From the Principal

Year 6 Transition to Secondary School

On Tuesday 28 July 2020, current Year 6 students had the opportunity to experience a little of what lies ahead for them in Year 7 at MLC School. I thoroughly enjoyed dusting off my teaching resources to prepare for the day and the opportunity to share the excitement with the Year 6 girls. In my Science lesson we explored the transfer of energy and experimental design as we catapulted marshmallows of various sizes across the open area of the Senior School building. Other lessons included the exploration of word play, doggerel and epigrams in an English lesson with Deputy Principal Frances Booth, making delicious rice paper rolls with Head of Learning and Teaching Linda Emms, engaging in History lessons with Head of Department – History Peter Klamka and an energetic PE lesson with Head of Department – Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) Olivia Nolan.

As well as building excitement for the next phase of their learning, the day allowed members of the Executive and academic leadership team to get to know the girls and to offer encouragement and connection as they begin their transition to Secondary education. I know that all involved had a wonderful day. I must admit it was also reassuring for me to know that although it is some time since I worked full-time in the classroom, my teacher voice can still bring a class to silence in seconds!

Pastoral Care

In keeping with our stated aim to ‘connect our community with the spiritual life of the School, and ensure that service is at the heart of our expression of faith’, it has been wonderful to see our Chaplains out and about, meeting and greeting our girls and their families and assisting with drop off and pick up. Amongst the many projects that are underway, the Senior School hats for the homeless initiative has seen our girls making beanies to contribute to those in need.

There are many other initiatives underway in Pastoral Care, Teaching and Learning and Masterplanning and I look forward to updating you on these as the year progresses.

– Lisa Moloney
Principal

MLC School Tour Dates

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

The next MLC School tour day will still proceed and be held on Tuesday 18 August 2020 as a virtual tour from 10.30am.

Numbers are limited and registration is required. To register your attendance click the link below and please indicate which tour you would like to attend. There’s no need for you to miss out on the change to secure a place for your daughter at MLC School.

We look forward to ‘seeing’ you on the day. If you have other enquiries, please contact Nerida Coman, our Registrar by email or phone 02 8741 3165 

REGISTER HERE

The last date for the year is:

• 12 November Junior and Senior School Tour 10.30am  Registrations now open

Illuminate Lights Up Week 1

Illuminate 2020 took over the Senior Centre in Week 1. This student-led celebration and exhibition uses art and design to visually represent interpretations of the MLC School motto to ‘Walk as Daughters of the Light’.

From art installations to dance performances, both the Junior and Senior School took part in the successful week-long event. 

Unfortunately due to COVID-19 restrictions, only students could enjoy the event on campus. However, here’s a quick video to share with you the amazing work that went into Illuminate 2020.

All students and staff should be commended for this great event.

Senior Centre Wins Prestigious Architecture Award

During the school break, architects BVN, were awarded the prestigious William E Kemp Award for Educational Architecture at the NSW Architecture Awards for their work on the Senior Centre – what we already know is a simply outstanding building.

The Award Jury said, ‘With an eye on the future of collaborative work-place environments the Senior Centre enhances learner-centred design principles by providing daylight-illuminated spaces that enable students to take increasing responsibility for their own learning and be more self-directed in how they shape their learning experience. Open areas have successfully blurred the boundaries between spaces such that staff and students are often working side by side in their preparation time. The glass pods suspended throughout the building encourage senior students to make the most of the opportunity for private study, small group study or meetings with teachers. There is a harmonious and successfully realised balance between open collaborative spaces, performance, practical and more traditional spaces.’

In reality, the Senior Centre offers so much more than beautiful spaces. It provides our girls with a view to their future work places and facilitates the style of learning that will equip them with the skills they will need to be adaptable and flexible.

Of course, we are proud of the awards the building has so far received, but my pride comes from knowing that our girls are using the spaces as they were designed to be used: to work as a team or seek a place for quiet study. During Illuminate last week, the girls transformed the building into a stunning gallery to display all manner of art and it looked absolutely stunning. I was so proud that I sent the architects several photos to show them how their creation is now working for us so brilliantly.

