Issue 11 - 12 April 2022
Pre-Kindergarten Book Picnics Return

Pre-Kindergarten Book Picnics Return

Our Book Picnics have returned to Pre-Kindergarten with the first one held on the morning of Wednesday 9 March. Our Pre-Kindergarten parents and carers arrived with their daughters, walking to the studio together and then selecting a wonderful story to share and read.

“You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax all you need is a book.” – Dr Seuss

Many of our parents joined the Book Picnic and our librarians, Jody Gilroy and Grace Kapellos selected wonderful stories to read.

We look forward to all upcoming Book Picnics. Hopefully, with an improvement in the weather we can find a spot to read outside in our playground.

– Rachael Borg,Ellie Monda,Gina Zucco
Pre-Kindergarten Team

Click on the image gallery below to view full-sized images.

Have You Changed Your Details Recently?

Have You Changed Your Details Recently?

Have you recently moved, changed your email or mobile phone numbers?

Please let us know so that we can continue to keep in touch. 

Update here

Uniting MLC School OSHC Vacation Care

Uniting MLC School OSHC Vacation Care

Uniting MLC School Vacation Care offers children a variety of fun and educational experiences during school holidays, in a safe, secure and caring environment from 8am–6pm. We have a tailored program that is designed by children and educators where each day is filled with exciting activities. We provide a healthy afternoon tea at 3pm and children enjoy their packed morning tea and lunch during the day.  

For more information, please visit our website or to make an enquiry call 1800 864 846 or fill out an enquiry form.

Click here to view the Autumn Vacation Care Program.

Sabreen Banu
Coordinator, Uniting MLC School Outside School Hours Care

Kindergarten celebrates TWOSDAY

Kindergarten celebrates TWOSDAY

TWOSDAY!  On Tuesday 22 February 2022 – Kindergarten celebrated a special day – 22/2/22!

We started exploring all things ‘two’ during Mathematics – hunting on the 100 chart for 2, making the digit with playdough, making patterns of 2 and using tangram shapes to build the number.

In English, we read the imaginative picture book Tuesday by David Wiesner and responded by writing and drawing what the most magical Tuesday could look like for each of us. We talked about the words that also represent two – twins, second, duo, double, twice and even learnt how to say two in different ways from the girls who can speak another language.

In the afternoon, we learnt about Noah and his animals marching two-by-two onto the ark before the girls donned their colourful “two-twos” for singing and dancing in partners. We finished up by making ‘Twosday’ crowns to celebrate this unique palindrome date.

We hope you enjoy this selection of photos of a very memorable day in Kindergarten!

Ellen Balassone, Donna Keane, and Erin Torres
Kindergarten Teachers

Click on the image gallery below to view full-sized images.

Year 2 Royal Botanical Gardens Excursion

Year 2 Royal Botanical Gardens Excursion

Year 2 attended their first excursion this year at the Royal Botanical Gardens where they learnt about Aboriginal culture and connection to land as part of this term’s Collaborative Learning Project and PDHPE Program.

The Year 2 students explored a variety of native Australian plants and bush tucker, discovering the many special uses of each plant. The students learnt that when combined with water, the leaves from a Golden Wattle Tree can create an antiseptic soap. They also learnt that leaves from a dianella plant can act as a whistle for Aboriginal people who are lost. The Year 2 students were very excited to taste fresh finger limes from the finger lime plant.

After exploring some native plants, the Year 2 students also had an opportunity to be painted with ochre and perform some traditional Aboriginal dances. They had to listen very carefully to the clapping sticks to ensure they were moving at the correct pace.

Finally, the students participated in a fun and competitive Aboriginal game called ‘Kolap’. This game would traditionally involve materials made from the land and helps develop hand-eye coordination skills, which are needed for activities such as spearing kangaroo and catching fish.

It was a wonderful day of learning for Year 2 and we thank the staff at the Royal Botanical Gardens for facilitating such an engaging and interactive learning experience.

 

Melissa Bye and Claudia Catania
Year 2 Teachers

Michelle Hiss
PDHPE Teacher

Year 5 Camp

Year 5 Camp

During the week starting Monday 21 March, Year 5 students were attended three days of ‘day camps’. This is the first year that this cohort have been able to go off campus for a camp of any kind. We were very lucky with the weather each day and had three amazing days at Clifton Gardens and Balmoral Beach.

