Principal's Reflections

What another incredible year we have had this year at MFG!

While 2021 has been dominated, yet again, by a tiny little virus that has caused us all to hibernate on and off all year and learn remotely in our homes, there has still been much to celebrate this year.

First of all we would like to thank our resilient staff, who stoically embraced on-learning again. We were so proud of how the staff collaborated together and supported each other and our students and their families; it was a wonderful team effort! 

A special acknowledgement needs to be made of our amazing leadership team who patiently and professionally led our MFG staff and students through their challenges during the year. Thank you to Cindy Robinson, Joy Carr, Renee Lane, Sarah Tolley, Joanne Toone, Kylie McMillan and Shelley Grant for their leadership throughout the year.

Thanks to our wonderful students, who accepted that they needed to be at home, to socially distance and to wear face masks to keep each other and their families safe. We know some of you thrived at home and others less so. Regardless of how well you managed, we all found it tough at times. It was terrific to hear the stories of you supporting each other both academically and emotionally when you were at home. 

To our Year 12 students, we are sorry that we could not provide the usual rites of passage for you. While we did have some dress up days, fun days, assemblies and celebrations they were significantly modified and not what you imagined your Year 12 would be like; especially the few days before your English exam. A special thanks to the student leadership team for their support of our student community during the year, especially during remote learning.

To our parents, thank you for your patience and support during this year, especially during the lock downs. Much of the time we were trying to make decisions based on announcements made in the media. Your understanding of this predicament and trust that we would manage the situation thoughtfully and safely was welcomed.

Thank you to our school canteen team for their tenacity this year. The in and out of lock downs meant they could have lost much of their stock or taken it home but instead they gave it away to students, which was very generous. We appreciate your efforts to make yummy food and accommodate our special requirements during the year.

In addition to the pandemic, this year marked a few significant events in the MFG calendar, including: our sports days which had wonderful House spirit; music and dance in the school grounds before school and at lunch; our new playground, new outdoor furniture, grassed areas and shade sails; numerous lunch activities planned by students and staff; our special clubs (games, philosophy, poetry, craft) and many more that you will see in our magazine.

However, it is the attitudes and values that are embedded in the fabric of everyday life in our MFG community that are embodied in the multitude of moments, some significant, some hardly noticeable, which add to the development of our MFG traits in each of our students. So, we would like to recognise the diligence, perseverance and focus of our staff and our students who strive each day to achieve these magnificent MFG traits.

Despite the challenges of 2021, I feel strongly that the MFG community was able to continue “Looking Forward”.

Ms Michelle Crofts 

Principal of Matthew Flinders Girls