Newsletter | Term 1 | Week 1 2025 - 31 January 2025

From the Head of Junior School

It has been a delight to welcome all our new and returning families to the 2025 academic year at MLC Junior School. The girls have had a very smooth first week at School, getting to know their teachers, settling into routines, and making new friends. At our Kindergarten to Year 5 assembly, we introduced our School value ‘Courage’. It is fitting has many girls are stepping up to demonstrate courage, perhaps making new friends and for some girls in all grades, starting at a new school. Our Year 6 students have had a very smooth start in the Year 6 Centre. So too have our youngest learners, Pre-Kindergarten, have a wonderful start to ‘big school’ (there were tears, not from the girls but their parents!).

At MLC Junior School you will hear the phrase ‘you are only new for a day’. To our new families, a special welcome to our MLC School community. I know our continuing families and staff will reach out to you and make you feel very welcomed. 

I look forward to meeting you at our upcoming Parent Information Evening next Monday 3 February commencing at 5.30pm where you have an opportunity to meet the specialist teachers in The Daphne Line Hall (top floor Junior School Building). This is followed by Parent Information Evening where you can meet grade teachers at 6pm. Details are found in up the Upcoming Events email sent each Tuesday. 

Helping your daughter settling into the new School year 

As the girls setting into the new school year, I would encourage you to read our Deputy Head of Junior School – Wellbeing, Joanne Sharpe’s article in this week’s newsletter. It has many helpful suggestions. 

Absences 

If your daughter is absent, please submit details via Omnia or the MLC School app.

If arriving late or leaving early, please email Junior School Reception (jsreception@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au) to advise details. It is also advisable to copy in the class teacher. 

Lunch Orders

If you wish for your daughter to have lunch supplied, please order via Flexischools, particularly for Pre-Kindergarten to Year 5. Whilst students can purchase items over the counter, lunches need to be ordered in advance. You may also order other items, including morning tea online.

Birthday Celebrations  

Birthdays are an exciting time and one which we often enjoy sharing with others. Many parents and carers like to send in a treat to share with their daughter’s class. Please be mindful of allergies, particularly nuts. These treats need to be individual items that the teacher can distribute easily as outline in our Parent Handbook. We kindly ask that birthday (or other) gifts are NOT distributed via the School.  

Car Park 

Thank you for your patience this week as parents, students and staff became familiar with our drop off and pick up procedures. Due to the commencement of all after school co-curricular actives next week, there will be less traffic during our afternoon pick up.  

Drop Off 

Kindergarten to Year 5: 8am to 8.25pm (Classes start at 8.30am) 

Pre-K: from 8.30am (Please park and walk) 

Year 6 may be dropped off with younger siblings or on Rowley Street. (Classes start at 8.15am) 

Before school starts at 7am (Press buzzer on at the Red Carpet doors for entry)

No students to be dropped off on Park Road. 

Pick Up 

Recommended car pick up times: 

Pre-K: 2.40pm (Please park and walk) 
Kindergarten to Year 2 only: 3.10pm 
Year 3 to Year 5 only: 3.30pm 
Kindergarten to Year 5 siblings: 3.30pm 
Year 6 are dismissed at 3.15pm

Pick up concludes at 3.40pm for all students. No student is to be collected from Park Road. 

You may collect your child on foot, however, you may find it easier to use the car pick up service.  

After School Care concludes at 6pm. 

Baby Aghion

Junior School teacher Kate Aghion and her husband are proud to announce the arrival of their first child. Ava Kimberley was born on Tuesday 28 January 2025. Mum and baby girls are doing well.

Staff Spotlight 

Sonia Weston: Deputy Head of Junior School: Curriculum
Sonia Weston is an experienced and committed educator with over 20 years of leadership in curriculum and teaching. She has held key positions in some of Sydney’s leading independent schools and brings a wealth of expertise in evidence-based teaching, professional learning, and instructional design.

With recent qualifications including a Master of Education and a Certificate of Gifted Education, Sonia brings current understanding of best practice to leadership in curriculum. Her professional achievements include leading innovative curriculum initiatives, mentoring educational leaders across Australia and creating school-wide programs that foster a love of learning in all students.

Committed to student success and teacher empowerment, Sonia is dedicated to building a collaborative and inclusive environment at MLC School. Outside work, she enjoys travel, walking and spending time with her family.

Once again, welcome to the 2025 school year. I look forward to supporting your daughter to achieve her very best this year and meeting many of you at our upcoming welcome drinks.

– Daniel Sandral
Head of Junior School

From the Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations

Welcome to the 2025 School year!

Term 1 timetables for Pre-Kindergarten to Year 6 are now available on our parent portal, Omnia. You can find these under the School Information/Junior School section.

Please help your daughter to come to school prepared by checking that she has the appropriate items for each day, such as her library bag, musical instrument and sports uniform. You can find the names of all your daughter’s teachers listed on the Omnia year group pages, should you ever wish to make contact.

Also available through Omnia next week will be the Term 1 Overviews for each grade. These contain details about the learning planned for each subject this term.

Both the timetables and overviews are updated termly and are great starting points for discussions with your daughter about her learning.

– Natalie Hird
Deputy Head of Junior School – Operations

From the Deputy Head of Junior School – Wellbeing

I hope your daughter has settled well into the new school year. The year is full of promise and challenge and we, the staff, are here to support all parents and girls to live up to the promises and challenges of the year, to feel successful and grow.

It is a long and very full day in the MLC Junior School. We have high expectations for our girls, and they so capably live up to them. There is lot to do and enjoy.

You might find your young children are often tired and grumpy after school at the beginning of the year. This is very normal. Children use so much energy at School – for learning, social connections and behaviour. The school day is full of lots of sensory information, distraction, rules to follow, thinking, processing and managing social interactions. This can be overwhelming for developing brains. Transitions can put stress on children as well. The transition from a structured school day where they work hard to unstructured play time at home can be challenging.

Here’s a few things you can do to help your daughter:

Healthy snacks are great to have ready to go in the car.
Don’t ask questions about their day straight away. Instead focus on something you may have for dinner, or that they can look forward to (a swim might be good at the moment). This can keep them from getting frustrated with trying to recall in formation from the day.
Give them an opportunity to rest and relax.
Connect with them. If they are frustrated and complaining connect with them by acknowledging the struggle – ‘It sounds like a hard day’ and sit with them just to show you are present. It’s ok to have bad days. Give them space to work it through. Be positive that tomorrow is another day.

If you find you are asking about the school day and getting the typical responses, such as ‘nothing’ or ‘I can’t remember’ try one or more of these questions and see if you get more information:

What was the best thing you did today?
What games did you play at lunchtime?
What was something different that happened today?
What made you laugh?
Who did you play with?
What are you looking forward to about tomorrow?
What did you learn about in music/PE/library?
What’s something your teacher said to you today that made you think?
If you could change one thing that happened today, what would it be? Will you try that tomorrow?

