From the Principal

In reviewing our communications this term, it would be easy to presume that COVID-19 had so completely consumed everyone’s energy, that nothing else was possible. While it certainly has been a challenging time, I am pleased to report that we have continued to make steady progress on initiatives that support achievement of our strategic goals.

As part of our commitment to ‘More fully understand our families, why they choose MLC School, their aspirations for their daughters and how this informs their expectations of us’, and in keeping with our goal to use data more effectively, short parent and student surveys will be conducted on a regular basis. These surveys will allow us to get regular feedback on initiatives and identify any emerging issue so that we can respond appropriately. You should have received a summary of the findings from this term’s survey earlier this week.  

Our timeline for school-wide implementation of CANVAS was certainly compressed as a result of the move to flexible learning. This and other IT advancements, are part of our strategy to ‘Seek out emerging technologies for integration in the classroom so as to remain at the forefront of pedagogical practice and enhance student learning’. The feedback has been exceptionally positive and it is our intention to continue to improve not only this platform and its use, but also to build upon the many lessons and skills that staff developed during this period.

Our Strategic Plan also commits us to ‘Introduce technologies and processes that enhance our ability to understand and manage each girl’s journey through the School and inform our communications’. Our IT department is already quite advanced in planning for the implementation of our new student information system (SIS) which will coordinate and automate many aspects of our communication and student tracking. It will also save parents an enormous amount of time through the electronic submission of forms, streamlined communications and ready access to school information. It is anticipated that this will be fully operational by mid 2021.

Parent attendance at the Michael Carr-Gregg webinar, so generously sponsored by the P&F, was the highest that we have seen. Next term, we will be providing you with the opportunity to hear from respected Drug and Alcohol educator, Paul Dillon (Thursday 13 August 2020). These presentations are an indication of our desire to ‘Support parents and carers through access to expertise and research contributing to the healthy development of their daughters’.

And in keeping with our stated aim to ‘connect our community with the spiritual life of the School, and ensure that service is at the heart of our expression of faith’, it has been wonderful to see our Chaplains out and about, meeting and greeting our girls and their families and assisting with drop off and pick up. Amongst the many projects that are underway, the Senior School hats for the homeless initiative has seen our girls making beanies to contribute to those in need.

There are many other initiatives underway in Pastoral Care, Teaching and Learning and Masterplanning and I look forward to updating you on these as the year progresses.

My very sincere thanks for your support this term. I look forward to a gradual shift back to a  full range of School activities and the opportunity to interact face to face.

I wish you all a restful break.

– Lisa Moloney
Principal