Melbourne Girls' College

Principal's Report

Dear Members of the MGC Community,

 

Thank you for your support, care and concern during this uncertain time. The Compass News Feeds to date on Covid-19 are written to ensure you have as much information as possible in a timely manner. We appreciate your questions and advice as the situation evolves, each informs our understanding of the issues of most concern to you.

We also appreciate the many emails of support we have received such as:

I just wanted to thank you for both the mail sent today with the clear, honest and detailed information on the virus and the school's approach. But also to thank the teachers for taking the time to discuss the virus with students in order to address their fears and their well-being. I am so touched by the efforts you and your team are making for the students and for my daughter. She told me tonight about how her music teacher spent a large part of the lesson discussing the virus with care, compassion, detail and accuracy. It has clearly helped my daughter a lot. She is so lucky to be at this school and I feel privileged to have you and your teachers involved in her growth into adulthood, even more so in this difficult time. Thank you so much for everything you do, I salute your dedication, compassion and professionalism.

Best wishes

 

As you know, we have been exploring contingency plans if the school needs to close for any period of time. The staff completed an online readiness survey on Friday 13 March and students on 18 March to ensure infrastructure to facilitate online teaching could be accessed from home for as many as possible. The newsfeed titled Update 5 on MGC’s response to Novel Coronavirus as at 17 March, 2020 gives the details.

Sadly, we were forced to cancel the Space Camp trip to the US to be undertaken from 24 March and the Grand Prix excursion on 13 March. The direction from the Department of Education and Training (DET) on 16 March was to cancel all further camps and excursions, including the trip to France. On the 18 March any external gatherings over 100 people were to be cancelled hence the Year 11 Formal had to be called off. We are saddened by each cancellation but know that every decision is made with student, staff and community safety in mind. Thank you to our students for their maturity and intelligence as we cross each hurdle, each are excellent role models for us.

 

The Head of School Girls’ (HOSG) Rowing Regatta Committee called off the regatta on Friday, a disappointment for many, particularly for our Senior Seniors in their last HOSG as school girl rowers. Many thanks to Director of Rowing Glenn Fischmann, Sefija Demirova and Amber Munro from MGC who supported coaches, rowers and parents. A great deal of work was done behind the scenes lead by Glenn, Ruby Betts, Adam Harrison, our coaches, Nancy Sandilands and Rebecca Ashman in the front office, not only for HOSG but for the entire season. Our rowing parents are also invaluable. Many thanks to Susie Edmondson, Rowing Committee Chair; to all on the Parents’ Committee in particular Robynne Smith, Sherri Vogel, Sarah Scobel, Rosemary Ross, Charlotte and Jonathon Harrison.

 

Welcome and thank you to our new School Council 2020-2021!

Working on School Council is rewarding and a true community service to our students and school. We are so grateful for their commitment and advice. The members are:

Students –to Charlie Young (Year 12) and Indy Warren-Smith (Year 11)

Parent Members - Emmy Andriotis (Nicky in Year 7), Steve Baile (Sara in Year 7 and Sienna in Year 11), Adam Berin (Aleyna in Year 7), Raechel Forster (Abigail in Year 9), Heather Pritchard (Elizabeth in Year 10), Vicki Sharp (Lizzie and Maddie in Year 9).

Community Members - Caroline Milburn, Kristina Popova and Sonia Sharp

Staff Council Members – Pat Sklavakis and Hamish Thomas

Executive Officer – Karen Money. From term 2, 2020, the acting Principal

 

The DET School Performance Summary for Melbourne Girls’ College!

The success outlined in the 2019 Performance Summary is very pleasing as it verifies the hard work staff, students and our community have undertaken over the past few years. To be above “like schools”, please note not just all schools but schools similar to ours, and in all areas is very exciting and sets MGC up for a bright future. The areas reported upon are:

  • Parent, staff and student opinion surveys.
  • Teacher judgements of student achievement.
  • NAPLAN, students in Bands 7-9 at Year 7 and Bands 8-10 at Year 9.
  • Student engagement.
  • Student wellbeing.
  • VCE results.

If you would like a copy of the full report please let me know.

 

Farewell for a time

 

As you know, after over 5 years as principal of our wonderful Melbourne Girls’ College I have been seconded to the Department as an acting Senior Education Improvement Leader. I hope to be back in 2021 but as we have seen over the past months, nothing is certain in life. I will be here until 12 April to ensure a smooth handover to the acting principal. Thank you to the amazing staff of MGC, I have been so privileged to lead such an expert and committed team of professionals.

Please try to enjoy some aspects of this difficult time. Traffic is lighter, trains and trams less crowded, overall people are helping each other, the sky is bluer, birds have returned to Wuhan and Italians are singing from their balconies in Assisi!

I wish you all the very best and thank you again for your kindness and all you have taught me.

With sincerest regard,

Karen