If, at any time, you are concerned with how your daughter is settling into the year please contact your daughter’s class teacher. I am also available to contact at any time jsharpe@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au .

We look forward to another wonderful year of learning and fun in the Junior School.

– Joanne Sharpe
Deputy Head of Junior School – Wellbeing

Junior School Term Focus: Uniforms

Uniforms

This term in the Junior School we are focusing on the following with the girls:

Uniforms
Moving around the School quietly
Using the toilets appropriately
Keeping the playground clean
Waiting on the red carpet for pick up in the afternoon.

Classes are discussing and making explicit the expectations around each of these points.

One way you can help at home is to ensure your daughter has the correct uniform each day. All uniform information can be found in the Parent Handbook and in the School diary (for older girls).

Some points to remember:

Earrings must be gold or silver studs of no more than 5mm or small sleepers (one only in the lobe of each ear).
Shoulder length must be tied back.
Sports uniform is to be worn only on the day of the PE lesson.
All items must be named.
Our uniform should be worn with pride.
Phones should be handed into the class teacher, turned off.
Smart watches cannot be worn at School. Please ensure your child is aware of this rule. We cannot supervise a smart watch’s capacity, so all watches of this nature are not allowed in class. If your child has a smart watch at school, it should be in their schoolbag.

Thank you for supporting your daughter to do the right thing.

– Joanne Sharpe
Deputy Head of Junior School – Wellbeing

News from the Library

Please note the borrowing times below:

MONDAY: 1W, KA, 1R, 3B

TUESDAY: 4M, 3W, 4C, 4P

WEDNESDAY: KS, KT, 1A, 3E

THURSDAY: 2P, 2M, 2K

FRIDAY: 5W, 5C, 5O, 5N

Please remind your child to bring their library bag on their borrowing day.

Library Lovers’ Day

You might know 14 February as Valentine’s Day, but in libraries across Australia we celebrate Library Lovers’ Day! In Week 3 (Starting Monday 10 February) students will bring in a book they have read and loved to share. We will look at the most loved books in our library and primary students will ‘speed date’ with our new books.

– Sharon Seymour
Junior School Teacher Librarian

Would you Like to be a Parent Ambassador in Junior School?

We are looking for volunteers for 2025 in the Junior School!

The key responsibilities include:

Facilitating communication with the year group
Organise parent catch ups to promote and build community
Provide assistance for schoolwide fundraising efforts
Attend events such as Commencement Day, P&F Forums, Principal’s Welcome.
Foster a positive environment and school spirit
Liaise regularly with the P&F Executive

For more information on the Parent Ambassador Guidelines please click on the link below.

Parent Ambassador Guidelines

Please send your expressions of interest by email, by Friday 7 February 2025 to the P&F Secretary

We look forward to an amazing year ahead!

– Judy MacIntyre

P&F – Community Relations Coordinator

Welcome back to a New Year of Music!

Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful and restful holiday season and our students have had a great first week back.

This year promises to be filled with exciting musical opportunities and experiences. We have a variety of programs and events planned that will allow our students to explore their musical talents and grow as young musicians. From our Sydney Opera House concert and recitals to workshops and special guest Masterclasses, Music Camp and our 2025 European Music Tour, there is much to look forward to.

Please find below a summary of our 2025 Music Co-curricular Program rehearsal schedule. We have hit the ground running, and our ensembles have jumped right into rehearsing repertoire for our Opera House concert. Senior ensembles started back this week and Junior ensembles begin next week. If your daughter did not have the chance to sign up this week, please ensure she attends the ensembles next week to register herself with a staff member.

For you to stay up to date with all things music, it is imperative you log into Omnia and the app, and update all your Music tag subscriptions. Please ensure you unsubscribe from ensembles your daughters will no longer be involved in, and tag all ensembles that your daughters will be partaking in this year. There is already a tag for our European Music tour, and we will be setting up new tags as required for individual events such as Groove at Camelot down the track. Omnia will be our main port of communication so if you have not subscribed to the individual tags, you will miss out on important music information relating to your children and relevant ensemble practices will not appear in your App Calendar.

We are still in the process of finalising new private tuition enrolments and allocating students to tutors as part of our Private Music Tuition program with most tutors starting back in Week 2 (starting Monday 3 February 2025). Tutors will contact you directly with details of start dates. If you have any issues around private tuition enrolments, please email music@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au.

We look forward to welcoming our new Year 3 Band and Year 1 String students to our wonderful Hit the Ground workshop this Saturday 1 February 2025. If you haven’t had a chance yet, please ensure you provide approval via Omnia.

We encourage you to stay involved and continue to support your child’s musical journey. Your encouragement and participation are vital to their success and enjoyment. Please feel free to reach out to our music staff with any questions or concerns you may have throughout the year:

Director of Music | Trevor Mee | tmee@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Director of Strings | James Larsen | jlarsen@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
General enquiries can be sent to music@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au

Thank you for your continued support of our music program. We look forward to a harmonious and successful year ahead!

– Trevor Mee
Director of Music

2025 MUSIC ENSEMBLE TIMETABLE

DAY	ENSEMBLE	TIME	START DATE	LOCATION

Monday	Symphony Orchestra	7.15am – 8am	3 February	Auditorium
Monday	Symphony Orchestra	3.30pm – 4.30pm	3 February	Auditorium
Monday	Sinfonia	3.30pm-4.30pm	3 February	Potts Hall

Tuesday	Chamber Orchestra	7am – 8am	28 January	Auditorium
Tuesday	Ukestra	7.15am – 8.10am	4 February	JS Music Classroom 2
Tuesday	Chamber Choir	3.30pm – 5pm	28 January	Auditorium
Tuesday	Taiko (Y3-4)	3.30pm – 4.15pm	4 February	Jnr Music Classroom 1 and 2
Tuesday	Taiko (Y5-6)	4.15pm-5pm	4 February	Jnr Music Classroom 1 and 2

Wednesday	Senior School Choir	7am – 8am	29 January	Auditorium
Wednesday	Angeli Choir	7.30am – 8.25am	5 February	JS Music Classroom 1
Wednesday	Taiko Y7-12	3.30pm – 4.30pm	29 January	Percussion Room, Auditorium
Wednesday	School of Rock	3.30pm – 4.30pm	29 January	Snr Music Classrooms 1,2 3, Music Studio 9, 10, 11

Thursday	Concert Band	3.30pm – 5pm	30 January	Percussion, Auditorium, Classrooms 1,2,3
Thursday	Allegro Strings	3.30pm – 4.30pm	6 February	Jnr Music Classroom 1
Thursday	Presto Strings	3.30pm – 4.30pm	6 February	Jnr Music Classroom 2
Thursday	Junior Chamber Strings	3.30pm – 4.30pm	6 February	Y5 Central
Thursday	Symphonic Wind Band	3.30pm – 5pm	30 January	Percussion, Auditorium, Classrooms 1,2,3

Friday	Jazz Ensemble	7am – 8am	31 January	Percussion, Auditorium, Classrooms 1,2,3
Friday	Jnr Jazz Ensemble	7am – 8am	7 February	Percussion, Auditorium, Classrooms 1,2,3
Friday	Stage Band	7am – 8am	31 January	Percussion, Auditorium, Classrooms 1,2,3

PDHPE Update

As we step into a new academic year, I extend a warm welcome to all our families, both returning and new. The start of a new school term always brings a sense of excitement and possibility and we look forward to seeing our students engage in their learning both in and out of the classroom.