– Lisa Moloney
Principal

For more information on the Architectural Awards, please click here.

Interhouse Public Speaking Competition 2020

MLC School continues to find creative and novel ways to do things. This year, the Interhouse Public Speaking Competition has embraced a new format. The prepared speeches for Round 1 were pre-recorded and submitted online. A panel of adjudicators, including student representatives, watched the speeches, scoring them and giving feedback.

The Impromptu Speaking Round 2 was very exciting. It was held in the Senior School playgrounds. The participants found it confronting, as they had a large audience to entertain and a stage with a microphone to present from. However there was an exciting vibe emanating from the audience. More people were able to take part and House spirit abounded.

Every competitor was impressive but only three from each division could progress to the final round which will be in early August. 

– Jan Falls
Learning Enhancement Teacher

– Cherie
2020 Debating Captain

You Can’t Stop The Music

When challenges come along. MLC School rises and grows, and our Music Department has proved that you can’t stop the music.  

Though, our Chamber Orchestra and piano students were unable to perform to live audiences, we took them to the people virtually this year.

Chamber Music Concert

Many congratulations to everyone involved in the wonderful Virtual Chamber Music concert on Friday 5 June 2020. At MLC School, girls volunteer to play chamber music and rehearse either before school or at lunch. Over the past few weeks it has been lovely to see the girls come together to perform again, especially during these difficult times.

All the ensembles played beautifully, performing works by a range of composers that included Bach, Boccherini, Haydn, Arensky, Dvorak, Teddy Bor, Milhaud, as well as a new work by our own Tristan Coelho. 

View the Chamber Music Concert Showcase here
To access the video showcase please enter the password: MLCMusic

– Joanna Drimatis
Head of Strings

Piano Festival

MLC School was proud to host its first-ever virtual Piano Festival. This event was a voluntary performance opportunity for girls who play piano, with all participants receiving a certificate of participation. 

Please follow the links and watch some of our great pianists who participated.
To access the video showcase please enter the password: MLCPiano

Beginners Showcase

Intermediate Showcase

Advanced Showcase

Pre-K and the Beanstalk

The Junior School kitchen gardeners took the opportunity to plant some seedlings last term before flexible learning commenced. Over the last few months, the bean seeds have grown significantly. The beans have climbed up the windmill structure, reminding us of the story Jack and the Beanstalk.  The Pre-K girls took advantage of the sunny weather and picked all the beans from the vine and also the cherry tomatoes. The joy of eating freshly picked vegetables is priceless.

– Gina Zucco, Claudia De Pasquale, Eleonora Monda, Vicki Liubinskas
Pre-Kindergarten team

Round Square Learning And Fun On Campus

MLC School is the only Round Square school in the Greater Sydney Metropolitan Area and has been a global member since 2005. Developed in 1966 the Round Square community is a global network of 160 innovative schools across six continents, sharing  a passion for experiential learning and character education.

Membership offers schools a framework for excellence and continuous improvement, along with structured opportunities to collaborate and share experiences with like-minded peers around the world.

Our Round Square Captain, Lily in collaboration with our Arts and Design Captain, Paris worked hard with their respective committees to bring both Round Square Week and Illuminate together, making these events special without the usual community engagements (such as parents attending).

Events during the week were varied and inclusive, featuring an interfaith chapel service; treasure hunt; art and design Installations; interactive ‘massive’ world map; global concerns installation; wishing tree; student dance performances; dance workshop; international film showings; debate and panel; Pictionary; musical performances and the inaugural Round Square Fair.

School Leaders Unite

The Junior School Captains, Jodhi and Sophia (both Year 5), joined the Middle School leaders and Senior School leaders at their meetings this week. It was fantastic for Jodhi and Sophia to see how the Senior School leaders work together – both groups were very different. Jodhi and Sophia gained insight into how our MLC School ‘older’ girls view and action leadership and how they work together to better the School and represent the students. We thank these leadership groups for making us so welcome. We look forward to making further links between the leaders of the Senior School and the leaders of the Junior School.

