Principal’s Report

I am in constant awe of the time that our teachers dedicate to ensuring their students’ learning and well-being needs are met. They work in teams to challenge research, observe each other’s practice, understand all students in their classes and tailor their classrooms to challenge and meet the diverse needs of their learners. But our teachers go above and beyond their classroom responsibilities. They give up time with their families to ensure their classes get to experience life at camp and other unfamiliar environments.  They spend their weekends looking for resources and other tools that will make the learning explicit and unique. Our teachers work incredibly hard to make our school culture a happy, fun, safe place to learn. So, if you get an opportunity, please let our teachers know that they are appreciated for all that they do.

And alongside our teachers, we have an incredible Education Support Staff.  It was Educational Support Staff Day on Monday 16 May, and this day provided a wonderful occasion to thank the staff who quietly, efficiently, and collaboratively ensure that the College functions smoothly and allows our teachers to maximise their focus on our students.  Our support staff, in varied and valued roles, play a vital part in the collective work we undertake to improve student outcomes and take enormous pride in and reward their work. Thanks to our Education Support staff!

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact us considerably. While we can move around freely, and engage in many social activities, the current wave of positive COVID cases and the influenza rates are impacting the daily operations of the college.    We are experiencing rolling waves of absences from both teachers and students which is affecting critical connections in the classroom.  Teachers are working over and above trying to reach and support all students in and outside the classroom, while absent students are doing their best to catch up after returning from a week or so off.  Up until now, we have managed to continue to offer and run our co-curricular programs and excursions, but like many schools, we may be forced to begin to cancel activities if we do not have enough staff to cover classes at school. 

Please be aware that as from Thursday 2 June, all students will be able to see class information, instructions, and relevant links through Compass for each lesson. If a student is unwell and absent, they can check Compass to follow up on any work missed.  More information will be shared with families via our newsfeed over the next week.   We ask all members of our college community to continue to practice good hand hygiene, social distancing, mask wearing (as a recommendation) and please do not send your child to school if they are unwell.  It continues to be a challenging time, but we strongly believe that if we work together, we will get through this.

Over the last week, all students have been providing feedback on their experiences and perceptions at school via the Student Attitude to School Survey.  This survey is conducted annually across all government schools from Grade 3 to Year 12. At Melbourne Girls’ College, we value student voice as a powerful means to improve student engagement, well-being and high-quality teaching and learning. The data from this survey, the PIVOT surveys run by teachers this term and the various student forums and focus groups allow us to view the world from the student lens.  It lets us gain an understanding of student perceptions and then collectively enables us to implement programs and activities to improve your child’s schooling experience.  We look forward to celebrating and sharing this data with our school community later in the school year.

Tuesday 24 May was a dedicated curriculum day for the teachers at MGC.  The core focus of this day was to review and embed our Instruction Model – L.E.A.R.N. Each year, we are allocated four student-free days and these days provide critical resources and opportunities for providing professional learning, authentic collaboration, curriculum development and student assessment, moderation, and reporting.  This day was highly successful with teachers engaging in meaningful and purposeful partnerships to enhance the visible learning opportunities for our students. 

Thank you to our parents and carers for your ongoing support in ensuring students arrive to school in their full school uniform and are on time for classes.  We have seen a noticeable shift in students wearing the appropriate uniform. Maintaining and continuing to improve this is something that will be supported by the whole college leadership team moving forward.

We continue to acknowledge and celebrate the success and participation of so many students from across the college, for example; our interschool sporting teams’ success, Rotary Mock Job Interviews, Public Speaking Competitions, Dance Night, Rowing Presentation Night, AAFC events, School Production rehearsals, Camps and a number of excursions. I am sure you will read more about some of these events, results and successes during this edition.

Thank you again for your continued support of Melbourne Girls’ College at this time. 

Tamy Stubley

Principal