From the Learning Enhancement Department

From the Learning Enhancement Department

The Learning Enhancement Department is looking forward to partnering with you once again in 2026. This year brings renewed energy, thoughtful refinements to our programs, and a continued commitment to supporting all students who engage with us at their point of need. Communication and collaboration with families remain central to everything we do. Through this newsletter, key updates, opportunities, and insights into learning across the year will be shared, and we warmly invite you to engage with us throughout Term 1.

I am delighted to introduce you to members of our team.

Meet James Adams, High Potential Learning Leader

Having joined the School during Term 3 2025, James Adams serves as one of two High Potential Learning Leaders working across Junior and Senior School in 2026. James brings extensive expertise in High Potential and Gifted Education, having previously held the roles of High Potential Coordinator and Head of Oratory at Cranbrook School. James holds a Master of Science in Gifted Education from the University of Oxford and a Master of Educational Leadership from Harvard University. James also lectures in Gifted Education at the University of Sydney and currently serves as the Australian Delegate to the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children (2025–2027).

2026 Horizons Program

In Term 4 2025, MLC School successfully piloted the Horizons Program with a selected group of Year 7 and Year 8 students. Following the immense success of this pilot, MLC School will expand the program to include Year 5 to Year 9 from Term 1 2026. This evidence‑informed initiative is designed to extend high potential learners by engaging them in intellectually rigorous topics that move beyond the standard curriculum and reflect the depth and inquiry characteristics of university‑style learning. During the Term 4 2025 pilot, students investigated key concepts in Psychology which included the influence of social dynamics and conformity on human behaviour.

Applications for the 2026 Horizons Program will be released progressively in the coming weeks. Year 9 applications are now available via this link. and will close on Monday 9 February 2026.

Supporting a positive start to 2026

Evidence demonstrates that effective support for diverse learners begins with careful observation that is responsive to need. The NSW Department of Education emphasises that ‘observation informs responsive teaching and planning.’ By observing how students respond to changes in routines, environments, and expectations, teachers can plan supports that are timely and individualised. This deliberate observe‑then‑plan approach reduces uncertainty, builds confidence, and supports continuity of, and engagement with learning.

During the initial weeks of the school year, Learning Enhancement staff will observe your daughters to gain a comprehensive understanding of how they participate in the learning process. These observations will inform collaborative planning conversations and enable adjustments and supports to be thoughtfully aligned to your daughter’s learning profile which may include the development of a Personalised Academic Learning Plan.

We look forward to engaging with you.

– Stephanie Dimitrelis
Director of Learning Enhancement

Learning Enhancement Department email: led@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au