– Joanne Sharpe
Deputy Head of Junior School, Student Life

MLC School Safety Town Comes Alive

During Term 2 in Year 3 Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE), the girls were learning about road safety and in particular bike safety. On Monday 15 June 2020 as a culmination of all the theory lessons, the MLC School Safety Town came alive. The Year 3 girls brought either their bike or scooter to School and participated in a bike safety course on the Hockey field. The safety course had pedestrian crossings, roundabouts and traffic lights. The course also challenged the girls with hazards like a dog park where Year 10 Physical Activities and Sports Studies (PASS) girls ran onto the road playing the role of dogs and flew around as birds. There were remote control cars buzzing around the course as the girls tried not to be distracted on their journey. The girls also needed to navigate over speed bumps around bunting on the ground that resembled a drain and watch out for a spot fire in the middle of the path.

The Year 10 PASS girls issued fines to the Year 3 girls for not using hand signals and reckless riding. The fines needed to be paid with physical challenges like star jumps, sit ups, push ups and burpees! Additionally, Officer Sarah Jauncey sent many reckless riders to the MLC School Safety Town Police Station for further investigation.

A great afternoon of fun was had by all and the consolidation of learning was put into practise. Mrs Hiss and the Kindergarten girls also had the opportunity to come and visit MLC School Safety Town in action, as they have also been learning about different types of safety this term.

Burwood Council also kindly lent us some actual council signs.

See all the great photos on Facebook

– Sarah Jauncey
PDHPE Teacher

Year 12 IB Chemistry and Physics Investigations Are Testing

Our Year 12 IB Chemistry and Physics girls continue work on their Internal Assessment investigations, under the watchful eyes of Felicity Cassidy, Tracy Getts and Susan Rowley. The variety of experiments and robust discussions continue to ramp up with the ‘MacGyver’ skills of some girls put to the test!

Wishing to investigate how temperature may affect the pitch of instruments, Cherie  manipulated equipment in a unique way to set up up an apparatus that could test the resonance of a tube simulating a wind instrument at different temperatures. Other investigations included Kaisha looking at improving her soccer skills by observing how momentum is conserved when kicking balls of different radii and Amala using the rotational speeds of galaxies to determine if their percentage of dark matter changes with distance to the galaxy.

Amelie and Jessica are shown in the accompanying images wielding the glassware like professionals to study chemical properties of materials in great depth. They are performing complex experiments and using a wide range of equipment and probes to meticulously take measurements and collect data for further analysis.

MLC School Embraces Online Events

Embracing new challenges and adapting to changing times has never been more necessary. MLC School has risen to the occasion – taking advantage of new opportunities to ensure that our School Community stays in touch.

From the introduction of “flexible learning” and our first virtual event earlier this year right through to Webinars, the whole School has been working hard to keep our girls and families informed and involved.  Families have been enthusiastic and appreciative in their response.

Here’s a small sample of online and virtual events the school has delivered over the last two terms:

Junior School Mother/Daughter Disco; Coffee with the Principal and Head of Junior School; MLC Tour Day – Virtual Tour; Dr Michael Carr-Gregg Seminar; Year 6 Parent Student Webinar, Illuminate; Chamber Music Festival; Piano Festival; Year 10 Parent Information Evening; Year 8 Subject Selection Information Evening; live Streaming of Year 12 IB Theatre Collaborative Presentation Q&A and Year 12 HSC Performance Task; Chapel and Communion, and most recently, a Microbiome Research Webinar for students and parents.

We will continue to deliver informative and interesting opportunities for our girls and families, as we continue to work  towards physical events being able to take place once again

.

Time Capsule Project

As part of their legacy at MLC School, the Year 12 Class of 2020 is gifting the School a time capsule to capture a snapshot of the School at this moment in history – a unique school year which will no doubt be an interesting one for future generations to explore. The time capsule will be opened at the School’s 200 year celebrations in 2086.

Through this project the girls hope to celebrate the MLC School community, reflect on its values and appreciate our past experiences.

Watch the video explaining the concept.

Big Sister, Little Sister Program – Pastoral Care

The Pastoral Care Structures at MLC School

In the Junior School each student comes under the care of her Class teacher. There is also a Stage Coordinator who is there to assist, as well as a House Mentor. All girls belong to one of four Houses and these provide a base for friendships, spirituality, service and sport.

