Year 11

Welcome back to Term 4. Year 11 have been settling into the routine after three weeks away and making goals for the term. The luminary team work with each student to set SMART goals – goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely. Students are encouraged to include goals that support their wellbeing, such as good diet, sleep hygiene and social connections. Many students aim for academic goals first and while they are very important in senior school, the wellbeing goals work to support a student’s physical and mental health too.

The 2025 Captains hosted their first assembly on Wednesday. Marirose Giann (Year 11), Evie Papamanuel (Year 11) and Lefki Papadopoulos (Year 11) did a great job in leading the assembly on Wednesday. They introduced themselves to the whole school by ‘interviewing’ each other, which was very well received. The other portfolio captains then made announcements and everyone presented themselves with great confidence.

Year 11 are getting excited about the Leadership Retreat in Week 4, starting Monday 4 November 2025. Please remember to check Omnia for packing lists, and complete the medical and consent forms. Please address all questions on the retreat to Xavier Maling on xmaling@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au and myself on sconnolly1@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au

Some of the cohort participated in exciting immersions over the holiday break – the History Tour to Germany and Italy and the Round Square Conference in the US and Colombia. As a member of the team on the History Tour, we were so impressed with the level of commitment to all the activities in a very busy schedule over 14 days. One of the more challenging parts of the trip was a visit to Dachau Concentration Camp near Munich, as part of their study on interwar dictatorships and Nazi Germany. The Year 11s were engrossed in the stories and were so respectful of the space and the guides who lead us around. I could not have been prouder of them as their Head of Year at that time.

The reports from Colombia were also positive and we look forward to hearing from those students next week.

If you have any academic concerns on your daughter’s progress, please contact the class teacher. Your daughter’s luminary is the first port of call for wellbeing issues. I am available Monday to Friday on 02 8741 9736 and sconnolly1@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au to discuss any concerns you have about your daughter’s pastoral care and wellbeing.

– Sharon Connolly
Head of Year 11