We kindly ask for your support in ensuring that your daughter brings her PE uniform to school every week to maintain active participation in practical lessons. A hat is also a compulsory part of the sport uniform, and it is crucial all students carry a water bottle during these warmer months.

If you have any questions about PDHPE throughout the term and going forward, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the classroom teacher or myself at spapachristoforou1@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au

– Sarah Papachristoforou
Head of PDHPE

Year 7

Welcome, welcome, welcome! It’s finally here, your daughter is officially a high school student. What a whirlwind of a first week it has been, but a wonderful week at that. I expect your daughters will be pretty tired tonight after being very busy and simply fantastic. I have seen and heard the students at the lockers helping each other out finding classrooms, decoding timetables and popping in to see me if help is needed. I am really looking forward to watching them continue to work together with such positivity.

Please see below a few pieces of important information for Year 7:

The locks given to Year 7 for their lockers are working but are quite sensitive. If your daughter has an issue with her lock, I have asked them to come to me and I can fix them. Sometimes when they open and close them in a hurry, the students are accidentally changing their codes by a single digit, but I am now officially an expert in setting them back up.
Unfortunately, the MLC School subject exercise books have not yet arrived, but they are on their way! In the meantime, students may wish to bring one exercise book for their classwork, that they can transfer to the new exercise books when they arrive.
School photos are being held on Monday 3 February 2025. Year 7 have been asked to wear their summer uniform, but additionally to bring their blazers for the photographs.

Please reach out to your daughter’s Luminary or me if you need any assistance.

– Claire White
Head of Year 7

Click on gallery to view full images

Year 8

Welcome back! I do hope you all enjoyed a restful and rejuvenating summer break with both families and friends. As we kick off the new year for Year 8 2025, I’m excited to reconnect with all our students and their families. This year promises to be one filled with new learning experiences, growth, and opportunities to recognise and celebrate the achievements of your daughters. I’m looking forward to continuing our partnership with you all to support your daughter’s academic and social emotional development.

This term, our Pastoral Care program will be focused on fostering an environment of respect for self and others as well as developing in students a growth mindset. Through engaging discussions and activities in their Luminary sessions, we’ll encourage students to embrace challenges, learn from their mistakes, and view every experience as an opportunity for personal growth. Students will continue to enjoy experiences with their Big Sisters, who are now in Year 12 as well as a range of activities with their Houses.

A few reminders for the start of the year:

Students are to always keep their phones in their lockers across the school day. They cannot use their phones to purchase food from the canteen. Please ensure your daughters either have money/cash, a debit card or money on their student card through Flexischools for purchases.
All of Year 8 have been asked to ensure their locker has a lock by the end of Week 2 and that is utilised to keep their belongings stored safely across the school day and overnight/weekends.
Student jewellery must adhere to the uniform standards outlined in the School Diary. This week there were many necklaces and bracelets which did not align with this standard. Please ask your daughter to ensure their jewellery is removed before they leave home each morning.

We welcome several new staff to our Year 8 Luminary team this year. They have all been getting to know your daughters in Luminary sessions this week.

Abbeythorpe	Xavier Maling & Anna Sinclair	xmaling@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au & asinclair@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Booralee	Derek Troung & Emily Osborne	dtruong@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au & eosborne1@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Churunga	Megan Desouza & Dexter Martinez	mdesouza@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au & dmartinez@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Leawarra	Phoebe Sze	psze@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Lester	Julia Lindblom & Maryellen Ottaway	jlindblom1@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au & mottaway@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Mooramoora	Wayne Symes	wsymes@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Prescott	Sarah An	san@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Sutton	Samantha Cook & Tim Curry	tcurry@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au & scook@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Wade	Libby King	eking@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Whitley	Nicole Guymer	nguymer@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au

I look forward to continuing to work with all parents and carers in support of your daughters this term. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me via email at bkovats@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au if you have any queries, concerns or simply wish to touch base.

Key Dates for the Diary:

Monday 3 February: 2025 Student School Photo Day
Wednesday 5 February: 2025 SS and JS Sibling Photo Day
Friday 7 February: 2025 Parent Welcome event (6pm – 8pm)
Monday 17 February: Year 8 Study Skills Session with Dr Prue Salter (2pm)

– Bridget Kovats
Head of Year 8

Click on gallery to view full images

Year 9

I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable break. As we start another exciting school year at MLC School, I am thrilled to welcome both our returning families and those joining us for the first time.

This week, Year 9 students attended their new elective classes for the first time. Many students shared with me their excitement about being able to direct their own learning and take subject in areas of passion for the first time. We also started the year with a Luminary session focused on digital organisation, where each student was guided to create folders on OneDrive and Outlook in preparation for the work that will need to be completed in these subjects.

A reminder that school photos will be held on Monday 3 February 2025 (Week 2). The summer uniform must be worn and students are required to bring a blazer. Fake eyelashes should not be worn and hair should be one natural tone.

Finally, I’d like to welcome Amy Lim (Abbeythorpe), Helene Schmit (Leawarra) and Zoe Rawlinson (Prescott) to the Year 9 Luminary team. Your daughter’s Luminary is the first point of contact for everyday issues.

Luminary contact details for 2025 are as follows:

Abbeythorpe	Linda Chui and Amy Lim	lchui@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au alim1@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Booralee	Lucy Pero Felicity Cassidy Powell	lpero@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au fcassidy@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Churunga	Jenna Skepper	jskepper1@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Leawarra	Helene Schmit and Antonio Boschiero	hschmit@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au aboschiero@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Lester	Dijana Mastronardi	dmastronardi@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Mooramoora	Belinda Merrick Jocelyn Jabbour-Perez	bmerrick@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au jjabbourperez@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Prescott	Sally Marks and Zoe Rawlinson	smarks@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au zrawlinson@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Sutton	Ashleigh Leck	aleck@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Wade	Robyn Langford and Ziang Gao	rlangford@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au zgao1@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Whitley	Georgina Brewer and Manuel Condoleon	gbrewer@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au mcondoleon@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me or your daughter’s Luminary teacher if you have any queries, concerns or simply wish to touch base about her academic, social and emotional wellbeing.

