Year 9

And once again, in the blink of an eye, we are already halfway through the term.

This week, Year 9 attended two presentations as a whole cohort. The first was delivered by Anna Michalopoulos, Head of Counselling and Student Health, who spoke with students about stress and strategies for managing it. This was a timely presentation, with Year 9 currently in the midst of assessment tasks. Anna explained that stress is not always negative; in some cases, it can be beneficial and help students achieve their best. However, it is important for students to recognise the difference between helpful and unhelpful stress. She also outlined the signs of stress and discussed appropriate strategies for managing it when it becomes overwhelming. It is important to reinforce that there are many support avenues available at MLC School for students who may be struggling and need assistance. These include their Luminary, myself as Head of Year, Angela Renwick (Head of Students Year 7 – Year 9), the nurses in the Health Centre, and the school counselling team. Please encourage your daughters to speak up and seek support early, rather than allowing stress to become unmanageable.

The second presentation was delivered by Sarah Jauncey, Director of Experiential Learning, and focused on the opportunity for Year 9 students to participate in an international exchange in 2027. The School is currently offering exchanges with two schools in South Africa and one in the United States. Students were provided with information about the experience and the requirements of the program. This is a valuable opportunity for students to immerse themselves in another culture, broaden their perspective, and develop greater independence by stepping outside their comfort zone. The exchange would involve students travelling overseas for six weeks, as well as the student and their family hosting an exchange student here for six weeks. As this represents a significant commitment for families, students were encouraged to discuss the opportunity at home with you if they are interested.

Year 9 reports will be published at the end of this term, and Parent – Teacher interviews are scheduled for early next term. In the meantime, if you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your daughter’s teachers. Please remember that, in most cases, no news is good news.

Have a great weekend.

– Kate Scurch
Head of Year 9