Year 9 and Year 10 Parent Information Evening

Thank you to the families and community members who attended the Year 9 and Year 10 Parent Information Evening. It was great to see Potts Hall full of parents and students looking forward to the senior years at school. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to get in contact. The best place to start is with your daughter’s Luminary or Head of Year.

Principal Lisa Moloney opened the evening with a reminder that during Term 1, the School’s 2025-2027 Strategic Plan and Academic improvement plans were shared with all members of our community. These documents provide content and rationale for the initiatives that were shared during the Information Evening and parents are encouraged to familiarise themselves with them.

The Parent Information Evening slides area available for your review by clicking here

During the evening the following was presented:

– An introduction to MLC School’s academic culture and direction with Melissa McMahon, Head of Learning and Teaching who guided us through the following:

Personal Best Goals: Students should compete against themselves only, not others. A Personal Best (PB) Goal is defined as specific, challenging, and competitively self-referenced goals that involve a level of performance that meets or exceeds an individual’s previous best.
Motivation and Study Habits: Our focus on student academic engagement and effort to equip them with the tools and mindset to become lifelong, independent learners was clear and this emphasis on student academic engagement and effort was made clear. This is demonstrated through supervised study periods, Study camps and Study Hub.
Acceleration Pathways and broadening HSC choice: This year we have introduced accelaration through HSC Mathematics Advanced (by invitation only) or Studies of Religion I, allowing students to complete an HSC course in Year 11 and ‘bank’ 1 or 2 units. We also have plans to introduce new HSC courses including English Standard, Society and Culture, various languages, and VET: Business Services.
Subject Selection: Melissa stressed the importance of enroling students into the most appropriate credential and courses for them, establishing benchmarks for IB entry, and broadening subject offerings in HSC to ensure that students are supported to achieve their best.
Enhanced Professional Learning for Staff: New role of Director of Professional Practice, increased research focus, and professional learning teams collaborating on various topics. A High Potential Learning Leader will also be appointed to monitor and stretch identified students.

– A session on graduate attributes and career programs presented by Head of Futures and Pathways, Jo Cilia. Jo provided a summary of the fantastic opportunities and support available which is summarised as follows:

Career Profile Report: Year 10 students have the opportunity to participate in Career profiling. The report that they receive includes personal style, career interests, problem-solving skills, and transferable skills. Profiling and interviews occurred in February and March, initiating the exploration process and beginning discussions around interests. Students will complete a follow-up action plan
Interviews with Careers Counsellors: These interviews, which parents are welcome to join, will take place in Term 2 and Term 3. Careers action planning will be embedded into pastoral sessions to continue careers exploration. Workshops will cover resume writing, mock interviews, business emails, and workplace etiquette.
Future Forward Program: In Term 4, Week 7 (Monday 24 November 2025), students will have the opportunity to undertake work experience as part of the Future Forward Program. This opportunity will continue throughout the senior years.
Year 9–Year 12 Industry Experiences: Students will have the chance to participate in various industry experiences throughout their senior years.
Year 9–Year 11 Overseas Academic Programs: These programs provide students with the opportunity to gain international academic experiences.
MLC School with Oxford Royale Academic Tour: This tour, scheduled for June/July 2026, is available for Year 10 and Year 11 students in 2026.
Year 10 to Year 12 University Experiences: Students will have the opportunity to engage in university experiences to prepare for higher education. Certificate III and School Based Apprenticeships/Traineeships (SBAT): Students can pursue various vocational education and training courses, including Human Services (Nursing), Early Childhood Education, Hospitality (Commercial Cookery), Design (Interior/Fashion), Animal Care, Beauty Services, Information Technology, and Sport and Recreation. These courses can contribute to the ATAR.
Ongoing Individual Careers Counselling: Students will receive ongoing individual careers counselling, including university applications, early entry, admission schemes, overseas applications, GAP year programs, industry experiences, VET courses, and work placements. Guest speakers from alumni, industry, and universities will also be invited.

– A session on balancing co-curricular activities, music and sport with academics with Deputy Principal, Melissa Boyd. Melissa encouraged parents and student to embrace being antifragile (resilience is out and antifragile is in!) and to make the most of all the opportunities that they are provided at school to promote engagement in Year 9 and Year 10 which the data tells us is statistically when engagement is down.

– A session on key wellbeing challenges that many students in Year 9 and Year 10 may face as they transition into their senior years, with some practical strategies by Alistair Roland, Head of Students, Year 7 – Year 9 and Angela Renwick, Acting Head of Students, Year 10 – Year 12, particularly around open communication at home and school, sleep (eight hours) and monitoring social media use.

– Joanna Graffen
Head of Senior School