– Emily Marsh
Head of Year 9

Year 10

Year 10 have made a strong start to the academic year and seem to have adjusted their focus. It’s been a pleasure getting to know the students better and I have been impressed by their approach to learning and new challenges. I spoke to the cohort on Tuesday morning about the increased expectation of Year 10, the challenges that they will face, and a reminder that there are so many people here at school to support them.

Next week, starting Monday 3 February (Week 2), Year 10 will do their Careers testing which is an exciting opportunity for them to start to really imagine what may lie beyond their time at school.

I’d encourage all parents to spend some time with their daughter in the next week or so discussing how they are managing their study and what systems they have in place. Getting into good habits now will make Year 11 and 12 run much more smoothly.

I hope all our families have had a good week and have enjoyed a return to routine. Warm wishes as well to our families celebrating Chinese New Year.

– Fiona Pow
Head of Students 10-12

MLC School Student Guidelines for Senior Study Period

Supervised Senior Study Period

Supervised Senior Study Period refers to all study periods which appear on the timetable with an allocated space and teacher.

Expectations for Students:

Productive Use of Time:
Students are expected to engage in productive academic work, such as completing homework, revising notes, preparing for assessments, or engaging in quiet reading related to their studies.
Respectful Behaviour:
Students must maintain a quiet environment that allows others to concentrate. Conversations, if permitted, should be minimal and related to academic collaboration.
Punctuality:
Students should arrive on time, settle down quickly, and remain in the study area for the entire allocated period unless granted permission to leave by the supervising teacher.
Flexibility:

If a student needs to meet a teacher, or work in a different part of the school, they must ensure that a teacher communicates with their Senior Study Period teacher. They must check in at the Studies Office iPad to note their location.

Preparedness:
Students should bring all necessary materials (e.g., textbooks, laptops, stationery) to maximise their productivity during the period.
Respect for the Environment:
Students must respect the physical space, ensuring desks and chairs are left tidy, and no rubbish is left behind.

General Procedures:

Seating Arrangement:
Students may have assigned seating to ensure accountability or flexibility for group work if collaboration is permitted.
Collaborative Work:
If group discussions are allowed, they should be quiet and focused. Students disrupting others may be asked to work separately. POD’s can be utilised.
Device Use:
Devices may be used for academic purposes only. Supervising staff have the authority to request students to put devices away if they are not being used appropriately.

Senior Study Period – flexible

Senior Study Period – flexible refers to all study periods outside of the scheduled supervision periods.

After all students have signed the Senior Study Period agreement with their parents/carers, the following student expectations for the flexible study periods apply.

All students must be on site between 9.05 am and 2.25 pm and are not permitted to leave school during scheduled lessons or study periods during this time.
All students must sign in when they arrive if they have flexible study periods during 1a.
All students must sign out if their last period of the day is a study period in 3b.
Students are encouraged to use Senior Centre Level 3 for their flexible study periods and can also use pods, huts and ILC2.
Students may be encouraged to move to suitable study areas if they are disrupting other lessons or are having an extended lunch break.

Arriving late and leaving early during study periods in 1a and 3b is a Senior privilege.

Year 11 will need to earn this privilege and prove that they are managing the current expectations of arriving at 8.15 am and leaving at 3.15 pm. A Senior Study agreement form with the abovementioned expectations will be available towards the end of Term 1 for those students who have demonstrated that they have managed their time well, such as being on site between 8:15 am and 3:15 pm and signing in and out where appropriate.

– Angela Renwick
Head of Year 11

Year 11

Year 11 started their new courses with optimism and a little bit of nervousness on Tuesday. It was wonderful seeing their happy, enthusiastic faces, ready for the challenges ahead.

Some students have been advocating for themselves collecting change of subject forms and tweaking their study schedule already. Please encourage your daughters as much as possible to seek staff out for any problems they might have. It might be their classroom teacher, Luminary or perhaps myself if they need help with the next steps to a problem. Encouraging them to be problem solvers and agents of change in their own lives is part of our school Mission statement and offers you a good time to take a safe step away and allow them to manage what comes their way. It is still always helpful to show an interest in their lives by asking them about their day and listening to what they have to say.

Year 11 and 12 students have some supervised study periods on their schedule and some with flexibility. Please see the separate article in this newsletter on the expectations around these study periods that were shared with staff and students on Thursday 30 January. Year 11 cannot arrive late or leave early yet until they have proved that they are using this senior privilege correctly, and towards the end of the term, a Study Period Agreement has been signed between yourselves and your daughters.

As Year 11 still needs to be at school throughout the school day, for appointments, please SMS or email the Studies Office and encourage your daughter to sign out. If she is unwell, she must go to the Health Centre and sign out from there if you have given the nurse permission for her to go home from there.

You will soon receive some further information on a Year 11 and Year 12 Information evening to be held on Wednesday 12 February. I hope everyone can attend.

Please also support our endeavours with uniform, in particular, the following for Year 11:

No eyelash extensions/false eyelashes
No nail lacquer
Only one piercing in the lobe of each ear, either plain gold or silver studs or sleepers
Skirt length to the knee

With photo day on Monday next week 3 February, please encourage hair to be tied back and off the face, polished shoes, pressed shirts, and correct hair ribbons of navy or the tri-coloured MLC School ribbon and no additional piercings. These photos for Year 11 will be used for School Leadership voting later in the year.

The Luminaries and I welcome the additional support to the year group with the Head of Students, Year 10 to Year 12, Fiona Pow, whom many of you may remember working with before when the cohort was in Year 7.

Here are our Year 11 Luminaries, please reach out to them for any concerns. We are all looking forward to a wonderful year working with Year 11.

Abbeythorpe	Hannah Smith	hsmith@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Booralee	Danielle Collins and Kate Drady	dcollins@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au and kdrady@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Churunga	David Posker-Hill	dposker-hill@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Leawarra	Renee Willemsen and Megan Westwood	rwillemsen@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au and mwestwood@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Lester	Richard Burgess and Deborah Moir	dmoir@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au and rburgess@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Mooramoora	Trevor Mee and Alice Chance	tmee@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au and achance@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Sutton	Jane Timor	jferguson@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Prescott	Toby Duncan	tduncan@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Wade	Kellie Cogin and David O’Donohue	kcogin@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au and dodonohue@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
Whitley	Marianne Guerra	mguerra@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au

I can still be contacted via email arenwick@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au or my direct line 8741 3278.

– Angela Renwick
Head of Year 11

Dates coming up:

Monday 3 February 2025 – Photo Day
Wednesday 5 February 2025 – Sibling Photo Day
Wednesday 12 February – Year 11 and Year 12 Information Evening. This event will be held onsite, details to come.

Year 12

A big welcome to our Year 12 community as we head into Term 1 of 2025.

It was great to see everyone back on Tuesday 28 January – the first of the lasts of 2025. The theme of the day was pigtails and the entire year group wore them, complete with blue or gold MLC School ribbons, definitely setting a trend for future year groups.

