From the Head of Junior School
We look forward to sharing highlights from the Year 6 excursion to Sydney Zoo this week, undertaken as part of their learning about animal adaptations in science.
New Climbing Playground
A highlight for our Year 1 to Year 5 students this week has been the opening of the new climbing playground on the lower Junior School campus yard. The new equipment is significantly larger than the previous structure, allowing many more girls to engage in active play.
All Year 1 to Year 5 students have completed ‘safety training’ on the equipment during their PE lessons, and I am confident it will provide many hours of enjoyment for years to come.
This wonderful addition would not have been possible without the hard work of our Junior School P&F, who raised significant funds to support the project. Thank you, to the P&F and the Junior School P&F!
Click on gallery to view full images
MLC School Army Cadet Unit Establishment Parade
Students in Year 3 to Year 6 have been invited to attend the MLC School Army Cadet Unit Establishment Parade on Thursday 26 February 2026. This marks a significant milestone in the history of MLC School.
Due to the schedules of senior officials attending, the ceremony will commence promptly at 8.30am.
-
Year 6 students commence classes at 8.15am and are expected to be in attendance.
-
Year 3 to Year 5 students who arrive at school by 8.15am will be able to attend the parade.
-
Year 3 to Year 5 students arriving after this time will remain on the Junior School campus.
Birthday Celebrations
A reminder to parents and carers about birthday procedures in the Junior School. The following information has been shared previously in the newsletter this year.
If you choose to send a birthday item to school, it is for your child’s class only (not the entire year group). The School is not a place for the distribution of birthday invitations or gifts. A designated gift‑giving time is provided for students in Year 3 to Year 6 at the end of the year. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Birthdays are an exciting occasion and one we often enjoy celebrating together. Many parents and carers choose to send a small treat to share with their daughter’s class. Please be mindful of allergies, particularly nuts. Treats should be individual items that teachers can distribute easily, as outlined in the Parent Handbook. We kindly ask that birthday (or other) gifts are not distributed via the School.
Junior School Parent and Friends (P&F)
Our Junior School P&F held their first meeting this week. The P&F provide invaluable support to our Junior School and wider School community, and I encourage you to become involved if you are able.
Junior School Parent Ambassador List is now available and can be found by clicking on this page in Omnia.
The new Junior School playground equipment has been partially funded through the generosity of our P&F. It will be a much‑loved and well‑used space for many years to come. Support of P&F events, including the upcoming Cardboard Challenge, has directly contributed to this project. The next fundraising focus is providing shade over the playground area.
Thank you to families supporting the Cardboard Challenge — and please keep collecting cardboard at home! This is a much‑loved community event, so be sure to register and add it to your calendar.
Literacy and Numeracy Learning Webinars
Kindergarten and Year 1 Parents
This week, Kindergarten and Year 1 parents were offered an online webinar focused on supporting children’s literacy and numeracy learning at home. Thank you to our Year Coordinators, Brooke Panagopoulos and Elizabeth Astle, along with our Deputy – Curriculum, Sonia Weston, for making this valuable parent learning opportunity possible.
You can view the recording here
Carnevale
Staff Spotlight
Lina ElKhoury
Lina ElKhoury is a passionate and highly experienced educator with over 24 years of teaching experience across independent, government and Catholic school systems, as well as in tertiary education. She has taught across Kindergarten to Year 6, specialising in literacy, inquiry‑based learning, curriculum design and differentiated instruction. Lina is deeply committed to girls’ education and empowering young women through learning.
Lina is teaching Year 3 this term while Samantha Edwards is on leave. In addition, she works in higher education, teaching and mentoring pre‑service teachers at the University of New South Wales. In this role, she supports students through professional experience placements, assessment, reflective practice and best‑practice pedagogy.
Lina holds a Master of Primary Teaching (University of Sydney), a Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Development – Adult Education) (University of South Australia), and a Certificate in Religious Education (Catholic Adult Education Sydney). With strong expertise in educational technologies and learning management systems, she integrates ICT to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. Lina is known for her collaborative approach, commitment to student wellbeing, and dedication to lifelong learning and community service.
– Daniel Sandral
Head of Junior School
How was your day?
As we wrap up Week 4, we reflect on another great week in our school community. Our first House Chapels were held for Mooramoora and Leawarra; and we were proud of the way our Year 12 House Captains and leaders came together to support their Heads of House and Rev Vinnie for the family gathering. The week was also brightened by a fabulous “Lester L’Amore” Galentines celebration for Valentine’s Day. Every locker and office door had a homemade love heart which definitely brought a smile! Well done to Yoyo Wu (Year 12) and Hannah Shortus (Year 12), Lester House Captains.
Supporting the Mental Health of our Young People
In Luminary this week, Year 7 attended a session focused on building positive relationships and resilience. The session was facilitated by our Year 10 Peer Support Leaders, who guided Year 7 through activities designed to help them get to know one another and work cooperatively. The session also introduced the concept of resilience, and Year 10 leaders focused on helping Year 7 recognise that challenges are a normal part of learning and growth in Senior School.
Things are getting busy in Year 8! Last week our students had their first catch ups with their Year 12 Big Sisters. It’s so enjoyable to watch the students interact in vertical friendships and participate in fun activities together. Year 8 will see their Big Sisters twice more this term.
As we reach the end of Week 4, it is hard to believe how quickly the term is progressing.
On Monday, the Senior School participated in an evacuation and fire drill. The new PA system was tested in the Senior Centre and Year 10 did a great job following instructions and moved through the campus quickly and quietly to our emergency assembly point.
This week in Luminary, Year 11 students spent time reviewing their Assessment Schedule and updating their calendars and to‑do lists. Students were encouraged to share their calendar at home and have it displayed somewhere visible.
On Tuesday, Marianna Carlino (Director of eLearning) gave a presentation to the cohort about digital reputation and impersonation. She emphasised the importance of understanding how students represent themselves online and highlighted strategies for addressing or preventing negative interactions and misrepresentation on the internet.
Last Friday evening, I spent a very enjoyable couple of hours teaching myself how to use Copilot to generate and change images. I had a great time using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to change the setting of a family photo from the backyard to the beach, combine three individual photos into a group picnic and even turned everyone in the family photo into clowns. It was a lot of fun (although I am not sure that my adult children were as enamoured with the constant stream of ‘look at this one’ messages as I proudly forwarded my latest achievement!). The images were largely believable, despite the occasional strangely angled limb.
