From the Head of Junior School
It has been a wonderful week of celebrations across the Junior School to conclude a successful year and give thanks to those who have contributed to that success. This week Year 4 hosted their Celebration of Learning. Thank you to all the parents who took time out of their work schedules to engage in many learning activities with the Year 4 girls.
Pre-K Rainbow Chapel and Celebration
As our youngest learners in our School hosted a beautiful Chapel service, our School Chaplains and Principal, Lisa Moloney. Parents’ faces where beaming with pride. Following the service at the Junior School campus the biggest smiles were on the girls’ faces when Santa arrived! We were delighted that Santa accepted Pre-K’s invitation, along with some Senior School ‘elves’. They managed to make a quick visit to the other grades on the Junior School campus before returning to the North Pole!
Year 6 Musical
Our annual Year 6 Musical is taking place this evening and Saturday afternoon (Friday 29 November and Saturday 30 November) in Potts Hall. This year’s theme is ‘Frozen’. The rehearsals are all done, and it is going to be a great night of entertainment. I look forward to sharing photos and other highlights on our social media accounts.
Year 5 Assembly
At our assembly this week the Kindergarten to Year 4 girls said ‘thank you’ to Year 5 for their exemplar leadership of the Junior School campus this year. Each girl received a flower as a token of thanks, with parents and other family members proudly in attendance. Our Principal, Lisa Moloney addressed the girls, talking about the opportunities that they have to look forward to in the coming years.
Next year our current Year 5 students will complete their final year of Junior School in the Year 6 Centre. Our Year 6 program is unique, designed to prepare our students for great success as they enter Senior School in Year 7. In Year 6, the students’ specialist teachers are Senior School staff. They are gradually introduced to some of the Senior School structures and events. I was my pleasure to show many of our current Year 5 parents around the Year 6 Centre prior to the assembly. I am immensely proud of our Year 6 program and the success it brings to our students. I look forward to seeing our current Junior School leaders take advantage of this unique opportunity next year.
Farewell to Staff
This week many of our students had a formal opportunity to thank members of staff who will be leaving our MLC School community at the end of this year. We farewell Lesley Snelgrove and Victoria Bradshaw from the Art Department, grade teachers Merna Malek, Kylie O’Brien and Amber Bidwell, who takes on a Deputy position at Tudor House. We also farewell our much-loved Junior School Library assistant Grace Kapellos. My deepest thanks to all these dedicated and committed people and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours. We also wish Kate Aghion all the best for the birth of her first child and look forward to her returning in 2026.
Picnic Day
As part of our end of year celebrations it has been a tradition for our Year 3 to Year 5 students partake in a fun filled picnic day on the last day at school. Year 6 will be participating in Senior School House Christmas Challenge as their activity before they enter Senior School next year.
Picnic Day is filled with exciting activities. For Year 5, Picnic Day also includes a Year 5 lunch. It is a time to acknowledge Year 5 girls’ leadership throughout the year, reflecting upon their time at the Junior School Campus.
Speech Day
On Thursday 5 December 2024 we will be celebrating the Junior School Speech Day with all Year 3 to Year 6 students in attendance. Please ensure your daughter is her full School uniform (excluding hat), wearing School permitted earrings with polished shoes.
Awards will be presented and 2025 School Captains will be announced. It is very appropriate to acknowledge effort, excellence, and personal qualities. However, awards are offered to the minority, even if the majority are deserving of such. Our ability to take pleasure in someone else’s achievement without resentment is a sign of a generous and secure person. We need to work together to validate all the wonderful aspects of each girl. The glittering prize may not be hers next week, perhaps another time, or come in a different form at another stage in life.
Season’s Greetings
Thank you parents for all your support in so many ways throughout the year. To my colleagues, my appreciation for your commitment and all that you have done to support the students in our care. Finally, to each girl Pre-K to Year 6, thank you embracing our School values, for giving your personal best in all that you do as well as supporting to others to make a better world.
May the festive season’s spirit of goodwill and peace be with you all.
– Daniel Sandral
Head of Junior School