The girls all stepped outside their comfort zone and into their challenge zone over the days. They participated in collaborative games mixed with students across the grade, sailing, kayaking, sand castle building and storytelling, as well as a visit from a marine scientist to investigate ocean creatures. Fun was had by all students, and they are looking forward to their overnight Immersion to Canberra later in the year.

 

– Amber Bidwell
Year 5 Teacher/Stage 3 Coordinator

 

 

 

Year 6 Celebration of Learning

Year 6 Celebration of Learning

After months where parents have not been able to visit the School, the Year 6 girls were SO excited to have their parents join them for our Celebration of Learning, a showcase of what the students have been learning during the term. Even torrential rain and floods could not dampen the enthusiasm as the girls shared their learning and gave their parents a tour of the Year 6 Centre and the Senior School campus.

It was great to see so many parents who braved the deluge for their daughters, and a special thanks to Kentaro Otani who led the girls in an energetic Japanese dance performance.

Danielle Collins, Rebecca Putna, Courtney Simmons, Michelle Wyatt
Year 6 Teachers

Click on image gallery below to view full-sized images.

Year 6 Camp Reflections from the Girls

Year 6 Camp Reflections from the Girls

Hannah (Year 6)

At camp, we went to cabins at Clifton Gardens and tents at Cockatoo Island. The food was good for camp food and we did a lot of fun activities. We had to survive a very long bus ride to get to the fun.

One very fun activity we did at camp was snorkelling. I went snorkelling on the third day with both my friends. With snorkelling masks on, we had to dive to the bottom and collect sand from the beach floor. It was fun.

A second fun activity was sailing. We all took turns on each job. Someone was steering, someone was controlling how fast we would go and two people controlled the small sail. We went so fast. It was very, very fun.

The activity I disliked was the walk around. We had to collect letters but we were moving very slow and we barely got anywhere. I don’t like being slow, I more like being quick and getting stuff done.

But camp was fun and I was super happy I was put in a group with my best friends. I was disappointed when we had to go home but also relieved because we were all tired. All in all, camp was great.

Elizabeth (Year 6)

This year’s camp was, in a word, enjoyable. There were many activities which I had not ever experienced, such as sailing, snorkelling and kayaking, as well as the camping itself. It was probably the first camp I had been to where we were required to cook our own food over a stove, and sleep in tents for more than a night.

The first thing I enjoyed was sleeping in cabins. I cannot explain the relief Groups 4, 5 and 6 felt when finally sleeping in cabins after being thrown into a drastically changed atmosphere with being in tents for two nights. We were extremely lucky with the weather, being in the tents when it was dry and the cabins when it was raining. The cabins were by far the cleanest and well kept of any camp I’d been to. I loved the privilege of having experienced people cook for us after two days of us attempting to cook for ourselves, which wasn’t too bad, albeit we only technically cooked for a night.

The second thing I enjoyed was snorkelling. Although it got off to a rough start (me attempting and failing to use a snorkel), by the end of the activity I had managed to learn a skill that I will be able to perform throughout later holidays or camps. I do remember, however, the freezing water upon getting into the water. That was probably the main reason I found snorkelling so hard. The highlight of the activity, by far, was jumping off the jetty. Jetty jumping was fun because me and my friends could create silly poses in the air before landing in icy water.

My least favourite thing at camp was getting up in the morning. It was frequently cold in the mornings and the early morning wake-up was no treat, especially after having staying up the entire night talking and goofing off. The first morning in the cabins, my cabin slept in. I think this was from the drastic contrast of sleeping in a proper mattress for the first time in three days.

In conclusion, I enjoyed all of the activities on camp and feel that they will benefit me in the future. I will admit I found it humorous that the camp took place no more than 20 minutes from my home, but because I had never been there, without the simple knowledge that I was so close, I would’ve thought it a new state. I remember the relief we all felt when we got back home. We were all so ready to have a good night’s sleep as well as, of course, catching up on all social media and streaming services. If anything, this camp was extraordinarily memorable.