In the Senior School, students have a ‘Luminary’ who they meet twice a week and who is their first point of call for all everyday issues.  The Luminary works closely with the Head of Year who manages pastoral care for an entire Year group.  Specific academic issues are dealt with by Heads of Department and these Heads of Department and Heads of Year oversee the academic, pastoral and general care of every girl.

Girls are also supported by one of ten Heads of House who look after the celebratory and community assets of School life.

The School has three experienced Counsellors who see girls for a variety of reasons ranging from friendship issues to study focus to specialist strategies that may exist both inside and outside school.

Another important way of supporting Year 7 girls is through the Big Sisters/Little Sisters program, whereby Year 11 girls are partnered with Year 7 girls to provide them with an older friend/mentor who can help them navigate their way through the School from a peer perspective. 

Our Year 11 ‘Big Sisters’, care for their ‘Little Sisters’ in Year 7 on a regular basis

The Year 11 girls are a wonderful support for the Year 7 girls, focusing their conversations on friendship and connection with words of encouragement about the importance of getting to know different girls in the Year group and offering suggestions about how to do so. We hope all Year 7 girls will feel that their ‘Big Sister’ is another person at School they can go to for additional support.

– Karen Roberts
Head of Year 7

The Year 11 girls recently spent time during Luminary, with their Year 7 Little Sisters. It was nice to see how each Luminary group found different and fun ways to engage and bond with the Year 7 girls. Indeed, looking at the photos it should come as no surprise to you that I have received a lot of positive feedback from teachers about the particularly mature and caring relationships that this group of Year 11 girls have formed with their Little Sisters; something that is a credit to them.

– Felicity Berry
Head of Year 11

Paul Dillon – Drug and Alcohol Presentation

The MLC School Strategic Plan 2020-2024 puts a very strong emphasis on Communication and Family Experience.  Our long term aim is to build trusting, communicative partnerships with our families and our community so that MLC School girls benefit from excellent, constructive interaction between parents, the School, and its staff.

The MLC School girl is at the heart of everything we do.  With this in mind, the School invited Paul Dillon, Director and founder of DARTA (Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia) to present to all Year 10 to Year 12 girls during week one of this term.

Paul Dillon is passionate about ensuring that the community has access to accurate and up-to-date alcohol and other drug information.

DARTA provides school communities with presentations on a range of alcohol and other drug issues. To ensure best practice is followed, DARTA presents across the school community targeting students (Year 10s and above), teachers  and parents to ensure that all receive the same information.  DARTA is committed to best practice drug education and all workshops are aligned with the new Australian Health and Physical Education Curriculum.   

Paul Dillon will also be presenting to MLC parents as part of our commitment to parent presentations (these have included sessions by Michael Carr-Gregg and Yasmin London on E-Safety this year).

MLC SchoolTV – Further Resources For Parents

Like never before, parents need to be informed with clear, fact-based information on the many challenges faced by today’s youth. Topics such as youth anxiety, depression, self-harm, drug and alcohol use, cyberbullying and many others need clear explanation and guidance.

MLC SchoolTV is a resource for parents, addressing major topics with expert interviews, fact sheets, parent quizzes, recommended apps, books and much more. MLC SchoolTV aggregates information from many great resources such as BeyondBlue and ReachOut, HeadSpace amongst others. MLC SchoolTV provides a single stream of independent factual information that saves parents time and confusion of searching online across multiple sites for information.

PLEASE CLICK HERE to access MLC SchoolTV, you’ll find a wide variety of interesting topics.

Honour Thy gut! Webinar Recording

Recently, members of our School community attended the Honour Thy Gut! Microbiome Research Webinar with world-renowned Professor Emad El-Omar and his team at the UNSW Microbiome Research Centre. The webinar discussed learning all about our microbiome and how to care for it. The health of our gut very much relates to overall well-being, including mental health, and MLC School was privileged to be able to present this webinar and to partner with Professor Emad El-Omar on further research into this area.