Lockers have been allocated and the common room has well and truly become a second home again. Luminaries had the opportunity to meet twice with their groups, briefly on Tuesday as lockers and admin was sorted out and in a more settled way on Thursday as Year 12 starts their time together as a house group. The captains and House captains have also met to start planning the term, including preparation for the Swimming Carnival. All Year 12 teachers have also been briefed on issues related to Year 12 such as the importance of punctuality, attendance and uniform and how to flag wellbeing issues that may arise in their classes.

In Luminary this week, the focus was on building a support network – support for oneself, support for others and how to build self-efficacy skills and problem-solving. Getting back to school and fitting into the new routines can be challenging but the importance of working together and valuing the friendships made in Year 12 are so important. The theme in Luminary this term is our School value of Respect and activities around this will be the focus of our first Big Sister Little Sister session in Week 3.

A huge vote appreciation goes to the Sony Foundation campers who gave up their time at the beginning of the holidays to support some amazing children and their families. The feedback on our girls was so positive and they did the School and their year group proud. The Year 12 captains did a great job supporting the new Year 7s last Friday on their Commencement Day and they made a great impression on the new Year 7s.

As we get organised for the year, Joanna Graffen’s Welcome to 2025 communication of 21 January is essential reading. There are details on uniform, updating medical details, absences and links to Omnia, our new parent app. Included here is the Omnia link to the Year 12 Page, which includes information on assessment, uniform, the new study program and key dates.

Key dates for Year 12:

Monday 3 February: Senior School Photo Day – perfect uniform with blazer required.
Wednesday 5 February: SS and JS Sibling Photo Day.
Friday 7 February – 2025 Parent Welcome Event.
Wednesday 12 February – Year 12 Parent Teacher Interviews and Information Evening. This event will be held onsite.

The Year 12 2025 Assessment Calendar and the IB Examination Schedules for May and September, have been uploaded to Omnia and can be found by clicking here.

– Sharon Connolly
Head of Year 12

From the Principal

Welcome to 2025

It was an absolute delight to witness the excitement of our students as they started their new school year. Standing at the gate on the first day as our student leaders welcomed everyone back, the joy was infectious and made for a very positive start to the new school year.

A very special welcome to our new students and their families. We are delighted to have you join our school community. While moving to a new school can be both exciting and challenging, please remember that we are all here to make the transition as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

As with the start of any new year, we have a number of new teaching staff joining the School, including several who return to us after time elsewhere.

Melissa McMahon joins us in the Executive position of Head of Learning and Teaching. Mel was previously Director of Professional Practice at Trinity Grammar School, Assistant Principal Curriculum (Acting) at Oakhill College and Director of Teaching Excellence K–12 at Pymble Ladies College, making her extremely well qualified to lead our whole school learning improvement plans.

Sonia Weston takes up the role of Deputy Head of Junior School – Curriculum, bringing with her a wide range of professional experiences including Head of Curriculum and Head of Professional Learning at Ocre Education, Content writer and Subject Matter Expert at Inquisitive Education and Director of Curriculum K-6 at Queenwood School for Girls.

We also have two new roles in the Senior school which have been introduced to ensure that we have additional capacity and expertise to provide the best possible care for all students.

Alistair Roland returns to MLC School as Head of Students Year 7 to Year 9. Amongst his many leadership roles in schools, Al was previously Director of Boarding at SHORE and Secondary Principal at the International School of Busan.

Much admired and respected current staff member Fiona Pow has taken on the role of Head of Students Year 10 to Year 12. Fiona is known for her exceptional leadership, care for students and outstanding classroom practice and is looking forward to this new challenge.

To fill Fiona’s Head of Year role, we are thrilled that former staff member Penny Hewett will return as Head of Year 10. Penny returns to us from Danebank Anglican School for Girls where she was a Year Coordinator and French/Diverse Learning Teacher.

Helene Schmit has returned to MLC School after teaching at Marymount International School in London and Martina Stolzi rejoins the Science department.

Returning from long service leave are Monica Lee and Laura McDonald and returning from parental leave are Eddie Park and Megan Westwood.

We welcome new Junior School staff members Marian Doull (Visual Arts), Sasha Ross (Year 1), Bridget Woods (Year 5) and Anne Abbott (Year 6).

And joining the Senior School team we welcome Derek Truong (Acting Assistant Head of Department Mathematics), Michaela Bourbous (PDHPE), Samantha Cook (English), Megan De Souza (Mathematics), Julian Hannuna (French), Amy Lim (Science), Zoe Rawlinson (Visual Arts) and Anne Sinclair (History and RE).

Please join me in welcoming our new staff, students and families to MLC School.

And finally, a reminder about our Parent Welcome event next Friday. This event is a wonderful informal opportunity for new and current parents and carers to get to know each other, enjoy some great food and music and celebrate the start of the new school year.

– Lisa Moloney
Principal

IMPORTANT New Procedure – Absence Notification

Absences should be notified before the start of the school day. There are three ways to make such a notification, SMS is no longer accepted. Please ensure you notify any absences as below only:

By Omnia (within the ‘my student’ section under ‘key information’ click here) or (on the left hand menu ‘absences’)
By Email, Junior School Reception at jsreception@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au or Studies Office at studiesoffice@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au
By the form MLC School app

If a student is absent and the School has not heard from the parents or carers, they will be sent an automatic SMS to complete the Absentee Form. This is a ‘No Reply’ number.

You should provide information via the Absentee form on Omnia or the MLC School App only. A return SMS will not be recorded and the Studies Office or Junior School Reception will NOT receive the message.

Medical certificates must be provided to the Junior School reception by email at jsreception@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au or Studies Office by email at studiesoffice@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au.

If your daughter misses roll call for any reason she must go to the Studies Office or to Junior School Reception to be marked present. Otherwise an SMS, alerting you to her absence, will automatically be sent.

As part of MLC School’s Registration, all student attendance must be recorded and all student absences must be explained.

Every girl must be accounted for and their safety is of the utmost importance. We appreciate your help in moving forward to streamline this new process for our administration and curricular staff.

Co-curricular Activities and New Tags Available

Many co-curricular activities will start in Week 2, from Monday 2 February 2025. Please contact your co-curricular coordinator if you are not sure or aware of dates and times next week. Some Music groups have started already but communications were sent to all those involved.

The MLC School app calendar has been updated with co-curricular activities (ongoing) and these dates will start to show in your Omnia ‘calendar’ as they are entered. Most activities can now be seen in Omnia, with Music and some Speech and Drama to come soon.

Because several new programs were added for 2025, we have created some new tags. Could we please ask you to update your subscriptions in both the MLC School app and the parent portal Omnia.