Taylor (Year 6)

On 21 March, the whole of Year 6 went on camp! We were all so excited for the week of fun ahead of us. There were six pods, three of them went to Chowder Bay first, and the other half went to Cockatoo Island first. On the Wednesday, the girls from Cockatoo Island went to Chowder Bay and we all got to see our friends who weren’t in our group. The whole day was just fun, games, and catching up with our friends. At the end of the day, we all swapped over.

One of my favourite activities I did during the camp was sailing. Sailing was amazing, it wasn’t the boat that I normally sail, it was a catamaran. I was on a boat with all of my friends the whole time. We even went to a nearby beach and collected sea shells! I found a really pretty iridescent shell. When we got back to shore, everyone was happy and enjoyed the sail. It was really fun having the wind push you through the water.

Another activity I really enjoyed was jumping off the jetty at Chowder Bay. The actual activity was snorkelling, but the water was really murky so you couldn’t see much, but the jumping part was awesome. Snorkelling was still fun though. My friends and I did all sorts of jumps off the pier. Afterwards, we got to keep the snorkel.

There were a few things that weren’t as enjoyable as others, but one of my least favourites was shoving wet sand through a sieve trying to find little pieces of plastic. It had just rained before we had our activity, so all of the sand was wet. It made the sand really hard to sift. I found a little piece of plastic, but the activity overall was helping scientists with research about plastic pollution.

Most of the activities on camp were really enjoyable, I also really loved the amount of dogs that came by at Chowder Bay. The owners even let us pet them! They were all so cute. Most of my friends were with me except one, MY BEST FRIEND! We were separated for a whole week! But afterwards we caught up and had a really good time. After camp we were all so exhausted from the amount of fun we had from camp. It was so good to be back at home with my family and my bed.

Celeste (Year 6)

Year 6 camp began with a LOT of pleading, a painful packing experience, a sad farewell, a jam of songs on the bus, a headache, and finally an arrival at Balmoral beach. Camp wasn’t looking good for me. Especially with an extension of the duration so it went for an entire two days more than normal, which just exacerbated my homesickness. A deep breath and a leap of faith off a wharf really put things into perspective for me. Firstly and most obviously, it was really fun. But secondly, I was really frightened to do it. I stood on the wharf and stared at the distance between me and the water, which was extremely daunting. Another thing that wasn’t helping my circumstances was the level of opacity that the water had on that particular day, which would make it almost impossible to spot any potential hazards such as rocks through the water. But I jumped anyway, and the water was okay and the distance wasn’t as high as it seemed. In fact, I extremely enjoyed myself, and it reminded me of my camp experience. It was really awesome when I just jumped in. The fun didn’t cease after that. On just the next day, we went kayaking. Although frightened by a past experience on a previous camp, I decided to put that behind me and start over. Climbing into the kayak felt wonderful. And as soon as I dipped my paddle in the water and scooped it behind me, I began to move forward. It was honestly euphoric. I learnt to raft, and after that we played a game. But nothing – not even the sheer amount of effort that it took to move the paddles sometimes, and the back pain it caused me – could stop me feeling like a brand new brave person. And although camp had plenty more wonderful experiences, it had its share of not-so-great ones too. For example, the excessive amount of sausages I ate on the fourth day (my fault, I’ll admit!) left me feeling extremely weak on the fifth and final day, when we had to do a massive hike along the edges of Cockatoo Island! I was absolutely exhausted and ready for the long bus ride that awaited me. And when I finally boarded that bus, I had some time to rethink my camp experience. I realised I had been pretty irrational with my expectations for camp. The homesickness wasn’t that bad when I was distracted by fun activities all day. I had all my friends in my camp group. The food was great. It was sunny for the majority of the week. I learnt how to put up (and take down!) a tent. I made all my friends laugh with jokes about llamas and my funny voices. I joined a cult. I got to have an experience other people would pay so much money to have, as part of the school curriculum. Just like when I leapt off the wharf. It looked daunting, but all I had to do was jump.

Emily (Year 6)

I went to camp last week with my friends and I enjoyed it a lot. Before camp, I had to pack my bag and my day pack. On Monday, we learnt what group we were in and went on the bus to Chowder Bay. It took around an hour to get there because we were meant to go to Balmoral first to do our activities but accidentally stopped in the wrong place, but we eventually arrived and began to do some activities.