If you are interested in viewing this webinar, it can be watched here.

If you have any questions about what was presented, please contact mrc@microbiome.org.au.

Launch of the Gonski Institute for Education’s Parent and Caregiver Resources

The Gonski Institute for Education is committed to helping every child reach their full potential, educationally and in life. They also recognise that parents and caregivers play a crucial role in a child’s learning and development journey.

The Gonski Institute for Education has developed a set of parent guides to support parents through a range of issues related to their child’s education.

These resources, developed by Dr Amy Graham (Gonski Institute for Education Research Fellow), are designed to provide quality, up-to-date information for parents and carers. The guides combine translated research with practical tips for parents and carers to use with their own child. Topics range from digital device use, to social and emotional skills, play and transitioning to high school, among others.

These guides will be regularly updated. If you have feedback about the content, changes to suggest, or topics you would like to see covered, please email gonski@unsw.edu.au 

Access the Parent and Caregiver Resource page here

Aquatic Centre Has Reopened

MLC School is pleased to announce that from Wednesday 1 July 2020, the Aquatic Centre reopened to swimmers enrolled in the Learn to Swim and Squad programs.

The School has been closely monitoring the Federal and State Government announcements regarding the opening of indoor pools and recreational facilities. The details within these announcements have been thoroughly assessed which has led to the MLC School Aquatic Centre implementing procedures and protocols in line with the NSW Health and NSW State Government revisions announced late last week. 

The newly adopted measures mentioned below will ensure the safety and wellbeing of our MLC School Aquatic Centre patrons.

Safety and Hygiene Protocols

• Entry to the Aquatic Centre will be via the Main Entrance only.
• Exit will only be via the pool deck exit door, near the shallow end, with the exception of prams which can enter via this door as usual.
• ‘Swim and Go’ will be implemented – there will be no showering allowed. Swimmers and parents must be organised and exit immediately after the lesson.
• Seating will only allow for 30 people on the pool deck. One parent and one sibling maximum per swimmer are allowed. Parents must be seated and abide by social distancing rules. Seats will be wiped down after every 30-minute session.
• Parents and swimmers waiting for their class to begin will be assembled on the main entrance viewing deck (upstairs deck) until the pool deck has cleared. This will be under the direction of a lifeguard.
• Customer Service will be located on the pool deck to minimise congestion and improve service delivery.
• Toilets will be accessible.
• All areas will abide by social distancing laws (4sqm rule) and hand sanitiser will be provided in key areas.
• Adult Beginner classes have been rescheduled.

Gymnastics Club Reopens

We are pleased to announce re-opening of the MLC School Gymnastics Club Competitive Program. 

Some of the newly adopted measures are outlined below and will ensure the safety and wellbeing of our MLC School Aquatic Centre patrons inclusive of Gymnastics Community Club. Further details will be communicated along with timetable and class information when available.

Safety and Hygiene Protocols

• Entry to the Aquatic Centre will be via the Main Entrance only.
• Exit will only be via the back-pool deck exit door, the other end to Learn to Swim.
• ‘Train and Go’ will be implemented – there will be no changing onsite allowed. Gymnasts must be dropped at the front entry no earlier than 5 minutes prior to their class commencing and a parent must be awaiting collection at the end of their lesson time.
• Ongoing enrolment changes must be made via phone rather than at the customer service windows.
• Toilets will be accessible for the students.
• All areas will abide by social distancing laws (4sqm rule) and hand sanitiser will be provided in key areas.
• All participants will be required to bring their own hand sanitiser and drink bottle to class. Both must be clearly labelled and if any remain uncollected at the end of a session they will be disposed of.
• Thorough cleaning of all surfaces will take place prior to and at the cessation of each session and high touch surfaces will be cleaned between each group.

– Naomi Bruce
Gymnastics Program Manager and Artistic Head Coach

Fathers Day 2020

Even though we’re a few weeks ahead of ourselves, the MLC School Community would like to send best wishes to all prospective families.

Hoping that Sunday 6 September is filled with fun, family and memories in the making.

Happy (early) Fathers Day!

Have you changed your address 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.  

Thank you.

UPDATE HERE