The new tags will help us to tailor your subscriptions, ensuring you are not receiving calendar dates for the same activity but different year group. Here are the new tags:

Art Studio (Year 1-Year 2)
Art Studio (Year 3-Year 5)
Creative Drawing (Year 3-Year 5)
Creative Drawing (Year 6-Year 10)
Creative Painting (Year 6-Year 10)
Still Life Drawing (Year 6-Year 10)
Jnr STEM Academy (Year 1-Year 2)
Jnr STEM Academy (Year 3-Year 4)
STEM Academy (Year 5-Year 8)
STEM Academy (Year 9-Year 10)
Taiko (Y3-Y4) – updated
Taiko (Y5-Y6) – updated

And we have updated the following tags:

Junior Comp Robotics (Year 5-Year 6)
Senior Robotics (Year 7-Year 12)

Finally, could we check that you have updated your daughter(s) year group(s) within the MLC School digital app. (For example, if she was in Year 6 in 2024, you need to change your subscription for 2025 to Year 7).

Please contact us by email here if you have any questions, or if something doesn’t appear correct to you.

Old Girls Union (OGU) Annual General Meeting

Wednesday 19 February 2025
6pm
MLC School

All former students of MLC School are invited to the Annual General Meeting and General Business Meeting of the MLC School Old Girls’ Union on Wednesday 19 February 2025.

The OGU is a wonderful way to keep in touch with friends and make a contribution to the School, particularly if you have other family connections. The OGU is an active participant in the life of MLC School, making many contributions beyond the holding of reunions.

All positions will be declared vacant at the AGM and any member of the OGU is eligible to stand for election.

Please click here to RSVP

Please click here for nomination form

Alumnae Award 2025 Nominations Are Now Open

Old Girls of MLC School help to make the world a better place. Their contributions lead to progress that benefits society. MLC School would like to recognise and celebrate these women who are prepared to think differently; have courage and conviction; and lead with passion. We are proud to continue the MLC School Alumnae Awards in 2025.

Please nominate, or encourage Old Girls you know to nominate, our exceptional Old Girls so they can receive the accolades they deserve. Nominations close Monday 31 March 2025.

Please click here to make your nomination.

Duke of Edinburgh – Silver or Gold Adventurous Journey for Years 9, 10 & 11

Victoria’s High Country Rail Ride for basic level bike riders

The DofE team has been busy over the Christmas and New Year break, securing an amazing opportunity for students in Years 9, 10, and 11 to take part in one of Australia’s most iconic, family-friendly bike ride through the Victorian High Country.

This region is rich in history, from its serene lakes to the legacy of the gold rush and famous bushrangers like Ned Kelly and ‘Mad Dog’ Morgan. Students will embark on an unforgettable journey on the Victoria High Country Rail Ride, a thrilling way to experience the stunning Victorian Alps, while also completing their Adventurous Journey for their DofE Award.

The Victoria High Country Rail Ride is a moderate-level adventure suitable for most students with a reasonable level of fitness and an eagerness to explore. The ride covers a variety of terrain, including sections of gentle uphill gradients and downhill slopes, with some more challenging areas that require a bit of stamina and effort. The ride has been broken up into reasonable sections, over several days, with enough time for breaks to enjoy the scenery, making it accessible for riders with a basic level of cycling experience. The supportive environment, along with rest stops and comfortable accommodations at the end of each day, ensures that participants can enjoy the experience without feeling overwhelmed. It’s the perfect balance of challenge and enjoyment, offering both adventure and the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Victorian High Country. Students don’t need to worry about roughing it, after a day of exploring, students will relax in comfortable accommodations with soft beds and warm showers, ensuring they are well-rested and ready for the next day’s adventure.

Planned for the first week of the Term 4 holidays (Saturday 6 December to Saturday 13 December 2025), a time selected by the DofE team as this is at a perfect time of year to undertake the ride. The weather will be warm and pleasant, with clear skies and mild temperatures that will make it ideal for exploring the breathtaking landscapes of the region. With longer daylight hours, offering plenty of sunshine to highlight the, blooming spring wildflowers, and sparkling rivers. A great opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the High Country without the extreme heat of summer.

Bike riding capability needed? For the Victoria High Country Rail Ride, participants should have a basic to moderate level of bike riding ability. While the route is suitable for most riders with Basic Cycling Experience. Students should be comfortable with handling a bike on varied terrain, including gravel paths and some uneven surfaces. Basic bike control, such as steering and braking on different surfaces, is important. This is NOT mountain bike riding, the ride is designed to be an enjoyable adventure for most cyclists, as long as they have the basic cycling skills and fitness level to handle moderate terrain and a few hours of riding each day.

Spots will be limited available as the DofE team want your daughter to get the most from this small group trip, if you would like your daughter to be considered please use the following link to submit an expression of interest.

Expression of Interest form

Click here to view flyer

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me on gmole@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au

– Glen Mole
Duke Of Ed Award Leader

Parent Information Handbook Updated

A must read guide for every parent, this book has useful contact information for key staff and outlines a range of policies, guidelines and practices about the School and expectations for your daughter. Refer to the Handbook to answer your queries. It is updated regularly.

The January 2025 update carries significant changes, please take the time to look through the Handbook. You can access it via:

Omnia by clicking here
Online by clicking here

From Head of Learning and Teaching

I am both humbled and excited to join MLC School as the new Head of Learning and Teaching. The School’s mission of inspiring young women to be fearless thinkers and agents of change—who “Dare to be More”—resonates deeply with me. In today’s rapidly changing world, we need fearless thinkers who can solve complex problems and lead with confidence. To achieve this vision, our learners require a rich, knowledge-based curriculum that empowers them to think conceptually, ask insightful questions, reason critically, and draw informed, thoughtful conclusions.

Currently, our teachers from Kindergarten to Year 12 are collaborating to design deep and engaging learning programs that align with the NESA Curriculum reform. This reform prioritises fostering deep conceptual understanding over surface-level, ‘mile-wide, inch-deep’ learning, ensuring our students develop a strong foundation for complex, real-world thinking.

As Head of Learning and Teaching, I am committed to enhancing and nurturing the intellectual culture at MLC School. To build what Ron Ritchhart calls ‘intellectual character’, our girls need learning experiences that are not only robust and engaging but also challenge them at their individual point of need. Our academic team will be carefully reviewing the rigour of our programs and reflecting on classroom practices to ensure our students are provided with rich, challenging opportunities that cultivate the critical skills needed for success in the 21st century.

To foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, we must recognize that meaningful learning often involves struggle. Think about learning to ride a bike: we fell, we bruised ourselves, but we kept getting back on. Growth comes from challenge—and that challenge often brings discomfort. This is what we call the ‘learning pit’. To emerge from the pit and achieve mastery, we must embrace strategies like seeking feedback, asking questions, conducting research, and maintaining a positive mindset. I encourage you to reinforce with your daughter that experiencing difficulty during the learning process is a normal and necessary part of growth. If learning were always easy, we would not be truly advancing—and at MLC School, we are committed to fostering individual growth.

Learning involves uncertainty, ambiguity, and yes, discomfort. But when our young women become comfortable with this discomfort, they build resilience—the buoyancy to navigate setbacks with grace and determination. Buoyancy is key to success. We want our students to face challenges and disappointments with a growth mindset, enabling them to rise, learn, and continue moving forward.

