From the Principal

Dear parents, families and students

This is the season when we pause to reflect on the past year and we pay our respects and give thanks to the people in our lives that support us and bring us joy.  It is also a time when we look forward to the next year and all the opportunities and challenges that it can bring.  

I would like to start my reflection by giving expressing my sincere thanks to the teachers who are retiring at the end of the year: David Shillabeer, Judy Firestone, Allan Trigellis-Smith, Jo Egan, Helen Perks, Michael Warden and Randy Marshall. Their service to the education of our students has been exemplary and their contribution to the College is much appreciated. I also thank Meral Simsek, Nyree Wilson, Ekaterina Xanthopoulos, Jess Rogosic, Rebecca Poulos and Angela Sassone, who will be moving to other schools next year, for their inspiring teaching and guidance of our students. Gemma Johnson will also be taking leave as she will be having a baby in the New Year. In addition I thank the following teachers who have replaced teachers on leave over the course of the year – Clive Milne, Sue Duggan, Vana Dimu, Sam Wilkins, Becky White, Teagan Dixon, Trent McIntyre and Dusanka Devic. We greatly value their support and the way that they stepped in so effortlessly. Some of these teachers will be working in the college next year, others have taken up positions at other schools. Their departure has created an opportunity for 13 new staff to join our fine college and we look forward to their positive contribution to the College community.

We have commenced the planning stage of the 'Pick My Project' initiative for the all-weather running track. This will be unique contribution to our school and the local area as there isn’t such a facility in the nearby schools. There is a great deal of excitement around the creation of the all-weather running track and long-jump pit from staff in the PE department in particular.

We have also completed the investigative work (soil testing, etc) for the STEAM Centre and have now put this out to tender with architectural firms. The school will be funding this from school raised funds that we have saved over a number of years. It is expected that work will commence next year in Semester two.

We have continued to paint the external buildings over the past few weeks and further work will take place over the holidays with landscaping in the canteen quadrangle as well as the pathway in between the Performing Arts Building and Administration building also taking place.  We have also renewed the cladding on the side of the gym and made significant repairs to the roof to reduce noise to the neighbours as well as reducing the effect of weather on the gym.  My thanks go to Bronwen Peterson, our Facilities Manager, for her diligence and drive in this area.  It is also important that I acknowledge the input of the Facilities Committee who meet regularly to discuss works that are requested or required in the school.

I am grateful for the continued support of Carol Duggan and Bronwyn Moline, who are outstanding in their roles as Assistant Principals. They have supported members of the Leadership Team and the staff in general and, as-a-result, we are moving as one towards achieving our goals to improve teaching practice and student learning outcomes.  Our newly appointed Business Manager, Kelly Lloyd-Vanni has undertaken a range of team building initiatives within the Education Support Staff teams which have resulted in the administrative processes within the college being streamlined and improved.  Together, the four of us make a terrific team. 

I thank the School Council for their continued support of the College. In particular, I thank Rachael Angus (Vice-President) and James Malliaros (President) who have taken time out of their working week to develop relationships with leading figures in the local area.  I also thank Gerri Sumpter for her involvement on the School Strategic Plan Review Panel. Their commitment to the College is much appreciated and I believe that the reputation of our college has been enhanced as a result of their commitment.

Finally, I thank the teachers of the college who have contributed to one of the biggest leaps in VCE achievement that we have seen for some time. The Victorian average ATAR in 2018 is 65.22 and we have achieved well above this with 72.68.  This is a shift from the MGSC average ATAR of 70.7 in 2016.  This has been achieved through an increase in teacher collaboration, a focus on differentiation and regular use of data by staff.  We really are the school where every girl from everywhere can experience success. We look forward to lifting this average ATAR even further in 2019.  I wish the students, parents, teachers, education support staff and the extended school community all the best for the festive season. 

2018 Dux 

Congratulations to Tyla Harwood-White our 2018 Dux with an ATAR of 98.55. Tyla hopes to enrol in Paramedicine at Monash University. 

Well done to all the class of 2018 and your achievements at MGSC. We are very proud of all you have accomplished.

MGSC Travellers

Our four World Challenge teams have mostly finished their trekking and project work. They are all having a wonderful experience, but no doubt are looking forward to returning home on 22 December. We wish them a safe return trip. We thank Michael Warden, Deb Jarvis, Louise Rieniets, Amanda O’Hara, Ashleigh Bendall, Mel Erwin, Emma Colmanet, Amy Willett and Fiona Faulkes for accompanying the teams. And we thank Michael Warden for his dedication, commitment and outstanding leadership of the program over many years.

The three students attending the NASA Space Camp are also having a fabulous time and will return with lots of stories and photos of their adventures.

Best wishes for a safe and enjoyable holiday. 

Kind regards

Ms Linda Brown