Principal's Message
Welcome back
One of my greatest pleasures on the holidays is the purchase of a few magazines and relax back and read them for pleasure. Being true to my nerdy self, this was my collection which included: Science Illustrated, PiP (Permaculture in Practice), Earth Garden and Australian Photography magazines amongst some lovely novels. In the Science magazine I read about some stem cell research they have done with white rhinos. Sadly, there are only two female white rhinos left in the world. In order to save this magnificent species scientists are endeavouring to convert skin cells into stem cells. With a mixture of proteins and hormones these turn into primordial germ cells which can have tissue from the oviducts from the rhino added to them. This triggers a meiosis process where the cells divide and become eggs which can then be fertilised with a sperm and embedded into a female rhino. There have been three rhinos born using this method of artificial insemination. Scientists are hoping to save the species.
This summer holiday period has been marked by extra-ordinary fire storms that have left families devastated and our native wild life very vulnerable. Perhaps it will be science like the stem cell research they are doing with rhinos that we will need to employ in the future to save some of our affected species. I believe that scientists will continue to find solutions to the many problems that the fires have raised for us.
I know many of us have already responded to a variety of support groups. I would like us to consider, with our students and staff, how we might as a school offer our support to the people affected over our summer break.
As our new vision states, “MFG creates lifelong learners who live the MFG traits as positive members of the community”. One of our traits is: “Responsible and active local and global citizens” which resonates completely with us as a school actively assisting the affected people, flora and fauna. So please if you have ideas come and discuss them with me.
If anyone here has been affected please speak with your child’s home group teacher.
I wish everyone a magnificent year of learning.
MFG Leadership 2020
Below are the people in key positions of responsibility of our school for 2020.
Staff Update
We welcome the following staff to MFG in 2020:
- Renee Lane – Leading Teacher MFG Way
- Sophie Mildren – Psychology & Humanities
- Ted O’Neil – Music and Young Hearts
- Sonia Panek – Mental Health Practitioner
- Sue-Anne Parlour – Literacy Learning Specialist
We welcome back the following staff:
- Kirsty Forsythe – English and Humanities Teacher
- Niki Lindsay – Office Staff
- Delphine Pacifique - French teacher
The following staff are on leave:
- Gayle Burrill – Term 1
- Claire Jones – Term 1
- Mark Sherriff – Terms 1 & 2
Academic Focus - The Study Space
Help your child find a quiet place to study away from distractions. If they are in their bedroom keep the phone on the kitchen bench and have clear times for social media, so it does not distract study time. Studying in front of the TV is never productive so perhaps there is a discussion you can have around quiet study time and relaxing TV time. As your child gets older these study places may need to change. We have some students who use the Geelong Library and set up study groups, some students elect to stay back after school and use the library or a spare room to complete their work before going home, others come early in the morning and do the same.
Don’t expect your child to make good study decisions even when you all agree on them. They will need reminding, encouraging, cajoling, praising and sometimes enforcing.
House Points 2019 and 2020
We award House Points for participation in co-curricular activities and behaviors which reflect the MFG traits. The winner of our 2019 House Cup was Freeman.
I wonder who will win this year?
Ms Michelle Crofts
Principal of Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College