I look forward to working alongside our dedicated staff, students, and families as we continue to create an environment where our girls not only strive for excellence but embrace the journey of learning with courage, curiosity, and confidence.

– Melissa McMahon
Head of Learning and Teaching

Emerging Athlete Program

This year saw the Sports Department launch the Emerging Athlete Program. This initiative is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of female athletes.

Our mission is to provide these emerging athletes with the resources, training, and support they need to reach their full potential.

A key focus of this program is to empower female athletes, providing them with equal opportunities to thrive in sports. By nurturing their talents and supporting their ambitions, we aim to help them overcome barriers and achieve their dreams. Our holistic approach ensures that young female athletes receive the encouragement and guidance they need to excel, both on and off the field.

Recognising the importance of academic success, the Emerging Athlete Program also emphasises the balance between sporting and academic commitments. We offer tailored support, including flexible schedules, study sessions, and academic mentoring, to help athletes manage their time effectively and excel in both arenas.

To apply for the program, athletes should meet the criteria listed below.

Please note, if your daughter is already a member of the EAP, you do not need to reapply. Your daughter will be involved in a review meeting in the new year.

Criteria

Level 1

Individuals representing NSW or Australia in their chosen sport
Individuals who have been talent identified by their state or national sporting body
Individuals who have been selected into two or more CIS teams through qualification processes
These athletes must also be completing a significant number of training hours that cause extraordinary interruptions to school life (8 – 10 hours per week)

Additional criteria that will be considered:

Demonstrate their ‘trainability’ (sport-specific skill acquisition)
Demonstrate their commitment
Demonstrate their motivation
Demonstrate their ‘coachability’
Demonstrate their positive psychological, self-management and relevant traits

Level 2

Individuals representing NSW or Australia in their chosen sport
Individuals who have been talent identified by their state or national sporting body
Individuals who have been selected into two or more CIS teams through qualification processes
These athletes must also be completing a significant number of training hours that cause extraordinary interruptions to school life (upwards of 12 hours per week)
Additional criteria that will be considered, same as Level 1 and including: commitment to sport specific practice and investment in high training volumes
striving for continual performance improvements

Inclusions

Level 1

Sport specific strength and conditioning program, access to MLC School Gym facilities
Support system and mentoring around peak training times
Group mentoring sessions
Time management assistance and access to additional learning support programs
Education seminars covering a variety of subjects relevant to the field of high-performance sport
EA Program athlete sporting kit
Breakfast if arriving at school early to train

Level 2
Level 1 inclusions, plus:

Personal staff mentor that meets fortnightly with athletes and aids in liaising with athlete support network (Heads of Year, Teachers, Parents/Carers, Coaches)
Curriculum considerations for senior students, including additional spare periods to complete training homework and assignments
The option to apply to complete the HSC over two years or IB Diploma programme as a split program
Leadership development through participation in the buddy system – being paired with a Level 1 athlete to encourage and motivate them to dare to be more

The Emerging Athlete Program Handbook has been updated for 2025 and can be found:

In Omnia by clicking here
Online by clicking here

If your daughter meets the criteria and you would like her to be considered for the EAP, please submit the application form linked below.

EAP Application form

– Lisa Filby
Director of Sport

Important Updates and Reminders

Welcome to the 2025 School year! We trust that you have had a wonderful holiday break and are back refreshed and ready to take on a year of sporting activities.

UNIFORM REMINDER

Saturday Sport will commence on Saturday 8 February for senior students and Saturday 15 February for Junior School students. Please ensure that you wear your uniform with pride.

Make sure:

Hair is tidy and pulled back neatly in a ponytail or similar.
No long nails
No make up
No jewellery
Only MLC PE Uniform or MLC sport specific uniform to be worn. No house shirts.
If it is cool, only MLC School tracksuit or MLC hoodie can be worn (no other branded apparel).

SWIMMING CARNIVAL and TEAM SELECTION

The Senior School (Year 6 – Year 12) Swimming Time Trials will be held at the MLC School Aquatic Centre from 1pm to 3.15pm on Friday 7 February 2025.

Additionally, the 200m IM (Year 7 to Year 12 ONLY) will be held on Tuesday 11 February 2025 at 7am
200m Freestyle (Year 7 to Year 12 ONLY) will be held on Friday 14 February 2025 at 7am.

These trials are open to competent swimmers who would like to compete for the MLC School Age Championship trophies and be considered for our Primary (Year 6) and Secondary swim teams. This event is another trial for the MLC School Swimming Team and a compulsory event for the MLC School Representative Swimming Squad (Year 6-Year12 swimmers). Swimmers not currently members of the Representative Swimming Squad may be invited into the squad based on their performance at these trials. The Senior Representative Squad will also compete at the MLC School Invitational Carnival on the evening of Friday 14 February 2025. Results at these events will assist in the selection of the teams to compete in the IGSA Swimming Championships (Year 7 to Year 12) or the IPSHA Championships.
Points received at the trials will go towards Age Champion trophies, but not the House Championship trophy.

In order to get through all the races in the short time frame, please only enter if your daughter can competently swim the strokes over 50m. As a guide, competent swimmers should be faster than 45 seconds over 50 metres of freestyle (Year 6) and 40 seconds over 50 metres of freestyle (Secondary). Swimmers who have not reached this benchmark will have the opportunity to compete at the House Carnival.

What to bring:
Swimming cap
Goggles
Swimming costume
Towel

Please submit this form by Monday 3 February 2025.

2025 Year 6 – Year 12 Swimming Age Championship Trials

– Lisa Filby
Director of Sport

Representative Football Trials

MLC School offers talented footballers the opportunity to participate in the Representative Football Program.

The program runs over three terms, concluding at the end of Term 3.

Students who nominate to trial must commit to all three terms.

As members of the representative teams, athletes will be entered into the following competitions:
Representative Team (Open Age): CIS Cup: March 2025 – June 2025 (Weekday Competition)
Academy Team (15 and under): Bill Turner Trophy: March 2025 – June 2025 (Weekday Competition)
IGSA Football Competition: Term 2 and Term 3, 2025 (Saturday Competition)

Two teams will be selected at trials. An Opens team and a 15 and under team (for students who turn 15 and under in 2025). It is possible that a 15 and under footballer can be selected into the Opens team. In this case, they will also be required to play in the Bill Turner Cup games.

Athletes should be experienced footballers playing at a Division 1 or Representative level.

TRIALS
Opens Team – Tuesday 4 February 2025
Majors Bay Reserve
6.45am – 8am

15 and Under Team – Tuesday 11 February 2025
Majors Bay Reserve
6.45am – 8am

TRAINING DETAILS
All players will have one (1) compulsory training session each Tuesday before school from 6.45am to 8am. Training for Football will be held at Majors Bay Reserve Synthetic Field. All Representative team members will also have a compulsory strength and conditioning session on Thursday mornings 6.45am to 8am in the MLC School Fitness Studio.