One of my favourite things was sailing. It was sunny and warm, and the catamaran was very speedy. I was in a group with my friends Mara and Indi as well as some others. It was really exciting when we did a race with the other sailboats. It was a dramatic competition since we were all so competitive, especially when we turned around and we stopped for a few seconds and had to gain speed again; we were worried the other team would catch up. Luckily, we ended up winning. At the end we jumped off the boats and paddled back into shore, and after we put the boats back to where they should be we had spare time so we messed about in the water for a few minutes before going to eat lunch.

Indi and I also started a tribal clan; the Weiu Tribe (pronounced whee-oo). We made a special greeting and showed it off to everyone, becoming enraged if they returned it incorrectly and performing a war dance. By the end of camp most of our group and all of our friends had joined the Weiu Tribe and knew the all different dances. The Weiu Tribe began on Wednesday, our first night in Cockatoo Island. I went to Indi and Kathy’s tent for a ‘dance party’. Since no-one but me, Indi and Kathy were there I began to provide music in the form of saying ‘Weiu, Weiu. Weiu, Weiu.’. The next day, as a joke I made a Weiu greeting. Indi started doing it to other people and dancing to the ‘music’ I performed last night, and soon people began to join in.

However, not everything in camp was good. On the last day, we had to hike from Taronga Zoo to Chowder Bay, and it was 4.4 kilometres long. My bag felt like it weighed a tonne. When we stopped for lunch and a kookaburra snatched Kathy’s wrap out of her hands and ate it! The track was very muddy as well, and ruined my trainers. We had to climb rocks and the fences to avoid the mud! Some girls opted to walk through it, but I had to avoid the mud because I had debating and needed to look good. I was so relieved when we eventually arrived at Chowder Bay.

After camp had finished, we had some time before debating where we chatted. Since we weren’t going back to school on the bus, some parents had to drive us to Queenwood, which was thankfully nearby. We debated against Queenwood and won, and then we finally got to go home. It was a relief to be back in my own house again, but overall camp was very fun and I am looking forward to doing it again next year.

Click on the image gallery below to view full-sized images.

 

 

 

Swimming Carnivals are Back!

Swimming Carnivals are Back!

Did you know that the MLC School Aquatic Centre offers the wider community a range of ‘Learn to Swim’ and fitness programs?
For more information and booking enquiries please contact the MLC School Aquatic Centre by emailing swim@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au or calling + 61 2 8741 3154.

It was wonderful to have everyone back together for our annual House Swimming Carnival. The pool deck was buzzing from 7.30am with eager House Captains and Heads of House decorating the House areas and preparing for the day ahead.

Congratulations to all students who swam to get points for their House, cheered non-stop all day and encouraged and supported their friends. Well done to our Year 12 girls for the fantastic synchro routines.

No doubt, the highlight of the day was Frances Booth, Deputy Principal, jumping off the diving board! I’m sure everyone in Burwood could hear the students and staff chanting “Boothy, Boothy” as we watched in anticipation as she prayed at the end of the diving board and finally took the leap of faith! Maybe next year she will be brave enough to go off the 3-metre board.

For photos from the day, please visit the MLC School Facebook page.

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day

On Tuesday 8 March 2022, MLC School celebrated International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate the achievements of women and come together to raise awareness for women’s equality.

In the morning we hosted an International Women’s Day breakfast and were fortunate to have the NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb APM as our guest. As the Commissioner mentioned, the NSW Police Force only began to accept women in 1915, long after MLC School was founded to educate young women.

The IWD theme for 2022 is: #BreakTheBias. The Commissioner, and guest panellists, including Newington College School Captain and Gender Equity Captain joined a lively discussion on this very relevant topic – addressing how we can challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women’s achievements.

Photos of the event are on the MLC School Facebook page. A recording of the event can be found below.

IWD Breakfast Recording

 

From The Principal

The Girls School Advantage – why girls’ schools are best for girls

When interviewing prospective students and their families, one of the questions that I am most commonly asked is what difference I notice between girls in a girls’ school and girls in a co-educational environment (for those who don’t know, I was previously Principal of a well-respected co-educational school in regional Victoria). Aside from the well documented academic and social advantages (some of which I detail later in this article), it can be hard to articulate, however it is probably best summed up in the way that an MLC School girl holds herself and is willing to respectfully speak up about matters that matter.

