From the Principal
We have enjoyed another busy and productive week at MLC School with our newly launched parent portal Omnia, generating lots of positive feedback. The project has been a labour of love for our Head of Marketing and Community Relations Michele Dunn and Head of Information Technology (IT) Steve Swarts, Communications and Digital Manager, Judy Lezon, Digital Experience Manager, Melissa Pollett, Business Systems Manager Suriyadeepan Jeyapirakasam, and members of our IT Development Team Supriya Maradana, and Gregory Americanos who have worked on the project for over 12 months. We are thrilled to hear that it is assisting communication and providing you with the information that you need. We will continue to add additional features and information as time progresses.
On Thursday, we welcomed those Year 7 girls who will be new to MLC School next year and their families. Thank you to the Year 6 Parent Ambassadors who took the time to join our new families for morning tea and to welcome them to the School. Having caught up with our prospective students during the day, I can confirm that they had a wonderful time, had made new friends and are beginning to feel at home in their new surrounds. I look forward to welcoming them back on Orientation Day when they will meet the current year 6 students and have further opportunities to prepare for their formal start early next year.
Another highlight of the week has been the return of the MLC School Round Square Exchange Program. This is an exciting opportunity for our Year 8 students to spend time at another Round Square school and offer reciprocal hospitality to the student with whom they are buddied. We have a student from Kinross Wolaroi School in Orange with us this week and will soon be joined by two students from Radford College, Canberra. Thanks to our Round Square Coordinator Xavier Maling and Director of Experiential Learning Sarah Jauncey for their efforts in reinvigorating this program.
And to round out the week, this morning’s Father’s Day breakfast was a wonderful way occasion and a fitting way to acknowledge the important role that men play in the lives of their daughters. Thank you to all the fathers, grandfathers and other family members who joined us. Father’s Day photos will be published on Facebook next week.
Planned visit by Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau’u
I am delighted to share an update on our visit to Tonga and our time at Queen Salote College. We are making excellent progress in establishing a lasting relationship. Next year will be Queen Salote College’s 99th Anniversary. Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau’u and a delegation from the School will visit Sydney in late March to celebrate the anniversary with the extensive Queen Salote Alumni community of NSW and ACT. At that time, we will also host staff from the school as they familiarise themselves with the NSW curriculum and learn more about our approaches to teaching.
I am very pleased to announce that while in Sydney, Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau’u will also visit MLC School. It is a great honour and one that we will look forward to with great excitement. Our connection with the Kingdom of Tonga goes back some way. The first official record of our relationship is recorded in the 1935 edition of Excelsior, in which it is reported that in August 1935, Her Majesty the Queen of Tonga, Queen Salote Tupou III visited MLC School and addressed the student body who showed their appreciation through ‘a great storm of enthusiastic clapping’ and singing the School song for her. I am sure that the welcome that we extend in 2025 will be just as warm and memorable.
Can you help?
As you would be aware, the MLC School community is hosting its first Sony Foundation Camp. We have great levels of interest from our students and staff and are now seeking the support of our extended community.
MLC School warmly invites nurses and medical professionals to volunteer expertise as part of 24-hour onsite medical staff for the 2024 MLC School Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp.
The four-day, three-night respite camp, hosted by Year 11 students and staff of MLC School will run from Saturday 7 December to Tuesday 10 December 2024 at Land’s Edge Foundation Harbour Lodge, 1 Chowder Bay Road, Mosman.
Children with additional needs who are attending the camp will be treated to a range of fun-filled activities from time at the beach to discos, magic shows, drumming workshops, craft and so much more!
We ask that you please share this opportunity with any nurses or medical professionals that you know.
Expression of Interest:
To help and express your interest, please don’t hesitate to contact the MLC School nurse by email here.
– Lisa Moloney
Principal