COST
The total cost of the representative program is $900 this includes the CIS Cup/Bill Turner Competitions and Term 2 and Term 3 IGSA competitions along with the coaching, transport, referees, uniform and ground hire expenses.

2025 Representative Football Program EOI

– Lisa Filby
Director of Sport

Amazing Volleyball News

In December 2024, our Senior representative Volleyball team travelled to the Gold Coast to compete in the 40^th annual Australian Volleyball School’s Cup. After playing 5 round matches, our girls were successful in securing their place in the Quarter finals, a first for MLC School Volleyball! In addition to their on-court experience, off the court students had the opportunity to tour the Gold Coast Suns training facility, gaining a better understanding of the daily requirements of a professional athlete. These students showed excellent commitment to their training throughout the year, demonstrated strong leadership skills when officiating matches and represented MLC School with pride. We look forward to this program starting up again in 2025.

– Lauren O’Shea
Sport Coordinator

Eve’s Athletics Achievement

Last weekend, Eve Ireland (Year 11) came third in NSW Little Athletics Heptathlon. This was Eve’s first attempt at competing in this event.

Heptathlon is a gruelling points-based event over 2 days starting with 100m hurdles, high jump shot put and 200m sprint on the first day and then long jump, javelin and finally 800m.

Eve has now qualified for Nationals. Congratulations Eve on an amazing result!

Important Sport Notices

The Sports Department is located in the Aquatic Centre on the pool deck level and is open from 7am – 5pm Monday to Friday should you wish to speak to a staff member.

REMEMBER!

Please make sure you regularly read the Sports Update each week, follow our Facebook page, and check your emails. These forms of communication will give you upcoming sports dates, the weekly fixtures, student achievements and other important information relating to carnivals, grading etc.

IMPORTANT PROCEDURES FOR SPORT

Absences from Sport

What to Do When You Are Not Able to Make Training or a Game

On the rare occasions that it may be necessary for a player to miss training or a competition, please follow these instructions.

If the inability to attend is known in advance – a written explanation (email) from the player’s parent/guardian is to be given to the coach and sports department in advance. This notice should be given as early as possible.
If the player is absent from school on the day of training or on competition day – the player’s parent/guardian is asked to advise the coach and sports department of their child’s absence from training or the game.
Do not ask your friends or team mates to give your coach the message
Do give as much notice as possible
If there is a clash with another sport or school event, please speak with the sports department to determine which game/event you should attend.

Please Note: Continued failure to attend training or competitions without a timely written explanation is unacceptable and may jeopardise the player’s continued involvement in sport.

A member of the sports department will contact Parents/guardians of students whose non-attendance at training or games is not notified in the correct manner.

Pockets are only awarded to students who have met all requirements of training and games.

Wet Weather

What do I do if it is Wet Weather?

While on most occasions we would not cancel training for wet weather, cancellations may occur if rain is too heavy to train in or weather conditions deem it unsafe. Additionally, we may be required to cancel training when we cannot accommodate students safely in an indoor space.

FOR MORNING TRAINING

The decision to cancel any morning training sessions will be made by 8pm the night before training.

Wet weather cancellations will be posted on the MLC School Sport Facebook Page, and a notification on the MLC School app.

No Facebook post, or app notification means that activities will still go ahead.

FOR AFTER SCHOOL TRAINING

The decision to cancel any after school training sessions will be made by 1pm on the day of training.

Wet weather cancellations will be posted on the MLC School Sport Facebook Page and the MLC School app.

ON SATURDAYS

If you are playing an IPSHA Sport, please download the IPSHA App – this can be downloaded from the App store and has information for parents. It is also used to send push notifications for Girls Saturday Sport weather updates and for marshalling calls at Major Carnivals.

IPSHA normally make a decision about wet weather by 7am.

If you are playing an IGSA Sport, go to the following link https://igsasport.spawtz.com/

The IGSA website will let you know if your venue is closed or open.

When possible, we will also post the cancellations on our Sport Facebook Page and the MLC School app.

On all occasions, it is the individuals’ responsibility to check the wet weather information. The sports department, coaches and managers are not always in a position to relay any game cancellations.

– Lisa Filby
Director of Sport

Weekend Fixtures and Upcoming Dates

No sport fixtures this week

Upcoming Dates

Saturday 1 February 2025 – Netball Grading Day, Netball Central, 8.30am – 3.30pm
Friday 7 February 2025 – MLC Swimming Championship Time Trials, MLC Aquatic Centre, 1pm-3pm
Saturday 8 February 2025 – IGSA Saturday Sport Commences, Various, Various
Friday 7 February-Sunday 9 February 2025 – NSW Rowing Championships, SIRC
Wednesday 12 February 2025 – MLC Diving Championships, MLC Aquatic Centre, 4pm – 6pm
Friday 14 February 2025 – MLC Swimming Invitational, MLC Aquatic Centre, 5pm – 8.30pm
Saturday 1 February 2025 – IPSHA Saturday Sport Commences, Various, Various

– Lisa Filby
Director of Sport

Follow MLC School Sport on Facebook

MLC School Sport have their own Facebook page. Please follow us for all sports updates and important information.

MLC School Sport Facebook Page

– Lisa Filby
Director of Sport

Debating and Oratory Classes starting in Week 2

It’s straight into action for Debating this term with training beginning on Wednesday in Week 2 and our FED and ISDA competitions starting on Friday 14 February 2025. Our Year 8 to Year 12 teams were chosen at the end of last year and our debaters are keen to get started. Trials for our ISDA primary teams and the FED/ ISDA Year 7 teams will begin next week as well. The email with the link to register for the trials was sent out to all Year 6 and 7 students on Monday. See below for the link:

Click here to register

For any students not in the Competition debating teams, but wanting to debate and improve their skills, we are also participating in the online Sydney Schools Debating competition (SSD) which runs on Friday afternoons 3.30pm-4.30pm every week during term at MLC School. This is a social competition with our teams debating against other schools in the Sydney region. Students will have small group training with their coaches before the debates and feedback afterwards. This is a paid co-curricular activity per term and the link to register interest in joining this group is below(no trial necessary):

Click here to register

Another co-curricular activity that can improve speaking and writing skills are our Oratory classes which run weekly on Thursday afternoons during the term. We have small group classes for Years 5-12 that will begin in Week 2 on Thursday 6 February 2025. Most classes are full but there are some spaces in the second Year 5 class and Year 7 class which run from 3.30-4.30pm. There are spots available in the Senior class (Year 8-12) that runs from 4.30pm-6pm. Any student interested in competing for MLC school in public speaking competitions this year should consider joining this class. The link to enrol is below:

Click here to enrol

Any questions about Debating and Oratory co-curricular activities please email me at arowe@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au

– Andrea Rowe
Oratory Co-ordinator