Vale Kate Henderson

Our wonderful 2015 Parents’ Association co-President Kate Henderson passed away last Friday. Kate was a vibrant, kind, joyful and astute woman who will always be remembered at Melbourne Girls’ College. Kate was the first to support others, raise a laugh, see the quirky humour in any situation and encourage. To Kate’s adored daughter, Fionnuala and husband Bob, there are no words to express our sadness and sympathy. We are all so lucky to have known Kate and thank you for sharing her with us.

School Council and 2016 Planning Agenda

Welcome to our new Councilor, Sonia Sharp. Sonia brings a wealth of knowledge about State education. Congratulations also to returning Councilors Gary Funston and Rose Lucas.

Enormous thanks are extended to Hugh Rogers whose tenure on Council concludes. Hugh’s wise advise on Finance Committee and Council has been invaluable to the success of MGC.

In the last Newsletter the important work of School Council was highlighted. More examples of the work of Council include:

Learning
International Student Program
Inclusion and Enrolment Policies Community and stakeholder connections
Informing DET on State education provision and improvements
Discussing new DET policies the school is required to implement
Co-curricular programs – rowing, aerobics, dance, instrumental music

Sir James Holman Visit

Prominent U.K. Scientist, Sir John Holman, Emeritus Professor, University of York, visited Melbourne Girls’ College on 9th March. Many thanks to our Science Leader, Entelia Theodorou and the Science Faculty for hosting him. Sir John’s specific interest is in both the use of practicums in science classes and in our professional motivation to work in public education.

Sir John is also President of the UK Royal Society of Chemistry and founding Director of the UK National STEM centre. I visited the Centre in July, 2010 and the experience was certainly a factor in the STEAM proposal for MGC from 2016.

NAB Women in Technology Project and STEAM @ MGC

We are embarking upon another project linked to our new Science Technology Engineering Art and Mathematics (STEAM) program. Women are under-represented at University and in the workforce in Information Communication Technology careers. Our project with the National Australia Bank is one which plants the idea of possible careers in ICT for Years 9-10 students. The girls involved in the project will be immersed in an experience at 700 Bourke St. This is a ’smart’ e-linked building with computer technology supporting infrastructure, working and meeting places. The students would be exposed to a program of immersion sessions, each led by a NAB “champion” in:

Business analysis / CX design Innovating with technology / pitching ideas
Agile software development / user testing Security / cybercrime
Data analytics

Erin Edgley has lead the project and gained support from fellow Careers Advisers based at MacRob, Suzanne Corey, St. Catherine’s and Melbourne Girls’ Grammar.

Professor Yong Zhao

Professor Yong Zhao is leading a project in curious, creative and entrepreneurial learning funded by The Mitchell Institute and supported by VASSP. MGC will join the project as it provides insights into the work we have already begun in wellbeing, curiosity and STEAM. Our Assistant Principal, Learning & Curriculum, Brent Houghton and two students attended the 9th March project opening. The students are the true leaders of learning in this project and will develop a proposal to put key learnings into action.

Richmond Rotary – Interview Experience

Thank you to Sefija Demirova and Erin Edgley who once again organised Richmond Rotary volunteers to undertake ‘mock’ job interviews with 94 Year 10 girls. The program gives the students opportunities to write applications, meet deadlines and present to an experienced business person. Richmond Rotary support our programs in so many ways and we are grateful for this excellent wider community connection which shows the girls learning doesn’t begin and end the school gate.

International Student Division trip to Vietnam

Lluani Williams, International Student Coordinator and I travelled to Vietnam to attend conferences in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Lluani continued to Danang and to visit the Vietnamese families of current students whilst I returned to the college. Currently over 90% of our 65 International students are Chinese which does not provide the diversity of internationalism we expect the program to deliver for all of our students, both local and from overseas. It was a successful trip as we met three wonderful students and families who will joining MGC in 2017.

Rowing

A fantastic celebration of the Rowing Season was held on 10th March. Congratulations to all of our girls and sincere thanks to the Rowing Committee President, Shelley Anderson; Treasurer Tony Sullivan; Head Coach Nick Wells, Rowing Coordinator Tonia Douglas-Scarfe, Nancy Sandilands Business Manager, Kathy Schipper, Finance Officer and Mella Pescos, Local Payroll for all of the behind the scenes work. Parent support is essential to any school endeavor and the parents who contribute to the Rowing Program in so many ways are very much appreciated. Congratulations to all of our girls who placed or won their final at Head of School Girls and good luck to our girls competing at the Australian Open Schools Rowing Championships in Sydney this week.

Uniform

Uniform is a small but important part of being part of the MGC team, ‘school pride’. Positive uniform blitzes and those with consequences for example for short skirts, jumpers tied around waists and no blazers continue. Students in correct uniform will receive a raffle ticket to go into a draw for café vouchers. Thank you to all students who display school pride so symbolically. True school pride is about the whole learning experience, the learning and co-curricular experiences at Melbourne Girls’ are rich and rewarding but uniform is a part of showing commitment to the whole experience of the school.

Karen Money