I was pleased then, to come across an article by Shona Hendley. She was educated and did her early teaching in a coeducational school but then accepted a role at a girls school and her article “I thought co-ed was best all my life. Then I started working in an all-girls school.” beautifully expresses what I have also observed:

“There is a definite sense of self confidence and self-assurance clearly visible within the majority of students where I work. From the way they carry themselves, their manner and the effort they exude in and outside the classroom.

The worry over image or how they are perceived by others seems to be less concerning here than I remember from my own co-educational experience as a student and as a teacher in a co-ed secondary school.”

The value of girls’ schools is well documented and researched, and the data provides a much more academically rigorous lens than the observations that Shona and I share. As well as this idea of self-confidence, The Alliance of Girls Schools lists five key benefits of single sex girls’ schools, including:

Girls feeling empowered to defy gender stereotypes.
“Austrian researchers have found that ‘in more female environments, girls are less restrained by gender stereotypes and are more likely to consider traditional male school types and careers’.” Schneeweis & Zweimüller, 2012

Girls’ schools build self-esteem and enhance wellbeing.
“Girls in co-ed schools feel more pressure to be thin than girls in single-sex schools because the presence of boys in schools ‘may inflate appearance concerns and lower self-esteem’ among girls. On the other hand, single-sex schools encourage ‘improved self-esteem’ and ‘psychological and social well-being in adolescent girls’.” Cribb & Haase, 2016

Girls’ schools tailor teaching to girls and provide an aspirational environment.
“Girls at girls’ schools have ‘higher aspirations’, ‘greater motivation’ and are ‘challenged to achieve more than their female peers’ at co-educational independent and public schools.” Holmgren, 2014

Single-sex schools create a culture of strong academic achievement, particularly for girls.
“Girls in single-sex schools perform better academically than their counterparts in co-educational schools, after holding constant measures of selection, background, peers and school factors.” Cabezas, 2010

Girls’ schools buck the trend in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).
“A 2017 report by Monash University found that girls at single-sex schools were more likely than girls in co-ed schools to study chemistry, physics, intermediate-level mathematics and advanced-level mathematics.” Forgasz & Leder, 2017
Source:https://www.mamamia.com.au/is-single-sex-education-best/

Should you wish to learn more, The Alliance of Girls Schools website is a fabulous resource and includes links to much of the research noted above and many more peer reviewed research articles about this important topic, the website can be accessed here

Lisa Moloney
Principal

 

The MLC School website has a series of wonderful stories about the achievements of some of our alumnae and their part in the fight for women to be recognised as equals in every regard. Click here to read.

Economic Security for Women
International Women’s Day 2022
Gender Equality Timeline

Sources Thanks to our Archivist Barbara Hoffman for the detailed research and wonderful stories that she has shared on our website.

Year 9 Japanese Taiko Workshop

Year 9 Japanese Taiko Workshop

This term, Year 9 Music have been learning about music from around the world. On Wednesday 16 March, students had the opportunity to engage in a workshop on Japanese Taiko.

Sophia Ang from Taikoz taught the students about the customs, origins, and techniques used to perform on Taiko drums. Year 9 thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to learn from an expert Taiko performer.

Amanda Lavender
Music Teacher

2023 Term Dates Announced

2023 Term Dates Announced

Below are the School term dates for 2023, which can also be found on the MLC School website.

Term 1

  • Thursday 26 January 2023Australia Day Public Holiday 
  • Friday 27 January 2023 – Start of Term 1 2023 for all new starters (Pre-K to Year 11) and all Year 7
  • Monday 30 January 2023 – Term 1 begins for returning Year 1 to Year 12
  • Tuesday 31 January 2023 – Classes commence for Pre-Kindergarten 5-day and Mon–Wed programs
  • Wednesday 1 February 2023 – Classes commence for Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten Wed–Fri program
  • Thursday 6 April 2023 – End of Term 1

Term 2

  • Wednesday 26 April 2023 – Term 2 begins for whole school
  • Monday 12 June 2023Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday
  • Friday 23 June 2023 – End of Term 2

