From the Head of Senior School

We have had an excellent beginning to 2026. Our Year 7 students have adjusted wonderfully after a busy week of transition, which included Commencement Day, plenty of Luminary time, and ended with their incursion today titled ‘The Journey.’ This program focuses on friendships, peer connection, stress management, and building positive relationship behaviours. It is a vital step in supporting the wellbeing of our girls at school.

At the other end of the spectrum, our Year 12 students are eager for the year ahead. They were thrilled to receive their lockers in the undercroft this week, where they have been assigned the top lockers. Their ‘Little Sisters’ in Year 8 have the bottom lockers. We have already noticed encouraging cross-year group interactions and positive modeling of behaviour among our students.

This year, from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12, our emphasis is that every lesson counts. Whether it is a class, a House event, an assembly, or an incursion, we recognise that attendance and genuine participation are crucial for students to feel connected to the community. As parents, we ask that you help us by keeping absences to a minimum and scheduling appointments and vacations outside of school hours whenever possible.

As we mark our 140th year of excellence in girls’ education, it feels especially meaningful that this week, Katherine Bennell-Pegg was honoured with the Australian of the Year award. She is an Australian astronaut and the Director of Space Technology at the Australian Space Agency, and is the first Australian woman to qualify as an astronaut. Her ambition is to be the first person sent into space as part of an Australian mission.

Bennell-Pegg said on Sunday, ‘For Australia to be able to influence and to contribute to addressing the global issues of the next years, the next century, we need every curious mind engaged, regardless of gender, of background or of postcode.’

As a woman, a parent, and a leader in this school, I was thrilled to hear her say this because at MLC School, it reflects our core purpose: educating girls to Dare to Be More and to become the best she can be.

Mobile Phones

The School rules allow students in Year 7 to Year 12 to bring a mobile phone to school each day though they must leave their mobile phones in their locker for the duration of the school day. This means, that once they enter the School gates, they must not be using their phones.

Year 12 students will be permitted to check their phones in the Common Room during breaks if necessary. Parents wishing to get an urgent message to their daughters are to do so through the Studies Office by calling 02 8741 3117.

Please also note that students will only be permitted to use their student cards, cash or a physical credit card to purchase at the Café. Students are not permitted to use their phones to purchase through ApplePay.

Thank you for your support on this.

Sun safety

Please ensure that your daughter has an MLC School hat to wear each day. If she is in the sun at recess and lunch, she will be required to have a hat or she will be required to sit in the shade. Our next outdoor assembly is the Cadets Establishment Parade on Thursday 26 February 2026. The Parade has been scheduled for the morning at 8.30am to reduce the impact of the sun, however all students must have a hat in order to participate in the event. Students and staff alike have also made good use of the new sunscreen stations around the School.

New Staff

As I mentioned in my letter before the Term got underway, we are pleased to welcome new staff to our team.

Study Hub – Teacher supervised study for Year 11 and Year 12 students

– Joanna Graffen
Head of Senior School