Principal's Report
Welcome to 2017
As we know the only thing constant in life is change. The beginning of another year for Melbourne Girls’ always brings excitement, fear of the unknown and anticipation. The classes have started extremely well with excited Year 7 students meeting the Year 12 students on Tuesday and joined by their Year 8-11 peers on Wednesday. The transition has been smooth but most importantly enjoyable and positive. Our Year Level Leaders have held inspirational assemblies highlighting key messages for the year and our College Captains; Courtney Mc Kenzie, Nell Crossett and Ashley Hammond, along with our Communications Captain, Emma Ferguson are actively planning around their theme of Good Vibes!
New Colleagues for 2017
We warmly welcome a number of new colleagues for 2017:
Andrew Arney: Assistant Principal – Curriculum Innovation, Years 9-10 Wellbeing
Mary- Anne Baldacchino: Finance
Ray Bedford: Mathematics
Liam Brown: Philosophy and English
Catriona Cameron-Martin: Mathematics
Jielei Cui: International Assistant
Olivia Day: English and English as a Second Language
Andrew Doyle: English
Victoria Fitzgerald: Science
Mathew Grylls: Outdoor Education and PE
Glen Holland: Facilities Manager
Sarah Lerpiniere: English and Business Management
Indra Liepins: English, English Language and English as a Second Language
Emily Miller: Mathematics and Science
Ashley O’Brien: Food Technology
Bibo Shi: Chinese
Bryony Stahlstrom: Reception and Administration
Christine Wallace: First Aid and Administration
Sarah Wallace: Reception and Administration
Lenore Wray: Food Technology
As always students are at the centre of our work and we look forward to their learning and wellbeing continuing to grow in the opportunities provided at MGC. The Powerful Learning work continues with the design in how staff work with students and each other based upon this framework.
Congratulations Emily Cuddy
Emily of Year 12 works in an Acrobatic Trio and all three girls are performing and working at an International standard. They are the current National Champions for their level and are members of an elite Australian International Squad. On 26 February 2017, Emily and her mum Robynne (well known to many of us as the heart and soul of the Parents’ Association second hand uniform shop!) head to Maia, Portugal for an International Competition held from 1st to 5th March. We wish Emily every success and look forward to hearing of her future successes.
2016 VCE
We are still very excited about the 2016 VCE results and enjoy hearing from our girls about their 2017 study and travel plans. As we noted in December, the 2016 VCE results were our best ever.
- 31% of girls attained scores of 90-99.95
- 19% of girls attained scores of 80-89.95
- Six students attained perfect study scores of 50. Congratulations to our excellent teachers, Sefija Demirova who supported her girls to achieve three perfect study scores in Legal Studies, Mei Francis in Mathematical Methods and Jason Kohlman in French.
- 18.6% of our study scores were over 40
- Our median study score of 34 is up from 33 in 2015
- Our Dux attained an ATAR score of 99.8
- Six students received scores between 99 and 99.95
We are proud of all our Year 12 2016 students and celebrate their collective and individual success. http://www.theage.com.au/national/secondary-education-victoria/top-schools-how-did-yours-perform-in-the-vce-20161214-gtb5h5.html “Melbourne Girls College recorded its best results in 14 years, ranking within the top 50 schools for the first time this year. It had a median study score of 34 and 18.6 per cent of study scores 40 and over.”
Another wonderful outcome is that 100% of girls were awarded their VCE and 98% of girls have been offered either their first, second or third preference for tertiary study.
Educating Australia - Challenges for the decade ahead
On 1st February I attended a book launch for “Educating Australia - Challenges for the decade ahead”.
The editors Tom Bentley and Glenn Savage note in the introduction: “the imperatives to [pursue educational progress] are compelling, even in the face of apparently overwhelming odds. We are driven by a shared determination to see education shaped by evidence, understanding of human potential and the principle of shared responsibility, rather than by dogma, brute force, or narrow self-interest.”
The debate and discussion at this event resonated for the future of our girls and the current work we need to do as educators at Melbourne Girls’ College.
School Council
Continuing the spirit of change, the School Council Elections are upon us once more. A Compass newsfeed went out on Monday with the following information, please do not hesitate to call if you have any queries about Council or the election process.
2017 School Council Elections
The Melbourne Girls’ College School Council meets every third Tuesday of the month at 6.15pm.
Membership of School Council is rewarding and ensures parents contribute to and have a close understanding of the direction and strategic planning of MGC. Our Council election process begins on Monday 6th February and I look forward to working with our parents on Council throughout 2017. Ballot papers and instructions are attached. Please deliver, mail or email signed nomination forms to Adele Giarrusso in the front office by 4pm on 13th February. There are three parent positions due for election and the time line is as follows:
Monday 6th February: Call for nominations
Monday 13th February: Nominations close 4pm
Friday 17th February: Ballot papers and information on the candidates distributed
Friday 24th February: Close of Ballot 4pm
Parents' Association
Another excellent MGC organisation is our Parents’ Association (P.A.). Please consider joining. The P.A. meets every fourth Tuesday of the month. The tireless efforts of parents on this committee are appreciated by all. The morning tea provided for staff on 30th January was the most wonderful welcome back.
I always look forward to getting to know as many parents as possible. Parent evenings, student-parent-teacher meetings, the Sustainability Collective, School Council and the Parents’ Association are all excellent ways for us to meet
Thank you to the girls and staff for a great start to the year at Melbourne Girls’ College.
Karen Money
Principal