Term 3

  • Tuesday 18 July 2023 – Term 3 begins for whole school
  • Friday 15 September 2023 – End of Term 3

Term 4

  • Tuesday 10 October 2023 – Term 4 begins for whole school
  • Thursday 7 December 2023 – End of Term 4 following Speech Day/Speech Night, compulsory attendance for Year 3 to Year 12.
Year 10 PASS Surf Awareness Camp

Year 10 PASS Surf Awareness Camp

Recently, Year 10 Physical Activity and Sport Studies students travelled to Manly for a snorkelling and surf awareness camp. The program is designed to complement the ‘Promoting active lifestyles’ unit currently being studied. Students engaged in snorkelling where they explored marine life, learnt invaluable surf safety knowledge, and were educated on navigating rips. Not only did students learn new skills but further understood the benefits of recreational activity to their health and wellbeing.

Sarah Papachristoforou
Acting Assistant Head of Department – Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)

School Tour Dates

School Tour Dates

The MLC School girl is fearless and brave. She is focused on learning.

 
Due to numbers and interest, The MLC School tour day to be held on Thursday 26 May 2022 is full and has now been closed to further registrations.

The next available tour will be held on Tuesday 16 August 2022, 10.30amclick here to register

Numbers are limited and registration is required. To register your attendance click on the link above or on the button below, scroll down the page and please note which tour you would like to attend. There’s no need for you to miss out on the chance to secure a place for your daughter at MLC School.

We now have waiting lists for many of the year entries, so it is recommended that application be made by your daughter’s first birthday or at least three years prior to the nominated entry level. The School is currently undertaking interviews for girls who will commence in Pre-K to Year 11 in 2024.  If you would like to apply for the few places available please follow the link to our online application form here.

Applications for all years are processed in the order in which they are received. For updated information, please view our online prospectus package.

If you have other enquiries about the enrolment process, please contact Nerida Coman, our Registrar, by email or phone 02 8741 3165.

Book here for MLC School August 2022 Tour Day

The last tour for 2022 will be held on: 

  • Thursday 10 November 2022, 10.30am
Our Mathematics Students Continue to Shine

Our Mathematics Students Continue to Shine

2022 has already proven to be another year of MLC School students enjoying the opportunities offered to them by the University of Sydney and the Australian National University. This year, Vicky (Year 12) and Cara (Year 10), have been selected to take part in extended problem-solving programs designed to challenge and further motivate talented mathematics students.

The National Mathematics Summer school at ANU was established in 1969 and is the oldest and most prestigious Summer School of its type in Australia. Cynthia (2021) was invited to mentor the new 2022 students. Vicky shares her experience below:

‘I really enjoyed the week at NMSS as NMSS has offered me an awesome opportunity to explore the scope of Mathematics outside of school. We explored Number theory and Algorithms challenged me and gave me new perspectives on Mathematics. The questions were significantly different from what we do at school and take a lot of experimentation, sometimes reaching conclusions without an exact answer. Although it was a pity that we were not able to go to ANU in Canberra and have face to face interactions, the tutors and experienced groups were able to make everyone feel welcome through the many online games and I met some great people from all around Australia, including someone who’s also doing IB and has very similar subjects with me.’

 We look forward to hearing back from Cara who will begin her journey with USyd’s Mathematical Problem Solving Correspondence Program (MaPS) this term.

The Mathematics Department welcomes Alex Schroder who has taken on the role of Mathematics Enrichment teacher.  Alex will be coordinating our problem-solving programs and is introducing a Mathematics Club for talented Year 7 and Year 8 mathematics students. These sessions are designed to build our students’ mathematical thinking, communication, collaborative skills and problem-solving abilities. 

 

Penny Pachos
Head of Department – Mathematics

Year 5 2023 Scholarship Applications Open 2 May

Year 5 2023 Scholarship Applications Open 2 May

In 2021 MLC School introduced an All Rounder Scholarship for girls seeking entry into Year 5 of the following year. 

The Year 5 2023 Scholarships will be open for registration on Monday 2 May 2022. 

