Acting Principal’s Report

Acting Principal Update

 As you will be aware, last week Acting Principal Jackie Knight took unexpected leave, and won’t be returning to Melbourne Girls' College. I am sure you will agree, we as a college have gained a lot from Jackie’s insights and expertise this year. Jackie has led our school with compassion, care, and a drive for ongoing growth, and I hope you will join me in thanking her for her contribution to the college and wish her all the best.

In the interim our Senior Education Improvement Leader, Pauline Rice has asked that I step in as Acting Principal while DET look at our options for the remainder of 2021. We will keep families updated as more details come to hand. 

Harmony Week: 'Everybody belongs'

 Harmony week was yet another wonderful opportunity for our community to show its commitment to celebrating diversity and multiculturalism.

The casual clothes day was a chance for students to dress up in their traditional cultural dress or orange clothing to support the theme, and an outstanding student assembly was planned by the diversity team led by diversity captains Smi Soni and Ruby McKeddie. The assembly showcased the talent of our students through song, dance and fire. A huge thank you to Alex Morris, Phoebe Woolcock, Lyra Zhang, Helen Zhu and Aurora Wang for their entertaining performances, and thank you also to Olivia Day, Ella McDonald and the Senior School Executive for their work in planning and organising the event.

Parent Student teacher conferences

 Last year MGC collected feedback from parents about how we should run Parent Student Teacher conferences in 2021. The feedback in response to running the conferences via Teams was extremely positive, with this approach offering greater flexibility to our parent community. In response to this, our Semester 1 Parent Student Teacher conferences will again be conducted online via Teams, allowing students and families to meet with teachers while ensuring a COVIDsafe environment.

It is important to note that students should be in attendance during these interviews, giving them a valuable opportunity to seek further feedback and discuss strategies with both Parents and Teachers. This will also assist with goal setting, give students a voice on ways we can assist their learning, and as always celebrate the growth students have made.

Head of School Girls Rowing

The culmination of this year's rowing season was a celebration of the efforts of 133 students, their coaches, and families, not to mention all the support staff who make it all possible. 

A massive thank you to Director of Rowing Glenn Fischmann and Assistant Rowing Leader Jessica Fischmann, ably supported by Rowing co-ordinators Jessica Hare, Charis Jones, Ruby Betts, and the amazing coaching team for the enormous amount of work before and at the event to make it possible. Thank you also to those school staff who supported throughout the whole rowing season, particularly Nancy Sandilands, Kathy Schipper, Natasha Walsh, Mary-Anne Baldacchino, Jaymee Booth, and Rebecca Ashman who support the program behind the scenes, and to Assistant Principal of Year 7 & 8 Rachel Robertson for her support during the final regatta.

A huge thank you also to the support of all the volunteers including our Parents Committee who assisted with COVID marshalling, BRO duties, and of course the mammoth task of feeding our rowers and coaches at Head of Schoolgirls.

Finally, congratulations to our Captain of Boats Niamh Georgakis, and Co-Vice Captains Felicity Edmondson and Bethany Zmak for their leadership not only at HOSG but across the season. I know Glenn is very proud of how they have led this season to induct the Juniors into the program and support all students at the regattas, and everyone involved in the club appreciates the enormity of their achievements.

Glenn will give more details later in the newsletter, but the results over this season have been outstanding. Not just in the actual race results, but also the building of comradery and a resilient character in our young people. I am sure that our rowers will look back on the program as a highlight of their time at MGC. Congratulations to all involved! 

Andrew Arney

Acting Principal