission to provide a comprehensive and accessible curriculum for every student.

 

We established a partnership with the Victorian School of Languages (VSL) at the beginning of the year to host their classes on a Saturday mornings. It has been very successful with an increasing number of our students taking up Chinese First Language. Next year the VSL will extend its language offerings to also include Vietnamese FL, Croatian, Spanish and Italian. 

 

We have recently seen the completion of the all-weather running track which has soccer and football goals plus, long, triple and high jump facilities. The gymnasium has also been upgraded with additional sound cladding and repairs made to the roof. We look forward to being able to share these facilities with our local community into the future. We expect to commence the building works for the STEAM Centre early next year. 

 

We receive many unsolicited comments from visitors to our school about how terrific the gardens, communal areas, and sporting facilities are. I wish to thank Tammy Schindler-Hands, our gardener, who has waved her magic wand over the school.

 

As this is the last newsletter for the term I feel I must acknowledge the achievements and contributions of our leadership team comprising of  the Assistant Principals Carol Duggan and Bronwyn Moline, and in Term 4, Acting Assistant Principal, Deb Jarvis. They have worked alongside and supported the leading teachers, Rochelle Dickson, Sam Haines, Jonathan Hall, Jenny Connolly, Tim Veevers, Wendy Harvey, Alison Pickard, Sylvia Christopoulos, Emma Holman, Amanda O’Hara (Acting in Term 4), Dylan Reeves, Jocelyn Chang, Diana Gilbert and Suzanne Reinhardt. Then there are the Domain Leaders, Anne Gamble, Alexandra Andrianopoulos, Stefanie Cappuccio, Amy Willett, Dahli Briedis, Jackie Mathews, and Deb McKay. It is through their collective efforts of the leadership team and all of the staff within those teams that we have achieved so much in this year.

 

Finally, I am grateful to have such passionate members of the College Council who have the shared vision and foresight to invest in the education of our students.  It has been an honour to be the Principal of a school where the School Council are proactive in raising the profile of the College. It is important that we continue to share the success stories of our school in as many forums as possible so that these stories allow young girls and women to see that the mould can be broken and the glass ceiling can be shattered.   

 

It is hoped that sometime in the next couple of years, that we will receive funds to undertake a master plan and eventually new buildings for the site. After all, MGSC will be celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2020. It is time for Mentone Girls’ Secondary College to “move into the future with the values of the past” as the school song goes. It will only happen if we continue to raise the awareness of the successes of the school, the difference that we make to the self-efficacy of our students and that we highlight what is unique about MGSC.

 

We are fortunate to have a supportive Parents and Friends' Association who are always on hand to assist with a variety of functions throughout the year. They continue to run our second-hand uniform shop and organise the book swap at the end of the year. Both of these endeavours are ways to assist parents with reducing the costs of educating their children.

 

We recently hosted our Presentation Evening at the Kingston City Hall. This was the venue that the school first used when our Nina Carr Hall become too small for the evening in 1991. My congratulations to all of the awardees on the evening. It was a jammed-packed day as we also hosted the 2020 Year 7 Orientation Day. It was terrific to see them so enthusiastic on the day and my thanks goes to the Director of Junior School, Emma Holman for her organisation of the day. Emma and her Junior School Team and teacher made the students feel relaxed and welcome on the day.

 

Our VCE results are once again favourable with our Dux, Alicia Gilpin achieving an outstanding an ATAR of 99.65. Alicia intends to study Physiotherapy at Monash University. 17.26% of students achieved an ATAR over 90 and 17.86% achieved an ATAR over 80 which is outstanding.  I wish all our Year 12 students the best in their career pathways.

 

Sadly, this is also the time of year when we say farewell and thanks to some of our staff. The staff leaving us for other schools, travel adventures, were on short-term contracts or leave are – Kattina Bowell, Tristan Barry, Vana Dimu, Holly Lee, Janine Gollant, Alisha Smith, Kylie Norris, Pip Purser, Emma Morris and Alexandria Andrianopoulos. 

 

I wish also to sincerely thank Maurice Woolcock and Luke De Munk who will be retiring at the end of the year. Both of these staff members have devoted their years to teaching, have made an impact on the lives of students and have contributed beyond their teaching role to each school they have been in. On behalf of the entire school community, I wish them well and give my heart-felt thanks.

 

I hope that all of our students have a safe, happy and relaxing holiday break with their families and I look forward to seeing you all next year.

 

Kind regards

 

Linda Brown

Principal

MGSC Christmas Carollers
MGSC Christmas Carollers

Leadership Training

2020 Student leaders had a half day workshop to build their leadership skills and prepare for the year ahead. 

 

Space Camp

Our 2019 Space Camp participants have moved from Huntsville to Houston. Diana Gilbert reported

"Inspiring talk by Nicole Stott, astronaut, aquanaut and artist. She flew three Shuttle Missions and lives for three months on the ISS."

 

There have also been simulated moon, walks, lab work and many more life-changing opportunities.