All Rounder Scholarships are awarded to applicants who demonstrate significant academic potential, together with achievement and potential in two or more of the following areas:

  • Leadership
  • Cultural/creative/performing arts
  • Service
  • Sport

Applications will close on Thursday 4 August 2022.

The Examination will be held on Saturday 13 August 2022. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to the School for an activity morning. Please note that not all shortlisted candidates will be offered a scholarship.

For more information about scholarships please visit our website, or contact our Registrar Nerida Coman on 02 8741 3165 or email enrol@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au.

Year 11 Design and Technology Explore Design Solutions

Year 11 Design and Technology Explore Design Solutions

The Year 11 Design and Technology designers have been very busy at the ‘Cottage’ exploring design solutions and constructing them using the vast range of technologies. The market store design brief resulted in the production of the fine works shown. 

Richard Burgess
Design, Art and Technology Teacher

Click on the image gallery below to view full-sized images.

Year 7 to Year 11 Scholarships for 2024 Entry Open Soon

Year 7 to Year 11 Scholarships for 2024 Entry Open Soon

MLC School’s main scholarship application processes commences much earlier than many other schools.

Scholarship registrations for Year 7 to Year 11 in 2024 will open on Monday 4 July 2022 and close on Thursday 6 October 2022.

The Examination Day will be held on Saturday 15 October 2022.

Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to the School for an activity morning. Please note that not all shortlisted candidates will be offered a scholarship.

For more information about scholarships please visit our website, or contact our Registrar Nerida Coman on 02 8741 3165 or email enrol@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au.

Year 11 Geography First 100% Test

Year 11 Geography First 100% Test

In Year 11 Geography students were challenged to complete their first 100% skills test. This means that students had to complete 20 difficult geographic skills questions and get every single answer correct. The trick? Collaboration – students were able to use their peers as resources as well as the Year 11 Geography Canvas page. Students shared their notes and navigated their way through the test by determining each student’s strengths. Finally, they confirmed all their test answers as a class to ensure that each student was able to achieve 100%.

Below is student feedback during the activity:

‘It was great to communicate with others while developing our exam readiness skills and I feel more prepare for the block Week 9.’ – Jade (Year 11)

‘It challenged us because we knew that we had to get to 100% so we worked as a team to achieve this outcome.’ – Zahli (Year 11)

‘I like that we do regular quizzes to build up confidence leading into the exam block.’ – Esther (Year 11)

Below is also a snapshot of images which document their process.

Developing students’ problem solving, and collaborations skills is a key focus for the Human Society and Its Environment department. Congratulations to the Year 11 Geography class for working together as a team to receive an optimal response.

– Danielle Rodrigues
Head of Department – Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE)

Click on the image gallery below to view full-sized images.

Don’t wait to Apply

Don’t wait to Apply

Many of the entry years at MLC School have long waiting lists.

If you have not already applied to the School and wish for your daughter to progress to an enrolment interview, it is highly recommended that your application be made by her first birthday or at least three years prior to the nominated entry level. Putting in an application the year before your desired starting year means that we many not be able to find a place for your daughter.

Enrolment interviews start 2.5 years before the year of commencement. For example, interviews are currently being conducted for 2024 commencement. Families with applications for 2025 will be contacted by mid-2022, and their entry process will start later in 2022 and early 2023.

It is vital that an application has been received before the commencement of interviews for that entry year at the very latest. 

For information on enrolment entry levels and enrolment steps please click here.

Should you wish to apply for your daughter you can now do so online here.

The enrolments team are always available to answer your questions, please contact either:

  • Nerida Coman, Registrar by email or directly on 8741 3165, or
  • Fadia Aoun, Enrolments Administrator by email or directly on 8741 3116

All applicants must observe the School’s enrolment procedures.

Year 12 Religious Studies

Year 12 Religious Studies

On Wednesday 24 March 2022, Ms Conway’s Year 12 Studies of Religion class had the opportunity to visit the Sri Venkateswara temple in Helensburgh to extend their knowledge on Hinduism. This temple is held in veneration by all devotees who are bestowed blessings by Lord Shiva (the destroyer) and Lord Vishnu (the protector). The class was led to both the Shiva and Vishnu complexes by a Hindu priest, who was able to give us insight into the Hindu tradition, to seek a deeper understanding of the ways Hindus practice their religion.

We first observed the deities in the Temple of the Shiva complex, which were located among specific Shrines according to the Hindu God. We then attended the Vishnu complex, which comprises deities amongst eight Shrines. We were led to the Shrine of Sri Venkateswara, by the Hindu priest and received a blessing from him. We understood that this deity is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who is considered as the Supreme God to Vaishnava Hindu’s.

After a brief stop at the Bald Hill Lookout, we headed to the Nan Tien Temple. The Buddhist temple in Wollongong provided us with a tour of the unique visual experience of the buildings, statues, shines and gardens, as well as giving an insight into Chinese culture and the beliefs and practices of Buddhism. Within our guided tour, we were also able to practice a cultural Buddhist activity led by our guide, Bob, who allowed us to experience the tranquillity of mindfulness, through meditation. We began with some breathing exercises to seek peace and free our mind. He later taught us a vital part of this spiritual practice, which was walking meditation which allowed us to develop awareness of our surroundings, body, and thoughts. We then ended our day enlightened by Bob as we were given a deeper understanding on the basic aspects of Buddhism through an interactive talk on the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, Dharma and the 5 Precepts.

Our Year 12 Studies of Religion class is very grateful for the opportunity we were given and we appreciate the effort Ms Conway and Mr Posker-Hill put into organising and managing this excursion as we experienced greater knowledge and understanding about both Hinduism and Buddhism.

 

– Sarah
Year 12

Celebrating the Class of 2021

Celebrating the Class of 2021

On Wednesday 23 February 2022, the School welcomed back the Old Girls from the Class of 2021 to recognise their efforts at the Assembly for Academic Achievement. Awards recognised Excellence in Academic Achievement for Subjects, Nominations in the Creative and Performing Arts, University Entrance, and NSW State Rankings.

For an overview of the results of the Class of 2021, please read our highlights publication.

Photos from the event can be found on the MLC School Facebook page.

Ros Pesman Medal

This year saw the introduction of a new recognition, the Ros Pesman Medal (more information below), which was awarded to Elsa Tonkinwise for her First Place in the State in Ancient History.

After achieving excellent academic results at MLC School, Ros began her studies at the University of Sydney (USyd). She graduated with a BA (Hons) degree and was later awarded a PhD from the University of London.

Returning to Australia, Ros took up a history lectureship at USyd. She was promoted to Senior Lecturer, then Associate Professor and finally to a personal chair in history.

Ros has an international reputation both within her field as well as within tertiary education leadership; she held many key leadership roles at USyd. Notably, she was the first woman to be elected Chair of the Academic Board and was the first woman appointed to the Challis Chair in History.

In 2012, Ros was awarded an AM for services to tertiary education through academic and administrative roles.

Ros Pesman (Cooper, 1954) achieved many firsts for women in academia and has served the discipline with great distinction. It is fitting that girls who achieve great distinction within their subject receive an award named in her honour.

MLC SchoolTV Special Report – Managing Overwhelm

MLC SchoolTV Special Report – Managing Overwhelm

Due to the pandemic, recent world events in the Ukraine and impacts of the floods in Queensland and NSW, the world we now live in is a very different place. The hyperconnected nature of our current environment means that we are constantly being reminded of the challenges we face via numerous media and social media channels. Our connectivity to the digital world exposes us to a barrage of messages that can leave us feeling overwhelmed. As a result, many children and their parents are reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety.

Unfortunately, our brains have not evolved fast enough to adapt to this digital landscape. The combination of constant access to information and having little control over the situations presented, can be stressful and overwhelming. It is therefore important for adult carers to check in with their children and be aware of what information they may have been exposed to. It may not necessarily be the information itself that is harmful, but more their inability to process and make sense of it. Providing children with the skills and strategies to cope will enable them to flourish and thrive, socially, emotionally and academically.

The blueprint for parenting, based on our own experiences, is no longer fit for purpose in raising kids as citizens of tomorrow. This can be inherently stressful and overwhelming, not only for parents and carers, but children alike. If left untreated or unmanaged, constant stress and anxiety can lead to a number of behavioural issues or health consequences.

This Special Report suggests a number of strategies to help manage any feelings of overwhelm that you or your child may be experiencing. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report.